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Let's play "name that winter sport." The clues are as follows:  It can be done almost anywhere.  It's graceful and grueling at the same time.  Got it yet?  It's defined as a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles.  Still not sure?  It's cross-country skiing, and it has a permanent home in the Pocono Mountains. 

In fact, it's the ideal sport for our area.  Cross-country skiers love scenic backdrops and long, unaltered terrain - something we have plenty of here in northeast Pennsylvania.  The options are limitless.  Hickory Run State Park boasts 13 miles of trails for this sport.  For a more "open field" experience, check out Beltzville State Park, where rolling fields provide for a scenic day on the skis.  For a long, challenging day of skiing, try the McDade Trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

As the mercury drops, the cross-country skiers of the Pocono Mountains emerge like bears from a warm den.  Don't take our many skiing resources for granted this winter.  Get out there and experience them all.  Happy Holidays! 

Stroudsmoor Country Inn will be hosting a New Year's Eve Ball at Terraview on Thursday, December 31. The cocktail hour will begin at 8 p.m. and dinner will be served at 9 p.m. After dinner, dance the night away and work off some of those calories. Then, you may want to enjoy some mini pastries, champagne and much more! Stroudsmoor also offers the Grand Buffet at the Main Inn on New Year's Eve, as well as the New Year's Day Brunch and New Year's Day Dinner on Friday, January 1. Call 800-955-8663 or 570-421-6431 to make reservations.

The Settlers Inn at Bingham Park offers two different New Year's Eve events. Celebrate in the dining room with an elegant evening of piano music and an a la carte menu where dinner reservations are available between the hours of 5-10 p.m. The Undercroft at The Settlers Inn will have a seating at 7 p.m. and again at 9:30pm where a delectable New Year's Eve menu will be offered along with the sounds of Jazz Soul-utions. If you'd rather visit The Settlers Inn on New Year's Day, a fabulous brunch is on the menu along with Frank Williams on the jazz piano and Jerry Swendsen on the guitar!  

Jazz up New Year's Eve at the Deerhead Inn in Delaware Water Gap. Bill Goodwin and The Resolutions will be performing for your listening pleasure from 9 p.m.-1:00 a.m. Dinner service will begin at 7 p.m.

These are just a few of my ideas for a perfect New Year's celebration. I would really enjoy it if you would share your ideas with me!  If you still aren't sure what to do, check out our Calendar of Events for a host of ideas.

Have a Happy New Year; I hope to see you celebrating in the Pocono Mountains!!

The Old Mauch Chunk Model Train Display in Jim Thorpe will be hosting Christmas in Toyland every Friday through Monday until January 18, 2010.  The celebration will feature:

• Santa's Magical Mailbox
• Winter Wonderland City
• Free treats for all boys and girls
• "Extra Magic Express Hours"
• Sounds of the season and much more.

I'm thinking a visit to Jim Thorpe for Christmas in Toyland will satisfy my urge to celebrate Christmas for the next 365 days.  The festival is geared for children of all ages.  So whether you are 5, 15 or 55, be sure to take a visit with your family and keep the Christmas spirit alive!

With that said, I want to wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.  Until next time...celebrate family, friends and traditions.

The Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge Race Series hits Jack Frost on Tuesday, December 29th.  This is one of the most popular ski/snowboard races in the country, for a variety of reasons.

The event is held at mountains on the western and eastern sides of the United States and Canada.  There are multiple categories based on age, gender and discipline.  It's conducted in a dual slalom format, with category winners qualifying for the national competition.  But the best part about it - it's free.  Thanks to some generous sponsors, participants can compete at no cost.   Raffle tickets for the participants can lead to awesome prizes like skis and snowboards.  For spectators, there will be vendors on the hill along with samples of Mountain Dew available all day long.

This is a rare event in that is open to all ages and abilities and it's free to compete.  For the snowsport enthusiast, it's a can't miss.  Big Boulder was a great host last December, now, it's Jack Frost's turn.

This time of year always leaves me breathless and wishing I was one of those women who enjoyed shopping.  Here it is the week of Christmas and I haven't finished my shopping , let's not even mention wrapping the presents!  I literally just put my tree up on Sunday!  You would think that I would have learned by now, obviously I haven't!

However, I do believe that I have my priorities in order as there is something I always make time for during the holiday season; can you guess what it is?  I'm sure if you know me at all you know that it must involve hitting the local bars, pubs and restaurants with my peeps!  Just this month alone I've sipped sauvignon at Smugglers Cove with my entire family, enjoyed tasty treats at the Tannersville Inn with friends, celebrated the holiday with h'ors d'oeuvres and my coworkers at Siamsa Irish Pub and raised a glass in memory of those who can no longer toast along with us. 

During this very hectic time of year don't forget to stop and take inventory of what is truly important.  It's not the presents under the tree, the cards we forgot to send or the deadlines we missed.   The most significant thing we can do this season is cherish the ones we love, celebrate every breath we take, thank those who protect us and never forget those we've lost.  I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!  Ciao for now...

