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 Your niece can’t wait for *NSYNC, your son wants to see Blink 182, and you have decided this is the year to catch Rod Stewart. Outdoor concerts have become as much a part of summer as ice cream cones and suntan lotion. Young or old, there is not much that can compare to the experience of sitting outside watching and listening to one of your favorite bands play music as the sun sets.
May we suggest enhancing that experience of an outdoor show this year with a vast mountain atmosphere and a day filled with waterslides, batting cages, and volleyball on sand courts? Start off with a leisurely drive, fill the hours of sunshine with fun outdoor activities, take a mountainous drive for a quick bite to eat, and end the day with an outdoor concert set in the
Poconos.
Just a two-hour jaunt up I-81 will bring you to Montage Mountain. Known by most as a ski resort, the mountain is also home to the two-year-old Coors Light Amphitheater and is more summer fun than you can shake a sno cone at.
The mountain’s summer attractions are bountiful. As you enter the parking lot at the top of the mountain, nothing is visible but gravel and the tops of trees. Walking to the entrance and descending three flights of rather steep stairs will reveal a playground for all ages. Three long waterslides twist around one another to the base of the mountain. A stone’s throw from the slide is a basketball court that looks like it belongs in an amusement park. About 10 basketball hoops of varying sizes and colors fill up a normal size court so kids of all sizes can make shots with ease. Opposite the waterslides is a playground. It’s your standard wooden castle, moat, and swing set, but the mountainous atmosphere makes it look more like a kid’s woodland wonderland.
 All these attractions are in close vicinity to one another, perfect for parents who want to relax in the sun and still keep an eye on the little ones.
Disc (frisbee) golf is another featured activity. The nine-hole course is intertwined through the ski slopes. It’s a great way to see the mountain, and is free if you return your discs and get the $5 deposit back.
Other outdoor activities include a sand volleyball court, shuffleboard, and batting cages. The air-conditioned ski lodge, where you can purchase a single or family (4) waterslide pass or put down your deposit on disc golf, offers a nice, open space to regroup out of the heat, and has plenty of storage lockers available. There is also an indoor arcade for fun out of the sun.
Not to worry if one of the kids gets a skinned knee. The lifeguards on hand are First Aid-certified and have plenty of band-aids available.
Picnic tables are plentiful on the mountain, and many are shaded. The lodge has an outdoor concession stand, which serves up many summer favorites. Count on amusement park-style food such as hot dogs, pizza, ice cream sandwiches and sno cones. Tired yet? Or are you too excited for the evening show?
The Coors Light Amphitheater line up for this summer boasts some pretty impressive acts, including Tom Petty, Matchbox Twenty, Black Sabbath, and an old favorite, Tony Bennett. Many of the acts coming to Hershey will also be making a stop on the mountain, so if you miss one, you can catch the other.
 If you thought the mountain was beautiful before, you haven’t seen anything yet. From Montage Mountain lodge, a quick jaunt will lead you to the amphitheatre. The trail from the mountain to the amphitheatre is lined with beautiful evergreens and includes a footbridge over a mountain stream. When you enter the venue, there are numerous concession stands vending luxuries such as cigars, margaritas, and gourmet pizza.
The amphitheater sits in a valley of lush, green nature. The bowl-shaped theater, covered by a white tensile roof, seats 6,800 while the lawn behind can hold 12,000. Look up, and all you see are the tops of trees. It truly feels as if you and the band are in the middle of a forest. And, essentially, you are. The tensile covering holds sound well, and the acoustics are said to be amazing. The stage is wide and deep, and speakers are stacked high to the roof. The seats are standard stadium size, and the lawn is actually a gradual hill. The place feels invitingly small, especially compared to the massive hills that surround it.
The venue is a simple design. Surrounded by an inoffensive wooden fence, the amphitheater needs and has no decoration. There is a hefty list of items not allowed in the amphitheater. Along with the usual ban on weapons, fireworks, cameras, food or beverages, and audio/visual equipment, there are no blankets, chairs, and umbrellas allowed. A blanket is nice to sit on, but the lawn is smaller than most, and the ban dispels groups reserving too much space. There is a concession stand for beverages and food, and rather large restroom facilities. For this concert season, the amphitheatre has expanded parking and added new box offices.
The Coors Light Amphitheatre and Montage Mountain are well worth the drive if you’re looking for a one-day summer get-away.
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Montage Mountain
1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton
570-963-6539
Directions
Take I-81 N. It’s a little over a two-hour drive, and be prepared to encounter a small amount of construction right outside of Harrisburg. When you’ve reached Wilkes-Barre, begin the lookout for Exit 182 (formerly exit 51). The exit signs will say Montage Mountain. If you hit the red light after exiting, you can see Montage Mountain Road on your right. Montage Mountain Road is actually a 180° turn from the road you are on, so all you have to do is make that right turn. On the drive up the mountain, you’ll see a bunch of corporate buildings on your left. There’s even a huge, new 10-theatre movie complex! As you continue, you’ll see the Glenmaura housing development and the Lackawanna County Baseball Stadium on your left. After 3.2 miles, you’ve found both the Montage Mountain amphitheater and summer activities.
Parking
When Montage Mountain Road ends, you have found the Montage Mountain parking lot. Look for the two sets of stairs to your right to enter the park area. The entrance for the Coors Light Amphitheater is a little before this parking lot, but if you’re there at concert time, attendants will show you where to park. Parking is free.
Admission
• Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlet, Ticketmaster online, or by calling 570-693-4100. Be advised, ticket prices increase the day of the show.
• The water slide is $8.95 for a single pass and $23.95 for a family of four.
• The disc golf course requires a deposit of $5.
Schedule
• For a schedule of events at the Montage Mountain Coors Light Amphitheater, check out
concerthotline.com.
• Montage Mountain is open seven day a week. Monday through Friday hours are noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday, and holiday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A Stone’s Throw Away
Enticed, but seeking a more leisurely day? Why not stop at the Lackawanna County Stadium, home of the Red Barons baseball team. The stadium is clean and beautiful, and the setting among the green Poconos is priceless. Visit the gift shop and take a look at the stadium. It’s well worth the stop for any baseball fan.
Places to Eat
There aren’t many, but the two restaurants close by looked like they were made for a summer get-away.
• Closest to the Mountain is The Stadium Club Restaurant (and bar). Located at the Lackawanna Stadium, the restaurant is decorated with pictures, quotes and memorabilia from baseball players, and offers a great view of the stadium. (570) 963 6441
• Marvelous Mugs Restaurant and Pub is across the street from the beginning of Montage Mountain Rd. It also offers a photo and gift shop. (570) 961-1551
Places to Stay
Be warned, all hotels in the area recommend reserving a room at least a week in advance. There are tons of corporate locations on the mountain, and the hotels get booked quickly with people on business travel. All accommodations below offer an AAA discount.
• The Courtyard Mariott (570-969-2110) is located on Montage Mountain Rd, a half a mile up the mountain.
• The Comfort Suites (570-347-1551) and the Hampton Inn (570-342-7002, 1-800-HAMPTON) are visible after you exit I-81.
• The Econo Lodge (570-348-1000) is a quick jaunt away from the mountain.
Things to Pack
• For Montage Mountain: A picnic basket, bathing suits, towels, sunscreen, a camera, and quarters for the lockers.
• For the Coors Light Amphitheater: A sweatshirt or light jacket for a cool evening in the mountains and rain gear for possible showers is all we can think of. (Remember, no blankets or lawn chairs are allowed. We suggest purchasing one of those packaged plastic picnic tablecloths just in case the lawn is wet.)
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