Spotlight on Local Tourism: Roundtop Mountain Resort

Cheryl W., a member of the Harrisburg International Airport staff had the opportunity to visit Roundtop Mountain Resort for a snow tubing trip.  She enjoyed it so much she wanted to share her experience.  Learn more...  

Last month I had the pleasure of going to Roundtop Mountain Resort.  This was my first time to visit Roundtop, which is of course best known for its skiing and snowboarding.  The mountain has 17 trails with 5 chairlifts and features some of the steepest terrain in the state.  So if you’re planning on hitting the slopes, this is the place to go.  Roundtop Mountain is an easy drive from I-83, I-81, Route 15 and the PA Turnpike.

For my first experience, I chose to go snowtubing.  After grabbing a tube, it was time to jump on the Magic Carpet lift to the top of the run.  I chose a lane and the staff assisted me in how to get positioned on the tube and where to hold on to the handles.  You are given the choice of going down the run feet first or face first and you can choose just a single run or doubles with a partner.  There were many possibilities to pick from.  With a gentle push, I was screaming with delight as I took my first snowtubing ride.  It was so much fun.  Several rides later, it was time to take a break.  My first stop was the giant fire pit located next to the lanes.  I was wishing I had a stick and a marshmallow to toast.  After stepping inside the lodge to warm up next to the fireplace, it was time to once again grab my snowtube.  With each run, from the first to the last, the rides only got better. 

With my snowtubing adventure complete, it was time to head up the road to the main lodge to check out the Fireside Pub & Grill.  This restaurant is a great place to kick back, grab a drink and relax while enjoying a front row view of the slopes.

The enthusiastic staff made this visit such an enjoyable experience.  As soon as I entered the Mountainview Lodge to get my tickets from the cashier, the employees at the tubing lanes and the magic carpet lift, the housekeeping staff and the guys at the Pub; the whole team made you feel welcome.  I can’t wait to go back again.

Just because winter is over doesn’t mean you have to wait until next year to visit.  Beginning next month, Roundtop will be open with Mountain Adventures.  Play a game of paintball, take a ropes course, go for a ride in a Go ball or jump in a bumper boat.  If your adventure includes a zip line, you’ve come to the right place.  The vertical trek begins with a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain.  Come back down using a series of 10 exciting zip lines as you descend over 600 feet through the treetops.  If that seems a little too adventuresome though, you may choose a roundtrip ride on the chairlift.    

For more information on Roundtop Mountain Resort, visit www.skiroundtop.com. 

Are you a regular at Roundtop? What are your favorite year round activities at this local destination?

Wondrous Wanders: Anchorage, Alaska

Today we feature the 7th post in our guest blog travel series.  This series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in each guest blogger as they wandered there.  Today's post is from Clayton Stambaugh and he's sharing about is his wondrous wanderings in Anchorage, Alaska.  Clayton is a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he's researching social media and airports.


I must admit, when I was made aware of my fiancee's invitation to be a bridesmaid in one of our high school friend’s wedding last December, I was greatly concerned.  Why the animosity on something so special?  Well, when I thought of the fact that this friend, an E-5 Staff Sergeant (SSgt) in the United States Air force station at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, I immediately started to calculate the potential cost in my head.  “We’re broke college students from Illinois”, I stressed to my future wife, “And, not to mention who would ever want to go to Alaska in the middle of the winter! Isn’t it dark the entire day?”

You would have thought I was being shipped to work on a crab boat.  In retrospect my assumption of Alaska is quite embarrassing. In my defense though, I had no conceptual framework of the State.  I was only slightly aware of the beauty and adventure Alaska held, and rather more familiar, unfortunately, with the horror that reality TV portrays it to be; and I’m not talking about Sarah Palin.

In the end I reluctantly let go of my lower 48 state predispositions. I swallowed my pride, paid my fare, and decided to make the best the situation as I boarded my flight to the unknown.

I recall arriving at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) around 12:00 p.m. Alaska time and snow was falling, much to be expected, as we pulled away from the terminal headed toward Wasilla where my friend lived.  It was extremely dark and hazy.  From what I could make out from the snow obscured streetlights was a beautiful white blanket that covered every imaginable surface.  I had been to northern snowcapped states in winter, but something was different as I stared into the deep black darkness faintly making out what appeared to be shadowing giants.  Those giants creeping in the darkness, were in fact mountains, which were made ever more apparent passing the famous star on the mountain pass.  As we pulled into my friend’s home, my attitude about the trip had completely changed, and I couldn’t wait to awake to daylight.

