Kim and I are always looking for options for weekend getaways from the New York City area.

One of our go-to mini trips is Philadelphia, a walkable city with lots to offer- great museums, food, etc…

When I received an invite to checkout the Mount Airy Casino Resort located in Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania I was interested to see what they had to offer. The resort is located under two hours from home so it definitely fit our criteria as an option for a weekend away!

Mount Airy is a AAA 4 Diamond Casino Resort located on something like 1,000 acres of land.

When we entered the lobby, it felt something like a mini-Borgata, located in Atlantic City. There is a nice chandelier hanging where you enter and then you’ll immediately notice the waterfall. The lobby was definitely nice!

Let’s take a look at some of the other things offered at Mount Airy Casino.

The Casino:

Photos are not allowed on the casino floor so I don’t have any pictures to share. While I’m not much into gambling, Kim and I did wander around the casino floor to see what was offered.

There are loads of slot machines along with table games like poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and many more. The machines and table games were spread out well so it didn’t feel cramped, even when the areas were busy with players.

My biggest complaint about the casino was the cigarette smoke. I am not a fan of smoke and it really bothers me. While walking around the casino, the smoke really affected my throat. The casino has a no smoking area but it’s not like the areas are separated by any barriers. This means the smoke is still everywhere.

The Rooms:

Kim and I were definitely impressed with our room. While not huge was spacious enough. The king bed was comfortable and the bathroom was also well set up.

There was a desk to work at if needed as well as a comfy chair although it didn’t face the TV so it wasn’t of much use.

The one tip/ warning I’d give would be to not touch the mini-bar or snacks above it unless you really want to purchase them. The area is weight-sensitive so if you pick up an item, I’m pretty sure you’ll be automatically charged for it.

(We had a refrigerator brought up to our room to keep drinks/ snacks in.)

Other Amenities on the Property:

There is an 18 hole golf course on the property which looked very nice. While I’m not a golfer, we were told there were also some hiking trails in the area.

The pool looked really impressive. In colder weather, it is completely indoors but when it gets hot out, the sides of the structure open up and the indoor pool connects to the outdoor one. You can also order snacks and drinks here. We were also told about popular night-time parties that take place here which attract big crowds.

Other amenities include a small but decent fitness center and a very nice spa.

I was offered a massage which I definitely enjoyed and I got Kim a facial. The prices at the spa are pretty reasonable and a nice thing is that the tip is included in the prices!

I also briefly checked out the sauna and steam room which I’d recommend using if you have the time.

Food Options:

There are some nice food options at Mount Airy and we had a chance to try out most of them.

Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen was the restaurant I was most curious about. I’d best describe it as bar food that will appeal to many with some interesting items offered.

Kim and I were pleasantly surprised with our dinner. We really enjoyed the Asian Chicken Wraps which came with lettuce cups and some tasty dipping sauces. It actually felt like a somewhat healthy dish. Kim had the smoked half chicken as her main dish which was good but a bit dry/ boring if you ask me. I had to try the Bacon Mac ‘N Cheese Burger, winner of the NYC Wine & Food Festival Burger Bash. I thought it was a very solid burger and am considering writing a review of it at some point.

We also had one breakfast at Guy Fieri’s which was good but the portions were just way to big. If you go here, try to share. I definitely threw out half of my breakfast burrito.

Bistecca by Il Mulino is a fine dining steakhouse which could fit in at any casino or on its own. The food was delicious and we had no complaints. We shared a filet mignon and lamb chops, both of which were quite enjoyable. There are also some really good sauces to choose from which elevated the dishes! I’d also recommend the Chili Duster Calamari as an appetizer.

Other good options are Lucky 8 where we had a solid lunch. This place is small but serves really good food. There is also a buffet which we tried for Sunday brunch. I’m never really a buffet fan and it was no different this time. Some of the dishes weren’t bad, but the idea of trying a variety of random dishes usually leaves me thinking, why did I bother!

Overall, Mount Airy is a very nice property, it just so happens that Kim and I aren’t into gambling so the #1 activity at the resort wasn’t of much use to us.

Some other things to consider:

• You can go shopping at The Crossings Premium Outlets which is around 10-15 minutes away. (We stopped there on the way.)
• Horseback riding is available down the road.
• Callie’s Candy Kitchen is also around 15 minutes away which I’d highly recommend visiting. It’s been around since 1952 for good reason! (They also have a pretzel shop a few minutes away which we didn’t get to try.)
• Kids parks like Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari Resorts and Camelback Lodge & Waterpark are close by.

If you’re looking for a place to get away for a weekend from the NYC area, Mount Airy Casino Resort could definitely be a good option for you.

Find out more about he property here.