From frolicking in the snow to splashing in an indoor waterpark, a winter Pocono family vacation filled with lasting memories awaits! Find family-friendly ski resorts, winter festivals in the Pocono Mountains, the best winter activities for kids, and indoor activities for all ages at our family resorts. Keep reading to find family winter vacations Pocono Mountains insider tips to maximize the family fun.
Snow Activities
1. Where are the Snow Activities in the Poconos?
Break out your warmest coats and best winter boots for an avalanche of snow activities! Whether you prefer exploring frosty trails on horseback or on a horse-drawn sleight ride or racing down the slopes while snow tubing, you and your family are guaranteed to love winter outdoor adventure in the Pocono Mountains.
Skiing and snowboarding are offered at six family-friendly ski areas, with ski and snowboard lessons available for kids, adults and groups! If you'd prefer a more tranquil pace, try snowshoeing (weather permitting!) over the snow-covered landscape. To kick the adrenaline up a notch, book a four-wheeler rental for some off-road ATV tours Poconos winter fun or gear up for a paintball battle in the woods at spots like Skirmish Paintball, the largest paintball park in the world.
Insider Tip: Guests staying overnight at Skytop Lodge and Woodloch Resort can enjoy a variety of outdoor winter activities on-site, including ice skating! Be sure to check with the resort before your stay to confirm current offerings.
Horseback Riding
Feel the winter air on your face and enjoy the natural scenery of the Pocono Mountains as you ride…
Sleigh Rides
A Pocono Mountains horse drawn sleigh ride is one of winter's favorite pastimes.
Snow Tubing
Snow tubing is the easiest way to hit the slopes in the Pocono Mountains!
Skiing
Start planning your winter adventure. Check out our ski resorts and find the best slopes in the…
Snowboarding
The Poconos has quickly become a haven for boarders with TransWorld Snowboarding rating some of the…
Learn to Ski
Our six ski resorts love to welcome beginners, and they all offer world-class programs, ski lessons…
Snowshoeing
One of the most magical ways to take in the Poconos’ landscape is to venture out on snowshoes.
ATV & Offroading
Kick your adrenaline into high gear with an all-terrain, off-road adventure in the Poconos!
Paintball
Challenge your friends, family or co-workers to a game of winter paintball.
Exciting Events
2. What Winter Events are Happening in the Pocono Mountains?
Savor the winter season with Pocono Mountains events! From winter festivals to entertaining shows to educational classes, get the family out of the house for a fun outing.
Experience a slice of local winter history at the Tobyhanna Ice Harvest, or join Pocono Environmental Education Center to learn something new in the Ecozone Discovery Room.
Bundle up for WinterFest in Downtown Stroudsburg, Jim Thorpe's Winter Fest or Wally Ice Fest in February. Brave the temperatures during the Annual Polar Plunge at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, or race to the top of Shawnee Mountain Ski Area during Bigfoot Showshoe Race Day.
Insider Tip: Looking for a memorable meal? Take your little ones to meet with royalty at stately Skytop Lodge during Breakfast with the Princesses.
Ecozone Discovery Room
- 02/09/2025 - 06/22/2025
Climb into a bald eagle’s nest, crawl into a bat cave, explore a beaver lodge, and dig in a fossil…
WinterFest in Downtown Stroudsburg
- 02/15/2025
Grandparents, parents, and children will all find enjoyment at Downtown Stroudsburg's Winterfest…
Annual Jim Thorpe WinterFest
- 02/15/2025 - 02/16/2025
Don't miss this milestone annual event, February 15-16, 2025 in beautiful downtown, Jim Thorpe…
Shawnee Mountain's Bigfoot Snowshoe Race
- 03/02/2025
Join Shawnee Mountain for a fun and challenging race this winter! Strap on your snowshoes and race…
Winter Treats
3. Where are Great Places for Families to Eat in the Poconos?
All that excitement and adventure is sure to work up an appetite. Gather round the table and refuel at one of the region’s delicious restaurants. Stop by a café like The Cure Cafe in Stroudsburg or Camp Umpy's Bagels & Stuff in Honesdale to warm up with hot sandwiches and hot chocolate or enjoy some quality time together during a hearty meal at a family restaurant like Apple Valley Restaurant in Milford or Murphy's Loft in Blakeslee.
Looking for something sweet? Visit a Pocono Mountains bakery and treat yourselves to yummy desserts and pastries. Find speciality cupcake flavors for every taste at Sonia's Sweet Inspirations and Pocono Dessert Co. Swing by the Stroudsmoor Bakery & Café for adorably decorated and perfectly seasonal sugar cookies or create a personalized donut masterpiece at Duck Donuts of Bartonsville.
Insider Tip: Resort restaurants like B-Lux Grill & Bar and Graffiti Pizza at Camelback Lodge offer delicious fare in a family-friendly atmosphere that's close to the ski slopes.
The Cure Café
Open for breakfast and lunch, this cozy eatery has a variety of options to choose from. Located in…
Camp Umpy's Bagels & Stuff
Bagels, breakfast, baked goods, and lunch. Camp Umpy's Bagels & Stuff strives to only bring you the…
Apple Valley Restaurant
Serving the tri-state area since 1966. Enjoy the heritage of American foods at Apple Valley…
Murphy's Loft
Murphy's Loft is a restaurant and bar located in the heart of the Poconos. This authentic log cabin…
Sonia's Sweet Inspirations
You’ve come to the right place for something sweet and special! Sonia's Sweet Inspirations is an…
Pocono Dessert Co.
