By: Marcia Abramson
According to the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, there is currently snow on the mountains with more coming either man made or by Mother Nature. The weather up there is definitely cold enough, but it seems that people who can't get enough of the white stuff are waiting a little longer before making their reservations. The Poconos have Camelback, Big Bear, Blue, Jack Frost, Alpine and Shawnee Mountains in addition to the Tanglewood and Big Boulder Ski Areas and the Fernwood Hotel Winter Fun Center all have openings to guarantee you a wonderful winter holiday. As a matter of fact I spent a lovely extended February weekend at the Fernwood Hotel some years ago with my daughter Jill Wasser, her husband Stuart and their family of the very young pre-schooler Bradley and his younger sister Maris. The hotel has a great deal to offer a family. They do have a fair size hill on the grounds and an excellent ski school for the novice and pre-school skier. The nursery also met with Grandma Marcia's approval. There is also six-chute snow tubing with three tows, ice- skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, horseback riding, great meals and good snacking at the Wintergreens Lodge at the Fernwood Hotel. I can also recommend the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area with 23 slopes, nine lifts, 100 percent snow-making and great grooming. Their children's Skiwee program is top-ranked and their rental shop is a very large and accommodating facility. Camelback Mountain is also a favorite with Long Islanders who enjoy night skiing. This mountain has 33 trails, 13 lifts, two terrain parks and family or single tubes. Other Pocono recommended ski areas are Blue Mountain, which has Pennsylvania's highest vertical, half-pipe terrain park with a high-speed detachable quad and a snowtubing park with 16 slides. Alpine Mountain, Jack Frost Mountain, Ski Big Bear and the Tanglewood and Big Boulder Ski Areas also provide families with wonderful winter experiences and memories. Another plus for this area is its close proximity to New York, just an estimated two-hour drive. More information is available by visiting HYPERLINK "http://www.800poconos.com," www.800poconos.com or calling toll-free 1-800-762-6667. Mount Snow, Okemo, Stratton Mountain have always been great winter get-aways for my family. They are a fairly easy drive from Long Island and have enough activities for every age group. Grandmas and grandpas can indulge in cross-country skiing through beautiful terrain or leave the walking and driving to the old-fashioned horse-drawn sleigh. If you can get away before Dec. 19, there are special deals at Stratton where children under 17 years of age can ski and stay free when two adults purchase a Lifts and Lodging package. The tariff is an unbelievable $59 per person per night, from Dec. 19 through the winter season. If you buy a three-day mid-week lift ticket for $139, you can have two nights free lodging at the 100-room Lifetime Lodge, double occupancy. I also like to take a rest day for shopping at the outlet shops at nearby Manchester village when at Stratton. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.stratton.com," www.stratton.com or call 1-800-787-2886 for additional information on reservations and rates. A bit further north in Vermont, there is Smugglers Notch, which has no equals when it comes to special programs for the kids especially throughout the winter season. Teenagers have two of their own activity centers and there is a new day care center for the very young from three months to two-years of age. Super Savers fares are in effect from Dec. 6 to 25 and most of the early part of 2003. Prices are higher during the Christmas and President's week holidays. For specific rates call 1-800-451-8752. You can still book lodgings in Colorado's Vail, Telluride, Beaver Creek for your Winter holiday, but getting flights out to the Rockies can be the problem if you don't already have a flight. Your travel agent should be consulted immediately if you want to ski out west for this ski season.
© Copyright by Marcia Abramson E-mail: mascribe@aol.com
