DiscoveringOhio

Wine and chocolate pair for a weekend of romance in Ohio's wine country

Wine and chocolate are a perfect pairing, so surprise your sweetheart with a weekend celebrating chocolate, wine and romance in northeast Ohio's Grand River Valley wine country this winter.

The Ohio Wine Producers' Chocolate is for Lovers wine trail is a great way to experience a cluster of wineries nestled within 10 miles of each other in one of the country's premiere wine producing regions just 50 miles east of Cleveland.

The Old Firehouse Winery on Lake Erie in Geneva-on-the-Lake is in a vintage firehouse decorated with firehouse-related memorabilia. Catch a quick snack and some wine here in a fun atmosphere.

A third generation of the Debevc family offer wines that include Cabernet, Merlot, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay at Debonne Vineyards in Madison. You can also check out a selection of seasonal and year-round beers at Debonne's Cellar Rats Brewery.

Debonne Winery

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante in Geneva is another third-generation family winery. Sample Ferrante wines like Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer in the winery's tasting room, or check out the restaurant overlooking the vineyards for lunch or dinner. I enjoyed the pasta here, but the pizza menu looks pretty tempting to me as well.

Other wineries on the Chocolate is for Lovers wine trail include; Bene Vino Urban Winery; Biscotti's Family Winery; Buccia Vineyards; Emerine Estates; Grand River Cellars; Maple Ridge Vineyards; Old Mill Winery; The Winery at Spring Hill; and Virant Family Winery.

The Ohio State Park Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is a popular wedding venue, and its proximity to the Grand River Valley makes it a perfect home to base your romantic Ohio wine country getaway.

Drive the wine trail yourself, or leave the driving to someone else and hop on the lodge's wine shuttle.

A couple of the wineries are so close to the lodge that when snow makes driving miserable, it's no problem.

Photo courtesy of Brook Hall, The Old Firehouse Winery

"We got hit with a snowstorm and had to shut down our wine shuttle [one recent] Saturday.  But that didn't stop our guests who rented snowshoes and hiked their way over to Old Firehouse Winery to enjoy the local wine," said Daisy Hall, the lodge's marketing and website coordinator.

At the end of the day, return to the Lodge's indoor pool or hot tub, book a massage, relax in the four-story-high lobby with its massive fireplace or, if you're more ambitious, rent cross-country skis or snowshoes for a lakeside hike.

The resort's Horizons restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Erie. Enjoy Ohio wine with dinner in the small lounge next to the restaurant where there is often live entertainment, or have a bottle of local wine delivered to your room.

Chocolate is for Lovers wine weekends are February 3 & 4 and 10 & 11. Tickets at $50 per couple ($40 per single) include wine samples and light appetizers at participating wineries, as well as a special candy dish to hold candies collected from the wineries.

Thanks to The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, which provided one night's lodging, dinner, breakfast and the in-room wine package for my review, with no further compensation. I was free to express my own opinion about our stay, and the opinions expressed here are mine.

The Road to Freedom

If you haven’t been to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, you are missing out. The Freedom Center is a great place to explore and learn about the history of slavery, the Underground Railroad, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. Even the location of the Freedom Center is symbolic, located in downtown Cincinnati on the banks of the Ohio River, where slaves crossed to escape to freedom.

The museum is animated and inspiring with several exhibits that penetrate through you and open your eyes to new experiences. I admit it, though, it is tough facing the faces of my ancestors, and acknowledging the awful experiences African-Americans endured. Yet, the Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a place for people of all races to understand the good and the bad… the triumphs and the hardships.

For example, the exhibits, The Slave Pen and Escape! both offer glimpses into the life and times of slavery. The Slave Pen is an actual holding pen used to imprison slaves before moving them for auction. Escape! is an interactive exhibit that uses storytelling, role-playing and hands-on activities to portray the journey of the Underground Railroad.

The Brothers of the Borderland is an experiential theater exhibit where guests enjoy a 25-minute film with fog rising in the background, and outside noises--chirping crickets--that provide the realistic experience of the historical figure, John Parker, and his daring flight to freedom.

The National Underground Freedom Center will catch you off guard. You enter expecting an educational experience, but in the amazement of the stories you hear, the artifacts you encounter and the exhibits you experience, you leave encouraged by the perseverance of our ancestors, and with a renewed hope for the future. After all, if you don’t know where you came from, where will you go?