"Christmas is a coming; the lights are on the tree.  How about a turkey leg for dear old me?"  Ah, yes, nothing like a Christmas song about food!  In addition to decorating, giving gifts and singing carols, my favorite part of Christmas is the wonderful feast. 

If you're like me and you do not feel confident with your cooking skills, especially when you are entertaining for a holiday dinner, you might be a tad overwhelmed.  So why not solve the problem? Try a recreational cooking class!  Chef Alice Cooking in Long Pond offers fun cooking workshops for groups, couples, kids and private parties. Learning the basics would give you a solid foundation which allows you to become a better cook.

One of my goals for the new year is to learn how to prepare food for a large dinner party.  Maybe next year I can host a holiday party just like my mom does.  Once Nicholas is a little bit older, I am hoping to reserve a private class with Chef Alice, where Nicholas, Carl and I can cook together as a family.

Chef Alice has many favorite holiday recipes.  I know there are many dishes that my mother makes every year, where the flavors dance on my taste buds.  My mouth is just watering just thinking about them.  So why not try something new this holiday?  Visit Chef Alice with your family for a fun night of food!  Until next time...celebrate family, friends and traditions. 

Remember how great it was to open a mountain of toys on Christmas morning? Unfortunately, not all kids get to have that experience. Donate an un-wrapped, new gift and make a holiday for a child who would otherwise not have anything. You can find your local area drop-offs by visiting www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.asp and searching by your county.

While we are enjoying the season here in the states, many people often forget the men and women serving our country overseas. Prepaid cell phones, toiletries, reading materials and baked goods are always a hit with the soldiers, but a hand-written note filled with holiday wishes and thanks goes a long way when they are a long way from home. The site www.anysoldier.com can assist you in sending gifts and letters to these honorable men and women.

Food pantries are always in need and often neglected. With the current state of the economy and the holiday season, people are turning to these venues more and more to provide a meal for their families. Here is a list the Pocono Record compiled of area food banks, but there are many more throughout the four-county region. Be sure to find the one closest to your town and provide non-perishable items that will make a holiday for an area family.

There are many other deserving causes in our area that are struggling during this time of year, so please share the organizations that are near and dear to your heart with me. If you are able, donate to a local charity this season and make the holidays brighter for those in need in the Pocono Mountains.

If I were to ask you what you would call a place where people of all ages can have fun this winter, what would you say?  How about a Winter Fun Center?  That's exactly what Fernwood has named their spot for having a good time in the snow.  Every winter, this place is a hit.  I caught up with Greg Huffman,  Assistant General Manager of Fernwood Hotel & Resort for some more information:

Q:  "When does it open?"
A:  "We will be opening for the season on December 24 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m."

Q:  "What are the features?"  
A:  "The Winter Fun Center features a nightly bonfire, six single and a family tube chute, a tiny tot kiddie area, horseback riding and full food and beverage service with nightly specials."

Q:  "What's your favorite aspect of the Center?"  
A:  "Fun family atmosphere with a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy and to compliment, the steepest snowtubing park in the area."

Q:  "Any deals or specials?"
A:  "All specials and events are listed on our Web site at www.fernwoodhotel.com.  Snapshot: Thursdays: Fire & Ice night with live entertainment and drink specials, Super Slide Sundays: $5.00 off tubing from 6-9 p.m."

In the Pocono Mountains, there are plenty of places to have fun in the snow.  But few do it (or say it) better than Fernwood's Winter Fun Center.  Check out their Web site for more information

As many of you know from my last blog, I love this time of year and try desperately to take in all the wonders of the season.  Whether it's touring the fabulous resorts and Bed & Breakfasts the Pocono Mountains has to offer and see how they have transformed their properties into winter wonderlands and holiday spectacles, or just getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, as well as driving down Broadway in Jim Thorpe or Main Street in Stroudsburg to marvel at the beautiful decorations and light displays, I want to experience it all and I hope you do too!

This weekend why not take the entire family or that one special someone on a walking tour of the Festival of Lights in Lehighton. The Phifer Ice Dam Park  takes on enchanting holiday radiance with more than 400,000 LED lights in an outdoor, walk-through display. Visitors will be entranced by the new animated Christmas tree, a light show synchronized to music, a penguin village, a friendly sea monster that has made his home in the dam, deer and dolphin jumping and many displays featuring Santa Claus himself. If there is a chill in the air or you need a break, stop at the Christmas Café and warm up with a cup of cocoa or a tasty treat. 

Entrance fees are $4 for adults and $1 for children under age 12 while children up to age 6 are free.  Golf cart driven tours are available for the physically impaired. If a golf cart is needed, please call the Lions Club at 610-377-7703 and leave a message so that arrangements can be made.  Proceeds from the festival benefit the sight impaired, Franklin Kids Creation - a handicapped accessible playground, Phifer Ice Dam Park, the local fire company, Carbon County Fair, Franklin Township youth recreation, fire victims, community projects, scholarships for deserving students, Bucks for Bucks- literacy program and the aluminum can recycling program.

So pack up the family, head over to the display, enjoy the spectacular light show and help others all at the same time!  Giving back always makes me feel wonderful!  Enjoy the season, ciao for now...