SPRING RENEWAL PACKAGES, HEALTHY cooking lessons

POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA, April 2, 2008 – One of America’s most popular 2008 resolution was to “develop healthy habits,”^* and the Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania offers opportunities for visitors to make good on that goal this spring.  The region is providing a variety of “spring cleaning” packages and cooking lessons with the goal of creating and maintaining a healthy psyche, body and soul.  The 2,400-square-mile region already offers instant stress-relieving qualities with its rolling mountain terrain; however, local properties will augment nature’s inherent healthiness with the following:

PACKAGES

Skytop Lodge – Deep Cleansing and Renewal Package

Skytop Lodge’s 5,500-acre estate, surrounded by mountain ranges, a serene 75-acre lake, streams and waterfalls, will cleanse the mind, body and spirit this spring with its Renew Package.  Guests will seek mental and physical harmony through Qigong, Yoga on the Move, Deep Water Yogalettes, Ying-Yang Medical Qigong, Tai-Chi or Skytop's drum circle, which uses Tomboras, Latin drums, Djembe, African drums and Native American drums; stroll through on-site gardens with Skytop's in-house floral designers to pick posies for their room; and enjoy meals in the Windsor Dining Room and Lake View Restaurant, offering a wide variety of healthy options, from housemade granola and locally sourced produce to hydroponic vegetables and herbs from Skytop’s own cutting garden.  Package starts from $302.50 per night, based on double occupancy; includes all meals, afternoon tea and above activities.  Activities may change; taxes and service charges not included.  Valid through December 31, 2008.   Visit www.skytop.com or call 800-345-7759 for details.

The Settlers Inn at Bingham Park – Sustainable Dining, Spa Pampering Package

Situated in the Delaware Highlands, the Settlers Inn is an ideal starting point for hikes with splendid views, including Shuman Point, the Ledgedale Area on Lake Wallenpaupack and Promised Land State Park.  This spring the Settlers Inn will offer its “A Day at the Spa, a Night at the Inn” package to highlight the on-site restaurant’s devotion to sustainable dining, including locally sourced ingredients, pasture-raised poultry and house baked breads using organic flours.  The package includes a choice of two 30-minute spa services at the Utopia Day Spa (located minutes from the Inn), dinner at the Inn’s farm-to-table restaurant featuring menu selections highlighting the season, and overnight accommodations.  Prices start at $370 (based on double occupancy); valid through December 31, 2008.  Visit www.thesettlersinn.com or call 800-833-8527 for details.

Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort – River Adventures and Eating for Wellness

Adventure lovers seeking to jump-start a healthy spring can raft, canoe or kayak on the Delaware River and enjoy a picnic lunch with Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort’s spring package.  Guests can take advantage of three new health and wellness-focused on-site amenities: the River Room, offering dishes uniquely native to the area such as venison steak and wild boar chops; The Bistro, a seasonal restaurant with optional al fresco dining; and Spa Shawnee, currently in the process of creating a spa dining menu to complement the massage and hydrotherapy treatments already offered.  The package includes canoe, picnic lunch, overnight accommodations, $30 credit per person for dinner in the River Room, breakfast, taxes and resort fees.  Rates start at $150 per person, midweek and $191 per person, weekend; based on double occupancy.  Youth ages 12-17 are $87 and children five-11 are $62.  Reservations required; available April 25 – October 12, 2008.  Visit www.shawneeinn.com or call 800-SHAWNEE for details.

COOKING CLASSES

Chef Alice Cooking – Big Taste, Small Waist

Chef Alice Colin moved from Florida to the Pocono Mountains to pursue her love of teaching cooking, and now hosts classes out of her home’s beautiful professional kitchen.  Big Taste, Small Waist instructs “chefs” both amateur and experienced that there is no need to sacrifice flavor for calories.  Participants will prepare a three-course menu from the best ingredients and the freshest seasonal produce.  All recipes include nutritional information.  Classes offered April 26 and May 24; later dates TBD.  Visit www.chefalicecooking.com or call 570-856-6525 for details.

* According to a survey by FranklinCovey, a global leader in effectiveness training, productivity tools, and assessment services.  Data is based on its third annual New Year's Resolutions Survey polling 15,031 customers.

# # #

[Back to Press Releases Main]