Fun Travels Across the United States
PENNSYLVANIA
NEWS (Note: Towns and Cities follow after the NEWS
Great Events Coming Up in Philadelphia (Check below under Philadelphia)
Table Games Debut in the Pocono Mountains - Mount Airy Casino Resort Embraces the New Addition (For details, check below under Pocono Mountains)
The Inn at Pocono Manor’s Summer Friends & Family Adventure Package
The Inn at Pocono Manor's has announced its Friends & Family Adventure Package for the Summer 2010 season. The special package is available through Labor Day weekend at the historic Resort, Sundays through Thursdays.
The Inn at Pocono Manor's Friends & Family Summer Adventure Package includes:
- Guest room accommodations for 4 persons
- Full breakfast buffet the next morning
- Choice of an activity at the Resort for each night of stay. Each party can select
from,
· Golfing with Cart on one of the Resort's two 18-hole courses (East Course
designed by Donald Ross, West Course by George Fazio)
· Tips & Toes at the Laurel Spa (manicure and pedicure)
· Horseback trail ride, riding lesson, Wrangler for a Day, or 5-day Wrangler Camp (5 night stays)
· All-day pass to CamelBeach Water Park near the Resort
· Shopping Spree ~ $50 gift card to The Crossings Premium Outlets nearby
· 2 persons Golf / 2 persons at the Laurel Spa
· Catch a Trophy (stream pass and lesson)
· Archery
· Shooting at the Resort's range
· White Water Rafting (based upon dam release dates)
· Bike Ride & Five Star Picnic in the beautiful Pocono Mountains
- All taxes and gratuities
The Inn at Pocono Manor has additional fun-filled activities scheduled for the summer season that are generally included in this package, such as Smore's & Stories by the Bonfire, Nature Hikes, Scavenger Hunts, Learn-to-Tie-Dye-a-Tee Shirt or Make-Your-Own Ice Cream -- and the Resort's own 'Dive In' movies at our outdoor pool!
The Inn at Pocono Manor's Family Summer Package for four guests is $358 per family per night and available Sunday through Thursday (2 adults, 2 children 12 and under). For more information and for reservations, contact 800-233-8150 / 570-839-7111, or visit www.poconomanor.com.
The historic Inn at Pocono Manor, which opened in 1902, is the longest continuously operating resort in the Poconos and one of the oldest in North America. The Inn’s Exchange at Pocono Manor Restaurant welcomes guests for dinner each evening. The Old Lamplighter Lounge serves specialty beverages and pub fare throughout the day. The Laurel Spa offers state-of-the-art treatments designed to enhance guests’ healthy lifestyles and sense of well being. The Inn at Pocono Manor offers a full range of resort activities all season long.
About The Inn at Pocono Manor
The Inn at Pocono Manor resort blends a century of hospitality with the demands of 21st Century travelers. Lovingly referred to as the “The Grand Lady of the Mountains” and a National Registry of Historic Places property, The Inn at Pocono Manor opened in 1902 as a country retreat for Philadelphia Quakers. Today it is the oldest continuously running Resort in the Poconos and one of the oldest in North America. The all-season resort boasts 237 guestrooms, and 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space that can accommodate up to 500 guests. The Exchange at Pocono Manor restaurant features superb dining with an eclectic flair. The Old Lamplighter Lounge serves specialty beverages and pub fare throughout the day.
Complete recreational amenities are available at The Inn at Pocono Manor, including signature golf, horseback riding, ATV trail rides, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, the luxurious Laurel Spa, fishing, clay shooting, cross country skiing, and more. Striking views of the Pocono Mountains are visible from all sides of the resort’s main building. Complimentary wireless Internet is available throughout. The Inn at Pocono Manor features two 18-hole signature golf courses, including the East Course dating to 1912, which was redesigned by Donald Ross in 1927 and has been host to golf legends like Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jerry Barber. In 1959, the George Fazio-designed West Course opened.
A destination within the Poconos for over a century, the 3000-acre Inn at Pocono Manor is minutes away from Crossings Premium Outlets, Camelbeach Water Park, Camelback Ski Mountain, and the Mt. Airy Casino. The Resort is within two hours of New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Make a deal, Amish-style, at Lancaster County, PA’s annual mud sales
(For details go below to Lancaster County)
What's New in Gettysburg? Plenty! (Scroll down to Gettysburg for details)
Hauser Estate Winery to host Candle Light Fridays
Visit Hauser Estate Winery in Orrtanna, Pa., for great atmosphere, wine tasting, and the region’s newest winery's Candle Light Fridays. The special evening includes a night of food, delicious wines, live music and a cozy fireplace to warm up to. Held the last Friday of every month, Candle Light Fridays is a great place to enjoy dinner, entertainment and even hard apple cider. It’s a great place to mingle and try many new varieties of wine.
New Inn in Mount Bethel Offers Comfort in Hard Times at an Affordable Price (For details scroll down to Mount Bethel)
Bedford
Bedford Springs Resort
In 1796, Dr. John Anderson discovered the medicinal curative powers of the Bedford Springs. The elite of Colonial America immediately began to congregate at the “springs” which necessitated the opening of the first hotel rooms in 1805. From then on through the 1970’s the Bedford Springs Hotel was one of the preeminent destination resorts in this region of the country. The property is a convenient two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Over 10 million people live within this two hour drive market.
Among some of the letters already received by the resort was from a couple that spent their honeymoon at the Bedford Springs Hotel in 1952 as a gift of CBS Television. The couple had been married on the television show, Bride & Groom, and last year renewed their vows on The Early Show.
With a rich and storied heritage, Bedford Springs was a favored retreat for U.S. Presidents, numerous diplomats and politicians, the United States military, captains of industry and high society. The hotel’s keepsake mementos were circulated by well-heeled guests and traveled the mails and rails spreading word about the destination’s fine lodging and the curative powers its seven surrounding natural springs.
The resort is also seeking memorabilia of any kind, including ledgers, especially water bottle ledgers because Bedford Springs was known for bottled, healing spring water. The created Bedford Springs Historical Society also wants to find old photographs, documents, books, brochures, newspapers and maps; Bedford Springs Hotel stationary, envelopes and postcards; furniture, paintings, dishes and silverware, water bottles, menus, napkins and table linens.
Bedford Springs Resort welcomes information regarding earlier guests up through the hotel’s closing in 1989.
Please contact the property directly at (814) 623-8100 or email Todd Gillespie at tgillespie@benchmarkmanagement.com .
Bethlehem
For complete information on all of Bethlehem’s holiday events and attractions, visit www.christmascity.org.
Capital Region
Thinking about vacationing in Pennsylvania’s Capital Region? Wise choice, because encompassing the serene beauty of the countryside and mountains, the quaint appeal of small-town America and the pizzazz of city life all in one, this region offers one of the most varied selections of recreation and attractions in the Northeast.
Contact 1-800-995-0969 for a free 64-page Visitors’ Guide offered by Pennsylvania’s Capital Region Visitors Bureau for descriptions of this diverse region, lists of attractions, accommodations and events, plus a map highlighting nature centers, state parks and camping areas, hiking and equestrian trails; lakes and rivers for boating and fishing; outlook/natural attractions marked as excellent photographic opportunities, covered bridges; public swimming spots; and areas designated for hang gliding.
Nestled among the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, the Cumberland, Susquehanna, and Lebanon Valleys of the Capital Region are also within an hour’s drive of Lancaster, home of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish; and Gettysburg, site of one of America’s largest Civil War battlefields. Nature enthusiasts can take one of 16 trails including the Appalachian and Tuscarora which cross the area, fly fish some of the nation’s best limestone trout streams, or indulge in the many wonders of the Susquehanna River where canoe and kayak trips are available. Theme park lovers will love Hersheypark, billed as ‘the cleanest and greenest theme park in America,’ with 110-beautifully landscaped acres, nine roller coasters, and six drenching water rides. Here, too, is Zooamerica North American Wildlife Park, an 11-acre walk-though zoo home to over 200 animals representing five regions of north American and a new American crocodile exhibit. Of course, Chocolate World is fantastic - offering a free simulated chocolate making tour and the Northeast’s only immersive, three-dimensional musical adventure, the new Hershey’s Really Big 3D Show.
If you golf, pack your clubs and reserve time on the region’s picturesque championship courses, or pitch and putt with the whole family. Catch a professional baseball game at City Island in the middle of the Susquehanna River, take a river cruise, use City Island’s batting cages, arcade, mini water golf, take a train ride circling the island, or go roller blading or for a stroll with a view of the river, the Harrisburg skyline, and mountains beyond. The list goes on and on and on.
For more information and a free visitors' guide, call 1-800-995-0969 or check web site www.pacapitalregions.com.
Chalk Hill
Kentuck Knob
Frank Lloyd Wright’s magnificent architecture can be enjoyed during the winter months at Kentuck Knob while snow clings to the fieldstone walls and sheets of the copper roof. The woods and sculpture park are stark and hushed, the crowds of summer are gone, and the house and grounds are incredibly beautiful and serene. The views are even more spectacular through bare trees. Weather permitting, join a guided tour, bring your cross country skis for a delightful way of touring the grounds and sculpture park located six miles north of Route 40 at Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania.
For more information, hours and fees, call 724-329-1901 for reservations between 10 am and 4 p.m.
Fairfield
Willow Pond Farm -- With high gas prices the farm offers a great “stay-cation”
Willow Pond Farm, at 145 Tract Road, Fairfield, Pa., is a certified organic farm located just outside of Gettysburg. The farm offers a delightful getaway for the day for families, couples, friends, and anyone with an interest in gardening, herbs, and specifically lavender. Speakers discuss growing lavender, cooking with herbs, aromatherapy and more. Vendors offer garden-related gifts, pottery, jewelry, carved and turned wood, baskets, photographic prints, dried flower wreathes, and festive table linens. Willow Pond Farm shop offers farm products, lavender goods and plants for sale.
Live music and picnic fare make the festival an enjoyable day outside. Participants can tour the gardens, sit in on lectures, take workshops or just stroll the lavender fields. The Kids Korner offers activities for younger attendees. Photographers are welcome to take pictures of the gardens. Information and a schedule can be found at www.palavenderfestival.com.
Gettysburg
Historic Gettysburg, Pa., named an American icon. New National Geographic book details places, events and festivals
Award-winning author Gary McKechnie has featured Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in his latest book, “USA 101: A Guide to America’s Iconic Places, Events and Festivals.” In the book published by National Geographic, McKechnie eloquently describes Gettysburg’s rich history of July 1863, as tens of thousands of Union and Confederate troops converged on the small, but thriving, Pennsylvania town. He also writes how that bloody battle led to the dedication four months later and Lincoln’s immortal Gettysburg Address.
He includes visits to the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Museum and Visitor Center, the various tours offered in Gettysburg, the Gettysburg Hotel and the David Wills House. He also mentions the stores, restaurants and pubs in Downtown Gettysburg.
Other iconic places featured in USA 101 include Valley Forge, Plymouth Rock, Times-Square, the Kentucky Derby, Graceland, Gateway Arch, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.
Adams County Winery wins awards
John Kramb, co-owner of the Adams County Winery, announced that the winery had won three medals at the recent Finger Lakes International Eastern Wine Competition. Judges awarded two Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal to the winery. The winery won Silver medals for its Seducente wine and one for its Rebel Red wine. The Bronze Medal went to the Black magic Blackberry wine. The prestigious competition was conducted in Rochester, N.Y., last month as a fundraising event for Camp Good Days and Special Times.
“For more than 28 years, Camp Good Days has brought smiles to children and their families who are affected by cancer and other life challenges,” said Gary Mervis, Chairman and founder of the camp. “All of the programs and services provided by Camp Good Days are offered free of charge to the participants. We are only able to continue this through the generosity of so many individuals and the success of our fundraising events such as our wine competition.”
Civil War Trails focuses on untold stories
Pennsylvania recently unveiled a new Civil War Trails experience to tell the story of the Civil War from a northern state’s perspective and to share the experiences of participants who did not wear a uniform. “We are stepping off of the battlefield to tell the untold stories of citizens and the communities who were forever changed by the Civil War,” said Mickey Rowley, the Department of Community and Economic Development’s deputy secretary of tourism. “In doing this, we are fulfilling our responsibility to present Pennsylvania’s rich Civil War heritage in an easy and accessible way for future generations to explore.”
The Pennsylvania Civil War Trails program educates people about the women and children under siege; African-American contributions in the defense of the state; and the endurance of ordinary citizens during a time of great unrest. The stories are told through 40 new “story stops,” which are living history presentations, and at more than 25 historic sites in and between communities of Gettysburg, York, Hanover, Chambersburg, Carlisle, Harrisburg, and Wrightsville. “By following the trails throughout the Dutch Country Roads region, visitors will finally get to hear the stories that have been passed on from generation to generation,” Rowley said. “In addition to a greater understanding of the effect the Civil War had on the people of Pennsylvania, visitors will see a different side of the communities embroiled in the conflict.”
Ghosts of Gettysburg voted No. 1 Ghost Tour in the World
Ghosts of Gettysburg has been voted the “No. 1 Ghost Tour in the World” by the readers of HauntedAmericaTours.com. Ghosts of Gettysburg is owned and operated by well-known ghost investigator, author, and historian, Mark Nesbitt. HauntedAmericaTours.com averages more than 2 million hits per month. The rankings are determined through votes by visitors to its website. Gettysburg topped a list of renowned ghost tours from around the world.
Mark Nesbitt is a former National Park Service Ranger/Historian. He started his own research and writing company in 1977 and a year later he began writing books, including “If the South Won Gettysburg.” Nesbitt took his first tour through the dark streets of Gettysburg and to sites on the old Pennsylvania College campus in 1994.
Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center tops 1 million visitors in first year
The Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park has welcomed 1.17 million visitors in its first 12 months of operation, Gettysburg Foundation officials announced recently. The Museum and Visitor Center, the product of a partnership between the non-profit Gettysburg Foundation and the National Park Service, opened last April. The facility features the conserved Cyclorama painting, a massive 377-foot painting in the round first displayed in 1884; “A New Birth of Freedom,” an exclusive History Channel-sponsored film narrated by Morgan Freeman; and the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War, which includes 12 exhibit galleries containing artifacts from the Park Service’s large collection, interactive displays and first-hand accounts from the soldiers, civilians and war correspondents.
Visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park send messages to American troops
Visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park now have the opportunity to send messages to members of the United States Armed Forces, thanks to a partnership between the Gettysburg Foundation, Lockheed Martin and Operation Homefront. Visitors to the Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park are encouraged to write their messages to the troops on special Operation Homefront postcards. The Foundation will forward completed postcards to Operation Homefront, which will forward the postcards to service members. Operation Homefront is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale to American troops, to the families they leave behind and to wounded warriors when they return home.
