Blogs

Such is so in the petite borough of Delaware Water Gap. Founded in 1793, Delaware Water Gap or DWG is a versatile vacation spot with something for everyone. Whether you are a history buff or outdoorsmen, DWG is a great place to visit. My newly desired urge to learn more about DWG is due to my recent visit and ride on the Water Gap Trolley. The Water Gap Trolley, which is family owned and operated, consists of three different trolleys; Mike, Ike, and Look-a-like. These one hour narrated tours make stops at significant points of interests as well as other surrounding villages.

Nicholas and I stepped aboard "Mike" and were greeted by our friendly driver; who allowed Nicholas to ring the trolley bell. The clang of the bell made Nicholas smile, which was a great way to start our ride. We picked our seat right by the window and listened as the driver/guide introduced herself. The next hour was filled with detailed information and history about the area. Although Nicholas fell asleep due to the breeze and the gentle hum of the trolley, I most certainly enjoyed the tour.

Following the tour guests are able to browse the gift shop, as well as play a round (or two) of mini golf located right on site. I highly recommend visiting Delaware Water Gap and taking a tour aboard the Water Gap Trolley. It's a great day for the whole family! Until next time... celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

The dog days of summer have arrived and the last few days in the Pocono Mountains have been extremely hot and sticky!

Being a summer girl, I absolutely love the lazy, hazy days of the season. If you share my love of summer fun and hot summer sunshine, you are probably looking for some activities to enjoy the weather and stay cool at the same time.

As much as I adore attending festivals and outdoor celebrations, I have decided to stay cool and plan my entire weekend with water related activities. I think that I might begin the weekend by packing a picnic lunch and heading to Milford Beach for a relaxing day along the shoreline of the beautiful Delaware River. I'm really looking forward to a much needed day of doing absolutely nothing but lounging along the river's edge with a good book! If you're in the mood for a little outdoor adventure on the water, you may want to consider a canoe, kayak or rafting trip on either the Delaware or Lehigh Rivers!

A weekend filled with water adventures wouldn't be complete without a water park! On Sunday, you will be able to find me at Camelbeach! If you have never been to this hot cool water park I recommend that you pack up your family and your sunscreen and plan to spend an entire day filled with water rides and slides!

Camelbeach has everything to beat the heat on a hot summer day. I'm sure that anyone who likes water slides will love the Sand Storm and the Dune Runner; the newest coolest slides at the beach! Even if the lines are long they move fast and believe me, its well worth the wait!

After the thrill of the slides, you might enjoy a relaxing tube ride down the Lazy River. You can even have your photo taken as you float through river's waterfalls. Check out my photo; as you can see we had a fantastic time during my last trip to this fabulous water park!

I'm also planning to lounge around the Olympic Swimming Pool and ride the wicked waves in the Wave Pool. Anyone who loves the water will most definitely love a day at Camelbeach!!

May I suggest making the most of the day by purchasing a picnic table package? This is a great way to ensure a place to enjoy your lunch or to relax with a cold drink when you are taking a break from the water.

As always, I want to know how you are keeping cool on a hot summer weekend in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you relaxing at Milford Beach and gliding down the slides at Camelbeach! Enjoy your weekend!

Today, unfortunately, is Gillian's last day at the bureau, and in addition to her fabulous foodie expertise, I have learned a great deal of knowledge from her. Why it was only a little over a year and a half ago, when I nervously made my way to the front of a Penn State classroom to speak with Gillian, after she had given a presentation to the Penn State chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America....and the rest is history! I've learned so much about the Pocono Mountains, the public relations field and overall professionalism in the time I've worked with her, and I am positive everyone at the bureau agrees that she will be missed dearly.

But enough of the sad talk, as we sincerely wish Gillian well in all her future endeavors! Before she left, I got the chance to sit down with her, to talk about her favorite places to eat in the Pocono Mountains. Believe me, she knows her stuff!

