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Right about now, you may be feeling that winter will never end, but spring is definitely on the horizon â and with it, the renewal of everything fresh and green. Nowâs the time to start thinking about preparing your lawn and garden for warmer months of lush grass and beautiful flowers. Here are the things you should put on the to-do list for a gorgeous landscape that will last through the summer. Do what you can when weather permits:
Start With Your Tools
While itâs still cold or wet outside, you can take some time to get your tools ready.
Scrub off dirt. Soap isnât required, but a stiff brush will help to get all the old dirt out of crevices. Be sure to rinse and dry tools thoroughly.
Remove rust. If blades are rusty, soak them in a container of vinegar for a day or two. Most or all of the residue should scrub off with a steel wool pad or rough sandpaper.
Lubricate pivot points. Just a few drops of WD-40 or a similar product will keep tools operating smoothly.
Sharpen blades. Use a whetstone or knife sharpener on all your cutting tools and mower blades. Dull blades make your work a lot harder and can mangle stems and branches.
Prepare the Lawn
Harsh weather and foot traffic on snow-covered lawns can cause the soil to compact and make it uneven in spots. It can also alter the pH, making the soil less conducive to healthy grass and more welcoming to weeds and disease. Work through these steps over a few weekends:
Rake vigorously. Give yourself and the lawn a workout to remove surface leaves, debris and dead grass as well as to disentangle matted areas and thatch.
Level the surface. To equalize drainage and avoid low spots that will become soggy, take a shovel to lop off raised places and fill in those that are sunken.
Aerate the soil. Compacted soil needs to be opened up so oxygen, water and nutrients can reach grass roots. You can rent an aerator at a garden center, but theyâre bulky, heavy and difficult to transport and use â better to hire a professional lawn aeration service and get the job done right.
Correct the pH. Grass thrives in soil with neutral pH, so use a simple test kit to tell you how yours rates. Apply lime to acidic soil and sulfur to soil thatâs too alkaline. But get some expert advice before you use either or you could do more harm than good.
Sow grass seed. You can seed bare spots alone or overseed the entire area for a lusher lawn overall. Seeds wonât germinate, though, until the soil temperature reaches about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pre-treat for weeds. A pre-emergent herbicide will take care of weeds before they start, but it will also stop grass seeds from germinating, so be mindful of where and when you use it.
Feeding your lawn gives it a stronger root system and the energy for a long growing season. Follow directions for whether you have warm or cool season grass and for the part of the country in which you live.
Clean up the Flower Beds
All kinds of old foliage and debris accumulates in the garden during the winter, making a handy home for insects and disease as the weather warms. Clear it all out so your plants have room for a fresh, new start.
Prune Woody Plants
If you havenât pruned your rose bushes yet, get to it at the first chance you have. As for trees, Itâs best to prune branches while theyâre dormant but after the coldest weather has passed, though dead branches can be removed any time. For some great information about trees, check out the Arbor Day Foundation.
Divide Perennials
Daylilies, Agapanthus, peonies and other varieties of clumping perennials that have gotten too big for their spots in the garden should be divided ahead of the coming warm weather, so their roots have time to establish themselves.
Start Flower and Vegetable Seeds Inside
Seeds wonât sprout in cold soil, so even in temperate climate zones, starting seeds indoors gives them a head start. Seed packets will tell you how many weeks it will take for each variety to get ready before the optimum time to transplant them outdoors. Itâs also fun for the kids to help pot the seeds and watch them sprout.
This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views expressed don not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
We took a short vacation to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the end of August. There is so much to do in Harrisburg, it was the perfect place for us to visit, especially since it is only about 4 hours away from our home in New York State. We have been visiting the Harrisburg/Hershey area with our kids for years. Our oldest kids loved going to Hershey Park and other nearby attractions like Lake Tobias Wildlife Park every summer.
We had not visited the area for a few years, and it was high time for a vacation to the sweetest place on Earth and beyond. Working together with the Visit Hershey & Harrisburg Tourism Bureau, they helped us select the attractions that best suited our family’s tastes, and then created a jam-packed itinerary for us. They also helped us find accommodations in the Harrisburg area that had ample parking and easy access to all the attractions.
We stayed at the Hotel Indigo in Harrisburg. Honestly, we were on the go from early morning until late at night and spent very little time in the hotel. We did appreciate that there was a large parking lot, so we did not have to deal with parking garages or pay for parking as we have done in the past with hotels located in downtown Harrisburg. The Hotel Indigo is new, there were a few issues that I chalked up to growing pains. All in all, it was a good experience for what we needed, I will write more about the hotel in a future post.
