From: Chris Roat
Subject: BF Vacation--Poconos, PA (Pt. 3-Summary/General Observations)
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:13:40 EDT

Hi all,

This is the last of my vacation reports (really, I promise).

All in all, the Poconos was a very barefoot friendly vacation destination.
Our initial positive experience there over the weekend led us back there
for the week (rather than down the shore where we had originally planned to
go). I was very impressed, especially considering I had a problem at 3
places (all restaurants, but nothing too fancy) on Long Beach Island, NJ, a
beach community where nothing is more than 3 blocks from ocean or bay, on a
day trip a few weeks back. Sad, as LBI is where I got my first real start
barefooting as a teen in the early 90s.

I was 100% non-stop barefoot for the entire 9 days I was off work. My 11
year old stepson Justin was barefoot everywhere I was, too.

THE (FEW) BAD:

1) Poconos Indian Museum (see Pt. 2 post)

2) McDonald's on 611 across from the Stroud Mall in Stroudsburg--As we were
getting ready to leave after completing our meal, my wife was told, "your
son needs to have shoes on." No problem--we were leaving anyway since the
playland was closed.

3) Continental Breakfast at the Best Western Pocono Inn in
Stroudsburg--Justin was told he needed shoes to enter. He was VERY upset,
but donned his flip-flops.

4) Some roadside burger shop on 611 north of Stroudsburg--we (well, the
wife and kids) stopped to use the bathroom and, as he was entering, Justin
got a "Hey, you need to have shoes on!" so he left. He was upset,
especially arguing that their sign didn't say that. I didn't get out to
see, but apparently it read, "topless people must not be barefoot." ?!?!?!

THE IN-BETWEEN

1) We spent 2 hours at the Stroud Mall waiting for my tire to be changed
(don't ask) at Sears Automotive. While waiting, we did some shopping.
Barefoot Justin was wandering about and told he needed shoes to ride the
escalator in Sears. All in all I consider this positive, because I can very
easily picture him being told he couldn't be in the store at all. He and I
were both barefoot and seen by a number of employees in Sears and the rest
of the mall with no problems.

2) On our first walk into the Clarion Hotel where we stayed for most of the
week, we walked in wet gray paint in the indoor courtyard around the pool.
It was raining, though, so the gray coat on my feet washed off easily when
I went back outside. In my defense, the area was not blocked off and there
was just a "Caution--Wet Floor" sign (I don't know about you, but when I
see this sign, I think "it's wet and slippery--don't fall" not "don't walk
on the wet paint.")

1) CamelBeach WaterPark (the summer incarnation of Camelback Ski Resort)
noted in their brochure that glass containers are not allowed in the park
because "most park guests are barefoot." This was mostly true, though I saw
FAR too many flip flops and those "water shoes" for my tastes. Also, a
small boo/hiss to them as the ski lift to the top of the mountain ride did
have a sign that "shoes are required for this ride."

THE GOOD LIST

As I said, with the exceptions noted above, we really had no problem
anywhere all week. I was very happy, especially as Justin is not yet a
subtle barefooter and hasn't quite picked up on how to not have himself
and his bare feet stand out in the crowd. So, here's a list of places we
were barefoot without a problem: A few CVS drug stores, Arby's, Boston
Market, all around our Clarion Hotel, Stroud Mall, 2 automotive garages
in our quest for tire repairs, American Ribbon Craft Outlet in Stroudsburg
(a long visit, as my quilter wife was fabric shopping), Shooting for the
Moon (a nice new age store on 209 N between Stroudsburg and Bushkill
Falls), Dollar General on Main Street in Stroudsburg, Brownies in the Burg
(restaurant at Best Western Pocono Inn), Yankee Doodle Diner (209 N a few
miles from Bushkill Falls), Gaetanos Pizza (on the road to CamelBeach
Waterpark), and Friendly's Restaurant in Stroudsburg. The last 4 were
sit-down dining where we were seen by a host on the way in and other
employees, too, especially since Justin and his little sister always take
a few trips to the potty.

So, all in all, an excellent time for us barefooters! My stepson has been
barefoot around the neighborhood all summer and on a few short errands with
me but this was his first major fully barefoot excursion.

I was very sad when I finally had to don shoes at work on Monday (though I
made it until nearly 4 pm--arrived at 8:30 am--before donning the sandals
briefly for a trip to the shipping department).

Next stop...a Jimmy Buffett concert on Saturday. I hope/expect it to be
barefoot-friendly.

--Barefoot Chris
Barefoot Hikers of PA (NJ-DE-MD)
http://members.aol.com/CAR525/BFHPA2.htm
"Free Your Feet and Your Mind Will Follow."