Best in the Poconos?

[Gophesjo]

What do y'all think? Considering a Poconos exchange for next summer - looking at units that will accommodate eight. Thanks!

Joe

 

[vacationhopeful]

Almost all the Shawnee Resort with a 2/2 unit hold 8 persons. Indoor pool plus 2 outdoor pools. Indoor basketball court and a separate gym plus outdoor courts and tennis. Campfires with marshmellows and sing-a-longs. Yes, it is hocky .. but good clean family fun. Built years before Wyndham .. it is RCI0001 resort number. And it is on the Delaware River separating it from NJ.... river rafting or canoeing via outside vendors, tubing etc @ Camelback Ski Area (must make money in the summer, too) .. plus lots of OUTLET MALLs .. Big one is RT 715 @ Interstate 80 going West from Shawnee about 10 miles.

 

[wackymother]

Villas at Fairway 3brs are nice. Anything smaller there is less nice.

 

[missyrcrews]

We've stayed at Shawnee Ridge Top. Those units were fine....slept 8 in 2 BR's. Be prepared to do some cleaning, and know that you will probably have to wait for your unit to be ready. We also stayed at Shawnee Village. OLD OLD OLD and a LONG way from parking to car. Again, slept 8, but truly...just barely habitable, and I'm not at all picky. And again, we had to wait hours to occupy. Even if you book into one Shawnee division, they reserve the right to place you in another. (The time we were stuck at Shawnee Village, we had booked into Depuy.) All of that said...our children are clamoring to go back. The resort has great pools and activities, and there is green space for kids to just be outside. The location off I-80 is ideal for getting around. We drove to Knoebel's amusement park (LOVE this place), the Tannersville outlets, etc. We've stayed at Eagle Village at Tamiment (great space in the condo, but further from I80), and Tanglwood at Hawley (good for those who like water activities...close to Lake Wallenpaupack.) Good luck as you choose!

 

[pedro47]

Why are their such a small numbers of reviews for the Poconos compared to Branson, HHI, Myrtle Beach, Va Beach, OBX, Orlando or even Colonial Williamsburg.

 

[vacationhopeful]

Pedro47 ..
There are NOT a vast number of resorts in the Poconos .. nor a central place or dominate land feature. NO OCEAN, multiple hills (old mountain ridges), several rivers (but are really big streams) and just one major interstate (I-80) which cuts east/west while the Delaware River runs sort of North/South.

The idea of Dirty Dancing ... was based on resorts in the Poconos or the Catskills summer resorts which were escapes from the summer heat of BIG cities (NYC). Many defunked/closed/burned to the ground 'resorts' in the Poconos were just a LARGE wood framed structures with common hall floor baths, 3 floors .. small rooms. And usually closed because the 'resort' burned to the ground. Movie was filmed in NC.

I ran across such a 'lake house' where the great nephew (about 20yo) was selling stuff in the place on a weekend yard sale. I brought a 'newer' buffet (which they delivered) but was NOT an original piece of this lake house. I convinced the nephew I was interested in MORE furniture and he walked me thru the rest of the building. The 2nd and 3rd floor rooms had simple NARROW (28" wide) wood framed with metal laced 'webbing' which most likely held a 3inch mattress. 2 'beds' per room with a single window, no closet, no chest. Wish I had a cell phone with a camera to take pictures ... the place had NOT BEEN occupied in 30-40+ years (Dirty Dancing era and EARLIER).

I did 'buy' 2 original wood dining room chairs for my place ... as extras for my table. Not because I needed them but I felt I should 'buy' something MORE ... I was looking for a small chest of drawers or other bedroom furniture.

 

[tonyg]

I spent one week in a Poconos timeshare (Shawnee Ridge Top) about 15 years ago and never have gone back again. There were 2 Tug get togethers there back around that time- one at a restaurant near Shawnee and one at Fletch's house. I don't know what I would do there if I went back for another week's stay.