National Civil War Museum
Our first stop was the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. The museum is located up a long driveway that leads to a large parking area. The grounds are clean and picturesque. Inside there is a large gift shop where we picked up our tour tickets for a self guided tour.
The museum has 2 levels and we were directed to start upstairs armed with our map. The museum does not allow video or flash photography. This museum is filled with so many exhibits, many hands-on and others that are made up of life size models that add an incredible level of realism.
One of our kids’ favorite exhibits was the medical scene where the army medics were in the middle of performing a leg amputation on a wounded soldier.
The slavery exhibits were very moving, and there were videos, sounds effects and life size displays throughout.
You could easily spend several hours to see everything.At the very least, you should block out about 2 hours. Check out my video slide show of our visit below.
Whitaker Center’s Harsco Science Center
Our second stop was the Whitaker Center’s Harsco Science Center in downtown Harrisburg. The Science Center allows kids to explore and get up close and personal with all kinds of exhibits as well as letting them perform all kinds of experiments. The hurricane simulator was a huge hit with my boys and my husband too! There was so much to do and see. You can easily spend a day there and not run out of things to do.
Unfortunately, we only had a couple of hours to devote to the center, but we made the most of it and packed a tremendous amount of hands-on fun and learning into those hours. The Whitaker Center is located in downtown Harrisburg and we did find metered parking outside. More to come in a later post. Check out more in our video below.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
After the Whitaker Center we set off to Hershey’s Chocolate World which was about 15 minutes away. Once there, we scheduled our Hershey Trolley Works Tour . There are a couple of different trolley tours you can choose from, but we picked the longer ride with more history of Milton Hershey and more candy!
The trolley is delightful and very vintage with wooden bench seats. It is actually a trolley bus, so it rides directly on the road and not a track. We had a very animated conductor and tour guide which made our experience very informative and fun. We had a great group of fellow passengers who made the tour even more fun. We learned so much about the Milton Hershey family, the Hershey School and of course the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory and Hershey Park.
When our tour was over, we went back inside Hershey’s Chocolate World to embark on the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour, which I have loved since the first time I went on it, way back in 1988! It is a fun tour and our family rode together in a moving car that took us along a track, as we learned about how Hershey’s chocolate is made. Before the ride we posed for 2 photos, and at the end we presented with a souvenir photo book that we purchased. The tour itself is free, at the end we were each given a snack size Hershey Bar. Guests can take the tour as many times as they like.
The Chocolate Tasting Experience
After that, we were off to the Chocolate Tasting Experience. There is a fee required to attend the tasting and they are held several times throughout the day and evening. We were ushered into what reminded me of a college lecture hall, only not as large.
There were rows of narrow tables with chairs, a center aisle and a stage area at the front with a video screen. The tables were set so all of the participants had a bottle of water, a small brown paper gift bag, an informative placemat, a small cup of real chocolate nibs and a Hershey’s Kiss. There were table top tablet kiosks that we used to select the flavors we tasted as we sampled the chocolate.
The host explained a bit about different kinds of chocolate and the unsweetened chocolate nibs that were in front of us. He invited us to try the nibs and then the Hershey’s Kiss. After that, it was time to get serious. He explained the water was to rinse our pallet between chocolates. He then showed us a video that explained how to correctly taste chocolate with all of our senses.
After the video, we were instructed to empty our bag which contained 4 different chocolates. We were guided through tasting each chocolate one at a time. Upon tasting each chocolate we paid careful attention to the different flavors, and then entered them on the kiosk. Once everyone in the room had entered their flavors, they were shown on the video screen. At the end, we were given certificates declaring us official Hershey’s Chocolate Tasters along with a full size Hershey bar.
Create Your Own Candy Bar
Now that we had tasted the chocolate, it was time to make the chocolate. We headed off to the Create Your Own Candy Bar Activity. This is another paid attraction that I highly recommend. Create Your Own Candy Bar takes place at certain times throughout the day and evening. As we stood on the line we were given aprons and hair caps. Even infants have to wear the hair caps because of the strict regulations.On the plus side, they make for great photo ops.
Once our aprons and hair caps were in place, we were led into an area with several kiosks where we scanned our tickets and entered our name and email address. Then it was on to the next area of kiosks where we selected the kind of chocolate bar we wanted to make. The fist step was to choose milk chocolate or white chocolate for the actual bar. We then chose up to three toppings like pretzels, crisp rice, Heath toffee pieces, chocolate chips and more. All bars are encased in delicious Hershey’s milk chocolate. We were able to add colored sprinkles to the top for a festive touch if we wanted.
