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Fall Specials in the Pocono Mountains | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

Keep up-to-date with all things Woodloch on our blog featuring exclusive recipes, heartwarming stories, lifestyle content, contests and more.

Top 3 Fall Specials at Woodloch Resort

Summer came and left without warning, as Richard Marx so eloquently put it back in 1987. But don’t fret because autumn’s peak is just around the corner! The Pocono Mountains remain one of North America’s most desired autumn vacation destinations because the region’s lush towering forestry transforms into an awe-inspiring blend of crimson, marigold, amber, and kelly green. “Leaf peepers” from across the East Coast flock into Northeastern Pennsylvania to capture the vibrant fall foliage and visit the number one family resort in the country, according to USA Today. Woodloch Resort, located in peaceful Hawley, PA, has a wide range of all-inclusive fall specials that help families save bundles.

The 3 Best Fall Specials

As one of the best fall vacations in the U.S., we’re continuously enhancing the overall guest experience here at Woodloch Resort. To ensure that your family has the time of their lives this autumn, we’ve compiled three of our favorite fall specials. These three fall break ideas range from playfully spooky to exuberantly festive.

Spooktacular Midweeks

We’ve become well known for our “spooktacular” month of October where little ghosts, ghouls, and superheroes can enjoy scarecrow-building contests, Halloween parades, haunted hayrides, and dozens more quintessential fall activities for kids. Spooktacular Midweeks are, without a doubt, one of our most popular fall specials as families can save a ton on a well-deserved autumn vacation. Yes, the kiddos can paint pumpkins, enter costume contests, and hop aboard a truck-drawn wagon, but don’t forget about our many popular amenities, such as archery, go-karting, and rock climbing.

Autumn Midweeks

Whereas Spooktacular Midweeks are centered around Halloween, Autumn Midweek themes depend on the specific dates of your arrival. These fall specials, depending upon the week, could focus on good, old-fashioned, family fun, vibrant foliage, Halloween, and even Christmas! Children six and under are free while anyone between the ages of seven and 19 is 50% off. There will be plenty of pumpkin painting, leaf stomping, and gingerbread wars, but don’t forget that we also offer year-round entertainment, such as live music and Broadway-style shows.

Holidays

Yes, we celebrate Christmas a month early here at Woodloch Resort, but we’re strictly talking about Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, and Thanksgiving here. All three of these annual holidays are quite popular amongst our returning guests from the New York metropolitan area. Families typically stay three or four days here around these holiday periods. Columbus Day, for all intents and purposes, is a perfect excuse to explore the Pocono Mountains’ breathtaking fall foliage. We’re incredibly proud of our servicemen and women, which is why we offer them ten percent off on our Veteran’s Day and Folds of Honor Weekend packages. And you don’t want to skip our massive, eye-popping Thanksgiving feast!

The Best Fall Getaways near New York City

To learn more about our fun family trips in October, fall specials, and Halloween getaways, please browse through our full listing of money-saving packages. Woodloch Resort is less than two hours from bustling New York City; therefore, we’re expecting a full house on most weekends during autumn’s peak. So don’t delay, and book your midweek getaway over an extended weekend this fall. Start planning your next fall vacation by giving us a call today at 800-966-3562.

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Seasons of Change | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

Keep up-to-date with all things Woodloch on our blog featuring exclusive recipes, heartwarming stories, lifestyle content, contests and more.

Seasons of CHANGE at Woodloch!

There’s something rather bittersweet about the end of summer.

The days get ever so slightly shorter, the nights just a smidge cooler, and at Woodloch, we bid adieu to many friends- seasonal workers and summer guests alike – until next year. However, along with the sunsets and the accompanying golden hue that paints the Pocono canopy, there is much to be anticipated as we transition into FALL at Woodloch!

Every year, we always hope for a little bit of a “slow burn” fall- after all, water skiing, swimming and sailing on our lake go straight through Columbus Day Weekend. That’s when the true fun of FALL begins!

October nights are famous, or should we say, INFAMOUS for our creepy crawly HAUNTED WALKS. The fun begins at the top of our trail- your 20 minutes of terror will snake through a dozen terrifying scenes from some of your favorite Halloween movies and lore. Costumed characters, blinding lights, booming pyrotechnics and more all add to the charm. You’ll laugh, maybe cry and scream on this rollercoaster of terror. Woodloch’s “Hallo-Weekends” bring our Boo-Lympic Family Games, Trick-Or-Treating, costume parties and more!

Crisp and cool days are just about perfect for that long-awaited corporate retreat. Get the team together for old fashioned team building, with “only at Woodloch” features like Boat Building, Minit-2-Win-It, Woodloch Feud and “The Ultimate Woodloch Games.” Autumn is also simply a superb time for late season golf at Woodloch Springs– not to mention the beauty of The Lodge at Woodloch!

