Betting on snow can be a real gamble for your winter getaway, especially if you have your heart set on the Poconos. Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.

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Fifty years ago, "the host with the most in the Poconos" was none other than beautiful Mt. Airy Lodge, and if you’re old enough to remember, I bet that jingle is stuck in your head right now.

On a recent trip to the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, I visited a totally reinvented version.

The snazzy new Mt. Airy Casino Resort has sprung up, completely rebuilt to the tune of $412 million and under new ownership. Yes, folks, sadly, the cheesy honeymoon is over.

The heart-shaped tubs are history. In their place are sharply appointed suites and state-of-the-art everything.

You don’t have to stay to make a getaway out of it, as it is fewer than two hours from Manhattan. There are slot machines and table games. If you're lucky, spend your winnings in one of the five restaurants, including a buffet, or on a cushy spa treatment.

For more information, go to www.mountairycasino.com.

If nostalgia demands a more retro Poconos, head to the Pocono Manor Inn, which dates back to 1902.

This drafty old girl has had her share of modern tweaks, concealing a haunted past. The inn is both dog-friendly and ghost-friendly. On a recent media visit, suffice to say, I was so spooked, I switched rooms at midnight.

Spirits and all, "The Grand Lady of the Mountains" is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Weather permitting, this is a great place for a family to enjoy winter activities: snow shoeing, cross country, horseback riding and dog sledding.

For more information, go to www.poconomanor.com.