Sure, sure, the Poconos region in Pennsylvania is pretty with rivers and mountains and trees, but it’s not exactly where you’d think of if asked to name the Honeymoon CAPITAL. I mean, there’s Paris (France, not Texas), exotic islands with drink umbrellas, the Jersey Shore.
So how did it get this reputation, aside from self-promotion? 200,000 couples honeymoon here for a reason. And that reason is the heart-shaped hot tubs. I kid you not.

Picture courtesy of Bing.com
Some hotel owner had an idea for a gimmick and in 1963 Life Magazine ran a two-page spread on said gimmick. People came a-flockin’. Lord help us all.
This same man was also the first to invent the all-inclusive package deal. People continued to a-flock.
Then he put individual pools in the hotel rooms.
But wait, there’s more. A seven-foot high champagne-glass-whirlpool. Can’t you hear the Barry White music playing? Can’t you hear Miss Manners weeping?

Photo courtesy of Bing.com
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Have you ever had the Poconos Honeymoon experience (whether or not it was actually your honeymoon)?
PLEASE share your G-rated stories!
7 Responses
I was born and raised in Philadelphia and got married in Philadelphia (1982) and I think I would rather have root canal than go on a honeymoon in the Poconos. I got to plan our honeymoon. We went to Peru: the Falklands War (or the Guerra de las Islas Malvinas as the Argentines prefer to call it) broke out; the Maoist revolutionary group the Shining Path acted up; our airline went bankrupt and stopped flying midway through our trip and the Amazon region we visited experienced a 30 year flood. I wouldn’t trade it for the Poconos–no way, no how. Now, the Pocono region is very pretty, but for a honeymoon—shudder.
What a trip! And what a laugh! Thanks for that!
Your Comments
I have loved reading your blog and especially love the piece (and fabulous pictures) on the poconos as I have always wondered the same thing. Inquiring minds want to know how you get up into that whirlpool? I now know where my next honeymoon will be!
My vast research (google) didn’t explain how to get into that whirpool, but i also wonder. should we call the concierge?
They have those tubs in Niagra Falls as well. They’re not that hard to get into :).
people can be so strange—
The disease infested heart shaped cesspool looks oh so romantic.
Does the package deal include a decontamination dip? A free check up at the local CDC?
Yowzers!