Historic Farnsworth House Inn in Gettysburg announces new unique Dinner Theatre experience
The Historic Farnsworth House Inn is known for their critically acclaimed period fare and candlelight ghost stories. Now, the historic inn will combine their culinary and theatrical arts as they present their Vacant Chair Dinner Theatre. In 19th century America, mourning the dead was a daily part of life. Both family customs and etiquette rules of the time dictated how one would mourn. Even the dinner following the funeral was part of the ritual. The audience will first enter a room prepared for an 1863 wake, complete with casket and décor that will portray the mourning customs of the time period. The Pennsylvania Dutch themed dinner will include such selections as Lancaster County Ham, Sauerkraut & Finely Chopped Pork and their signature Game Pie. A period-dressed actor will host the evening nd perform Civil War-era songs intermittently mixed with the history and rituals of mourning. One of these songs, “The Vacant Chair,” was written to honor a fallen soldier, creating a vacant chair at the dinner table. Following the dinner, the audience will descend the stairs into the cellar of the Farnsworth House for dramatically portrayed ghost stories.
Shriver House Museum releases new book detailing Shriver Family History
The Shriver House Museum announced the release of a new book titled The Shrivers’ Story – Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg. It was written by the Director of the Museum, Nancie W. Gudmestad, who, along with her husband, Del, has been involved with the museum since its inception in 1996.
The Shrivers’ story is not solely that of a historic building. More importantly, it is the story of the family who called this house their home. They were a young family with hopes and dreams common to most young families then and now. They dreamed of peace and prosperity, of a safe place in which to raise their family, and for success in their economic endeavors. But the Shrivers’ expectations were abruptly interrupted by the coming of the Civil War and by one of the most significant battles of that war. Afterward, the world as they knew it would never be quite the same. The Shrivers’ story is the story of a house and a home, of family and friends, of expectant dreams and intruding realities, of citizens in a time of peace and civilians in a time of war. The dramatic and moving story of George and Hettie Shriver and their daughters, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), describes their experiences during the Civil War, and more specifically, the Battle of Gettysburg. In addition, the book details how the Shriver House Museum originated as well as the trials and tribulations encountered during the restoration of the Shrivers’ home.
The Shriver House Museum was painstakingly restored in 1996 and since then has been open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours, narrated by docents in period attire, offer special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award and has been used as a filming site by PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC, CNN, The History Channel, The Travel Channel, and The Discovery Channel. The museum is proud to be included as a site in the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails program.
For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, call 717-337-2800 or visit www.shriverhouse.org.
History Comes to Life at American Civil War Museum
Location: American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325
The American Civil War Museum not only gives visitors a glimpse at one of the most pivotal events in American history, it allows visitors to become a part of history. Visitors are welcomed to actively learn by strolling through the camp, viewing drills and demonstrations, and engaging in conversation with historians.
Each weekend, a different living history group is contracted to appear at the museum. Programming and presentations will vary depending on the scheduled unit. The goal is to have visitors experience both soldier and civilian life during the Civil War-era first-hand. Witness the trial and tribulations of war, camp life, and the burdens of civilian life in a war-ravaged land. Visitors will walk away with a better understanding and concept of life 145 years ago.
For more information, visit the American Civil War Museum web site at www.GettysburgMuseum.com. A detailed listing of participating units and scheduled appearances can be found on the Living History link.
KUTZTOWN
Kutztown Festival Is Pennsylvania Dutch Fun for the Whole Family
NOTE:
This is one of the best festivals I've attended in years. Not only is it entertaining, but it's educational for all ages! Plan on having lunch here and stay for dinner. The food is great, too! To give you an idea of what to expect ......
Now in its 61st year, the Kutztown Festival is the oldest, continuing folklife festival in America. It is one of the largest too, and in 2009 drew well over 130,000 visitors. In addition, it is one of the most celebrated festivals in the nation. Among many honors, the festival has been twice selected as one of America’s Top 100 events by the American Bus Association, and was named by the Washington Post as one of three “must see” festivals in the region.
Festival Date: July 3 - July 11, 2010
Location: Kutztown Fairgrounds * Kutztown, PA
Address:
225 N. White Oak St, Kutztown, PA 19530
Hours: 9 a.m-6 p.m.
Daily Admission:
• Adult: $12.00
• Senior citizens (55 & older): $11.00
• All-week pass: $20.00
• Children (12 & Under): FREE
ADA approved and wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for free, and scooters are available for rent at the office.
Pets are welcome on a leash.
FREE PARKING
For More Information or to request a FREE brochure, call toll free at 888-674-6136.
Nothing tops the good old-fashion summer fun to be found at the Kutztown Folk Festival! This family-oriented festival celebrates Pennsylvania Dutch folklife, and attracted a record-setting 150,000 visitors in 2009. Now in its 61st year, the Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest, continuing folklife festival in America.
The Festival has again been selected as one of America’s Top Shows by the ABA, was named as a “Must See” festival by the Washington Post, and listed as one of the Nation’s Top Festivals by USA Today Magazine.
Featured at this nine-day festival are demonstrations of traditional crafts by 200 juried American craftsmen, folklore demonstrations, historical reenactments, antiques, and traditional music, dancing and entertainment running non-stop on six stages. Visit the largest Quilt Sale in the Nation, featuring over 2,000 American made quilts. Children experience traditional, hands-on enjoyment in exciting new ways. Noah’s World animal park, hay mazes, do-it-yourself mural paintings, rides, and their own children’s stage make this Festival a time to remember as a wonderful family experience for your kids. And last but certainly not least - the best Pennsylvania Dutch food to be had anywhere!
Food
The Pennsylvania Germans are famous for their culinary creations and some of the best are served at the festival. From one end of the festival grounds to the other, there seems to be no end to the ham and chicken dinners, home-made soups, chicken pot pie, corn fritters, funnel cakes, shoo-fly pie, strawberry shortcake, and apple dumplings. The famous Pennsylvania Dutch ox roast has been a festival tradition for decades.
Thousands of hungry visitors sit down for a leisurely meal at the dining hall sponsored by one of the local churches. The all-you-can-eat fare features some of the best basic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, all served family-style. Then, there is bread fresh from the Festival’s real 19th century outdoor bread oven, and home-made apple butter that is brought in fresh daily. It’s all scrumptious and plentiful. Kids are not forgotten, either. Kinner Eck (children’s corner) offers food just for them – pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and hot dogs, to name a few items.
To learn the secrets of traditional home cooking, visitors stop by the Festival’s summer kitchen. Meals at the summer kitchen are created from generations-old Pennsylvania Dutch recipes and cooked on an authentic, turn-of-the-century wood fired stove and other old-fashioned appliances. The summer kitchen is where everyone gets truly authoritative answers to their questions on all aspects of Pennsylvania Dutch food and cooking.
Before leaving for home, visitors often stop by the farmers’ market and butcher’s shop for Pennsylvania Dutch take-home delicacies such as hams, smoked sausages, cheeses, homemade pies, fruit and nut breads.
For a free brochure call 1-888-674-6136 or go to web site www.kutztownfestival.com
LANCASTER COUNTY
About Lancaster County
Lancaster County is a wonderful blend of urban style and rural splendor, and the PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau is dedicated to promoting its many rich cultures, from the Amish to the arts. Travelers can take in the vibrant downtown city life – featuring galleries, great dining, specialty shops, and live music – or explore some of the surrounding towns and villages to get a sampling of the heritage, food, craftsmanship, and hands-on activities for which Lancaster is famous. For more information go to web site www.discoverlancasterpa.com. Lancaster is also part of Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country Roads region, a true vacation destination where country meets city and the past lives side-by-side with the present.
Lancaster County's Latest Map & Overnight Getaway Guide now available
Vacationing in Lancaster County is full of memorable experiences, from staying at a working farm in the Amish countryside to exploring the art galleries and funky retro shops of historic Downtown Lancaster. And just-released is the 2010 Map and Overnight Getaway Guide -- the perfect (and FREE) tool for planning your visit to the heart of PA Dutch Country, from lodging, dining, and shopping information to ideas for must-see attractions.
The guide’s lively new travel journal entries focus on some of the unique experiences Lancaster County has to offer, while each venue in the guide is listed with simple coordinates that make it easy to find in the relevant section of the enclosed map. New this year, yellow-highlighted keywords throughout the guide lead you to detailed information about these featured properties just by entering them in the Search box on our website. And check out the sample list of events to help in timing your trip, because there’s always something going on in Lancaster.
Order your FREE copy of the 2010 Lancaster County Map and Overnight Getaway Guide today by visiting www.padutchcountry.com or calling 1-800-PA-DUTCH. Copies are also available at various locations throughout Lancaster County and at Pennsylvania welcome centers. And don’t forget about the free and friendly travel assistance from the staff at our two Visitors Centers, too.
About Lancaster County
It's a wonderful blend of urban style and rural splendor, and the PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau is dedicated to promoting its many rich cultures, from the Amish to the arts. Travelers can take in our vibrant downtown city life – with galleries, great dining, specialty shops, and live music – or explore surrounding towns and villages to get a sampling of the heritage, food, craftsmanship, and hands-on activities for which Lancaster is famous. Visit at www.discoverlancasterpa.com. Lancaster is also part of Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country Roads region, a true vacation destination where country meets city and the past lives side-by-side with the present.
Make a deal, Amish-style, at Lancaster County's annual mud sales
Roll up your pant legs, pull on your boots, and head out to one of Lancaster County’s famous mud sales in 2010. Enjoy a day of great buys with our Amish neighbors – interweaving family, food, and fun – all for the benefit of local fire companies.
Thousands of Amish and “English” (as the rest oare known) flock each year to the heart of PA Dutch Country for these traditional events on Saturdays from mid-February to early April, so named for the condition of the thawing ground. Both intimate and authentic, mud sales are perfect for browsing, bidding, and buying, as out-of-towners mix easily with locals and soak in Lancaster’s renowned hospitality and heritage. What’s more, you’ll never believe the value and variety of what’s on offer – hand-stitched quilts (donated by Amish women's groups), hammers, buggies, sleigh bells, milk bottles, toys, farm equipment, livestock, produce, furniture, and even antique lightning rods!
To ward off the last of winter's chill, the fire companies' ladies auxiliaries provide sustenance in the form of Pennsylvania Dutch culinary favorites like steaming chicken corn soup, funnel cakes, pot pie, birch beer, chicken barbecue, and lots of hot cider and coffee. And the best values are snapped up by those who get there early. With start times of 8 or 8:30 a.m., why not make it easy by staying over the night before and waking up in Lancaster County!
Inviting and never dull, this annual rite of spring is a can’t-miss event, so plan to make some great deals and wonderful memorie at the 2010 mued sales.
For more information go to web site amish-mud-sales.asp.
Lancaster visitors get exclusive savings and exceptional lodging with new Authentic Passport Program
With the rising demand for value-added vacations, the Authentic Bed and Breakfast Association of Lancaster County has created the Authentic Passport Program, a joint marketing initiative that teams the association’s B&Bs with area tourism partners to offer visitors exclusive savings.
Guests benefit from the passports in two ways: a $50 discount on their fifth stay at an Authentic B&B, and exclusive discounts at participating Lancaster-area restaurants, attractions, and shops.
The two-tier program affords guests an opportunity to acquire a passport by staying at one of the bed and breakfasts participating in this program. With the passport, visitors receive a list of coupons, which are good for three years, detailing the area merchants offering exclusive savings for the Authentic guest. Each time visitors return to Lancaster to stay at an Authentic Bed and Breakfast, they have their passport stamped. On the fifth visit, they receive a $50 discount on their stay.
Authentic Bed and Breakfasts of Lancaster County is the largest B&B association in the county, whose members offer a unique lodging alternative. With more than twenty years of experience, the association continues to provide personalized service and superb amenities to suit every guest’s needs.
To find out more information about the Passport program, check web site www.authenticbandb.com.
Mount Bethel
Sun Inn and Stonehenge Vineyard in Mount Bethel Offers Comfort in Hard Times at an Affordable Price
Situated on 350 acres of preserved, working farmland, and nestled between the lush Delaware River Valley and mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, lies one man’s vision for the perfect retreat designed for our time. Inspired by Tuscany’s agritourism concept, the Howard family, developer of New York’s Chelsea Star Hotel will open the Chelsea Sun Inn and Stonehenge Vineyard in Old Stone Church, Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, just in time for the holidays.
Less than two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Northeastern Pennsylvania affords the Howard’s and the management team from The Chelsea Star, the opportunity to offer their guests luxury within reason, to provide comfort in hard times. The team once again understands the traveler’s need. They have created a luxurious romantic get away, an extraordinary experience, with an affordable price tag.
Fireplace grace several of the suites, luxury linens and whirlpool tubs provide the soothing amenities. Vinotheraphy spa services, employing the healing properties of the grape promote well-being and relaxation. Steeped in charm the bed and breakfast also offers state of the art technology and flat screen televisions in each accommodation.
Visitors from New York may recognize the carving from the Plaza Hotel installed over the fireplace or the original rich wood paneling of Broadway’s Lamb Theater warming the entrance and great room of the Inn. Hike or ride horseback through the vineyard and farm or jump in the car to explore one of America’s scenic by ways winding 17 miles through beautiful Northampton County, the Delaware River Valley Scenic Byway passes by preserved farmland, historic landmarks, countryside views, and some of the oldest towns in the region. The historic Martin’s Creek Ferry is on route along with the federally designated "Wild and Scenic" Delaware River
The Chelsea Sun Inn offers guests a quiet romantic weekend, or choose from downhill and cross country skiing packages, holiday shopping excursions to historic Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt or outlet shopping. Guests can choose to cut their Christmas tree from the tree farm just minutes from the front door of the Inn or simply settle in for a long winters nap.The Chelsea Sun Inn is finishing touches on the construction and offering special rates on a limited number of rooms prior to the grand opening. A luxurious king size room is $199 for the month of December.
Visittwww.chelseasun.com for details, and for reservations call (917) 743 – 4647.
Northhampton County
Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary
The 200-acre Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary and Wilderness Trust sits on the slopes of Bougher Hill above the Delaware River in Northampton County near Riegelsville. Except for the area around the preserve office and four small meadows at the top of the hill, the preserve is entirely forested, displaying a variety of forest types, from oak-dominated forest on the north-facing slope to a mixed oak-sweet birch-tuliptree forest on the south-facing slope.
History
Antonio and Mary Guererro bought the property in a series of purchases from 1944 though 1969. In 1969, they established the Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary and Wilderness Trust. (The name came from fusing their first names together, Mary + Tony = Mar-i-ton.) Natural Lands Trust has managed the property for the Mariton Trust since 1992.
Highlights
The understory in the forests at Mariton is remarkably healthy, suggesting a lower density of white-tailed deer than in other sites on southeastern Pennsylvania. Disturbances to the forest, like a blow-down that occurred several years ago or cutting under powerlines, create sections of younger forest that are ideal habitat for ruffed grouse. On the east side of the property, steep cliffs drop off to the Delaware River, providing a dramatic overlook to the companion cliffs on the New Jersey side. The Bank Barn has been renovated to serve as an education center, and hosts 2 week-long nature camps in the summer, as well as educational programming throughout the year.
