For visitors and residents alike, spending time in Stroudsburg can be a terrific way to get back to nature – but not always in the ways that you might think. Sure, you can spend time outdoors in the winter, skiing to your heart’s content. But what about the rest of the year? Here are a few “natural” suggestions to inspire you to explore this eastern Pennsylvania paradise.
- Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm – A non-profit, living history museum preserving 19th century Pennsylvania German agricultural heritage. Period-dressed interpreters portray descendants of Johann Depper, re-enacting daily life on the farm. Nestled in the Pocono Mountain on 114 acres of beautiful pastures, woodlands and streams, Quiet Valley hosts all the farm animals typically found in the 1800s. Rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, a mule and Clydesdale draft horses live on the homestead. The buildings include an 1850s bank barn, the original farmhouse, a cabin, spring house, ice house, smokehouse, dry house and assorted smaller barns.
- Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary – Considered an “outdoor classroom,” the sanctuary is a 166-acre preserve that includes an old field, mature deciduous forest, evergreen stands and two ponds. More than 2½ miles of maintained and well-marked trails are open for public use year-round. Visitors can hike or cross-country ski from dawn to dusk, taking in gorgeous scenery and glimpsing a variety of local fauna. There is also a gift shop with many different educational and environmentally oriented items for sale including a large selection of birdfeeders, quality birdseed, field guides and more.
- Monroe Farmers Market – Since 1979, Stroudsburg’s finest collection of vendors (pictured above) has offered quality produce, plants, flowers, eggs, dairy products, raw natural honey, fresh baked breads & pastries, jams, jellies, syrups, hand roasted gourmet coffee, homemade pasta, sauces, fine wines, handmade soaps, candles and more. The outdoor market – which is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon, May through October, in beautiful Courthouse Square – also hosts performances by local musicians weekly. The indoor winter market is every Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., November through March, inside Soho in the Burg Gallery.
- Mountain View Vineyard and Distillery – Since grapes are the fruit of the vine, the wines and spirits that are created in Stroudsburg are certainly part of the natural surroundings. This 90-acre farm has been producing local vintages since 2009, and specialty spirits since 2013. The facility offers daily tastings and weekend tours of both the winery and distillery. All of Mountain View’s labels feature illustrations of a “Sweet Old Goat,” which was inspired by founder Linda Rice saying – in reference to clearing the land to plant vines – “You need to be a mountain goat to work this property.” The goat logo was designed by Linda and Randy Rice’s son Bobby.
- Rowan Asher Winery and Hard Cidery – A small, family-run business that produces R.A.W. wines and hard ciders. Developed with an eye toward bringing a source of revenue to the community, the company uses Pennsylvania-grown apples and grapes, as well as local-foraged flowers, herbs and berries to create a wide array of vintages and ciders. In addition, the founders have sourced sustainable and reusable goods to create the tasting bar and décor.
To learn more about Stroudsburg, visit our website at www.takethreenights.com. For help planning a trip to Stroudsburg to discover the natural beauty of the Poconos, drop us a line at info@takethreenights.com.
To explore and get additional information about all of our incredible destinations, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!