What is your favorite food, and where can our interested blog readers find it prepared the best in the Pocono Mountains? There are so many great options in the Pocono Mountains, I can't just choose one. Some highlights include Tree at The Lodge at Woodloch, Hotel Fauchere, The French Manor Inn and Spa, Woodfield Manor Chophouse and red's Steakhouse at Mount Airy Casino Resort.

Where in the Pocono Mountains can we find your favorite dinner entrée? My favorite dinner entrée would have to be found at red's Steakhouse. I am obsessed with Hollandaise sauce, so their filet mignon Oscar style is the perfect treat for me. Whether it's a birthday, anniversary or Saturday evening, red's is one of my favorite restaurants to celebrate special occasions.

Based on overall atmosphere, where is your favorite place to eat? Overall atmosphere, I'd have to choose The French Manor Inn and Spa. Their restaurant serves amazing French cuisine and whether dining inside or outside, you feel like you're in a French chateau.

When you come back to visit, where will we be headed for drinks? When I come back to the Pocono Mountains, one of my first stops will be Liquid Martini Bar. I love their ambiance and they are conveniently located right across from the Bureau's office. Whether in the mood for beer, wine or martini, they make one heck of a drink.

Here at the bureau, we all know Gillian's favorite course is dessert! Do you have a favorite dessert in the Pocono Mountains? It's true! I will not touch a quarter of my meal, but I still always have to have dessert. I've had some phenomenal desserts over my time here, but my favorite has to be the chocolate soufflé at The French Manor Inn and Spa. It melts in your mouth, literally!!!

On any given Bacon Wednesday, where have you found your favorite bacon-themed lunch? I am definitely going to miss Bacon Wednesday! Outside of Friday, it was definitely my favorite day of the week. If I had to pick one bacon item, it would have to be the SIT Grilled Chicken Club on multigrain from Stroudsmoor Inn Towne. Coupled with a cup of chicken corn chowder and a piece of their amazing cheesecake, you're on cloud nine. Stroudsmoor Inn Towne is hands down one of my favorite lunch places.

After a busy work week, I am totally looking forward to another wonderful fun filled weekend and am planning on a Hawaiian getaway in the Pocono Mountains!

"Aloha Honesdale" sidewalk sales will be taking place from Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23 in the beautiful town of Honesdale between the hours of 9:00Am and 6:00PM. I always enjoy visiting this awesome town and the many unique shops and eateries and am expecting to have an extraordinary time at this event! I could spend hours browsing through the Wallflower and the shops in Maude Alley alone.

If you like to shop and you like to have fun you won't want to miss this annual shopping event! It will definitely be a great way to pick up some fantastic gift items or just do some shopping for yourself as there will be a wide array of shops offering their wares at great prices. It should be fun to see the merchants dressed in their Hawaiian best!

In addition to the sidewalk sales there will be lots of other things to see and do. On Friday evening at 6:30 you will be able to relax and enjoy some special entertainment in Central Park. Personally speaking, I can't wait to see the "It's Not Your Mama's Muumuu "Contest at 7:30PM! There is no cost to enter, so perhaps you would like to be a participant in this contest rather than a spectator. If so call 570-253-5006 for the details and to register.

This event promises a great time for the entire family and I'm sure that the kids will enjoy watching the free movie at 8:30PM. Being a big kid myself as well as a Scooby Doo fan, I'm definitely going to sit back on my lawn blanket and watch "Aloha Scooby Doo!"

You may want to plan to spend the entire weekend in beautiful downtown Honesdale as Saturday offers another fabulous day of shopping and Hawaiian themed activities including a Hawaiian Fashion Show and Parade at 11:00AM.

Every Hawaiian getaway includes a luau, so make sure to dress Hawaiian style and head to J.J. Macks located next to the Wayne County Fair Grounds for a summer evening filled with island music, tropical drinks and fun contests. The luau begins at 7:00PM and tickets are only $10.00 per person with a cash bar. The proceeds will benefit the future Honesdale Skate Park.

As always, enjoy your weekend in the Pocono Mountains and please share your plans and photos with me! I hope to see you in your Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts at Aloha Honesdale!

