Blogs

 

 

Pets are always welcome at the Water Gap Trolley and ride for FREE!

This month, I wanted to do something different with Asti and thought it would be fun to take her for a ride ... aboard a trolley! We selected a black and white bandana, jumped in her car (Yes, we bought a Subaru Outback just for her!) and headed off to the pet-friendly Water Gap Trolley located in Delaware Water Gap (exit 310 off of I-80). This is a family owned and operated business and consists of three different trolleys; Mike, Ike and Look-a-Like. The staff are very friendly and dedicated to making you and your pet's time on the trolley fun, entertaining and informative. 

Upon our arrival Asti met Harley and Rocket, two beautiful, full-bread Chihuahua's! They just completed their trolley tour with their owners Ann Marie and Tiffany Schofler from Ashland, Pa. Harley and Rocket were vacationing with their owners at Mountain Vista Campground in Marshall's Creek. Harley and Rocket sat on their owners laps during their tour and got the full effects of the fresh mountain air. 

The Water Gap Trolley takes you back through history by learning about the Native Americans and the early settlers of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. After the tour, visitors can browse the gift shop, play a round of mini golf, have a picnic or just hang out on a park bench. New this year is the Souvenir Pressed Pennies machine. You can also take a walk through downtown Delaware Water Gap and visit unique restaurants, shopping and recreational attractions. 

Please keep in mind that although pets are welcome on this property, smaller dogs are allowed on the trolley and larger dogs can ride on the trolley ONLY if the trolley is not crowded. Owners must clean up after their pets.

Come see what you and your furry friends have been missing. Open seven days a week, rain or shine, April through November. Tour times are 10am, 11:30 am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm. Adults are $9.50, children ages 3-11 years are $4 and pets are FREE! Call toll free 1-800-275-1242.

On another note, while we were there we were introduced to the Passport to the Poconos program. This is a discount card that will help you find lodging, camping, restaurants, attractions, shopping and indoor and outdoor recreation. 

The Pocono Mountains are recognized as pet-friendly destinations so don't leave home without your four-legged family member. There is lots of lodging and attractions that will cater to your pet while you visit!

We've got great news to share... we're moving to Wednesday's! You can now follow our Simply Sales blogs every other Wednesday! I know, you're excited too!

The traditional tradeshow landscape has changed. No longer is it enough for suppliers like the Pocono Mountains CVB (PMCVB) to purchase booth space and wait for potential meeting and event planners to stop by and inquire as to the benefits of sending their clients to the Pocono region.  The Collinson Event Group has turned the tradeshow industry upside down. Now it is the planner who sits in booth with scheduled appointments. This is a much better use of quality meeting time. The PMCVB had 26 scheduled appointments with organizations such as the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, National Congress of State Games, Women President's Association and the National Pharmaceutical Council. Appointments were seven minutes in length. Planners came prepared with proposals for upcoming meetings in hand. Chicago was this year's chosen city. The Connect Marketplace will move to New Orleans in 2013. Rest assured the rest of the meetings industry has taken notice of the Collinson "untradeshow" approach and are making plans to follow their lead.

 

I totally can't believe that the kids are back to school, Labor Day Weekend is upon us and the summer of 2011 has come to an end in the Pocono Mountains!

I am planning once again to celebrate Labor Day Weekend by attending the 17^th Annual Pocono Garlic Festival being held on Saturday and on Sunday between 10am and 6pm at the beautiful Shawnee Mountain!

If you are a faithful attendee of Garlic Fest, you already know that this fabulous garlic themed festival gets bigger and better every year!  I can already smell the scent of garlic mixed with the fresh mountain air!

Garlic Fest always offers a fun-filled weekend for everyone, so bring the whole family for a most enjoyable time! There will be over 70 food and craft venders offering everything from garlic ice cream to garlic themed knick-knacks and art pieces! Perhaps you'd like to do a little early holiday shopping and pick up that perfect gift for the garlic lovers on your list!

There will be many fun-tastic activities for the kids including magic shows, face painting and even an animal petting zoo! Although it has been many years since my childhood, I am a big kid at heart and am looking forward to seeing the juggling show and watching the water balloon toss!