Facilities
The Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
• Nature Center with natural history collection, library, and A/V equipment
• Indoor bathrooms (2)
• Approximately 5 miles of walking trails
• Wildlife viewing blind
• Information kiosk
• Interpretive signs along trails
• Benches with interesting views along trails
• Parking lot for 19 cars
Things to Do
Through Mid-June: Search for woodland wildflowers along the trails; watch bird migrations, especially the neo-tropical migrants.
June to August: Enjoy the blooming wildflowers in the meadows and the variety of butterfly species present on the preserve throughout the summmer.
September to October:Come see the changing colors of both tree leaves and meadow plants.
Winter Months: Cross-country ski and snowshoe on the trails; Look for animal tracks in the snow.
Rules and Regulations
During your visit, please observe the following rules:
• Please sign the guest book
• Trails are open sunrise to sunset
• Please stay on the trails
• Please enjoy the beauty of the plants and wildlife, but leave them for others to enjoy.
• Please keep your pets on a leash at all times; please clean up after your pets
Location: Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
200 Acres
For more information contact Tim Burris, Preserve Manager, 240 Sunnyside Rd., Easton, PA 18042; 610-258-6574
Access an Online Map through Mapquest
Philadelphia
Through September 25, 2010 (tentative dates)
SCHUYLKILL BANKS KAYAK TOURS. On select weekends, professional guides lead novice and advanced kayakers along the newly energized section of the lower Schuylkill River known as „Schuylkill Banks.‰ Moonlight rides and paddles to Bartram‚s Garden, including a tour and lunch, are among the offerings. (888) RIV-PHIL, schuylkillbanks.org
July 24-25, 2010
BIKE MS: PA DUTCH RIDE. This cycling event rolls through the picturesque hills of Montgomery and Chester counties until reaching Lancaster County‚s Amish farmlands. The charity ride is hosted in tandem with the Central PA Bike Tour and ends with a finish-line party on Saturday night.
(215) 271-1500, mscycling.org
August 21-22, 2010
LIVESTRONG CHALLENGE PHILLY. For the first time, the Philadelphia challenge, traditionally a bike ride to raise money and awareness for Lance Armstrong‚s foundation that supports cancer research, will span two days, with the first day comprising a run/walk with a new 10K course and a party for runners and walkers. As always, on the second day, bike riders embark on 10- to 100-mile courses that weave through the hills of Montgomery and Berks counties. livestrongchallenge.org
September 5, 2010
PHILLY NAKED BIKE RIDE. Philadelphians have joined a world-wide movement to ride naked through the streets of the city in order to „expose the unique dangers faced by bicyclists and pedestrians,‰ to decry the use of foreign oil and other forms of non-renewable energy and to promote a positive body image. phillynakedbikeride.org
September 10-12, 2010
THE LAURELS AT LANDHOPE. Hundreds of the best drivers from all over the world head to Landhope Farm to compete in this Fédération Equestre Internationale-sanctioned combined driving event, the fastest-growing equestrian sport in the country. (610) 486-6484, laurelscde.org
September 10-12, 2010
UNIVEST GRAND PRIX. Around 150 of the top men‚s professional cyclists from 16 countries compete in a 200-mile journey through scenic Montgomery and Bucks counties. This elite event is one of only 13 Union Cyclist International-ranked professional road cycling competitions for men in the country. On Saturday, there‚s a recreational 60-mile ride for hobbyists. (917) 902-0767, <http://univestgrandprix.com/>univestgrandprix.com
September 12, 2010
BIKE PHILLY. This family-friendly bike tour celebrates the freedom of car-free Philadelphia streets with 10- to 20-mile rides through historic neighborhoods and hidden corners of Fairmount Park, all cleared of vehicular traffic. Riders willing to share the roads with cars can bike up to 50 miles.
(215) BICYCLE, bicyclecoalition.org
September 18-20, 2010
RIVERFRONT RAMBLE. Delaware County towns along the Delaware River host a free festival to celebrate the heritage and contributions of the artery that helps the area thrive. The event has been expanded to fill a whole weekend with events including a canoe and kayak race. (610) 565-3679, brandywinecountry.org
September 19, 2010
ING ROCK N‚ ROLL PHILADELPHIA HALF MARATHON. The nation‚s premier half-marathon for more than a quarter century, the event formerly known as the Philadelphia Distance Run has gone rock n‚ roll. Joining a national series of marathons, the race now features a local band and high-school cheering squads at every mile and a post-race concert starring national acts like Everclear and Pat Benatar. The course, however, still starts and ends at Eakins Oval and takes runners past Independence Hall and many of the city‚s other famous sights. (800) 311-1255, philadelphia.competitor.com
September 25-26, 2010
BIKE MS: CITY TO SHORE RIDE. This popular charity ride brings 7,000 cyclists from the Philadelphia area through blueberry fields and the New Jersey Pine Barrens to the sweet smells of salt water taffy and ocean air in historic Ocean City, New Jersey. (800) 445-BIKE, mscycling.org
September 25, 2010
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY. Volunteers at Valley Forge National Historical Park remove trash and invasive plants, build trails and bridges and plant trees during the nation‚s largest hands-on public volunteer effort to clean up, build up and otherwise improve natural and recreational public lands. (610) 783-1065, nps.gov/vafo
September 26, 2010
PHILADELPHIA FALL CLASSIC RACE. Open to paddlers of all ages, this 10,000-meter canoe, kayak, outrigger and surfski race takes place on the Schuylkill River near rustic Wissahickon Creek.
(856) 468-4646, swanboat.org
October 2, 2010
5K RIVER CITY RUN. As part of the third annual River City Festival, the Fishtown Neighbors Association is sponsoring a brief run starting at Penn Treaty Park, continuing along the river to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, then returning to the park for the finish. rivercityfestival.org
October 2, 2010
PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL. More than 150 teams comprising 4,000 paddlers race fiberglass dragon boats, complete with heads and tails, on a 500-meter course on the Schuylkill River as 21,000 spectators cheer for their favorite colorful creature.
(610) 642-2333, philadragonboatfestival.com
October 30-31, 2010
THOMAS EAKINS HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL REGATTA. This 40th annual rowing event features college competitors on Saturday, high school students on Sunday and elite masters races held on both days. The 2.75-mile race attracts more than 6,000 competitors plus spectators from more than 30 states and outside the U.S. (888) 554-6665, hosr.org
November 6-7, 2010
LAKE NOCKAMIXON WHITEWATER RELEASE. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources releases water from Lake Nockamixon into Tohickon Creek. The bi-annual Bucks County event thrills whitewater enthusiasts, kayakers and canoeists.
(610) 982-5560, dcnr.state.pa.us
November 7, 2010
RUN THE BRIDGE. Drawing more than 4,000 runners, this two-mile stroll and 10-kilometer foot race back and forth across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge is the best-attended 10K run in the tri-state area. The race benefits the Larc School for disabled children. (856) 933-3725, runthebridge.org
November 19-21, 2010
PHILADELPHIA MARATHON. With a fast course that winds through the city‚s historic downtown, past the stunning Philadelphia Museum of Art and along scenic Boathouse Row, the marathon has been one of the country‚s premier running events since 1994. (215) 683-2122, philadelphiamarathon.com
For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to Hear Philly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.
Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Homeschoolers
Carnegie Museum of Natural History offers a variety of programs for homeschoolers. These classes enhance inquiry skills and deepen your child’s interest in science and their world. Academic standards for school-aged programs can be found on web site www.CarnegieMNH.org/doe/programs/homeschool.htm.
