Winter is Wonderful in the Poconos

I think it is safe to say that if you live in the Northeast, more specifically, in a rural area like the Pocono Mountains, you must resolve yourself to deal with a hearty winter season. I've heard many people who live around these parts (or in nearby New York and New Jersey) say that they hate the winter and plan to move where there is no such thing someday. This is not so easily done by most, with their livelihoods, family and friends preventing them from moving to warmer climates. I happen to love and appreciate all four seasons , so I don't believe that I can do without any of them completely. Perhaps it would be nice to have a shorter winter season, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon (or ever for th

at matter) here in the Poconos. I haven't skied since high school and have become quite nervous about trying it again although the thought has crossed my mind lately. Maybe if I just stay on the "little slopes" I might be able to overcome my fear, but there is always snow tubing, which I really do enjoy. I live right in the heart of "the tourist area", where Camelback ski mountain, Camelbeach waterpark and soon to be Camelbeach indoor water park will be, Mt. Airy Casino and the Crossings Factory Outlets are located. It might seem strange, but our vacation home is just 25 minutes Northwest, in Lake Harmony. That community is where we found we could take just a short drive and partake in completely different types of activities that aren't right here in town. Lake Harmony is one of the few lakes that allows gas powered vehicles, which nets quite a lively summertime scene, but even more special, a fabulous winter one. People ice fish and ride their snowmobiles around this 150 acre lake as soon as it freezes over. Seeing this for the first time was truly magical, right out of a movie scene. Yesterday, I was confident enough in the fact that the lake was rock solid ice, that I took my son out for a walk on it. I could have stayed there all day. It was like no other setting or feeling I've ever had in winter, a new found wonder of the winter wonderland I live in. If you have never walked out on a frozen lake, I highly recommend it!