Winter break came and went. It was a lot busier than I expected. It was all good stuff. It was all fun and I got to enjoy time with my family.
But now we’re back in the monotonous cycle of cold weather and the winter blues of little daylight, juggling school and work, extracurricular activities, the never-ending race and cycle of being an Uber for our parents, and weekends filled with dance rehearsals, soccer practice and games, and other scheduled activities.
Thankfully, I’ve found a key way to shake off the blues: winter vacations. I’ve written before about the importance of traveling with my nuclear family, and that includes both long vacations and weekend getaways.
Winter holidays are the best
Many people ward off the winter blues by traveling to sunny, warm places to escape the cold that blankets much of the country during the winter. But sometimes you can get both winter fun and summer warmth in the same weekend getaway.
My family and I recently visited Camelback Resort in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, a ski area that will celebrate its 60th anniversary during the 2023-2024 winter ski and snowboard season. We were amazed to see how much it has changed since our days as high school students, when we would visit for day ski trips with friends and family.
The biggest change for me has been the opening of Camelback Lodge in 2015. The lodge now features Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, Arcadia Adventures (an arcade), and a variety of dining options. One of the restaurants, Trails End Pub & Grille, is literally located at the base of the ski runs and steps from the chairlifts, giving it a Vermont or Western ski village feel.
Camelback Resort
We stayed at the resort for two nights, enjoyed all the amenities, and experienced both the winter fun (skiing and snow tubing!) and the waterpark. From start to finish it was a truly family-friendly experience.
We are avid skiers, so it was fun to bring our kids and experience a new mountain together. Mother Nature gave us a variety of weather. We skied in the spring, fall, and eventually winter. The temperature was 49°F when we left, dropped to 30°F by lunchtime, and we saw rain, sun, and snow. It was all unexpected. But we were appropriately dressed and braved all conditions, kids included. (Camelback’s 6-person high-speed chairlift with “bubble” that opened a year earlier certainly helped!)
Despite the poor weather and the fact that we visited on a holiday weekend, there was plenty of area to ski and the lift lines didn’t seem too crowded.
Sari Hitchens
Indoor water park wins
As the temperatures began to plummet, we decided to warm up at Aquatopia, an indoor waterpark at Camelback Resort. Indoor waterparks seem to be growing in popularity across the U.S. According to a 2021 report from Hotel & Leisure Advisor, there were approximately 275 indoor waterpark resorts or stand-alone indoor waterparks in the U.S. and Canada.
So we rushed back to our room, quickly got changed, and rushed off to the water park, where I watched as the big kids turned back into excited little kids again. They wanted to go on every slide and try (almost) everything. But I think the biggest kid was my husband. He went on everything! And they even let me go on rides that I had no intention of going on.
Camelback Resort
Aquatopia boasts the largest Texlon clear roof in North America and 14 water slides for kids of all ages to enjoy. For parents, there’s also a swim-up bar, especially recommended for those 21 and older. What’s great about this bar is that it has a counter so parents can stay in the water and have a drink while their kids sit outside and have a snack. (By the way, they also have an outdoor water park in the summer!)
It was really fun to experience winter and summer activities in the same day – in fact my husband went back in the winter to experience the lit up night skiing on Camelback – we were exhausted from the whole day but couldn’t let it end without a second trip to the arcade.
A must-see family resort with activities
During dinner on our first night at Trail’s End, a magician visited our table and performed a card trick that astounded not only the kids but us as well: he guessed my mother-in-law’s name and transferred one daughter’s signature onto a playing card that had the other daughter’s signature on the back.
There are many different events scheduled throughout the day, including donut decorating, silent disco, balloon animals, and more. We participated in a few of the activities (donuts, yummy!) and seeing the smiling faces of the little kids participating made me nostalgic for when my kids were little. During silent disco, kids would dance like no one was watching. Now, my tween and teenage kids are at the age where they are totally embarrassed by their parents.
Sari Hitchens
At night, Arcadia Adventure heats up and becomes more like a kid’s casino. The lower level has over 100 games where kids can play, win tickets, save up money and then “shop” for prizes. The upper level has a ropes course, rock climbing wall, laser tag and a VR experience.
If skiing or horseback riding isn’t your thing, snow tubing is a great way to get outdoors in the winter. Camelback has 40 snow tubing lanes that are open day and night. You can tube solo or pair up with a friend or family member.
This was the last thing we did before leaving to go to a soccer match. Of course the weekends are never completely free. But I wish we had more time!
Sari Hitchens
Our weekend getaway was amazing – we created precious memories with the kids and it was a great way to escape from our daily routine. Plus, it’s great to be able to ski close to home!
Were there arguments? Was it hard for them to get up early to even do fun things on their days off? Yes, but in the end we were able to spend quality time together.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking our daughter to soccer and my husband is taking her to and from dance.
Camelback Resort: Details
Location: Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, about 90 minutes from New York City and about 2 hours from Philadelphia.
Camelback Lodge: 453 rooms range from standard hotel rooms to multi-bedroom suites with fireplaces and full kitchens. Several on-site restaurants and counter-service restaurants, as well as two shops, are available. Perks include dogs (surcharge). Aquatopia Waterpark and Arcadia are just an elevator ride away. Waterpark admission is included in the rate. Standard rooms start at $199 per night, but larger multi-level, three-bedroom condos can cost nearly $1,400 per night. Rates increase during peak season and holidays and vary based on room type, demand, and availability.
Camelback Mountain: This ski area has 39 runs and 9 chairlifts, including a few magic carpets for beginner runs. Rentals are quick and efficient, and skis, boards, boots, and helmets are provided. There’s also the Camelback Ski & Ride Academy for those looking for lessons from age 4. The mountain is open for night skiing, and lift tickets are good all day. Lift tickets range from $65 on weekdays to over $100 on holiday weekends. Prices vary based on time of year, demand, and availability.
Tubing: The tubing park has 40 lanes and is open day and night. You can reserve a two-hour session online. Tickets range from $59 to $75 depending on the time of year, demand, and availability.
Parking: Be aware that unlike many of its competitors in the Poconos, Camelback charges a parking fee whether you’re doing day skiing, tubing, or staying overnight at the lodge.
