Getaway Guide To Valentine's Day On The Slopes

The calendar doesn't make it easy. But then again, romance and togetherness on the slopes doesn't sway to the rhythm of a calendar. While we were hoping for a romantic Valentine getaway weekend tinged with a mountain windburn on our cheeks, Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday this year. No problem. Celebrate the weekend before, after or on vacation time. So, where can you ski, ride and find Valentine quality dining within 4 hours of home? Here's where.

SEVEN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN RESORT

Seven Springs in Western Pennsylvania is probably the most complete four-season resort in the state - everything from skiing to shooting sports with its own restaurant array that caters to every budget level from fast food to "Special Event" elegance. For Valentine dining , let's splurge at Helen's. This elegantly rustic restaurant is separated from the main lodge and nestles at the base of the slopes. The evening begins at the mountain view piano bar for cocktails and appetizers. Then a lingering dinner in a fireplace warmed and dimly lighted room. The plate can be as simple as a fresh trout or as restaurant rare as venison. The day will be spent on the 35 sprawling slopes and trails that provide a mix of beginner to advanced runs in an Allegheny forest setting. For riders, 4 terrain parks and 2 pipes get you airborne and riding the rails and walls. Lodging is a mix of major resort hotel with bars, eateries, roller rink and bowling alleys, or in cozy mountain chalets.

LIBERTY MOUNTAIN

I've always enjoyed Liberty Mountain, just west of Gettysburg as much for the surrounding countryside and one historic inn as I have for the skiing and spectacular Catoctin Mountain views from the summit. A comfortable hotel attached to the main lodge and it's variety of bars and restaurants is just steps from the lifts. An ice skating rink gives the complex a New England feel. Twenty slopes and trails include 3 terrain parks. Now, for that dinner. The nearby Fairfield Inn  dates back to the mid-18th century. But the well preserved structure took on historic dimensions as a field hospital for the Confederate troops, retreating from the Gettysburg battlefields. Today is serves up a unique menu that draws a couple of its' signature dishes from Civil War era Pennsylvania. It's hard to rival the Inn's ham and bean soup followed by chicken and biscuits. A drink in the tavern before or after dinner will be an introduction to local lore including a resident ghost. Sorry, I've never seen it. The dining room in winter is only open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

JACK FROST/BIG BOULDER

The twin Pocono Mountain snow resorts of Jack Frost and Big Boulder can be reached in less than 2 hours for most of us. Combined they hold 36 slopes and trails and a combination of terrain parks for a wide range of skill levels. But the enticement for a Valentine celebration is what lies between then. They approximately bookend Lake Harmony. On the Lake banks are a variety of eateries and bars to lure the pub grub and dance-till-closing crowd at Shenanigans  and Nick's Lake House or the a romantic nook at Louies Steakhouse  and the casual Boulder View Tavern  . If there are youngsters in your life and they make the Valentine trip, you still have a chance for some mom and dad time over dinner, while the offspring ski or ride their hearts out, under the lights at Big Boulder. There's plenty of lodging around Lake Harmony. My most recent choice was Split Rock Lodge.  In addition to the venerable Pocono Mountain lodge, the property has expanded to take in a condo apartment complex and the Galleria hotel.

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN

Thirty-seven trails, 16 lifts, a pair of terrain parks and one of the largest snow tubing complexes in the nation keep the action going at Camelback Mountain near Tannersville. But recent expansion has brought a major ski-in, ski-out hotel, water park and new eateries to the lively day and night snow sports hub. But when evening falls and the need for a quiet spot to sip and sup at a table for two, beckons, try the Tannersville Inn.  I've been stopping here for over 50 years. It's been a Pocono staple from its' earliest days as a pre-civil war roadside tavern through its growth to a pleasantly rustic Pocono dining and cocktail setting with a ski-casual vibe. Still one of the few spots you can find a succulent 1/2 roast duck. I'm a romantic when it comes to roast duck on the bone.

SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN

For a couples weekend combining sheer elegance in Valentine mood lodging and dining while working up an appetite on the slopes, a weekend at the Hotel Fauchere in Milford on the Delaware River and the trails at Shawnee Mountain fill the bill. But the hotel is the highlight. It draws its 19th century history from the dining rooms of New York's Delmonico restaurant which wined and dined early American celebrities alongside the coal and railroad barons the forged America's industrial age. The hotel's Delmonico room with white table cloth and crystal tradition concentrates on fine dining in presentation of classic dishes with creative flairs. A special Valentine menu is on tap to be served on February 12th, 13th and 14th.  . Cocktails before dinner in Bar Louie with an original Andy Warhol - John Lennon print as the backdrop is the ideal start to a memorable Valentine getaway. On Shawnee Mountain about 1/2 hour drive you carve turns on 23 trails and a pair of terrain parks with forgiving traits and eyefilling views. Non-skiers and riders can still find a thrill in the snow, plunging down the lanes of the Shawnee tubing hill.

Enjoy!