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Last Sunday was one of those "so beautiful you want to bottle it and save it forever" days in the Pocono Mountains. So, my friend and I headed to Lehigh Gorge State Park for a day of mountain biking along the Lehigh River. He had bikes so we unloaded them about 11:00 a.m. at the Rockport Access Area, put on our helmets, and headed up the trail toward White Haven. We are both in pretty good shape but the trail is 8.6 miles one way and I hadn't been biking in years, so I wasn't quite sure how long I'd last.

It is a really smooth ride (the last mile up to White Haven is a bit rougher surface) with a very gradual incline on the way up. We stopped once to look at the canal locks, but otherwise kept peddling. It took about an hour to get to White Haven where we rewarded ourselves with lunch at Antonio's Pizzeria. It's right in the shopping plaza adjacent to the trail. We split a medium stromboli and still had leftovers! The ride back was slightly downhill all the way which made it nice and easy on the quad muscles and a great way to soak in the sunshine, the natural scents, and soothing sound of gentle river rapids.  Somewhere along the way back I was a carefree 14 years old again standing on my pedals and trying hands free (but not thank goodness simultaneously).  

Not having a bike shouldn't stop you. There are a number of Lehigh River Gorge area outfitters who will provide bikes, helmets, transportation, and advise you on the perfect trail options for your ability level.  

Do you have a favorite Pocono biking trail to share?

I'd been looking forward to golfing at Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort since I moved in next door to the resort several months ago.  Last Friday, I got my chance.  My group tee'd off on the 9-hole blue course (there's also red and white) at 9 a.m. on a surprisingly chilly morning.

I made some putts and finished with a respectable score.  More importantly, the course was everything I'd hoped for.  Shawnee's golf course varies a bit from the typical course in the Pocono Mountains.  Sure it has the stunning views and challenging holes that have become staples of Poconos golf.  There's even a bald eagle's nest on one hole!  But Shawnee is a flat course.  It doesn't have the huge hills and valleys on the fairways that many other courses in the area present.  Instead, the course uses the Delaware River as a knee-shaking challenge on several holes.  I expected the course to be great simply because it had Shawnee's name in front of it.  And I was right.  Overall, Shawnee boasts a wonderful, traditional course that will challenge any experienced golfer.  Check out a full listing of golf courses in the Pocono Mountains. 

If you haven't heard, the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association just hosted their 4^th Great American Nationals Event at Pocono Raceway. The event was spectacular, and it reminded me of the unmatched quality represented at the track. Pocono Raceway is, simply put, a world-class facility managed by a stand-out team. 

In addition to the two big NASCAR races, the track features a ton of other events. One of their most popular attractions is what's called "The Stockcar Racing Experience".  You can either ride or drive around the legendary track in a sponsored stockcar, just like the pros. I'm eagerly anticipating my chance to drive around the track at speeds we only hear about on TV.  I encourage you to check out 877stockcar.com for more details.  In the meantime, bookmark poconoraceway.com and look for upcoming events at the track.

There cannot be any better experience this time of year than enjoying a beautiful September afternoon along the shores of the Delaware River with samplings of some great food and spirits from Northeast Pennsylvania.  Such was the case for more than a thousand people who attended the first ever Delaware River Food and Wine Festival this past Saturday, September 20^th. 

Held at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, the front lawn adjoining the hotel was turned into the perfect setting thanks to three large canopied tents each offering 10,000 square feet of dining, drinking, and lounging space. Alisa Tongg Weiler, founder of the event said that the guiding vision was to 'create an event that we ourselves would want to attend', and by the look of the crowd and the people who attended, they delivered on that vision.

More than 25 restaurants provided a wide variety of tasty treats from appetizers, to entrees, to desserts. Accompanying all the wonderful food was a great selection of domestic and imported wines, two micro-breweries, and even a coffee company. When participants were not enjoying the food and beverage they could be found relaxing in conversation or taking in the great scenery. In the adjoining outdoor pavilion cooking demonstrations were conducted throughout the afternoon. Having a five hour timeframe to thoroughly enjoy the abundant sampling and great variety of tasty treats was a brilliant decision. You never felt rushed or hurried, and had plenty of time between samplings to regain your appetite. If you want to learn more and check out some great pictures go to www.DelawareRiverFoodandWine.com. Please join us next year for this event being held on Sunday, September 20, 2009.