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VACATION & TRAVEL A N
A N T O N
M E D I A
G R O U P
S P E C I A L
OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2016
Indian Summers in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
INSIDE: Best Poconos Foliage Views • Travel Discounts
Your Neighborhood Boutique Travel Agency Building a Lifetime of Memories One Vacation at a Time 2890 Hempstead Tpke. Levittown, NY • 516-500-3600
981 Port Washington Blvd. Port Washington, NY • 516-218-4000
11-16 154th St. Whitestone, NY • 718-767-5455
NEW LOCATION: 2300 Nesconset Hwy., Stony Brook • 631-941-0100
MAJORS TRAVEL OF NEW DORP 45 New Dorp Plaza • Staten Island, NY 718-979-3900 153115B
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VACATION & TRAVEL • OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2016
Festive Fun
1. Hop on a hayride. Snuggle up to your loved ones and draw in the crisp autumn air. Mountainside hayrides are a must at many of the region’s fall festivals. 2. Embark on an apple or pumpkin picking adventure. Make lasting autumn memories when you pick your own apples or pumpkins in the Pocono Mountains. 3. Get Festive. Spirited celebrations abound in autumn. Enjoy great food, music and fun for all at some of the region’s famous fall festivals.
Tours and Sightseeing
4. Find a fall foliage train excursion. Experience the excitement of a rail car ride. Fall foliage train excursions are a wonderful way to celebrate autumn in the Pocono Mountains. 5. Attend an environmental
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Ways To View Fall Foliage BY BRIAN BOSSUYT specialsections@antonmediagroup.com
education event. Learn about the lush Pocono Mountains landscape and the creatures that call it home. Head out with a naturalist and soak up some Pennsylvania scenes and stories. 6. Go for a drive. Scenic stretches of road, such as Route 507 near Lake Wallenpaupack, offer unmatched views of autumn foliage. Hop in the car for a scenic drive...and be sure to stop for fall fun along the way. 7. Take to the skies. Get a bird’s eye view of the brilliant autumn scenery during a fall foliage air tour of the Pocono Mountains. 8. Take a vineyard tour. Experience the beauty of a mountainside winery in autumn. Vineyard tours allow travelers to drink in the scenery... and flavors of the Pocono Mountains. Cheers. 9. Take a walking tour. Sightseeing in the Pocono Mountains extends far beyond man made attractions. Discover the rich history of the region as you stroll beneath the falling leaves.
Autumn Accommodations
10. Go camping. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world. Spend the night in one of the Pocono Mountains’ pristine campsites and make warm autumn memories beside a crackling fire. 11. Steal away with your sweetheart. Cozy up against the chill of autumn.
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he Pocono Mountains are home to 127 indigenous species of trees, plants and shrubs that illuminate the region come autumn. One of the most popular times to visit the region autumn inspires wonderful festivals, activities and special offers that celebrate fall foliage and the season’s many splendors. Here’s a list of 25 ways to enjoy the fall season and scenery in the Pocono Mountains:
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Water Recreation
13. Go fishing. Enjoy a relaxing day of sport fishing amid the bold colors of autumn. 14. Take a canoe or kayaking trip. Float along the pristine waters of the Pocono Mountains and enjoy unique views of the changing mountain landscape. 15. Spend a day sailing or boating. Enjoy a leisurely lake cruise or a speedy sailboat ride. The wooded lakes of the Pocono Mountains offer some of the region’s prettiest panoramas.
Outdoor Adventure
16. Take a hike. Savor the scenery as you stroll along the wooded pathways of the Pocono Mountains. More than 260 miles of hiking trails wind through the region, revealing scenic vistas, tumbling waterfalls and lush Pocono Mountains foliage. Find the route that’s right for you. 17. Go for a bike ride. Marvel at the Pocono Mountains’ majesty from the seat of a mountain bike. Enjoy an awesome autumn outing on one of many forested bike paths. 18. Step into the saddle. Hit the trails on horseback for a unique view of the changing mountain scenery. Many of the region’s riding stables offer guided rides through scenic wooded trails. 19. Hit the links. Crisp autumn air and bright fall foliage enhance the allure of Pocono Mountains golf courses. Play a round on one of the region’s iconic courses and enjoy
breathtaking views of the changing scenery. 20. Speed down Blue Lightning Tubing or the CBK Mountain Coaster. Feel the autumn wind in your hair as you glide along these unique Pocono Mountains attractions. Both offer unmatched vantage points for viewing the fall foliage. 21. Swing through the trees. What better way to see the trees than from the trees? Swing, pull, climb and zip your way through the fall foliage during a run through a treetop adventure course. 22. Play a game of disc golf. Unlike traditional golf, this ever-growing sport can be played through a variety of terrain. Disc golf courses are often set in parks and wooded areas, making them prime places for leaf-peeping...and friendly competition. 23. Try paintball. Experience fast-paced fun and excitement in the great outdoors. A game of Pocono Mountains paintball will leave you (almost) as colorful as the trees. 24. Go zip lining. Fly through the air above the reds and oranges of autumn. Zip lining experiences are available at many Pocono Mountains destinations. 25. Skydive. Freefall 13,500 feet above the blazing fall foliage for a view unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s an adventure fit for your bucket list. Looking for the best time to view the fiery foliage? The Pocono Mountains has three distinct color zones, which peak at different times throughout the season. Visit www. poconomountains.com for more details on each of these ideas. Brian Bossuyt is the director of marketing for Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.
