We are off to the races here at Pocono Raceway and across the Pocono Mountains for summer 2025. We want to invite you to come explore the Pocono Mountains and enjoy everything that is happening this summer season.

Jim: We are here with President Ben May of Pocono Raceway. This guy is welcoming thousands of people to Tricky Triangle this weekend for the NASCAR race weekend. And this is the kickoff to summer, man. How exciting is this to have a sold-out crowd for the third year in a row?

Ben May: This is the kickoff to summer and summer actually. It's a beautiful weekend in the Pocono Mountains. We're just thrilled to have NASCAR back, our 52nd year having NASCAR here in Pocono. And it's a big deal, man. It's cool.

Jim: You were up jet skiing last year. Yeah. You were at wiffle ball at Barley Creek. Tell us about what you love about the Poconos.

Governor Josh Shapiro: I love it here. You know, I actually just celebrated my 52nd birthday yesterday. And, you know where I was? On the water at Lake Wallenpaupack. We had an amazing time. I just love this area. I love this region. It's beautiful. The air is crisp, the people are friendly. And you can do anything. Hike, get outdoors, have an amazing meal. Have a date night. Have a family time. It's just awesome. So we love spending our time here.

The Governor knows PA is the Great American Getaway. And the Poconos, including Lake Wallenpaupack, is primed for summer—just ask Steve Gelderman at Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour.

Steve Gelderman: Yeah, in the summertime, you know, weekends, 4th of July obviously is our busiest time. Um, and it's great. It's kind of hits you with a sense of like, you're looking around and you just see people all up on top of the dike. You got boats up and down the lake. You've got a lot of activity. And it's just phenomenal to see.

From the lake to the river, the Delaware hosts the annual Sojourn, in its 30th year in 2025, celebrating being voted "River of the Year" in Pennsylvania.

We found Clarence Gardiner of New Jersey and his family among the dozens taking to the river for a paddle. He got choked up thinking about spending time with his daughters in this special place.

Clarence Gardiner: Yeah, we used to spend a lot of time with the Sojourn program, and I asked my girls if we couldn't be together for Father's Day.

Jim:
That's pretty cool.

Clarence Gardiner:
And they jumped on it.

Jim:
So you guys came out here for a Father's Day deal?

Clarence Gardiner:
Oh, yeah. I made them pay their own way this time.

Chris Harless: Yeah, we're from more densely populated in Morris County. And so it's all buildings and street, and it's nice in its own way. But to see the vibrant colors out here, and when, you know, the rain comes pouring in, it kind of awakens the whole place up. That's why we like to be out here.

Whether it's the rivers or the lake or at the track, summer in the Poconos is about soaking in all the experiences across the region.

Ben May: Hey folks, if you're coming to the race, come a few days early, stay a few days later, right? Take in everything the Poconos has to offer. Right? We've got it all—water parks, state parks. I mean, it's all here. So tourism is in full swing. We're about to be in full swing and we're just happy to be a part of it.

Jim: Summer in the Poconos is growing season and eating season, right here at Pocono Organics next to the Tricky Triangle.

Phoenix Tolpen: It's great. I mean, the busiest time is the summer. A lot of customers, a lot of stuff. The races. There's usually a lot of stuff going on at the track. So just like now.

Summer has only just begun. For where you can spend your summer days in the Poconos, head to PoconoMountains.com.