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So here we are pushing towards the end of February. This mild winter went by all too quickly! Before you know it, the buds will start to blossom on the trees, the grass will be greener, and flowers will begin to bloom in the Pocono Mountains. However, that is not to say that we cannot have a huge snow storm; don't let this warm weather fool you.  In 2007, on St. Patrick's Day, a snow storm halted the region for a day, making the following weeks' conditions superb for all winter snowsports. So don't pack up your equipment just yet, the ski areas are still in full force with perfectly groomed slopes for skiers and riders.

My husband, who is an avid boarder, is very excited to take Nicholas out on the slopes. However, Nicholas is not even 3 years old yet, so I think we have to wait, but only for about a year or so. Fortunately, many of the ski areas in the Pocono Mountains offer ski and snowboarding lessons for the little ones.

 

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• Alpine Mountain: Just for Kids Skiing and Snowboarding Programs- Advance Program available
• Jack Frost Big Boulder: SnowMonsters ski and snowboard learning program
• Blue Mountain: Explorer and Pioneer Programs
• Camelback Mountain Resort: CamelCare Adventurers, Kids Full Day Learning Program, Private Lessons, Group Lessons
• Shawnee Mountain: SKIwee, Mountain Cruisers, Youth Riders
• Ski Big Bear: Snow Sports School

Get the skis, boards, and little ones ready for some snowsports. Who knows, you may have a future snow sport enthusiast on your hands, and if not, at least you will make some great memories together. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

 

On February 18, 2012, I and my bride will be taking a different type of plunge...The Paupack Plunge!

Lighthouse Harbor Marina on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mountains, is hosting the first annual Paupack Plunge from !  Many brave souls (including us) will conquer the frigid waters of Lake Wallenpaupack from Lighthouse Harbor Marina's shoreline. With a hole cut in the ice (if there is some), the participants will walk right into the water from the shoreline. This is a charity event that will raise money for two of our local Dive & Rescue teams: The Ledgedale Dive Team and The Tafton Water Rescue Team. This is the main reason why we are doing this!

In order to participate in the plunge, you must register and provide a minimum donation of $25.  Finding sponsors for your plunge is encouraged (Contact me at keith@poconos.org if you would like to make a donation). All plungers will be presented with an official Paupack Plunge t-shirt.

Throughout the day, we will have live music played by Kevin Campion, as well as refreshments available. Bystanders are welcome to attend. Carpooling is highly suggested. So come out and have some crazy fun!  We are scheduled for the 11 am plunge!

Looking for history or culture? How about some cool winter fun? If so, visit Jim Thorpe in the Pocono Mountains, for the WinterFest 2012 celebration, where you can find history, culture, art, and family-fun all rolled up into one cool weekend.

Jim Thorpe WinterFest 2012 features a variety of events and activities that will please everyone in the family. Visitors can marvel at the ice carving demonstrations where you can see works of art sculpted right in front of your very eyes. Perhaps you and your family can take a step back in time with a Civil War re-enactment by the PA 69^th Irish Volunteers; visitors can watch the drills and marches, children can participate in activities!

WinterFest 2012 will also host live performances including blues, rock, and concert band music. Children of all ages can delight in a juggling and magic performance. Whether you want to jam out, go back in time, or sit in awe, the entertainment portion of WinterFest 2012 will certainly fulfill whatever it is you enjoy.

In addition to carving demonstrations, war re-enactments, music and magic, visitors can relax and take in the sites of Jim Thorpe on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Keep in mind that most local shops, restaurants, and attractions will offer awesome deals during WinterFest. Make sure to ask for a coupon flyer at the train station in Jim Thorpe or at participating businesses.

So bundle up the family and visit the beautiful town of Jim Thorpe for WinterFest 2012! Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

It is that time of year again, when my husband and I start to plan our itinerary for the family's yearly visit to Sculpted Ice Works, in Lakeville, for the annual Crystal Cabin Fever. Carl, Nicholas and I have been attending Crystal Cabin Fever since 2010. Each year, visitors can view spectacular, themed ice carvings; this year's theme is Safari based!

Upon entering take a walk on the wild side through the ice maze and snap pictures of the intricately carved ice sculptures of elephants, giraffes and much more. The festival includes a giant ice slide, wine tasting, vendors, and a petting zoo! Don't forget to check out the ice carving competition! The best part about the festival is that all of these wonderful activities are included with admission.

