Going Places: The Pocono Mountains

The Pocono Mountains are a mountain region in northern Pennsylvania which cover an area of over 2,000 square miles. The closest town is Allentown, which is about 30 miles north of the Pocono Mountains. Apart from Allentown, however, there is no major population hub or town in the Poconos and folks generally travel there to spend time in vacation homes, camping or skiing. Poconos vacations are popular during the summer among younger kids who often attend some of the highly popular Pocono Mountains summer camps. Poconos vacations are also popular among skiers who head to the hills to hit the slopes. Pocono hotels are often filled with hikers, bikers, skiers and folks simply coming to enjoy a vacation home or rental tucked within the beauty of the mountains.
In addition to Poconos vacations for skiing, there are also a number of Poconos resorts which cater to folks heading into the mountains to hunt and fish. Wild turkeys, grouse, black bear and white-tailed deer are all part of the Pocono hunting scene. Gambling has also recently been legalized within the state of Pennsylvania, and a number of Pocono hotels have sprung up close to Pennsylvania Casinos in the area, which tend to feature slots, video poker and various harness and thoroughbred racing. Golfing is another popular pursuit in the Pocono Mountains, where there are a few excellent courses.
The Poconos are a popular place for short holidays, especially honeymoons, and people from New york and New Jersey go there to get away from their busy cities.