Just like the season itself, the arrival of the holidays at Woodloch is just about as MAGICAL as it comes. Every year, just as the Thanksgiving leftovers are boxed up and the wishbones are cracked, Woodloch starts its (literally) overnight transition to Christmas. Our “elves” transform the resort’s indoor and outdoor décor to a full-on holly jolly spectacular. Black Friday culminates with our first heartwarming “Festival of Lights” illuminated wagon rides, which continue straight through New Years!

As the air grows ever colder, Woodloch fires up their famous red snow cannons to create a “Winter Wonderland” of our own! Over the course of a few weeks, we will shape tens of thousands of gallons of water into frosted peaks for use in our Winter Olympics and TWO snow tubing hills!

And thus, a new year of fun and adventure begins at our resort… enjoy it in all four seasons!

Filed Under: fall, holiday, Uncategorized, Winter

Things to Do in the Poconos near Woodloch Resort – Hawley, PA

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3 Family-Friendly Things to Do in the Poconos

Woodloch Resort is widely considered the top-ranked family resort in North America because of our all-inclusive packages, homegrown activities, world-class service, and proximity to New York City. And while you’ll never have to leave our 1,200-acre resort for fun, food, or scenery, it’s not uncommon for families, groups, and couples to veer off-campus for a bit of mid-day exploration during a week-long Poconos getaway to Woodloch. There are dozens of family-friendly things to do in the Poconos such as rafting, hiking, skiing, shopping, and antiquing, which is why we compiled three of the most popular nearby attractions among guests.

Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park

Unless you’re visiting us from the Scranton area, you’ve likely never heard of Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park, but this jaw-dropping zoo has evolved into one of the best things to do in the Poconos. Claws ‘N’ Paws is especially fun for children as they’ll get to feed a wide variety of baby animals, such as giraffes, deer, goats, sheep, and parrots! Some of the most adorable animals at Claws ‘N’ Paws, which is set deep in the woods, include otters, Arctic foxes, wolves, bobcats, and prairie dogs.

Bushkill Falls

Bushkill Falls, “the Niagara of Pennsylvania,” is on everyone’s list of the top things to do in the Poconos due to the sheer beauty of this privately-owned, 300-acre park. Many of our guests visit Bushkill Falls before or after their stay at Woodloch, home to the best Poconos resorts. Four on-site hiking trails follow Little Bushkill Creek and Pond Run Creek, both of which trickle down this impressive, deep-forest gorge. The two-mile Red Trail loop meanders past all eight waterfalls! You’ll also discover on-site fishing, paddle-boating, picnicking, and miniature golf.

Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour

Lake Wallenpaupack, which was popularized by NBC’s The Office, is the third largest lake in Pennsylvania. The 11-mile journey from Woodloch Resort to Lake Wallenpaupack is well worth the trip if you’re an avid angler, but you can also hop aboard a 50-minute scenic cruise to learn more about the region. The Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour motors along the most beautiful stretches of the lake as the captain shares information about the area’s geography and history.

Things to Do in the Poconos

If you’re planning on visiting us during the wintertime, the top attraction in the area is Ski Big Bear, a nearby skiing destination located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Regardless of when you venture to Hawley, PA, your all-inclusive family vacation at Woodloch will be filled to the brim with excitement, delicious cuisine, live entertainment, and comfort! For a lengthy list of things to do in the Poconos, please visit our website; we offer everything from scavenger hunts to forest bathing!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: attractions, camping, hiking, state parks

Woodloch: New for Summer 2019! | Woodloch Resort

What’s NEW for Summer 2019 at Woodloch

~shared by J. Ranner

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”

One of the best things about residing in Pennsylvania is the fact that we are lucky enough to experience all of the seasons. And while we all have our preferences one way or the other, it cannot be denied that they all bring a little something special to the table. The crisp air of autumn brings a flurry of color to our Pocono canopy, the winds of winter blanket the landscape with the purest of white snow (perfect for some skiing), and springtime brings a sense of renewal to both our surroundings and even within ourselves.

But summertime? To me, there is simply nothing quite like it. The smell of barbecue and fresh cut grass. The sound of boats cruising the lake accompanied with the laughs of friends and family. The warmth of the sunshine and feeling a summer breeze at just the right moment to break up a hot day. Night time strolls complete with a trip to the ice cream stand.

To me, there’s no season quite like it. And as it’s always been, 61 years in the making, summers at Woodloch are something special. 2019 will be no exception!

With so many families and friends keeping Woodloch as their yearly summer travel tradition, it’s important for us to mix things up and keep them interesting! That’s why every year, our activities staff works very hard to ensure that guests, whether it is their first visit or 105^th, are getting an experience that you simply aren’t going to find anywhere other than our resort.