Because I am fortunate enough to have off one day during the week, in addition to my regularly scheduled weekends, I make Wednesdays all about Nicholas. We go places where we can spend quality time together while having fun. One of our favorite things to do is swim and play in the water. With plenty of places to swim and splash around to cool off on a hot summer afternoon, the Pocono Mountains is surely a great place to beat the heat. Check out my list of great swimming spots!

• Beltzville State Park, Lehighton
• Smithfield Beach at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
• Hickory Run State Park
• Mauch Chunk State Park

Since my last post, it's been all things new...New York, New England, and I might add, a new fiscal year. I return home from the Summit and finished the mission. The Summit I refer to is not Mount Everest at 29,035 feet, it is the North American Journeys (NAJ) Summit East held in New York City on June 15-16, 2011.

During the Summit, I met with European, Latin American, Japanese and Asian tour operators who have offices in Manhattan, with a focus of FIT (foreign individual travelers), special groups and incentive packages. They were interested in Pocono Mountains destination information to help them respond to proposal requests, which in turn helps to develop international visitors to the Pocono Mountains. I had over 20 ten-minute appointments in one whirlwind day and pitched our region. Outdoor adventure, lodging, team building and spa retreats were the best received as well as group excursions to Mount Airy Casino Resort.

Onward to New England. We had nine delegates divided into two teams of Pennsylvania tourism sales professionals canvassing Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut on our sales mission. We met with tour operators in their home turf and encouraged visitation to Pennsylvania. I saw the wheels turning and the itineraries being planned as I briefly highlighted the four counties and their unique group friendly attractions. CBK Mountain Adventures, Penn's Peak, Grey Towers National Historic Site, the Stourbridge Railway and Jim Thorpe sparked their interest.

As I review my notes and business cards,  I am reassured that face to face interaction with tour operators and tour planners, making new connections and solidifying existing relationships is the our best sales strategy. New York + New England = New Visitors to the Pocono Mountains.

Let me know what new attraction or event you have experienced so far this summer!

I have decided to start my weekend off early and make Wednesday, July 13 my Friday at the Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center  for their grand reopening as four years of silence will be broken with the legendary rock band KISS taking the stage and rocking the mountain at 8pm!

If you have enjoyed shows of the past at the Mountain Laurel Center, I'm sure that you are as excited as I am that the Music is Back! I have had countless good times and have seen quite a few shows at Mountain Laurel Center and am definitely looking forward to seeing the entire lineup that is scheduled to perform there this summer season!

In my opinion, there isn't anything better than attending a concert in the great outdoors in the summertime! If you agree, I'm sure that your eyes will be absolutely awe struck by the greatness of the Mountain Laurel Center and your ears will totally appreciate the sound of music exploding from this state-of-the-art amphitheater.

In honor of our armed forces a special Rock ‘N' Ride Rally will be taking place before the show between 4pm and 7:30pm. This event will help to raise money to treat the effects of Agent Orange. Veterans will be in the parking area and the marketplace collecting donations for the cause.

In appreciation of the bikers' support of our veterans, any ticket holder arriving to the show on a motorcycle with a companion will receive free admission for their passenger. Each and every biker will also automatically be entered into the Baddest Bike Contest and the winner will receive the ultimate KISS experience! Best of luck to the "Baddest Bike"!

I am ready to Rock-N-Roll All Night with KISS, and I'm sure that you are too as this sure to be a superb beginning to a great weekend in the Pocono Mountains.

Tickets may be purchased online or by visiting the box office at the Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center. I always prefer to take my blanket and enjoy the show by lounging on the lawn. If you share my preference of seating arrangements you will definitely want to take advantage of the $39 special lawn seat pricing by purchasing your tickets at the box office or by using the promo code SPONSOR if purchasing online.

By beginning the weekend on a Wednesday, there will be plenty of time to enjoy many other activities in the Pocono Mountains and as you already know there are so many fantastic things to do! You might want to consider a mini vacation and spend a few days at one of the many fine lodging facilities.

