Avalanche Express: So. Much. Fun.

For winter fun despite the warmest temps on record, head over to Avalanche Express snow tubing in York. So. Much. Fun. You can slide alone or in groups, on your butt or on your belly. The hill gets slicker as the sun goes down, so we had some super-fast runs toward the end of the day. The staff starts limiting the number of people who can tobaggan down together, and after almost overshooting the end of the slope once, I can see why. (Physics hint: When you're forming a chain, put the lightest person in front and the heaviest person in the back. You will FLY down the hill.)

One price gets you in for the day, and you can ride as many times as you can haul yourself and your tube up the hill. And you don't even have to walk up--just plop down in your tube and let one of two "lifts" drag you up the slope. At the top you'll find four runs, with employees there to help you get situated, tell you when it's safe to slide, and push you off. It's a little disorganized at the top because there aren't any distinct lines for the four runs, but people were polite and patient the day I was there, and waits were short. 

Wear snow gear; you are outside in the winter, after all, and you will get damp from trudging around; even artificial snow is cold and wet. When you inevitably get chilled, there are big fire pits burning right on the sidewalk, and snack foods and cocoa available for purchase. You could also tailgate; the parking lot is right there, so you can come and go as you please during the day. 

Ice skating is also available, plus a tiny tubing slope for little kids.

At $30 per person, this is an expensive day out, so plan to stay awhile. We had a little trouble finding the directions from Avalanche's website; click over to Heritage Hills for clear directions (http://www.heritagehillsresort.com/directions). Go past the Heritage Hills sign and turn left into Avalanche when you see the huge slope. www.avalanchexpress.com

McCleary's

My new favorite place in Lancaster isn't in Lancaster--it's in Marietta. I've been to McCleary's Pub a couple of times to see bands. They have a good-sized bar area, a stage in the dining area, and a bonus enclosed deck area that's heated so it's a viable choice in the winter. They have a house sound system and a guy to run it, so the music sounds good (and it's even piped into the bathrooms). Food is typical bar fair, good quality and reasonably priced, and they have plenty of Irish beer on tap. http://www.mcclearyspub.com/

Lancaster Brewing Co.

I am not a huge craft beer enthusiast, but I really like Lancaster Brewing Co. The atmosphere is warm and the food is delicious. It's bar fair with a twist; for example, the french fries with truffle oil and parmesan were fantastic. I have also had terrific burgers (served sans bun with nary a raised eyebrow) and steak.

Beer enthusiasts will find many types and flavors to enjoy. My friends and I ordered a sampler of beer and worked our way through it. Honestly, we aren't dark beer drinkers, so all I can tell you is that they range from chewy and bitter to smooth and bitter, with some hints of chocolate and coffee along the way. The lighter beers also have a wide range of flavors and styles, and after sipping here and there, we all found something to enjoy. 

Thanks to a couple of gift certificates, I went to LBC twice in one week recently: once for a sit-down meal and once for snacks and drinks in the bar. We had good food and good beer both times, but the service was completely different. Sitting at a table, we had attentive but not distracting service; at the bar, we felt abandoned and not only didn't get refills but had to work to pay the check. So if you go, sit at a table. :) www.lancasterbrewing.com