With that in mind, we thought we would share just a few of the awesome events and activities that we have in store for you this summer!

The Summer Winter Olympics – We’ve always wondered how “cool” it would be to try a few of our classic Winter Olympic games out with our summertime crowd. Thanks to our all-new year-round skating rink, this is finally possible! Games like curling, broomball and more will make their way to our activities program this summer.

The “WoodRock” Field Games & Festival – 50 years ago, a pretty wildly awesome music festival happened just down the road from Woodloch at Bethel, NY- it’s time for the enthusiasm of those days to be reborn! Our summer Mondays will kick off with our “Woodstock Field Games,” celebrating the culture and spirit of the times with 6 all-new relay events at our athletic field. Monday nights heat up with our 1960’s themed carnival followed up with our “WoodRock” show, featuring bands like Nowhere Slow and 45 RPM, playing the music of that famous festival and more!

Back to the 90’s Lake Games – Time travel seems to be a recurring theme with us this summer! In support of our Broadway-style Theme Show, our “Back to the 90’s” lake games will headline Wednesday mornings throughout the summer. Celebrate the fads, fashions and vibe of the decade with teams of 10 -12 at the lakefront area.

New Miniature Golf Course – Tiger proved it just a few weeks ago- golf is back in a big way! We celebrate the time-honored game of golf this year by opening our all-new miniature golf course at our beach area. Be sure to practice for our medal-earning tournaments!

A Horror Walk fit for a “King” – Though beautiful by day, I have to say that at night, our woods can be pretty creepy. So that makes them a PERFECT spot for our new horror walk! Are you bold enough to brave the bramble?

“There is no ESCAPE..” – Did you have a new hope of a brand new escape room to try this summer? Well, you are in luck! Our puzzlemasters have all sorts of Jedi mind tricks in store for you as you attempt to spring yourself out of our Death Star…

Trivia Contests – when you need a break from the summer heat, cool off with brand new trivia games from our team! “Survey Says” is a fast-paced spinoff of Family Feud, “As Seen on TV” pays homage to great products and spokespeople, while “HeadRush” is a frustratingly fun brain-game that sends teams through six rounds of off-beat mini-games full of tricks and turns.

The Silent DJ Experience – Ever found yourself really wanting to get down and dance, but you just weren’t feeling the song? We’ve tripled your listening options with our all-new Silent DJ Dance party! With our special headphones, you can tune in and out to the music of three different DJ’s all night long!

Our staff is ready, and we hope you are too! Let’s make the last summer of this decade count big time! #Summer2019 #OnlyAtWoodloch

Family Resort – 5 Best Water Activities at Our Family Resort – Woodloch

Woodloch’s Blog

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5 Best Water Activities at Our Family Resort

Sunny, mid-60s spring days here in Hawley, PA, have us dreaming about the upcoming summertime lake season. Not only does our top-ranked family resort rest on the tranquil shores of pristine Lake Teedyuskung, but we provide families with seemingly endless, complimentary, homegrown water activities. Whether you’re hoping to soak up the glorious, midsummer, Pennsylvania sunshine in a sizable rowboat, one of our outdoor pools, or with a serene half-day fishing trip, your family is in for the time of their lives this summer here at Woodloch, America’s best family resort!

Pool Games

Yes, Lake Teedyuskung provides our guests with 79 acres of sapphire blue freshwater, but there’s no denying the appeal of our homegrown, family-friendly pool games. Our staff is continually enhancing and improving these pool games in an effort to keep them fresh for returning visitors. These six water-based relay events promote teamwork, determination, and good, old-fashioned fun as your entire family battles for top prizes.

Row Boating

There are nearly a dozen ways to explore Lake Teedyuskung, including swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking, but we often recommend row boating for families with small children. Throw on your lifejackets, hop aboard a sturdy rowboat, and paddle along the most beautiful stretches of Lake Teedyuskung. You likely won’t find another family resort in the Pocono Mountains that has exclusive access to a 79-acre lake.

Bumper Boats

One of our most popular summertime water activities here at our world-class family resort is Bumper Boats. These boats seat up to three young children, and they’re equipped with “hydro cannons” which squirt water at your opponents. Almost all ages — adults included — can crash, squirt, and shriek until the final whistle.

Fishing

Spring-fed Lake Teedyuskung is home to eight fish species, including largemouth bass, walleye, pike, and catfish. Whether you’re hoping to just throw a line into the lake from the lengthy dock or venture to a nearby river, you’ll always be minutes away from a relaxing Pocono Mountains fishing expedition when you stay at our award-winning family resort.

The Ultimate Family Resort

A couple of months ago, we compiled eight reasons why Woodloch Resort is the best family resort in North America. Exclusive access to Lake Teedyuskung was high on that list. Not only are we a short yet scenic drive for 8.6 million New York City residents, but our family resort provides free nightly live entertainment, inclusive meal plans, and over 30 homegrown on-site activities.

