If you’re planning a family vacation to the Poconos in 2020, there’s still so much fun to be had despite having to physical distance and/or wear a mask as we live through the COVID-19 pandemic. From our TreeTop Adventure Course to boating on our lake, we’ve put together some of our favorite fall activities to make the most of your time as you reconnect with what matters most.
One way to easily keep your distance is to literally be 6 feet (actually higher) up in the treetops. When you think of a traditional adventure course, imagine that but only better at Skytop Lodge. You’ll gear up and then climb up into the trees for zip-lining, swinging, soaring, and climbing challenges. Guests have described the course as surprisingly meditative–you can’t think about anything else but the challenge before you.
Skytop Lodge’s TreeTop Adventure Course is just over 1,500 feet in its entirety with varying obstacles including elevated bridgeways from one tree platform to the next, logs hanging from ropes to walk across ladders, and a total of five different zip lines. Reservations are required.
No other Poconos golfing experience offers a mountain-style track that plays over rolling terrain and boasts wide, tree-lined fairways and small greens that challenge players of all levels. The award-winning golf course at Skytop Lodge incorporates plenty of strategically placed bunkers for both casual and serious golfers.
Golfing is an activity that can lend itself to easy social distancing. Groups are usually four players or fewer, and, according to a recent article, as long as you take necessary precautions and manage your risks, a day on the course is realistic right now.
Cast away in a private stream full of freshly-stocked trout. Fishing is an activity that tends to cater to solo travelers or small groups of two or three. It’s also a favorite tradition among dads and sons at Skytop Lodge. Post up at the lake for a morning of fishing. In the Poconos waters, you’re sure to catch some largemouth bass, perch, pickerel, and more. Plus, ice fishing is available in the winter months.
Taking in the scenery near or on the lake is a specialty at the 75-acre Skytop Lake. Guests can choose to kayak, canoe, or rowboat around the lake. Fishing and boating in solitude are considered one of the safer outdoor summer activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s recommended that you boat with the small group you’re traveling with and not mix groups with our guests staying on the grounds to keep your risk low.
A trip to the Poconos is all about reconnecting with yourself and others through nature. There’s no shortage of sights to see, especially high up in the mountains. To us, the scenery is so much more than something pleasant to look at. It’s how it makes us feel, where it takes our minds, and who we’re seeing it with that really helps us connect.
The trails at Skytop Lodge are exclusively for guests, which means no other residents will be commingling on the grounds. Low-risk outdoor activities like walking, running and hiking are easy to social-distance and perfect when the weather is great. At Skytop Lodge in the summer and fall, the weather is pretty near perfect. While you may see an afternoon drizzle, early morning and/or sunset hikes are a great way to bookend your day.
The Lake Trail is just one of the many trails on the grounds, ideal for a quiet and brisk walk totaling just over two miles between the Lodge and the lake. Attached to the trees along the trails are 42 interpretive plaques describing the trees, shrubs, geology, and ecology. Scenic vistas open not only to the 75-acre Lake but also to distant views of the Lodge and the rugged cliffs of West Mountain at our resort in Pennsylvania.
From the bright orange sunsets over the Delaware Water Gap to Bushkill Falls – sometimes called the “Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania” – and the slopes of Shawnee Mountain, there are so many postcard-worthy sights to see. If you want to see it all, taking a scenic drive is the way to go. Nearly every drive here in the Poconos is magical, especially if you veer into the many charming towns and villages. Most paths offer up-close views of the area’s colorful fall foliage and stunning landscapes.
At Skytop Lodge, we recommend that our guests take the PA 611 towards the Delaware Water Gap. You’ll witness majestic, mystical, and almost out-of-the-blue sights when driving along PA 611. Keep your eye out for overlook points along the way for can’t-miss views of the Gap.
Rim Road at Big Pocono State Park offers bird’s eye views without getting out of the car. There’s a paved, 1.4-mile, ADA-accessible drive that takes you around the mountaintop. You’ll enjoy the rugged and scenic views as the leaves change in the fall, but note that the park closes for winter the day after the end of deer season.
If you don’t mind a little on-foot action with your scenic drive, Route 209 offers two spectacular waterfalls that make it worth the drive. Start at Dingmans Falls Visitors Center, where trails lead to the 70-foot-high Silver Thread Falls and the even higher Dingmans Falls. Continue along 209 about 5 miles to the turnoff for Raymondskill Falls, a 105-foot-tall wall of water that meanders over rocks and into the freshwater stream below. Continue onto Hwy 6 for more waterfalls, or make a pit-stop at the quaint village of Milford, PA, where you’ll find streets lined with antique shops and eateries, plus historical sites such as the Columns Museum and Grey Towers.
These low-risk outdoor activities, and more, are all offered at Skytop Lodge located high up in the Poconos. Whether you’re looking to book a family vacation, a solo getaway, or need to switch up the remote work scenery, come see all that Skytop has to offer. Skytop Lodge is open with enhanced safety protocols to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests. Check out our latest seasonal packages and offers to learn more about room rates.