When we were finished customizing our chocolate bars, it was time to head off to the assembly line, where we were able to watch every step of the manufacturing process. This part was really fun, especially for our kids, who were able to see their name and their chocolate bar as it moved along. When finished, our bars were boxed and then placed in a Hershey’s embossed tin box. At a final kiosk we were able to design the special cardboard sleeve that goes over the tin box.
We ended up doing this attraction again a couple of days later, because we wanted to make custom chocolate bars for our older kids who were not able to join us. Everyone was so happy with their chocolate bars, and I have to say, the bars were absolutely decadent and delicious. The chocolate covering made them absolutely delectable!
We browsed the gift store where the kids each choose a Hershey truck and car set, and then we headed off to get a very late dinner. We were all very tired, as it had been a very full day including our drive to Harrisburg.
Hersheypark
The next day, we set off for Hersheypark. The Park has been greatly expanded since my last time here with my older kids. They have added an entire Boardwalk area with tons of water rides, splash areas and more. The addition of this area makes it very hard to do the entire park in 1 or 2 days. You can easily spend an entire day in the Boardwalk area alone.
It was very hot when we were there, and we were so lucky that they weather was nice and sunny because the summer was the rainiest one I remember. In fact, just a few weeks earlier, the area experienced such severe flooding, Hersheypark had to close for at least a day.
Since it was so hot, my kids wanted to spend almost the entire day at the Boardwalk until it closed at 6 pm. After changing, we headed off to check out the rest of the park which closes much later.
The lines for food were the only thing that was unnerving, especially since we had bought the all day dining deal. My husband literally spent 45 minutes online to get food every time. It was not only us, there were dozens of other guests who were very disappointed with the wait times coupled with many restaurants that were listed on the plan being closed.
I have to say, guest services was very receptive and really wanted to make things right. They talked with us at the end of the night and refunded our money because of the fiasco. I do recommend the Souvenir cups apologized to us and refunded our passes because of the issues. This is the only thing I would not recommend even though you might have better luck during the week or at less busy times.
I highly recommend the souvenir cup deal that you buy for one price and are able to have refilled for free with soft drinks or ICEE for 36 hours after purchase and 99 cents after that. Our cups worked for both days for free refills including ICEEs. Free ice water is available throughout the park.
The next day was devoted to Hershey Park as well. It was another hot, sunny day, and our kids wanted to go right to the Boardwalk area. We spent the next several hours there swimming in the wave pool called The Coast, floating on the lazy river called the Intercoastal Waterway, riding the exciting tube slides and water rollercoaster and playing in the immense splash area that is filled with slides, fun structures and of course, two huge buckets that dump water on everyone down below. The Boardwalk has attractions for kids and adults of all ages.
When you enter Hersheypark there is an area where you can measure your children, to see where they fall in height. Everyone’s height correlates to a candy. Every ride has a sign in front that shows which “candies”the ride is suitable for. This makes it easy to see if your child is big enough or too big to ride. There are many rides that adults and kids can go on together, this makes it easy to accompany smaller children.
You can check out a slide show from our Hersheypark trip below. We also have and will be adding more videos and slide shows to our YouTube Channel, so be sure to check it all out to see more.
ZooAmerica
When we were done at The Boardwalk, we headed off to walk thru ZooAmerica, the zoo at Hersheypark that you can access from the park, and is included with your Hersheypark admission. We walked around looking at the animals. They have nice walkways and exhibits. The animals are divided into groups based on where they live and the kind of animal they are. After ZooAmerica, we ate at a venue in the park that was cafeteria style and had a variety of foods. We were able to get everything from Pizza to Burrito Bowl to Cheesesteaks. It was nice, because everyone got what they wanted, and they also filled our souvenir cups for free.
On one of our previous trips to Hersheypark with my older kids, we incredibly won not one, but two of those enormous black bears at a game where you try to ring the neck of a glass bottle with a plastic ring. We were able to get a bucket of rings for $5. When my four-year old was upset because he was too small to ride the Great Bear roller coaster, I suggested we try our hand at the game while waiting for his dad and siblings to get off the ride. I was shocked when my four-year old tossed a ring from the bucket right onto the neck of a bottle winning a huge bear.
Later that day, my 9-year-old wanted to try, so I bought one more bucket. That time, it was me that got the ring on the neck of the bottle winning another huge bear. We were certainly glad we had a 7 passenger van, because we had 2 extra passengers on the way home.
My younger boys love those bears and that story, so when we came upon the same game in the same spot, they had to try their hand at it. A bucket of rings was still only $5 and my husband, myself and our two boys started tossing the rings. Within the first few, our 11-year-old got a ring on a bottle (it happened to be one of the special color bottles).
The special bottle meant he won one of the rare jumbo unicorns. However, they were very pink and he really wanted a bear, so they let him get the bear. He was so proud of himself, and his little brother was too! It must be a family tradition for us, because again we had an extra passenger riding home in the back seat of our minivan.
