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You can all breath a little easier now because my long-awaited blog of the year is now here! The time when I take a look back at the past year and share some of the best accolades the Pocono Mountains or our member properties have received. I'm happy to report there's more than last year and no, I didn't pay for them! Can I have a drum roll please...

• Associated Content's "10 Fun Things to Do in Eastern Pennsylvania" highlighted "Getting Back to Nature in the Pocono Mountains" as their number six
• DCNR selected the Lackawaxen River as the Commonwealth's River of the Year
• Family Vacation Critic named Woodloch Pines one of the "Top 10 All-Inclusive Family Resorts"
• Fido-Friendly Magazine selected The Inn at Pocono Manor as one of the dog-friendly "Top 10 Ski Resorts" and the Pocono Mountains as one of the "Top 10 Leafy Destinations" to take you four-legged companion
• Golf Magazine included Jack Frost National and Woodloch as the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play"
• GolfStyles Magazine of Greater Philadelphia highlighted Buck Hill Golf Course, Jack Frost National, Mountain Laurel Golf Club, Pocono Manor East, Shawnee Resort, Split Rock Resort in their feature "63 Public Courses Ever Player Should Experience and Why"
• Golfweek elected Jack Frost National as one of "2010 Golfweek's Best New Courses" and "2010 Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play"
• iVillage Parenting named Woodloch Resort one of the "Best All Inclusive Resorts in the US"
• MetroKids selected the Pocono Mountains as one of their "5 Convenient Family Travel Locales"
• New York Magazine highlighted Milford for their "Choose Your Own Travel Adventure" feature for "The Adrenaline Junkie"
• ninemsn dubbed Milford one of their "Best side trips from NYC"
• Parents Magazine selected Woodloch Pines as one of their "Top 10 Best Snow Resorts for Families"
• Resorts and Lodges included the Pocono Mountains as their number seven "Top 10 Romantic Getaways"
• SnowEast Magazine's Reader Survey chose Camelback Mountain Resort as one of the "Favorite Resorts Under 1100 Feet" and recognized Big Boulder/Jack Frost, Blue Mountain, Camelback Mountain Resort and Shawnee Mountain in the Top 10 for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Time Out New York spotlighted Milford as one of their "60 Getaways" features for "Places You Can Get To Without A Car"
• Travelogged featured the Pocono Mountains in their "18 Easy NYC Getaways With and Without a Car"
• TripAdvisor chose Skytop Lodge as one of the "10 Amazing Hotels Off The Tourist Trail"

So it's official, now you can go out and enjoy your New Year's Eve in peace! Thank you for joining me in my annual Year in Review. We are thrilled with the recognitions we have received and we can't wait to see what 2011 brings. Happy New Year and Cheers to success in 2011! Yes, you heard me correctly. It's New Year's Eve, you're allowed to have champagne at any time of day!

Back by popular demand... MY BLOG!  Well maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration however, wouldn't it be awesome to be back because of popular demand?  It has been a hectic month for all of us and it never seems to slow down no matter how old I get.  Every year as soon as Thanksgiving rolls around time just goes into warp speed and before you know it, we are ringing in the New Year.  Family, food, gifts and decorations consume our lives and we never have a minute (or ten) to relax and enjoy ourselves.  Well I have the perfect escape for you!

On Thursday, January 20^th the Sherman Theater proudly presents, not one, but two classic rock stars!  Put on your timeless rocker T's, your favorite jeans and rock the night away with Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter.  Both men have impressive resumes that have intertwined with each other's over the years to produce hits.

Derringers #1 hit with The McCoy's,  "Hang on Sloopy", knocked the Beatles hit "Yesterday" out of the #1 spot in the summer of 1965.  Derringer eventually joined Edgar Winters White Trash band as a replacement for guitarist Ronnie Montrose.  Prior to their collaboration, Winter's critically acclaimed 1970 debut album Entrance contained an early recording of "Tobacco Road", that was an emotionally devastating and powerful masterpiece propelling him into the national spotlight. 

Edgar Winter's epic album They Only Come Out at Night, produced in part by Rick Derringer, featured his two mammoth hits "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride".  Both remain colossal crowd pleasers to this day!  That's only a taste of what this awesome evening has in store for you.  The best part is, if you purchase one ticket through Ticketmaster your second ticket is half off!!   Simply enter the code FRANKENSTEIN into the Special Offers Box.  Hope you enjoy the Show!

Date:                   Thursday, January 20th
Show Time:       8pm
Seating:              Reserved Seating
Ticket Prices:    $55 / $45 / $38

Ciao for now...

I am planning to ring in 2011 in a festive manner at The Lounge located inside the Comfort Inn in Bartonsville. If you haven't made your plans for New Year's Eve, I'm sure that you will want to be a part of this fantastic night of New Years cheer!

The party will begin at 9pm on Friday and after sipping a few cocktails you will be able to find me dancing myself right into 2011, as the DJ spins tunes for an unforgettable evening!

The Lounge has an awesome New Year's Eve in store, complete with traditional hats and noisemakers and of course the traditional champagne toast! You will also be able to feast upon a delicious buffet and quench your thirst by exchanging your drink ticket for an adult beverage!

