hi again..
On Dec. 23 I drove with my sis and her family to the Poconos for an overnight getaway.
Destination: Great Wolf Lodge ! It is a new indoor waterpark resort,opened in late 2005 , with 400 hotel rooms.
My 8 year old nephew took this pic of me. (I was ready, but my HAIR was'nt) . Oh well, at least it's not a blurry pic!)
www.greatwolflodge.com 
It is in town of Scotrun, just a few miles away from the new slots only casino , the re-opened Mt. Airy Lodge. (no poker tables there, though, shucks..)
here is me, with the "wave pool" in the background, and a few of the slides further back
we went out to dinner at Bailey's Steakhouse in Mt. Pocono.
www.baileyssteakhouse.com ( 6 miles north of Great Wolf Lodge)
I ordered the bone-in ribeye
It was real tasty, as good a steak that I've had at some high end joints.
Bailey's notes on their menu that they take pride in the fact that they use the meat company named Allen Brothers out of Chicago.
and "it's PRIME steak"...
My steak cost about $31.00. An excellent salad bar was included. (I picked it as one of the 2 eligble side dishes) all homemade dressings,
and a real good roll basket was brought to the table.
my 12 year old nephew had the 8 ounce NY Steak. ($19.99)
he could'nt quite finish it, so I glad to offer my assistance!
The NY steak was real good, as well.
My sis enjoyed her baby back ribs, (and she's a real tough rib critic)
although she said the sauce did not taste homemade, it was still good
for lunch the next day, we went to Smugglers Cove in Tannersville.
(the home of Camelback Ski area)
www.smugglerscove.net 
I had found out that they were owned by the same company that owned Bailey's. I had been here once before a year and a half ago, and had some excellent beef ribs that were on the lunch special
Well, it was my lucky day again, as the beef ribs appeared as one of their specials again. And boy, were they special. About the best I've ever had ! So, so, so , good..
as I went to try and cut them apart, I realized that they had ALREADY been cut apart, (in thirds) and made to look put together again.
I thought that was a neat touch, plus it made less work for me cutting them apart!
They were crusty on the outside, and nice and soft on the inside, just the way I like them. The menu claimed it was "sweet baby rays" sauce, so even though the sauce was'nt homemade, it still blended in nice. The ribs were $12.95, including one side. Plus I added the salad bar for only $2.00 more. (they have a real good, similar salad bar , similar to Bailey's) and a real good warm bread basket again..
here is Route 611, in the heart of Tannersville...
my nephew had a nice looking charred burger
I asked how long they have been open..... since 1986, they said
The hotel rooms are not cheap at the G.W.L, but it does include water park passes for 2 days, including after you check out of your room the next morning. Most of the time the rooms cost over $500 a night
(no joke) , but we got a "steal" for $360, as it was a special cause it was 2 days before X-mas
There was a buffet for all meals at G.W.L, ($21.99 for adults for dinner ) but we were'nt espescially crazy about the way it looked, so we ate out instead..
there is also a Pizza Hut, for those in a real fix.
The following week, I got off work early, Sat. Dec. 28th and on a whim, decided to drive Lancaster , PA, /Amish country on my own.
(135 miles each way from my Atlantic City area)
I was excited to try the Hershey Farms Hotel buffet in strasburg, right by Lancaster. After all, Sat. was the only night they serve prime rib!!
I would rate the prime rib as "just okay". It had more of a glorified pot roast taste to me, compared to true prime rib.
I was not reading a "dirty" newspaper during dinner; there is actually an Amish town with this name. (along with Blue Ball, PA)!
But at $20.99, it did not break the bank.
The fried chicken and honey bbq chicken were just okay, nothing special
What I really enjoyed was their desserts!!
My favorite Amish treat, the whoopie pie...( a ring ding shape)
Tastes like a devil dog, but OH, SO much better!
These were mini versions, usually they are ring ding size.
I also loved their homemade cheesecake. And there is the shoefly pie next to the whoopie pies. (don't like that dark molasses taste)
Stayed overnight at the Red Roof Inn in Lancaster ($59.00) not up to par compared with other Red Roof Inn's I've stayed at. (mattress was much too stiff, and heat was much too loud).
The next day happened to be a Sunday...which means almost everything that is Amish owned is closed!! (so no soft pretzels for me at my favorite place, Kitchen Kettle Village)
I headed east on rt 30 towards the town of Gap. As I was approaching the town , I saw this motel with a funny looking name.
made a pit stop at the Exton Square mall, near Downington.
Discovered "Harry's Place" in the food court. (only 1 other location) Nice to see something a little different than Taco Bell and Arby's ,etc in food courts.
I had a hot dog with their "original secret recipe hot meat sauce",
(John Fox and Ken8038 would like this sauce!) (I did, too!)
The burger tasted better than it looked
Next pit stop at King of Prussia mall (northwest suburb of Philly)
This mall is HUGE !! I try to get to it every bunch of months.
I ended up at this pretty cafeteria style place for lunch
had a real good freshly carved hot turkey platter. I asked for a big piece of skin with mine. I seem to like everything that is no good for me.
When I got home, I assembled all these jams and hot sauces I had bought in the Amish Country. (I bought them at Millers Smorgasbord gift shop in Ronks)
another successful roadfood adventure!
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