Health & Recreation
Was 2012 the year you finally got with the program and joined a Zumba class, bought a membership to a health club — and actually used it — or crossed “Find a Yoga Class” from your to-do list? If you answered “yes,” good for you! And, we’re pleased to note, you’re in good company.
There are plenty of people in the Wyoming Valley who start their day at the gym and who are committed to burning off those extra calories with a fitness class. There’s also no shortage of people who enjoy biking, hiking, skiing and bowling. The proof is in the results of our Health & Recreation survey.
When it comes to your daily workout, you head to Odyssey Fitness. The winner of the Best Gym/Health Club, Odyssey is your go-to place to stay healthy and fit. Zumba enthusiasts dance their way to good health at The Greater Pittston YMCA, winner of Best Zumba, while those who prefer yoga head to Balance Yoga & Wellness, voted Best Yoga in our readers’ poll. As for the bowlers out there, there’s one place that stands out against the rest, Chacko’s Family Bowling Center, winner of Best Bowling Alley.
All this exercise helps you enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in The 570, such as biking, hiking and skiing, which brings us to our next group of winners.
Just a short drive from Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas, Jim Thorpe in Carbon County, winner of Best Place to Bike, is well known as a great resource for biking, particularly mountain biking. There are numerous roads that offer a variety of options for cyclists of all skill levels, and while they ride, they can enjoy gorgeous scenery. To plan your next trip when the weather warms up, visit www.jimthorpe.org.
From biking to hiking, dc readers tell us the Best Place to Hike is right in our own back yard, at one of the most beautiful recreation areas in northeastern Pennsylvania, Frances Slocum State Park. The park consists of 1,035 acres in Luzerne County, and boasts 13 miles of trails. It’s no wonder local hikers love it. To learn more, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us.
In the meantime, let’s dust off those skis and head to Jack Frost Big Boulder, winner of Best Skiing, where you can ski 21 different slopes at Jack Frost and 15 slopes at Big Boulder. To plan your next ski trip, visit www.jfbb.com, and let it snow!
If you’re in the mood to get away from it all, you head to the Poconos to enjoy the Best Tourist Attractions. And when the time is right to plan the perfect day trip, you gas up the Zoom Zoom or buy round-trip bus tickets to New York City, as the Big Apple was voted Best Day Trip.
— julie imel
Best Bowling Alley Chacko’s Family Bowling Center • Best Day Trip New York City • Best Gym/Health Club Odyssey Fitness • Best Pilates Rebecca Sitar, United Sports Academy • Best Place to Bike Jim Thorpe • Best Place to Hike Frances Slocum State Park • Best Skiing Jack Frost Big Boulder • Area With Best Tourist Attractions The Pocono Mountains • Best Yoga Balance Yoga & Wellness • Best Zumba The Greater Pittston YMCA
