If you’re planning a trip to the Poconos this spring, you may be wondering just what there is to do here to keep your family busy. Once upon a time, the Poconos were pretty much known just for skiing in the winter and its plethora of honeymoon resorts, like the gorgeous Paradise Stream. Now, though, there are so many fun things to do in the Poconos year-round! With water parks, hiking trails, and hidden gems like Quiet Valley, there’s something for everyone.

Things to Do in the Poconos

Check out a few fun things to do in the Poconos this spring.

Quiet Valley 25th Annual Farm Animal Frolic – I’ve taken Jacob to Quiet Valley several times. Sal and I took Jake and his kids to their Fall Harvest Festival last fall too. I’ve never been to the Animal Frolic though! Quiet Valley is such a neat place. It’s basically a living historical farm. It’s like stepping back into Little House days. The Animal Frolic is a chance to see all the darling baby animals that were born on the farm in the spring. The event takes place on May 18th, 19th, 25th, and 26th. Check the website for more details. Jake had a great time at the Harvest Festival, so this one is high on my list of things to do this year.

Things to Do in the Poconos: Quiet Valley

Shawnee Mountain Festivals – Shawnee Mountain is perhaps best known for its skiing, but did you know they have events year round? On May 25th and 26th, they’ll have the Celtic Festival with non-stop Irish music, dancers, craft vendors and more. On the 4th of July, they celebrate in style with a brilliant fireworks display (weather permitting). In July, enjoy the Poconos Wurst Festival. The one event you really don’t want to miss, though, is the Pocono Chicken Wing Off in August! Dozens of restaurants compete to earn top places as the best wings in the Poconos.

Camelbeach Water Park – I haven’t been here in about two years, but back when I had the extra money, it was one of our favorite summer destinations. The park is huge, with water slides, a wave pool, several kiddie areas, and a lazy river ride that I could spend all day on. I have a confession- I’m a little terrified of the larger water slides. Last time I went with my friend Dana, her daughter Paige, and Jacob, they all laughed at me because I covered my eyes the whole way down on the family water slide! Jacob was about 4 at the time, and he said “my mommy is a chicken!”

Promised Land State Park – I lived in Promised Land, which is about an hour from Stroudsburg, for the first 12 years of my life. Going to the state park was one of my favorite things to do in the Poconos when I was a kid. The park is beautiful, with bike trails, camping areas, playgrounds, fishing spots, and even a beach. You can swim in the lake. I’m not really a lake swimmer now, although I used to go all the time when I was little. It’s clean though!  It’s one of the last unspoiled areas of the Poconos. Everything else is all built up, but Promised Land still looks exactly the same to me as it did when I was a little girl. This picture was taken in the winter, but you still get an idea of how peaceful it is there!

Things to Do in the Poconos: Promised Land State Park

Bushkill Falls – The Bushkill Falls are called the Niagara of the Poconos. I wouldn’t go that far. They’re not nearly as big as those grand falls (from what I’ve seen in movies, I’ve never actually been to Niagara Falls). Still, they’re quite beautiful! The hiking area around the falls features three different paths in vary degrees of difficulty. Active families may enjoy the harder path with steep inclines while those with smaller children can take the easy path and still get a great view.

Things to Do in the Poconos: Bushkill Falls

Parks and Playgrounds – We have a plethora of parks and playgrounds in the Poconos! Our favorite is Dansbury Park on Day Street in East Stroudsburg. Aside from the regular playground fare, you’ll also find a skate/bike park, a baseball field, and an awesome pool with an amazing kiddie section. Seriously, it’s huge! It has several fun sprinklers for kids to play in, and with depths starting at 1 foot, it’s perfect for all ages. Older kids will love the water slides and deep end, while active parents can fit in some exercise in the lap swimming section.

There are really a ton of fun family things to do in the Poconos during the spring and summer. We’re not just a honeymoon or skiing destination anymore.