A relaxing weekend away- The Poconos Wineries

Andrew and I celebrated two years of marriage this past September and we decided a couple days away was very much needed. Neither one of us has ever been to the Poconos, so I started to research things to do. We decided on wineries and hiking.

We went to three wineries each day. On the first day, as soon as we arrived in East Stroudsburg, PA, we went to Franklin Hill (store front) winery. It was small but quaint. We loved the small cozy environment. We ended up selecting a lot of the sweet wines made from concord grapes. Our favorites included Sir Walter's Red, Crush, and Katie's Creek.

We then ventured downtown on Main Street to Raw Urban Winery. We had the best experience at RAW Urban Winery with it's Bohemian vibes and relaxing environment. We sat near the front of the store where we could see all the selections of wine to choose from. We had an amazing cheese board to pair with our eight wines and ciders. Andrew loved the cider so much he ended up taking a growler of cider to go.

Eventually we ended up at Tolino Winery. I loved the industrial atmosphere but it was a very tiny space. We sat outside and tried four wines. My favorite of the four was Vidal Blanc. We ended back at the hotel and ordered dinner from Siamsa Irish Pub next door to the hotel. The food unfortunately was very disappointing and left us yearning for a real meal the next day.

On the second day we started our morning with a hike around the Pocono Environmental Education Center. This location had numerous trails for those looking to take a quick walk or those seeking long, difficult hikes. We loved the views of mother nature's fall artwork and breathtaking waterfalls. We hiked for about two hours before heading back to hydrate on some yummy wines!

After our hike, we ventured to The Renegade Winery. This winery was very different from any winery I have been to in that it was a very modern space on a corner road of East Stroudsburg. The wine was also unique in that they offered not just a variety of whites and reds but also an eclectic selection of fruit flavored wines including Guilty, a Concord grape wine we ended up getting 4 bottles of prior to leaving. It is that GOOD!

Our favorite winery was Three Hammers winery. Due to COVID restrictions, all seating was outside and we were only allowed inside to use the restrooms. You ordered at the front of the winery and a staff member would bring wine and food to your table. The staff member who brought our wine out was a member of the family who makes the wine. It was wonderful to hear him explain the wine process and what types of barrels they use. We ended up getting a couple bottles of wine from there. My favorite was the HB Rusted Bell- Frontenac Gris 2019.

After the winery, we went to a MUST GO restaurant for dinner. It was attached to the Ledges Hotel, a restaurant called Glass Wine Bar Kitchen. When we walked inside there was this amazing view of a waterfall. I made reservations 4 weeks in advance. Their food did not disappoint either. It was a tapas style and we ordered so much salad, steak and mac n cheese. The food was truly divine, the staff fantastic, and by the end of dinner we were both in a food coma.

This was truly a wonderful getaway trip filled with wine, love and new adventures. I would highly recommend going to the Poconos. To the love of my life, thank you for everything you do. I am extremely blessed to have married such a sweet, kind-hearted man. Love you always!