Spur of the moment trip to Poconos? - Nope, NATIONAL HARBOR!

[JimMIA]

We are considering a short (2-3 nights) stay at Poconos at the end of our Philly trip this weekend -- 3 people, wife, 13 y/o daughter, and myself. It would just be next Mon-Tues nights and there is availability.

Is it worth doing for a couple of days?

What is there to do there in October?

Which of the properties is the best?

I'd much rather go to OTA or National Harbour, but neither have availability.

 

[NHTraveler]

We are considering a short (2-3 nights) stay at Poconos at the end of our Philly trip this weekend -- 3 people, wife, 13 y/o daughter, and myself. It would just be next Mon-Tues nights and there is availability.

Is it worth doing for a couple of days?

What is there to do there in October?

Which of the properties is the best?

I'd much rather go to OTA or National Harbour, but neither have availability.

For myself, I like Crestview the best. They are the newer of the group.

 

[vacationhopeful]

For myself, I like Crestview the best. They are the newer of the group.

Crestview is at Wyndham Shawnee Resort.

Shawnee is very pretty at this time of the year. Sort of sits between the Delaware River (Shawnee is riverfront) and the ridge across the street from Shawnee is why the Delaware River has that curve in it.

Why stay at Shawnee? It has a LARGE BIG indoor pool. A full size gym, too. Plus a strong activities program ... DO NOT MISS the Monday night Karokee ... free (wine and other less hard) beverages AND excellent singers (about 1/2 are resort employees either on their 2nd shift lunch break OR off duty) ... seems most came to the area hoping from the Great White Way (Broadway) or then, the less Shawnee Playhouse or cheap area to live but still able to drive into THE CITY.

The other Villages (called such as they are different styles and ages of this large resort) were built from 1974 and on. Almost every unit is a 2/2 (some 1bdr in the Fairways Village). Most with either wood or gas fireplaces. Most with porches and some are screen-in. Most are 2 story units (except Crestview).

Lots of things to do and see ... I really liked taking the coal mine tour several years ago ... perfect for ANY type of weather (but don't know if it is still around). If not, the outlet mall shopping near Camelback Ski mountain will distract the women ... but if still open, so would the drive to the TOP of the mountain past the Camelback Ski Entrance (Park with a loop) ...if still with leaves, pretty. If not leaves, still great. Don't know if the fire tower is still open ... wear warm clothes .. pretty COLD wind blows up there.

But have fun ... might be more nature than you like ... black bears, deer and foxes are regular SEEN at Shawnee .. in the parking lots, trash bins, along the roads ... the bears are NOT TAME - avoid at all costs.

Enjoy!

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks for the responses. This would be a real bonus brought on by a couple of things.

First, we're going for my daughter to compete in the US Figure Skating regional championships in Aston, PA, a Philly suburb. We didn't know the exact schedule, but I got a chance to get good airfare, so I booked flights up Friday and back to Miami on Wednesday. Then the schedule came out, and she skates on Sunday; so I booked a frequent flyer one-way home on Monday, but I still have the Wed return flight as well.

Then we got the details of her school schedule, and it turns out Tuesday is yet another wasted day on the Catholic high school promotional tour (she's in 8th grade) and Wednesday is early dismissal. So two completely wasted days anyway.

We're great with critters and hiking, so that would be fun. And the heated pool, after the stress of her biggest competition of the year might be a great way to kill a few hours.

I'm going to keep checking OTA and National Harbour in hopes of getting lucky, as well as looking at other options.

Thanks again.

 

[vacationhopeful]

The indoor pool at Shawnee opens at 7:30AM for LAP swimming only. This is NOT your usual resort size indoor pool ... it is LARGER than almost every outdoor pool Wyndham has. It is in the checkin building on the lower level ... along with the indoor basketball court.

 

[NHTraveler]

For myself, I like Crestview the best. They are the newer of the group.

Crestview is at Wyndham Shawnee Resort.

Sorry, I thought they were asking about which section of Wyndham Shawnee was best, which is why I wasn't clear on it being part of WSR.

To add on what was posted after my post, the resort is a nice on and it is a great time of year to be there. In Crestview, the decks are screened in, which is a nice feature to have when the bugs come out in the evening. Camelback has ziplines/tree top adventures is your family enjoys that stuff. I am a bit of a height freak, but was able to concentrate on what I was doing and actually enjoyed the tree top thing.

 

[vacationhopeful]

That is okay, Bill ... most of us associate the Poconos with the Shawnee resort. If you have been to several of the other Poconos resorts ... it is esp. easy to understand how we clearly forget there are other resorts.

Now if they open a Marriott resort or convert Great Wolf Lodge to a timeshare property ... we all might never drive over to the "quaint" town of Shawnee-on-the-River again.

 

[OutSkiing]

I second the motion that Crestview is the best section of Shawnee-on-Delaware. It's a little unusual that Wydham has about 5 different 'resorts' all within a few square miles. All share the same indoor pool house that Linda described. Crestview is the new one -- if you woke up in a Crestview with the curtains closed you would think you are inside any of the newer resorts -- Bonnet Creek and Great Smokies have similar room layouts and amenities.

Crestview requires more points than the others. If you need to economize on points, I might try the resort where all the units overlook the river.

Leaves should be beautiful. The little town is cute to visit.

There is a little restaurant / bar called Minisink Hotel that has the coolest menus posted on signs all around the room .. you wander around looking at the signs to decide what to eat. Very reasonable prices. No Hotel on premise. Minisink was the name of an indian tribe in the area I believe.

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks again, everyone. Crestview must be nice because there is no availability.

So...of the other four sections, is one better than the other?

I'm still hoping for something in the DC area, but nothing showing online.

Has anyone ever had any luck calling a resort directly and trying to book that way?

 

[vacationhopeful]

.....of the other four sections, is one better than the other?

..

Ridgetop or Summit ... screened in porches. Get the one with MORE points as they have a 1/2 bath on the first floor. I think they have gas fireplaces except I could NEVER get them to work or even light.

If you MUST have a 1/2 bath on the first floor or a wood burning fireplace, then Dupey. With woodburning fireplaces. Both 2nd floor bedrooms do have ensuite bathrooms.

Fairways units are just a little strange .. the king size bed bedroom has a hall bath; the 2 double bedroom has the attached bath. And some of these units are the ONLY one bedroom units.

River Village II are similar to Ridgetop and Summit .. just closer to the river and in little clusters ... if you get a unit near the outdoor pool, get back before dark ... or drive very slow. If you get the cluster of units past that pool turnoff and near the public street ... and are there on FRI, SAT or SUN nights ,,, expect the roar of motorcycles from the bar downs the street at 1:45AM.

I personally would NEVER stay in the River Village I complex .... all the units have MORE steps than a 4 story house has. You park under the unit and climb 2 flights of steps up to the LR, another flight to the KIT & DR , another flight up to the smaller bedroom & hall bath and ANOTHER flight up to the MBR with bath. I think the one employee total me the maximum step count is 93 from car door to MBR bed...... unless you need the exercise.

 

[JimMIA]

Got national harbor!

Proving once again that it's better to be lucky than good, I got National Harbor!