This article is sponsored by the Eagles Mere Historic Village Inc. Opinions expressed are my own.
Last year, I visited Eagles Mere in northeastern Pennsylvania and uncovered firsthand what a fabulous place it is. In my article, I noted how it seemed the perfect place for families, and how much I hoped I could return someday with my family.
So, I was very excited when I was invited back again and my wife and kids joined me for the trip. Bringing them gave me new insights into what makes this town so unique.
Eagles Mere is a borough in Sullivan County in PA’s Endless Mountains region. It got its start as a resort community in the 19th century as the well-to-do from nearby cities, especially Philadelphia, would escape to the mountains during the summer heat. Its stunning architecture is still fully intact and the town is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, people come from all around to spend their summers at Eagles Mere, and the welcoming community atmosphere definitely harkens back to “Norman Rockwell” days otherwise long gone.
While Eagles Mere’s shops, museums, and restaurants are open to everyone, many of the town’s best amenities are only open to members of the Eagles Mere Association. However, those staying at the Eagles Mere Inn, which opened in 1887 and is part of Historic Hotels of America, are given access as part of their stay. This means that you can enjoy the community’s incredible lake, beach, hiking trails, country club, and events with the rest of the community on your vacation.
While there are a lot of fabulous aspects to Eagles Mere, the star of town has to be the spring-fed, 230-acre Eagles Mere Lake, which offers opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking.
The northern end of the lake is home to the Eagles Mere Beach. This life-guard protected swimming area offers a great chance to take a dip in the lake’s natural spring water whether you want to simply wade in or you want to jump off the dock immersing yourself in the deep water.
My kids couldn’t get enough of jumping off the dock into the cold and clear waters of the lake, and I felt great knowing that life guards were there in case of any issues.
There is a sandy beach and a grassy area where you can relax, play games, and just enjoy the beauty of this area while enjoying a bite to eat from the nearby Beach Shop snack bar.
Adjacent to the beach is where temporary members can rent a variety of non-motorized boats to explore the lake. My family and I decided to take out a family-sized pedal boat and we all had a great time exploring the lake from this vantage point.
If you’re looking for something that requires a bit less work, you can also climb aboard the Hardly Able, a 100-year old wooden troop launch that plies the lake between late June and Labor Day. Members can hop aboard for a free ride around the lake or to simply cross from one side to the other without having to use their car.
Due to the weather, I wasn’t able to ride this boat during my previous visit to Eagles Mere, so it was a real treat for my family and I to climb aboard on this visit. The ride feels like another step back in time, and make sure to take a moment to appreciate the boat’s incredible history and the unique steering system.
Another way to explore the lake is via the Laurel Path, a two-mile trail planted with 130 year old rhododendrons that encircles the lake. This is a relatively easy hike, though there are enough rocks and roots to keep this from being boring. I really enjoy the hike and the chance to walk past interesting rock outcroppings, massive hemlocks, and the historic boathouses that line portions of the lake.
Of course, if you love hiking or biking, there are hundreds of miles of trails in the nearby Worlds End State Park and Loyalsock State Forest. In fact, there are trails directly from the community that connect in with these, giving you ample opportunities for hikes of just about any length and difficulty.
As a parent, another thing that both my kids and I really enjoyed were the many children’s activities available in Eagles Mere. Special programs abound everywhere.
On the morning of our first day, my children stopped by the Conservancy Cabin, which runs frequent kids programs during the summer months. On the day of their visit, my kids were able to make “bug hotels”, which was a really fun art project. They also enjoyed the cabin’s ropes course, music area, and other activities nearby.
There are also a variety of activities for kids available throughout the day at the beach area and the Teen Center. These are sure to keep children of all ages entertained during your visit, and all are available with your temporary membership whether you are renting a house or staying at the inn.
If that’s not enough, the Eagles Mere area is also home to several fantastic museums including the Eagles Mere Museum, the Eagles Mere Auto Museum, the Eagles Mere Motorcycle Museum, and the Eagles Mere Air Museum. The latter three museums are located just outside of town and offer some of the best antique transportation collections in Pennsylvania.
If you come with a big group, those that reserve five or more rooms at the Eagles Mere Inn can get a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Auto, Air, and Motorcycle museums for free. Having done this last year, the collections hidden away throughout town are at least as impressive as those in the museums themselves, and lovers of antique automobiles and airplanes will definitely be enthralled by the collections available.
As I said above, when I visited Eagles Mere last year, I was excited by what I found, but felt that I had only experienced part of the town since I hadn’t traveled with my family. Having brought them along this year, I really have an even deeper appreciation for the myriad of activities and recreational opportunities in this corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Think of it as summer camp for adults and kids.
If you’re looking for a unique and fun-filled family vacation, or just a several night exploratory stay, you’ll definitely want to check out Eagles Mere, PA. My family and I will be back!
This article is sponsored by the Eagles Mere Historic Village Inc. Opinions expressed are my own.
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