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Enjoy a couples-only escape complemented by the brilliant fall foliage. 12. Take a family vacation. Festivals, pumpkin patches, hayrides and more—autumn in the Pocono Mountains brings endless opportunities for family fun. But don’t just day-trip. Check out the top picks for awesome autumn vacation spots.
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Take A Discounted Trip
Everyone wants to take a break from school, work or their home, but traveling has become very expensive. Here are some sites, agencies and tips for getting the best travel discounts. Top-rated travel websites for the best discounts include Priceline.com, Expedia.com and Booking.com. These sites help users find the best deals on hotels, cars, flights, vacation packages, cruises and more with an easy-to-use interface. A quick tip for booking a hotel through a travel site: Call the hotel after viewing the price online. Sometimes hotels can give you a better deal over the phone. Also, booking an apartment or home through websites such as Airbnb.com may be cheaper than reserving a hotel room. Although many people generally use travel websites to book their vacations today, travel agencies still have the ability to find hotels, flights and vacation packages for discounted rates without all of the confusion. With a travel agent, the customer does not have to lift a finger to search for the deals, because the agent is able to search for them. Blue Ribbon Travel
has locations in both Levittown and Port Washington, and offers constant deals on their website and through their travel agents. “Usually, when you want to get the best deals, you should book your vacation two to three months in advance,” said Debbie Falco of Blue Ribbon Travel. “If you go through a travel agency, we have the means of going to different vendors and companies to get a cheaper rate. Always book in advance, especially during holiday season and definitely book them as soon as you know, even possibly a year before.” If you’re thinking of taking a trip to the Bahamas to lay in the sand, Blue Ribbon Travel says the best time to go is during September through November. However, the weather can be unpredictable, so you just have to be careful. “Usually the most expensive time to go to Europe is the summer months from May to September,” said Falco. “The off-season is usually the best time to go because it’s cooler and less crowded.” Airfare is usually the most expensive part of a vacation. The cheapest times to travel are the first two weeks of December (between the Thanksgiving and Christmas rush), the last three
weeks in January and early February. Most of spring and fall are considered travel dead zones with the exception of the “spring break” weeks in both March and April. There is also a time to buy cheaper plane tickets. For domestic flight tickets, one should buy tickets four months before the departure date for the cheapest tickets. For international flights, one should purchase tickets either five-and-a-half or one-anda-half months before the departure. Peak travel season occurs in June,
July, August, and December. If you need to travel during these months, a ticket should be purchased two months prior to the departure date. It’s time to take advantage of the travel websites and agencies, get discounts, and take that well-deserved vacation. Visit www.travelblueribbon.com for more information about vacation deals through Blue Ribbon Travel.
Published by Anton Media Group KARL V. ANTON, JR. Publisher, 1984–2000 ANGELA SUSAN ANTON Editor and Publisher FRANK A. VIRGA President STEVE MOSCO Senior Managing Editor CHRISTY HINKO Managing Editor, Special Sections ALEX NUÑEZ Art Director KAREN MENGEL Director of Production IRIS PICONE Director of Operations SHARI EGNASKO Executive Assistant JOY DIDONATO Director of Circulation
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SEA HISTORY ALIVE! Visit Mystic Seaport, America’s leading maritime museum—board the Charles W. Morgan, stroll through a recreated 19th-century village, explore ground-breaking exhibits, and much more. Members receive FREE admission year-round and join in October to enjoy a free bowl of chowder! B E CO M E A M E M B E R TO DAY Call 8 60.572 .53 39 a nd u se code MEMFALL16 , or vis it us o n l i n e at www.myst ics eap o r t.o rg/ j o i n /c h owde r O f fe r exp i re s O ctober 31, 2016 . Coming to Mystic Seaport by ferry is easy. Take the Port Jefferson ferry to Bridgeport or the Orient Point ferry to New London. TM
Mystic Seaport • 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355
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BY CHRISTINA CLAUS specialsections@antonmediagroup.com
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VACATION & TRAVEL • OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2016
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