Northeast Pennsylvania is very similar to Washington state, at least in our opinion. This place is very green with trees everywhere and lots of rain. We did not really get to enjoy summer because of this and then there was the quick transition into fall. We tried our best to go see what we could though. This place has a lot of historical sites to visit if you like that sort of thing. If you do then you will definitely enjoy visiting North East Pennsylvania. Below are some of the places to visit, some of which we have been to.
Montage Mountain Resort park- this place was pretty fun especially since this was the only chance we had to get to an outdoor pool. The kids loved the wave pool and the lazy river. The water was FREEZING though! I don’t know how they did it, but they had so much fun, so it was worth it.
Address: 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton, PA 18505
Website: https://www.montagemountainresorts.com/waterpark/#attractions
Xtreme Jump Zone – This was a nice little inflatable play area to take kids. I would say the age range is from toddlers to about 10 years old. There is also a rock-climbing wall and a rope to climb, as well as other things to play on. The café offers pizza (which is pretty big), sandwiches and other snacks at affordable prices and they were delicious. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area and looking for someplace for your kids to play.
Address: 1712 PA-940, Pocono Pines, PA 18350
Website: https://xtremejumpzone.com/
Leraysville Cheese Factory- This has the word cheese in it so David really wants to go here. This is a small factory using milk from only 4 local farms to make their cheese in an Amish town, so that will be interesting. I wonder if they will have some great wine selections available too? Will post pics whenever we do go.
Address: 42 Cheddar Ln, Le Raysville, PA 18829
Website: not working right
The Ranch at Pocono Mountains- The kids wanted to go horseback riding so we found this place. The horses here were actually pretty gentle and the trail was fun.
Address: 391 Manor Drive Pocono Manor, PA 18349
Website: https://mtcreekstable.com/
Lehay Family Fun Park. Searching for a place for the kids to play while we looked for a place to live, we came across this place. This place was not so fun. Gabe is 10 and wanted to ride the bumper boats, which he couldn’t do because he was underage. Honestly the place is small, looks a bit rundown, and the games are expensive. If you want to play put put then this might be the place for you. If you have kids that want to play arcade games, then I would recommend you take them to Chuck E. Cheese which is not too far. For $15 each, your kids can have 45 minutes of unlimited play unless they have other deals.
Address: 500 Morgan Hwy., Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Website: https://laheyfunpark.com/
Lackawana State Park– We have been to this park on and off, which is located in Dalton Pennsylvania. Great fishing spots, hiking and other activities. There is an air balloon section here too, but we haven’t really stopped to check it out. I have to psyche myself up for that first!!!
Website:Lackawana State Park
Skateway- Due to the weather being finicky and unable to make up its mind on whether it will be just right, cold as hell, wet or dry, I took the kids to one of these indoor skating rinks and they had a blast. Admission was only $6 but you have to have skates on hand or rent it for an additional fee. I am not positive, but I believe the rental fee was only $2 because Gabe brought his roller blades while Lily and I rented which brought our bill to $22.
Address: There are 4 different locations. Wilkes-Barre, Bethlehem, Shillington, & Whitehall
Lackawanna Coal Mine- if you like history then I would highly recommend that you go on this tour. Riding down into the mine was a little nerve wracking but we all made it no problem. I will go more in depth about this in another post.
Website: https://www.lackawannacounty.org/index.php/attractions/coal-mine
Tobyhanna State Park- This park is 5440 acres and includes the 170 acre Tobyhanna Lake. The name Tobyhanna is actually derived from an American Indian name meaning “a stream whose banks are fringed with alder.” Lily especially loved this place since it had a beach that she could play on.
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/TobyhannaStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
Gettysburg Horseback Trails- This was pretty amazing riding through a historical battlefield with the kids. David and I were more into the history, while the kids got a bit bored and just enjoyed the horseback. We did not realize that the day we went on our tour was also the day that they were holding reenactments. We didn’t see the battle, but we did see a lot of people in costume reenacting daily activities by our hotel.
Address: Best to call 1-717-476-7428
Website of the company we went through: https://confederatetrails.com/
Bushkill Falls- Called the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania. This place has 3 water falls with one as high as 100 ft. Never been here, but the pictures are beautiful so might have to. For more information about how to get there check out the link below.
Website: https://www.visitbushkillfalls.com/
Carousel Water and Fun Park- Would have been nice to know about this place during the summer! This plays looks like fun. They have bumper boats, go karts, kids kars, water slides, and more. You can pay ala carte for the activities or pay $14 per child and $22 for adults to use everything here. Might have to take the kids here!
Address: 1018 Beach Lake Highway (Route 652) Beach Lake, PA 18405
Website: https://carousel-park.com/
Claws and paws Animal Park- This is a small zoo where for an additional fee you can feed some of the animals.
