POCONOS QUICK TRIP

Unlike the 6 day road trip to the Adirondacks, this would be a quick trip to experience two different kinds of accommodations in the Poconos, neither being the once popular “heart-shaped” bathtub resort hotels nor the casino Meccas. 

Monday, July 8^th

We head out just after the morning rush hour and take the GCP (Grand Central Pkwy) over the RFK Bridge (formerly Triboro) onto the Harlem River Drive to the GWB (George Washington Bridge).  If you don’t know the abbreviations of the New York highways you are in trouble trying to locate roadways and bridges.  Now I realize why they changed Triboro to RFK.  Triboro was too clear of a description – as it ran between three boroughs – Manhattan, The Bronx, and Queens.  OK.  Onto I-80 and a mere two hours later we are in the Poconos. 

Sitting atop Huckleberry Mountain, with amazing views of the Pocono Mountains is The French Manor Inn and Spa Bed and Breakfast in South Sterling. 

 

 Merle and I are in the Spa Suites, which are a new addition to the Inn.  The Spa Suites include a king bed, fireplace, Jaccuzzi, small fridge, coffee maker, TV, and a balcony looking out onto the mountains.

There is a Welcome cheese plate with apple, crackers, grapes and two cheeses. Also a bottle of sherry.  Because I am writing travel blogs now I feel it is my job to taste everything and make sure it’s good.  It is all very good.  

 I take a walk around the grounds to see the other buildings. The main manor is the original stone chateau which now has three guestrooms,  one suite, a casual Café area where tea is served in the afternoon, and the 4-diamond French restaurant.  There are two fireplace and Jacuzzi suites and two more guestrooms in the Carriage House, and six more suites in the La Maisonneuve building.

At 1:30 we are off to have our “Spa Lunch” by the pool, before our Spa Treatments.   The lobster bisque, with a hint of truffle oil, is rich and exceptionally delicious. I wasn’t going to eat the whole thing but it was too good and I finished the whole bowl. The salad, which included spinach, asparagus, zucchini and a selection of Swiss chard and radishes which were property grown in the Chef’s garden, topped with a light balsamic vinaigrette dressing was just right.

 At 3:00 we head into Le Spa Foret for our treatments.  I am scheduled for a full body massage with aroma oils.    After filling out a short form and given a locker and robe, I head for my massage with Robin.  She asked about my preferences regarding areas to concentrate on and what kind of pressure.  She was very good and the massage was both enjoyable and helpful in relaxing some chronic tight muscles that I have.  After a quick shower, I get into my bathing suit to check out the indoor salt water pool and hot tub. I would have also taken advantage of the Fitness Room but I was too relaxed at this point so I just headed back to the suite for another quick shower and start getting dressed for dinner.   
 

Dinner is at the on site four diamond French restaurant.  We are given a fresh strawberry champagne shooter with fresh mint to start off the meal.  I start with a salad of organic baby spinach, yellow fin tuna, nicoise olives, edamame, and a lemon caper vinaigrette.

 For the entrée I opt for the Atlantic Red Snapper with Thai chili peanut butter and coconut sauce with asparagus and smoked Gouda au gratin Fingerling potatoes. Dessert – yes we left room for dessert – is triple chocolate layer cake and a chocolate, mango, and Kaulua soufflé.  A Rooibos tea to settle the stomach and a little walk around the grounds before heading to bed. 

Tuesday July  9

The French Manor Spa is also a bed and breakfast so we head back to the dining room for breakfast.  I have two eggs over easy with bacon and potatoes and juice.   The grounds include a few short hiking trails so I head out for my morning constitutional with map in hand.  It’s already quite warm this morning so I figure hiking in the woods will be a little cooler.  I tell Merle if I’m not back by 10:00 to send a search party.   Although the trails are short – there is a fairly steep part at the beginning and I find a walking stick (more like a branch) to assist me.  I never do things like this alone so I am very proud of myself until I visualize snakes and breaking my ankle and getting lost and I get the “heebie jeebies”  but I keep on going until the brush gets a little more over grown. I realize I don’t have my friend Marlene to tell me which is the poison ivy and I’m wearing shorts so I do head back figuring that I got more than half way and with half way back, that’s a whole…so it’s a start. 

At 11:00 we meet with Chef Jeffrey Huntzinger who has been at the Manor for three years and spends a few hours with Merle and me to tell us all about the restaurant, local foods, different fish, sustainability, his passion for food as well as the stay awake at night recipes he develops at three in the morning.   I take a walk down to his newly developed garden with him and we talk more about the wonderful vegetables he is harvesting and will use in seasonal menus for the restaurant. Hear more from Chef Jeffrey on Merle’s radio blog show.  (TBA)   The French Manor offers many packages and specials for an enjoyable getaway special treat.