Indian Echo Caverns
We stayed at the park until it closed at 11 pm and then returned to the hotel. The next morning, we set out to visit Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, which is a few minutes outside of Hershey. First stop was the gift shop to sign up for our tour, and our kids was enthralled with all the crystals. They also each had to have a miners hard hat with a light that they wore on our cavern tour. Needless to say, we dropped about $100 in the gift shop.
It was not long before we were called for our tour. Our tour guide was enthusiastic and informative. He took us through the caverns, and entertained us with stories and history. The caverns are amazing! Lots of great photo ops and stellar views. Be aware there are many stairs to climb to go down to the cavern entrance, there are steps to climb in the caverns and upon exiting you need to climb up the stairs again. You cannot bring strollers in the caverns either.
When we emerged from the caverns, we visited the animals on the grounds. They have goats and a turkey, some alpacas and birds of prey. There is a large playground area and picnic tables, if you want to bring a lunch. We had to move right on because we were off to Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. Check out the video below to see more.
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
We grabbed some lunch on the road, and drove about 30 minutes to Halifax, Pennsylvania where Lake Tobias is located. We discovered Lake Tobias years ago when our oldest three children were young and it made quite and impression on us. I was absolutely astounded at how much the park has grown.
They have so many animals now! Beyond that, they have the most natural and beautiful habitats for the Lions, Tigers, Bears and more. Everything is so clean including the reptiles and exotics building, where we saw marmosets, a sloth, all kinds of snakes, alligators, lizards, birds and more. Once more, I was impressed with just how pristine this area was and best of all, there were no funky smells.
Lake Tobias has a petting zoo as well as lots of other animals you can pet like zebras and donkeys throughout the park. A few weeks after our visit they added 2 young giraffes to their menagerie.
The safari ride is much like we remembered, they used sawed off school buses as their safari trucks and drive you out onto their many acres where you get up close and personal with bison, emu, Asian water buffalo, antelope and more who roam freely. You can purchase some snacks like carrots and pellets to feed the animals on the safari. The animals come right up to the safari bus and it is quite amazing! Our kids were so excited and had a blast!
There is a picnic area as well if you want to bring a lunch. Of course, our visit was not complete without a visit to the gift shop where our boys found a couple of plush bear friends to join our huge bear in the back seat. They also selected some more crystals and a few other items. We did get a free Lake Tobias tote bag for spending over $50, so yeah!
Here is a video of our time at Lake Tobias:
We loaded into our van and headed back to Hershey’s Chocolate World, to the Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction, so we could make custom bars for our older kids. We ended up doing the Chocolate Tasting Experience again as well, but this time at the end, we received a snack size bar instead of the full size we got the first time. I am not sure what is the standard size candy given out now. If you have been to the Chocolate Tasting Experience, let me know what you got at the end.
Everyone was starving when we finished, so we headed off to eat at Houlihans in downtown Hershey. We had a wonderful dinner with a friendly server, great food and comfortable atmosphere. Another day in the books, and we were ready to load up and make the trek home. I will post more about each specific part of our trip, but wanted to document our entire trip in this comprehensive post.
If you have any questions, please ask in the comments. You can also check out our reviews on TripAdvisor. Have you been to the Hershey Harrisburg area? Let me know in the comments.
Are you looking for great books for your middle schooler’s summer reading list? If so, I have a thrilling adventure book you will want to add. The Selkie of San Francisco by Todd Calgi Gallicano is the action-packed sequel to Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw.Â
Sam London is back and on another mission on behalf of the Department of Mythical Wildlife! The Selkie of San Francisco (Delacorte Press / On sale June 19, 2018 / Ages 10 and up) follows Sam as he dives headlong into his second case, which involves a selkie, a mysterious girl, and an ominous new threat to the mythical and human worlds.
Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, and the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, this imaginative fantasy tale is sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats!
About the Author:
Todd calgi Gallicano is the author of Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw and The Selkie of San Francisco, the first two books in the Sam London Adventures series. When he’s not hammering out the next Sam London novel on his 1938 Royal Deluxe typewriter, he lives with his wife and daughter. Visit him at his website to learn more top-secret information.
Giveaway
Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of, The Selkie of San Francisco! Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this thrilling giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.
The Selkie of San Francisco Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
When your kids get old enough to start making decisions, itâs difficult to know when to step back and when to take over. No one wants to be the helicopter mom, but you want to make sure your kids are getting the best opportunities. Summer vacation is one area where you want to get more involved.
Here are a few ways pre-planning your childâs summer benefits you.
