Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a holiday filled with family, friends, love and laughter. What I like most about the New Year is what it brings - hope, possibilities and discoveries, a clean slate. For all backyard tourists, seasoned or brand new, I want you to look at the Susquehanna River Valley as a clean slate to discover and enjoy.
What a better place to start than getting outside and enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer. Since the region isn't widely known as a winter destination, we often overlook the opportunities for outdoor fun that are nearby. R.B. Winter State Park offers five miles of park trails that provide easy skiing and showshoeing, with connecting trails and roads on surrounding state forest land. Registered snowmobiles are permitted on designated park roads which lead to more than 300 miles of roads and trails in the Bald Eagle State Forest. Be sure to read February's column to learn more about next month's SnowFest at R.B. Winter State Park.
The Linn Conservancy is hosting a free afternoon of cross-country skiing and showshoeing beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Dale/Engle/Walker property. Snowshoes are provided, but skiers must bring their own skis. Participants will end their outdoor excursion with a bonfire and hot chocolate.
Birds of a feather flock together Saturday with Seven Mountains Audubon, the area's local Audubon chapter, heading out for a local field trip starting at 7:30 a.m,
We can't talk about winter recreation without mentioning ice skating. The Sunbury and Lewisburg ice skating rinks are open for fun and exercise.
January offers a wide variety of options for music and theater lovers. The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art hosts chili, corn bread and the blues at the Wooden Nickel Annex in Millersburg on Jan. 27, with HotWingJones as the featured entertainment. Also on Jan. 27, Bucknell University's Weis Performing Arts Center offers the Jupiter String Quartet with Jon Nakamatsu on the piano. On Feb. 3, Bucknell's Weis Performing Arts Center also hosts Tiempo Libre, one of the hottest young Latin bands today. Tiempo Libre's music is filled with high-voltage Latin jazz and seductive rhythms.
Nine-time Grammy winner and philanthropist John Legend will speak and perform on Jan. 24 at Bucknell University. Legend's contributions to the arts and organizations that support the arts resulted in his being named by Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people.
If you like theatrical productions filled with music, you won't want to miss the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' "Pirates of Penzance" Jan. 26 at Susquehanna University or the Jan. 27 performance of the Tony-nominated "The Color Purple" at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport.
For a weekend filled with good music, good wine and relaxation, book the weekend of Jan. 20 at Lewisburg's Copper Beech Bed & Breakfast for the "Music at the Manor" getaway package.
If history fascinates you, be sure to attend the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble's production of "Julius Caesar" Jan. 27 and 28. Local history buffs will want to be sure to attend the Twelfth Day at Joseph Priestley house Museum Sunday for a day filled with games, prizes and demonstrations by Joseph Priestley himself.
Believe it or not, it's not too soon to be thinking about June weddings. Brides-to-be will want to attend the Bridal Show at the Lewisburg Hotel Sunday and Monday. After you say "yes" to the dress, be sure to check out the event planning section on our website to find where to have candles and wine labels customized for your event, family or wedding party, to find a horse-drawn carriage ride, or the perfect venue to make your celebration unique and memorable.
Be sure to mark your calendar for early February events, such as the Lewisburg Ice Festival, Polar Bear Plunge and Chocolate Lover's Festival Feb. 3 to 5.
For complete details, times, prices and information on these and other events in the Susquehanna River Valley, log on to VisitCentralPA.org or call 1-800-525-7320. Don't let "cabin fever" get the best of you. There's too much to do, right here at home.
(Miller is the executive director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau.)