Events At Four Winds Gallery
In celebration of Charles King’s book Born of Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya and the exhibit of the same name at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Four Winds Gallery, 5512 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, will exhibit additional clay masterworks by Tafoya and her family. Kiowa jeweler Keri Ataumbi will also show her latest jewelry designs.
About Four Winds Gallery:
Established in 1974, Four Winds Gallery offers exceptional Southwestern Native American material. The Gallery's pieces encompass the finest historic items to works by today's most innovative contemporary artists such as Cody Sanderson and Shawn Bluejacket. The collection includes jewelry, pottery, weaving, sculpture, paintings, prints, folk art and photographs.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and Mondays between July 4 and the Monday before Labor Day, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and President’s Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to both Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $11 for children ages 3–18 and full-time students with ID, and free to children under 3 and Carnegie Museums members. Convenient visitor parking is available in the museum’s six-level garage at Forbes Avenue and S. Craig Street. For more information, please visit www.carnegiemnh.org or call (412) 622-3131.
The King of the Dinosaurs at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Final Phase of Dinosaurs in Their Time
Carnegie Museum of Natural History has completed Dinosaurs in Their Time and the return of one of its most famous dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex, with the opening of the exhibit’s second and final phase. In order to accommodate the expected crowds, the museum will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The first phase of Dinosaurs in Their Time—the premier dinosaur exhibit in the world to immerse visitors in the environments in which dinosaurs lived, surrounded by scientifically accurate re-creations of the Earth’s Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods—opened to the public in November 2007. The June opening of the final phase will complete the three-year, $36 million project that renovated and expanded the museum’s former Dinosaur Hall and now features the third largest collection of real mounted dinosaurs in the country.
“The dinosaurs at Carnegie Museum of Natural History have been some of Pittsburgh’s most beloved icons for more than a century. It is thrilling to think that this project’s completion presents us with a modern, updated exhibition ready for another century of educating and captivating dinosaur lovers of all ages,” said Dr. Samuel Taylor, Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
T. rex returns to the museum, but is not alone. In one of the most dramatic paleontological displays ever constructed, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s original T. rex is joined by a second T. rex, with the two frozen in a confrontation over the remains of an Edmontosaurus. This new display not only reflects the most current scientific thinking on Tyrannosaurus but also conveys its historical and cultural significance as one of the world’s most popular and thrilling dinosaurs.
“Nowhere else in the world will you be able to see a display quite like this,” said Dr. Matthew Lamanna, the museum’s Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, principal dinosaur researcher, and lead scientific advisor for Dinosaurs in Their Time. “These two T. rex, each longer than a bus and weighing as much as an elephant, are posed as if about to do serious damage to each other. People will see T. rex as it really was: a gigantic, formidable carnivore that often didn’t get along with others of its own kind. But when visitors see this display, we hope they will think about this singular animal and really use their imaginations. Was T. rex a scavenger, a hunter, or both? Which of them will win this fight and take the spoils? Will both survive the battle?”
The museum’s Tyrannosaurus rex has been part of the collection since 1941when it was purchased from American Museum of Natural History for $7,000. This T. rex has the unique distinction of being the holotype, or name-bearing specimen, of its species. This means that the museum’s skeleton is the original specimen by which the species is and forever will be defined. By definition, when other potential T. rex specimens are discovered, they must first be compared to the skeleton at Carnegie Museum of Natural History to ensure that they actually pertain to this species. In short, the museum’s mounted skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex is the world’s first specimen of the world’s most famous dinosaur.
In addition to the two “battling” Tyrannosaurus skeletons, the exhibit also features important parts of other real T. rex specimens: the real lower jaw of a third adult T. rex specimen that has been tucked away in the museum’s fossil collection for over a century and a cast of the snout of a very rare baby T. rex. The museum also exhibits in the entrance hallway near the Natural History store, a mounted cast skeleton of the teenage Tyrannosaurus “Jane.” Add to these another cast adult skeleton of T. rex displayed at Pittsburgh International Airport, and the Steel City becomes one of the world’s greatest destinations for fans of this iconic dinosaur.
T. rex vs. T. rex is presented by Dollar Bank.
“Dollar Bank is a proud partner with Carnegie Museum of Natural History and we are thrilled to bring the world’s most famous dinosaur back to Pittsburgh,” said Robert P. Oeler, President and CEO of Dollar Bank. “This is exhibit will delight both adults and children and Dollar Bank is proud to be a part of it.”
Much of Phase Two of Dinosaurs in Their Time will recreate the ancient ecosystem of the Hell Creek Formation, which existed about 68–66 million years ago in parts of what are now Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.
The Hell Creek environment was one of the last dinosaur strongholds in North America, a bustling hub of ancient activity. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s recreation of this environment reveals ancient flowering plants, amphibians, turtles, lizards, crocodiles, mammals, and even the soaring pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus with its 36-foot wingspan. Notable Hell Creek dinosaurs from the museum’s collection include the duckbilled herbivore Edmontosaurus, the three-horned Triceratops, the thick-skulled Pachycephalosaurus, the strange oviraptorosaur, and the king of the dinosaurs: Tyrannosaurus rex.
About Dinosaurs in Their Time
Dinosaurs in Their Time is the first permanent exhibit in the world to feature scientifically accurate, immersive, and detailed reconstructions of environments spanning the breadth of the Mesozoic Era—the Age of Dinosaurs, from 251 million years ago to 66 million years ago—arranged in chronological order and filled with actively and accurately posed real fossil specimens.
Phase One opened in November 2007, featuring reconstructed land environments from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Early Cretaceous periods, as well as a marine ecosystem from the Late Cretaceous. Phase Two completes the exhibit by recreating a terrestrial habitat from near the end of the Age of Dinosaurs, the Late Cretaceous.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime thrill to see this project come to completion,” said Dr. Lamanna. “Dozens of talented people have poured their heart and soul into this project, knowing that it could be—and I think is—among the best dinosaur exhibits in the world.”
Phase Two adds six mounted dinosaur skeletons to Dinosaurs in Their Time, bringing the total number of dinosaurs on display in the 18,600 square foot exhibit to 19. The former Dinosaur Hall covered 5,000 square feet and featured 10 dinosaur skeletons in classic, but scientifically obsolete poses.
Just as in Phase One, visitors will notice that the dinosaurs in Phase Two have undergone dramatic changes. In 2005, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s original T. rex skeleton was dismantled and its bones transported to Phil Fraley Productions’ studio in Paterson, New Jersey where they were cleaned, restored, and re-mounted on a new, custom-fabricated steel armature.
The Tyrannosaurus has been repositioned in a dynamic new, scientifically accurate pose that strongly contrasts the upright, kangaroo-like position in which it stood for over six decades. Now its back is held nearly horizontal, its tail elevated and curved to its left, and its jaws frozen in mid-roar, guarding a carcass of the plant-eating dinosaur Edmontosaurus.
Another Phase Two newcomer is Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s mounted skeleton of Triceratops. Previously, the museum had exhibited only its real fossil skull of this celebrated three-horned plant-eater. Earlier this year, however, the museum obtained a skeletal cast of a Triceratops body in order to transform its isolated skull into an engaging mounted skeleton.
Phase Two also features an enormous wall mural that depicts the environment of the Hell Creek Formation, immersing the visitor in the lush flora and fascinating fauna of this habitat. The mural, completed by Walters and Kissinger, a Philadelphia-based art and graphic design firm known for their recreations of Mesozoic life, contains a Pachycephalosaurus, a herd of four Edmontosaurus, two Triceratops, an oviraptorosaur, an extinct turtle, the archaic bird Avisaurus, the badger-sized marsupial mammal Didelphodon, and a variety of plants—including a diversity of early flowers.