The center is located at 50 E. Freedom Way in downtown Cincinnati. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4 p.m.) Visit http://www.freedomcenter.org/.

Fun times in any weather at the Richland Carrousel Park in downtown Mansfield!

Growing up, I have spent many days, going around and around the lovely carousel in downtown Mansfield and didn't really "re-discover" it until I had a child of my own. My wife, daughter and I visit the Richland Carrousel Park every month. It's a nice little inexpensive trip that our little girl absolutely loves.

Having an art background, I enjoy and appreciate the artwork that goes into the hand-carved animals. The 53 figurines are a "throwback" to carousels from the early 1900s (in the style of G.A. Dentzel). They have many horses, safari animals, and a couple mythical figurines as well. My personal favorite would be the half white horse/half mermaid. The creativity as well as the paint job is something that MUST be seen in person to appreciate. There also are carriages to ride in as well, so its perfect for a nice day out with the grandparents that doesn't include much walking.

With any fun day out, we also like to stop at one of the many classic restaurants in the area. Athens Greek Restaurant is one of our favorite stops. The prices are  reasonable, and the gyros are delicious. Other choices include  Coney Island, with its soda fountain and homemade pies, as well as Buckeye Tony's diner with its juicy burgers and subs. Each of these places offer a better selection (and potentially better for you) than your typical fast food stop. All in a weekend of fun with your family.

A photo from when my little Zoe was only 10 Months old!

In closing, if you're going to take a trip to see the beautiful artwork and (depending on the season) landscaping out at the Richland Carrousel Park, be sure to bring a camera and some extra money for the souvenir shops. They offer many shirts, toy and trinkets to commemorate your trip. Enjoy!

 

Save Room 4 Love,

Brad (The Chatterbox)

Winter Hiking at Clear Creek Metro Park

If you are looking to embark on a hike that is both challenging and picturesque, Clear Creek Metro Park in Rockbridge, Ohio has you covered. This mammoth park spans over 5,000 acres of land, contains over 12 miles of hiking trails, and is home to over 150 species of birds. According to the official website, one could also potentially spot coyotes, turkeys, vultures, bobcats and other wildlife at the park.

While it is technically a part of the Central Ohio Metro Parks system, Clear Creek  could more appropriately be considered part of Southeastern Ohio, as it is located in both Fairfield and Hocking Counties. It is not far from the popular Hocking Hills region, but is different from its neighbor in that there are far less tourists and it is much more secluded. This makes for a more serene and peaceful experience with Ohio's natural beauty.

My first visit to Clear Creek Metro Park was part of the Official Winter Hikes Series (which takes place tomorrow, January 28). Upon our arrival, my friends and I were welcomed by ravishing blue skies and a stunning blanket of snow. While I knew that the wintry landscape would make for an added degree of difficulty during my hike, I did not anticipate just how much of a slick and slippery cardio workout I would be getting that day. Equipped with a hand-carved walking stick and a pair of heavy duty winter hiking boots, I was more than prepared to tackle the assorted terrain ahead.

 

Clear Creek Metro Park is unique in that it provides a varying array of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, so that no matter what your level of experience, you will be sure to find a trail that suits your comfort level. Some of the calmer trails include Creekside Meadows (1.7 miles) and Good Prairie (0.3 miles).

Because of my adventurous personality, however, I went right for the extreme trails. The Hemlock Trail, for instance, is a 1.5 mile pathway that, like a roller coaster, winds in and out of wooded regions, alongside sandstone cliffs, and over footbridges that span across the aptly named Clear Creek. This particular trail had rugged, steep hills, which made my aforementioned hiking stick a godsend! Going down these hills became tricky, however, as I slowly scooted inch by inch at some parts.

One of the highlights of the trail was an enormous uprooted tree that had fallen onto the pathway, making for a fun little obstacle. Another great sight to see was the waterfall that had completely frozen over, creating a spectacular wall of icicles.

Having hiked in dozens of parks across Ohio, I can easily say that Clear Creek is one of the most exciting and beautiful parks I have come across. The magnificent rock formations, large selection of trails, and the calming atmosphere make Clear Creek Metro Park a fantastic destination any time of the year.

