Bee Travel
Poconos - not just for honeymooners
No one is more aware than I of what comes to mind when you say "Poconos." It is unquestionably the home of honeymoon resorts. Caesar's Pocono Resorts, such as Cove Haven and Paradise Stream, have welcomed the romantically inclined and reclined for decades. This is the home of the heart-shaped and champagne-glass whirlpool baths, a kitschy niche earned and enjoyed, even if it does seem a smidge kinky to the conservatively disposed.

CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA Travel

The Poconos also offer equal parts golf courses and honeymoon suites. There is an enormous assortment of resorts tucked into little towns along the country roads that crisscross these mountains that cater to the summer golf enthusiast.

So when I say I went to the Poconos, you might think I was honeymooning or golfing. That wouldn't be true, however. We went there on business.

Our business took us to the town of Old Forge - no, not New York's Old Forge. Pennsylvania has one, too, near Scranton. Not exactly romantic, I will allow, but it's within spitting distance of some of the prettiest country in the northeast: the Pocono Mountains.

We left business behind and took Route 507 to Lake Wallenpaupack. With absolutely no plan (Horrors! Me - traveling with no plans?) and no clue what lay ahead, we pulled into the first opportune lodging late on a Sunday afternoon at the beginning of the Fourth of July holiday. Expecting to be turned back repeatedly by "no vacancy," we were surprised to find Bilmar Cottages had one unrented unit for this busy week. We had expected to tuck ourselves into a motel. And while we had clothing and toiletries, we didn't bring sheets or soap. No matter. The chatty and accommodating mistress of the cottages threw in sheets, pillowcases, towels, soap and a fair discount, if we would agree to stay all three nights here. Done.

The cottages sit up an easy hill from this manmade lake. There's a dock for guests to moor watercraft during their rental week and a place to sunbathe for those without such transport. There is a spit of a beach, half sandy and half pebbled. While not spacious, for our purposes - and those of the few other guests inhabiting the cottages - it sufficed. A short hop to Dutch's Market for provisions and we were in business. Now, what to do? Well, for heaven's sake! There's a lake out there, for one thing. We could have rented jet skis, a sailboat, a fishing boat or a pontoon boat. We could have taken water skiing instruction or just gone swimming. With limited time (only two full days) and chilly summer temperatures (a lake-cooled, breezy 68 to 70 degrees), we decided to drive the length of the lake and parts south. The town of Hawley heads the lake. This seasonal community is neat as a pin, serving the residential and tourist community on a scale commensurate with the lake. It's also the perfect place to pick up Route 6 and tour the length of the Delaware Water Gap. What's a water gap? Tune in next week. (Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globe-trotting as a member of the travel industry. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, NY 14231-0150.)