Welcome to Part 2 of our Destinations Series.
(Click HERE for Part 1)
As founders of GreatFrumTrips.com, this is the time of year when all day long, we get the question over and over, “Where should we go away to this year?”
For our fans and readers all over, we’ve put together this handy guide of great vacation destinations, and a quick description of what you can expect to find, see and do there from our own experience and research, as well as the approximate distance from Lakewood.
So as not to overwhelm our readership, we’ll include three great destinations with helpful links and more in this article.
Today, in conjunction with The Lakewood Scoop, we’ll focus on within approximately 2-3 hours from Lakewood. A follow up article featuring ‘staycation day-trip’ destinations is planned for a future date as well, iy”H.
So without further ado, where should you vacation this year?
Destination: Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
What’s There? The Pocono Mountains featuring the Kittatiny Range, Endless Mountain Ranges and Delaware Water Gap Natural Recreations Area of Pennsylvania offers 2,400 square miles of scenic beauty and attractions within 2 hours of NYC. The closest mountain range to Lakewood NJ, the Poconos are home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands and 170 miles of winding rivers.
Don’t Miss: The Adventure Center at Skytop Lodge, This phenomenal hike with beautiful views (FREE!), one of the world’s fastest Indoor Go-Karting Speedways, White Water Rafting or tubing on the Delaware or Lehigh Rivers, a leisurely Scenic Trail Ride through the mountains, Mini Golfing in the fresh country air, biking, hiking, exploring and more!
Where to Stay? Rent a vacation home in Pocono Mountains – CLICK HERE for options!
Approx Distance from Lakewood: 2.5 Hours
Destination: Lancaster County, AKA ‘Amish Country’, Pennsylvania
What’s There? Pennsylvania Amish Country is a picturesque landscape that must be witnessed in person to be fully appreciated. Rolling hills with lush grasses and crops, farms with windmills dotting the horizon, a slower pace of life and a feeling of having gone back in time as horse and buggies sharing the road with you remind you that things are simpler in Lancaster County. Action also abounds with amusement parks and touristy attractions making this region anything but boring.
Don’t Miss: The family favorite Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park, Lake Tobias – the craziest Zoo / Safari you’ll ever visit, a working farm tour, horseback riding, an amish tour, Roller Skating – (hey we are going back in time, after all), this fun indoor laser tag, Roadside America – the original “Gulliver’s Gate“, ‘Pride of the Susquehanna’ Paddle Wheel Riverboat Tour, Carlisle Indoor & Outoor Go Karting, Amusements & More buying farm fresh produce from local farms, and of course relaxing in the slower pace of life of the area
Where to Stay? Rent a vacation home in the Lancaster, PA area – CLICK HERE for options!
Approx Distance from Lakewood: 2.5 Hours
Destination: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
What’s There? Slightly closer than the Poconos or Lancaster and set amid gentle hills and charming countrysides, Lehigh Valley, Pa. is home to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton of Crayola Experience fame, as well as dozens of small towns and picturesque boroughs, parks, trails, and waterways.
Don’t Miss: The family favorite Crossing the Jordan Creek in your Car (!), the Crayola Experience, Tubing on the Delware River, Carlisle Indoor & Outoor Go Karting, Amusements & More, Guided Mountain Climbing, Water Hiking, Picnicking, Biking and visiting Buffalo and Elk at Trexler Nature Preserve, Ice skating in the summer, and just enjoying a beautiful change of scenery not too far away from home
Where to Stay? Rent a vacation home in the Lehigh Valley, PA area – CLICK HERE for options!
Approx Distance from Lakewood: Under 2 Hours
Looking for even more destinations?
Click HERE for Part 1 of this series, featuring New Hampshire, Vermont and Virginia.
Most of all, wherever you choose to go, have fun, relax, drive safely, and enjoy!
New Jersey residents, the Rowner family of nine loves to find great appropriate places to explore.
Among their other escapades, they’ve spent 28 days with an RV camper attached to their car through nine states with no plans (!), and acquired varying degrees of insanity and two turtles to show for it.
Recently featured in many Jewish Media Publications including Mishpacha Magazine, and the Jewish Echo Magazine they enjoy their noisy household, making great adventures and sharing their takeaways and stories with thousands of readers and followers on their websites GreatFrumTrips.com, and KosherVacationCentral.com the world’s largest online Jewish travelers resources.