 

The New Greater Cleveland Aquarium

As part of my job, I am often blessed with the opportunity to experience the many offerings our industry has for visitors.  (It’s a tough part of the job, but someone has to do it!) 

This past Thursday, I had the honor of being invited to attend the official ribbon-cutting and sneak-peak opening of the new Greater Cleveland Aquarium.  In a word:  Wow!  Northeast Ohio has a new gem in its line-up of family friendly attractions.

Now, you may have been to other aquariums, but this one has its own flair, not just in the marine life offerings, but in its incorporation of the existing architecture. Marinescape, the designer of this aquarium, has built over 20 aquariums all over the globe, and they have chosen Cleveland for their first entry into the USA. 

 

These folks are geniuses in design as they have figured out how to maximize use of uniquely shaped rooms in a former Powerhouse!  I don’t want to give away all of the secrets, but think about a tank full of spiny lobsters that peers down at the humans instead of the other way around at so many seafood restaurants!

 

Long story short, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is about 45,000 square feet of fun and learning about aquaculture from Lake Erie to the greatest coral reefs!  I am looking forward to bringing my family back soon, so they can share in the experience!  Way to go Cleveland!

Note: Photos courtesy of Greater Cleveland Aquarium

A Romantic Getaway: The Villas at Gervasi Vineyard

My husband and I recently enjoyed a much-needed night away together at Gervasi Vineyard, minutes from downtown Canton. We have been to the Winery and Bistro in years past--Gervasi's  owners take great pride in the quality of their wine and meals--and were excited to check out the recently completed boutique inn—The Villas. With our careers, a very active three-year old son and a newly adopted German Shepard puppy keeping us busy, a quick trip was just what we needed to reconnect and unwind.

No detail has been spared from the architecture to the decor of this lovely 55-acre estate. The grounds include a winery, The Bistro, Marketplace gift shop, Tasting Bar, The Cucina Culinary and Wine Center, The Villa Grande Conference and Event Center,  Outdoor Pavilion and The Villas. In addition, the natural surroundings include the vineyard, a spring-fed lake and a state park hiking trail.

The Tuscan-inspired inn is both luxurious and rustic. There are 24 suites arranged in six, four-bedroom villas. We stayed in the gorgeous Villa Portofino named after a fishing village in Italy. Each villa has its own common area complete with rustic dining and living area, a stone fireplace and kitchenette. This set-up makes The Villas a perfect destination for several couples or families with older children to enjoy. Note to self: must arrange a couple’s retreat with friends, complete with an evening of great wine, food and games. And if we visit in warmer weather, add to the list: lounging with a glass of wine on our suite's lanai or dining al fresco next to the peaceful lake.

We had dinner reservations at 7 p.m. at The Bistro, so after getting settled, our first stop was The Marketplace to do a little shopping before dinner. I picked up a small appetizer plate with the word “Otto” (eight is my favorite number and it’s close to our last name – kind of sweet) as well as a small gift for our  baby/dog sitter.

The grand, Italian charm is prominent in the post and beam construction at The Bistro. Our dinner was delicious and the wine at Gervasi is always delightful. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive and was able to bring us a bottle of the Abbraccio wine we were drinking with dinner to take back to our room.

After retreating to our suite, full and happy, we lit a fire, poured some wine and enjoyed the quiet and each other’s company. The next morning, we were delighted to wake up to a coating of snow over the grounds and a wooden wine box full of delicious home-baked breakfast goodies. It made our departure just as magical as our arrival.

Visit Gervasi's website to make your reservation or for more information. There are plenty of places to see in the Canton area, namely, The Pro Football Hall of Fame, The William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum or the critically acclaimed Canton Symphony Orchestra.

No Business Like Snow Business at Snow Trails

When I decided after a 10-year hiatus from the sport of skiing (meaning I went skiing once at the tender age of 16) that it would be a good idea to see if I could still pull it off, Snow Trails in Mansfield was the place I chose to make my dreams come true.

Despite a less-than-satisfactory amount of snow thus far this winter, Sunday’s weather made for a perfect skiing day. It had snowed the day before (though Snow Trails can and does make its own), the sun was out, and it was cold but not too cold.

My husband and I arrived early in the afternoon and, as expected for a beautiful day on a holiday weekend, it was packed.

We navigated through the busy parking lot to the cluster of rustic buildings at the base of the hill, secured our passes and rentals — skiis, boots and poles — with ease and waited by the office for what turned out to be one of the highlights of the day: beginner ski lessons with a very nice man named Bill Fitch.

Without being at all condescending, despite the fact that he could — and literally did — ski circles around us, Bill taught us the basics of skiing, from how to hold poles to what to do in the unfortunate instance of wiping out.

He gave us individual attention, constructive criticism and encouragement every step of the way, and it made for a great day.

In short, it was a blast. But you don’t have to be a beginner to enjoy it — the facility has a little something for skiers and non-skiers of all ages and abilities, plus several new additions to its facilities and offerings.

Here’s a roundup:

• Click here to see a map with all the trails. There are two new ones, including Upper Cut and Timberline, both intermediate level hills. Snow Trails rates its slopes as 20% beginner level, 60% intermediate and another 20% advanced.

• Snow Trails also has a new Children’s Learning Center and new rental center, which we found to be in tip-top shape, well organized and maintained.

• Not into skiing? You can always check out Snow Trails tubing park, with six tubing lanes, a lift and its own lodge.

• For fun, stop by the Snow Trails “Get To Know” page and have a look at its list of “firsts,” from first chair lift in Ohio to first 30-Second Delay On-Slope Video Review System.

 

UPDATE!

This is Roger from the Ohio Office of Tourism. Winter temperatures have arrived to Ohio, and this is the perfect weekend to get out and enjoy Snow Trails as well some of Ohio's other great winter-friendly destinations. Check out the links below to get current information on conditions and events at each.

Mad River Mountain

Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort

Clear Fork Resort

Keeping the Dream Alive

The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.

In my lifetime I have learned a few things and while I don’t consider myself an expert on anything, I know that it is through compassion for others that we grow, learn and flourish. No one understood this more than Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a man who died defending the rights of African-Americans and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all people through tolerance and compassion.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”

Monday, January 16, we celebrate the life and efforts of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. While some may celebrate in acts of community service, a practice that Dr. King advocated, others may seek out ways to commemorate him through concerts, worship and other events across Ohio.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

I will be in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration. It is free to the public and there will even be live performances by R&B artist, Ledisi, the Antioch Spiritual Arts Choir and spoken word performers.
In Columbus, families can attend the MLK Open House at the King Arts Complex and enjoy live theatrical performances, music or participate in the Martin Luther King Jr., March and Program at City Hall.

There will be a MLK Unity Celebration in Toledo at Savage Arena which kicks off with a canned food drive. In Athens, the 12th Annual MLK Silent March and Brunch pays tribute to Dr. King in a silent march, much like those during the times of the civil rights movement.
At the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, the 2012 MLK Legacy Awards Breakfast honors Dr. King’s life and legacy through commentary and performing arts and also acknowledges those who have exemplified King’s efforts through their acts of service.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Many of us are familiar with Dr. King’s, “I Have a Dream” speech, but I wanted to include some lesser known quotes by Dr. King. However you choose to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, take a minute to stop and reflect on the dream that he had and ask, “What am I doing to make that dream a reality?”

Highlights along the Lincoln Highway in Ohio

Automobile travel in the early 1900s was a bumpy, muddy mess in this country, so the Lincoln Highway became the super road of its time. Such two-lane highways may seem quaint today, but following the Lincoln Highway through Ohio is great for fans of the state's history and a more leisurely road trip.

Entrepreneur Carl Fisher, who helped develop the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, envisioned a transcontinental highway as a way to ease cross-country travel and help the automotive industry.

Stories of Fisher's promotional stunts were legend, but the plan to build a cross-country highway he unveiled to a group of automobile manufacturers in 1912 probably struck some of them as his biggest stunt to date.

There were two major alignments of the route in 1913 and 1928. By the mid-1920s, about 250 named highways criss-crossed the country. Federal highway officials established a standardized numbering system for the nation's highways, and much of the Lincoln Highway became US 30 through Ohio.

Ohio's Lincoln Highway runs from East Liverpool near the West Virginia state line to the Indiana state line just west of Van Wert.

Here are some highlights along the Ohio leg of the highway:

• Van Wert--A large sign at the city limits welcomes visitors to the Gateway of the Lincoln Highway. Don't miss Van Wert's castle-like Brumback Library, built in 1901 as the nation's first county library.