After we have our fill of icy goodness, we will head back out on the road to our lunch destination. Our first year lunch location was Ehrhardt's Waterfront Resort Restaurant, where we enjoyed the best crab cakes ever. Last year we visited Der Jaeger for a delicious family-style German meal, and this year we will be sure to try some place new. Thankfully, the Lake Region of the Pocono Mountains is the home to many wonderful dining establishments.

After we have warmed up and our bellies are full, we plan on taking a nice scenic drive along route 402 through the Delaware State Forest. This is about the time where I will be able to tell if Nicholas has had a great day. If he has, he will surely be sound asleep before we pull out of the restaurant parking lot.

There is one thing I know for sure, our annual visit to Crystal Cabin Fever is something that the three of us thoroughly enjoy. It's a tradition that we hope will continue for a long time to come. 

Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Snow? Frost? Single digit temperatures? Can it be? Why, yes! We are actually experiencing some winter weather! The month of December was an unseasonably mild month and the first two weeks of January were just as, dare I say it... warm! Thankfully, Old Man Winter finally decided to make an appearance in the Pocono Mountains; and by the looks of it he is going to be sticking around for awhile.

As I sit at my desk, I am faced with the fact that there are 60+ full days of winter ahead of us.  That means there are officially 60 something days where families can enjoy every winter activity the Pocono Mountains has to offer. The slopes are groomed and the snow tubing parks are ready to go for some exhilarating fun. Whether you are a new to the winter sports scene, or a seasoned vet, I'm sure that you and your family can (and will) enjoy some winter family fun.

With that being said, here is a list of winter sports that you and your family can take advantage of in the Pocono Mountains. 

• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Snow Tubing
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Snowmobiling
• Dog Sledding
• Ice Fishing
• Ice Skating
• Bald Eagle Watching

Please keep in mind that winter sports are often weather dependent. Be sure to check out the snow conditions and the weather at 800poconos.com. Also, if you're a parent of a toddler, like I am, it is a good idea to contact the snow sport facility you will be visiting to confirm your little one will meet any starting age or height requirements. Not a skier or boarder, but would like to be? No worries, most of our ski areas offer both private and group lessons for adults and children, with a starting age as young as four.  Hope to catch you in your winter weather gear!!  Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Last week we took a hike at Cliff Park Trails, which is a section of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area near Milford, PA in the Pocono Mountains. The weather was perfect and the trail was well-maintained and marked.

To access the Cliff Park Trailhead, you need to follow Milford Road to the entrance of Cliff Park Golf Course (the Golf Course is currently closed). You will take a rough dirt road from that point about ¼ mile to the trailhead parking lot. Bathrooms are available during the summer months.

There are several different color coded trails to choose from. We decided to start on the Buchanan Trail (orange) - named for the family that owned the land from 1803 through 2002, which connected us to Hackers trail (yellow). This trail took us to Hackers Falls - a beautiful area with great photo locations. We then made our way to the Cliff Trail (white) which has several scenic overlooks, 500 feet above the Delaware River and allows you to look into New Jersey. Since it was a clear day, we could see High Point, NJ from the overlook.

After several miles of hiking we decided to head into Milford and look for a restaurant to get a late lunch. There are a lot of great choices in Milford, but we settled on the River Rock Inn. The food and service was excellent and the portions were huge. We definitely plan to duplicate this itinerary in the near future!

So here we are! We have shuffled through the first week of the New Year, and so far it's been fantastic! I truly hope that I can make each day as productive and fun as the past few have been. With the New Year, comes renewed hope for a fresh start and the opportunity to reach towards our goals. As always, I plan to focus on my family and make 2012 full of activities we will cherish and remember forever.

Among my goals for this year, you'll find I would truly love to get to know the  (DWGNRA) in the Pocono Mountains. The DWGNRA is not only the home to some of the most rugged and mild hiking trails you can find in the northeast, it is also home to spectacular sights including waterfalls, sandy beaches, and the sparkling water of the Delaware River. The best part is that DWGNRA is extremely family friendly! The Park Service offers different programs including Family Fun Days, Junior Ranger Program, and a packed calendar of events. Children can earn badges to become a Junior Naturalist and a Junior Park Ranger. How awesome is that?

