As I write this blog, I can’t believe I am writing about the last trip of the summer of 2023. Every year right before school starts up again for our children, my wife and I like to take our family on one last summer trip. It is usually a quick mini trip after the children’s summer camp and before school starts. This year, my sister Amy and brother-in-law, Jay, were nice enough to let us use their house in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania for a couple of days. They have a house right on a lake in the small community on Lake Naomi.
When I think of spending time in the Pocono Mountains, I imagine just this time of year, cool summer days at the end of August. The water was warm just the same as the air. The sun was shining but not beating us down like the middle of July. The days were simply perfect. There was plenty of shade with just the right amount of sun and clouds in the sky. We had a canoe, a couple of kayaks and a couple of paddle boards at our disposal.
My son bounced from using the kayaks to coming in the canoe with my wife and me. At times, my teenage daughter even came on the canoe with us. At one point, I even got her to go with my son in the canoe. My son and I tried the paddle boards. They are certainly harder than they look, especially for this “old” dad’s lack of balance. I had been on them once before when I was up there previously, so I knew what I was getting myself into, but I took on the challenge anyway. I do not remember my daughter laughing harderin her life than when I fell off. She said she could see me trying so hard not to fall, but then I went down, only to hear my wife yell from the deck of the house, “Did you get it on video?” Thank goodness there was no evidence of me falling off! Just my daughter laughing and me in the lake!
One afternoon we took a short break from the lake and found a place where we could race go-karts around a track, so my son, daughter and I took them for a spin. It was fun as we all raced to be first. They also had an area where we shot paint balls at some targets. Quite honestly, I think we would rather have spent more time at the lake, but it was a nice break nonetheless.
One evening we drove over to a local little restaurant/bar called Sarah Street Grill, which calls itself “The Pocono’s One Stop for Delicious Food and Great Original Music” and is located in downtown Stroudsburg, in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. It was a little bit of a drive, but we had been there before and liked the food and the selection, so we took the 20-minute drive. We opted to eat outside on top of the rooftop deck. We had a couple of appetizers, salads, burgers, steaks and pasta dishes. Everything was great. They have live music inside.
The rest of the evening we sat around, soaked in the hot tub, played Pictionary and card games. We never made it down to the beach for a bonfire. Ah, well, I guess there is always next year! I miss the summer days already but have the warm memories to last us through the winter months. Looking forward to our next adventure . . .
— Eli R. Shapiro, director of sales
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Nov 21, 2024Hotel Saint Augustine to Open in Houston’s Museum District Neighborhood
Hotel Saint Augustine, expected to open in Houston this December, is a design-savvy boutique hotel from Austin-based hospitality group Bunkhouse.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
November 2024
Nov 21, 2024Immerse in an Invigorating Thermal Journey at Scandinave Spa Whistler
The glittering green pines and burst of jasmine lake beyond almost made me forget about the aches in my legs that slowly developed after the promised hour-long hike ran into the third hour. And, oh, there were my hips, showing up to remind me I was no longer in my 20s. I didn’t mind, though, because the vision that surrounded me during our guided walk through Garibaldi Park to Cheakamus Lake in Whistler, British Columbia, with Mountain Skills Academy and Adventures proved worthy of a thousand postcards.
Daily
Nov 21, 20245 Can’t-Miss Black Friday, Cyber Monday Hotel Deals
Plan to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Add these deals from hotels around the country to your shopping list.
Sponsored Content
Pick Your Paradise: Experience Bali at 3 Incredible Hotels
Bali is a name synonymous with island bliss. But there is more than just one side to this incredible place. Get a sense for the variety of experiences Bali offers by learning about three hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with distinctive opportunities for adventure and relaxation. With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card, earn points for free nights at each of these properties.
Daily
Nov 21, 2024Belmond Unveils First Luxury Sleeper Train in England and Wales
The first luxury sleeper train officially debuts in England and Wales next July thanks to the new Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train. This pioneering train seamlessly blends timeless rail heritage with contemporary British cuisine, culture and style. Guests will enjoy fine-dining experiences designed by Chef Simon Rogan and an on-board wellness suite offering therapies to relax and revive.
Château des Fleurs Review
eFlyer Reviews
Nov 20, 2024Save Up to 50 Percent Off HX Expeditions
eFlyer Deals
Nov 20, 2024eFlyer Deals
Nov 20, 2024Xanterra Launches Thankful for Travel Sale
Xanterra Travel Collection’s Thankful for Travel Sale is finally here! This travel company’s sale, through Dec. 2, offers the biggest savings on national park stays, yacht-style cruises, historic train rides, legendary resorts, and walking and biking tours.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines First to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel for ORD
Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.
eFlyer News
Nov 20, 2024Orient Express Reveals World’s Largest Sailing Yacht
Orient Express just unveiled the design of its first yacht and the world’s largest sailing yacht, Orient Express Corinthian. Set to hit the waves in summer 2026, this yacht will sail across the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Caribbean.
ShareThis