One of the joys of vacationing in the Pocono Mountains is leaving behind your to-do list. After all life here moves at a slower pace. But there are some bucket list items for summer in the Poconos you’re going to want to complete. Don’t worry, the dress is casual and there’s no deadline to finish. In fact, take your time and enjoy checking each item off your bucket list for summer in the Poconos.
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1 Toast Marshmallows
The lakeside firepits on the lawn at Silver Birches are the hottest seats in town. Find a spot once night falls and spend some time stargazing and catching up while you toast marshmallows over the open flame.
2 Canoe or Kayak on the Lake
Spend some time cruising the open water. Lake Wallenpaupack has a surface area of 5,700 acres. There’s 52-miles of shoreline with plenty of canals, coves and islands to explore. Stop in the Recreation Center here at the resort to take out a canoe, kayak or SUP so you can float at your own pace.
3 Dine Outdoors
Take advantage of the warm weather by bringing your meal outside. The Dock on Wallenpaupack offers elevated water views from the deck so you can enjoy lunch or dinner overlooking Lake Wallenpaupack. Grab snacks, sandwiches and classic picnic fare at Captain Wally’s to savor lakeside. Our sister properties also offer stunning settings paired with exceptional meals. Dine on the terrace overlooking the gardens at The Settlers Inn or beside the waterfall at Glass-wine.bar.kitchen at Ledges Hotel.
4 Take a Hike
Hit the trails. Choose from hikes in nine state parks, two national parks and hundreds of acres of state game lands. One of our favorite locations, Promise Land State Park, is just 12 minutes away. Take a deep dive into the natural beauty of the region. Plan an excursion to a spectacular view, cascading waterfalls, old growth forests or even a national natural landmark.
5 Fair & Festival Hopping
County fairs have been a tradition in the Pocono Mountains for over 100 years. Residents and visitors alike look forward to the food, entertainment, rides, novelties and spectacles that come just once a year. The Wayne County Fair dates to 1862. The much-loved event returns to the fairgrounds in Honesdale, August 4-12. The Greene Dreher Sterling Fair recently celebrated its 100th Thousands of people will head to the fairgrounds in Newfoundland from August 25-September 3 for classic fair fun. Wally Lake Fest has become a rite of summer in the Lake Region. It’s three days jam-packed with music, food and family fun that spills out from the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack into Hawley. The crowd favorite event returns August 25-27.
6 Go Berry Picking
Reap the benefits of farm fresh produce. Get caught up in the nostalgia and goodness of picking berries fresh from the leaf. Blueberry season reaches its peak at the end of July. Paupack Blueberry Farm opens its 41+ acres for visitors to gather 25 varieties of blueberries from three fields. The farm also has a gift shop stocked with all sorts of blueberry themed merchandise and foods plus a small snack bar where blueberry ice cream is the main attraction.
7 Attend an Outdoor Concert
Music and moonlight what more could you ask? Listening to live music fill the air is another great pleasure of summer. There are some beautiful venues that attract top notch entertainers within a few minutes of Silver Birches. At places like Wildflower Music Festival and Harmony in the Woods, sit in the shade of towering pine trees where the mountainside provides a natural amphitheater. But you don’t have to leave the resort to enjoy the tunes. Each weekend from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, Lakeside Live brings some of the best regional musicians to the property for an outdoor concert. Our sister properties also host extremely popular outdoor concert series all summer long. At The Settlers Inn there’s Jazz on the Deck each Wednesday evening and Blues, Brews and BBQ is a signature Sunday event at Glass-wine.bar.kitchen.
8 Scream for Ice Cream
Tastes like summer. There’s nothing better than a frozen treat on a hot summer day. Whether you’re a traditionalist who favors hard ice cream or like to twist things up with soft serve, there are plenty of places to find what you crave. Some of the closest ice cream shops are Dairy Twist and Gresham’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Here’s some inside scoop- during blueberry picking season (mid-late July) Paupack Blueberry Farm serves homemade ice cream from its farm store.
9 Watch the Sun Set
Sunsets on Lake Wallenpaupack are so special, we toast them with champagne. Find a spot on the lawn and watch as shades of pink, purple and orange light up the water. It’s the perfect way to send off a sun-drenched day at the lake.
10 Tubing
Let your cares float away on a tubing trip down the cool, calm waters of the Delaware River. Kittatinny Canoes offers three-mile trips with transportation to the launch site. Enjoy the unique views of wildlife and landscapes only seen from the water.
Spending time at the lake is definitely the thing do during summer in the Poconos. Silver Birches offers the simple pleasures of a lakeside getaway plus all the luxuries of a first-class resort. Find the time and space to do as much or as little as you like. Check out our specials and packages then book your stay today.