Poconos - Vacation Rental Home

A few weeks ago, I stayed at a vacation rental home in the Poconos for a reunion of sorts with my friends. We did quite a bit of Internet research to find the perfect place for us to meet and found this place great. It comfortably slept all 12 of us and offered plenty of amenities of suit our needs for the weekend.

Situated in a peaceful setting on a 1/2 acre wooded property, we saw animals that routinely walked through the yard. Located in Lake Harmony Estates the house is approximately a 1/4-mile from the lake. The house affords you access to a private beach with parking, tennis courts, and a marina key to allow boat access to the lake. The house is about 1 mile from Big Boulder Ski Area and a 5-minute drive to Jack Frost Ski Area. Camel Back Ski Area and Water Park as well as the Crossings Outlets are only 20 miles away. Other activities are available at the nearby Split Rock Resort and the Galleria including a movie theatre, arcade, ice cream parlor and bowling alley.

This lovely new home has it all, hot tub, pool table in family room, foosball table in loft, cathedral ceilings, stone (gas burning) fireplace, modern fully equipped kitchen w/granite countertops, beautifully furnished and decorated plus a nice sized deck for entertaining.

Simply put, we can't wait to return.

Wildwood, New Jersey

I'm back from the July 4th weekend in Wildwood NJ with my extended family.

Wildwood is an small beach town on the Jersey shore. The boardwalk is wide and beautiful. Rides, amusements, and trolley cars are all available right on the boards. Also there is the Convention Center right on the boardwalk where many concerts are held. On the bay side of the island you can find a beautiful sunset every night.

Its famous doo wop-style motels and hotels have been designated as endangered historical places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was ranked the best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.

The 1.8-mile boardwalk is home to the Morey's Piers amusement complex and Raging Waters, a 2-location waterpark complex owned by Morey's Piers. The boardwalk features a trolley called the "Tramcar", which runs from end to end. It is also home to Splash Zone Water Park.

I rode 2 rollercoasters while I was there. The first was The Great Nor'Easter, a suspended looping coaster. This intimidating maze of over 2,100 twisted feet of steel takes you high over Raging Waters waterpark, through a rollover, sidewinder, and double spin, at speeds of up to 50 MPH!

The second rollercoaster was the Great White. This classic out and back wooden coaster utilizes two train cars and begins with an exhilarating 25-foot drop into a dark tunnel before achieving speeds in excess of 50 MPH after its 105-foot second drop.

I also tried the 4-D experience on the Boardwalk, which is a complete waste of time.

Overall, Wildwood is a great destination for families and children.