 

[wackymother]

We love the Poconos and go there almost every summer. Easy to get to, very relaxing, enough stuff to do that we feel entertained. A lot of units are not that nice, but they're generally passable.

 

[pedro47]

We stayed in a timeshare resort in the Poconos called Split Rock over 20 years ago. The unit was large, dark and dated. The resort was very relaxing; however, we have no desires to return to the Poconos.

 

[wackymother]

Split Rock has several sections. We stayed in one of the nicer, newer ones a few years ago--the unit was fine and the resort had a lot of activities. You'd have to look at the reviews to see which sections have been updated recently and which not.

 

[Panina]

Most of the pocono timeshare are older and dated. Best to read all review online to get the most current information, this way you can figure out what is acceptable to you.

There is lots for a family to enjoy from hiking and biking trails, golfing and ranges, boating & fishing, outlet stores & casino. Within driving you have state and national parks to enjoy too.

 

[missyrcrews]

Most of the pocono timeshare are older and dated. Best to read all review online to get the most current information, this way you can figure out what is acceptable to you.

There is lots for a family to enjoy from hiking and biking trails, golfing and ranges, boating & fishing, outlet stores & casino. Within driving you have state and national parks to enjoy too.

From Shawnee, you are literally right in the midst of the Delaware Water Gap. My husband fished in the Delaware every day.

 

[vacationhopeful]

From Shawnee, you are literally right in the midst of the Delaware Water Gap. My husband fished in the Delaware every day.

The Water Gap is around the Shawnee area; Wind Gap is located SOUTH on RT 209 (I believe). These are ancient 'cuts' in outcroppings of rock from the movement of glaciers & water eons ago. They are about 30 minutes drive time between the two .. Wind Gap has a highway cruising thru is (RT 209 maybe .. I used to drive this when there was SNOW & ICE conditions on the Northeast Extension (Wind Gap was more protected from the wind carrying bad, ICY COLD, wet weather .. esp as they cut the 2nd tunnel NE Extension increasing the 2 lanes (1 lane each way) to 2 lanes each way. Most people think Wind Gap is nothing except the town there also called "Wind Gap".

 

[Gophesjo]

Thanks, all!

 

[gnipgnop]

I might be a little late chiming in here but we often go to the Pocono's. We live in Pennsylvania and it is about a 5 hour drive for us. I saw Split Rock mentioned in another post above, and true, there are 3 or four sections to this resort. The best and the newest (IMHO) is the Willowbrook section. They are not located in the main Split Rock Lodge/reservation area, they are about 1/4 mile away.. They are not new now but they are newer than other locations at Split Rock. They have 2 identical units attached by a connection door. You can sleep 4 on each side - king size bed and sleep sofa, full kitchen, full bath with jet tub and a gas fireplace. The buildings are in good shape and the location and surrounding area is beautiful. We usually go there first or second week in October to see the beautiful autumn foliage. A trip to the town of Jim Thorpe (about a 45 minute drive away) has their Autumn Festival with booths, food, tours, steam engine train ride and unbelievable foliage. So many places to visit and if you like to shop or gamble the little Town of Mount Airy is just a short drive away. Go to the Pocono's, its a great place to visit.

 

[Bunk]

How long should it take to drive from Split Rock to the Delaware Water Gap so we can hike/raft?

 

[WinniWoman]

Just be extremely careful in the Delaware. every year there are a number of deaths from people getting a bit to comfortable with the rafting. I live up here so I know.

 

[WinniWoman]

Just be extremely careful in the Delaware. every year there are a number of deaths from people getting a bit to comfortable with the rafting. I live up here so I know.

 

[wackymother]

How long should it take to drive from Split Rock to the Delaware Water Gap so we can hike/raft?

About an hour. Jim Thorpe is only half an hour, and you can go whitewater rafting there, and a lot of other activities. But for tubing, you need to go to the Delaware, as far as I know.