Homey Lodge in the Heart of the Pocono Mountains

Spring in the Poconos means golfing at more than a dozen courses, fishing for trout, bass, or pickerel, and whitewater rafting down the Delaware River. Or, it could mean spending the weekend taking in nature, or relaxing in your jacuzzi or warming up next to the fireplace. Either way, Crescent Lodge & Country Inn's jacuzzi cottages, fireplace cottages, and queen rooms make a welcoming mountain retreat for city dwellers in need of an escape.

Each room at the inn is different—the queen inn rooms are spacious, with a subdued floral motif. In the jacuzzi cottages, honey-colored wood walls line the rooms, and sunken jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces add touches of luxury. Though the fireplace cottages don’t have jacuzzis, each comes with plenty of space and windows to look out onto the tree-lined surroundings.

At night, the inn’s restaurant offers live piano music on weekends to accompany dishes such as veal gruyere and chilean sea bass. In the morning, a continental country breakfast awaits—perfect fuel for hikers and mountain explorers, or maybe just a prelude to kicking back with the first books on your reading list.

Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains: Hiking, Trout Fishing, and Quaint, Historical Towns

The Poconos region of northeastern Pennsylvania accounts for some 2,400 square miles of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forests. The area has been a popular vacation destination ever since Pennsylvania Quakers opened a hotel here on the Delaware River in 1829. Today, the Poconos draw nearly 24 million annual visitors, thanks to year-round recreational opportunities and spectacular natural scenery.

The warmer months are a great time to explore the region’s lakes and wooded hills. For spectacular hikes, check out Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, where you can trek to dramatic waterfalls or follow a 27-mile section of the historic Appalachian Trail. Throughout the region are dozens of lakes and streams filled with bass and trout. Lake Wallenpaupack, located 30 miles east of Scranton, is one of the best fishing spots in the state.

There are diversions outside of hiking and fishing, too. A handful of quaint little towns full of antique shops and galleries nestle in the mountains. You'll find boutique wine galleries and historical mansions tucked away on country roads, including the late 19th-century Asa Packer Mansion, located 45 minutes away, and is open for tours, in the borough of Jim Thorpe.

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