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I hope everyone enjoyed their recent celebrations of Easter, Passover and of course the royal engagement. And while many of you may be groaning over the fact you don't get another holiday off until Memorial Day, I wanted to share with you a lesser known celebration that is like Christmas in our industry, Tourism Day!

Now in our 17^th year, finally something in our office where I'm not the youngest, this annual celebration of tourism in our region is always held during National Travel and Tourism Week. This year, will be on Wednesday, May 11 at the Chateau Resort and Conference Center and honor the theme of Genuine Hospitality.

From keynote speaker and customer service guru Brian Williams, an attraction showcase, Annual Tourism Achievement Awards, one-on-one roundtables with PMVB staff and who could forget the luncheon, it's all about further enriching and continuing education to the Pocono Mountains tourism community. 

So mazel, cheers, salute and na zdrowie (had to throw in the Polish version for all my fellow polacks) in honor of Pocono Mountains Tourism and even if you can't join us on May 11, we hope you can take some time out of your day to contribute to a tourism community. I apologize in advance for not being able to grant you the day off of work, but the more awareness we get about the celebration, the closer it is to becoming a possibility!

Happy Tourism Day everyone!!!

As the old saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. If this holds true, there will be an abundance of breathtaking blooms and blossoms adorning the landscape of the beautiful Pocono Mountains!

I am planning to celebrate May Day with the wonderful folks at the Pocono Environmental Education Center  (PEEC) on Sunday, as they will be holding a Wildflower Walk between 9am and noon. If you and your family enjoy getting back to nature, I'm sure that you won't want to miss this walk.

There is nothing more relaxing than a walk in the woods, and I'm really looking forward to a morning filled with fresh mountain air and the scent and sight of the beautiful wildflowers in their natural surroundings. If we're lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of some wildlife.

As I've said before, some of the best things in life are free! That's right; there is no cost for this awesome morning walk with nature. However, I strongly recommend that you make reservations by calling 570-828-2319.

You will definitely want to make sure to bring a small bag or backpack stocked with a water bottle and some snacks as the fresh mountain air tends to make a person hungry. I am also going to pack a small bag to put my garbage in.

Above all, don't forget your camera! This will be the perfect opportunity to capture plenty of gorgeous photos to add to your album. I may actually start a new album just for nature photos!

As always, I would love to hear how you plan to celebrate May Day in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you at PEEC's Wildflower Walk!

Mother's Day is right around the corner. Looking for ideas? No worries, I got your back. Trust me, I have a whole itinerary planned out for you. And that's not only because I am a mom and would want this for myself (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), but because it is a really awesome plan! So my friends, read on...

After a lovely morning of sleeping in, head over to the Chateau Resort for a Mother's Day brunch where you can enjoy everything from an omelet station to a peel and eat shrimp bar. After you had your fill of deliciousness, drive down the road for literally 3-5 minutes and visit The Crossings Premium Outlet where I will get my shopping on... oops, I mean where all moms can go shopping at one or more of the 100 designer outlet stores. After you emptied your shopping wallet, take a 10 drive to the Laurel Spa at Pocono Manor and indulge in spa treatment such a massage, facial, pedicure, manicure, etc.

After you feel as if you melted away to nothing, get yourself all dolled up in one of your new outfits you purchased and take a scenic drive on Route 6 and stop by The Settlers Inn for a Mother's Day dinner. Dine on delightful appetizers, scrumptious entrees, and delectable desserts.

So that is my Mother's Day suggestions for you. Breakfast in bed is great and all, but personally, I don't feel like cleaning up a mess that is most likely going to happen when Nicholas decides he wants to jump on the bed while I am drinking my coffee or eating pancakes with blueberry syrup. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

It's me! Yes, that's right, it's the PR Personality here, and your calendar isn't incorrect. It's Wednesday and although I feel like a popular show who has moved to a better prime time spot, the truth is our blogger program is going through some exciting renovations. We will soon be adding even more topics, in addition to your weekly staples that you just can't get enough of. It's like Christmas, at Easter! 

But enough about me and my new fantastic Wednesday spotlight, it's halfway through National Parks Week and time to indulge in the outdoors. Every year during this week, the National Park Service encourages everyone to get out and visit these national wonders by offering free admission. Out of 394 total parks in the United States, the Pocono Mountains is lucky to be home to two national parks, both are free and open year-round. And while we might not have Yogi the bear, I promise we have enough wildlife in these areas to leave you in awe...

