When daydreaming about your ideal vacation, it's easy to get lost in the big-ticket expenses—flights, hotels, 5-star restaurants. However, creating indelible memories isn't synonymous with extravagant expense or venturing far away from home. Sometimes, all it requires is a bit of creativity and your favorite group of people.
One perfect example of this is our unforgettable trip to Towamensing Trails, a secluded haven nestled in the Poconos. A group of thirteen and a half adults (the late arrival enjoyed a discount!) plus three children under 18 found harmony in a spacious 7-bedroom home within a vibrant, amenity-packed community. Each adult couple relished their private space, with four shared bathrooms ensuring no squabbles over shower time. But the cherry on the cake? The cost for a week's stay amounted to less than $400 per person. Bargain!
Just as a caveat, group vacationing may not be for everyone. However, if the prospect of a flexible, diverse, and somewhat chaotic crew sounds enticing, then you could benefit in from an affordable, memory-soaked experience.
Our rental house was a facsimile of entertainment, complete with shuffleboard, foosball, a pool table, and even a poker table. Come sunset, the basement was transformed into our private clubhouse of camaraderie, competition, and heartfelt laughter. We even had a hot tub available for those needing some relaxation. TV consumption was at a bare minimum—I only saw it on twice, one of which was to peruse locations for next year's group getaway!
The inclusive community amenities added a sprinkling of charm: a clubhouse (with drinks and snacks), a swimming pool, lake with paddleboat rentals, playground, tennis and pickleball courts. Admittedly, there were a few minor inconveniences, like a limited number of access wristbands per house and daily trash duty (large groups tend to generate more trash!). However, these were easily offset by the possibility to buy extra wristbands and the smooth operation of everything else.
Even though we only managed to exploit a fraction of the activities—venturing to the pool once and the pickleball courts another time (our group relishes spontaneous adventures)—having these options readily available added to the overall experience. It created a sense of completeness to the trip, adding an element of fun without necessitating a chockfull itinerary.
Our group traversed locations other than Towamensing Trails too. We explored a variety of Coutryside restaurants—with one we wouldn't dare recommended. From now on, it's a Poco-no-no for us!
Here is a list of our favorite attractions: