Blogs

A Christmas Wizard of Oz features the characters of the traditional Wizard of Oz, but with a Christmas twist. The characters include the Scarecrow who is a Snowman, the Tin Man who is Toy Soldier, and the Lion who is a stuffed lion that is overly priced. The plot of story is Dorothy and Toto need to get home so she can open her presents on Christmas morning. With song, dance, lovable characters, and a few obstacles along the way, Dorothy and Toto finally get home.

Carl and I had to laugh a few times throughout the performance because Nicholas thought he should interact with the play. At one point he started shouting "OH NO! OH NO!" As we tried to quiet him down, the people sitting around us laughed and whispered, "He is fine, it is a kids show, that is what he is suppose to do." Nicholas bounced along to the music in his seat and would wave to the characters randomly. He truly enjoyed himself.

So if you are looking to get your family in the holiday spirit, take your children (of all ages) to the beautiful Shawnee Playhouse in the historic village of Shawnee on Delaware for A Christmas Wizard of Oz. The play will run until December 22. For a full listing of holiday performances, be sure to check out http://www.theshawneeplayhouse.com/. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

If Thanksgiving snuck up on you, and you are just not prepared to cook a large holiday meal,  treat your family to a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner in the Pocono Mountains. You don't have to worry about the grocery shopping, the prepping, or the cleaning. Below is a list of some Thanksgiving dinners that are being offered in the Pocono Mountains.

• The Inn at Pocono Manor: (800) 233-8150
• Hotel Fauchere: 570-409-1212
• Settlers Inn at Bingham Park: (800) 833-8527
• Stroudsmoor Country Inn: (800) 955-8663
• Ehrhardt's Waterfront Restaurant: (800) 678-5907
• Fernwood Hotel and Resort: (888) 337-6966

 Recently, my little family spent a spectacular autumn day taking advantage of the unseasonably warm and sunny weather by treating Nicholas to a horse drawn carriage ride at Happy Trails Stables in the Pocono Mountains.

Nicholas was impressed with Happy Trails as soon as we arrived. He looked at the horses with amazement, and every once in a while he would make a neighing sound telling us "that is what the horsey says!" With a smile from ear to ear he ran around the waiting area of the ranch pointing at the different sites and talking to all the guests that came in; apparently he was the unofficial welcoming committee. While making "new friends" and exploring the stable, Carl and I snapped a ton of pictures and reflected on what an amazing family day we were having, and we hadn't even hopped into the carriage at that point!

After exploring the stables and surrounding grounds, Carl, Nicholas, and I snuggled comfortably under a cozy blanket in a beautiful, white horse drawn carriage. We ambled through the woods admiring the way the sun beamed down through the bare trees, all while the clopping of the horse's shoes echoed throughout the forest.  As the carriage was strolling along, Nicholas was looking around, his little face filled with wonder and amazement; every so often he would smile when he recognized the familiar clip clop of the horse's hooves. Together, with our arms wrapped around each other, we enjoyed a picture perfect family day.

Our visit to Happy Trail Stables was simply magnificent and our guide, Gregg, was most courteous and knowledgeable, never hesitating to answer our questions. If you are looking for a family activity or a romantic rendezvous, I highly recommend Happy Trails Stables. They have two convenient locations: Hamlin and Mount Pocono. They are open year round and also offer sleigh rides and regular guided horseback riding.

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

The 13^th Annual Hawley Winterfest will be held on December 9-11. Originally established in 1999 to celebrate Hawley's Victorian roots and the passing from the 19th through the 20th and into the 21st century, Hawley Winterfest has become one of the best-known holiday traditions in the region.

Venture to this lovely, small town nestled in the lake region of the Pocono Mountains and you will find a jolly dose of delightful activities waiting for you at every turn. From delicious holiday fare to the sounds of the season filling the air, a children's show at the community theatre, artists and authors mingling with residents and visitors alike, ice carving, gingerbread decorating, the Winterfest Express train ride from neighboring Honesdale, a spin in a horse-drawn carriage, homes boasting decked halls on the holiday house tours and so much more- all make for a Winter Weekend Wonderland.Visit www.hawleywinterfest.com for a listing of events.

Have you ever wondered just how steady a surgeon's hand is? Do you love sushi? Does a competition of any kind get your blood flowing? If you have answered yes to any of the previous questions, or if you simply want to support the Pocono Mountains community, you need to be at The Garden at Desaki on Friday, Nov. 18! Spectators will witness one of the most innovative and spectacular competitions ever to call the Pocono Mountains home! 

