If you're heading to the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, a number of resorts--designed for families and for couples--can be found in the tiny town of Tannersville or nearby. The 2,400-square-mile Poconos region offers scenery, mountains, golf courses, more than 150 lakes and rivers. The resorts in the area are designed to keep visitors busy with activities that include water parks, sports of every kind, skiing, entertainment and swimming pools.
The Chateau Resort and Conference Center is a AAA 3 Diamond hotel at the bottom of Camelback Mountain in the Pocono Mountains. The Chateau offers 152 guest rooms, and 38 of those are two-level loft suites. The Chateau provides high-speed wireless Internet access and coffeemakers in all rooms, and features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, a bocce ball court and a shuffleboard court. The resort is home to the Mountainview Bar & Grille, an American-style restaurant that is child-friendly. In 2010, Rates start at $119 for a garden view double, up to $194 for a two-level suite. The Chateau also offers a ski and stay package at $82.50 per person, midweek, or at $117 per person weekends, which includes accommodations and all-day ski lift tickets to Camelback Mountain for each person. The resort's shop and stay package, at $75 per person midweek, which includes accommodations, breakfast, and a $25 gift card at the nearby Crossings Premium Outlets®, a factory outlet mall.
Chateau Resort and Conference Center
300 Camelback Rd
Tannersville, PA 18372
(800) 245-5900
chateauresort.com
While not exactly a resort, the Ramada Limited Pocono is five minutes from the Mount Airy Casino and Resort, and is close to Camelback Mountain and the popular Camelbeach Water Park. The Ramada has an indoor heated pool, complimentary continental breakfast buffet and wireless high-speed Internet access. The hotel includes standard guest rooms and larger suites with Jacuzzis and fireplaces. In 2010, rates range from $84 to $199 per night.
Ramada Limited Tannersville Pocono
State Hwy 715 & I-80 Exit #299
Tannersville, PA 18372
(570) 629-4100
ramada.com
If you'd like to stay for longer than a couple of days and want the feel of a vacation home, you might consider the Camelback Mountain Resort, which is actually a rental agency that provides about 80 luxury home and townhome rentals right on the scenic ski area, Camelback Mountain. In the winter months, you can stay close to Camelback, a ski resort that offers 24 ski trails and 15 lifts. In the summer, you can stay in a townhouse close to Camelbeach Waterpark. These rentals are good for holidays, weekend stays and weeklong vacations. The good news is that you'll have a complete vacation home, with kitchens, multiple bedrooms, linens and more. In 2010, townhouse units, most at three and four bedrooms, rent for anywhere from $200 to $400 a night in winter and spring months, and $200 to $300 per night in the summer months.
Camelback Mountain Resort
1 Camelback Road
Tannersville, PA 18372
(570) 629-1661
camelbackrentals.info
This 20-acre family-owned resort appeals strictly to families. The guest rooms are simple, but kids can sing around the campfire every night, take some hayrides and enjoy a weenie roast. Located in Swiftwater, just outside Tannersville, Chestnut Grove specializes in keeping kids busy. Activities include swimming in the resort's outdoor swimming pool, fishing lessons at an on-site lake stocked with large-mouth bass, shuffleboard, horseshoes, archery lessons, bocce, tennis and evening entertainment. You can book a poolside cottage, a lakeside two-room suite or rooms in the main lodge. All guests are served breakfast and dinner each day, which is included in the room rate. Summer rates at the Chestnut Grove range from $200 to $300 a night, depending on your room.
Chestnut Grove Resort
Carlton & Red Rock Roads
Swiftwater, PA 18370
(570) 839-3656
chestnutgrove.com
Great Wolf Lodge, one mile from Tannersville, in the nearby town of Scotrun, is an expensive, top-of-the-line family resort with a huge indoor waterpark. Rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge are "rustic but elegant," and all are family suites that can sleep between four and eight guests. The waterpark is a staggering 78,000 square feet, and includes a wave pool, six swimming pools, 11 water slides and a lazy river. There are plenty of lifeguards on duty. Kids can play in the arcade and the MagiQuest fantasy game space. Food options include snack bars, dining rooms and Starbucks. In 2010, family suites range from $479.95 to $659.95 per night in the month of March and $319.95 to $499.95 in July.
Great Wolf Lodge
1 Great Wolf Drive
Scotrun, PA 18355
(866) 958-9653
greatwolf.com
Located five minutes from Tannersville, the Mount Airy Casino and Resort appeals to couples and to visitors who enjoy casinos, entertainment and luxury accommodations. The casino offers 2,500 slot machines and electronic table games including blackjack, poker and roulette. Mount Airy also boasts two bars and the Gypsies Lounge and Nightclub, with live entertainment (In the spring of 2010, entertainment includes Herman's Hermits, Gary Puckett and B.J. Thomas). Rooms at Mount Airy emphasize comfort, with pillowtop beds, goosedown comforters, LCD TVs, room service and walk-in showers. To pamper yourself, you can also book time at the spa and the salon. Mount Airy has five restaurants on-site. In 2010, rates range from $99 a night during the week to $249 a night on weekends.
Mount Airy Casino and Resort
44 Woodland Road
Mount Pocono, Pa 18344
(877) 682-4791
mountairycasino.com
