Poconos: Close by, but a world away | Travel opinion
By Nicole Pensiero
With summer memories fading into the distance of my mental rear-view window – and winter looming not far down the road — I knew the time was right for a little autumn getaway with friends. But instead of our annual, museum-themed “girls’ road trip” to Washington, DC, we wanted to experience someplace outdoorsy, where we could truly savor the season’s brilliant colors and temperate weather.
The Poconos seemed to fit the bill: a less than two-hour drive from the Philadelphia region, with plenty to see and do – shopping, entertainment, and scenic beauty would all be on the agenda. We decided on a two-night stay at the well-established Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pa., which offered an array of activities and what turned out to be the perfect accommodations for our group of four.
Arriving at Split Rock, we had no idea that the resort was as large as it is (1,200-plus square miles), so we stopped at the first building we spotted: the original, lakeside 70-room hotel lodge, which opened in 1941. We were politely informed that our accommodations – spacious condominium-style suites in the Willowbrook section of the resort – could be found a few minutes up the road, after checking in at what is called Split Rock’s Town Center/Galleria.
Town Center is the resort’s activities hub, housing everything from more than 150 hotel rooms and suites, a massive indoor water park (that’s open to the public), a spacious indoor pool, a bowling alley and even a movie theatre. It’s also where you can enjoy both breakfast and dinner at the formal restaurant (the Split Rock Grille) or a quick bite at the nearby snack bar. There’s also a casual lounge and bar there.
After checking in – and checking out the many goings-on in the Town Center – we arrived at our spacious (and spotless) suites, each equipped with a full kitchen, gas fireplace, air-jet bathtub and small balcony. For $158 a night per suite, we were more than pleased. In fact, the setup couldn’t have been any better for our late-night girl gabs, which were highlighted by facials, tarot card readings and a few bottles of merlot.
That was preceded by a delicious and reasonably priced gourmet dinner at the spacious (yet sparsely decorated) Split Rock Grill, with many of the menu items locally sourced from area farms). We even enjoyed a surprisingly fun round of Jeopardy – one of many evening activities offered during our stay. (Split Rock provides its guests with a listing of the week’s activities, which reminded me a bit of being on a cruise ship, complete with an activities director to oversee things).
After breakfast the following morning, we set off on our full-day adventure to nearby Jim Thorpe, Pa. Originally called Mauch Chunk, the small town of Jim Thorpe (population 4,7000) took its current name in 1953 in honor of the famed Native-American 1912 Olympian. It’s been quite nicely dubbed “The Switzerland of America” for its sweeping vistas and old-world charm. We stumbled, quite by accident, into the town’s very popular Fall Festival (held the first three weekends in October), complete with crafts, food and live music. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll uphill along the main street, visiting nearly a dozen stores, ranging from antiques to trendy fashion and health food shops.
I’d been to Jim Thorpe before – it’s a very popular spot for white-water rafting — but had never seen the actual Jim Thorpe Memorial, where the late sports icon is buried. While Thorpe’s family has tried for several years to have his body returned to his native Oklahoma, I was impressed by how revered Thorpe is in this town that he apparently never even visited. There’s an interesting array of placards and photographs that tell Thorpe’s life story, as well as two life-like statues at the memorial, which located in a lush, wooded area outside of the town’s main commercial district.
Another worthwhile stop in Jim Thorpe is the impressive Asa Packer Mansion, home of philanthropist/railroad magnate/Lehigh University founder Asa Packer. A docent-guided tour of the 1861 home, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is $10 for adults; seniors and children get a discount.
While the Poconos region encompasses a four-county area almost the size of Delaware, we spent our weekend within a 45-minute range of Split Rock. But, for those wanting to discover more, the Poconos offer everything from skiing, to outlet malls to, yes, even a few resorts with those still-talked-about heart-shaped tubs.
The former Honeymoon Capital of the World, the Poconos —re-branded a few years ago by its tourism board as the Pocono Mountains — has worked to solidify its updated image as a year-round, family-friendly destination that offers many “hip” options … from farm-to-table dining, paddle boarding and luxury spas.
Split Rock also bills itself as a “four season” resort, with everything from an 18-hole miniature golf course (not to mention a real one); 2 indoor pools, an outdoor pool, swimming lagoon, tennis courts, paddleboats and nearby skiing (Jack Frost/Big Boulder is just up the street). Throughout our weekend stay, I kept thinking about how much fun it must be to visit in the summer, when Lake Harmony is abuzz with activities for resort guests.
Coming up at Split Rock in November is the 25th Annual Great Brews Beer Festival, Nov. 21-22nd (12 noon to 4 p.m. both days). Tickets are $40 per person, and include admission and a souvenir tasting glass. There are also VIP tickets with early admission for a private tasting, and Beer Pairing Dinner (only offered Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21) at Split Rock’s Lake View Tavern. The following weekend is the first-ever Black Friday Crafts Fair (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 28th and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29th).
Before heading back home to New Jersey, we asked the Split Rock front desk staff if there really is a split rock – and if so, where we could find it. Ends up that this legendary rock was only a five-minute drive from the resort’s original lodge, straight up — you guessed it – Split Rock Road. The massive nature structure is about 70,000 years old and was result of the last ice sheet that covered the earth. There’s a lookout station just feet away that gives a sweeping view of the Carbon County region.
On the ride home, we talked excitedly about how much more there is to the Poconos than we ever knew – and how we had only gotten a taste of what the region offered. We’re already thinking about another road trip to explore more when the weather warms up again.
For more information about the Pocono Mountains, visit the official tourism portal at www.poconomountains.com or call -800-POCONOS (1-800-762-6667).
Nicole Pensiero is a South Jersey-based freelance travel writer and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association.
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