Things to do near the poconos

Things to do in the Lehigh Valley, and surrounding areas:

YOU MUST:

• See at least one covered bridge
• Eat Italian food
• Visit the Moravian Bookstore
• Drink a yuengling!
• Eat a Philly Cheesesteak

Outdoors:

• Whitewater rafting:
• Whitewater rafting adventures, inc.
• Nesquehoning, PA
• 1.800.876.0285
• Bushkill Falls:
• A place even I'm willing to hike! No, really… for the name alone.
• Rt. 209 in Bushkill, PA
• Erik and I went during Fall of 2009. We did what they called it a moderate "hike." Erik was quick to point out, that grocery shopping in San Francisco was more strenuous. They do have longer hikes though…
• Hawk Mountain
• Near my house!
• www.hawkmountain.com
• I've heard great things… but have never been there (please don't tell my mother that, though)
• ATV rentals
• Please please be careful if you do any of the ATV stuff… lots of coal mines to fall into!
• Actually… never mind. I'm not providing that info.
• Bertil Roos
• Racing school!
• "we provide instruction, racecars, racetracks, driving suits and helmets. Drivers only need experience driving a standard shift, sneakers and a pair of gloves"

Historic Stuff:

• Honesdale Railroad
• "birthplace of Americas railroad"
• near Lake Wallenpaupack
• Moravian Bookstore

Casino:

• Sands Casino will most likely be open by Oct.
• It is located on the site of the old Bethlehem Steel.
• Kind of controversial… I mean, historic site turned gambling establishment…
• Mt. Airy Casino
• It's a casino… I don't have much else to say.
• Been there once, lost 20 bucks
• www.mountairycasino.com

Indoors:

• Yuengling Brewery
• Americas oldest brewery!
• 5th & Mahantongo Streets
  Pottsville, PA 17901
  (570) 628-4890
• http://www.yuengling.com
• closed on Sundays
• Crayola Factory
• Easton PA
• Pez Factory
• Across the street from the Crayola factory, and a whole lot tastier!

Depending on how long you stay:

• Oct. 10-11 is the Fall Foliage Festival
• Bedford, PA
• http://www.bedfordfallfestival.com/
• Not allowed to go on the 10^th. J
• Oct 16-18 is the Black Bear Film Festival
• Milford, PA
• http://www.blackbearfilm.com/

Other Links to check out:

o Jim Thorpe… the cutest little town!

o http://www.jimthorpe.org/index.html

"the place"

I took Erik to visit Burnside, and I couldn't help but snap a few pictures. I know that I SHOULD leave it a surprise, but I'm so very excited! So, I figured I'd show one...

Oct. 10th 2009

The date is set! Oct. 10th, 2009! There are no pictures of the event space, you will have to be surprised. I will tell you though, that everyone will love it! It's an 1800's plantation located in Bethlehem, PA. The wedding will be a simple affair. Prepare to spend the day enjoying this historical site, outdoor activities, and a barn dance.

Another Barn

This one is in Lancaster, about an hour and a half drive from here. We didn't get there until after the sun set, so I don't really have pictures of the grounds. But, to sum things up... Mike loves it, but I'm on the fence about it. Unfortunately, we don't have much time to decide as the day we want is also wanted by the foundation that actually owns the barn... so, the caretaker of the property has to have an answer quickly... if any of that makes since.

I took a couple pictures, and please feel free to check out the website.

http://www.rockfordplantation.org/weddings.htm

a possibility

This is a place Mike and I looked at as a possible place for the wedding. I absolutely love it, but he's not nearly as sold. It's a privately owned property located on 18 acres of protected wetlands. about 3 acres are landscaped, so we could have the ceremony right there. As for the ceremony, it is a restored 1850's barn.

The ring is back!

I got the ring back from the jewelers today! It has been re-sized and now fits! Yippie!

photography!

Alright, my first wedding plan is made! Candace, a good friend I met while working at Ritz in Elk Grove, has agreed to be my wedding photographer!

I couldn't be happier, seeing that this means not only will I have an AMAZING photographer... but also it guarantees she will be there!