A popular destination for family holiday gatherings, Mohonk Mountain House is decorated for all the season’s celebrations, with Victorian swags, kissing balls and intricate gingerbread creations. More than a dozen beautifully decorated Christmas trees grace the House and grounds, including a 60-foot-Austrian Pine with 1,440 sparkling lights. Seasonal traditions include a nightly lighting of the Menorah during Hanukkah and a tree-trimming gathering on Christmas Eve hosted by the Smiley family, who have owned and operated the resort for 138 years. For a private celebration, guests can also purchase a Victorian-decorated “eco-tree,” a small, Alberta Spruce delivered to their room.

Winter would not be complete without outdoor recreation, and Mohonk’s award-winning, open-air ice-skating Pavilion is just the place to take in the spectacular scenery.  Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow-tubing are also available to overnight guests at no additional fee (weather permitting) and guests can rejuvenate in the comfort of the resort’s 30,000-square-foot Spa wing, complete with a yoga/motion studio, comprehensive fitness facility and indoor heated swimming pool with underwater sound system.

Travelers who spend the holiday season at Mohonk Mountain house can take advantage of a midweek “December Delight” overnight package. Available Sunday through Thursday, from November 25 through December 20, 2007, package rates start at $147 per person, per night based on double occupancy (taxes and gratuity additional). Accommodations, resort activities, Afternoon Tea and Cookies, and a four-course dinner and breakfast buffet are included in the nightly rate.  Spa services and lunch can be purchased a la carte, and check out is at 11 a.m. To book this package, call 800-772-6646 or visit www.mohonk.com .

The month of December also brings several theme programs at Mohonk, adding joy and excitement to this already festive time of year.  During the “Home for the Holidays” weekend on December 7-9, guests can learn tips and tricks that will help them to create memorable holiday celebrations in their own homes, such as floral arrangement and culinary lessons. At the “Mars and the Marvelous Meteors with Bob Berman” program on December 13, families will be dazzled by the Geminid Meteor showers crossing the skies over Mohonk, and can take in the beauty of Mars, at its closest and brightest proximity to Earth until the year 2016.  On December 4-20 (midweek, Sunday-Thursday), families can immerse themselves in holiday spirit at Mohonk’s Holiday Gala.  During the gala, the resort is adorned in Victorian holiday splendor, music and good cheer can be heard throughout the resort and best of all, children ages 12 and under stay free when sharing a room with two adults.

Mohonk Mountain House is a National Historic Landmark and Historic Hotel of America located in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, just 90 miles north of New York City. Mohonk’s award-winning Skating Pavilion is host to special activities including skating lessons and other programs. For invigorating outdoor fun, guests can enjoy 85 miles of trails for seasonal hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Overnight guests can enjoy rock climbing on one of the most acclaimed cliffs in the world. The grounds feature exquisite gardens, a challenging nine-hole golf course, red clay tennis courts, and stables with horseback riding and horse-drawn carriage rides. The half-mile-long, glacial-formed Lake Mohonk is ideal for boating, fishing, and swimming. Over 40 theme programs are presented annually, including culinary classes, gardening workshops, music festivals, nature programs, and more. Overnight rates at Mohonk Mountain House include charming accommodations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Afternoon Tea and Cookies, and most resort activities. For more information on the wide variety of packages and accommodations available at Mohonk Mountain House, call 800-772-6646 or visit www.mohonk.com.