This year we move inland off of the Atlantic coast for the Feast site in the northeast part of the United States. The location will be at the Mountain Laurel Resort, a four-season resort located in 100 acres of wooded beauty in the Poconos Mountains. The resort has an on-site hiking trail, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, indoor saunas, as well as a full-service spa, where you can treat yourself to a massage, wrap, facial or pedicure. There is also a miniature arcade, horseback riding, miniature golf, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, billiards and ping pong.

The resort is easy to get to, as it is located near the intersection of I-80 and I-476. If you love the peace and beauty of the outdoors, then you are going to love this area, especially during the fall festival time as the colors of the leaves should provide some spectacular photo opportunities!

Some nearby attractions include the 15,990-acre Hickory Run State Park and the 4,500 acre Lehigh Gorge State Park, with steep walls, thick vegetation, rock outcroppings and several waterfalls. Lehigh Gorge State Park also has a beautiful trail bike path. Additional outdoor destinations include the Seven Tubs Natural Area, a 500-acre site with water “tubs” gouged out of the underlying bedrock, creek swimming and a waterfall!

About 20 minutes away is the town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, a historic Victorian town with many shops, museums and outdoor adventures. The town was originally named Mauch Chunk but was renamed after the town’s namesake, professional athlete and Olympian Jim Thorpe. This town was home to the first railroad in the United States!

Services will be held at the Mountain Laurel Resort. The facility has ample on-site housing to accommodate everyone, including standard hotel rooms, also one-bedroom and two-bedroom units with kitchens.

The average high temperature for early October is 60 degrees, with an average low of 36. Those traveling by air can fly into the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) about 30 minutes away, or Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), about 50 minutes away.

Location of Services: Mountain Laurel Resort, 81 Treetops Drive, White Haven, PA 18661 (www.mountainlaurelresort.com).

Taxes: Pennsylvania sales 6%, plus County Occupancy Tax 3%.