1. You can make decisions together
When you have to make arrangements at the last-minute, oftentimes, youâre calling the shots without any input from the kiddos. But if you give yourself a little time, you can talk things over. Sure, some things wonât be negotiable, but you can let your kids choose whatever activities they can.
As soon as the options are available, collect all the possibilities and discuss them with your kids. Make sure you keep any scheduling conflicts in mind. It may help to grab a pencil and mark up a calendar. If you have more than one child, this may be a process that takes some time.
2. Your kids will have more opportunities
All the popular summer activities sell out fast. So, if your kids are going to be going to camp or taking some extracurriculars, youâll want to book them in advance. It could be the difference between adventure camp and knitting 101, so this is very important.
Stress the importance of choosing wisely because most activities cannot be changed after you make a deposit.
3. You can arrange more free time in the summer
Just like the activities, good childcare can sell out fast too. If youâre planning to put your kids into a program or book the most reputable nanny, youâll want to pre-plan. And as a bonus, you may be able to book more date nights if you make arrangements with a babysitter early in the season. You can even schedule a night every week or every other week to get away with your significant other.
4, You can finalize your vacation
If you book your vacation before you plan your kidsâ activities, you may regret it. For example, what happens if thereâs a big soccer tournament the week of your vacation? If you had booked the extracurriculars first, you could have worked your vacation around the big events.
Plan your kidsâ camps, sports practices and music lessons before you decide when to take your family vacation. This will also save you from spending money on weeks of programs you wonât be using.
5. You can plan for anything
When you know what your summer is going to look like, you can plan. For example, if youâre taking a road trip, you can pre-plan vehicle service. Things like this can easily get away from you, so try booking any important appointments as soon as you plan your summer activities. This may include doctorsâ visits, dentist appointments or even haircuts.
Planning doesnât solve every problem, but it can certainly help you get the most out of your summer. What are your best summer planning tips?
This is a sponsored guest post. The views and ideals expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
Can you believe it is almost May? I am really excited for May but if you were thinking about saving $75 on each summer camp registrations at Digital Media Academy, you will need to hurry because the offer ends May 1st!
Discover your child’s passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and math) through fun and exciting  hands-on project-based courses at a location near you. So, Get ready to #createthenext best-selling app, original video game and much more at Digital Media Academy technology summer camps for kids and teens! Remember you still have a little time to save $25 on each summer camp registration with the code TECHFUN17 but don’t wait long, it ends on May 1st.Â
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Can you believe it is almost summer? I am so happy about the warmer weather, but it has really lit that fire under me to get our summer plans in place. If you are looking for summer camps for your kids and teens and want one that will allow them to discover their passion for STEM (Science, technology, engineering and math) through fun and exciting hands-on courses and collaboration, Digital Media Academy technology camp may be what you are looking for. Now for the bad news, you will need to hurry because their summer camps are filling up fast! I do have some good news, you can save $75 on each summer camp registration when you use the promo code TECHFUN17.
Digital Media’s mission is to foster a learning community of diversity and excellence through memorable and innovative educational experiences led by the highest-quality instructors; building skills and confidence to empower lifelong learners to follow their dreams and make a lasting impact. They understand that, girls may shy away from subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math because they are often seen as male-dominated fields.
To change that, Digital Media Academy is committed to increasing girls’ confidence in coding and STEM subjects through immersive courses taught by role models and mentors dedicated to empowering all learners, creators, and makers. DMA’s Made By Girls initiative aims to build tech confidence in young women, and was created exclusively to support early positive experiences with technology.
Your kids can learn the skills of tomorrow this summer at a location near you! When they attend one of Digital Media Academy’s hands-on summer camps for kids and teens ages 6-17, there is no limit to what they can create this summer!
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Save BIG on summer camps for a limited time! Use discount code TECHFUN17 for $75 off each summer camp registration. The savings is $35 off DMA’s Jr. Adventures courses or $75 off all full-day tuition for our Adventures, Teen, Academy, and Pro Series courses. Don’t wait – with limited seats available, summer camps are filling fast! Discount may not be combined with any other offer. Some restrictions may apply. Offer valid until Monday, May 1, 2017 at 11:59pm PST.
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My family and I recently returned from Skytop Lodge and I cannot say enough about the awesome days we spent there. Skytop Lodge is a stunning piece of history that sits upon 5,500 majestic acres atop the picturesque Pocono mountains.
Although this resort is only a 1.5-hour drive from our home in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York, I never heard of it before this summer. Even though I have traveled to the Poconos more times than I can count, this was an entirely different experience. From the moment we arrived, until the moment we left, we could not look at the old world charm of the stone lodge without being in awe.
