The Journal
39 Stories · Travel Guides & Local Expertise
2026
October 19
A Couples Weekend at Lake Harmony, PA: The Complete Itinerary
Lake Harmony pairs a natural lake with an actual lake-town's worth of dining, golf, and nightlife. Here's how to spend a couples weekend there.
October 19
October 16
Camelback Resort Activity Guide: Everything It Offers in One Place
Skiing and snow tubing in winter, an outdoor waterpark in summer, an adventure park from spring to fall and an indoor waterpark and arcade all year. Here's what Camelback offers, season by season.
October 16
October 11
Indoor Waterparks in the Pocono Mountains: Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge and Aquatopia Compared
Three big indoor waterparks within a few miles of each other off I-80 and I-380, how they differ, which sell day passes, and the smaller one at Split Rock that's closed for now.
October 11
October 10
Pocono Mountain ATV and UTV Tours, Rentals and Where You Can Ride
Six ATV and UTV operators in and near the Poconos, mapped and compared by what each is best known for, plus the Pennsylvania rules that decide where you can ride.
October 10
October 10
28 Best Things to Do in the Pocono Mountains
From Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall to a 16,000-acre state park, here's what's actually worth your time in the Pocono Mountains — organized by what kind of day you want.
October 10
October 10
Poconos Coffee Festival at Blue Mountain Resort: Tickets, Roasters and What to Know
A one-day coffee festival at the base of Blue Mountain Resort, with a sampling passport, seven local roasters and live music, plus how to pair it with fall foliage.
October 10
October 9
The Complete Guide to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Jim Thorpe packs a Victorian coal-boom downtown, six wineries and breweries, a scenic railway, and a strange naming story into one walkable town. Here's what's actually there.
October 9
October 8
Pocono Fall Festivals: Dates for October and Early November 2026
A week-by-week guide to Pocono fall festivals from now through early November 2026, with dates, venues and admission.
October 8
October 8
Best Fall Foliage Drives in the Poconos, With Overlook and Coffee Stops
Four fall foliage drives through the Poconos, each built around a real overlook and a coffee stop, with timing and safety tips for leaf-peeping season.
October 8
October 4
All Aboard: Scenic Railway Rides for Fall Foliage in the Pocono Mountains
A vintage train through the Lehigh Gorge, an excursion line out of Honesdale, and Scranton's steam yard: three rail rides worth planning an October weekend around, plus what to do before and after.
October 4
September 21
The Pocono Reserve Score: How We Actually Rate Restaurants
The Reserve Score summarizes each restaurant's public Google rating and review count on a 0 to 100 scale. Here is exactly how it is weighted, what the bands mean, and what it can't tell you.
September 21
September 20
The Pocono Breakfast Guide for People Who Have Somewhere to Be
Before you hit a Pocono trailhead or lake, you need to know where to eat — not where to linger.
September 20
September 19
The Fall Weekend Waiting Past the Lake Towns
Most leaf-peepers never make it past the lake towns. This is what's waiting for the ones who do.
September 19
September 18
The Highest-Rated Restaurant in the Poconos Isn't a Restaurant
The highest-rated restaurant in the Poconos isn't a restaurant. It's a coffee roastery in Honesdale with a 5/5 on Google.
September 18
September 17
The Ski Resort That Turns Into a State Park Every Fall
Most people drive right past this mountain — it's a ski resort in disguise most of the year, and fall is the one season it turns into something else entirely.
September 17
September 15
The Best Fall Weekend in Pennsylvania Might Be Entirely on Foot
This might be the best fall weekend in Pennsylvania — and you can do most of it on foot.
September 15
September 14
The Lake That Doesn't Make You Choose
Most lakes make you choose: quiet water or a real night out. Wallenpaupack doesn't.
September 14
September 13
Skip the Slopes for a Minute: The Working Farm Near White Haven That Trades Trail Rides for Sleigh Rides Every Winter
Most people plan a Pocono winter weekend around skiing and never learn there's a working farm nearby swapping trail rides for sleigh rides once the snow hits.
September 13
September 11
The Best View in the Poconos Isn't on a Trail — It's 1,000 Feet Above One
Most people plan their Pocono trip around overlooks and trailheads. They never look up.
September 11
August 13
Indoor Things to Do in the Poconos: Rainy and Snow Days
Three indoor water parks, an arcade with laser tag and escape rooms, tasting rooms, theaters, coal mine tours and museums: what to do in the Poconos when it rains or snows, sorted by season.
August 13
August 8
The Best Waterfall Hikes in the Pocono Mountains
From a 25-foot cascade inside Hickory Run to Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall near Milford, the Poconos hold a real cluster of waterfall hikes — most short enough to fit into a single afternoon.
August 8
August 8
The Complete Guide to Big Pocono State Park
A three-state view from the summit of Camelback Mountain, reachable by a 1.4-mile paved drive, plus 6.8 miles of trails, history and what to know before you go.
August 8
August 8
The Complete Guide to Beltzville State Park: Beach, Trails and Lake
A 949-acre lake behind a flood-control dam, a 525-foot sand beach, ten named trails and two boat launches, five miles east of Lehighton. What to do at Beltzville, season by season, and where to eat nearby.
August 8
August 8
The Complete Guide to Lehigh Gorge State Park: Rail-Trail, Rafting and History
A steep-walled river gorge with a 26-mile rail-trail, Class III whitewater and two centuries of coal, canal and railroad history. What to do in Lehigh Gorge State Park, what's closed, and how to plan a day.
August 8
August 8
The Complete Guide to Hickory Run State Park: Boulder Field, Trails and Camping
A 16-acre field of boulders, a 25-foot waterfall, more than 40 miles of trails, a lake beach and a 300-site campground, all in one Carbon County park. What to see at Hickory Run, how to hike it, and how to stay safe.
August 8
August 8
Gouldsboro State Park Guide: Lake, Trails and History
A 250-acre lake with electric-motors-only boating, a sand beach, short trails and a past as an ice-harvesting site. What to do at Gouldsboro State Park, how to get there, and what to know before you go.
August 8
August 8
Tobyhanna State Park Guide: Lake, Camping and Trails
A 170-acre lake with a sand beach, boat rentals and a 140-site campground, on land that began as a military reservation. What to do at Tobyhanna State Park, what to know about old artillery shells, and how to plan a trip.
August 8
August 8
Promised Land State Park Guide: Lakes, Camping and Trails
Two lakes with electric-motors-only boating, seven camping areas, 12 rustic CCC cabins, nesting bald eagles and about 50 miles of trails, inside a 12,464-acre state forest. What to do at Promised Land State Park, and when.
August 8
August 7
Pocono Thrill Seekers: 10 Adrenaline Activities, Sorted by Type
Zip lines, a mountain coaster, Lehigh River rapids, tandem skydiving, guided ATV tours, paintball, race weekends and a sunrise balloon flight. Ten Poconos adrenaline activities, sorted by type, with what to confirm before you book.
August 7
August 6
The Pocono Events Calendar: Festivals Worth Building a Trip Around
From Jim Thorpe's month of fall foliage weekends to a riverside farmers market that runs every Friday all summer, these are the recurring Pocono events worth timing a stay around.
August 6
August 6
Pocono Wineries and Breweries: 24 Stops, Sorted by Type
A farm winery and cidery, a Jim Thorpe session-ale taproom, an all-in-one wine, beer and spirits farm and 21 more stops. Pocono wineries and breweries sorted by type and town, plus how to visit responsibly.
August 6
August 6
Pocono Ski Resorts Compared: 7 Areas by Trails and Vertical
Camelback, Blue Mountain, Montage, Shawnee, Jack Frost, Big Boulder and Ski Big Bear compared by trails, vertical drop, lifts and terrain, plus who each one suits and the safety basics before you ski.
August 6
August 6
Pocono Shopping Guide: Outlets, Antiques and Small-Town Shops
A guide to Pocono shopping sorted by type and town: the Tannersville outlets, Jim Thorpe's Broadway, the Hawley Silk Mill, antique malls, farm markets, and what to know about Pennsylvania sales tax before you buy.
August 6
August 6
Pocono Golf Courses: 12 Compared by Type and Setting
Shawnee Inn, Split Rock, Jack Frost National, Mount Airy, Skytop, Hideaway Hills and six more Pocono golf courses compared by type, holes and setting, plus the lightning, heat and tick basics for a round.
August 6
August 6
Family Things to Do in the Poconos, From Water Parks to Mines
Water parks, mountain coasters, vintage trains, coal mine tours and ski lessons, sorted by type with seasons and drive times, so a family can plan one big day around a quiet lake weekend.
August 6
August 6
The Best Historical Sites in the Pocono Mountains
Eight historical sites in the Poconos, from a Victorian railroad mansion to a working steam yard, with admission and seasonal notes for each.
August 6
August 6
The Best Hikes in the Pocono Mountains
We ranked every trail in our guide by its real AllTrails rating and pulled the ten highest — from a 4.8-rated waterfall loop in the Delaware Water Gap to a rail-trail carved along the Lehigh Gorge.
August 6
August 5
The Best Restaurants in the Pocono Mountains
Dining out in the Poconos is intensely local — the best table is almost always the one closest to whichever lake you're staying near. Here's our list, lake by lake.
August 5
August 5
Best Time to Visit the Poconos, Month by Month
October for foliage, July for lakes, January and February for skiing, and spring or November for quiet trips: official month-by-month weather normals for Mount Pocono and what's open or happening in each month.
August 5