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is an outdoor haven encompassing 70,000 acres and has quickly become one of my favorite places. I was fortunate enough to get out on the crystal clear river and kayak several times last year and it has now become my new favorite hobby. A beginner's note, the river is very shallow at points so if you're prone to tipping, it's no big deal. Not that I would know or anything! The area is also home to several spectacular waterfall networks that run through the area including Dingmans, Raymondskill and Childs Park. There's even access to the famed Appalachian Trail, which includes some great terrain for hiking.

The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreation River area features 73.4 miles of rolling hills, riverfront villages and lush forestry home to many creatures including a great number of the famed bald eagle. Well-known from outdoor enthusiasts as an ideal hiking, camping and boating location, I am a huge proponent of their rafting excursions featuring class II rapids. Fly fishers also swear by this area and its an activity I vowed to do last year and never got around to, so I'm working on my flick of the wrist and 2011 will be the year!

The Pocono Mountains is lucky to be home to these two incredible areas that offer year-round endless activities. And while this week you have a great excuse to visit, spring brings amazing hiking, biking, kayaking and rafting opportunities that are too great to pass up. As the bright green hues appear and spring blossoms, find out why Life's Greater in the Pocono Mountains!

As I sip my first cup of morning coffee, the welcome sight of warm spring sunshine is peeking through my window as I make my plans for an awesome Easter weekend in the Pocono Mountains! Keeping with family tradition, I will be preparing the traditional Easter ham with all of the trimmings for my family and friends. However, this year I have decided to transport the feast to my son's house and allow him the privilege of cleaning up!

I have also decided to create a new holiday tradition by dining out Italian style on Easter Eve and have made plans to dine with friends on Saturday evening at Bella Luna Ristorante in Stroudsburg. If you like to feast upon authentic Italian cuisine in an authentic Italian atmosphere, you'll definitely want to check out this fabulous restaurant!

Just imagine a relaxing Italian dinner in a cozy Italian restaurant complete with friendly service, delicious cuisine, homemade Italian sauces and gravies and awesome live entertainment, and you'll be at Bella Luna on a Saturday evening.

I am planning to begin my meal with Parmesan Encrusted Chicken served with Giuseppe's Authentic Sicilian Gravy, which by the way happens to be the most delicious Roasted Garlic Sauce that I have ever tasted. I always seem to have a hard time deciding, so perhaps I will also order some Fried Calamari. My main course will most likely be Ravioli, topped with one of the delicious Giuseppe's Gravies served with a lovely salad. But, perhaps you would like to dine on one of the other delightful dishes. The sandwiches are fabulous too!

After you taste the wonderful sauces I'm sure that you will want to take a few jars home with you. Just ask your server, as they are available for sale.

Bella Luna is a BYOB establishment, so don't forget to bring your favorite bottle of wine to sip with your dinner and to enjoy the Saturday evening entertainment. The fabulous guitar and vocal duo, One Step Beyond will be performing on Saturday and SheilaMark Duo will entertain you with awesome accordion music and vocals on Saturday, April 30.

As always, let me know where you plan to dine and celebrate this holiday weekend in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you at Bella Luna Ristorante!

Did you know that Lake Wallenpaupack is 13 miles long and approximately 60 feet at its maximum depth? The lake was built in 1926 by PPL as a hydroelectric project. Wallenpaupack provides a significant electric-generating facility in times of lofty electricity demand. Now that you had your learning experience for the day, let's move on to the fun stuff!

Lake Wallenpaupack and its beautiful shorelines offer awesome, year-round activities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, ice fishing and regular fishing, water skiing, boating, and scenic boat rides. Wanna go for a swim? How about taking a dip in the lake after relaxing at Wilsonville Recreation Area? For the nature lovers, visit the Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center and learn about the lakes natural resources or maybe attend one of the numerous programs and workshops. With breathtaking views from the observatory dike or catching the sunset from your boat, a day at the Lake Wallenpaupack is a great way to spend time with your family and friends.

Don't forget about the oodles of places to eat that surround the lake region. One day at "The Lake" isn't enough? Make a weekend out of it, better yet, make it a week; with a ton of family friendly lodging facilities, you almost have no excuse not to stay for more than a day or two. So come on out for a day of fun in the sun (or cold). No matter what time of year it may be, "The Lake" is always a site to see. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Just the thought of spring in the Pocono Mountains is enough to rejuvenate and energize me. Thinking spring makes me want to get outside and celebrate the fresh, clean smell of the fresh mountain air and the rich scent of the earth and of course, the warmth of the sunshine. On Saturday and Sunday, you will find me doing just that in Jim Thorpe as the annual Earth Day Celebration will be taking place!