We get on the road to head north to Lake Wallenpaupack with a stop at Coutt’s Paupack Blueberry Farm and Bakery.  Coutt’s is a family owned and run farm and bakery in Paupack, PA.  The fields are not quite ready for picking yet so are not open to the public for about another two weeks. However, Debbie grabs one of the young men working in the fields and takes me out there to see the blueberry orchards.   There are several different fields with different kinds of blueberry bushes on 15 acres.  We caught a small deer enjoying herself lunching on one of the bushes.  Back at the store, which features home made baked goods, jams, jellies, relishes, ice cream, fresh honey, and of course fresh or frozen blueberries, we get to sample the blueberry ice cream which is exceptional. We also sample the blueberry spread and the low sugar jam which I found to be just as good, if not better than the regular one.  There is also a diabetic jam made with concentrated apple juice available.    Back on the road.

We check in at Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Resort on Lake Wallenpaupack.  The resort is a family owned resort since 1943.  Originally Silver Birches, the resort has grown and expanded since then and its history is rich and interesting.  Merle and I are in the Lakefront suites. 

The resort also offers other accommodations including cottages, rooms, and family units and suites.  Ehrhardt’s is all about family.  The family that continues to run it and the families that continue to come for vacation the same week every year.  One family is now in its fifth generation and has been coming for the 70 years.  They offer a nice continental breakfast and daily activities center around the lake and the pool. 

 Rowboats, paddle boats, and canoes are available for guests.  Fishing requires a PA license for anyone over 18, even just fishing from the docks. They have a restaurant and banquet center on the property which is open to the public and includes many special events including Day Shows and Dinner Theater.   A picnic BBQ is provided for guests on Wednesday afternoons.

Dinner tonight is at Grehsam’s Chop house with a great group from Pocono Tourism.  Unfortunately the rain came at the wrong time and our Scenic Boat Tour on the lake was canceled but Liz, Alicia, David and Keith gave us information on the area and arranged for water skiing on the lake tomorrow morning.  We shared appetizers of coconut shrimp, spicy tuna bites, and tomato and mozzarella; all very tasty. I choose the Tilapia with chipotle dressing for the entrée which was light and fresh tasting.   

The rain stopped and the sun came out, but too late for the tour so Merle and I head back to Ehrhardt’s to watch the beautiful sunset over the lake.

Wednesday, July 10

8 a.m. and a light continental breakfast before getting on the lake.  I am about to attempt to water ski after about FIFTY years when I last water skied at Camp Deerwood on Lake Buel in the Berkshires.  An appointment with my chiropractor, Joanie, may be in order.  Keith from tourism comes down to join Sarah O'Fee, the resort's marketing person, and Craig Erhardt. Craig will be showing off his water skiing talent's as he starts off slalom and provides a great show for us.  I could ski slalom when I was 13 but now I’m just concerned about staying afloat in the lake and getting up.  After one failed attempt I put my mind to it and visualized getting up like I did 50 years ago and with much fortitude and strength – I DID IT !!!! .  WOW.  It was great. I even went outside of the wake and came back in once.  My second attempt swamped me and I was in the lake.  I quit while I was ahead and was actually able to get back into the boat.  Another success.   For an exciting heart stopping video see Merle’s blog.  www.merleswhirls.blogspot.com

We head back into the resort, where I shower and freshen up and take two Ibuprophen before our meal. Lunch is with Sarah as we head for Erhardt's Waterfront Restaurant, where she provides us with more family and resort history as well as  some of the special events at the both the restaurant and Banquet Center, including group day trips.  For lunch I go for meat this time – the prime rib sandwich cheese steak on a toasted Amoroso hoagie with horseradish mayo dressing.  Everything was great and we saw more family members working in the restaurant. 

This is not only a family run resort with family hospitality, but the family also gives back to the community.  During Sandy, when several families in the area had no power, they were welcomed at the resort, to stay or take showers, or shelter or whatever they needed. Pretty special.  I would have liked to have spent the whole summer here but we have to start to head back home. 

We stop along the way at Antler Ridge Winery where we sample several of the low sulfite wines.  Merle prefers white and I prefer the reds so we pretty much get to go through the entire selections.  There are over 25 wines and the tasting is free for up to three and $2.00 for 4 or more.  I enjoyed the signature Red Vixen and was surprised to like some of the sweeter fruit wines including a Pomegranate Wildberry.  I think I stopped at about 15 but it could have been more or less as I lost count somewhere along the way.  As Coutt’s Ice Cream Store was right next door – of course we had to stop in.  This is the Coutt’s  from the blueberry farms so you know the ice cream is fresh.  

Although it was only two days compared to the six for the Adirondack Road Trip  it was jam packed and we met some of the nicest people along the way.