Enjoy the season: For those who don’t mind a short car ride to try something new, there are several options to get out and enjoy the winter weather in a unique way in Pennsylvania. For example, area residents are welcome to try dog sledding at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
For a fee ($150 for one rider, $25 for additional up to four, $250 during holidays), small groups get a kennel tour and a ride from the resort’s own sled dog team, an experience that totals one hour of your time. The ride, which takes two people at a time and allows for an ATV following so groups can switch out during the course of the adventure, gives participants a unique view of the property.
Reservations are required for this fun experience. It is also important to double check, to make sure the weather is right for dog sledding. Otherwise, hours for this are 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Holiday dates are Nov. 22-25, Dec. 22-31, Jan 19-21 and Feb. 15-18. For more information, visit https://www.nemacolin.com/activities/snowsports/activities.
If dog sledding isn’t your style, then there is always wind skating at Presque Isle State Park. Using ice skates, those who are prepared for a bit of wind courtesy of the lake and the use of a big kite, can enjoy a speedy adventure across the ice. If that’s too fast for you, there’s regular ice skating and ice fishing, as well as walking trails ready for winter enthusiasts to enjoy.
If you are still looking for something unique, try winter paintball or luge — both available in the Pocono Mountains. Winter paintball can be found at Skirmish USA (www.skirmish.com), a 750-acre facility with a variety of games and playing fields available. Meanwhile, for luge, visit the Blue Mountain Ski Area and the only natural East Coast USA luge track — with the state’s highest vertical. This track is open to the public, and riders can opt for a tube, a mini bobsled or a luge sled for the almost 2,000-foot-long course.