I'm sure that your entire family will enjoy this fantastic Earth Day Celebration as there will be a wide array of activities throughout the town for all age groups. I am looking forward to a little bit of Yoga at the Mauch Chunk Opera House as well as a much needed Reiki session in Josiah White Park. I also plan to go from bar to bar and enjoy all of the great entertainment of the Saturday evening Late Night Bar Crawl! My Crawl will end at the Broadway Grill and Pub as the awesome duo Fahad and Kelly will be performing!

I'm sure that the kids will love making some awesome crafts in the Kids Corner at Josiah Park while you try your luck at winning some fantastic prizes at the Earth Day Auction. The prizes have been donated by the local merchants and the lucky winners will be announced at 3:30pm on Sunday, but you need not be present to win.

Being a big kid at heart, I'm looking forward to catching a glimpse of Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl as they make their rounds through the beautiful town of Jim Thorpe. Make sure to keep your eye out for them as they will be handing out some fire and litter prevention information to the kids.

An Earth Day Celebration wouldn't be complete without lots of yummy food! So, there will be plenty of vendors with everything from Hot Dogs to Pizza to Funnel Cakes and everything in-between to satisfy your appetite!

I have barely touched the surface of the many fantastic activities that will be taking place during Jim Thorpe's Earth Day Celebration. I'm sure that you that you will want to spend the entire weekend. So, may I suggest that you make reservations at one of the town's beautiful lodging facilities?

As always, let me know where you are getting into the swing of spring in the Pocono Mountains. I hope to see you at Jim Thorpe's Earth Day Celebration!

Growing up in my household, there are a few things that were always certain:

1. Easter dresses were purchased every year for all of us girls; bonnets, gloves, the whole nine.

2. Easter morning was filled with excitement, as the Easter Bunny came to our house filling our baskets with sweet and sugary treats.

3. After church, an incredible Easter Sunday dinner was prepared.

Now my mom didn't just cook for the family, oh no, she always thought that she had to cook for the entire neighborhood. Yes, there would be about 10 or more immediate family members, but the amount of food that was prepared was almost ridiculous. All the hard work to prepare, then all the hard work to clean up seemed grueling to me, but my mom always enjoyed cooking for her family. This year, I am hosting the family Easter dinner, and I hope I enjoy it as much as my mother does. But if you are looking for a change in your Easter routine and would like someone to cook, serve, and clean up after you, here is a small list of Easter dinners and buffets in the Pocono Mountains:

• Ehrhardt's Waterfront Resort - Easter Dinner Buffet: Serving from noon-4pm by reservation only. Please call 800-678-5907.
• The Chateau Resort - Easter Sunday Brunch: Serving from 11am-3pm. Please call 800-245-5900 for reservations.
• The Settlers Inn at Bingham Park - Easter Sunday Dinner: Serving from noon-6pm. Please call 570-226-2993 for reservations.
• Crescent Lodge - Easter Menu: Please call for hours. 800-392-9400.
• The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort - Centennial Easter Brunch: serving from noon-4pm. Please call 800-742-9633 for reservations.
• Stroudsmoor Country Inn - Easter Sunday Brunch, Easter Dinner Buffet, Easter Family Buffet at Terraview: Serving brunch at 10am, Easter Dinner Buffet from noon-8pm, Easter Family Buffet at Terraview from 1-6pm. Please call 800-955-8663 for reservations.

For more information on dining in the Pocono Mountains, please be sure to visit our Restaurant and Dining section for a full list of dining experiences in all four counties. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Did you ever watch a movie or a show on TV where everything was so perfect? Quaint little towns, friendly people, celebrations always going on, and children laughing and playing.  Well, believe it or not, such perfection exists and you can be a part of it. The picturesque borough of Hawley will be hosting the Easter Hop on April 16. This will be the first of many parades that will be held in 2011.

Children of all ages are welcome to march in the Easter parade which will be led by the one and only Easter Bunny!  Participants should line-up at the corner of Church Street and Penn Ave at 12:30pm. The parade will be led down Main Street, then over to Bingham Park for some good old fashioned Easter fun.

Once arriving at Bingham Park, kids are invited to participate in numerous Easter activities such as an Easter Egg Hunt! In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Ritz Theatre on Keystone Street, in lieu of the parade. So don your Easter bonnet and proudly hold your Easter basket, because it's time to celebrate. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

"In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
you'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade."