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Hilton Scranton and Conference Center

Save Some Vacation Days This Winter for a Ski Trip to the Poconos

If you enjoy skiing, what better place to go than the Poconos this winter! The Pocono Mountains in PA have some of the best skiing in the United States. There are many tempting areas for skiing the Poconos including Sno Mountain and Elk Mountain. The best part is that there is Elk Mountain lodging nearby for added convenience.

Sno Mountain

One of your best options is Sno Mountain in Scranton, PA. The “Learn to Ski Program” there is for all age groups. You can confidently bring your whole family to learn to ski. The children’s program instructors teach children ages 6 to 18. Each student is professionally taught while keeping the individual child’s skill level and special needs in mind. There are also adult ski lessons that are for all levels whether you are a beginner or have just been away from skiing for a while and need to brush up on your skills. There is also a similar snowboarding program. You will be able to rent any equipment you need for skiing or snowboarding including boots and helmets.

The exhilarating snowtubing at Sno Mountain has ten chutes available with a special “Magic Carpet” lift to take people back to the top of the hill. All ages have a marvelous time together snowtubing. After your tubing session you can rest at the fire pit near the chutes.

There is also a NASTAR (National Standard Race) trail at Sno Mountain. NASTAR was begun by SKI Magazine to allow challenging competition between recreational skiers and snowboarders. Four different categories of medals can be won in this competition at Sno Mountain. What fun to have a chance to attend!

Sno Mountain Hotels

There are several moderately-priced places to stay within five miles of Sno Mountain. These offer vacation packages. Relax and unwind at the spa and hot tub at Sleep Inn. Have a delicious continental breakfast at the Clarion. Enjoy the pub and coffee bar at the Hilton. Shop to your heart’s content at the Shoppes at Montage next to the Courtyard Marriott.

Enjoy the many other attractions of beautiful Scranton while you are on your trip. Scranton, PA is a fascinating town with a lot of interesting history. For example, it was the first town in the U.S. to have electricity in the streets and therefore the first to have trolleys. Delight in Scranton’s many superb restaurants and enjoy antiquing in this historic town.

Book a room in a PA ski lodge and take a ski trip to enjoy a winter wonderland in the Poconos this year. You will have a vacation you won’t forget.

Local Business to Experience Bonanza Thanks to Table Games

Eastern Pennsylvania has, like the rest of the state, been experiencing troubles economically. The advent of table games, however, might just be the stimulus that’s needed to get the region back on the upswing again.

Gambling Legalized in PA

The state legislature and Governor Ed Rendell recently passed and signed a new law allowing the play of table games in Pennsylvania, and various casinos around the state were already completely prepared for the phenomenon. As Harrah’s Chester Casino unveiled its tables soon after the bill was signed, and police allowed the gamblers inside, it was easy to see that people were prepared for the legalization. The floor was packed, with happy people playing poker, blackjack, and other popular table games.

Pennsylvania is just getting into the bonanza that people are beginning to discover. The advent of gambling can increase the coffers of the state, but there are other notable effects, as well. For instance, games have already convinced a school board in the eastern part of the state to lower tuition at the Delaware County Community College. Students there may in fact see their tuition rates drop by half.

Eastern PA Casinos Enjoying the Extra Business

The casinos located in the area are expecting to bring in a tremendous amount of business to the area, thanks to people seeking a place to gamble with their spare income. When they travel, they will of course use the Mohegan Sun casino hotels and restaurants, bringing a large source of income that the businesses did not have before. Players need to eat, and they need a place to stay. The Mohegan Sun casino inns and restaurants in the areas where the games can be played will no doubt see a surge in business as players flock to local gaming establishments, to take advantage of new opportunities in more convenient locations.

It is also possible that as the people continue to show and the local casinos become more popular, the casinos may sponsor large-scale tournaments, which not only bring more business in the form of players and spectators, but also bring news coverage to the area for the tournaments. This is all speculation of course, but if the tournaments become popular enough, well-known players may begin attending, bringing not only more business to the area’s hotels and restaurants, but it could even increase population as people become more interested in a bustling, fertile economy. This could, in fact, be the step forward that ignites the dormant economy of eastern Pennsylvania.

