The Top 5 Reasons to Visit the Poconos, Pennsylvania Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2022 • 4 min read
The Pocono Mountains offers four seasons of endless romance and adventure. The four-county region is famous for its natural scenic beauty and quaint, historic towns. A two-hour drive from both New York City and Philadelphia, the Poconos have long been a quintessential part of East Coast travel itineraries.
Image courtesy of Visit the Poconos
1. THE SHOPPING
Take to the small towns in the Pocono Mountains and explore the many family-run shops filled with gems. In the Pocono Mountains, shoppers of all sorts can indulge in their passion. Explore the many shops in and around Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Browse your way through charming boutiques and specialty stores lining the winding streets and alleys, like historic Stone Row along Race Street.
Image courtesy of Visit the Poconos
Find artistic creations and browse holiday decorations available any time of year. With its variety of locally owned stores, galleries and boutiques—shopping in Jim Thorpe is a great shopping destination any time of year. A day spent strolling the sidewalks of Jim Thorpe is sure to result in at least a few shopping bags.
2. THE ART
The Stabin Museum in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is located in a circa 1846 factory built over a creek that houses the work of Victor Stabin—which includes paintings, drawings, animations, books, furniture and much, much, more. The alluring, natural stone building with its dense, forested backdrop serve as the perfect setting for a whimsical journey through the twists and turns of the artistic mind.
The Stabin Museum in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
The art of Victor Stabin is an homage to the arc of art history from the influences of centuries-old Japanese watercolor print artists to contemporary graphic arts. The Dynasty and Arisman Galleries at The Stabin Museum contains the work of his children and students.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Located in the heart of the Poconos, Butter serves up chef-driven, creative cuisine with a twist on the classics. Coupled with an attentive staff and a cozy atmosphere, this hidden gem is in the elegant The Frogtown Inn for an overnight getaway. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Apple Spiced Martini—concocted with vodka, fresh squeezed lemon juice, sparkling apple cider, cinnamon syrup, and cinnamon sugar rim.
Butter at The Frogtown Inn Canadensis, Pennsylvania
With a constantly changing menu, Butter specializes in creating new classics. Truly the best casual, refined fine dining in the Poconos, favorite dishes include Chocolate & Beet Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Grilled Taleggio Cheese with crispy pork belly and stewed tomatoes, as well as Butter Seared Cod with white bean purée and shaved truffles.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent desserts such as the Foie Gras & Truffle Bomb. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Grey Towers, a circa 1886 French chateau-style mansion designed by famed architect Richard Morris Hunt for James and Mary Pinchot, features a self-guided landscape tour. In the Walled Garden, a black locust-lined allée greets you through the original 19th-century carriageway. Added in 1924, the Long Garden and the Long Pool further extend the East Terrace and the expanse of the sculpted landscape.
Grey Towers in Milford, Pennsylvania
Facing Grey Towers from the East Terrace, you can image when the family opened the French doors of the library to allow air to flow throughout the house. In the niche you will see a bust of the Marquis de Lafayette, evidence of James’s pride in his French heritage. The large trees flanking the Terrace are European Copper Beeches, Gifford Pinchot’s favorite tree. Slow-growing estate trees, they remain living examples of his conservation principle of planting for the future.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Situated in Milford, Pennsylvania—The Columns is a circa 1904 bold Neo-classical 22-room mansion with pristine white paint. The property features two floors of historical exhibits that detail the people, places, and things that make up the history of Pike County.
Image courtesy of Visit the Poconos
The most prized holding at The Columns includes a 36-star flag, which was draped over the balustrade of the Presidential Box at Ford's Theater the night Lincoln was shot.
WHERE TO STAY IN THE POCONOS, PENNSYLVANIA
Home to renowned, chef-driven Butter Bistro—The Frogtown Inn is nestled in the hemlock laden village of Canadensis, right in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Here, you will enjoy an intimate getaway with elegant accommodations complimented by a delicious gourmet breakfast, all within the comfort of a beautifully restored historic farmhouse. The classically restored Inn features sixteen rooms, each with a private bathroom.
