Skytop Lodge

I have been meaning to post this ever since our trip to Skytop, PA over Thanksgiving break, but alas the holidays have gotten the best of me. With not once, but twice our Christmas tree falling down (am I really admitting this online?!) – precious, sentimental ornaments crashing down into tiny pieces, the cries of girls’ screaming and tears I’m sure leaving our neighbors wondering what the hell is going on next door. “First Christmas” and ballerina ornaments have been lost, and the second crash really sent the girls into a tailspin. We think the problem’s fixed, but of course what ensued in the following days was emergency clean-up and X-mas tree shopping, on top of the rest of the holiday madness, which came fast this year! But enough of that. Here is a quick review of Skytop Lodge in Skytop, PA, the ultimate family-friendly resort in the Poconos.

I say “quick” because I’ve already reviewed it before (see here), as we have been going to Skytop Lodge (a big lodge beautifully set on 5,500 acres in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, with every activity imaginable for both adults and kids), for what is hard to believe, 7 years now. I thought I’d bring people up to date, because after this year’s (very good) experience, I think it’s note-worthy to mention the improvements that have been made. In my last post on Skytop, I said that we have been going for years now with my in-laws and cousins, and the kids have always loved it as there is so much to do both outdoors and indoors, but that last year there were some disappointing things about the lodge which I had hoped would be worked out. Looks like they worked them out.

Last year the food was not great, in fact my Thanksgiving meal was the worst I’ve ever had. The rooms were dated (as they always had been since we started going), and the main lodge’s reception area dated and old-fashioned as well. Some of the indoor activities for kids were lame and not well-staffed, and in general it just felt like the overall feel and service had gone down hill. After our trip last year, someone told me the hotel was going to renovate and make a big overhaul, and it seems they did. The food this year was great – Thanksgiving meal was the best I’ve had there in all seven years, and the rest of the meals very good; I heard they got a new chef. The rooms (at least the ones we stayed in) had been renovated and the lobby area had been as well, with some swanky new furniture and décor to replace the grandma-ish style from before. We peered into a big room off the side of the lobby and could see that they’re building a new bar room, which looks big and awesome.

The kids’ activities were all well-run this year, and some of the activities from last year which seemed they had as fillers and not great, were gone. Our favorite activity is the outdoor walks and hikes with the lodge’s naturalist, Rick. He is great and not to be missed. He is a walking encyclopedia, engaging, fun, and knows how to lure the kids in. Everyone loves Rick, and he’s a huge asset to the lodge. All of the indoor activities we did (on a rainy day) were good too, with various arts and crafts workshops and entertainment for the kids.

Overall, we had a great experience this year at Skytop, and they really brought things up a notch to a much classier level. I often equate Skytop with it being a babysitter, because there is so much to keep the kids busy, one really doesn’t need to do much but sit back and watch!

Skytop Lodge, One Skytop, PA 18357