Table Games in Eastern Pennsylvania: A Boon for Tourism?

Eastern Pennsylvania is located right near New York City, and shares a lengthy border with the rest of the Empire State. Recently however, there may be signs that the region might be getting a significant increase in tourism.

Plenty of Questions About Gambling

Gambling is a sore spot for many people; some believe that it’s damaging morally, others believe it runs a risk of increasing the crime in the state. However, one thing that cannot be denied is the increase in income for the state that sponsors it. Pennsylvania already had slot machines for some time, and took a tidy sum into the state’s coffers from that. Then the economic downturn hit, so the legislature and Governor Ed Rendell took another step in that direction, signing a bill into law in the last week to allow table games.

The difference between table games and slots, however, is that people generally don’t want to travel particularly far to pull slot machines. However, the draw to go play poker or blackjack in a table game setting is much more intense. This change can draw in more outside visitors and bring in revenue to Scranton gambling hotels.

It’s easy to see – take a long look at the casinos in places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas. People travel for miles and miles to these locations to do their gambling, and most of them don’t spend time shaking hands with the one-handed bandit.

How Table Games in PA Can Change Things

So the advent of table games in eastern Pennsylvania should tap into markets not necessarily tapped into for people. For many New Yorkers, Atlantic City has a negative connotation. It is most possible that many of these sort of New Yorkers might see these new opportunities over in eastern Pennsylvania as a better alternative to Atlantic City.

That of course doesn’t even mention the influx of tourism that should come down from upstate New York and other nearby areas. People who do not want to drive all the way to Atlantic City can instead come to eastern Pennsylvania and spend their extra money there, in the new casinos and new table games. New York is a very big city, and even though Atlantic City may be marginally closer for many of them to travel to, it’s also quite crowded. The newer, cleaner casinos in eastern Pennsylvania should be a quick draw for most of these folks.

Gamblers may soon be flocking to the Eastern PA casino hotels, thanks to these new table games. And if so, it will be a serious boon for the local economy with out of state dollars coming into the state, not to mention that Pennsylvanian gamblers’ dollars will stay in the state, as well.

Atlantic City May See a Hit in Business Thanks to PA's Table Games

Pennsylvania recently enacted legislation adding table games to the sorts of gambling that are legal in the state. Already horse tracks, slot machines, and lottery tickets were allowed under the rules in Pennsylvania, but continued budget shortfalls and interest brought the legislature to a decision that’s actually made fairly common nowadays in many states.

Already, poker, blackjack, and numerous other table games will make their way into the casinos around the state. When Harrah’s unveiled their Eastern PA casino table games, the whole floor was absolutely packed, which shows that gamblers were more than ready to take advantage of the new law, as well as casinos.

A Move Made By PA Changes Everything

Governor Ed Rendell was trying to find a solution to the state’s budget shortfalls. Over the years, constant rising property taxes were beginning to take a serious toll on much of the state, particularly the elderly. So the Governor suggested, and later signed, a bill allowing the addition of slot machines.

There’s more than just a benefit to the state’s coffers, as well. While the state pockets around 60% of the take from the slots, it will only take 14-16% of the take from table games. The money will also be used for other things – some of the money is already being given to the Delaware County Community College, and students may see their tuition costs cut in half, just from the take from the casinos in Chester. That is a huge windfall, and certainly a positive outcome from the introduction of gambling to increase the state’s revenue. Not only that, but Eastern PA gambling hotels can benefit from increased traffic from tourists traveling looking for a game.

This is all good for Pennsylvania, but it’s very worrying for the casino owners and for legislators in neighboring New Jersey, particularly Atlantic City. Other nearby states have also increased their own gambling, which is horning in on the bonanza that Atlantic City brings to New Jersey. Already, Delaware has table games as well as slots, and is planning on expanding table games to even beyond the three horse tracks where they currently reside.

Reaction from NJ

State Senator Richard Codey is greatly worried as this new development of Pennsylvania opening table games inches away more of Atlantic City (and New Jersey’s) revenue. He told The Record of Bergen County that “It’s all around us now, and Pennsylvania only adds to the urgency. We’ve got blinders on, and I don’t get it. Why are we giving away hundreds of millions of dollars to other states?”

New Jersey is exploring other options to increase its gambling revenue, including opening a slots parlor at the Meadowlands, to tap into some of the possible income that could spill over from New Yorkers using the slots.

Sno Cove and Sno Mountain Recreation in Scranton PA

Experience something new this summer and visit the Sno Cove and Sno Mountain Recreation Park. This new facility has fun for every member of your family. Be amongst the first to try out every exciting water feature this newly opened park has to offer. Book any areas of the park for your special occasion or plan a trip for a group to spend the whole day (and if you’re staying overnight don’t forget to book a Sno Cove hotel in advance!) Whatever you do, make certain to visit all recreational water features Sno Cove and Sno Mountain have to offer. You are certain to love every minute of your visit.

Sno Cove Recreation

Water Parks

The water park includes six different entertaining areas to enjoy ongoing activities the entire length of your visit. With the many areas to choose from, you will never get bored. These fun water areas include:
• Sprayers
• Slides
• A lazy river
• A wave pool
• Tube slide
• Body slide
• 8 lane pro racer
• 5 story high Tornado (the main attraction)

Kids

The areas designed specifically for children include kiddie water slides, kiddie fountains and other fun kid activities that are sure to keep your child busy having fun all day.

Non-water activities

Non-water activities are available as well for those that are not fond of water all day. These activities are equally as fun and are sure to keep you satisfied for endless hours. These activities include:
• Mini golf
• Batting cages
• Bumper boats
• Volleyball
• Horseshoes
• Zip Rider: This is a cable ride that reaches a fastest speed of 60 mph while you zip over the entire water park that spans over the course of half of a mile.

Sno Mountain

Sno Mountain is an entirely different experience than Sno Cove. While Sno Cove is a water recreational park, Sno Mountain is an actual Ski Slope recreational park. If you have never skied before, there is no need to fret. Sno Mountain offers guests several classes to help them learn how to ski. The training takes place right on the many slopes available inside this park. The various trails range from the easiest beginner slopes to the experienced most difficult slopes. The beginner slopes start with a 35 percent slope and the most difficult slopes are ten percent sloped.

Two-hundred and seventy snow guns keep this recreational park full of snow. Most guests choose to come to the park and participate in the night skiing that is available. This phenomenal park also includes seven lifts that take you from one location to wherever you wish to go within the park. If you are a novice skier or if you are a professional skier, Sno Mountain will satisfy your thrill and keep you coming back for more. Come for a day, or a whole week; regardless of what you do Sno Mountain offers great fun, and Sno Mountain lodging offers a great place to stay!

The Poconos Mountains Offer Endless Summertime Fun

Nestled in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, the Poconos Mountains offer varied and exciting summertime activities. Whether you are looking for an outdoor adventure, a quiet fishing hole, or shopping and relaxing at a spa, the Poconos Mountains have plenty to offer! Best of all, it is easy to travel to, and also easy to find a Pocono Mountains hotel near wherever you want to be.

A Look Back in History

Pennsylvania is brimming with historical sites and museums. Jim Thorpe, Palmerton, Lehighton and Honesdale (just to name a few of the cities) offer excellent history district where you can explore the past and learn more about the early settlers of the area. For a “hands on” experience, be sure to visit the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg. There you will find what is was like to live 150 years ago, including how they dressed, what they ate, and even what chores you would have!

National, State and Local Park a Plenty

The Poconos Mountain area boasts an impressive 21 National, State and Local Parks. The Steamtown National Historic Site relives the days of steam locomotives and life on the rail. Learn how to change the wheel on a steam engine, or take a ride on a train that helped build the nation in the 19th century. Lehigh Gorge State Park is a 21 mile canyon through the Poconos Plateau with steep walls, rocky outcroppings and waterfalls. This is a superb spot for some quiet reflection or white water explorations.

Drop a Line in River or Lake

It is said that an angler can fish a different body of water every day for month in the Poconos and never fish the same spot twice. Thanks to the hundreds of miles of river and streams, and hundreds of lakes and ponds, anyone with a desire to wet a hook can find lots of great places to relax and enjoy fishing.

