Pocono Mountains Travel Guide - 2008-2009 - (Page 17) BY GEOFFREY KULA FAST AND FURIOUS: A NASCAR race at Pocono Raceway. GUYS GONE WILD IT’S TIME FOR A GETAWAY WITH THE GUYS IT’S TIME TO BE FESTIVE Whether you’re gathering for a bachelor party, birthday bash or annual get-together, where you stay may not be as important to your group as the itinerary will be. Besides its year-round attractions and outdoor activities, the Pocono Mountains plays host to plenty of great events that will entertain your friends. Try sampling beer at the Great Brews of America Beerfest, enjoy the Foodie Fare at the Delaware River Wine and Food Festival or cheer on the live lumber jacks and chainsaw carvers at the IRONJACK Timber Team Lumberjack Show. Check out 800poconos.com for more details. My friends and I have been playing paintball since our high school days, and although this was the first time I’d ever tried to shoot a clay pigeon, I was definitely having trouble deciding whether my friends or the clays were the fastermoving targets. Dick Cheney jokes aside, it had been quite a day: I spent half of it crawling on my belly through the woods while shooting at my buddies with a paintball gun and trying to avoid their return fire. Paintballs whizzed through the air and each pellet – in Muhammad Ali’s famous words – “stung like a bee” and left a quartersized welt. But a few battle scars are nothing when you’re having fun with your friends. DRINK IT IN One way to relieve the aches and pains of a day like I had is to relax with friends. An evening of microbrews and craft beers in one of many area brewpubs is a sure bet. THE GREAT OUTDOORS The Pocono Mountains can cater to everything your guys’ weekend getaway requires. Bring your friends to play 18 holes or spend a tranquil day fly-fishing for trout in stocked streams during the summer or ice fishing in the winter. Of course, hiking, biking, canoeing and whitewater rafting are also active options that your entourage will enjoy. HOT WHEELS Four-wheeled fun can also be had year ‘round: All-season ATV rentals are available for riders of all abilities. During the warmer months, you can fulfill your need for speed behind the wheel of a 600hp stock racecar and cruise your way to the winner’s circle at Pocono Raceway, which hosts two NASCAR races each year. For even more of a bonding experience with your friends, you can race in teams of three or four, taking turns behind the wheel of a souped-up super go-kart (with a 390cc engine and a top speed of 50 mph, think of it as a go-kart on steroids) to see which crew can complete the most laps in a timed event. 800POCONOS.COM 17 http://800poconos.com http://www.800POCONOS.COM
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