Pennsylvania As A Romantic Getaway

Norm Goldman, Editor of the travel site, and thewedding? A friend of mine and his bride and their
book reviewing and author interviewing site,families performed a Quaker ceremony on a covered
interviews Joanne Miller expert and author onbridge outside a small B&B in the Laurel
PennsylvaniaHighlands. You can spend your romantic getaway
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of and welcomes asfly-casting in a clear stream without another soul in
our guest, Joanne Miller, author of Moon Handbook:sight, and retire to a blazing fire and a glass of wine
Chesapeake Bay Avalon Travel 2004: Moonin a cabin, or walk all day from museum to museum,
Handbook: Maryland/Delaware Avalon Travel (firststopping only to have sushi for lunch, Indian for
edition 2002, second edition 2004)dinner, then try a club or two for jazz, comedy, or
Best Places Marin Sasquatch Press, 2003: Moondancing.
Handbook: Pennsylvania Avalon Travel (first editionThe entire state is within a few hours driving distance
1998, second edition 2001, third edition 2005).of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie or Scranton (where
Joanne is here to pass on some of her extensivethe main airports are). Having spent more than 10,000
knowledge about the State of Pennsylvania.miles on the road, I can tell you that getting there IS
Good day Joanne and thank you for agreeing tohalf the fun.
participate in our interview:Norm:
Norm:If you had to choose the five most unique and
Joanne, could you tell our readers something aboutromantic venues in Pennsylvania, which ones would
yourself, how long have you lived in Pennsylvania,you chose, where are they situated and why would
your writing experience, and your expertise pertainingyou consider these five?
to Pennsylvania?Where shall I start?
Joanne:****Ah, the Poconos! In June: mountain laurel blooms
I escaped from New York to State College, PA inpink in the hills, quaint little towns beckon, and
the mid-1970s. I was familiar with the area becausetwo-story champagne-glass-shaped hot tubs for two
my boyfriend went to Penn State, and we tookwelcome honeymooners to the ultimate romantic
frequent vacations there and made a lot of greatfantasy. Yes, the famous Pocono honeymoon resorts
friends. We traveled around quite a bit, mostly toare still bubbling strong, tickling the knickers off
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, it was hard to leavenewlyweds, olderweds, and lovers lacking legal
Happy Valley as we locals called it.definition. Caesars resorts were the first to have
Years later, after I published a few short stories (Iheart-shaped swimming pools. Now, according to
have one coming out in soon), and written articlesMorris B. Wilkens, designer of the first valentine-style
and interviews for publications such as Travel Holiday,soaker, they're everywhere. The fantasy-glass hot
the Los Angeles Times, and Writer's Market, Itub is another product of his fecund brain: I hit on the
learned that Moon was interested in a book on theidea of a jacuzzi in the shape of a champagne glass.
state. When I sent in the proposal, the editor said,Champagne ... says romance and marriage more than
isn't it in the (ominous pause) RUST BELT? Sillyany other liquid I know. So I built a prototype, made
goose. Pennsylvania is one of the most beautifulit seven feet tall, and used the same material that's
places on the planet, and thanks to this book, I gotused for helicopter bubbles. To test them for
to travel to the farthest corners of the state. Itstrength, I filled them with water and banged them
took me three years to complete the research andwith sledgehammers for three weeks. Not a very
writing, and by the time I finished, I was more in loveromantic visual, but Caesars champagne tower suites
with this gorgeous place than ever.are booked up months in advance. Caesars has
Norm:several resorts in the area, all slightly different, all
Could you tell our audience something aboutgreat--and there are plenty of other
Pennsylvania, where it is situated, its climate,one-price-inclusive resorts (room, meals,
geography etc,entertainment, and often golf or other sports
Joanne:included) and inns in the Poconos that cater to lovers,
Pennsylvania is the birthplace of America: Georgeso don't despair if all you're looking for is a simple
Washington, Ben Franklin and other rabblerousersweekend away.
