Blogs

Through iconography, the campaign showcases boring, mundane day-to-day activities and how the same shapes translate into summer fun in the Pocono Mountains. From the The Greater Outdoors Giveaway I told you about last week (hope you entered your pictures already because they're coming in fast and furious), to train cards, billboards, platform posters, double-decker ceiling wraps, online ads, live cameras and much more, the campaign has many facets this year.

Quite possibly the most intriguing is the new addition of a Rail Michelangelo Display! What is that you might ask? Great question! When I first heard it, I thought it was a renaissance interpretation of the Pocono Mountains. Not shockingly, I was incorrect. This medium is actually similar to a bus banner, but located on the exterior of the train. And we are even more thrilled to be one of the first clients to try this type of advertising!

So game on! Whenever you see any of our advertising, be sure to snap a picture and share it with us on our PoconoTourism Facebook or Twitter accounts. Stay alert on your commute because the I spy challenge has officially begun, and I'm throwing down the gauntlet!

So you say you like the outdoors? How many hours in a week would you say you actually get to spend outdoors? I don't have children, am not married, don't have a house to maintain and live in the backyard of an outdoor mecca, and I would say I probably only get outdoors three hours a week, if I'm lucky. What's that all about? It's because we're suffering from INDOOR-DOM!

Yes, the gloomy disorder that starts to consume you when you spend too much time in the office and not enough time sharpening the saw (little shout-out for all you Stephen Covey fans). Luckily, the Pocono Mountains has come up with a cure for you, which all starts with some self-reflection.

Yes, that's right, snap a picture of you right now at work! Now head to our Greater Outdoors Giveaway Facebook application and upload it. If you really want, you can take another and get creative with it because in order to win the remedy to this nasty disorder, you need votes. The cleverer the photos, the more votes you receive. Everyone knows that is pure physics, or scientific method or something like that! Can you tell I have a BA?

Now, we get to the second step, voting. Once you've uploaded your photo, our snazzy application allows you to root through your friend list and see who you want to notify in order to get more votes, as well as instant share options on Facebook and Twitter and automatic pre-shortened URLs. Come on, people! We couldn't make this cure any easier.

The image with the most votes by August 18 at 12:30 p.m. will win the Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Package, including a kayak, mountain bike, tent and camping gear, fishing pole, backpack and Pocono Mountains getaway! Essentially, all you need to get out in Mother Nature for more than a couple hours each week. Plus, we will be giving out a weekly prize of outdoor gear to some lucky participants.

So what are you waiting for? The earlier submit, the longer you have to get more votes. So snap away my friends and when your boss asks you what you're doing, tell him there might be a kayak in the deal for him or her!

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!!!

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!

First on my agenda is golf! You wouldn't think that if you saw me out on the links, but I'm trying to improve my game and with more than 35 courses in the region, I have quite the variety to choose from. New this season, we're even selling a Golf-A-Round card so visitors can get a better taste of our varied terrain and enjoy multiple games at discounted rates. Stay tuned for details because if you're like me, the earlier you start, the more time you have for improvement!

Next on my list is a springtime hike in one of our parks. With nine state parks and two national parks totaling more than 105,500 acres, there is certainly no shortage of trails. However, Glen Onoko Falls in the Lehigh Gorge State Park has been at the top of my list for a year now. I hear the falls are spectacular and the hike is quite challenging to the point where some points you have to climb on all fours.  I'm glad because after yesterday's glazed doughnut, I think I'm going to need a serious workout!

Lastly, it wouldn't truly be spring unless I got on a river and while I love to get on a kayak, I'm embarrassed to admit I have yet to be whitewater rafting in our region.  So whether I choose to embark on a whitewater trip on the Lehigh or Delaware River, I'll be sure to enjoy the action-packed waters that can reach up to class III rapids. Pocono Whitewater hosts a moonlight rafting trip which sounds amazing! Who wouldn't love to raft under the starts on a warm spring evening?

So get ready to start breathing in the sweet blossoms of the Mountain Laurel because spring is here and it's time to get outdoors!  

And March skiing is great, even better than drinking "tiger blood!" You don't have to fight crowds to get on the chairlift, hand and feet warmers aren't a necessity and the best of all, the mountains offer phenomenal deals.

Have a season pass at another mountain? Camelback Mountain Resort will let you ski or ride for the day free and even give you a free CamelCard for anytime you want to come back to the mountain! Starting this week at Jack Frost Big Boulder, an Open to Close Snowpass is 30% off. Starting next Monday on, save 40% on the same Snowpass! Shawnee Mountain is also going bonkers by offering three lift tickets for $87 or three tickets and rentals for $140. Yes, you heard me correctly, THREE! That's even better than the Sham Wow guy offers!