Vacationing at Skytop means taking a step back in time. While they have all the modern conveniences we have come to rely on, it is the 4 pm afternoon tea time you look forward too.
Tea time is served in the main lobby or Pine Room and features an assortment of large, fresh-baked cookies, ice-cold lemonade and an assortment of teas. Once you have made your selections you can choose to enjoy your treats in the main lobby or as we did sitting in rocking chairs on the porch overlooking the grounds.
My boys loved the little chipmunk that decided to join us for tea and cookies. He was very polite and ate a small piece of whatever cookie you gave him.
Downstairs the arcade really takes you back to a time when families were unplugged and played games of ping-pong or went to the malt shop AKA the Tea Room where you will find an old-fashioned luncheonette counter reminiscent of an old-time soda fountain. Order up an egg cream or one of the “World’s Greatest Milk Shakes.”
The halls are peppered with photos and artwork of the Lodge and the many events that have taken place there since 1928. The dog shows, sled races, golf tournaments, tennis matches and so much more. All around you will find pieces from the rich history of this historic resort.
Climb the stairs of the Lodge all the way to the Skytop Observation Post which was used for spotting and reporting enemy aircraft during WWII.  It was manned around the clock by volunteer staff, guests, cottagers and townspeople. for the duration of the war. The observation tower has views of Skytop’s 5,500 acres as well as the Delaware Water Gap and beyond. It is a great place to take photos and just imagine what it must have been like to be a lookout during the war.
Spending time out in nature is something I think a person should do every day, whether it is a morning walk, having coffee admiring the birds in the feeders or a challenging hike, it is good for your mind, body and soul! Skytop has trails throughout the estate property that let you embark and gaze upon the peace and beauty of nature at its finest.
All kinds of trails are available, guided tours, self-guided tours, trails suitable for strollers and trails that are much more challenging. They take you to crystal clear waterfalls, pristine lakes, mountain vistas, ancient forests and more.
The forests are alive with all kinds of wildlife, downstairs there is chart where people list what they saw that day. While we were there, someone spotted a black bear on hole 11 on the golf course, a family of otter swimming under one of the falls and so much more. Beyond that there are blueberries and huckleberries galore.
Downstairs in the lodge there are wildlife exhibits of live snakes and turtles, booklets about wildlife and guides you can take if you are brave enough to venture off on one of the trails yourself.
One of the highlights of our time at Skytop was the time we spent with their naturalist Rick Koval. Rick took us on a tour of the butterfly house and a guided tour of falls. The butterfly house is new and you can take a tour where you will learn all kinds of interesting facts about butterflies and get to feed them. It is utterly informative and absolutely amazing. There are many great photo opportunities too! Check out the caterpillar that looks like he is smiling in the collage below.
The hike with Rick was a real treat. After your first hike with him, you will be scanning the activitiesâ sheet to see when the next walk or hike with him is.  Rick kept parents and kids engaged with his wealth of knowledge about the trees, flowers and wildlife found in the northeast Pennsylvania region and hands-on learning and tasting along the way. Who knew sassafras smelled and tasted like Fruit Loops?
He showed us some of the most poisonous mushrooms, we did not taste test those but took his word for it. We all got hands on with nature and wildlife like the adorable newts we met along the way. The highlight was the beautiful waterfall we all stopped to admire and as we reach the end of our hike we immediately wanted to know when and where the next one was.
After a nice hike it was time to hit the pool. Choose the outdoor or indoor pool or do both since they are connected. Relax and unwind on a chaise while your kids and maybe your husband if he is like mine, cannonball to their hearts desire. Then swim laps in the lap lane of the indoor pool. There is a kiddie pool and large hot tub for adults to soothe sore muscles in.
There are plenty of choices for dining. In the morning there is complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby along with fresh fruit and some fresh-baked goodies. If you are looking for a full breakfast, you can eat at the Windsor Dining Room.
The Windsor Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their cuisine is innovative and supports local farmers and ranchers. Everything is served in a classic setting. Be aware that no jeans, t-shirts, hats or shorts are permitted. On Saturday evenings, jackets are required for men. Ladies and children are also required to wear proper attire.
We really enjoyed the Tap Room, it is more casual and nice for families. They serve a full menu of traditional pub fare including lunch, sandwiches and dinner. I had a BBQ brisket sandwich that was so good my husband could not wait until I said I was too full to finish it! There serve large portions and the food is amazing.
The Inn-Between Deli is conveniently located in the Inn at Skytop between golf holes 9 and 10. The deli serves a light sandwich and salad menu. We found the Inn-Between Deli to be very convenient when we were at the lake and beach with our kids.
