This year for St. Patrick’s Day weekend, my mom decided to take the whole crew to Pennsylvania’s Poconos for a weekend away. Other than a nice escape from the city, St. Patrick’s Day is extra special for our group as we celebrate my brother’s “gotcha day.” This year marked 31 years since my mom brought him home from Colombia.

Luckily, our cousin Phil is a Superhost on Airbnb with a couple properties in the Poconos; he offered one for us to stay in for the weekend. The house in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was perfect for our large group of family, significant others and friends who all met in the mountains that Friday evening.

The first night was filled with card games, hoagies for dinner and spending time in the hot tub that sits right off the deck — especially convenient on a 30-degree night in March.

We had a slow morning on Saturday — taking advantage of the break from our typical weekends in Philly, where we would normally hop up to work out or get brunch; this was a nice change of pace. Breakfast burritos fueled a hike on Hawk Falls Trail. My dog, Kahlua, joined us for the hike, making several human and canine friends along the way and playing in the water underneath the falls. The hike was all worth it in the end as we sat at Barley Creek Brewing Company afterward for beer flights and snacks.

My mom made her famous corned beef and cabbage Saturday night to ring in St. Patrick’s Day. More card games, drinks and laughs followed.

Sunday was another slow morning. Everyone sported green athleisure outfits to hang out in the holiday spirit before eventually packing up to head home. We are already planning another trip in the summer, when the house’s community center will be open with a lake, pool and other family-friendly amenities. I definitely recommend adding a mountain getaway to your spring calendars.

— Haley Fogarty, vice president of sales