Make sure to stop by the Garlic Growers Association's tent as they will have awesome tote bags for sale. These bags will be great to carry all of your fantastic garlic themed purchases. I always go home with so much stuff that I should probably purchase two bags!

In between checking out the many creative arts and crafts venders, strolling shows and feasting upon all of the delicious garlic dishes, I'm sure that you will want to visit the Educational Tent! Make sure to visit the Chef Alice Cooking Demo as I'm sure that she will be cooking up some fabulous garlic recipes!

I absolutely love everything about Garlic Fest, but I do believe that my favorite part would be the beer, wine and, of course, the music! Make sure to bring your dancing shoes and grab your beverage of choice and head to one of the two stages as several local bands and musicians will be filling the mountain's air with tunes of various genres all day long!

I enjoy listening to all types of music and hope to hear all of the bands performing at Garlic Fest; but as you know I'm a Southern-Rocker through and through. If you too are true fan of southern rock, make sure to be at the main stage on both Saturday and Sunday at 10am, 1:30pm and again at 5pm for my personal favorite, the Blue Emerald Band. This awesome band has been together and rocking their audiences for over 30 years and they are looking forward to rocking your weekend!

Tickets may be purchased online or at the gate. I'm planning to attend on both Saturday and Sunday; so I'm going to get my tickets online and take advantage of the discounted savings!

As always, I'd love to hear from you and about your plans for a fantastic Labor Day Weekend in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see at the Pocono Garlic Fest!!

Year after year my family and I visit the West End Fair Grounds for the annual West End Fair. The fair consists of exhilarating rides, fun and exciting games, beautiful homemade arts and crafts, and awesome demonstrations. A few of the main events of the fair include live entertainment, tractor pulls, demolition derby's, car racing, and the beautiful firework spectacular held on Sunday evening. However, the highlight of the fair (and my personal favorite) is the food. From delicious London broil steak sandwiches to the Pennsylvania Dutch dessert, Elephant Ears.

The West End Fair usually starts on a Sunday, but because of the recent hurricane, the fair is scheduled to open on today at noon. Yes, there may be some mud at the fairgrounds from the tremendous amount of rain we received, but that is not going to stop fair goers, like myself, from enjoying the fun and food. In addition, the fair association will do its best to accommodate the visitors to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.

So before you head out to the West End Fair, be sure to check their website or call for further information about their scheduled opening date and time. With that said I hope everyone is safe and that things return to normal as soon as possible. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Student Tour Operators from around the U.S. and 25 countries, descended upon New York City to meet with suppliers of tourism products at the 2011 SYTA Annual Conference held August 19-24.

We were in mid-town Manhattan and I must confess, the shopping available was abundant if not overwhelming! I did squeeze in some time browsing on Seventh and Fifth Avenues. However, the style of back-to-school shopping, presented at the conference, was not the sneakers and jeans type, but rather the shopping for student tour destinations which include new museums, cultural sites, performance venues, student-friendly dining options and student-friendly lodging.

Representing the  Pocono Mountains, I was selling our Outdoor Classroom Experience!  Great Wolf Pocono Mountains was also there in full-force trying to book more student groups. We hit the tradeshow floor running, literally and figuratively, and made over 65 appointments between us!

Interests were CBK Mountain Adventures, Pocono Whitewater, skiing and a few select performance venues including Penn's Peak, Sherman Theater and Mountain Laurel Performing Arts Center.

So, take your studies outdoors in the Pocono Mountains!

Venturing north to Pike County, in the Pocono Mountains, for a summer B-roll shoot, the team and I had the privilege of stopping at Bar Louis at the Hotel Fauchere, in Milford, for some elegant eats!

Chic and stylish, Bar Louis, is an ideal pick for casual dining. After a busy morning, shooting in the heat, it was time to unwind! I'm always willing to try new foods, but was a little taken aback by our starter, the sushi pizza. I quickly changed my feelings for sushi after the first bite! Fresh ahi tuna, sushi rice tempura & tobikko caviar came together for a unique taste unlike any other!

Sticking to the safer side with my lunch choice, the turkey burger, I was equally as impressed! Adding on the spicy fried onions, I gorged into the giant burger.  Everyone in my group seemed just as satisfied, as the table fell silent while we enjoyed our lunches! Other choices included the House Confit Tuna Melt, the Crispy Soft Shell Crab and the Pork Pâté Sandwich.

And the best is always saved for last! Reluctantly taking a dessert menu, and holding my stomach in pain from eating so much, I couldn't imagine one more bite. When our host, Patricia O'Connor, insisted we order the Chocolate Pot de Crème, I figured she knew best! As pictured, the dessert was every chocolate-lover's dream come true. The mouse-like texture had me savoring every spoonful. I couldn't help myself!

Bar Louis

Atmosphere: Modern motif! A John Lennon photograph hanging in the bar adds a contemporary touch. The staff was very inviting!

Food: I was so satisfied from lunch, I could hardly eat dinner, but no one can leave without trying the Chocolate Pot de Crème!

Service: Patricia O'Connor and the staff were eager to accommodate our every request!

"Louie, Louie.. Oh baby, Me Gotta Go!"... And so do you!

As August draws to a close and the summer of 2011 fades away into another fantastic memory in the Pocono Mountains, I am making plans for one last summer getaway!

I'm sure that you will agree that the best place to begin the end of sunny summer fun is near the water. This weekend you will be able to find me at beautiful Lake Wallenpaupack as the 2nd Annual Wally Fest will get under way on Friday and run through Sunday, August 28!

This terrific event will be packed with lots of fun-filled activities throughout the Lake Region for the whole family to enjoy. I will probably begin enjoying Wally Fest on Friday by checking out Arts on the Edge exhibit at the Hawley Silk Mill and then meandering through the Hawley Farmer's Market in Bingham Park.

After a full day of exhibits and shopping I will most definitely be ready to unwind with a bite to eat and a few cocktails. If you happen to be a lover of Jazz music you will want to unwind between 5pm and 9pm at the Settlers Inn for some Blues, Brews and Barbeque! The musical entertainment will feature the Liberty Trio.

I know that after spending the night in one of the region's wonderful lodging facilities that I will be ready for Saturday's many awesome activities beginning with the Open Market Fair! I'm sure that you will want to wander through the Open Market and do a little shopping or just a little browsing. This fabulous market will be open from 10am-6pm.

It wouldn't be Wally Fest without the Boat Parade!! I'm sure that everyone will enjoy seeing the parade of boats on the lake at 4pm on Saturday with Sunday as the rain date. The "Best Dressed" boats will win prizes. Perhaps you would be interested in entering your boat; if so, call 570-226-4518 for more details!

After a full day of fun in the sun on the lake, complete with tours, displays and activities, I'm sure that I will be ready for another good night's sleep in order to be ready for more fun on Sunday! I keep telling my son, who is an avid golfer,that one of these days I am going to learn how to hit a golf ball. So, I just may spend Sunday afternoon at Costa's Family Fun Park practicing my drive at the driving range. Maybe I'll get lucky and win a prize by hitting a ball closest to Wally!

As always, let me know how you are spending the final weekends of summer in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you at Wally Fest!

"I do it, daddy!" Those were Nicholas' words when my husband was showing him how to bait his first hook. Nicholas was not scared at all of the wiggly worms, unlike his mommy. "Mr. Independent" insisted on doing everything himself, from baiting the hook to casting and reeling. I must admit his cast is pretty darn good for a two year old! Every time he would cast out his line he would look over to me and shout "look mommy, I fishin'" and then he would start to reel it in he would say "I ‘fink' I caught ‘somefin'!" Despite the fact that all Nicholas cared to do was cast out and reel in the line, he had an absolute blast with his version of fishing. One of my favorite parts about our fishing trip was when Daddy caught a fish; as he brought the fish up out of the water, Nicholas' eyes grew big and he shouted "I EAT IT!" Unfortunately, for Nicholas, the fish was too small to keep so we released him back into the water. Nicholas couldn't understand why we had to release him back into the water; so after a minor meltdown, Nicholas picked up his pole and started to fish again alongside his daddy.

