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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Pocono Mountains, and I absolutely love the holiday season and all of the seasonal decorations and festivities.

On Sunday, you will be able to find me at the beautiful Stroudsmoor Country Inn as the 22nd Annual Tree Lighting event will be taking place.

For those of you who have had the pleasure of visiting the Stroudsmoor during the holiday season, you already know that the entire property is absolutely breathtaking! If you have never experienced Stroudsmoor, you'll definitely want to bring the family and enjoy the entire day of the Annual Tree Lighting activities! Refreshments will be served between 1pm and 5pm at Lawnhaven, compliments of the wonderful innkeepers of Stroudsmoor!

Mr. and Mrs. Claus along with the U.S. Marines will arrive at 6:15pm at Lawnhaven to light up Stroudsmoor Mountain. I always enjoy seeing the eyes of all the children light up along with the mountain! The Annual Tree Lighting would not be complete without fireworks! Make sure to be at Lawnhaven at 6:30pm as Stroudsmoor brings in the season with a bang and a fantastic display of fireworks that magically light up the mountain! At 7pm the Pocono Region Pipes and Drums will lead Santa to Terraview for photos! But, there is so much to do before the mountain lights up the night and the sky!

Make sure to stop in and visit Stroudsmoor's Christmas Boutique at Auradell. The boutique will be open from 10am -7pm and will be offering the most unique gifts. I'm sure that you will be able to find the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person on your list!

I'm sure that the little ones would love to have lunch with Mrs. Claus! She will be at the beautiful Terraview between noon and 3pm to tell read stories and dine with the kids. Please call 570-421-6431 x443 for luncheon details and to make reservations. Don't forget to bring a new unwrapped toy for "Toys for Tots". Those children who participate will receive a special gift. Professional photos will also be available!

There will be plenty of musical entertainment of various genres taking place throughout the day, including a surprise guest singing Country Western holiday tunes! I'm especially looking forward to the performance by the Penn Strings Violin Studio at 3:30pm at Lawnhaven as Katelynn, my favorite little violinist will be playing her violin!

In between the pony rides, festive carriage rides and all of the other terrific holiday activities you may want to check out the Trim-a-Tree competition between 1pm and 4pm at Lawnhaven sponsored by the Pocono Arts Council! I'm hoping to get a few new ideas for trimming my tree!

I'm definitely going to treat my family to the Tree Lighting Brunch or the Grand Buffet served up at the Main Inn! I'm hoping that Stroudsmoor's sensational Seafood Bisque will be on the menu! But, no matter what is being served there will definitely be a wide variety of pallet pleasing pleasures to please even the pickiest of eaters! I can already smell the aroma of all the delicious, freshly prepared dishes floating through the air! Please call 570-421-6431 to make your reservations.

Since this is the season of giving, I'm sure that you will want to be at Lawnhaven at 5:30pm as the fantastic folks of Stroudsmoor present the U.S. Marines with the "Toys-for Tots" donation. The St. Matthews CCD students will be at Lawnhaven at 5:30pm as they present The Christmas Story with live Nativity! This is sure to get you in the true spirit of the holiday season!

This event has so much to offer please visit http://stroudsmoor.com/events/Events.asp for the day's entire schedule!

As always, I would love to hear from you and all about your plans for a festive weekend in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn enjoying the Annual Tree Lighting!

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a very fun and happy holiday. A typical Hanukkah celebration includes delicious food, exchanging gifts, and the lighting of beautiful Menorahs. A Menorah is a special Hanukkah candelabra that is filled with bright colored candles. The eight-night celebration is observed by kindling the Menorah; one additional candle is lit on each night of the holiday. 

On Sunday, December 5, visit Courthouse Square in Downtown Stroudsburg for the annual kindling of the largest Menorah in the Pocono Mountains. The night will include soup, latkes, doughnuts, and more.   

Whether you are of the Jewish faith or not, expose your family to other celebrations and traditions of the world by attending this beautiful Menorah lighting. The holiday season is upon us and it is a season for all to celebrate. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

We've spent the entire day yesterday being thankful, stuffing our faces, watching football and indulging in leftovers. Now starts the mad dash in preparation for the holiday season, but there is one key step in between. Winter needs to happen!  And in the Pocono Mountains, winter unofficially begins when snow is on the ground.

However, just because Mother Nature isn't ready to release the powdery white stuff yet doesn't mean snow can't appear. Thanks to the modern technology of snowmaking, that is! Did you know snowmaking was actually perfected was right here at Big Boulder Ski Area? The first patent was filed in 1950 and then perfected by the winter of 1956, allowing the Pocono Mountains to become a bonafide ski destination.

And while it may look easy, there is an art to snowmaking. Yes, the combination of three cold nights in a row below 32 degrees , TLC , hard work and physics (can you tell I got an A in the class?) allow snow to be manufactured. The actual process may deviate a bit, but it's at least something along those lines! The art is obviously a talent I don't possess.

Everyone has their family traditions and their own special ways to celebrate the holiday. My family always begins the celebration by attending our local high school football game and then we all head back to the comfort of home and hearth for that special turkey dinner with all of the trimmings!

One of my favorite holiday family traditions is attending the Tree Lighting in Courthouse Square in beautiful downtown Stroudsburg, which will take place on Friday from 5pm - 7pm.

I'm sure that your entire family will enjoy this magical event as the town begins celebrating the most wonderful time of the year! The festivities will begin with the singing of traditional Christmas Carols in Courthouse Square and the lighting of candles. This always seems to warm my heart and put me in the spirit of the season. I love to see the joy and delight in all of the kids as Santa arrives by fire truck.

There's simply nothing like a cup of hot chocolate on a crisp, cool evening! So, make sure to look for the folks from Grandpa Pete's Bagel Shop as they will be in the square offering up some terrific treats!

Horse-drawn carriage rides will also be available throughout the evening to take you and your family on an unforgettable excursion through the town! These rides have become a tradition within a tradition in my family. I love to hear the sound of the sleigh bells and the horse's hoofs tapping on the pavement as I take in all of the festive decorations throughout the downtown district!

After singing carols, drinking hot chocolate, the lighting of the tree and taking part in all of the other fabulous festivities, I'm sure that you will want to take a stroll through the town. Perhaps you would like to grab a bite to eat in one of the many fine eateries or sip on a seasonal cocktail in one of the local pubs. I'm planning on doing both at Siamsa Irish Pub.

As this is the season of giving, this event will also kick off the annual food drive! If you would like to help those in need, you will be able to drop off non perishable food items at the Sherman Theater on Friday and Saturday. You may also want to see the show! Railroad Earth will be on stage at the Sherman on Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Visit http://shermantheater.com/ to purchase tickets.

As always, I want to hear all about your holiday plans in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you in Stroudsburg's Courthouse Square for the Annual Tree Lighting!

Many resorts, hotels, and restaurants, in the Pocono Mountains offer wonderful Thanksgiving dinners for you and your family. Take a look at the list I provided; I am sure there is something that will fit the needs for you and your loved ones.

• Hotel Fauchere: Offering a traditional family-style dinner and a six course-tasting menu as well as a takeout menu. Please call (570) 409-1212 for reservations.
• Inn at Starlight Lake: Offering a family-style dinner or a traditional plated dinner. Please call (800) 248-2519 for reservations.
• Ehrhardt's Waterfront Restaurant and Banquet Center: Offering their Thanksgiving buffet that will include all of the traditional Thanksgiving favorites. Please call (800) 678-5907 for reservations.
• The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort: Offering a traditional Thanksgiving buffet. Please call (800) SHAWNEE for reservations.
• French Manor Restaurant: Offering a Thanksgiving dinner at their fine restaurant. Please call (877) 720-6090 for reservations.
• The Inn at Pocono Manor: Offering their Thanksgiving feast, which features traditional favorites and special surprises. Please call (800) 233-8150 for reservations.
• The Chateau Resort and Conference Center: Offering a traditional Thanksgiving feast which includes all your favorites and much more.