To book a genuinely unforgettable Poconos getaway, please call us today at 1-800-966-3562, or visit us online at Woodloch.com.

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From the Woodloch Cookbook: Recipes to warm your Winter! | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

Keep up-to-date with all things Woodloch on our blog featuring exclusive recipes, heartwarming stories, lifestyle content, contests and more.

The Woodloch Cookbook: Recipes to Warm Your Winter!

It seems like just yesterday the autumn foliage was glimmering in brilliant shades of amber, fire red and golden yellow and I all I kept hearing about was how excited everyone was for “Pumpkin Latte Season” at their neighborhood Starbucks.

And now, times have changed.

Today, I am working from home as last night’s snowfall has made a mess of our local country roads. Sleigh riding was great fun as a kid- not so much in a vehicle as an adult. Which makes me reminisce of the snow days of old. How I have missed them!

When I wasn’t working on a school project that I had most certainly banked on completing due to a snow day, I used to love spending hours outside sledding around. When it got too cold I’d fire up my loyal Super Nintendo. And slowly but steadily I’d find ways to drive my mom insane. And the best way to deal with all the added stress? Therapeutic cooking.

I don’t believe my mom is alone. I think cooking works as a nice release for many that are stressed out- and it also doubles as an enjoyable activity in itself. So back by popular demand (and with the recipes YOU asked for!) please enjoy these wintry recipes to help warm up your season!

Woodloch Pines Chicken Soup
(just in case you happen to catch cold!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 ½ quarts chicken stock
• 6 chicken bouillon cubes
• 5 tbs. rice
• ¼ cup butter
• 7 tbs. flour
• 2 c. cooked chicken, cut up
• 2 tbs. chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cook rice, set aside. Bring chicken stock and bouillon cube to boil; reduce heat to low. Heat butter in small pan; stir in flour until smooth. Stir mixture into hot soup until desired consistency is achieved. Add cooked rice and cut-up chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Woodloch’s Famous Chili
(just in time for Super Bowl Sunday!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tbs. lard / bacon fat
• 3 lbs. lean beef chuck, cut into ½ in cubes
• 2 onions, coarse chopped (1 ½ cups)
• 6 tbs. pure ground hot chili
• 3 tbs. cumin
• 2 tbs. pure ground mild chili
• 1 ½ tsp. minced garlic
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• Water
• 1 ½ c. beef broth
• 3 mild or hot green chilis
• 1 large chopped tomato
• 1 tbs. crushed chili Caribe or red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1 tsp. dried oregano, soaked in ¼ cup warm beer
• 1 tbs. cider vinegar
• 1 tbs. tortilla flour or cornmeal

INSTRUCTIONS:
Melt lard / fat in large Dutch oven or heavy pot. Add meat in 2 batches if necessary & cook on all sides until it loses its pink color. Add onions, ground hot chili, cumin, ground mild chili, garlic, salt and black pepper. Add water to barely cover the meat, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 1 to 1 ½ hours until meat is almost tender, adding more water if needed. Add 1 cup of beef broth to the chopped chilis, tomatoes, chili Caribe, oregano-beer mixture & vinegar. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring often. Stir tortilla flour into remaining ½ cup beef broth, then stir into chili & simmer 15-20 minutes until meat is very tender and sauce is red-brown.

Woodloch’s Streusel Cake
(Great for breakfast, dessert… and any other time of the day.)

STREUSEL CRUMB INGREDIENTS:

• 4 oz. butter
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tsp. cinnamon powder
• ½ c. shortening
• ½ c. brown sugar
• 1/3 tsp vanilla
• 5 ½ c. flour

INSTRUCTIONS: Mix all ingredients except flour together until creamy. Add the flour then mix again. Mixture will become crumbly.

CAKE INGREDIENTS:
• 1 2/3 c. sugar
• 6 oz. butter
• ½ tsp. salt

• 5 lg. eggs
• 1 1/3 c. milk
• Vanilla to taste
• 3 ½ c. cake flour
• 1 tbs. baking powder

INSTRUCTIONS: Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla and milk and mix. Add remaining ingredients and continue mixing until smooth. Add half of the batter to your 9” x 13” cake pan. Sprinkle lightly with the crumbs. Using measuring cup, pour remaining batter over the crumbs. Top cake with more streusel crumbs before baking. Place in oven at 375 degrees and bake for 35 minutes. After baking, let cool before cutting into 2 inch squares and serving.

Filed Under: Cooking, food, Holiday Cooking, Holidays at Home, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: cooking, Recipes

Fall Specials in the Pocono Mountains | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

Top 3 Fall Specials at Woodloch Resort