Hotel at a Glance: Bushkill Inn & Conference Center

You can almost feel the cascading waters of Buskill Falls from Bushkill Inn & Conference Center, this posh Poconos resort located on 160 wooded acres just across from “the Niagara of Pennsylvania.” Rooms and suites here act as comforting retreats from the region’s active adventures, and welcome guests with amenities including free WiFi, heated bathroom floors, and plush terrycloth robes.

• Take a dip in the indoor pool, or take a soak in the bubbling hot tub.
• Eat well at one of two onsite restaurants; The Steakhouse pairs cooked-to-order cuts of meat with Italian-inspired entrees, while The Lounge hosts pub-style repasts in the midst of dark wood accents and leather chairs.
• Fuel your morning with complimentary continental breakfast Monday–Friday mornings from 6-11 a.m. Hot breakfast is also served Saturday and Sunday mornings in The Steakhouse from 8:30-11 a.m., priced to order.
• Pamper yourself at the Spa at Bushkill, where technicians specialize in everything from massages and body wraps to sugar and salt scrubs and spa-style foot soaks (additional fees apply).
• See the winter landscape on the resort’s extensive network of hiking trails.

Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains: Downhill Skiing and Quaint, Historical Towns

The Poconos region of northeastern Pennsylvania accounts for some 2,400 square miles of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forests. The area has been a popular vacation destination ever since Pennsylvania Quakers opened a hotel here on the Delaware River in 1829. Today, the Poconos draw nearly 24 million annual visitors, thanks to year-round recreational opportunities and spectacular natural scenery.

In winter, locals often make weekend trips from Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and DC for one reason: skiing. One ski spot that’s particularly popular is Camelback Mountain Resort, which sits atop one of the region’s tallest mountains at 2,133 feet and boasts 160 acres of skiable terrain. For an extended run, head to the Nile Mile, which drops 800 feet vertically over the course of a mile-long descent. The resort is also amply lit for night skiing, and is the only place in the Poconos with a halfpipe. For a ski attraction closer to Bushkill Inn & Conference Center, head to Shawnee Ski Mountain, which is a short 12 minute drive away.

There are diversions outside of the slopes, too. A handful of quaint, little towns full of antique shops and galleries nestle in the mountains. You’ll find boutique wine galleries and historical mansions tucked away on country roads, including the late 19th-century Asa Packer Mansion, which is open for tours, in the borough of Jim Thorpe.

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