Address: 1475 Ledgedale Rd, Lake Ariel, PA 18436
Website: www.clawsnpaws.com
Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum
Address: 22 Bald Mountain Rd, Scranton, PA 18504
Website: http://www.anthracitemuseum.org/
Steam Town National Historic Site
Address: 350 Cliff St, Scranton, PA 18503
Website: https://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm
More on the Places We Actually Went
Several of the places on this list we have visited multiple times and can speak to more personally. Here is a deeper look at the ones that stood out most:
Montage Mountain: Best Summer Water Park in the Region
Montage Mountain Water Park in Scranton was the highlight of our summer in Pennsylvania. The wave pool and the lazy river were the main draws for our kids, and the sheer amount of time they spent in both was worth every dollar of the admission. Yes, the water is freezing — it is mountain water — but kids do not care. We packed towels, snacks, and sunscreen and spent a full day there. In winter, Montage Mountain transforms into a ski resort with slopes for all levels. Worth knowing if you are in the area year-round.
Gettysburg Horseback Trails: History You Ride Through
The Gettysburg horseback trail through the Civil War battlefield was one of the most unusual and memorable activities we did in Pennsylvania. David and I were absorbed in the history; the kids were absorbed in the horses. The combination worked surprisingly well. We did not know when we booked that there would be reenactors on the battlefield that day — seeing people in period costume going about activities near our route added a layer to the experience that we could not have planned. Highly recommend booking through Confederate Trails if you visit Gettysburg.
Lackawanna State Park: Our Local Outdoor Escape
We visited Lackawanna State Park multiple times during our time in the area. It is genuinely beautiful — trails, fishing, and an easy pace that makes it ideal for a half-day outing when you want to be outdoors without the planning overhead of a full destination. The hot air balloon section is something I still need to work up the courage for. The fishing spots around the lake are excellent and the park is rarely overcrowded except on major summer holidays.
Northeast Pennsylvania as a Family Destination
People who have not spent time in northeastern Pennsylvania often underestimate how much is packed into this region. The Pocono Mountains give you outdoor recreation in every season. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area has historical attractions that are genuinely world-class, particularly the Lackawanna Coal Mine and Steamtown National Historic Site. The Delaware Water Gap to the south is one of the most beautiful river corridor parks in the northeast. Bushkill Falls (the so-called Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania) is a legitimately impressive waterfall complex. And the Amish communities in Bradford and Susquehanna counties to the north offer a step back in time that you cannot replicate anywhere else in the country.
When we first moved to Pennsylvania from Washington state, we were not sure what to expect. What we found was a region with far more to do than we had anticipated, particularly for families who want a mix of outdoor, historical, and simply fun activities. The green hills and heavily forested valleys reminded us of Washington in the best way. We did not get to do everything on this list during our time here, but we covered enough to say: northeastern Pennsylvania is worth your time.
Planning Tips for Visiting the Region
- Base yourself in Scranton or the Poconos depending on which part of the list you want to focus on. Scranton for history and indoor activities; Poconos for outdoor and resort-style fun.
- Summer and fall are peak seasons. Fall foliage in northeastern Pennsylvania typically peaks in mid-October and is spectacular.
- Check hours before driving. Some smaller attractions on this list have limited or seasonal hours. We learned this the hard way more than once.
- Combine Lackawanna Coal Mine with Steamtown for a full history day in Scranton. Both are within a mile of each other.
- Pack for weather variability. The Pocono region gets genuine four-season weather. Even summer hikes can get chilly at elevation. Layer up.
A Note on the Seasons in Northeast Pennsylvania
Northeast Pennsylvania has genuine four-season weather, and the best time to visit depends heavily on what you want to do. Summer is peak season for water parks like Montage Mountain and outdoor activities at the state parks. Fall is arguably the most beautiful time of year: the Pocono Mountains turn spectacular shades of orange, red, and gold typically in mid-October, and the crowds are noticeably smaller than July and August. Winter brings skiing at Montage and Camelback, and the Pocono region has several well-established ski resorts within easy driving distance. Spring is hit-or-miss with weather but is excellent for hiking before the summer heat arrives.
One thing that surprised us coming from Washington state was how quickly the seasons change in Pennsylvania. The transition from summer to fall felt abrupt, and we did not fully get to enjoy the outdoor summer activities before cooler weather moved in. That experience is part of why we wish we had planned our schedule around the seasonal attractions more deliberately. If you are relocating to or visiting the region, I would recommend plotting out what you most want to do and then working backward from the seasonal calendar rather than assuming you will have time for everything.
Our Overall Take on Northeast Pennsylvania
We did not expect to enjoy Pennsylvania as much as we did. Coming from Washington state and before that from years of living in South Korea, we were not sure what to expect from a region that we associated more with history textbooks than family adventures. What we found was a genuinely varied destination with something for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and families looking for affordable, accessible fun. The Pocono Mountains deliver on outdoor recreation in every season, Scranton and the Lackawanna Valley have historical depth that most visitors overlook, and the smaller towns scattered through the region have a character that is worth slowing down to appreciate. We would go back given the chance.
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