🏞️ 12 Best Places for Kids in the Poconos (That Parents Will Love Too)
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or dreaming of a forever home in the mountains, the Poconos is packed with family-friendly adventures that go beyond the typical vacation checklist. As a mom and local real estate expert, I’ve explored these spots with my own kids—and trust me, these are the places they beg to go back to.
From thrill rides and waterfalls to quiet nature trails and indoor play, here are 12 of the best places for kids in the Poconos—year-round fun guaranteed.
1. 💦 Kalahari Resort
📍Pocono Manor | Best For: Rainy day thrills, water park lovers
This is America’s largest indoor waterpark for a reason. With body slides, lazy rivers, a wave pool, and even a toddler area, it's the ultimate all-ages crowd-pleaser.
✨ Pro tip: You don’t have to stay overnight—you can get day passes and still soak in all the fun.
2. 🎢 Camelback Mountain Adventures
📍Tannersville | Best For: Adrenaline-loving kids
In the summer, Camelback transforms from ski resort to outdoor adventure park. You’ll find a mountain coaster, zip lines, tree-top ropes courses, and even grass tubing!
💥 Thrills for every age level.
3. 🐺 Great Wolf Lodge
📍Scotrun | Best For: Younger kids, themed fun
From story time with characters to a massive indoor water park, Great Wolf is a toddler and preschooler paradise. 🧙♂️ Don't miss MagiQuest—an interactive, resort-wide magical scavenger hunt.
4. 🐾 Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park
📍Lake Ariel | Best For: Animal lovers
Feed a giraffe 🦒, pet some goats 🐐, and explore shady trails full of wildlife. A low-key, hands-on zoo experience that’s a hit with little explorers.
5. 🌊 Bushkill Falls
📍Bushkill | Best For: Little hikers and nature lovers
Nicknamed the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," this spot has short trails and stunning waterfalls 💧.
🌈 Pack snacks and a carrier—this is nature magic in every season.
6. 🌳 Pocono TreeVentures
📍East Stroudsburg | Best For: Climbing and outdoor confidence
Treetop obstacle courses for all ages—even the tiny ones (ages 4–7) have their own course! 🧗♀️ It’s a confidence booster for every budding adventurer.
7. 🚂 Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
📍Jim Thorpe | Best For: Train lovers & fall foliage
Climb aboard a vintage train and wind through gorgeous mountain scenery 🍁. Open-air cars are a must during fall! Great for relaxing with kids who love trains.
8. 🧑🌾 Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm
📍Stroudsburg | Best For: Unplugged family fun
Watch blacksmiths, milk cows 🐄, churn butter, and bake bread like it’s 1890.
🎉 Don’t miss Children’s Day or Fall Harvest Festival—perfect for hands-on fun.
9. 🤸 Pocono Rocks!
📍Mount Pocono | Best For: Rainy day play
This indoor play space has it all: a bouldering wall, bounce houses, toddler-safe play zones, and even a ninja warrior course.
☕ The on-site café = lifesaver for parents.
10. ❄️ Shawnee Mountain Snow Tubing
📍East Stroudsburg | Best For: Winter fun without ski gear
Glow tubing 🌌, gentle hills, and no experience needed. Shawnee is perfect for a snowy family outing—even if no one skis.
11. 🛍️ The Crossings Premium Outlets
📍Tannersville | Best For: Shopping with a side of play
Need a shopping break? The outdoor playground and walkable design make it a surprisingly kid-friendly spot. Bonus: snack stops galore 🍪.
12. 🛶 Promised Land State Park
📍Greentown | Best For: Peaceful nature days
Swim in the lake, rent a paddleboat 🚣♀️, roast marshmallows at a fire pit, and spot wildlife along the trails.
🌲 Perfect for families looking to slow down and reconnect.
🏡 Thinking of Calling the Poconos Home?
The Poconos isn’t just a great place to visit—it’s an incredible place to raise a family. With all this nature, fun, and fresh mountain air, it’s easy to see why more and more families are making the move.
If you're curious about real estate in the area—whether it’s a cozy vacation cabin or your full-time mountain dream—I’d love to help. Let’s chat!
—Rebecca O’Grady, Local Realtor & Poconos Mom
🖥️ Our Poconos | ourpoconos.com
