In the forests of rural Northeastern Pennsylvania, just a short drive from many of New England’s biggest cities, you’ll find the Pocono Mountains — a region full of scenic natural beauty, amazing year-round activities, and quaint ambiance, surrounded by lofty mountain peaks.
The Poconos have long been a sought-after destination for honeymoons and romantic couple’s getaways, thanks in part to the infamous heart-shaped bathtubs the area was known for in days gone by. A Poconos romantic getaway is the perfect way to spend some quality time with your soulmate.
Romance In The Poconos & The Heart-Shaped Tub
The Poconos emerged as a vacation destination in the early 20th century, but it wasn’t until the aftermath of World War II and the returning home of American troops en masse that the Poconos became synonymous with honeymooning. Thousands of veterans returned home and married their sweethearts, and they flocked to the mountainous retreat in large numbers.
By the early 1950s the high volume of couples utilizing the area had earned the Poconos the nickname “honeymoon capital of the world.” The early 1960s saw the introduction of the heart-shaped tub to the area, designed and built by a Poconos hotelier and entrepreneur. Before long the Poconos became synonymous with couples-only resorts filled with red shag carpet, heart-shaped beds, mirrored walls and ceilings, and the infamous heart-shaped jetted bathtub, which reigned supreme in the area for more than three decades.
It may not appeal to modern sensibilities, but in its heyday, the heart-shaped tub brought the Poconos to the forefront of couple’s travel — it was edgy, it was new, and it epitomized the romance of the time.
Do People Still Honeymoon In The Poconos?
Fast forward to today and the era of the heart-shaped tub has passed, but the Poconos are still one of the top destinations for a romantic getaway in the U.S. Couples seeking a romantic atmosphere with lots of scenic beauty still flock to the Poconos regularly, helping the area to keep up its reputation as a top spot for a romantic retreat.
Its proximity to major metropolitan areas have helped the Poconos to maintain their status as a popular destination for weddings, honeymoons, second honeymoons, and babymoons. A quick internet search will bring up hundreds of results for Poconos romantic getaways, minus the now out-of-fashion heart-shaped tub of course (with a few exceptions).
The area is regularly frequented by celebrities and East-Coast elites looking to escape the urban hustle and relax with their special someone. And they’re not the only ones — roughly 30 million people visit the area each year, many of them seeking a Poconos couple’s getaway.
Best Time To Go To The Poconos
There really is no bad time to go to the Poconos. It truly is an all-season vacation destination, and each season brings a slew of enjoyable activities. The main factor to help determine when to go to the Poconos is what type of activities you and your other half are looking for.
For outdoorsy couples, the summer months are the best time for good hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor adventures. The summer is known for its good weather, with low rainfall and average temps in the 70s. The Poconos also host lots of special events in the summer, from food and wine festivals, to music festivals and art fairs, and also tons of rural county fairs.
On the other hand, for couples who love snow sports, winter is obviously the best time to plan a Poconos romantic getaway. The mountains get their fair share of snowfall, and December through February are great for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and more. You’ll also find lots of holiday-themed events around Christmas, New Years, and Valentine’s Day (just make sure to book well in advance for travel around those times).
Summer and winter are the two busiest seasons, as they tend to offer the most in the way of activities, but spring and fall aren’t to be overlooked. Spring is your typical off-peak season in the Poconos, which typically means lower crowds, lower pricing, and a quieter overall experience. Don’t think that means spring is boring, though — far from it. Spring in the Poconos brings new growth, blooming flowers, a wine festival, independent film festival, and even an airshow.
Fall is also a quieter time to visit, and it’s the best time for leaf-peeping and seeing the amazing fall colors in all their glory. Many couples who visit the Poconos in the fall enjoy a romantic hike or scenic drive to see the colorful falling leaves up close. You’ll also find many of the small towns host harvest festivals, complete with pumpkins, old-fashioned hayrides, and other autumn offerings. Each season offers its own delights for couples in the Poconos.
Best Activities For Couples In The Poconos
Whether you’re heading to the Poconos for a couple’s weekend away or a longer romantic interlude like a honeymoon, there are tons of great activities that you and your boo can enjoy together (like exploring a historic township — read more on that here). Whether you’re looking for an exciting outdoors adventure or a relaxing intimate retreat, rest assured the Poconos have what you’re looking for.
For many couples, spending time together in nature is a good way to relax and reconnect with one another. A hike is a great way to disconnect from life’s day-to-day hustle and just enjoy the glorious scenery with your soulmate. The Pocono Mountains are full of hiking paths and trails, and the area is well known for its abundance of wildlife and waterfalls. Choose one of the myriad of hikes and meander through old-growth forests on your way to scenic mountain peaks, keeping your eyes peeled for white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, black bears, and bald eagles.
For a short, leisurely hike, Shohola Falls Trail is a perfect choice. It’s just less than one mile round trip, and can be easily done in an hour or less, depending on how long you spend admiring the falls. The trail is picturesque, the falls (while small) are stunning, and the experience won’t kill your back or ankles. Tumbling Waters Trail offers a slightly more challenging hiking experience, but the reward is larger at the end. The trail is a 3-mile loop with slight elevation gain that meanders through forest and wetlands on its way to Tumbling Falls, which is comprised of a 20-foot and a 10-foot waterfall.