Five of Pocono Medical Center's top Surgeons will trade in their scalpels for sushi knives. Doctors Herman, Nikiforouk, Riley, Williams and Zama have accepted the challenge and are sharpening their skills, or should I say knives, at this very moment. Attendees to this historical and groundbreaking event will enjoy complimentary sushi and appetizers along with a breathtaking Samurai performance by Bruce Carlino. Celebrity judge scores will be combined with your popular vote to determine which of these surgeons will hold the coveted title of the Pocono Mountains Iron Chef!

That's not all ladies and gentlemen, 100% of the proceeds from this mind-blowing evening will benefit the New Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer Center! Don't wait another minute, call 570-780-9336, now and reserve your place in history!  Advance tickets are $35 and $40 at the door.

In a perfect world, my perfectly well-behaved child would accompany me on a shopping trip, where we would hold hands while strolling along from store to store, all while he carefully and neatly licked a lollypop that he got for being such a good boy. HA! However, in my reality, such is not so; do allow me to explain.

A month or two ago my husband and I planned a Christmas shopping trip at the Crossings Premium Outlets in the Pocono Mountains to take advantage of the savings they are always offering. The sun was out, traffic wasn't crazy, and I even found a parking spot close by. As we exited our car to head out to shop, we found a sleeping two-year-old (our son) in his car seat. Oh joy! Of course he would fall asleep as soon as we got there; nothing like a cranky toddler in a store. Thankfully, I had a small stroller - although he hates the stroller, it was better than trying to get him to walk or carry him around while he was throwing a fit.

We started down by the food court, and as we made our way, a minor meltdown ensued when all of a sudden Nicholas' tears came to a screeching halt. There, outside of the food court, sat a bright red fire truck stroller, complete with a mobile steering wheel. To both my delight and his delight, we gladly rented the stroller. Strollers are available at the Information booth for a nominal fee. The Information Booth is filled with oodles of information regarding the Outlets as well as the Pocono Mountains. Guests can pick up a variety of brochures, as well as the VIP Coupon Booklet, which is available for purchase.

So together we happily strolled down to the courtyard when all of a sudden we heard the most exciting cry of joy. There, in the center of the courtyard was a huge playground! Nicholas, who could barely contain himself, tried crawling out of the stroller to run and play. So, daddy came to the rescue and let Nicholas run and play while mommy had the opportunity to have an "incident" free shopping experience.

What started out as a nightmare, actually turned out to be a complete success. I thank the Crossings on their part for being ahead of the game and keeping children in mind. A happy toddler is a very happy mom and dad! We ended our day with a nice slice of pizza and a messy ice cream cone from the food court. The whole family was happy. And as we finished loading up everything in the car, Nicholas was already sound asleep in his car seat.

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

Meet Buster! Buster is a two and a half-year-old, full-bred boxer who was rescued a few months ago by Katie, a co-worker of mine. This month Buster became introduced to all the pet-friendly locations in the Pocono Mountains!

A few weeks ago Buster and Katie set out to discover the lake region in the Pocono Mountains when the fall foliage was at its peak. Their first stop was at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau's Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center to find out where they could go hiking.  Unfortunately, the trail that is located at the center does not allow pets. However, Allison, one of our information specialists at the center, directed Katie and Buster to Shuman's Point Natural Area off Route 590 in Hawley. 

At Shuman's Point they enjoyed the many varieties of trees and wildlife. If you decide to hike these trails be careful, as you and your pet may encounter a squirrel, turkey, grouse, white-tailed deer or even a black bear. All have been spotted! There are marked and unmarked trails and this is one of the last underdeveloped areas around Lake Wallenpaupack. The lake was formed in 1926 and consists of 300 acres of woodland and is a natural area set aside by PPL for the public's enjoyment.

Twenty miles south of Lake Wallepaupack is the Promised Lake State Park. Buster has not been to Promised Land State Park but Asti and I have hiked the trails numerous times.  I remember when Asti was a puppy, the first time we were hiking at Promised Land, she encountered her first wild turkey and took off running .... taking me with her!  I think I still have a scar on my knee where she dragged me through the bushes. Anyway, there are about 50 miles of hiking trails in the park and the surrounding state forest area. They have two lakes and several small streams, waterfalls and wetlands bubbling with life.

Remember when visiting natural and state parks to keep your pet on a leash at all times, and to pick up and dispose of all droppings in trash receptacles or outside the park. Also, be sure your pet has been licensed and vaccinated and bring along a first aid kit with you. Pets are not permitted in designated swimming areas or overnight areas unless otherwise specified.

For more pet-friendly information on and around the Lake Wallenaupack area, such as lodging, dining and area activities, please contact our Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center at 570-226-2141.