Frances Slocum State Park
Dense hardwood forests run side-by-side with wet marshlands and a tranquil horseshoe-shaped lake in this 1,000-acre state park located just outside the Wyoming borough, an hour away drive by car from the Pocono Mountains. The area provides several miles of trail systems for hiking and biking opportunities through its stunning wooded landscapes, and watersports like kayaking and canoeing in the summertime. In winter, when the landscape freezes over, ice-fishing and skating take over as the area's primary form of recreation, ensuring the park has activities to enjoy year-round. During your visit keep an eye open for the various wildlife that call this park home, such as the salmandors wading through the grass and waters, or the dragonflies buzzing around.
Asa Packer Mansion
Constructed in 1861, this Italian villa-inspired home-turned-museum is registered with the U.S. Park Service as a National Historic Landmark for the original owner’s contributions to the founding of Lehigh University. The home has been intentionally unrestored over the years, meaning the original 19th-century Victorian furnishings and adornments remain as they were when the house was inhabited. The museum is open to the public and includes three stories, 18 rooms, and over 18,000 feet of living space.
Whitewater Rafting
Despite the Pocono’s reputation as a honeymoon getaway, the area has been attracting adventurous travelers in droves for decades. Today most outfitters are centered on a stretch of the Lehigh River in between Scranton and Allentown, with rapids ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced levels. Trips can run from short tours down the river to full-day excursions through designated wilderness areas with wild and untamed forests, waterfalls, and cliffs lining the water.