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The
Pocono Mountains, in the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania (map),
have been a popular honeymoon hotspot for decades! Often called
"The Honeymoon Capital of the World," it is estimated that
200,000 honeymooners
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visit
the area each year. The Poconos are renowned for
heart-shaped tubs - the first originated at Morris B. Wilkin's resort
Cove Haven which is now part of the Caesars
Pocono Resorts.
Aside
from heart-shaped tubs, The Pocono Mountains have a lot more to offer.
In addition to some excellent all-inclusive honeymoon packages at
first- class resorts such as Caesars, the Poconos offers a wide range
of fun things to do, both indoors and out, from hiking and skiing to
snuggling in front of a fireplace.
The
Pocono Mountains comprise over 2,400 square miles over four counties
in Pennsylvania. There are many state parks in the Poconos, 501
lakes, 18 waterfalls, numerous ski areas and many special events
throughout the year from a Blues Festival held each July at Big
Boulder/Jack Frost to the Pocono Garlic Festival in Stroudsburg in
August. In fact, there are so many things to do in the area that
you could visit many times and never do the same thing twice!
What
makes the Poconos particularly attractive, especially if you live in
Southern New Jersey, is that if you choose to spend your honeymoon in
the Poconos you won't need a rental car since you can drive there
easily. You could also, if you choose, scope out the area ahead of
time! From Atlantic City it takes only 3-4 hours to get there
depending on your route and traffic.
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Weather:
The weather in the Poconos can be substantially cooler than South
Jersey. If you go in the summer, evenings can be really cool
even in August due to the higher elevation, so be sure to bring some
warm clothes just in case. Check out the weather in the
Poconos on the weather
and wildlife cam at this scenic location in the woods.
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Swimming
& Watersports:
In the Poconos there are many beautiful lakes for swimming
throughout the area. The largest lake is Lake
Wallenpaupack in Hawley. Fishing and boating are also popular
throughout the area. At all-inclusive resorts, many
watersports are included in your package. For a fun day
excursion you might want to rent a canoe or kayak. There are
many places that offer rentals throughout the Poconos. In the
Delaware Water Gap Region you can rent a canoe or kayak for a
romantic ride down the Delaware. Most rental places will drop
you off and pick you up at the end of your trip. Canoeing or
kayaking the Delaware is a very scenic way to see a gorgeous part of
The Poconos and there are lots of great places to stop along the way
if you want to bring a picnic lunch along in your canoe or kayak.
Most places offer trips of varying length. I would recommend a
three hour trip (vs. 1 hour) since the rental price is almost the
same for a shorter trip. Our cost last summer for a three hour
rental on the weekend was $70 for two people. Mid-week rates
are often lower and you can also find discount coupons for canoe
rentals and other attractions if you stop at a local diner or rest
area.
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Hiking:
The Poconos are really a hikers paradise. If you would like to
hike among waterfalls a nice choice is Bushkill
Falls. Last summer the price was $8 for adults, and the
place is quite popular among visitors to the area. For more
secluded hikes you might try one of the state parks such as Promised
Land State Park. Even in mid-summer you can find secluded
and romantic spots for hiking or a picnic lunch. Or, check out
the Pennsylvania guide
to the area's parks. This site also has links to each
individual park so you can check out all the activities available. 
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Skiing:
In the winter, the Pocono Mountains have a large number of excellent
ski resorts including Big Boulder/Jack Frost, Alpine Mountain,
Camelback and Shawnee.. Most of the ski areas (map
of the ski areas) offer more than just skiing however, including
great snowboarding and snowtubing! In January, usually the
first week, many of the resorts also have "Learn to Ski
Free" Days. In the summertime, many of the ski areas
remain open with special summer
festivals and events! For more details on skiing the
poconos, the best site we found that covers all the ski areas - skipoconos.com.
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Other
Activities:
Horseback riding can be another great honeymoon outing. There
are stables in the area that offer horseback riding - check the A
to Z Directory of the Official Pocono Mountains web site for
details on area stables. For golfing, just a few of the public
golf courses in the area include an 18-hole course at The
Shadowbrook Resort and an 18-hole course at Woodloch Springs in
Hawley, PA.