• Camp overnight at Mauch Chunk Lake Park
• Go fishing at one of the numerous fishing areas
• Picnic and hike at one of the state parks
• Attend a concert at Central Park in Honesdale and Driebe Freight Station in Stroudsburg
• Take a ride on the Water Gap Trolley
• Spend the day at Camelbeach Waterpark

I'm 100% positive Nicholas will enjoy every minute of these planned activities. He loves being on the go and experiencing new things just like me. He is full of wonder and curiosity so I will be sure that he gets his fill of new places and experiences. I hope this list gives you a little insight as to what you can do when you visit the beautiful Pocono Mountains. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Yesterday was no exception to Bacon Wednesdays as Director of Public Relations, Alicia Quinn, and I took to Carbon County with a photographer to capture the lush, summer landscape. Atop, Penn's Peak, a concert venue in the Pocono Mountains featuring well-known performances, we stopped for a bite to eat at Roadies Restaurant & Bar, after photographing the breathtaking scenery. While touring the venue, including the kitchen of Roadies, we were quickly reminded of what day it was when we witnessed bacon immersed into soup.

Narrowing our choices down to only items which included bacon, we were just about to make our selections when the waiter ran back to our table to announce a special he had forgotten, the Chicken BLT Wrap. YES PLEASE! It was as if they had created it especially for our weekly holiday.

Before our food arrived we were offered a complimentary basket of potato chips to hold our appetites. You may find it silly to rave over chips, but we could not stop eating them! I never got a chance to ask, but I am sure there was a special salty, zesty ingredient sprinkled over the chips! They are a must-try!

Our wraps arrived and I could barely sit still enough to take this photo before digging in. Bacon Wednesday was a success! We indulged in our guilty pleasure all wrapped together with chicken, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayonnaise.

Roadies

Atmosphere:­ Rock n' Roll motif overlooking the valley. Outside seating is also available to sit on the deck with a view of the horizon nearly 60 miles in distance.

Food: Delicious for us bacon lovers! The complimentary chips were the best I've had!

Service: Like I said, we were very impressed with the service especially after hearing about the many specials! They even allowed us to switch the mayonnaise to chipotle mayo!

Roadies was a perfect stop along our photo shoot! I suspect the next time I'll be there is for the Trace Atkins concert in August! Dine with me next week in the Pocono Mountains!

There are always so many fantastic things to do in the Pocono Mountains that the entire family can enjoy!

On Saturday, July 9, I am going to gather my entire clan, young and old alike, and head to Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm to enjoy the 5^th Annual Music in the Valley. I have many fond memories of Quiet Valley dating back to my 5^th grade class trip and I still love to visit and attend their many awesome annual festivals.

If you enjoy spending a day in the surroundings of a country farm of days gone by complete with fresh country air, as well as lots of fun activities for your whole family to take part in, you won't want to miss this event!

As you know, I love music and Music in the Valley will offer a day filled with tunes of various styles including folk, country and even a little gospel. There will even be sing-a-longs and storytelling for the kid in all of us to relish in! You will be able to take advantage and delight in the entertainment and activities between the hours of noon and 5 p.m.

Farm tours will also be offered between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you have an interest in local history and have never been to Quiet Valley, you will definitely want to take the tour. I have toured the farm so many times that I have lost count but I always seem to learn something new and exciting with each trip!   

I'm especially looking forward to hearing the many talented musicians perform during the Grand Finale Jam Session which will be taking place at 5:30 p.m.!

Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the gift shop, as well as an array of incredible crafts and other marvelous gift items. Being one of those people who likes to get an early start on that holiday shopping, I intend to pick up a few gifts while I'm there.

You may want to bring your camera and capture the day for your memory album. My family loves to reminisce about days gone by while looking through the albums that hold our memories of yesterday!

As always, I want to know how you and yours are planning to spend the weekend in the Pocono Mountains and see photos of your memories in the making! I hope to see you at the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm enjoying the 5^th Annual Music in the Valley!