While New Year’s Eve looked different for most people, my friends and I decided to make it somewhat normal and still spend it together. We took a trip to the Pocono Mountains to ring in the New Year on the mountain. My friends are skiers and snowboarders, take day trips all the time and have season passes for the mountains, but this was the first time they rented a house and spent the weekend.

Some of my friends have season passes at Camelback Mountain, so we decided to rent a place in that area. We rented a place on Vrbo.com, and it was right next to the mountain, so my friends were able to walk right onto the slopes. They didn’t have to worry about packing up all their gear and driving to the mountain. I have never been skiing before and I was nervous to try, so I hung out with a couple other friends who don’t ski.

Although I don’t ski, I still wanted to join the trip because I was itching for a change of scenery and I wanted to spend some quality time with my friends.

With the ongoing pandemic, the ski resort implemented new rules and regulations to ensure safety for guests. All guests are required to wear masks, keep six feet apart while waiting in line for the lift, only parties that arrive together will be allowed to ride the lift together, and all riders must buy lift tickets online ahead of time. The ski experience this year seems to be similar to normal, with a couple added precautions.

My friends said they felt safe on the mountain; and when they felt like it got too crowded, they came back to the house for a break, going back later during the off times. Because our place was so close, they were able to come back two to three times during the day.

Overall, I am happy I got away with some of my closest friends and forget about our day-to-day lives for a little while. I highly recommend you take a road trip to a nearby destination for the weekend to rejuvenate and relax.

— Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator