Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived, Manhattanites have zero excuses when it comes to getting outside and seeing what the city has to offer. Outside of that, you will find that for travel purposes, some of the best places to visit in the spring and summer time are a mere hour or two away, albeit train or car ride. A place that has always stuck out in my mind for tranquility, beauty, effervescence and above all enjoyment is The Pocono Mountains, which is a quick 90 minute drive away from the concrete jungle of Manhattan. After spending the past weekend there, all my thoughts about this beautiful part of Pennsylvania were realized and then some, especially with the first part of my trip- staying at the newly renovated Silver Birches, located in Hawley alongside the absolutely stunning Lake Wallenpaupack.
As someone who has been to The Poconos each summer since I was about 3 or 4, this was a part of the area that I really had no idea existed, and upon arrival to it was completely blown away by its breathtaking views, calm environment, beautiful lodging and great food, all on one premises. Silver Birches reads completely different from any type of stay that you would have in New York City, as a lot of the rooms and parts of its location reads like an upscale bed and breakfast per se, overlooking the stunning landscape that is Lake Wallenpaupack. With the location overall being an absolutely perfect spot for hosting big events from graduations, weddings, and more, you can find fantastic accommodations at several of the types of rooms you can stay in, whether it is a cottage, bunkhouse, deluxe room, or more. We were the first people to stay in one of their brand new rooms, and was electrified by its spacious environment, elegant plaid carpets, views, comfortable bed, and an amazing hot tub in the bathroom which really capped off a phenomenal stay.
With Memorial Day only being a week away, the staff at Silver Birches have been working overtime to really make sure that everyone who stays there this summer enjoys every aspect of what they have to offer. They are opening up their gorgeous pool location this weekend, which will be stocked with an amazing snack and drink bar, a DJ, and so much more so you can have some fun in the sun and really enjoy yourself with your friends and family. They are also opening a minimart of sorts behind where people load their canoes, so if you are ever short of anything that you forgot to bring on your trip, they have you covered.
As funny as it sounds, Silver Birches could literally have the look of an abandoned shack and people would still want to stay there as the view of Lake Wallenpaupack is like nothing else. The stretch of it goes way beyond Silver Birches itself, however it is an amazing difference from what is on the other side of the street (not that it is bad). Something I feared when coming to Silver Birches that weekend was that the weather called for clouds and rain, but I was thrilled to see that the sun held out throughout, which made just looking out the window something that would become an hourly activity for me and my guest. It was picturesque in so many different ways, that it literally sells the location to a tee. Not to mention that you can go down to the dock whenever you want and experience the beauty that much closer. As previously mentioned, the spaciousness of the location is grandioso in size, so it’s multi use purpose really comes into play now that the 70 degree weather is hopefully here to stay.
When it comes to dining purposes at Silver Birches, you don’t have to use your car to go far as they have a wonderful location on premises called The Dock at Lake Wallenpaupack, which is merely feet away from where we stood. The Dock had the same view as we had from our hotel room, yet had one thing both me and my guest really enjoyed… some absolutely stellar food and service. The Dock reads as an elevated comfort type of restaurant, with a huge bar, outdoor and indoor dining, and some great live music which we experienced on Friday night. Menu recommendations from The Dock run the muck, however these were our highlights from our stay.
I am one to never turn down a delicious wing option, so their Crispy Chicken Wings were a great way to start the evening off. They have a variety of choices to choose from including Thai Chili, Honey Sriracha or classic Buffalo, however we opted for the Bee Sting ones, which was a perfect combination of sweet and spicy all wrapped up in one delicious wing. For their soup options, a cup (or mug) of their Smoked Freshwater Perch Chowder is another good starter, as it combines a ton of great flavors that a chowder is supposed to have, including bacon, corn and oysters, that meld into one great soup. For their entrees, I recommend their Prime Rib Cheesesteak, as it is a delicious alternative to the usual cheesesteaks that we all get, and rival the ones that are worldwide known in a city not too far from them… Philadelphia. They also have some great vintage entrée options available at your disposal, however we really enjoyed their Old Fashioned Yankee Pot Roast, with mashed potatoes, gravy and delicious vegetables. Classic meets modern in the best way possible. They are rolling out a new menu soon, so be on the lookout for that the next time you check into Silver Birches.
Overall, this was an easy 10 out of 10 in my book, for all the reasons listed above. Be sure to make Silver Birches on your must list for the spring, summer and beyond. For more information, check out Silver Birches official site.