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Just in time for the onset of spring fever, Woodloch Pines Resort in the Poconos is offering a two-night all-inclusive stay at its eco-friendly lake-perched property. Although it has been billed as a family destination, the resort’s secluded location and relaxing natural setting makes it an ideal spot for a romantic getaway or summer retreat with friends. Whether your ideal weekend is spent cozily curled up in one of the resort’s rustic interior spaces or traversing the property’s many miles of hiking trails, Woodloch can provide that much-needed tranquility and rejuvenation after a city winter of slowed-down commutes and over-salted sidewalks.

The winner will be given the best available room, depending on the selected weekend in spring, summer, or fall. Included in the stay package are three family-style meals a day, as well as on-site activities (excluding the spa and golfing) and other standard amenities.

Consult offManhattan’s Woodloch Pines Resort review to learn more about the destination.

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You can do both to be entered twice, and tweet once a day to be entered multiple times and increase your chance of winning. Deadline is Tuesady, March 16th at 11:59pm EST – a winner will be chosen at random and announced the next day. Good luck!

Even the most devoted pet owners admit that one of the prices of puppy love is a less spur-of–the-moment lifestyle. Booking kennels and finding dog-sitters can put a damper on last minute getaway plans.

Fortunately, we have found seven weekend destinations that welcome you and your pooch so you can still indulge in that spontaneous trip out of town. Metro North, New Jersey Transit, and LIRR accept small domestic pets on board, but they don’t specify a weight or size limit. Your dog needs to be in a carrier for the journey, so this is an excuse to use that chic, over-priced doggie-bag that you hoped would come in handy.

1. Audrey’s Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast, Wallkill, NY

Human Instincts: This five-room, 1740’s inn feels like your very own country home. Nestled in the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains, this meticulously-restored bed and breakfast is a great place to cozy up around the fireplace. On-premise owners take care of all of your whims, and room rates include a five-course breakfast. Relax in the outdoor Jacuzzi year-round, and dip in the pool in warmer months. You are welcome to use the spacious communal kitchen to prepare meals and snacks. Just a short stroll from Audrey’s is the Bruynswick Inn, where Brittany-born chef Jean Boulidor will delight you with a memorable dinner. For reservations, call 845.895.1147.

Pooch Package: Charming owners Don and Audrey estimate that 85% of guests bring their dogs, so every package is pet-friendly. There are bound to be other dogs to meet and greet, so make sure that your pet is well socialized. The inn has an off-leash policy, so dogs are encouraged to explore every nook and cranny of the farmhouse and its five acres of woods and lawns. Food and water bowls are provided and bedtime treats are the rule. A two night minimum stay is required.

How to get there: Take Metro North Hudson line to Poughkeepsie, where you will transfer to the Ulster-Poughkeepsie Link bus to New Paltz. Call Don and he will pick you up at the bus station in New Paltz: 845.895.3440.

A new Argentine bistro and bottleshop called Twisted Vines, offering free wine tastings on weekends and a “tart of the day,” soft opens in Arlington, Virginia on Saturday. [Thrillist]

The Brooklyn Heights Association-produced “Brooklyn in Prints: A Special Gathering” begins with a reception and gallery talk tonight from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. at the Brooklyn Historical Society and continues through March 14. [BrooklynHistory]

After a successful Haiti benefit at the W Hoboken Thursday night, Party with Purpose prepares for its next big fundraiser: a 5K run along the Hoboken waterfront on July 13. [PartywithPurpose]

Kelly Ripa got a tattoo in Brooklyn. [HuffPo].

People who love kielbasa, beer, live music, and hunting for new vinyl should go to Warsaw in Brooklyn on Sunday. [RecordRiots]

Mayor Bloomberg announced plans to expand the amusement park at Coney Island, which will open this summer. [NYCGovParks]

The non-skiing, café-lounging, nightlife-loving New Yorkers will come flocking in the middle of winter. If Atlantic City is lucky. With offers of free money and a restaurant week in tow, the warm season destination has enough going for it to make a quick weekend getaway to the snow-covered beaches in New Jersey seem like a cool idea.