Updated: Temporarily closed. Please check Facebook for updates. Pocono Dessert Co. believes that in…
Stroudsmoor Bakery & Café
Providing a diverse range of offerings, including baked goods, specialty cakes, deli sandwiches…
Duck Donuts of Bartonsville
Are you looking for a delicious and personalized donut experience? Look no further than Duck Donuts…
B-Lux Grill & Bar
B-Lux Grill & Bar: deliciously unique burgers and shakes hand crafted from scratch. Invite your…
Graffiti Pizza
Adventure, then pizza. At Graffiti Pizza the quest continues with “build-you-own” pizza creations…
Indoor Fun
4. What Are Indoor Winter Activities for Families in the Poconos?
Want to get out of the cold for a bit? There are plenty of indoor family fun parks where little ones can work off energy inside. Bouncing and laughing are great Poconos toddler activities in winter! Poconos Rocks! has bounce houses, a ninja warrior course, a boulder climbing wall, and an on-site cafe. For older kids over 54" tall, a day on the track at S&S Speedways is a great way to get in some go kart poconos action.
Insider Tip: Love to game? Enjoy a cozy winter day indoors playing the latest consoles at Mudita Gaming Lounge. Introduce the younger generation to classic video games at The Arcade Era or classic board games at Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe.
Pocono Rocks!
Family recreation center with a variety of activities for all members of the family! Pocono Rocks…
S&S Speedways - Indoor Go-Karts
Have you ever wanted the thrill of driving a real racecar? This is racing at its best! S&S offers…
Mudita Gaming Lounge
Welcome to the ultimate gaming destination in the Poconos. Mudita Gaming Lounge offers a…
The Arcade Era
Step into The Arcade Era and travel back to your childhood playing games like Pac-Man, Mario Kart…
Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe
Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe is a place you can go to enjoy various board games, collectible card games…
Museums
5. What are the Best Museums to Visit in the Poconos?
Take the family back in time to discover the antiquity and arts of the Pocono Mountains at one of our historical attractions and museums. Explore downtown gems and take in the beauty that has brought visitors to this area for generations.
Historical societies showcase stories from the past at spots like the Columns Museum in Milford and the Wayne County Historical Society and Museum in Honesdale. Bundle up to see National Historic Landmarks like the Roebling Aqueduct Bridge or the grounds of Grey Towers National Historic Landmark covered in snow.
Insider Tip: For a truly immersive experience, dig deeper into the past by staying at historic resorts like The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort.
Columns Museum
Columns Museum is an official county museum offering genealogical and educational services and group…
Wayne County Historical Society & Museum
The Wayne County Historical Society was organized on May 26, 1917 and was incorporated in 1922. The…
Roebling Aqueduct Bridge
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is the home of the oldest existing wire suspension…
Grey Towers National Historic Landmark
Milford's Grey Towers is the ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot was a Pennsylvania Governor…
The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Rediscover the outdoors at the historic Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort and be captivated by its…
Waterparks
6. What are the Best Indoor Waterparks in the Poconos?
Spend some time poolside this winter! Pocono Mountains waterparks provide excitement and relaxation for all members of the family, and the weather is always a guaranteed 84 degrees!
Water slides, wave pools, dump buckets, and aquatic obstacles are just a few attractions your family will discover. Let the indoor adventures begin!
Insider Tip: Book an overnight stay at Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions or Split Rock Resort to experience waterpark fun free with your trip!
Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark
A thrilling year-round adventure hotel in the Pocono Mountains! With 453 rooms in 16 various suite…
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is your time-together destination for family water fun where you will always play…
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Get ready, because you’ve never experienced an all-under-one-roof vacation destination like Kalahari…
Split Rock Resort
Splash and stay at Split Rock Resort's H2Oooohh! Indoor Waterpark! Split Rock Resort is a…
Winter Family Fun in the Poconos
Discover Pocono family resorts with activities, entertainment, and dining all under one roof, plus find ways to save on accommodations with special offers. Looking to plan a family reunion in the Pocono Mountains? Get in touch to tell us about your upcoming group gathering, and we’ll assist with your event planning needs! Don’t forget to check out more winter things to do, ski and snow activities and winter day trip ideas. Stay up-to-date with area snow conditions as you plan your winter family escape to the Pocono Mountains.
Winter Family Deals
Suite Escape B&B Package
- Valid: 10/21/2024 - 03/31/2025
Includes: Escape to Skytop Lodge for your next getaway with an exclusive Suite Escape offer! Indulge…
Your Winter Wanderland
- Valid: 01/01/2025 - 03/01/2025
Includes: Step into a world of wonder this winter at Skytop Lodge, where every moment becomes a…
Active and Retired Military Rate
- Valid: 01/12/2025 - 12/25/2025
Includes: Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to save big and indulge in extraordinary…
All PA, NY and NJ Residents Savings
- Valid: 01/15/2025 - 12/25/2025
Includes: Book your getaway in the Pocono Mountains! All PA, NY, and NJ residents can save up to 20%…
Presidents' Day Family Camp Weekend
- Valid: 02/14/2025 - 02/17/2025
Includes: Bring your friends and family to experience PEEC in the wintertime. Enjoy programs such as…
Spring Break Special
- Valid: 04/11/2025 - 04/27/2025
Includes: Spring into an adventure—book your perfect Spring Break getaway today and receive Milk and…
10 Must-Do Winter Adventures in the Poconos (Other Than Downhill Skiing)
Skiing and snowboarding are just the tip of the mountain when it comes to winter things to do in the…
Top