Tumbling Waters Trail is well-loved by many, and was named Pennsylvania’s best trail in 2019 by “Outside Magazine.” For a strenuous hike that’ll really get your heart pumping, try the Bald Mountain Loop Trail in the Lehigh Gorge State Park. This 8.5-mile loop leads to the top of Bald Mountain, offering stunning views of Lehigh Gorge and Lehigh River along the way. The forest is full of oak, hemlock, and maple trees, not to mention wild blueberries, rhododendron, and mountain laurel.
To experience the beauty of the mountains in a different way, horseback riding is a popular Poconos activity, and there are many family farms and stables that offer year-round guided horseback tours of the area’s trails. Mountain Creek Riding Stable offers group or private tours (perfect for an intimate couple’s experience), and the guide leads you to Paradise Valley, through burbling streams and wooded glens on the back of a gentle mare. Mountain Creek specializes in rides for beginners, so no experience is necessary.
Daisy Field Farm also offers guided horseback rides, but with different scenery. The farm and trails are situated on a privately-owned wildlife preserve, so you’re likely to see local fauna like wild turkeys and deer while you ride. Happy Trails Stable offers guided horseback rides, but for something a little different, you can book a private horse-drawn carriage or sleigh ride, depending on the season. Nothing says romance like an intimate ride in a carriage or sleigh surrounded by the beautiful Poconos scenery.
Moving indoors for a relaxing, pampering experience, the Poconos are known for their world-class destination spas, and many of them offer couple’s packages — the perfect intimate experience for you and your love. Relax together in the spa’s sauna or hot tub, enjoy a soothing couple’s massage in a serene setting, or try a couple’s aromatherapy or essential oils treatment. Many of the larger Poconos resorts have their own onsite spas, but for an amazing experience off-property, both Journey’s Day Spa and Serenity Spa offer couple’s packages to complement any Poconos couple’s getaway.
Any good couple’s retreat in the Poconos will involve a little culinary indulgence, and an evening of fine dining with a few candles and a gorgeous view of the mountains at sunset can really move things in the right direction. There are many amazing restaurants in the Poconos, but these three are among the best of the best.
The Frogtown Chophouse is on every “best of” Poconos list you can find. They are billed as a traditional steakhouse with a modern twist, and pride themselves on serving the finest cuts of meat in the area. Froghouse’s steaks start at an 8-ounce filet mignon and go all the way up to a 24-ounce rib eye (and they have vegetarian options, too).
For a classic night out, The French Manor Restaurant offers dinner by candle light, either indoors near one of two massive stone fireplaces or outdoors on their romantic terrace. Serving classic French dishes like coq au vin and escargot, this sophisticated establishment has the perfect ambiance for a night out with your love (evening attire required).
If farm-to-table dining and sustainable practices are your thing, Native is the restaurant for you and your sweetie. As much as possible, the menu at Native features fresh ingredients from local farmers, and everything is made from scratch in house. Try something new like venison osso buco or smoked duck rillette — you only live once, after all.
For indulgence of another kind, make sure to hit The Poconos Beverage Trail to sample the best libations from local wineries, breweries, and distilleries (and even a cidery!).
If you and your other half are adrenaline junkies, the Poconos have plenty of options for blood-pumping fun to keep the trip energetic and exciting for you both. For starters, there are multiple adventure parks in the area, but Camelback Mountain Adventures is the largest of the bunch. Featuring Pennsylvania’s only mountain coaster, a 4,000-foot tandem zipline (so you can hold hands), a tree-top ropes course, year-round snow-tubing, and ultimate terrain vehicle (UTV) driving, you’ll never run out of adventures at Camelback.
For a more pointed experience, axe throwing is a relatively new trend (unless you’re a lumberjack), and axe throwing venues are popping up all over the place. Again there are multiple options in the Poconos, but Pocono Axe Works is the only one to offer throwing with computer-generated targets and “glow and throw,” a blacklight-fueled glow-in-the-dark affair akin to cosmic bowling (only sharper).
For a real walk on the wild side, head to the Pocono Raceway for your chance to drive (or ride along while your significant other drives) an authentic 600-horsepower NASCAR stock car around NASCAR’s famous 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway. Each racing package includes all necessary safety gear plus a training session with a pro. No racing experience is necessary, just a valid driver’s license. You and your love will love the adrenaline-pumping options you’ll find in the Poconos.
When your romantic couple’s retreat in the Poconos is complete, consider bringing the kids or grandkids next time you visit. Read this fun article for more info on some of the fun family-friendly activities in the area.
Poconos Accommodations With RCI
These resorts are perfectly positioned for your next Poconos romantic getaway:
- Carriage House Country Club #DF04
- Fairway at Pocono Mountain Villas by Exploria Resorts #1760
- Great Wolf Lodge Poconos #RL33
- Quail Hollow Village at Beech Mountain Lakes #2071
- Snow Ridge Village by Sundance Vacations #DQ98
- Timbercreek at Big Valley #7914
- Woodfield Manor, a Sundance Vacations Property #RH52
- Club Wyndham Shawnee Village - Crestview #A969
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When planning your next Poconos vacation, RCI has you covered. Get started and learn more about your travel benefits today.