I'm really looking forward to the $1,000 Balloon Drop at midnight! I'm already jealous of the lucky person who wins the top prize, a ladies diamond watch! There will be lots of other fantastic prizes to win as well. I hope that you are one of the winners!

I'm sure that after dancing and partying all evening you will have worked up a bit of an appetite. With that thought in mind, the great folks at The Lounge will be serving up a continental breakfast at 1am.

The cost for this celebration is only $35 per person! For an additional $50 you will be able to reserve a special VIP sofa for you and your friends. Call 570-476-1500 for more details and to reserve your comfy couch for the evening!

May I suggest spending the night? The Comfort Inn is offering accommodations with special discounts for those attending the New Year's Eve celebration. You may want to make your room reservations when you call to reserve your couch!

As always, I really enjoy hearing from you! Make sure to share your photos and your plans for a fantastic New Year's in the Pocono Mountains. I hope to see you at The Lounge on New Year's Eve!

Twas the night before Christmas in the Pocono Mountains,
where Life's greater anytime of the year.
In the taverns and pubs, wine and beer flow like fountains,          
stop in one for a glass of good cheer!
The sensational ski resorts are covered with snow;
much to the skiers' and tubers' delight!
So grab all of your gear it's off to the slopes,
for a Christmas guaranteed to be white!
The shops and the malls are all waiting for you, 
with holiday sales by the score!
As there's always last minute shopping to do,
from extra gifts to the wreath on your door!
Restaurants are preparing special holiday feasts! 
they'll be serving up all kinds of dishes,
from salads and soups to the Grinch's Roast Beast,
Lamb and Duckling and all types of fishes!
There are so many wonderful winterful places to go,
from Stroudsburg to Milford and Jim Thorpe to Hawley!
So, relax at a spa, take a train ride, or perhaps see holiday show!    
No matter what you choose to do, have a Christmas that's festive and jolly!
Decorations adorn the resorts as do the hotels and the inns, 
guest service will make check-in a snap!
So, come to the Pocono Mountains,
for a well deserved long winters' nap!

One of my favorite childhood memories takes place on Christmas Eve. Every year, after we would leave church, my dad would take us for a scenic ride so we could get a view of the cozy homes that were decorated in their Christmas best. Twinkling lights, whimsical Santa displays, and traditional Nativity scenes could be seen in front lawns of the homes that are scattered throughout the wooded mountain area. Looking back it reminds me of a Thomas Kinkade painting.

Christmas lights and displays really bring out the kid in me. It also melts my heart when I see the reflection of the lights sparkling in Nicholas' big hazel eyes as he stares in amazement. That's why I especially enjoy revisiting my childhood and celebrating Nicholas' by visiting the Phifer Ice Dam Park for the Festival of Lights. The festival offers 400,000 lights in a giant walk-through display, while holiday music rings throughout the park. And don't forget your Christmas list because Santa will be visiting the festival nightly up until Christmas.

With only five days left until Christmas, enjoy the festivities of the holiday with your loved ones.  Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions. Merry Christmas!

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heav'n's all gracious king
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Don't worry there's no need to run out and buy me flowers because we're not talking about my personal anniversary here, although flowers are never a bad idea and always much appreciated here at the PMVB office. Lilies and roses are my favorites! Anyways, I'm actually here to tell you about two integral properties in the Pocono Mountains and their milestones in the tourism industry.

Barley Creek Brewing Company turns fifteen this week! Besides excelling at hand-crafted brews and pub fare, they have been an industry role model in their green and community service efforts. Just this past year, they installed 165 solar panels on their roof in order to make the region greener and held numerous fundraising efforts for charities such as the Christopher Reeve Foundation, American Red Cross, Hospice of Monroe County, Make A Wish Foundation, United Way and more. With all of this accomplished in their teenage years, I can't wait to see what they come up with in the future!

Now take the number 15 and multiple it by two and then you get... I've never claimed to be a mathematician... 30! This is the anniversary the lovely Settlers Inn in Hawley just celebrated last month. This stunning arts and crafts style lodge has been owned by the hospitality masters, Jeanne and Grant Genzlinger for 30 years.  From fine farm-to-table dining to historical preservation and attention to detail, this four diamond property is unique gem in the Pocono Mountains. The region is lucky to have seasoned proprietors like the Genzlinger's and I wish them continued success and 30 more years at The Settlers Inn!

So while the year may be winding down, don't fret, a new year full of anniversaries, renovations and ideas is just around the corner! And don't worry because I'll be here to tell you all about them.

The holiday season is a beautiful and magical time in the Pocono Mountains! Just an evening drive along the country back roads to see the holiday displays and bright sparkling lights is enough to put anyone into the spirit of Christmas!

I'm making my weekend plans to join the wonderful people at The Inn at Pocono Manor as they host their Magical Fireside Christmas event. Bring your entire family to enjoy this fabulous celebration on Friday between 4pm and 9pm, Saturday between noon and 8pm and on Sunday between noon and 5pm. This event will continue with these hours every weekend through December 31. However, Santa will only be there until he departs for his long Christmas Eve journey around the world before heading home to the North Pole!

