Many of us dream of cooler mornings and more bearable days this time of year. With this in mind, we took a trip to the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
The beauty of the pines and abundant trees packed onto the rolling hills and mountain tops is nothing short of breathtaking. The Poconos are not just a great place to escape the heat (though while we visited, we didn’t experience much reprieve from the heat or humidity) but also a nice change of view from our southern scenery.
With abundant lodging opportunities available, how do you choose a place? Without a doubt, for a truly Pocono Mountain feel, the Stroudsmoor County Inn and Spa is your best bet. This lodge sits off the main roads, tucked away in the mountains, with plenty of untouched land surrounding the resort. You will truly experience the feeling of being in the mountains at this upscale resort.
There are numerous lodging options at the resort, individual rooms in the main lodge and many different styles and sizes of cabins scattered around the property, most with decks, patios, or porches to sit out on and enjoy the sounds of nature. But don’t let all this talk of nature fool you. This resort has plenty of other things to want. There is an indoor pool and hot tub, a gym, a spa, bikes to use, a small store with essential toiletry, drinks, and some delicious sweets made fresh at their bakery, a restaurant, a separate bar, and an art gallery.
When you stay at Stroudsmoor, included with your stay is breakfast each morning, with the choice of a continental breakfast or a full hot breakfast Monday through Saturday. Sunday, you have a choice of a complimentary continental breakfast, or you can choose to purchase their lavish brunch buffet that features everything from waffles and omelets to a carving table and so many more mouthwatering options.
But, if you choose to head to the Poconos and stay at Stroudsmoor, don’t plan to remain in the resort. There is so much to do and see in the area. You will want to experience as much of the area as possible.
Take a stroll through the Just a few outdoorsy things to enjoy are hiking, like on the Appalachian Trail, which goes through the Pocono Mountains, or other trails and parks to consider, Big Pocono, and a leisurely hike at Columcille Megalith Park. This place is a sacred area to experience some contemplation and renewal. Trails are unpaved and rough in some places. There are 90 stone settings strategically placed throughout the more than 20 acres of the Park. Most of the Stones were found either on-site or in local slate quarries and are approximately 3.6 billion years old.
But there’s more than just hiking. Being a displaced northerner in the South, I miss good Italian. I mean the authentic, homemade Italian. If you know, you know. So, my one big “must” when traveling up north is a truly authentic Italian meal, and for this trip, we decided to experience Nonna Sulina’s Sicilian Kitchen and Grill, and what an experience it was!
From the second you pull into the parking lot, your mouth will start watering as the smell permeates the air surrounding the area. From the fresh bread with their homemade special sauce to the phenomenal appetizers, to the Parmesan Wheel pasta dish, which exceeds what you see on the viral Tiktoc videos, to the entrees, there wasn’t a single thing we would have changed.
We left the appetizers to the chef and had him send out his favorites—a decision we did not regret: Stuffed Shrimp, Italian Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and Panelle, Burrata Caponata, and Octopus Caponata. Our only problem was thinking of ordering a main meal after all of that, but we all gladly powered through and ordered our main dishes. And, honestly, there weren’t many to-go boxes handed out – which attests to the quality of authentic homemade Italian food you are in store for when dining at Nonna Sulina’s.
A few other must see/do while in the area –
Callie’s Candy Kitchen, for some unique sweets to bring home – https://www.calliescandy.com
Besecker’s Diner – in business since 1978 and, in my honest opinion, home to the best homefries you’ll ever have – https://www.beseckersdiner.com
To get more information on Stroudsmoor or to book your vacation, check out their website – https://www.stroudsmoor.com.
To read all of the mouthwatering Italian dishes and read more about Nonna Sulina’s Sicilian Kitchen and Grill check out their website – https://www.nonnasulina.com