Pocono Mountains Pennsylvania

Taking a green approach to your next trip to the Pocono’s does not have to be difficult. 
Here are some simple tips

1. Transportation:  Use public transportation while in the Pocono’s.  Visit http://www.gomcta.com for the local bus schedules.  If you do plan to drive make sure you rent the smallest car possible this will save the o2 as well as wallet.  While in the mountains you should make an effort to walk or ride your bike when visiting local business. 
   
2. Accommodations:  When picking a hotel or vacation home make sure you do your research.  The best way to stay green is call the hotel or property management company ahead of time and ask questions such as, do you have solar panels or low flow toilets.  If you really want low impact accommodations try camping for the weekend.  Check out http://www.poconocamping.com for a local campground. 
   
3. Green Activities:  Take the family or friends on a hiking trip for the day and have a contest rewarding the person who picks up the most trash.  If there are people there will be litter.  Make sure you bring a few plastic bags and some gloves. 
   

One of the best things about the Pocono’s is the locally grown and produced products.  While in the Pennsylvania Mountains make sure you stop at one of the many farmer markets for fresh vegetables.  There are also some great wineries, breweries and restaurants that the whole family will enjoy.  Buying products that are produced locally rather than imported will only strengthen your ties to the Pocono’s community.  The effort of spending your money locally will go a long way in protecting your favorite vacation spot. 

Pocono Manor which opened its doors in 1902 plans to spend over a billion dollars in improvements if it gets one of the slot machine license. This is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the area. This is not going to be a small project. If the slots are awarded they plan to build a 20 story 750 room hotel and casino. Not the usually small resort in the Pennsylvania mountains. From what I have heard around the net the builders are doing there best to keep the resort blended into the Pocono mountains background. My question is can you really blend a hugh resort in to the mountains, I hope so.

These projects are so big that not only will the resort properties change a great deal but so will the local roads. One of the plans to keep the locals form feeling the visitor traffic is have a exit ramp off of interstate 380 directly to the resort. Since the slots are coming I hope everyone is starting to think about how to work with the resorts to make sure the Pocono mountains keeps its small town feel.

The meetings over the slot licenses started this week. I am not sure how I feel about slots in the Poconos there is good and bad. What ever happens I hope the area retains its small town feel and protects it environment Nature is the real reason so many people are drawn to the mountains lets not forget it. I would hate to see the area turn into Atlantic City.

Only two resorts have applied for slot licenses which will be awarded by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. From what I hear we will know who gets the license just before the winter holidays in December. The two Pocono resorts that are applying for a slot licenses are Mount Airy Lodge and the Pocono Manor Resort.

• What are People saying about the slots.
  • Some people think that anything that brings in the tourist is good for the Pocono mountains.
  • If the Poconos get the slots it will be another attraction in the area such as skiing that will drive business.
  • Many people think large casinos will ruin the home town feel of the Poconos.
  • Property value will go up.

Jim Thorpe is considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports. The town of Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania known as the “Switzwerland of America” was created to honor him. I have justed added a new page to the Poconos site with information on Him and his town.