Travel Log: Pocono

It's only been two months since the circuit climbed the Pocono Mountains and visited Long Pond, Pa., for its June race. When the weather is warm, it's the outdoors that take precedence for entertainment and travel.

Last month, it was hiking, outdoor recreation and scenic drives that dictated the itinerary for a Pocono visit. That could certainly be the scheduled plan this time around, as well.

But an often overlooked quality of Long Pond is its proximity to history.

In just a few hours, visitors can find themselves in a car, stuck in traffic with the hustle and bustle of the country's busiest city. Or one can find himself in just the opposite, both on the map and in the surroundings, in an open field that was once packed with men who now only leave ghosts and stories scattered on the ground and packed in ancient bullets.

MAP OF LONG POND, PA.
Click here for directions and an aerial map.

DID YOU KNOW?
Three documents that had critical influence on the United States' history were written in Pennsylvania: United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

WHAT THE AREA OFFERS
Gettysburg -- It is a 160-mile drive south from Long Pond to Gettysburg, where visitors can experience the history of the Civil War's turning point. A Union victory in a hot summer day in 1863 wrapped up the bloodiest battle of the war, resulting in 51,000 casualties. In the Pennsylvania town, visitors can make an all-day tour of the historic area, whether by car, bike or even train.
• Gettysburg National Military Park
• Shriver House Museum
• Gettysbike Bicycle Tours
• Gettysburg Express

Philadelphia -- It's 111 miles to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and the city perhaps most well known for a cracked piece of history. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center are all within walking distance of this historical plot, also known for its ongoing calendar of events.
• National Constitution Center
• Independence Hall
• Liberty Bell Center
• South Street

New York -- It is just a 95-mile drive to the City that Never Sleeps, New York. Broadway shows, the boroughs, Wall Street, Ground Zero ... the list is endless. If one were to visit the Big Apple in just one day, what could be done?
• Central Park
• Statue of Liberty
• Empire State Building
• Grand Central Terminal
• Rockefeller Center
• Ground Zero

MUST-VISIT RESTAURANT
The Edelweiss -- This authentic German restaurant serves up the finest cuisine, thanks in part to the extensive history the Augenstein family brings to the dining world. There's beef. There's seafood. There's chicken. But there's also an international flavor at this must-stop along the Pocono trip.
• For more information, click here

WEATHER FORECAST
Scattered thunderstorms are set for Friday, but Saturday and Sunday should be clear with highs around 80 degrees. Complete forecast

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL
Let NASCAR.COM help book your last-minute travel. Click here