You can ride a safari tour past nearly 200 animals on Thanksgiving weekend without ever leaving Pennsylvania. I didn’t believe it either, until I saw it was real.
That’s only one stop on this list. Another lodge builds a life-sized gingerbread house while the leftovers are still cooling.
A third sits on eight mineral springs that people traveled to more than 200 years ago.
I love the idea of trading a crowded dining room for a mountain view. You still get the turkey and the pie.
You just add hiking trails, fireplaces, spa days, and maybe a snow tube or two.
The drive might take a few hours. But after a big holiday meal, wouldn’t you rather nap in a cabin than on your aunt’s lumpy couch?
These mountain escapes make a strong case for packing the car early this year.
Camelback Resort
Turkey for dinner and a waterpark for dessert sounds like a menu planned by a ten-year-old. At Camelback, the Hemispheres restaurant serves a Thanksgiving holiday menu, and the Aquatopia indoor waterpark waits for anyone needing to burn off the stuffing.
Timing can work in your favor here. Skiing and snow tubing may open the day after Thanksgiving if the weather cooperates, so pack gloves just in case.
The snow tubing park ranks among the biggest in the country. A shuttle carries guests up the mountain, though skiing and tubing aren’t included with your room.
Not a snow person? You can ride the mountain coaster, try zip lining, tackle a ropes course, or hike the trails with wide Pocono views.
Back inside, the resort has six restaurants plus a coffee shop for your morning fuel. Pools, a hot spring bath, bowling, a game room, and movie nights help fill the hours between meals.
Families with mixed interests tend to do well here. One kid can scream down the coaster while you soak in the hot spring bath and pretend you didn’t hear it.
Live music and evening entertainment round out the nights. Your holiday weekend won’t run short on things to do.
Address: 193 Resort Dr, Tannersville, PA 18372
Mountain Springs Lake Resort | Private Lake, Lakefront Cabins & Pocono Getaways
Your own rowboat comes with the cabin, which feels like a very old-fashioned kind of luxury. Mountain Springs Lake Resort keeps things simple, with rustic cabins and cottages facing either the lake or the forest.
The lake here is private, so you won’t be sharing the shoreline with a crowd of strangers. That alone makes it a strong pick for a quieter holiday weekend.
Thanksgiving in the Poconos often means crisp air and leafless hills. A slow paddle on still water is a fine way to shake off a heavy meal.
The grounds are kept tidy and the cabins clean, which matters when you’re settling in for a few days. Peace and quiet seem to be the main attractions.
Planning tip: the office keeps daytime hours, from 9 AM to 5 PM. Try to arrive or call with questions during that window.
You won’t find a waterpark or a ballroom buffet at this spot. Instead, you get trees, water, and the freedom to do nearly nothing.
Bring board games, a good book, and maybe a pie from home. Some Pennsylvania holidays are best when the schedule stays empty.
Address: 1246 Mountain Springs Dr, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Twenty-seven holes of golf and the Delaware River out front make an odd but appealing pairing for a holiday trip. The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort sits right where the river meets the Pocono Mountains.
That location is the big draw. You get mountain scenery and riverside calm in one stop, which beats staring at a highway sign all weekend.
Golfers can test the course if the late November weather plays nice. Everyone else can head to the spa and let someone else handle the relaxing part.
Lodging options include cabins as well as rooms in the main inn. The cabins are a nice choice if your group wants a little more breathing room.
Dining is available on the property, so you won’t need to hunt for a meal after a long drive. Free WiFi also helps if someone in the family insists on checking the football scores.
The resort welcomes all kinds of travelers and runs around the clock. Late arrivals after a holiday traffic jam?
No problem.
It’s a good fit for families who like options. Some can tee off, some can soak, and some can just watch the river roll by.
Address: 100 Shawnee Inn Dr, Shawnee on Delaware, PA 18356
Magnolia Streamside Resort | Family Pocono Resort | Couples Resort Poconos | Wedding & Event Venue
A fishing stream running right past your cottage is the kind of perk that turns a weekend into a story. Magnolia Streamside Resort in Canadensis pairs country-style cottages and studios with that babbling water.