That morning, when daylight finally arrived, it was like a child awakening on Christmas morning as I hastily walked out the door of the house to see just where I had arrived.  Opening the door that day is nearly indescribable.  The smell, the sight, and the feeling are unlike anything I would have ever imagined.  I immediately realized this was a trip I would never forget.

It was the day before the wedding, and although everyone was caught up in the rush, I couldn’t help myself but absolutely live in the moment. The day was indeed madness, and everyone found themselves during the day setting up for the upcoming wedding and reception, held downtown Anchorage in the beautiful Marriot, yet shortly after it was time to celebrate the upcoming festivities.  Unfortunately I remember little of that night, it must have been the northern climate, but I do remember the world famous Chilkoot Charlie's a venue of nightlife that you cannot miss.

The wedding and reception the following evening was beautiful as expected and the short time in Alaska preceding proved to be just as memorable.  As a fan of Alaskan king crab I made it a personal ambition to go Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse featured on Man V. Food: Anchorage.  This was not a mistake.  The food was absolutely excellent, not to mention the vastness, much like that of the wilderness of Alaska, in beverages available.  Also, not to be expected being a proud supporter of possibly the greatest pizza in the world found in Chicago, I must admit the pies found at Mooses Tooth are something to contend with.  They’re not deep dish, or thin crust, yet the home brew provided will help anyone rethink the concept of pizza.  Trust me.  Do not miss this place.  I personally recommend the Blackened Rockfish: topped with a cajun-seasoned fish, diced red onions, diced roma tomatoes, zesty sour cream sauce, parsley, mozzarella, provolone, and garlic oil.

Although, due to money constraints and time issues my future wife and I never had the chance to visit the wilderness outside the Anchorage area in Alaska, but I can assure you this is the greatest destination I have ever ventured to.  The cost was minimal compared to the experience, and even though arriving late December when there was only three to four hours of sunlight provided, one of my initial concerns, the breathtaking hours of dusk reveals the “twilight” you can’t find in books.  In fact, I contend that the Anchorage area itself is enough to visit Alaska, and despite my initial unfortunate reservations, I long to return to the final American wild frontier of Alaska.

My unconditional advice is to use Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), or any other airport, as your gateway to adventure… Don’t let your presumptions get the best of you – the airport is your gateway to anywhere. 


Have you been to Alaska?  What about this beautiful, northern state has captured your heart?

Delayed at MDT? Suggestions for Passing the Time...

Are you currently delayed at Harrisburg International Airport waiting for some hopeful news about your flight? While you wait, why not pass the time with these practical or silly suggestions?

Practical Pastimes:

• Plane or Snow Equipment Spotting: On the third floor of the terminal is an observation deck with a great view of the runway. Try to spot our various pieces of snow removal equipment as the crews busily work to keep the runway, taxiway and apron clear of snow. If you're lucky you might just spot an occasional plane today too!
• Enjoy a Hot Beverage: In the food court pre-security is a McCafe and a Hudson News Euro Cafe, both offer a great selection of hot drinks. On the B-concourse (post-security, boarding pass holders only) is a Starbucks, also featuring a wide variety of hot drinks to choose from!
• Surf the Web: Enjoy our free WiFi through out the terminal. A great way to keep up-to-date on the status of your flight and the weather forecast. Who knew we'd be getting this much snow?!
• Relax with a Massage: Massage chairs are located on the secured side of the airport, enjoy a 1, 5 or 30-minute massage. Almost as good as the real thing.
• Take some Time to Eat: We have a great selection of concessionaires to choose from: McDonald's, Varsity Grill and Hudson News Euro Cafe (all located pre-security), along with Capital Cafe and Starbucks(B-concourse (post-security, boarding pass holders only)).

Silly Pastimes:
Our suggestions for how to keep the kiddies entertained! Or the young-at-heart too!

• 1 Tile, 2 Tiles, Red Tiles, Blue Tiles: Why not try to count how many tiles are in the Star Mosaic located on the 2nd floor of the terminal, pre-security. If that idea doesn't strike your fancy, perhaps try to guess what each of the scenes represented in the Mosaic actually are. (Hint, hint: each scene represents a part of the region that MDT serves!)
  If you really want to know, email us at Info@SARAA.org and we'll send you the answers!
  
• Rockaway Baby: If there are several people in your party, see who can rock the rocking chair the longest before they lose count of how many times they've actually rocked!
  
• O, Tannenbaum: Did you take notice of the 14' Holiday tree located pre-security? It has a lot of red, blue and gold balls on it. Bet you can't count how many are on it!
• Harrisburg Where Art Thou?: The words "Harrisburg International Airport" appear multiple times through out the terminal. How many occurrences can you find?

We admit, these are some corny ideas, but it sure will help pass the time! Have we missed any pastimes that you think should be added to the list?