opted for independence from Great Britain in**** If a pre-formed package and lots of other
Philadelphia in 1776. In addition to countless uniquecuddling couples isn't your style, try this. Cook
American history sites, the state was founded byNational Forest (south of the vast Allegheny National
William Penn to insure religious freedom to all whoForest) in northeast Pennsylvania features one of the
dwelt there, and today it's home to large groups oforiginal stands of trees on the continent. It's
Old Order Amish, a quaint, black-garbed religious sectuncrowded, beautiful, and surrounded by several
who disdain modern life and continue to farm byB&Bs that cater to twosomes. The secluded
hand and visit in their horse-drawn buggies. PittsburghCook Homestead Bed and Breakfast is a favorite.
is the most American of cities: literally built on theHiking and kayaking are big pastimes here. It's also
ashes of burnt-out industries, it has become a modelnear one of the best breweries in the universe,
of new energy technology and intelligent urbanStoudt's home of the eternal tap (well, not quite
renewal thanks to the hard work of Pittsburgherseternal they try to discourage visitors from having
themselves.more than two tankards). If you're in luck, the local
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is in theelk herd will be hanging out at the airport.
northeastern section of the US, in the Mid-Atlantic**** While you're in the northwest, Pennsylvania's
region, surrounded by New York state, New Jersey,wine country (not an oxymoron, thank you) is
Maryland and Ohio (and a bit of West Virginia). It's aanother fun place to be. Just north of Erie, this lovely
big place--45,888 square miles and roughly rectangular.area offers bike rides, wineries to visit and sample,
With only four major urban areas in the stateand those romantic B&Bs. Plus, you're close to
(Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie and Scranton/Wilkesthe city and its eateries and museums. Try the Grape
Barre), wilderness is abundant: there are 117 stateArbor Inn in North East.
parks 20 state forest districts comprise over two****If outdoor recreation is your aim, the Laurel
million acres--about one-tenth of the total forest inHighlands, south of Pittsburgh, has it all. You can stay
Pennsylvania.in quaint B&Bs in charming small towns (the Inn
On a topographical map, the terrain looks as if a giantat Century Hill is very pretty) or in full-service resorts
wildcat's paw swiped across the state in an arc fromthat offer everything from spas to haute cuisine in a
northeast to southwest this is the continuation of thevariety of price ranges (a couple, such as Seven
Appalachian Mountain Range that tumbles down theSprings, offer particularly good ski packages in
east coast of America. Under various names, thewinter). There's hiking in several state parks, rafting
Appalachian Plateau makes up more than half theon the Youghigheny (call it the yuck, and you're
total area of the state. The rugged Alleghenyinstantly in the in crowd), and two outstanding
Mountains and Poconos are on the northeastern edgeexamples of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture (one
of the plateau. Around Scranton, the underlying rockhas a particularly good outdoor art collection) the
has folded like a paper fan along the SusquehannaJohnstown Flood Museum and Westmoreland
River and its tributaries lay one of the few anthraciteMuseum of Art are among many other attractions.
coalfields in the world--ancient carbon as smooth and**** Pittsburgh can't be beat. When you're looking
hard as glass. The dramatic granitic peaks and valleysdown from the top of Mt. Washington over the
of the Poconos contrast with the southwesternsparking glass towers of the city skyline and the
terrain of smooth, rounded, wooded hills nearmeeting point of the Allegheny and Monongahela
Pittsburgh a soft coal area. In the northwest, alongrivers--The second most beautiful view in America
the edge of Lake Erie, a 50-mile-wide strip of flat andaccording to USA Weekend Magazine you really get
fertile land hugs the shore--the Great Lakes Plain.a sense of why Pittsburghers revived this city and
The Piedmont Plateau is a region of lowlands andmade it one of the best in America. It has incredible
gentle hills southeast of the Allegheny Mountains. Theart museums (The Warhol, Mattress Factory,
area is extremely fertile the lush terrain, like velvet inCarnegie Institutes and more), modern science
a jewel box, boasts some of the best farmland inmuseums, great restaurants, inns, B&Bs and
the country. The area has remained productive due,hotels all on a smaller scale than most cities, and at
in large part, to the soil conservation methodsmid-west prices! The Appletree B&B in
practiced by the Amish, who have dwelt there inShadyside is in one of my favorite neighborhoods.
