New job in Stroudsburg but like Lancaster or Berks County (Bethlehem: motels, houses)

[Billyboo]

My husband has a new job starting in Stroudsburg but we like Lancaster or Berks counties. Is there a good area that is like Lancaster with barns/cornfields/amish about 45 minutes from Stroudsburg?

[Billyboo]

Lancaster County is beautiful but two hours away from Stroudsburg. How can I find an area that is like Bird In Hand or Intercourse or Strasburg that's closer to Stroudsburg? AM I just dreaming?

[Billyboo]

In following Advice for posting from "Sticky", my husband, myself and two small children are moving from Long Island to PA. We are looking to buy a home that is no further than 45 minutes to 1 hour from Stroudsburg, PA where husband's new job is. We have looked around in the
Bethlehem/Nazareth area but still would like to be closer to Lancaster or live in a setting that is like a Lancaster. Son is going into 5th grade, daughter in preschool.

[BevoInPA]

I know Mt. Pocono is not like Lancaster but it is an attractive little borough in Monroe County. I travel there for work frequently and enjoy the downtown with artsy shops. Cresco is more rural and there is a pretzel store/factory in Mountain Home, another rural area.

[Billyboo]

Thank you for the response. I have heard that about Mt Pocono but I also have read that the area/schools have some issues.

[BevoInPA]

Can you afford tuition? Look at Smithfield Township. I really know nothing about the district but the home values are strong for the county.

My objections with the area are very poor planning. The two-lane roads are grossly inadequate for the population growth in there area. The weird mix of houses, retail, self storage, and industrial on the arteries. Is there even a comprehensive zoning plan? I have never seen steel frame retail centers with metal siding until I was up there for the first time. The shopping centers look just like the motels on 209.

I like the 1950's resorts and odd little tourists traps like the pretzel factory but someone was asleep at the wheel. The area has gone from a resort to ugly highway junk like a drive out on US 4 to the Garden State Plaza in Paramus.

[Icy Tea]

Kutztown has some amish and mennonites and is VERY "pennsylvania dutchy". That whole northwestern Lehigh, northern Berks region is very rural with rolling farms, fields of corn and wheat, farms, historic old homes, streams, lakes, woods and distant mountain views. That's at least an hour from Stroudsburg, though.

[Billyboo]

Thank you! Kutztown was on our list to check out! I appreciate any input.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by BevoInPA

Can you afford tuition? Look at Smithfield Township. I really know nothing about the district but the home values are strong for the county.

My objections with the area are very poor planning. The two-lane roads are grossly inadequate for the population growth in there area. The weird mix of houses, retail, self storage, and industrial on the arteries. Is there even a comprehensive zoning plan? I have never seen steel frame retail centers with metal siding until I was up there for the first time. The shopping centers look just like the motels on 209.

I like the 1950's resorts and odd little tourists traps like the pretzel factory but someone was asleep at the wheel. The area has gone from a resort to ugly highway junk like a drive out on US 4 to the Garden State Plaza in Paramus.

Ditto Northern Virginia, so Monroe County isn't alone in this regard. Come to the NoVA forum though and ask about improper long-range urban planning and OH BOY does the fur fly! People here like their poor planning apparently.