Have a Winter Escape in the Poconos
A chic new resort, snowy adventures, and a holiday-filled jaunt to Jim Thorpe
The well-appointed Concierge Lounge at the Swiftwater / Photograph by Andrea Killam
The Lodgings
While some Poconos resorts lean in to more of a party atmosphere (read: shots and beers after a long day on the slopes) and pack in hordes of guests, newcomer the Swiftwater (rooms from $199) in Swiftwater offers a more tranquil and restful alternative to the occupants of its just 100 rooms, some of which feature in-suite plunge pools. As such, guests are asked to keep their phones off or on silent while in common areas of the hotel, and the Swiftwater specifically puts the kibosh on the abhorrent practice displayed far too often on SEPTA of watching reels or the game — or whatever — on your phone without earbuds. In further pursuit of serenity and, perhaps, adulting privacy, the luxe rooms here have been soundproofed just about as much as one can soundproof a hotel room. And while well-behaved children are welcome at the Swiftwater, they are not on the concierge floors, which are strictly reserved for ages 21 and up.
If a child-free experience sounds like exactly what you’re looking for, there’s also the adults-only Mount Airy Resort (rooms from $169) in nearby Mount Pocono, though that’s considerably less serene given that it’s a casino.
Or, if you just have to be slopeside and tote along the tots, Camelback Resort (rooms from $367) is just a few miles down the road in Tannersville.
The Fun
Hitting the slopes at Blue Mountain in the Poconos / Photograph by Kevin Furst/Pocono Mountains Tourism Board
Skiing is obviously the main draw to the Poconos during the snowy season. (Or, based on recent years, should we say the winter season?) Don’t worry about the lack of snowfall, though. Blue Mountain just dumped millions of dollars into upgrading its snowmaking abilities. If you love numbers as much as we love numbers, that’s 132 new stick guns and six new fan guns spread across the mountain. But if one mountain just isn’t enough for you, consider the Peak-to-Peak Poconos Pass, a joint offering from Blue Mountain and Camelback. For $999, you’ll get unlimited access to both mountains — that’s a combined 79 trails — all season, with no restrictions or blackout dates, whether you’re skiing or snowboarding or both. And should hurtling down a snow-covered mountain on two thin strips of fiberglass somehow still leave you with a craving for more thrills, Pocono Outdoor Adventure Tours has two-seater and four-seater UTVs (they’re like ATVs but bigger and generally considered a bit safer) available for rental year-round.
Want to really embrace the chill? The region’s ritziest spas offer post-sauna cold plunges designed to reduce inflammation and improve circulation and mood, but Mother Nature has the original (and equally beneficial) version. Kick off the new year with a bracing dip in Lake Wallenpaupack at the Paupack Polar Plunge in Tafton, or jump in at the Marian Catholic High School Polar Plunge at Mauch Chunk Lake Park in Jim Thorpe.
If all of that sounds a bit too adventurous, enjoy a calm private horseback ride on a winter trail at Daisy Field Farm, set in an area with no shortage of deer and wild turkeys to admire from afar.
The Food
A luscious cheese from Calkins Creamery / Photograph by Jill C. Smith
Any time of year, Glass, the wine bar inside the historic Ledges Hotel in Hawley, has dramatic views of the surrounding rocky gorge and Paupack High Falls. In the wintertime, though, the rushing falls freeze into magical ice formations. Take in the winter wonderland from the window-lined dining room, where you’ll feast on small plates of duck fat fries with thyme salt and harissa, crispy vegetable potstickers, and charcuterie boards. Order the family-size variety, with a mosaic of meats and cheeses from near and far, including the garlicky Vampire Slayer cheddar and the bloomy-rinded cow’s milk brie, both from Honesdale’s Calkins Creamery, and spicy soppressata from Campania, Italy. All pair well with something from the restaurant’s all-American wine and spirits list. Take a break from outdoor adventures at Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, also in Hawley, where you can thaw out with a Czech-style dark lager or bourbon barrel-aged barleywine and play Jenga inside the sprawling craft brewery and brewpub. But don’t miss warming red gravy Italian specialties like ravioli marinara and penne with broccoli rabe and sausage at a Hawley favorite, the Ridge Restaurant.
Storybook Holiday
Jim Thorpe / Photograph via Getty Images
The charming town of Jim Thorpe knows how to celebrate right.
1. Olde Time Christmas is held on three weekends in December, with everything from a tree lighting to shopping bonanzas to a Santa train via the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway to carolers strolling along the too-cute streets. It’s totally Insta-worthy.
2. In 2025, tour the Asa Packer Mansion Museum — the former home of philanthropist and railroad guy Asa Packer — to see it decked out for the holidays in all its Victorian splendor.
3. Sure, Jingle Bells Christmas Shoppe is open year-round, but you must stop in during the season to pick up the decor you never knew you needed, like the rare nutcracker a Philly Mag staffer scored during her visit.
4. Marion Hose Bar, in a renovated former firehouse, slings cocktails like naughty hot chocolate spiked with your choice of vodka and mint, house coffee liqueur, or Irish cream, all topped with fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
5. Book a weekend at the Dolon House, an antique-filled (to the brim!) bed-and-breakfast known for its Sunday spa breakfast. It’s not open to the public, so the holiday decor is for guests, and only guests, to enjoy.
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