One of the other features of the DWGNRA that I find incredibly appealing, is that it encompasses portions of both Monroe and Pike counties in the Pocono Mountains. That being said, you can easily explore the great outdoors while still being close to the luxuries of civilization with the towns of Milford, East Stroudsburg, and Delaware Water Gap just a hop, skip, and a jump away.  After a day of discoveries, you can indulge your family and enjoy a wonderful lunch or dinner at one of the many fabulous restaurants located close by. So lace up those hiking boots, fill up those canteens, and get out and explore the DWGNRA with me and my family. And remember, don't be shy, let me hear all about your DWGNRA adventures!

Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

I am deeply saddened to inform my readers that my husband and I had to say a painful and heartbreaking final goodbye to Asti, the furry celebrity behind the PawPrints blog, on Wednesday, December 8, 2011. Asti holds a special place in my heart, and I will never forget the fond memories, and how she taught me to live, love, and laugh. Our house is quiet now, a lot quieter than it was during the 15 years that Asti lived in our home. Saying goodbye was more awful than I could have ever imagined and no matter how long our furry friends live, it is never enough time. So, this month's blog is in memory of our beloved Asti! I will share with you some places she loved to visit in the Pocono Mountains!

We started camping locally to see how she would do and found that the four-county region offers more than just camping with your pet. We visited motels, cottages, hotels and even top of the line resorts that offer pet-friendly lodging. Asti's favorite campground was Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort in Waymart, as she loved their "Pet Swimming Area Only" beach and her favorite hotel was a tossup between the Inn at Pocono Manor and the Chateau Resort & Conference Center.

I do believe her favorite Pet-Friendly Attraction had to have been shopping at Coach located at The Crossings Premium Outlets.  Oh, wait, that was one of my favorites with her. I think she enjoyed the Water Gap Trolley ride better than shopping. Asti's favorite State Park was Promised Land State Park located in Greentown, Pa.

Our last excursion this year was visiting Santa at the Country Junction, World's Largest General Store!   She really didn't want to sit next to Santa and have her picture taken but she did it for us. Amazing what our furry friends will do to show how much they love us!

I miss Asti everyday and it hurts like crazy. Only time will tell when the next visit to the animal shelter will be. In the meantime, I will be visiting the Pocono Mountains with my friends, family and co-workers furry buddies.

"If there are no dogs in Heaven then when I die I want to go where they went." - Will Rogers

It's Christmas week and it's almost Hanukkah (December 20-28, 2011)! What an exciting week it is. Whether you are getting ready to light a candle on the Menorah or add finishing touches to your Christmas decorations, it is a heart-warming time for so many people.

For those who celebrate the beautiful holiday of Hanukkah, visit Court House Square in Stroudsburg for the Annual Menorah Lighting. It is the largest Menorah in the Pocono Mountains! Everyone is welcome to attend the festival, which will not only include the kindling of the Menorah, but also delicious treats for purchasing. For more information about the Menorah Lighting at Court House Square, please contact Chabad Lubavitch of the Poconos at 570-420-8655.

Since this will be my last blog before Christmas and Hanukkah, I would like to extend a very sincere Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Happy Kwanza, and just a Happy Holiday to all of you! I do my best to bring you family friendly events the entire year and I always welcome your comments and suggestions. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

So here we are, less than two weeks away from one of the most magnificent days of the year. Everywhere you go, you see people hustling along with large shopping bags filled with gifts for their loved ones. Doors, windows, and eaves are decorated with evergreens and bright red bows, and for some reason, hot cocoa tastes extra sweet all month long.

I cherish this time of year because I have the opportunity to spend one whole day with my ENTIRE family. We eat, laugh, play games, and sometimes even bust out into a Christmas carol or two. We always have a houseful of kids who run around and play with each other and their new toys, all while wearing big smiles on their sweet little faces.

However, for many families, it is difficult to get together on Christmas day. If that is the case for your family, why not celebrate a few days earlier? Skytop Lodge in the Pocono Mountains is offering their beautiful Gingerbread Weekend to those of you who, who can't celebrate with each other on the 25th. Friends and family can enjoy a weekend full of spectacular Christmas events including holiday stories, caroling, instructions on how to make your own gingerbread, and beautifully prepared holiday themed meals. Children will delight in their visits with Santa and nestle in front of the fireplace for a reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Don't forget to get your pictures taken next to the life-sized gingerbread house!  

To take advantage of the Gingerbread Weekend special offer, be sure to call the fabulous Skytop Lodge at 800-345-7759. The Gingerbread Weekend special offer is available December 16-18, 2011. Hurry time is running out!

Until next time...Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.