Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015!

Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015! Ring in the New Year with some fun that won't ruin those Resolutions in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York.  Where Do You Want To Play?

Forget making impossible goals that fall to the wayside by February.  It's easy to want to stay indoors, eating the leftover Christmas cookies and enjoying the latest electronic device you received.  Some of the top resolutions every year are to lose weight/stay fit, eliminate stress, save money, learn something new, and  spend more time with family.  Here is the run-down on how to accomplish these goals with ease right here in the Enchanted Mountains!

1.  Lose weight/stay fit!  What better way to lose weight than to pick up a new winter sport?  Try cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing.  Allegany State Park has the Art Roscoe Trail System for Cross-Country skiing and is the largest in Western New York.   Not ready to commit and purchase your own?  The Summit Warming Hut right next to the trail system has ones you can rent.  Enjoy your time, learning how to use them while you venture through the forest of sparkling snow, stopping off at the vista for the best view and enjoying the crisp air.  If you already have your own skis or snowshoes, get them out of the closet, strap them on and head over to The Pat McGee Trial, a 12 mile multi-use trail that connects Salamanca and Cattaraugus or to the Allegheny River Valley Trail, which travels around Allegany and Olean.   Pfeiffer Nature Center is another hotspot for XC skiing or snowshoeing as well, or just for taking a walk in nature!  See the calendar of events page at www.PfeifferNatureCenter.org for an event where you can learn how to snowshoe or other winter family fun activities! 

2.  Eliminate Stress!  One of the best ways to unwind and de-stress is to have some fun!  Attend one of our County's events, sure to have you carefree by the end of the night.  Whether you are taking in a concert at the Seneca Allegany Events Center, who is bringing "Phil Vassar" and "America" in January and plenty to follow throughout the year.  How about a motorcycle event in the middle of winter?  It can be done and is when Gowanda Harley Davidson takes over the slopes at Holiday Valley.  For an event that's out of this world head to the Challenger Learning Center for a Mission to Halley's Comet.  Or take part in the Southern Tier Curling Tournament at Good Times of Olean on January 31st!  Last year over 60 teams participated and fun was had by all, with team costumes and a celebration with the Hootn-Anges afterward! 

3.  Save Money!  Just want to get away and relax but worried about the extra cost?   Trips can be ultra expensive nowadays.  We have a wide variety of accommodations to please the most discriminating tastes as well as a diversity of restaurants and plenty of attractions to round out your stay, all at affordable prices.   Within driving distance from like Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Erie, and Jamestown, take a daycation away from the boredom of everyday life!  You are sure to save enough money to come back again and again!

4.  Learn Something New!  Take a trip to Salamanca, the only city in America almost totally located on Tribal Territory.  Learn about the history, customs, and culture of the Seneca People.  Visit one of our museums, galleries or stage productions like the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, a world class museum, located on the campus of St. Bonaventure University.  The museum is free, open to the public and in addition to its vast and changing exhibits, hosts performances throughout the year for your pleasure.   Theater performances are available through Olean Community Theater or Olean Theater Workshop; enjoy the amazing talent when you see one of their productions.   

5.  Spend more time with Family!  Ok re-read numbers 1 through 4 or call for your FREE Activities Guide, packed full of ideas for you and your family to enjoy together in winter or the rest of the year!

Call 1-800-331-0543, or check www.EnchantedMountains.com  for events in the area.  Cattaraugus County, also known as the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York are Naturally Yours to discover and play in!