The setting is small and hilly, surrounded by mountain views and plenty of green. It feels like a retreat rather than a busy resort complex.
Families and couples both fit in here, which is handy for mixed holiday groups. Grandparents can take a studio while the kids claim a cottage.
Anglers should pack a rod for some streamside time. Even if nothing bites, standing by moving water beats standing in a checkout line.
The property also has an outdoor pool, though late November in the Poconos may not be swim weather. Think of it as a summer bonus for a return trip.
Planning ahead matters at this spot, since appointments are required for visits. Free on-site parking takes one worry off your list.
The resort also hosts weddings and events, so the grounds are kept picture-ready. That makes a family photo by the stream an easy holiday win.
Address: 2518 PA-390 N, Canadensis, PA 18325
Nemacolin Resort
Nearly 200 animals live on this resort, and you can see them on a safari tour after your turkey settles. Nemacolin spans more than 2,200 private acres in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
Thanksgiving weekend events often include a Harvest Brunch and s’mores by the firepit. Not a bad trade for washing dishes at home.
Food is a serious business here, with 18 culinary destinations on site. The Forbes Five-Star Lautrec leads the pack for fancy nights.
Restless relatives get plenty of outlets. Options include clay shooting, jeep off-roading, zip lining, climbing, ropes courses, and dog sledding in winter.
Rainy day? Head indoors for axe throwing, cosmic bowling, laser tag, or obstacle courses.
Seven pools are spread across the property, and two outdoor pools stay open year-round. Steam rising off heated water on a cold morning is a pretty great sight.
The Woodlands Spa offers thermal pools for anyone who earned some quiet time. Lodging ranges from The Chateau to The Grand Lodge and private homes, some with butler service.
The resort finished a major reimagining in May 2024. It also holds Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond honors.
Address: 1001 Lafayette Dr, Farmington, PA 15437
Slopeside Hotel by Seven Springs Resort
Ski runs right outside the window make an early snow forecast feel like a holiday gift. Slopeside Hotel sits at Seven Springs, known as the largest four-season resort in Pennsylvania.
Rooms on the top floors face the slopes head-on. You can check the snow without even putting on socks.
Winter brings more than 285 acres of ski and snowboard terrain. A zip line canopy tour and an Alpine Slide add fun outside of ski season.
Leaving the mountain takes a while, so plan to eat on site. Luckily, the resort offers casual spots, fine dining, and farm-to-table choices from breakfast through dinner.
Thanksgiving Day brings a buffet in the Grand Ballroom and dining room. That means nobody has to wrestle a turkey into an oven.
Downtime is covered too. The Trillium Spa, an arcade room, a fitness center, and indoor and outdoor pools with hot tubs are on the property.
Bigger groups can look at condos, townhomes, or chalets across the resort. Some even have private chair lifts and ski-in, ski-out access.
Address: 777 Water Wheel Dr, Champion, PA 15622
Skytop Lodge
A life-sized gingerbread house shows up during Thanksgiving weekend, so Christmas gets an early invite. Skytop Lodge mixes both holidays on a sprawling 5,500-acre Pocono estate.
The building itself is a showpiece. It’s a five-story fieldstone lodge of Dutch colonial design, open since 1928.
Thanksgiving dining comes in two styles. The Windsor Dining Room serves a big buffet, while the Lakeview Restaurant offers a la carte choices and holiday specials.
Early risers can join the Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run. It’s a clever way to build appetite and lower guilt at the same time.
The activity schedule stays full all weekend. Daily estate wagon rides, guided hikes, indoor ice skating, holiday crafts, and a history tour are all on the lineup.
Kids can decorate cookies and meet Santa. Evenings end with campfires and marshmallow roasts.
Cold toes? The aquatic center has an indoor pool, a splash pad, a hydro spa, and a dry sauna.
Skytop belongs to Historic Hotels of America. It feels like an old-school Poconos tradition worth starting with your own family.
Address: 1 Skytop Dr, Skytop, PA 18357
The Lodge at Woodloch
Parents who need a real break might find their happy place beside this lake. The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley is a lakeside spa resort built around rest and recharging.
The spa is the headliner here. It’s known as a top-tier spot for treatments, so book appointments early for a holiday weekend.
Meals come from a locavore restaurant, which means local ingredients take center stage. That fits nicely with a season all about harvest and gratitude.
You won’t spend the whole trip lying down, unless you want to. Fitness activities are on the schedule for anyone who wants to move between meals.
The scenery helps too. Woods, water, and quiet surroundings make it easy to forget about the traffic you just survived.
Couples looking for a grown-up escape tend to love this kind of setup. It’s less about thrills and more about slowing your heartbeat down.
Free WiFi is available if you must check in with the world. Still, the lake view makes a pretty strong case for leaving the phone in a drawer.
Address: 109 River Birch Ln, Hawley, PA 18428
Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa
People have been visiting this property for its mineral waters for more than 200 years. Eight natural springs helped establish its reputation as a place for rest and renewal.
Today, Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa continues to celebrate that history.
Parts of the resort date back to the 1790s. The property is designated a National Historic Landmark, making it an especially memorable place to stay.
Thanksgiving brings a traditional Thanksgiving Day feast, giving guests a chance to enjoy a classic holiday meal without the cleanup.
The Springs Eternal Spa incorporates mineral waters into its treatments. It’s a relaxing way to connect with the history behind the resort.
Golf fans have something special to see. The original 18-hole course was designed by Spencer Oldham, redesigned by A.W.
Tillinghast in 1912, and expanded back to 18 holes by Donald Ross in the 1920s.
A tennis court and two resort-style pools add more options. Varied dining venues help keep the weekend interesting.
The resort sits among the Allegheny ridges of Bedford County. It’s one of Pennsylvania’s most historic destinations for a holiday getaway.
Address: 2198 Sweet Root Rd, Bedford, PA 15522
Bear Creek Mountain Resort
Short drives deserve some love on a holiday weekend packed with traffic. Bear Creek Mountain Resort sits in the rolling hills of Macungie, closer to the Philadelphia area than many mountain escapes.
That convenience is a real selling point. You get a getaway feeling without spending half your vacation behind the wheel.
The resort runs year-round, so it doesn’t shut down between seasons. Ski trails come right down to the slopeside area when winter arrives.
Mountain biking is another big draw on this hill. Riders come for the trails in warmer months, and the experience has earned strong praise.
First-time skiers may want to know the terrain is smaller than at some bigger resorts. Folks with a little experience will feel right at home.
Thanksgiving weekend often lands right before ski season gets rolling. Check the conditions before you go, since snow timing changes every year.
The lodge setting makes it easy to stay put after a day outside. It’s a smart option for families who want mountains without a marathon drive.
Address: 101 Doe Mountain Ln, Macungie, PA 18062
The Lodge at Glendorn
Travel + Leisure named it the top resort hotel in the continental U.S. in 2016, and it hides deep in the Allegheny forest. The Lodge at Glendorn began as a family estate back in 1927.
Only 16 accommodations sit on the property, and most are standalone cabins. Fourteen of them have wood-burning fireplaces, which feels made for November.
Meals lean fancy, with chef-prepared breakfasts and gourmet dinners. Thanksgiving celebrations are part of the season here too.
Anglers get a real treat. ORVIS fly fishing gear is available for self-guided fishing on three trout ponds or 4.5 miles of streams.
Hikers and bikers can explore 18 miles of trails. Autumn also brings jeep tours, apple cider press demos, and tractor-drawn wagon rides.
Spa services help you unwind after a long walk. A multi-court for tennis, pickleball, basketball, and shuffleboard keeps competitive relatives busy.
The feeling is closer to visiting a private home than checking into a hotel. It’s a fitting final stop for a Pennsylvania mountain Thanksgiving, and maybe the hardest one to leave.
Address: 1000 Glendorn Dr, Bradford, PA 16701