The Magical Fireside Christmas is sure to bring out the kid in all of us as there are so many activities that will be taking place. I can already hear the jingling of sleigh bells in the distance as the horse drawn carriage delights its passengers with a ride through The Inn's gorgeous winter wonderland.

You better watch out! Santa's reindeer will be outside watching to see who's being naughty and who's being nice! You may want to say an extra special holiday hello to them as you stroll around the magical grounds alive with holiday splendor.

After enjoying all of the outdoor activities, I'm sure that you will be ready to warm up a bit and take part in the fabulous indoor festivities that will be taking place in Christmas Wonderland at Fireside. Without a doubt, the first thing I'm going to do is sip a cup of yummy hot cocoa complete with marshmallows and peppermint sticks!

I'm also anticipating an enjoyable time listening to the sweet sound of Christmas Carols, giving Santa my Christmas wish list and nibbling on a delicious Smore by the fire!

You will be able to find a flurry of yuletide activities taking place in every nook and cranny of the beautifully decorated Fireside! Perhaps you would like to decorate some holiday cookies or try your hand at making an ornament. You may even want to experiment with candle dipping!

The cost for attending is only $5 and will include five activity tickets. Holiday packages are available for those of you who would like to spend the night or the entire weekend! Please visit http://www.poconomanor.com/specials-packages-0 to make your reservations for a memorable holiday weekend.

As always, I love hearing from you! Let me know all about your plans and holiday adventures in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you having a Magical Fireside Christmas at The Inn at Pocono Manor!

This charming Victorian town is filled with Christmas delight. Imagine Victorian carolers strolling the streets, the sound of the train departing to and from the station, and cheerful Christmas décor that is brilliantly displayed throughout town. You and your family can take tours of historic sites that are festively decorated for the season, Christmas shop at one of the adorable boutiques, or brush off the cold by enjoying a wonderful meal at the many restaurants. Children will be excited when they meet Santa Clause to share their Christmas wishes. How perfect does that sound? It almost sounds unrealistic, as if I were referring to a storybook or an old movie. Believe it or not, it is very real; that is what the Olde Time Christmas Celebration is all about. Magic!

This festive holiday weekend will also include live entertainment, arts and crafts, open houses, shopping events, and so much more. With only two weeks left until the big day, bundle up your family, and go back in time. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

(Photo Credit: Erica L. Heery)

Our new winter campaign, thought up by the creative geniuses at Masterminds, will demonstrate why life is better with a comparison of boring mundane activities and how these silhouettes can translate into winter fun throughout the region using iconography. Although it sounds complicated, I promise it's not. Just take a look at the commercial spot below!

Nine partners chose to participate in this stellar campaign, valued at more than $750,000 in commercial TV spots, interior rail cards, platform posters, interactive online ads, outdoor billboards, escalator wraps, live web cam feeds, text message campaigns and more! Can you believe it? Yes, there's more!

Many of these creative spots have started running or will be in a week, so be sure to tweet, facebook, e-mail and let me know when and where you see our ads. Last winter season, we accounted for more than 1.5 million skier visits and we are looking for even more this year with this great campaign's support. I have a strong feeling come summer, you may be seeing even more reasons why "Life's Greater in the Pocono Mountains!"

This weekend I have decided to forget everything on my never ending holiday to do list and visit the simpler times of Christmas Past! Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg will be hosting their 20^th Annual Old Time Christmas on Saturday and on Sunday between the hours of 3:30pm and 7:00pm.

There is something about an old-fashioned Christmas that brings the true meaning of the season to mind. I'm sure that you and your family will enjoy Quiet Valley's recreation of long ago Christmas joy as the guides dressed in period garb lead the way through this historical farm by candlelight!

The first stop of Christmas Past will be at a rustic cabin during an 1890s holiday celebration. I can't wait to see the traditional Christmas Putz, a miniature village under the tree! My family continues the tradition of the Putz, but we have moved it from under the tree to the bay window. Between the cat, the dog and the presents we've decided that it's much safer safely nestled in the window!

I'm looking forward to the live nativity scene and hearing the heartwarming stories of the occupants of the Granddaddy Cabin as they reminisce of yet another long ago holiday season in the early 1800s. I always enjoy hearing about the way things used to be in the days of my grandparents and great grandparents youth.

I can't wait to visit Christmas Past of the 1780s in the cellar kitchen as the traditional German Belschnikel will be paying a visit! The Belschnikel knows everything, so I hope you have been very good this year! I'm taking my camera in hopes of being able to take a few photos of him to add to my album of Christmas Pasts!

The visit to Christmas Past will end in the Engel Education Center with delicious refreshments for you to enjoy, compliments of the great people at Quiet Valley.

After you experience this memorable trip through the centuries and the Christmases of long ago, be sure to check out the gift shop! I love browsing through this shop filled with Pennsylvania Dutch items and am planning to pick up a few hand crafted holiday gifts! I'm sure that you will want to do a little shopping too!

As always, I'd love to hear from you, so please let me know how you and your family are celebrating the season in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you this Christmas Present at Quiet Valley's Old Time Christmas celebrating the seasons of Christmas Past!