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Dining:
If you are staying at an all-inclusive honeymoon resort, most, if
not all of your meals will be included, depending on where you stay.
If you're staying at a Bed and Breakfast, motel or cabin, there are
plenty of great restaurants to choose from. One of the best
guides to Pocono
restaurants we found on the internet sorts the restaurants by
area, since the Poconos are so large. In Hawley, a great
restaurant for romantic dining is Erhardt's which overlooks Lake
Wallenpaupack. The sunset on the deck is fantastic and you can
enjoy food or cocktails on the deck while the sun sets. In the
summertime they sometimes have entertainment on the deck as well.
Food is reasonably priced and very good. A popular spot in the
Delaware Water Gap area around Bushkill is Alaska
Pete's. Looking for a brewpub??? Check out Barley
Creek Brewing Company in Tannersville.
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Nightlife:
You'll find nightly entertainment at many of the top Resorts in the
Poconos - acts such as Jay Leno, Dennis Miller and Bobby Vinton.
If you're staying at an all-inclusive honeymoon resort you may find
special activities just for honeymooners that are more appealing!
If rock is more your taste, (Vinton isn't really my thing...), Montage
Mountain draws top rock bands like Sting and The Allman Brothers
during the summer months. If you just want to catch a movie,
check local papers for local movie theaters as well as local clubs
that may offer entertainment by local musicians. For an
in-depth look at some ideas for nightlife check out the Insiders
Guide to the Poconos section on nightlife.
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Shopping:
One of the best places to shop in The Poconos is The
Crossings Factory Stores in Tannersville, PA. This outlet
center features over 96 retail stores featuring top names from Ann
Taylor and The Gap to Tommy Hilfiger. In Milford, Pa, there
are many antique stores including The Forest Hall Antique Center on
Broad Street. Throughout the Poconos, however, you can also
find many quaint little shops and stores and great places for
antiqueing just by driving around the area. Example:Somewhere
around Hawley we found a great little used book and miscellaneous
antiques and collectibles shop on one of our visits.
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Special
Events:
The
Pocono Blues Festival, usually held in July at Big Boulder/Jack
Frost, features top name blues greats for two days of great
entertainment. Some of the other events held during the summer
at Big Boulder include an Irish Festival, The Pocono American Roots
Music Festival featuring folk, zydeco, rockabilly music and The
Gathering on the Mountain - featuring '60s rock legends and
improvisational '60s-inspired rock. For a complete calendar of
events in the Poconos check out the Pocono
Mountain Insiders Guide Calendar of Events.
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Where
to Stay:
The most popular places for honeymooners are resorts such as Caesars
and Mount Airy Lodge which offer all-inclusive honeymoon packages.
(We keep mentioning Caesars because through this site you can save
10% off a honeymoon stay at any one of the 4 Caesars Resorts)
Other nice choices include bed and breakfasts, guest houses and
private properties such as lakefront cottages. And sure, you
could go camping on your honeymoon, it can even be a lot of fun for
a weekend visit, but really for a honeymoon??? Well, that's up to
you. A great place to get ideas on lodging is at About.com in
their section on Accommodations
in the Poconos.
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What
to Pack:
Rather than include a complete list - just a few essentials -
sunscreen, hiking shoes, warm clothes and insect repellant would be
top on the list. Even in the summer, it seems to get cold at
night - at least compared with South Jersey. If you're headed
to the Poconos during winter - be sure to include chapstick and
winter gear.
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When
to Go:
The Poconos are a great place to visit almost any time of year.
Summer and early-fall would be my top two choices followed by
mid-winter when the ski areas are in full operation or late spring
when the leaves start coming out on the trees.
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Links:
You'll find all the links from this article as well as many
additional links to useful information about the Poconos.
Free
Brochures:
Pocono
Mountain Visitors Guide - click on link to get your brochure or
call 1-800-Poconos.
Caesars
Pocono Resorts - Choose from their Honeymoon Planning Kit or
Romantic Weekend Getaway.
Sources:
Numerous internet sites, personal visits and Pennsylvania
Handbook by Joanne Miller.
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Check out some of our many honeymoon articles on everything from
cruises to all-inclusive resorts.
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