Before your visit, be sure to check out all of our mountains and conditions at poconoski.com and I hope to see you out on the slopes! I'll be enjoying the magic carpet on the bunny hill, mastering the green circles and hogging room on the slopes because frankly, "I'm tired of pretending I'm not a total freaking rock star from Mars."

The well-known and must-have travel magazine, Travel + Leisure, is currently accepting votes for their annual World's Best Awards. Yes, you heard me correct, world's, and two of our properties are competing for the prestige of being one of the best destination spas and hotels in the world!

The Lodge at Woodloch, located in Hawley, is up for Best Destination Spa and let me personally say, it is certainly one of my favorite places on earth! From the 40,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art spa to the exceptional fitness programs and luxurious accommodations, the lodge is an unbelievable retreat for mind, body and spirit. Plus, they give you warm booties to wear during your treatments. WARM BOOTIES! Life doesn't get much better! Ok, maybe if you're enjoying their outdoor horizon edge whirlpool overlooking their stunning fern-filled forest it does.

The Hotel Fauchere of Milford takes the saying boutique hotel to a whole other level! Up for Best Hotel, the 16 guest rooms at the Relais & Chateaux establishment emit style and luxury. From the Frette Italian linens and original hardwood floors, to the Carrera and blue stone marble and heated floors and towel warmers, you have entered a dream at the hotel. Trust me, you haven't fully lived until you've stepped on to a heated floor and used a heated luxury towel. Don't even get me started on the fine dining experience in the Delmonico Room. My mouth starts salivating just thinking about it!

Everyone has turned to About.com at some point online and many people rely on the site on a daily basis. They have the answers to everything and their site description is spot on, "a valuable resource for content that helps people to solve the large and small needs of everyday life."  

They are currently hosting their ever-popular 2011 Reader's Choice Awards and showcasing the best of everything including products, services and innovations in more than 80 categories. Woodloch Resort hasn't only made the first round cut, they are a finalist in the top five in contention for Best All-Inclusive Resort in North America and Caribbean. They're not even the only resort in the northeast, but also the mainland of the United States!

A true testament to warm hospitality and family owned and operated for 50 years, Woodloch Resort is an exceptional getaway for all ages. This is obvious or they wouldn't be a finalist! However, they can't take home the title without your vote. So what are you waiting for? You only have until March 8 to vote and don't forget to start planning your next trip to Woodloch while you're at it!

Streaming live cameras have recently launched at popular winter recreation areas, Blue Mountain, Shawnee Mountain, Fernwood Hotel & Resort and Woodloch Resort. So if you're missing the mountains this winter, you can check out the Pocono Mountains skiers, boarders and tubers right from your desktop. Don't trust the weatherman?  Go online to check snow conditions. Wonder how many people are on the mountain? Head to the page and see who is on the slopes.  Need a break from your cubicle? Simply access the outdoors online. 

As if the scenario couldn't get any better, our friends at NBC 4 in New York and NBC 10 in Philadelphia have adopted these shots in numerous news broadcasts. This way, residents of these popular metro areas can get a taste of the Pocono Mountains.

So next time you are daydreaming of our destination, head to our live camera page and witness the recreation for yourself. And stay tuned because come the summer season, we hope to have triple the cameras we have now.  I'm envisioning hikers, and bikers, and kayakers, oh my!

So this is why I'm suggesting maybe this Valentine's Day we do the opposite and honor the males. Men, you can suggest these ideas to your partners. Ladies, let's put the shoe on the other foot and switch it up! Let's admit it, you receive these gifts from your partner on other days of the year so you can sacrifice this one day.  

My first idea is a brewery tour. Not too many men dislike the taste of beer and most men love the suds. So take a trip to your local brewery and go beer tasting together. With a myriad of options, they are likely to have a brew enjoy both of you can enjoy and you can indulge in pub fare afterwards, a delicious meal that isn't going to break the bank. In our four-county region we have several, but my favorites are Barley Creek Brewing Company and The Gem and Keystone Brewpub.

Another suggestion is to let your significant other get in touch with his manly side by getting outdoors. We offer endless winter recreational opportunities including dog sledding, ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and much more! This is the time to allow him to do what he likes or better yet, let him teach you something. Men love to feel like they're contributing to the relationship by helping you with something, so get some fresh air and learn a new snowsport you can brag about!

My last recommendation is eagle watching. Bald eagles are majestic and monogamous creatures. While your man will revel in how "cool" it is to see this endangered species so close, you can get an education about the unique animal.  Better yet, you can snuggle close to one another while braving the cold winter temperatures to witness a once and a lifetime opportunity. We have two popular nesting areas in our region, the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers.

We also have a variety of special offers dedicated to the holiday, if you choose to extend your romantic trip with an overnight stay. Whatever you do, be sure to spend it with the ones you love. And if you take my advice and it works out, be sure to let me know. Maybe in my next life I'll become a relationship columnist or matchmaker...