Also located at the Inn is the Lakeview Dining Room. Enjoy your meal in a relaxed setting overlooking one of Skytop’s lakes and award-winning golf course. The menu is extensive and offers something for everyone. Jackets are not required but jeans, t-shirts, hats or pool attire is not permitted. The front desk staff can assist with any questions about dining options and make reservations for you.
At night enjoy a marshmallow roast around the campfire or have fun playing Bingo with the other guests, movies are also shown in the afternoon and evenings. There is even a Camp in the Clouds for kids and so many other activities.
Even though in our first few days we had quite a bit of rain it was not constant and in the times of clearing we still were able to do so much. The last couple of days the weather was beautiful and while we did not believe the place could be more beautiful it was. Every time we went about we discovered something new and yet there was still so much we have not experienced.
Besides The Lodge there are other choices for accommodations on the property like the Inn at Skytop, The Cottages and the Stream Side Cottages. We chose the Lodge because we wanted the full, rich experience that only staying in the Lodge can provide.
The Lodge guest rooms were newly renovated in 2015 and the inspiration for their design was Skytop’s history, traditions and the natural beauty of the Pocono Mountains. Incorporating that rich history with today’s modern conveniences led to the three signature designs of the Lodge guest rooms: Water, Garden and Mountain. There are also individually designed suites inspired by Skytop historical figures.
Our Garden theme room was gorgeous with a view overlooking the gardens, outdoor pool and the butterfly house.
Three dormer windows let in the natural light and let us peer down on everything below. In the closet were 2 large umbrellas, 2 handcrafted walking sticks and 2 luxurious robes. Waiting for us when we arrived was a plate of fruit and cheese along with flatbread crackers and a note from the staff. Â The housekeeping service was excellent and made sure we did not want for anything.
The valets were so accommodating and friendly it really was like coming home every time we came back from an activity, hike or trip into town. Shay at the front desk is a real treasure and always had a smile on his face, upon check in he remembered speaking to me the night before and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for our stay. Christy, director of group sales worked her magic to make sure we had everything we needed. The smiles were genuine as was the desire to really help guests have the best possible experience.
Down by the Inn, a short walk from the Lodge is a lake with a beach area. There is a large inflatable island of fun out in the lake that my kids just loved. There is a sandy beach area that is filled with lounge chairs, tables, beach umbrellas and more.
Nothing is overlooked at Skytop, the pool area has stacks and stacks of soft, fluffy, cabana striped beach towels. Down by the lake there are sand toys galore kids can use as well as more stacks of soft, fluffy towels. There are ample lounges, chairs and tables at both pools and on the beach. In the pool area they have fun noodles, diving rings, balls and other pool toys.
The grounds are impeccable and off the porch you will find a nice large playground for kids, a lawn chess set, a kid size golf course and so much more. All kinds of lawn games are available like crochet, volleyball, badminton, lawn bowling and more. If you are the competitive type, there are tournaments you can take part in.
If you are a golfer, you will love the award-winning golf course with spectacular views and the ability to see a variety of wildlife as you are teeing off.
Among the beautiful perennial flowers the gorgeous butterflies and birds. A white gazebo adorned with flower boxes filled with vibrant, red and white geraniums awaits. Take a seat in one of the comfortable rocking chairs and spend some time listening to the calls of area birds like the Northern Cardinal.
The SkyLites Activity Newsletter informs you about all the different activities happening each week. There are daily activities, 7 days a week and an activities desk to register for the things you want to do.
For the adventurous, the Adventure Center has a 3-hour treetop adventure course with challenging obstacles including elevated bridgeways connecting tree platforms, logs hanging from ropes to walk across, ladders, a cargo net and 7 different zip lines. This is not for the little ones, you must be a height of at least 5’11” with your hands above your head and must have a waist size of less than 41″ to participate. Other activities include paintball, rock wall climbing, archery and more.
Skytop Stables in on the property and you can take a western style wilderness ride to the top of the west rim tail for a picture perfect view of the property. The horses are well-natured and there are professional guides to make sure everyone has a great experience.  Pony rides are available and you can also go on a hay ride.
If you are in need of pampering, look no further than the Skyview Spa. The Spa offers a wide selection of stimulating, healing, and innovative spa services that will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.
Bring your dancing shoes because every Saturday night following a tradition from the early 1940’s, children and adults of all ages celebrate the tradition of the Grand March accompanied by the Doug Smith Orchestra. An elimination dance is held right before the Grand March.
Shuttles are available to take guests to different activities and hiking trails from the North Porch.  A beautiful gift shop will let you take home memories in the form of a beautiful pottery mug, silver-plated Christmas Ornament of the Lodge, Skytop logo clothing and more.