large numbers since colonial days. Southeast of the*** I couldn't help myself. Last (but certainly not
Piedmont is Pennsylvania's portion of the Atlanticleast) is Philadelphia, that has it all (including, alas,
Coastal Plain, a narrow strip of land covered by thehigher prices). This city has world-class art museums
city of Philadelphia.(Philadelphia Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary
Pennsylvania experiences four discrete seasons,Art, The Barnes Foundation and more), science
though climate varies according to longitude, latitude,museums, Independence Hall National Historic Park
and elevation. Winter commonly brings snow (in(with Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and many
varying amounts) to most of the state, andother historic buildings), America's first penitentiary,
temperatures then range from below zero to themultiple-award-winning hotels (The Four Seasons and
high 30s F. Spring warms up, with temperaturesThe Ritz) and restaurants (Le Bec-Fin, both dining
hovering in the 40s and 50s, leading into June's 60srooms in the Four Seasons and Ritz, and many, many
and 70s and eye-dazzling profusion of green leavesothers), shopping. This is a major American city, with
and wildflowers. Summer temperatures seldom reachall the trimmings. Most romantic place to stay? The
over 100 degrees F, though warm days are oftenGables, in University City, or the club floor at the Ritz.
accompanied by high humidity under the lush shadeNorm:
of fully leaved deciduous trees. Evenings during theWhen is the best time to visit Pennsylvania from the
summer months cool down from daytime highs butpoint of view of weather, costs, etc?
generally remain warm. September is generally veryJoanne:
warm, but things begin cooling down rapidly throughEvery season is a stunner in this state. Winter is
October and November, as the days grow shorterstark and clear spring is bursting with color summer is
and brilliantly colored trees and shrubs blanket thenearly tropical, and fall is drop-dead gorgeous.
region. By December, temperatures flirt with the lowPhiladelphia is best in the early fall, especially after the
20s in preparation for the snows and clean blackcrowds have left. Try to get there before
branches of January.mid-September. Pittsburgh is good all year round,
Rain is common except during the winter months.though a bit grey in the winter. Prices don't vary
Hurricanes--most of their wind- and rain-power spentmuch in the cities at any time of year. Generally you'll
by the time they enter the state--blow through fromget better deals mid-week.
the south occasionally during the fall and spring.The Poconos and Laurel Highlands are heavily visited
Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, hasin the summer and fall no surprises there. The forest
the most moderate climate, with a mean annualareas in the north are popular all year round winter
temperature of 52 degrees F and an average annualsports such as snowmobiling and snowshoeing are big.
snowfall of 30 inches. Southwestern Pennsylvania,Winter brings lower rates except in the ski resorts.
near Pittsburgh, and Erie, on the Great Lakes Plain,The Piedmont where most Amish culture is settled is
have similar climates, with slightly lower temperaturesmost popular in the summer, but the Amish way of
and more snowfall. The greatest weather extremeslife continues year-round, and quite a few B&Bs
occur in the northeastern and north-central mountains.and inns are open all year.
Norm:Norm:
Do you consider Pennsylvania a great place for aWhat should people know about celebrating a
romantic getaway or wedding destination and if so,wedding in Pennsylvania from the point of view of
why?requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc?
Joanne:Joanne:
Whatever appeals to your readers, Pennsylvania hasPutting together a wedding in the cities is no problem.
it. If a formal wedding in a cathedral followed by ait's a big source of revenue for hotels, and their
reception in an elegant hotel is of interest, Philadelphiaplanners can smooth the path considerably.
and Pittsburgh both come to mind. A small intimate