No matter where you choose to have your Thanksgiving celebration, be sure to celebrate it with the ones you love. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

The tremendous savings, in addition to the search for the perfect gift gives me such joy! And because I am so fond of the holiday, the PMVB has decided to honor it in a big way. Over 20 members are offering huge money saving deals bookable from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 26 only! From buy one get ones to free gifts and bonus cards to deep discounts, the PMVB's Black Friday Deals offers something for everyone. This year, give the gift of travel! 

So be sure to check out our Black Friday Deals page and scope out your game plan for Friday, November 26 because some of our deals are based on availability and you can't miss out on these destination favorites. Yes, that's right you need a game plan! What are you a rookie? And oh yeah, be sure to put yourself on the list. On the greatest holiday of the year, you deserve a gift of the Pocono Mountains.

Wishing Black Friday blessings to you and yours!

It's been a few weeks, have you missed me?  Hope so!! I'm sure you are going to wish you were with me last week once you've read how awesome my Wednesday was, try not to be too jealous of my job...

I've always welcomed a challenge and believe myself to be on the adventurous side. When the opportunity to spend a few hours strapped into a harness climbing and flying through the trees presented itself, I jumped at the chance! Who doesn't love to climb trees and dangle themselves 50 feet in the air? Especially if you are part monkey, as I'm sure I am!

Last week our very own PR Personality Gillian Moore, our Director of Public Relations Alicia Quinn and yours truly braved the sunshine on a gorgeous 60 degree November day, fastened ourselves into climbing harnesses and geared up for our first trek through CBK Mountain Adventures in Tannersville. After a thorough orientation by Will, one of the many trained experts employed by CBK, we were ready to climb. We began on the Oak Grove Course where you'll get your blood pumping and heart ready for what lies ahead.  We traversed through the Big Pocono, Pharaoh, ASP and Cliffhanger courses encountering challenges with names like Tarzan's Jump, The Zig-Zag, Vertical Logs and The Surf Board. Oh, and don't forget the zip-lines! I could clip myself on to one of those all day long!

Don't be discouraged if zip-lines and navigating obstacle courses 10 - 40 feet in the air isn't your idea of fun. CBK Mountain Adventures also offers Disc Golf for those of you who prefer keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground. Although I respect your need to feel close to mother earth, I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and at the very least complete the Oak Grove Course, you will feel spectacular! Check out this YouTube video by Adam Richins for an idea of what to expect. It's Time for CBK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBYmlJpqvd0

Ciao for now...

If you enjoy attending festivals as much as I do, and beer is your beverage of choice, then you will definitely want to be at Split Rock Resort as they host the Great Brews Classic Beer Festival on Saturday and Sunday between 12pm and 4pm at the Galleria. 

For your tasting pleasure, 50 fantastic local and imported breweries will be featured at Beer Fest including, Corona, Guinness and one of my favorites Sam Adams! Please visit the site for the entire list of participating breweries.

Tickets for Beer Fest are limited, so I strongly recommend purchasing them online by visiting https://t3.clicknprint.com/tix/SilverStream/Pages/pgIndex.html?siteID=1998 . I'm sure that you will want to attend the Beer and Food Matching Dinner on Saturday evening at 7:30pm the cost is $55. These tickets may also be purchased online.

In addition to the ice cold thirst quenching brews, there will be a variety of activities including musical entertainment on three different stages! You may also want to check out one of the seminars that will be taking place. I'm planning to attend the Beer and Chocolate seminar as these are two of my favorite things!

