By Wes Bower When Jeep Jamboree participants visit the Pocono Mountains in June 2000, they'll quickly find this northeast Pennsylvania outdoors paradise to be more than a destination for recently married couples. The Poconos encompasses 2400 square miles of towering mountains, interlaced with agriculture valleys. The small farms that inundate the valleys are interlaced with wood lots of various sizes, and approximately 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail are located within the Poconos.  Meandering cold-water streams, 150 sparkling lakes, rushing rivers, and 13 of the most scenic waterfalls in the mid-Atlantic region proliferate the area. The center for all water recreation is Lake Wallenpaupack. This 5600-acre lake, third largest in Pennsylvania, boasts 52 miles of continuous shoreline. This impoundment is fed by Wallenpaupack Creek. Fishing, boating, tubing, scuba diving, and numerous other water recreation activities are available. Any needed equipment is available to rent. The impoundment was formed in 1926 when the local power company dammed the creek, creating a large body of water on the boundaries of Pike and Wayne counties. Much summer recreation is available on the lake and its environs. First-time visitors are urged to stop at the Visitor Center just off Route 6 near the dam of the lake. An excellent historical narrative and photo display is available. Wallenpaupack Lake can be reached from I-84, while the interpretive center is near the intersections of Routes 6 and 507. There is no shortage of lodging in this region. Motels, hotels, honeymoon resorts, bed and breakfasts, country inns, cottages, and tenting areas abound. You can enjoy flawless service, fine cuisine, or hot dogs and marshmallows roasted over a campfire. The choice is yours.  If golf is your passion, the Poconos region offers more than 30 golf courses. While golfers are busy on the greens, non-golfers are free to shop at over 150 factory outlets. Visitors can see pretzels made at Callie's Pretzel Factory or splash at Camelbeach or Carousel Water & Fun Park. The area also includes the "Claws and Paws Animal Park," Costa's Family Fun Park, and Memorytown U.S.A. There are areas for "Go Karts," as well as roller-skating.  Pocono Mountains activities include mountain biking, paintball, archery, horseback riding, and numerous hiking trails. You can visit a miniature train museum, go back in history in a colonial village, take your turn at swings in a batting cage, see a Civil War battle reenacted, or meet heads on with friends in bumper boats. Tennis courts are also available.  The area boasts of a Native American Museum that traces the history of the Delaware Indians. You can walk through a bark house and see pottery over 1000 years old, in addition to admiring peace pipes, tomahawks, war bonnets, and even a centuries-old scalp. Nascar and horse racing are also options, and old-time favorite musicals are available at local summer theaters.  For those of you wanting to get in your vehicles and explore, the Poconos is home to seven state parks, 21 separate state game lands, and the 72,000-acre Delaware State Forest. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is 37 miles long, and the 70,000-acre park straddles the Delaware River. Photo enthusiasts should not stray far from their cameras when touring this scenic area. Meandering across Route 6 can provide many interesting side-tours. The Upper Delaware River, which winds through the highlands along the border of New York and Pennsylvania between Hancock and Port Jervis, should not be overlooked. Wildlife abounds along the road that parallels the 72 miles of river. The area is the home of famous western book author Zane Grey; you can get a taste of the cowboy life at the museum named in his honor.  If nightlife is your thing, excellent restaurants with fine cuisine dot the region. Upon arrival, check the local newspaper to determine what's happening in the way of evening entertainment. With so many honeymooners visiting the Pocono Mountains, there's never a shortage of restaurants and lounges featuring quality entertainment Musically, you can usually find piano bars, rock, laser karaoke, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues, oldies, and bluegrass. If history is more to your liking, this four-county region is definitely worth exploring. The first inhabitants were the Delaware, Iroquois, Shawnee, Minisink, Lenape, and the Paupack Indians. The first boarding house hotel was built in 1829. By 1900, the high altitudes and the Pocono Mountains' close proximity to Philadelphia and New York attracted many affluent visitors.  During the 1940s and 1950s, the family-owned-and-operated resorts, featuring oversized tubs, organized activities, and luxurious surroundings, appealed to the recently married. The area became famous as "the Honeymoon Capital of the World." In 1950, snowmaking machines were patented; soon, the area became established as a wintertime ski destination. In 1971, the completion of the Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond opened the area to NASCAR enthusiasts. During the 1980s era, whitewater rafting, golfing, and outlet shopping quickly gained their own niches with enthusiastic visitors. Antiquing has also become a favorite pastime. A visit to the Dorflinger Glass Museum would appeal to those interested in antiques and fine glass. The types of outdoor recreation available in the Pocono Mountains, which encompasses parts of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, is limited only by your imagination. Come early, stay late. You'll find much to see and do. To get the maximum enjoyment of your available time on a Pocono Mountain visit, some pre-planning is suggested. Contact the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau at 1004 Main St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360-1695. You can call the business office at 570-421-5791, or call 800-POCONOS for information and brochures. The vacation bureau is on line at www.poconos.org,  and you can also e-mail pocomts@poconos.org.  Advise them what types of recreation you are seeking and request appropriate brochures and pamphlets.  For more information on this and other Jeep Jamborees, please visit http://www.jeepunpaved.com/jamboree/index.html.  Copyright (c) 2000 by Wes Bower. All rights reserved.

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