What kind of Pocono visitor are you? Would you consider yourself a pro, a newbie or an enthusiast? To help you decide, take this “How Do You Pocono? Pop Quiz”. Give yourself one point for every question you can answer YES to. It doesn’t matter if you have done it once or twenty times. Each question is worth one point for a maximum score of 10. Ready? Go!
- Have you ever skied Camelback, Shawnee or Jack Frost?
- Have you experienced the thrill of the water slides at Kalahari, Aquatopia or Great Wolf Lodge?
- Have you hiked up and down the stairs to see the Niagara of Pennsylvania, Bushkill Falls?
- Have you explored the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on foot, by bike or by floating vessel like a tube, raft or kayak? And no, driving over the Route 80 bridge from Jersey does not count!
- Have you visited more than one of these historic and charming downtowns: Jim Thorpe, Milford, Stroudsburg, Hawley or Honesdale?
- Have you ever spent a day out on Lake Wallenpaupack?
- Have you taken a historic train ride through the forest and along a river on the Stourbridge Train Line or the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway?
- Have you ever seen Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park, hiked the Promised Land State Park Loop, swam at Beltzville State Park, or visited any one of the nine (yes, nine!) state parks?
- Have you ever sampled your way through more than three wineries and breweries on the Pocono Beverage Trail like Barley Creek Brewing, Mountain View Vineyard, Sorrenti Winery, Wallenpaupack Brewing or ShawneeCraft? Hint: there are more than 30 stops on the trail!
- Have you visited a historic site like Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, Asa Packer Mansion Museum, Grey Towers National Historic Site, No 9 Coal Mine and Museum, Dorflinger Glass Museum?
10 Points: Pocono Pro
If you scored a perfect 10, you’re a Pocono Pro. I would venture to say you’ve probably been coming to the Poconos for years and follow the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau to keep up with everything happening around the region. If you’re not already, click here to follow PMVB for so many new experiences to try!
5 to 9 Points: Pocono Enthusiast
If you scored 5 to 9 points, you’re a Pocono Enthusiast. You have already experienced some of the most amazing top attractions. You’re likely to be excited to cross off more items on your bucket list on your next visit!
0 to 4 Points: Pocono Newbie
If you scored 0 to 4 points, you’re a Pocono Newbie! And that’s not a bad thing. Maybe you’ve been here to ski, visit a waterpark or see a waterfall, but there’s a whole lot more to explore. And if you scored a zero? That just means you’ve got a lot to look forward to!
And here’s why you might still be a Pocono Newbie, even after a few visits, the region is a whole lot bigger than most people realize.
The Pocono Mountains region is about the size of Delaware. Yes, the whole state of Delaware! It’s over 2,400 square miles and spans four counties: Monroe, Pike, Wayne and Carbon. In fact, if you were to drive the perimeter of the region, it would take about 5 1/2 hours over 220 miles.
A majority of visitors only go to Monroe County. To be fair, that’s where many of the region’s best-known attractions are but there are so many places to venture beyond. And take it from me…
Here’s an embarrassing confession. I’d been visiting since I was a teenager, but when we bought our first short-term rental in 2022, I realized how little I’d actually explored. My experience of the Poconos was pretty much skiing at Camelback or Shawnee, hiking Bushkill Falls and dining in downtown Stroudsburg. I thought that was what this whole destination was about. Turns out it has much more to offer.
So, I set out to change my Newbie status. I studied the PMVB Travel Guide like a self-help book to spiritual enlightenment. What started as exploring places to recommend to guests turned into discovering a whole new side of the Poconos I didn’t know yet. I’ve found new favorite places, tried things I never would have thought to try and made some core memories with my family and friends along the way. And I’m still exploring because the fun never ends.
So to my Newbs and Enthusiasts, I challenge you to up your game! Can you earn at least one or two more points on your next weekend getaway?
What’s next on your quest to become a Pocono Pro… maybe it’s a ski resort, a waterpark, a waterfall, a state park, a scenic train ride, a charming downtown, a brewery or winery, or a historic place? Now that you have a few new adventures in mind, here are the properties I’d recommend as your home base for exploring these places.
Hopskip Home Modern Chalet: Camelback, Kalahari, Jack Frost, Hickory Run State Park, Tobyhanna State Park, Gouldsboro State Park, Jim Thorpe, Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Asa Packer Mansion Museum
Hopskip Home Retro Chalet: Bushkill Falls, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Milford, Stroudsburg, Pocono Snake & Animal Farm
Hopskip Home Designer & Luxury Chalets: Camelback, Shawnee, Kalahari, Aquatopia, Big Pocono State Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Stroudsburg, Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm
Lakelyn Lodge: Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley, Honesdale, Stourbridge Train Line, Promised Land State Park, Prompton State Park, Claws N Paws, Dorflinger Glass Museum
-Krista
P.S. So, how did you do? I’d love to know your score and what you’re planning to explore next. And if you discovered something on this list that you didn’t even know existed, well, that’s exactly what this blog is all about!
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