  



• Delphos--See original portions of the Miami-Erie canal running through town. Delphos has a Canal Museum and Museum of Postal History, one of only three museums in the country dedicated to postal history. Both museums have limited hours, but we stopped at the Delphos Chamber of Commerce office, where the director made several calls resulting in someone opening the postal museum for us.

  



• Beaverdam--is the site of a marker dedicated to Fisher as the "Father of the Lincoln Highway."

• Lima--is along the earliest alignment of the Lincoln Highway. Visit downtown Lima for an olive burger at the 1920s Kewpee Burger diner, named (with a slight spelling alteration) for the roly-poly Kewpie dolls so popular during the 1920s.

  



• Mansfield--Check out Mansfield's beautiful carousel with hand-carved animals, then drive a few miles out of town to tour the Mansfield Reformatory, perhaps best known as the prison in The Shawshank Redemption movie.

• Canton--has several great museums, including: the Pro Football Hall of Fame; the First Ladies' National Library and historic Saxton-McKinley Home; the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum; and the Canton Classic Car Museum.

  

Make the most of your trip by taking along a good map. We found our Ohio Lincoln Highway Map book in the Canton Classic Car Museum gift shop. You might find one at the J & M Trading Post in Leesville (an old general store just off of the highway) or online at the Lincoln Highway Association's Trading Post. The map book shows various Lincoln Highway alignments and features vintage concrete Lincoln Highway markers and a few of the highway's original brick-paved sections existing as spurs off of the main road.

The Frozen Diamond Faceoff at Progressive Field

The Ohio State/Michigan rivalry is a long and storied one. Thoughts of the Buckeyes vs. the Wolverines usually bring to mind hard fought battles on the gridiron. But this Sunday at 5:05 p.m., in Cleveland, just a few blocks from the shores of Lake Erie, these two collegiate powerhouses will take part in a faceoff of another sort. They’ll play in the first outdoor college hockey game in the state of Ohio, the Frozen Diamond Faceoff!

These outdoor hockey games have become quite popular lately. It has become an annual New Year’s Day tradition for NHL fans, and collegiate games, including the Big Chill at the Big House in Ann Arbor and the Frozen Tundra Classic at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, have brought some of that fighting college spirit to the ice. But on Sunday, when one of the longest and most heated rivalries in college sports takes to the ice, hockey fans are in for a real treat!

The venue alone makes this game something special. The highly anticipated game takes place in what is normally the home of the Cleveland Indians. But Progressive Field has been transformed into a winter wonderland called Snow Days, and fans will be amazed at the change. Features include an eight-lane snow tubing hill, an ice skating track around the outfield (the first non-symmetrical ice skating path in the U.S.), a small rink for beginning skaters and The Frozen Diamond – a regulation-sized ice skating rink covering home plate and stretching along the first base line. It looks awesome!

On Saturday, Jan. 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., fans can attend the Frozen Diamond Faceoff Fan Fest. General admission for this exciting day of hockey-related fun is only $5, and gives attendees access to meet-and-greets with Ohio State and Michigan players, select Lake Erie Monsters players, Sully the Mascot, and the Lake Erie Monsters Street Team. Fans can also watch the Ohio State and Michigan Women’s Club Ice Hockey game (11 a.m.) and Michigan (3 – 4 p.m.) and Ohio State (4:30 – 5:30 p.m.) Men’s Ice Hockey teams practice. (Note that all times are subject to change.)

Of course, there are plenty of great things to do in Cleveland to make this a weekend to remember. You’ll find an amazing variety of things to keep you busy between visits to Progressive Field.

For me, no trip to Cleveland is complete without a trip to the world's only Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. I've taken friends and family of all ages -- from die hard Elvis fans to Lady Gaga devotees -- and it is always a big hit (no pun intended). The Great Lakes Science Center/NASA Glenn Visitor Center is sure to keep kids of all ages entertained. And, of course, you’ll find incredible food including celebrity chef Michael Symon’s Lola Bistro (I love this place!) located on downtown Cleveland’s happening East 4^th Street and the amazing Great Lakes Brewing Company in nearby Ohio City with possibly the best Mac and Cheese in Cleveland!

Are you planning to attend the Frozen Diamond Faceoff? Look for me there. I’m excited to see one of the most historic events in Ohio hockey!