In addition to its recreation of the Hell Creek ecosystem and its dinosaurs, Phase Two also features a rotating exhibit entitled “Fossil Frontiers.” This exhibit will highlight cutting-edge paleontological research conducted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s staff. It debuts with a display on research by two vertebrate paleontologists, curator Dr. David Berman and collection manager Amy Henrici, on 300 million-year-old amphibians and reptiles from fossil quarries in Germany.
A final feature of Phase Two of Dinosaurs in Their Time is an exhibit on the evolution of the spectacular ceratopsians, or horned dinosaurs. After colonizing North America at least 100 million years ago, ceratopsians diversified, producing dozens of species that sport an amazing variety of skull shapes. This exhibit showcases cast skulls of four horned dinosaurs (Torosaurus, Zuniceratops, Pachyrhinosaurus, and a new species from Utah), the last three of which will be new additions to the museum.
Impact of Dinosaurs in Their Time
Since the opening of Phase One of Dinosaurs in Their Time in November 2007, Carnegie Museum of Natural History has welcomed thousands of visitors and new members. The following is a brief sketch of how admissions and memberships have increased after the opening of the first phase of the exhibit:
· During the weekend after Thanksgiving 2007, a record 12,985 persons visited the Oakland museums. The previous Thanksgiving weekend record was set in 1999, with 8,295 visitors.
· Onsite museum membership sales increased by 67 percent in November 2007 and 126 percent in December, in comparison to the same time periods in 2006.
When the new T. rex display opens, the museum will have capacity for nearly 1,000 visitors per hour through Dinosaurs in Their Time. Because of the extra capacity, advance timed tickets will not be required.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and Mondays between July 4 and the Monday before Labor Day, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and President’s Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $11 for children ages 3–18 and full-time students with ID, and free to children under 3 and Carnegie Museums members. Convenient visitor parking is available in the museum’s six-level garage at Forbes Avenue and S. Craig Street. For more information, please visit www.carnegiemnh.org or call (412) 622-3131.
History of the Collection
Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s spectacular fossil collection is largely credited to Andrew Carnegie’s fascination with dinosaurs, which inspired him to finance paleontological digs in several western states for more than two decades.
In late 1898, while in his New York apartment, Carnegie read an article in the New York Journal and Advertiser announcing the “Most Colossal Animal Ever on Earth Just Found Out West!” The accompanying illustration showed a gigantic, stylized, long-necked sauropod dinosaur standing on its hind legs and peering into the uppermost window of the New York Metropolitan Life building.
Struck by this amazing discovery, Carnegie ripped the article from the newspaper and jotted a hurried note to Carnegie Museum director William J. Holland that read, “Dear Chancellor, Buy this for Pittsburgh.” Carnegie immediately sent the note and article off to Holland, along with a check for $10,000. Financed by Carnegie, Holland assembled an expert team of fossil hunters and sent them west to find a dinosaur.
In July 1899, Carnegie’s team started work in Sheep Creek, Wyoming—about 30 miles from where the “Colossal Creature” had originally been found. The Sheep Creek area featured outcrops of the Morrison Formation—a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic-aged sedimentary rocks that is found in the western United States and Canada. The Morrison is most fertile source of dinosaur fossils in North America.
On July 4, 1899, Carnegie’s team hit pay dirt, discovering the first bones of what would prove to be one of the most complete sauropod dinosaurs ever discovered. It was soon clear that the find was exactly what Carnegie wanted for Pittsburgh. Dubbed Diplodocus carnegii in Carnegie’s honor, the skeleton measured 84 feet long. At the time, it was the longest animal known to have ever walked the Earth.
By the early 1900s, Carnegie’s paleontologists were shipping trainloads of spectacular fossils back to Pittsburgh from quarries in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, and, most notably, Utah. There, museum paleontologist Earl Douglass discovered an extraordinary dinosaur quarry in rocks of the Morrison Formation exposed on the state’s northeastern edge. That quarry, still the greatest Jurassic dinosaur site ever discovered, is known today as Dinosaur National Monument. Among other specimens, it produced the museum’s mounted skeletons of Camarasaurus lentus, Allosaurus fragilis, Dryosaurus altus, Stegosaurus armatus, Camptosaurus sp., and Apatosaurus louisae. Ultimately, approximately 20 mountable skeletons belonging to 10 different dinosaur species were discovered there, as well as many isolated bones and partial skeletons. More than 700,000 pounds of fossils were shipped to Pittsburgh from Douglass’ site. TCarnegie Museum of Natural History’s Dinosaurs in Their Time o allow visitors to bypass lines at the admissions desk, the museum offers advance ticket sales online at www.carnegieonline.org/cmnh/.
Pocono Mountains
Table Games Debut in the Pocono Mountains - Mount Airy Casino Resort Embraces the New Addition
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) has announced the debut of table games in the four-county region today. The area's only casino, Mount Airy Casino Resort, welcomed the arrival with a ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce 74 varied table games. The Pocono Mountains forecast a wave of curious guests from the surrounding regions, as well as the local community, to come experience the region‚s latest attraction.
On the main gaming floor, players planning to gamble at Mount Airy Casino Resort can now play 46 table games including craps, roulette, blackjack and poker. The resort also opened a new Poker Room which offers 'Let it Ride', three-card, seven-card stud, Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Pai Gow and standard poker. An additional Asian-themed room holds the remaining 17 tables with baccarat, Pai Gow tiles, poker and blackjack. Staffers in this room are fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as 12 other dialects.
When the re-invented Mount Airy Casino Resort opened their doors in 2007, table games were in their hopeful future. On April 7, 2010, the Pennsylvania Gaming Board approved the petition, which also gave way to move forward with plans for the resort in the upcoming year including 200 more hotel rooms, expansions to their conference facilities, several new businesses, a possible second hotel and concert arena. The 188-room resort is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania‚s only casino hotel currently in operation.
About the Pocono Mountains
With 2,400 square miles encompassing Pennsylvania's Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, the Pocono Mountains region is home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands and 170 miles of winding rivers. Winters offer guests the opportunity to ski, snowboard, snow tube and even snowshoe their way through snowy wonderlands encompassing over 163 ski trails, while summers also cater to the active traveler allowing exploration of 261miles of hiking and biking trails, over 35 golf courses, whitewater rafting, boating, fishing and open access to nine state and two national parks.
Any time of year is a good time to visit the Pocono Mountains, located within driving distance of most major East Coast cities. This region teeming with history offers year-round cultural tours and art exhibitions, abundant antiquing and brand-name shopping and a full calendar of festivals showcasing the heritage, music and food of the Pocono Mountains. Even the most discerning traveler will find comfortable accommodations in the Pocono Mountains, which offers an eclectic mix of resorts, distinctive properties and quaint, country inns and bed and breakfasts.
Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at www.800poconos.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667). Follow PoconoTourism>@PoconoTourism on Twitter to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit, membership organization. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.
2010 Pocono Mountains “Skiing Guide and Map”
Now available free of charge by calling 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667) or by ordering online from web site www.800poconos.com. The brochure is a one-stop source for planning a ski and stay trip to the Pocono Mountains.
The “Skiing Guide and Map” gives descriptions of seven major ski areas and one resort tubing park in the region including Alpine Mountain Ski & Ride Center, Big Boulder Ski Area, Blue Mountain Ski Area, Camelback, Jack Frost Mountain, Shawnee Mountain, Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain and Fernwood Hotel & Resort Winter Fun Center. There are listings for accommodations, attractions and restaurants, so visitors can make the most of their trip to the Pocono Mountains. A map pinpointing the ski areas and resort tubing park is also included.