A variety of food and craft vendors will also be in attendance for your dining and shopping pleasures. I intend to do a little holiday shopping for some of the crafty people on my list! I'm sure that you will be able to find some great gifts for the craft lovers on your list too!

Did I mention that you must be at least 21 in order to gain admittance to this fabulous festival and that each and every Beer Fest attendee will receive a souvenir beer tasting glass?

Packages are available, so you may want to plan on spending the entire weekend!

As always, I love sharing my ideas for a great weekend in the Pocono Mountains, and I'd really like you to share your ideas with me too! I hope to see you at the Split Rock Resort and The Great Brews Classic Beer Festival!

For many people, the itch for that powdery white stuff is back. Snow sport lovers alike are crawling out of their skin; they want to feel the chilling wind zip past their faces as they board or ski down perfectly groomed slopes. And now is the time to get your savings on the snow! For a limited time many ski areas are offering season pass deals, equipment sales, and other special offers. Check out the savings I found for you and your family for this snow season.

• Alpine Mountain Ski & Snow Tubing Center - Season Passes are on sale until December 15, 2010. All season pass holders receive a 10% discount in the ski shop. Hurry up and save!
• Big Boulder/Jack Frost - JFBB Bucks! This awesome card is way easier to carry than cash. The card can be used to purchase everything at JFBB such as food, items from the shop, or season passes. What a great gift idea!
• Blue Mountain Ski Area - Head over to Blue Mountain this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm for the annual Tent Sale. Stock up on your gear for a great price. Why not do a little Christmas shopping for the snow enthusiast in your life.
• Camelback Mountain Resort - Camelback Mountain Resort is offering great season pass deals until December 5, 2010. When you're a season pass holder at Camelback, you can enjoy a ton of great perks. Take advantage of this offer before it's too late.
• Shawnee Mountain - Purchase your Season Pass before November 20, 2010 for incredible savings. In addition, you have the opportunity to select from a variety of pass options. Don't delay!
• Ski Big Bear - It's the Annual Ski Swap and Sale. This awesome event will give you the opportunity to sell your old equipment and replace it with new or nearly new gear. What a great idea!

There's a chill in the Pocono Mountains' air as Mother Nature is preparing us for the upcoming winter season! Although I really love the change of the seasons, I detest being cold and have decided to move my weekend activities to the great indoors!

On Saturday, November 13, you will find me at Fernwood Hotel and Resort's Event Center for the 4^th Annual Northern Classic R&B Extravaganza! If you appreciate the great sounds of R&B, I'm sure that you won't want to miss this awesome night of non-stop entertainment. The doors will open at 6:30pm and the show begins at 7pm and will continue through the early morning hours.

I may be dating myself, but I spent my early teenage years listening to R&B on 45's, and I'm looking forward to seeing some my favorite artists live in concert!  Do you remember The Manhattans and their famous platinum single "Kiss and Say Goodbye"? Did you know that the Manhattans performed for President Jimmy Carter at the Presidential Inaugural Ball? How about the Ohio Players with "Love Rollercoaster" and "Fire"? These songs bring back so many memories from my youth!

The R&B Extravaganza has a fantastic venue lined up for an exciting evening! Some of the greats performing in addition to The Manhattans and Sugarfoot's Ohio Players include Enchantment, Surface, Allison Williams and Howard Hewett. I remember watching Howard Hewett when he was a dancer on Soul Train and as the lead singer in Shalamar!

General admission tickets are $57.75 and can be purchased at the Fernwood Gift Shop or by calling 888-337-6966 and pressing 5.

Before heading to the show, you may want to grab a bite to eat and a cocktail or two at one of Fernwood's fabulous eateries. I'm planning to dine at the Trolley Stop Pub or Wintergreens Patio Grill. Both places have terrific wings!

Perhaps you would like to make this into a weekend getaway! Packages are available beginning at $340 per person and include R&B concerts, celebrity meet and greets, R&B Dance Party and more! For more information and to book your reservations please call 888-337-6966.