Travel back in time at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort in Pennsylvania's Poconos Mountains

SHAWNEE-ON-DELAWARE, Pa. - The ride in the time machine was pretty seamless.

It took less than an hour’s drive for me to get from the modern luxury of the Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, N.J., to discover the historic charms of the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort nestled into the Poconos Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania.

The Shawnee Inn, dating to 1911, sits on the yawning shores of the Delaware River on the edge of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This place feels like it’s stuck in time. The entertainment isn’t a monstrous waterpark-like pool or some sort of mountain coaster becoming all the rage at more glamorous resorts. It’s sitting on a rocking chair on the front porch (where I wrote this piece) or throwing rocks and wading into the calming waters of the river. I’ve played tennis, hung out at the free lighted driving range at night and paddled up and down the river in a kayak. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll hike the Appalachian Trail that is hidden among the hillsides surrounding the resort. S’mores by the campfire are another favorite past-time.

The 27-hole course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast, is a definite throwback where more than half the holes reside on an island in the middle of the river. This classic parkland hosted the 1938 PGA Championship and the 1967 NCAA Championship and nearly gave up a career-round for me today.

Last night, I sampled the Gem and Keystone Brew pub. My beer was flavored with honey harvested from the resort’s apiary, and the meal featured vegetables from its large garden. Tonight was more of the same home-grown food and brews at the River Room for dinner. The chef prepared a special tuna dish that rocked the palette.

This place is peaceful, elegant, simple. Forget the internet. I could easily ditch the smart phones and the bells and whistles of casinos and new resorts for more of life like this. Maybe I was born in the wrong generation. Take me away, Shawnee, to the good old days.