I know all about the POCONOS!!! ASK ME!! (Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning: renting, restaurant)

[Vacationer]

My husband and I have rented a home in Emerald Lakes this month for our vacation. Our married children and their families, including young grandchildren, will be joining us. When we rented the house, we envisioned fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting, a spa visit, a few nice meals out, etc.

I found this site when doing a general Google search on the area. After reading some of the posts, it's sounding like instead of having a nice quiet family vacation, we need to be concerned about crime, thugs, gangs, and panhandlers. I made an appointment at a day spa in Stroudsburg for "the girls" in the family, but don't want to put anyone at risk.

Is the area really that bad? We can't cancel at this point, so I guess I'm looking for some reassurance or at least some pointers on where to go and where to avoid.

And is it worth even thinking about looking for a vacation home to buy in the area?

Thanks for your help.

[Summering]

Vacationer..........I am sure you will be fine. My three girls have gone to the spa in Stroudsburg. I have lived in the area 13 years and have not seen a crime personally. While you are in Stroudsburg.........a wonderful place to eat would be the Willowtree down on Ann Street by the river. If you get a chance and love ribbons, the old ribbon factory just up from there is open...and they sell all kinds and types of ribbons.
If you would like a homemade meal go up the mountain to the Stroudmoor Inn. Lunch until 2Pm and then Dinner starts at 5 I think. They have wonderful homemade foods and a charming gift store along side the old Inn....that is fun to visit. Just wonderful foods.......clean and well respected.
I am sure you looked up the various places to go rafting.
A wonderful lake to rent a kayak or boat at, or to picnic and swim is Beltsville lake which is south on 209 ( take 115 south to 209 south out by the turnpike you will see the lake signs)
Nicks Lake house at Lk Harmony is nice for dining outside or in.
Lots of interesting places to visit like the various candle shops .......a huge one on 611 with other collectiables there. Candy making and Pretzel making up in the Cresco area.
You'll be fine..........all that talk is of a different place away from your location. I've never heard of a problem at all in Emerald lakes, and I have a friend living there.
Be sure to visit the Great Wolf Lodge and go for a meal or two, quite the exciting place. As are the Outlet Mall stores.
Best of luck...........and enjoy that Spa.........Happy Vacation

[carperry]

Originally Posted by Vacationer

My husband and I have rented a home in Emerald Lakes this month for our vacation. Our married children and their families, including young grandchildren, will be joining us. When we rented the house, we envisioned fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting, a spa visit, a few nice meals out, etc.

I found this site when doing a general Google search on the area. After reading some of the posts, it's sounding like instead of having a nice quiet family vacation, we need to be concerned about crime, thugs, gangs, and panhandlers. I made an appointment at a day spa in Stroudsburg for "the girls" in the family, but don't want to put anyone at risk.

Is the area really that bad? We can't cancel at this point, so I guess I'm looking for some reassurance or at least some pointers on where to go and where to avoid.

And is it worth even thinking about looking for a vacation home to buy in the area?

Thanks for your help.

Many people in the Stroudsburg area(Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Stroud Twp., Middle Smithfield)do not lock cars or doors. If you do not intend to stay in one of the housing developments populated by people transplanted from the metropolitan areas you will be fine, fishing, boating, hiking and even finding a few decent restaurant. If you have a large group I would suggest, no, for a large group I don't know who to suggest even having lived in the areas for more than 55 years. Might like the Snydersville Diner and its famous desserts. From you Pocono Pines location you might want to venture into Wilkes-Barre or Scranton. Scranton, of course, has the downtown railroad national historic site and the mall immediately adjacent. In Scranton you will find the world famous Chick's Diner and the nationally ranked Coopers.

[kmondo77]

Thanks for the advice Molly, like another poster said there are more homes for sale. That MLS site you posted only shows 4 but I have seem MANY others on Realtor.com and other sites like that. But I thank you for your response. That's a bummer about the teaching jobs, UGH!!!!

[Cbidwell]

My husband are looking to retire in the Poconos. We looked at a few communities and the one we liked best so far was Fawn Lake Forest which is near Hawley. Anything you can tell me about the area would be greatly appreciated. I would like to know things like shopping, veterinarians (we have 2 cats and 2 dogs) doctors, dentists, just what the area is like. Also, my husband has a concern about the people. Are they generally friendly? We now live in Northern NJ and have lived on our streed for 11 years and know so few of the neighbors. We are looking for a place that would be pet friendly and also have lots of opportunities to make new friends.

Thanks for any help you can provide. If you like, you can reach me at my email address which is gbidwell@optonline.net. I would enjoy talking to someone who actually lives in the Poconos!

Thanks Molly!

Charlene Bidwell

[greentown]

Charlene, I am not familiar with that particular development, but I can tell you a bit about Hawley. In Hawley, there are two grocery stores, a CVS, several banks, restaurants, a very nice recreational park, etc. for day to day needs. The closest veterinarians I can think of would be Cherry Ridge or Hamlin (both approximately 15-20 minutes away). I have used both of them, so I you need more info, let me know. If you wanted to do more shopping, etc., Honesdale is about 20 minutes further on Route 6. There is Walmart, K-Mart, Home Depot, small movie theater, several other chain-type stores, a bigger downtown area, and Wayne Memorial Hospital. Also, about 35-40 minutes away would be the Scranton/Dickson City area where you would find just about all of the chain restaurants and stores you could want, plus three other regional hospitals are located within blocks of each other in Scranton. There are doctors and dentists located in all of these towns, so it would just be a matter of choosing one that you would be happy with.

Hawley is very close to Lake Wallenpaupack, which is busy with tourists during the summer months. Sometimes you may find that the local people tend to keep to themselves during the summer, when places are busy and crowded. But after the summer people go home in September and things quiet down and get back to normal, I think you would find it to be a friendly place.

[kinpa]

Hi Charlene, Fawn lake is a pretty nice place, you will have an indoor pool, a few play areas, the people are easy to get to know, most are not from around here, but a lot have been here for many years. Big bear ski area is just up the road from you 2-3 miles so if you like skiing your close. When I lived in Rowland (a mile or 2 up the road from the cuckoos nest) I took my pets to wallenpaupack vet clinic- it is on rt 6 east of hawley, I also liked cherry ridge but it is further away. Of all the developments in the area I like Fawn lake the most, and the people are very nice. The lake is very pretty too. Greentown has told you about the shopping so your covered there! Oh and cherry ridge dental is pretty good- I wouldnt go to horizon in hawley. Welcome to the area!

[amberdd1]

Looking to purchase a vacation home in a rural area with a few amenties nearby...lake, pool, skiing etc. Nice community with well cared for areas. I like Big Bass Lake, it's a bit far north and the dues are pretty high. Any comnmunities closer to Lake Harmony but affordable? Possibly White Haven? Checked out Thornhurst...no lake, and the lots are pretty small. Had more of a close camping feel than woods & cabin or even ski chalet area. (This is just my opinion) Any suggestions would be helpful! My mind is spinning with this research! Thanks in advance!

[eventlady]

My husband and I and our infant son have to relocate to the Mount Pocono area very quickly... my husband just accepted a job at Pocono Mountain East HS and has to start in ONE WEEK! YIKES! We are looking to rent, but I feel like I've exhausted my resources looking for something affordable and decent. We've been getting mixed messages about PCP, but it seems like the only place we'll be able to afford before I can find a job.

Any ideas? (We've been on craigslist every day all day and I've checked out the Pocono Record listings)

THANKS!

[MollyMe]

rent check Empire realty
you dont have to live in mount pocono-- try north in moscow area too