The Liberty Science Center, located right across the river from Manhattan, is to science what Charlie’s Chocolate Factory is to candy; a fanciful and imaginative playground where children (and adults too) can explore science through interactive activities and a larger-than-life IMAX theater.

LSC is offering one lucky offManhattan reader a Family Four-Pack good for admission to the center as well as the current traveling exhibition, “A T. Rex Named Sue.” Learn all about “Sue,” the largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed in this internationally popular exhibition. In addition to a full-sized cast of Sue’s skeleton, visitors can learn about the science of paleontology through other brain-stimulating stations involving touchable replicas videos, illustrative graphics, and even smell-able activities.

How to get there: To Liberty Science Center, take the PATH train (catch it from Manhattan at Christopher St., Fulton St., 14th St., or 33rd St., check Port Authority web site for more locations) to either Pavonia/Newport, or Exchange Place Station and transfer to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. From there, take the Light Rail to the Liberty State Park Station exit. (Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 201.200.1000, lsc.org) For more information on the Liberty Science Center, read offManhattan’s review: Liberate Yourself.

1) Follow us on Twitter and tweet this message (if you already follow us, just tweet!):

“Win a Family Four-Pack to Liberty Science Center. Just follow @offManhattan and RT! http://bit.ly/LSCfree”

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2) Sign up for our email list. (If you’re already a subscriber, you are automatically entered for a chance to win the giveaway.)

You can do both to be entered twice, and tweet once a day to be entered multiple times and increase your chance of winning. Deadline is Wednesday, February 24th at 11:59pm EST – a winner will be chosen at random and announced the next day. Good luck!

Biathlon. Curling. Speedskating. Luge. For the average person, these sports only mean something every four years, when the world comes together to watch and revel in the Winter Olympics. While we may not always pay enough attention, seeing these athletic feats— rocketing down ice at 140 km/hour, sharp shooting a target while on skis, landing the double McTwist 1260 in the snowboard halfpipe—are enough to make anyone impressed.

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver start today with NBC’s airing of the Opening Ceremonies and continue for the next two weeks (practically every minute of each scintillating event will be on NBC’s Universal Sports, channel 162 on NYC Time Warner). All this Olympic excitement may have you muting Bob Costas, but also itching to get out there yourself onto the ice and into the snow.

So, in the spirit of the 1980 USA hockey team, Bob Costas’ nicely coiffed toupee, and the 2,000 plus athletes about to biathlon, luge, snowboard, and represent the country name on the front of their sweater, jersey, and jacket, here are six places near NYC to inspire your inner Olympian.

It may be a Hallmark holiday, but Valentine’s Day is also a fine excuse to use that get-out-of-town-free-card. Well, maybe not free. But these hotels do feature fabulous packages at a variety of price points that are sure to help cupid shoot his arrow.

Here are five unique and relaxing hotel options for a romantic getaway near New York City that all have one beautiful thing in common—they are accessible without a car. (Your shmoopie will think it’s hot you care about the environment, trust us.)

With six weeks of winter left, now might be a good time to remember that there’s an alternative to skiing, snowboarding, and making angels in the snow. Forget the boots, the goggles, the gear, and try your butt at snow tubing—because sitting is really all that’s involved in this, err, sport. Bring some warm clothes and an untiring appetite for some fast-paced fun and you’re good to go at these three cool snow tubing spots near New York City.

If the faster paced winter sports of skiing and snowboarding are not for you, consider cross-country skiing as a way to free yourself from the frosty concrete jungle of Manhattan. The beautiful white noise of open forests and snowboarder-free mountains are only a train or bus ride away. These cross-country skiing escapes near NYC are all close enough to be a day-trip, but just far enough to make you forget the city.