Skytop truly is a hidden jewel atop the Pocono Mountains just beckoning to be discovered. Spending time at Skytop is not a vacation it is more than that, it is an extraordinary experience that I feel blessed to have discovered. I know why people return every year to Skytop, it is the perfect blend of past and present where you will create memories to last a lifetime. I know we will be back, next time with the whole family!
If you would like to make reservations at Skytop you can right on their website You can also stay in the loop with them on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any questions please ask in the comments and let me know if you have experienced Skytop, I would love to hear all about it.
I am convinced my kids are part fish, they must have gills somewhere, I just haven’t found them. Living on a lake, as soon as the weather gets warm enough to swim, they want to swim all the time. That is not a bad thing and I have to admit I love it too! We had such a mild winter in New York State this year, this past Memorial Day weekend is the only one I can remember (and I spent every summer on this lake since I was 2 weeks old before moving here full-time) where the water was so warm the kids basically swam all day. Now when I say warm, to many of you that are not used to swimming in natural spring fed lakes, you might think I was nuts, but to those of us lake people it was unseasonably warm. I can remember many Memorial Day Weekends where you could not last 5 minutes in the lake without shivering.
My kids were really excited because we were going to try out our new ParadisePad for the first time. A ParadisePad is a foam pad that floats on top of the water and actually lets you feel like you are walking on water. Awesomely fun, my kids played from early afternoon until just about dark when we had to coax them out of the lake. They slept well but were right back at it the next day. I can tell you this pad is going to have quite the workout this summer.
The ParadisePad can take it though, constructed of premium materials this pad has the best rip stop membrane in the industry! The tear resistant membrane is put between the foam layers to prevent tears from happening. ParadisePad uses a denser foam too and that keeps the mat flatter on the water and helps disperse weight to give it a higher buoyancy rating. Their pads are built to last with UV protection with no adhesives. The ParadisePad is built to hold withstand 900-3000 pounds depending on the size. Designed to be  flexible and portable the ParadisePad comes with two Velcro straps so you can roll it up and take it with you wherever you go. The ParadisePad is made right here in the USA and  comes in 9 color and 3 style options. The pads are available in 2 ply and 3 ply thickness.
We  chose the blue and orange, 2 ply, 18 foot Paradise Pad. Our pad was well packaged for delivery and arrived in a large box.Â
Inside the box the rolled pad was inside a very thick, clear plastic bag and then inside that it was shrink wrapped and had the straps fastened securely. It comes with a 10 foot bungee cord with a clip on each end that hooks to a ring on the mat.Â
There is a sturdy ring on each side of the mat and you attach the bungee to the ring on the side you will be putting down on the water.Â
As soon as we had the bungee secure, the kids were off and playing.
You may find some cheap foam pad options but do you really want a pad that may only last a few weeks to months. If you are looking for a high quality foam pad that is made to last and provide your family with years of fun, then check out ParadisePad. The family owned and operated company is great to deal with and will help you choose the right product for your needs.
ParadisePad takes great pride in being a company that manufactures and processes all of their products in the United States.  ParadisePad supports Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and wounded soldiers. As a way of showing support to our Nationâs veterans and families, ParadisePad is hoping to raise a sizable donation for Folds of Honor, you can learn more about great organization as well as contribute by clicking HERE.
You can stay in the loop with ParadisePad on Facebook and Twitter!
Check out our YouTube video reviewHERE! If you have a ParadisePad, we would love to know what you think of it. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments and I will be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.
Thank you to ParadisePad for sending us the awesome ParadisePad they did to facilitate our review. As always my words and views are 100% my own.
Summer will be here soon and so will the end of the school year for kids. Have you made plans for your kids free time? If you haven’t and you have creative kids ages 6-17 that are interested in computer programming, developing exciting apps, 3D modeling, robotics, graphic design, filmmaking and much more, keep reading!
Digital Media Academy tech summer camps can give your kids the summer experience of a lifetime! Hurry though because they are filling up faster than ever! Catch the savings and SAVE $100 with code CR8TECH16 when you register your child by April 30, 2016.
You can choose from one week DMA Camps, or step it up with two week DMA Academies , all taught by industry experts and tech professionals. Campers get hands-on experience creating projects using the latest hardware and software from Apple, Canon, Adobe, and more.
Digital Media Academy also offers STEM camps just for girls, called Made by Girls! Learn from a female role model and tech professional in an environment of creative girls just like them! Hurry, save $50 with code CR8TECH16 when you register by April 30!
Find your summer camp at DigitalMediaAcademy.org! If you have questions, call them at 1(866)656-3342 or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org. Let me know if you child has already attended one of these programs or you are planning to register them for the first time. Here’s to a creative and fun Summer!
Hello, Iâm Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