Our family fishing trip was perfect. We set up our fishing gear in awesome little cove right along the lake, which was canopied with large trees that provided natural shade. I sat comfortably in my folding chair and snapped pictures of the boys fishing. The serenity of the environment and the conversation between Nicholas and Daddy was something that I wish I could have bottled up so I could cherish it forever. If you have never experienced a fishing trip with your family, you should consider giving it a try. Here are a few great fishing spots in the Pocono Mountains:

• Lake Wallenpaupack
• Mauch Chunk Lake Park
• Paradise Trout Preserve
• Peck's Pond
• Big Brown Fish & Pay Lake

Many of the lakes such as Lake Wallenpaupack are surrounded by fishing outfitters who can supply you with bait, lures, and all your other fishing needs. Remember, if you are over the age of 16 you must have a valid PA Fishing License. The license must be displayed on your outer garment, such as your hat or fishing vest. Visit the PA Fish & Boat Commission for more information on fishing in Pennsylvania.

Since fishing was a huge success, I know that this will be something that we will do for years to come. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.

Even with the days getting a little shorter and the first day of school drawing nearer, there is still plenty of outdoor summer time fun left to be had in the Pocono Mountains!

There is no better way that I can think of to spend a Saturday, summer evening, than with good friends and rocking out with a great band under the stars! This is exactly what I plan to do on Saturday, August 20 at 8 p.m.  You will once again be able to find me, along with my friends, at the Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center in Bushkill, as ZZ Top takes over the mountain and the stage! I'm already in the mood for some "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers," as well as my many other favorite ZZ Top tunes!

Being a fan of both the Mountain Laurel Center and ZZ Top, I am naturally looking forward to a great time! If you too are planning to attend this fabulous concert, you may want to arrive early and experience the Pre-Concert Event taking place between 5 and 7 p.m. The great folks at the Mountain Laurel Center have put together a unique way to spend time while waiting for the concert to begin. You may want to participate or just watch the participants in a variety of different contests, including:

• Wing Eating
• Longest Beard
• Look-A-Like
• Hotrod/Bike Display (the best hotrod and bike will be treated to a Meet & Greet)
• There will also be carnival and concession stands
• And much, much more!

Tickets may be purchased at the Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center Box Office or online. If purchasing online, you will want to use the promo code SPONSOR and get your tickets at a discount!

Before heading to the concert and pre-concert event, John and I will be meeting our good friends Charlie & Sandi at Garris's Log Cabin Bar and Restaurant in Bushkill (just minutes from the Mountain Laurel Center) for a few beers and a bite to eat. We'd love to have you join us! The Cabin will be offering a special concert menu for your dining pleasure; may I suggest one of their homemade pizzas or perhaps a bowl of Shirley's famous Chili?

As always, I want to hear all about your plans for a rockin' weekend in the Pocono Mountains! I hope to see you at the Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains PAC jammin' with ZZ Top!!

This past Thursday Nicholas and I took "Daddy" aka, my husband Carl on an overnight camping getaway for his birthday to Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Carl and I both enjoy camping but we weren't too sure how Nicholas would like it, it was his first camping trip after all. So not only was it a birthday celebration, but it was also a test to see how Nicholas would like "roughing" it for two days.

Let me start off by saying, if I had known how Nicholas would have reacted to this adventure and that he would sleep so well, I would have gone camping with him a long time ago. Nicholas was on the go from the second he got out of the car. The day consisted of fishing, swimming, nature walks, playing tag around our camp site, and cooking food over an open fire. By the time dinner came around, he was just about out of steam; as a matter of fact he fell asleep in the middle of his meal. Since Mauch Chunk Lake Park is extremely kid friendly, it was easy to keep him entertained. Their kid friendly activities include:

• Swimming beach
• Playground
• Fishing
• Easy trails for biking and walking

All of the wonderful activities were right outside our door, or no more than a stone's throw away. Our cute little cabin had electricity and was located nearby the shower/wash building which offered hot running water... a huge plus for me.

Since Nicholas fell asleep so early (for the night), Carl and I had the opportunity to cozy up to the fire. And like two children, we roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores.  We stayed up late just watching the flames dance in the pit. There really isn't anything better than a camp fire.

With that said, the three of us had an amazing and relaxing time. It melted my heart to see how much Nicholas enjoyed being a little explorer; it was such a pleasure to watch his face so full of wonder and excitement. I highly recommend a family camping trip, it is a great way to relax and reconnect. Until next time... Celebrate family, friends, and traditions.