From the moment you turn down the gravel drive at Bella Casa, the air smells like pine and woodsmoke and the hush of the woods does most of the talking. The cabin is your basecamp; the Pocono Mountains are the 2,400-square-mile playground waiting just past the trees. Tobyhanna, PA sits right in the middle of it all — close enough to a waterfall hike before lunch, a lake swim in the afternoon, and a fire pit dinner back at the cabin by dark.
This is the guide we send our own friends. Ten favorite Poconos attractions we'd point you toward whether you're here for a snow weekend, a leaf-peeping road trip, a kid-friendly summer week, or a quiet shoulder-season escape. Drive times are from the cabin, give or take traffic. Save the page, build your weekend, then settle in.
Waterfalls
Bushkill Falls
Known as “the Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill is a network of eight waterfalls strung together by wooden boardwalks and footbridges that climb the gorge. The mist hits hardest after a spring rain, and the trees light up in October.
Pick the short Green Trail with little legs, or the longer Red Trail for all eight falls and the deep-woods quiet that goes with them. About 45 minutes from the cabin. Family-friendly, spring through late fall, adult admission roughly $20.
Lake
Lake Wallenpaupack
Pennsylvania's third-largest lake unfurls across 5,700 acres of shoreline that begs to be explored by boat. Rent a pontoon for the day, book a narrated sunset cruise, drop a line for bass and walleye, or just find a quiet cove and swim.
The marinas at Hawley and Tafton make a good lunch stop — ice cream, dockside burgers, the works. About 40 minutes northeast. Year-round, peak summer. Boat rentals roughly $250–$500 per day; reserve a few weeks ahead for July and August weekends.
Year-round resort
Camelback Mountain Resort
Camelback is the Poconos' biggest year-round resort and does double duty by season. In winter, 39 trails light up for night skiing and snowboarding, plus the largest snow tubing park in the country.
In summer, the mountain becomes Camelbeach — an outdoor waterpark with the longest mountain coaster on the East Coast, ziplines, and a treetop ropes course. About 20 minutes from the cabin. Family-friendly, year-round. Tickets run cheaper booked online ahead of arrival.
State park
Hickory Run State Park
Hickory Run packs 15,990 acres of hiking near Tobyhanna into one of the state's most beloved parks. The headliner is Boulder Field — a National Natural Landmark, a 16-acre frozen-in-time scatter of glacial stones that feels like a movie set.
Tack on the Hawk Falls trail for a kid-friendly waterfall, or take on the Shades of Death trail if you want a moodier walk. About 30 minutes from the cabin. Family-friendly, year-round, free entry.
Indoor waterpark
Kalahari Resorts Waterpark
America's largest indoor waterpark sits a quick drive south, and even on the gloomiest February afternoon you can spend the day in board shorts. There are body slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a toddler splash area for the smallest travelers.
Day passes are limited and sell out on weekends and during school breaks — book the slot ahead, not at the gate. About 15–20 minutes from the cabin. Family-friendly, year-round indoor. Day passes roughly $60–$100.
Motorsports
Pocono Raceway
“The Tricky Triangle” is one of NASCAR's most distinctive tracks — a three-cornered 2.5-mile superspeedway tucked into the woods of Long Pond. The big race weekends in summer draw real crowds, the engines echo for miles, and even non-fans tend to leave converted.
Off-season, the track hosts driving experiences if you want to actually take the wheel. Under 30 minutes from the cabin. Best for adults and motorsports-curious kids; summer race weekends draw the crowds; tickets from about $50.
Casino & dining
Mount Airy Casino Resort
When you want a proper grown-up night out, Mount Airy delivers. The Mount Pocono casino floor has roughly 1,800 slots and 70+ table games, plus a steakhouse worth the drive, a sushi spot, and a nightclub on weekends.
There's also live entertainment and a spa if the slot machines aren't your speed. Under 15 minutes from the cabin — the closest major attraction, which makes the rideshare home affordable. 21+ on the gaming floor; year-round.
State park
Promised Land State Park
Promised Land lives up to the name in summer: two clear lakes, two swimming beaches, kayaks and paddleboards for rent at the lake itself, and 50 miles of trails that double as cross-country ski routes in winter.
The Conservation Island loop is a flat half-mile boardwalk over wetlands — perfect for a slow morning with kids. About 35 minutes from the cabin. Family-friendly, year-round (peak May–October), free park entry.
Recreation area
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is 70,000 acres of cliffs, river, and Appalachian Trail spilling along the Pennsylvania–New Jersey border. Hike to the top of Mount Tammany for one of the best views in the region, paddle the Middle Delaware River, or float a summer afternoon away on a tube.
Stop in Shawnee or Milford on the way home for coffee and a slice of pie. About 45 minutes to 1 hour from the cabin. Family-friendly with the right hike; year-round; tubing late spring through September.
Shopping
The Crossings Premium Outlets
Some weekends the weather just doesn't cooperate, and that's where The Crossings comes in. About 100 outlet stores in Tannersville — Nike, Coach, Polo, Under Armour, Le Creuset — arranged in an open-air village a few minutes off I-80.
It pairs neatly with lunch at one of the Camelback-area restaurants and a stop for coffee on the way back to the cabin. About 20 minutes from Bella Casa. Family-friendly, year-round. A textbook rainy-day pick.
A note on seasons
The Poconos aren't a one-trick destination. Spring brings cold, full waterfalls and quiet trails. Summer is for lake swims, tubing, and Camelbeach. Autumn turns the whole mountain into a postcard for about three weeks in October — book early. Winter is skiing, tubing, snowshoe trails, and slow nights at the fire pit with a cocktail. Whenever you come, there is a version of Pocono Mountains activities waiting for you.
Keep exploring
More from the Bella Casa guide
Ready to make Bella Casa your basecamp?
Pick your dates, pack a small bag, and we'll handle the rest. The cabin sleeps 6, the fire pit is stocked, and every attraction on this page is an easy drive from the front deck.