For the past three summers, I traveled to a small town called Kunkletown in the Pocono Mountains every free weekend. From early June to late August, my boyfriend calls this quaint town his home and runs an overnight summer camp there called Camp Harlam.

Before I moved to Philadelphia, I had never heard of the Pocono Mountains. Being a summer-camp kid, I grew up attending camp in middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin (a town called Eagle River), which was incredibly pretty, but didn’t have much to offer. There were a few good restaurants reasonably close, including the White Stag Inn and small family-owned fudge shops, but nothing worth a special trip.

After spending ample time in the Poconos, I now know why people come here — not only to go to summer camp, but for vacation as well. The drive to Kunkletown from Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the prettiest drives I have ever taken. I enjoy the hour and a half drive every weekend. Once you get to the Poconos, there are many things to do and places to stay and eat. Even in small towns such as Kunkletown or Stroudsburg, you will find top-notch dining at local hang-out PJ Whelihan’s Pub (or “Platz’s”) and great bed and breakfasts. If you haven’t been, I would suggest making the trip!

— Lindsay Gruen, digital account executive