The guide provides information on the region’s premier ski, ride and stay web site featuring comprehensive ski-related information. Site visitors can view special ski & stay packages as well as ski conditions at web site www.poconoski.com.
Comprehensive Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at web site www.800poconos.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667). The Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Pocono Mountains’ Ski Areas
From upgrades and new facilities to technologically advanced grooming equipment, fully-stocked rental shops and better trails, the Pocono Mountains’ ski areas are offering winter visitors a new and thrilling winter recreational experience. The following list gives visitors an insight to what is new at Pocono Mountains’ ski areas for the 2006-07 season:
Alpine Mountain Ski & Ride Center -
in Analomink, has gone through major upgrades for this winter season. Upgrades included adding state of the art tower mounted snow guns, maximizing snowmaking capabilities and producing outstanding snow. Alpine’s rental shop has been re-stocked and upgraded with the latest equipment from Élan, Salomon and Vans. Snowboarders’ Haven has again been improved to include two additional terrain parks. The new design, along with new grooming equipment, Alpine’s 400’ long redesigned and reshaped Half-Pipe is now a snowboarder’s delight. The new freestyle terrain parks have added rails, boxes and a whole selection of challenges. Along with Rainbow Rails, Kink Rail, Battleship Rail, a gnarly 15’ long single Barrel C-Rail and custom boxes from 6-12 feet will provide riders with awesome tricks and runs.
Blue Mountain Ski Area, in Palmerton -
will be making history in the Pocono Mountains as the first ski area with a new high speed detachable Six Passenger Lift that has replaced the Challenge Chair. Other new features include a 2,400 foot addition to the Valley Lodge offering more seating and a larger parking lot. The upper portion of Sidewinder Park has been widened for the installation of new snowmaking, as well as on nearby Tut’s Lane. A new Piston Bully Park Groomer has been purchased to continue shaping a mountain with terrain for all abilities and grooming with the largest grooming fleet in the area. In the rental shops, 800 pairs of Salomon and Head skis were added. In addition, Blue Mountain purchased 600 pairs of new ski boots plus 1,000 pairs of Flow snowboard bindings for the Valley Lodge. When entering both lodges, visitors will notice many improvements, including high speed wireless Internet access. Combined improvements total over five million dollars in upgrades throughout the mountain.
Camelback, in Tannersville -
is continuing its commitment to its terrain parks and Half-Pipe. The ski area is participating in the Burton Progression Park Program, requiring both a learning and an advanced park. The Laurel Glade Park has been re-configured as a learning park and Rhododendron Glen has been widened by over 70 feet to accommodate new rails and features in the advanced park. To accompany the terrain park improvements is the Zaugg Groomer – sure to keep the Half-Pipes competition ready. Also new for this winter is the introduction of the Explorer Card and Junior Nights Only Pass.
Jack Frost Mountain, in Blakeslee and Big Boulder Ski Area -
in Lake Harmony, (JFBB) offer new features for this winter season including 150 SMI guns, nine pumps between both ski areas, five terrain parks with 30 new box and rail features, as well as the Pisten Bully Edge and 10,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe. A 600 foot conveyor lift, 400 new single tubes and 2.25 hour sessions, give snow tubing a new edge. Improvements allow for each tuber to have their own tube. Both main lodges have been designated as smoke-free and equipped with free wireless Internet service. In addition, new rental equipment has been purchased for the newest rental system from Head/Tyrolia and the strap-in binding system from Rossignol Snowboards. Also new this year, JFBB offers debit cards that can be used to purchase everything from snopasses to food and retail items, which also make great gifts. Both mountains will feature a variety of midweek specials including Military Appreciation Week, Family Night, Civil Service Mondays, College Days, Ladies Night, Learn to Ski Days, Midnight Madness and much more.
Shawnee Mountain, in Shawnee on Delaware -
features the New SKIwee Bowl Teaching Area, an exclusive contoured teaching terrain featuring two 70’ carpet lifts, colorful teaching aides, permanent fencing and automated snowmaking. Complementing Shawnee’s huge 3000’ Bushkill Super Park, the new Incubator Terrain Park offers beginner/novice skill level rails, boxes and snow features. The terrain park serves as a learning area for those riders and skiers not yet at a comfortable skill level to challenge the Bushkill Park. Shawnee’s Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park added a limited number of two person snow tubes able to accommodate one adult and one small child in the same snow tube. Totally replacing paper gift certificates and eliminating the need to carry cash, the new prepaid debit cards will be accepted at all Shawnee Mountain points of sale, including ticketing, lessons, food and beverage stations and the Shawnee Ski Shop.
Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain -
in Lackawaxen, introduces its brand new lodge with restaurant, food court and bar. In addition, a new magic carpet lift has been added to the beginner hill. Other improvements include new rental equipment and additional snowmaking guns.
Snow lovers can call the Pocono Mountains’ 24-hour snow info hotline at 570-421-5565 or go online to web site www.poconoski.com for information on ski areas, ski & stay packages, ski conditions, snowboarding, snow tubing and cross-country skiing. Comprehensive Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at web site www.800poconos.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667). The Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Comprehensive Pocono Mountains visitor information is available by calling 800-762-6667 or online at web site www.800poconos.com. The Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Skytop
Skytop Lodge earns a hole in one: Northeast Golf readers name course “Best Golf and Spa Resort” and “Best Overall Course”
Adding to the honors Skytop Lodge has received — including a four-and-a-half star rating from Golf Digest — the readers of The Best of Northeast Golf just named the golf course on the grounds one of the “Best Golf Course and Spa” and a “Best Overall Course. More than 1.2 million golfers participated in the survey of every golf course in the region, from Vermont to New Jersey.
Imagine playing a round on an 18-hole championship course rated among the finest in the country in the bucolic setting of the Pocono Mountains. Our course from the back tees measures 6,656 yards with a slope rating of 133, and forward tees 5,789, and is sloped at a 122 rating. “Skytop continues to have the highest rated golf course in Pennsylvania and there have been numerous improvements,” said Ed Mayotte, president and general manager of Skytop Lodge. He pointed to the landscaped green on hole 8 and Brian Boyle’s golf school as highlights to the golfing experience at Skytop.
Customer service is also a priority, something that sets Skytop apart from other course, said PGA head golf professional Brian Boyle. “I think it’s the entire golf experience, from the course to the high standard of service that keeps people coming back,” Boyle said. “We’ve stood the test of time.”
Located at the top of a mountain in Pennsylvania’s Poconos, Skytop Lodge is barely 100 miles from New York and Philadelphia, but to any visitor it seems worlds away. From the first sight of the 5,500-acre estate, when it reveals itself at the end of a winding country road, Skytop takes guests to a world less complicated, reminiscent of the genteel era when it was built. With 5,200 acres of preserved land and countless amenities that make the most of the natural surroundings, the resort has been an escape for consecutive generations of families, as well as a refuge for businesses seeking the optimal environment for productive meetings and corporate retreats.
A Skytop Golf Getaway includes all golf and greens fees, including a shared golf cart for 18 holes, per night stay. This package also includes golf club storage, three meals per day with lunch at the Golf Deli if you prefer. Boyle also offers golf schools for all levels in two-day courses, and hour-long clinics for adults and juniors.
The 18-hole championship course was designed by the first president of the Professional Golfers’ Association, Robert White.
Skytop Lodge is located at One Skytop, Skytop, PA. Call 800.345.7759 for reservations or visit www.skytop.com.
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