Family Fun

If you’re looking for some family fun this summer, the Poconos is the place to be. Dozens of family park and attractions are open, including animal parks, water parks and amusement parks. Claw and Paws Wild Animal Park, just east of Hamlin, offers visitors the chance to see over 120 wild animals including a buffalo, a panther, a giraffe and even a white tiger! The Carousel Water and Fun Park in Beach Lake lets families enjoy water slides, go karts and miniature golf for all one price. If your family wants to experience a new state of the art scavenger hunt, don’t miss the Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun. Only four year old, this resort lodge offers dining, shopping, lodging and MagiQuest, and exciting interactive scavenger hunt game. There is other Pocono Mountains lodging available as well.

No matter what your searching for summer, the Poconos Mountains offer visitors almost every type of vacation spot available.

Ways to Make Extended Business Trips to Scranton PA Easier

It is 6 o’clock, the sun has barely reached the crest of your window, and you suddenly remember that you are not at home. You have a 7:30 meeting this morning and you have no time to dry clothes that you left in the hotel laundry last night. On top of the stress you realize that after work you will be a virtual prisoner within the walls of your hotel room. You have now found yourself in a town you do not know with acquaintances that are strictly business. There are many ways to make the most of your business trip. Though it sounds simple this can be achieved by getting appropriate lodging, bringing your best friend, and by doing a little local research.

Get Appropriate Lodging in Scranton PA

Realize that when on an extended business trip you will be out of your element, prepare to face moments of unfilled time, and this challenge can be overcome. One suggestion is to staying in an Scranton PA extended business hotel where furnishings and staff are comfortable and inviting. Extended stay hotels often include appliances and necessities for food preparation and storage that might help curb a midnight snack without a trip to the vending machine.

Bring Your Best Friend

It helps to have some company when you’re away, so why not look into pet friendly hotel rooms in Scranton. This way you can bring your pet along with you, so you have someone to come home to at the end of the day.

Local Research

Local entertainment is often more available then you would think. Scranton Pennsylvania, for example, has an amazing cultural center that has featured artists like Green Day, Santana, and Carrie Underwood along with productions like “Wicked,” and Disney’s “The Lion King.” Tickets and reservation can be bought online before taking an extended business trip.

So the next time you find yourself away from home consider first following these steps and you can turn an extended trip into a mini vacation that even your spouse would like to join.

Great Places to Check Out While Visiting Scranton Pennsylvania

Scranton is located in North East Pennsylvania and has a population just over 70,000. While Scranton is known for its past rich in coal, iron and railroads there is much more to this industrial town.

Steamtown National Historic Site

Celebrating the historic significance of railroads in Scranton, the Steamtown National Historic Site is both a museum and a historic railroad. Here you will find a working replica roundhouse and turntable with two of the roundhouse sections being original to the DL&W Railroad of the early 1930′s. Steamtown opened in 1995 with the goal of telling the story of mainline steamrails between 1850 and 1950. There is a Visitor Center along with a Theater, History and Technology Museums. There are also plenty of Steamtown National Historic Site lodging available as well.

Park Rangers provide guided tours and summer camps are also offered. The park is open daily with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. The Park Entrance Fee is $6 for all visitors 17 and older. For an additional $3 for all visitors 6 and over there is a short train excursion available.

Pocono Mountains

The nearby Pocono Mountains provide year round fun. In the winter there are ample opportunities for snow skiing, even at night at some of the resorts. Sno Mountain Ski Resort features the steepest ski slope in all of Pennsylvania. In the summer many of the ski mountains turn into water parks. For summer fun, the Poconos include a national park, seven state parks and seventeen game lands. The many lakes and rivers lend themselves to activities such as white water rafting, canoeing and water skiing. In the fall the mountains are covered with brilliantly colored foliage and are a prime destination for campers. There are also Pocono Mountains hotels ranging from the economical to the luxurious.

Houdini Museum

Harry Houdini performed several times in Scranton and the Houdini Museum serves as a tribute to the magician. It includes artifacts, memorabilia and documents showcasing his life. There is also a magic show performed for visitors. Reservations are required.

Everhart Museum

This is a natural history museum located in Nay Aug Park. The museum is home to approximately 20,000 objects with about half focusing on the arts including a large display of folk art. The other half of the museum focuses on natural science specimens.

Plenty to See in Scranton PA

As you can see there are plenty of activities for your next visit to Scranton, PA. Don’t delay, plan your next trip today!

Ways to find Downtown Scranton PA Hotel Packages on the Internet

The advent of the internet made finding a hotel package online as simple as logging on, typing in some keywords and scrolling down a list to find the perfect one for you. There are several methods available to both the online savant and the neophyte. Since the search will most likely return over a hundred possibilities it is important to decide beforehand the three to five most important amenities that you want in a hotel package. Whether it is a pool, workout room, local deals or a king-size bed knowing exactly what you want will quickly reduce the list to just a few that will suit you. You can find downtown Scranton PA hotel suites packages in just a few moments by using one or more of the search options below.

Google Search

This is perhaps the most popular way to search for hotel deals and packages. It is a simple program where you can type in as little as “package deal Scranton PA” to “hotel in Scranton PA with heated pool, indoor gym and continental breakfast”. The top of the list are the websites that are either highly ranked by Google or have the most user views, which usually means they are well-liked by people searching for the same thing as you. But don’t check out just the first page, sometimes there is a hidden gem on the third or fourth one that might be exactly what you want.

Travel Booking Websites

These sites are a great way to find packages that link your airline tickets to a car rental or hotel room with just a few extra clicks. Different companies partner together to lower their rates to offer the consumer a competitive value. It is best to use sites that offer a rebate if another customer finds the same package at a lower price than you paid.

Hotel Website

If you are already settled on one brand of hotel you can go directly to their website to see what deals they are offering. In this economy hotels are offering fantastic rates to stay competitive, so it pays off to see if there are Scranton PA business lodging packages or family packages available. If you don’t see a package you want but are determined to use that hotel, call or email to negotiate! It is always best to remember that you are the customer and they need your business so searching for the perfect package at the right price is your right.

Within just a few minutes you will be able to find the right package for you at a price that will make you a satisfied customer.

Many Options for Elk Mountain Lodging in Eastern Pennsylvania

Elk Mountain has been Pennsylvania’s premier vacation destination for more than fifty years. Countless visitors have enjoyed the beauty and hospitality of Scranton’s famous resort area. Where to stay is never an issue because this resort area contains lodgings to meet every visitor’s expectations. Accommodations from grandiose to simplicity complete the Elk Mountain experience.

Bed and Breakfast Inns

Elk Mountain offers fine accommodations for visitors seeking unique experiences during their stay. An interesting assortment of places offers luxurious accommodations with spectacular views, romantic moments and special touches to provide a memorable stay. Each inn offers a unique theme from a totally organic experience to historical antiques and a stay at one of Elk Mountain’s bed and breakfast inns will cater to the desires of lodgers. Whether privacy and delicious food, or a nostalgic yearning for the past is important, these inns will not disappoint even the savviest traveler. Whatever the choice of inns, innkeepers strive to ensure guest stays are an experience in Elk Mountain ambience.

Resort Motels, Hotels and Inns

Elk Mountain enjoys a variety of motels and hotels to provide accommodations to meet everyone’s budgets and comfort levels. From major well-know chains to special one-of-a-kind inns, these lodgings offer a variety of services to please visitors. Elk Mountain hotels offer a variety of services from all the accommodations of home away from home to the basic requirements.

Some places offer group lodging for groups wishing to plan a ski or nature getaway. Many places offer complete packages for visitors and are conveniently located within walking distance of places of interest. Often, these lodgings are conveniently located within walking distance of places or activities of interest. Plus if you feel like brining your four-legged friend along, there are plenty of Scranton pet friendly hotels around.

Elk Mountain Lodges

Elk Mountain has fine lodges to complete the natural experience of visitors. Aside from winter skiing, year round this area offers outdoor activities for the nature enthusiastic. These lodges provide accommodations that cater to the whims of their lodgers including delicious food and comfortable rooms.

Apartments and Timeshares

For visitors wishing to remain for longer periods, furnished apartments in a range of prices are available. Timeshares are also available for people who wish to invest in a favorite vacation destination. Elk Mountain has a lodging type to meet everyone’s requirements for an unforgettable stay in one of America’s most beautiful and hospitable vacation locations.