The first couple of months of the new year are usually devoted to shoring up summer rentals and hotel bookings. The height of winter season can be found in the Pocono Mountains, Central Jersey, and Lehigh Valley. Nearby mountain resorts are ideal for skiing, snowboarding, and snow-tubing. Most offer premiere spa amenities adding to the full winter luxury experience. There is an abundance of mountain ski resorts which have their distinct features. The Spot narrowed down three that are ideal for families, friends, or couples. Many of the PA mountains entail less than two hours by car outside of Metropolitan Philadelphia which of course make them convenient and affordable.
BEAR CREEK MOUNTAIN RESORT
Located in beautiful Lehigh Valley and just a little more than an hour drive outside of Philadelphia, this resort is your best bet for day adventures. The resorts offers excellent terrain parks ranging from family friendly to expert. Adult Day Lift Tickets run about $60 and hosts a range of amenities from facials to fire pits. The inside lodge is impressive with a warm ambient. For a good meal, The Grille has the best variety from gourmet burger to hearty salads.
CAMELBACK RESORT
Camelback Resort in the Pocono Mountains is a vacation destination close to home. This double feature resort offers all your winter fun activities plus an indoor water park, Aquatopia. They do have an outdoor water park that is utilized in the summer months however the indoor park is included with your winter overnight stay at the resort. The resort boasts 39 trails and 166 acres for skiing. We enjoyed Berelli’s Italian Chophouse. Their menu offered a variety of chops and pasta dishes. The lodging is on the pricier side which can run $300 plus but the many offerings beneficial to families, balance out. Our suggestion is a weekend stay is best to fully experience Camelback.
JACK FROST BIG BOULDER
The claim to fame of Jack Frost Big Boulder is the opportunity to experiment on two mountains. There are several choices of hotel stays from Split Rock Resort to the Comfort Inn depending on your budget. There are more dining choices from café to barbeque to biergarten. The high point is the ability to sample two mountains from beginner to expert. They have 20 trails and 2 terrain parks. Another perk is winter dog sledding.
Hight season for many of the area mountain resorts is during the winter months, notably January to March. If committing to stay overnight, most do require a two-night minimum on weekends. Long holiday weekends should be booked as early as possible as they are the peak weekends of the entire year. However you will find Monday through Thursday hotel stays, there is much greater flexibility. These area mountain resorts are popular not only in the tri-state area but also residents traveling from Maryland, New York, and Massachusetts. Whether you can come back year after year or a first timer, you’ll find a little of everything.