DiscoveringOhio

Bonding and bicycling on the Baltimore & Ohio

Perfect spring weather, exercise and a bit of family bonding: My dad and I had it all for our first-ever trip along the Richland B&O bike trail on a recent Saturday in May.

We mapped a route from Butler to Mansfield and back--about 37 miles round-trip. It was the first bike trip of semi-significant length (well, of any length) I’d made since the birth of my daughter in February, and while I was itching to get back in the saddle, I was a little nervous about how I’d hold up.

We prepared to depart from a parking lot in Butler, set against a backdrop of farm machinery and the Whiffletree Restaurant, which looked like it might be a place to pick up some great local flavor.

Fortunately for us (especially for me, the out-of-shape cyclist), the asphalt trail was smooth, even and very well-kept, and we were free to travel at whatever pace we chose. The route treated us to a number of views: neat old farmhouses, granaries, industrial facilities; former depots and railroad bridges atop lazy creeks; spring foliage, rock outcroppings and farmers’ fields.

The Richland B&O is a rail-trail, meaning it was a railroad (the Baltimore & Ohio, of course) in its former life. Now converted into a scenic path that also passes through Bellville and Lexington, it appeared on our visit to be a popular recreational spot for walkers, joggers, in-line skaters and cyclists alike--plus a number of canine companions.

We stopped for a water break at a quaint-looking train depot-turned-rest area in Bellville, which also boasted an ice cream shop and antique stores across the street (sadly, they were closed at the time of our visit). If you’ve got time or are looking to grab a bite to eat, there are a number of offerings in downtown Bellville, including a dairy isle, pizza shop and coffee shop, among others.

About six miles northwest of Bellville, in Lexington, cycling enthusiasts can stop for repairs or just browse at Y-Not Cycling and Fitness.

Once you arrive in Mansfield (or perhaps you’ll choose to start there), take some time to relax and enjoy the scenery at North Lake Park or venture into town for some shopping, dining and sightseeing.

If you’re looking to extend your trip a bit, you can camp at River Trail Crossing in Butler, located on the Clear Fork Mohican River with easy access to the bike trail. Other nearby attractions include the Gorman Nature Center in Mansfield, Malabar Farm State Park in Lucas and Mohican State Park, about a 20 minute drive east of Bellville along Ohio 97.

Due to an incident with a forgotten backpack, we cut our trip short at around 15 miles (30 round-trip) and never made it to Mansfield. The good news is that a good samaritan kept an eye on the pack until our return--surely a testament to the nice sort of folks that frequent the Richland B&O.

Next time, we’ll make it the whole way. Promise.

Your Guide to Lighthouses Along the Lake Erie Coast

When people think of lighthouses they often think of the East Coast or Florida. But did you know that Ohio is home to a number of lighthouses? Many of these structures once served the robust shipping industry and provided light and signals to ships entering port. Today some of the lighthouses are still active, others are maintained as pieces of Ohio and Lake Erie's rich history.

I have always enjoyed lighthouses. When I travel in Ohio or out of the state boundaries, I always take a photo of a lighthouse if it is nearby. They are majestic yet calming structures at the same time.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has compiled a comprehensive list of past and present Ohio lighthouses, which is a great resource for your next Ohio lighthouse venture. This list is statewide and includes a few lighthouses not along the coast, such as the Grand Lake St. Mary's Lighthouses in Celina, Ohio and the Perry Memorial Monument, built in 1915, and located on South Bass Island.

I encourage you to take a leisurely drive along U.S. State Route 6 this spring. This northern highway will take you past many of Ohio's lighthouses, if not a stone's throw away from them.

Here's my top 4 Ohio Lighthouses:

1) Marblehead Lighthouse (Marblehead, Ohio): Built in 1812, this is Ohio's oldest lighthouse and one of its most breathtaking. Tours are given here in the summer on weekends. Perch on the rocks outside and on a clear day try to spot the Lake Erie Islands.

Marblehead Lighthouse

 

2) Huron Lighthouse (Huron, Ohio): Heading further east, this lighthouse sits a short ways off the shore. It is accessible by a mile-long pier. The lighthouse is not open to tours but is enjoyable to look at and take photos of up close or from shore. It beholds a sort of quiet mystery.

3) Lorain Lighthouse (Lorain, Ohio): Dubbed the "Jewel of the Port" this cheerful lighthouse looks very much like a house. Tours are available in the summer -- accessible only by boat!

Lorain Lighthouse

4) Conneaut Lighthouse (Conneaut, Ohio): A trip to Ohio's far east side will take you to Conneaut, where the waters are just as clear and blue. This lighthouse, built in 1835, sits far from the shore but offers a lovely view of the water and a huge beach.

 

 Which Ohio lighthouse is your favorite?

Family-friendly hiking (and more!) at Alum Creek State Park

The last (and only) time I’d visited Alum Creek State Park before our stop there on a recent weekend was as a participant in the bicycle leg of the Greenswell Triathlon, and while that occasion left me with a nice impression of Alum Creek, I didn’t exactly have time to slow down and take in the scenery.

We ambitiously traveled there with our 2-month-old and 3-year-old daughters for some family-friendly hiking, and left quite impressed with the various options for what you can do there.

In terms of hikes that are accommodating to families of young children (including the kind you pop into a carrier), all four of us recommend the Park Office Trail, a level walk around a small pond near—you guessed it!—the park office that also joins with other trails to lead you to the waterfront of Alum Creek.

Our leisurely pace and the natural diversity of the area allowed for us to make several stops to talk about the little details in nature that we adults often fail to notice, but that might be of curiosity to a preschooler: Red-winged blackbirds perched in trees above the lake, pine cones laying on the ground, a few hawks soaring above, tiny leaves starting to show on the branches along the path.

We were surprised to see a couple boaters out, despite the slightly-chilly weather. We also crossed paths with a few other families who were out enjoying the first signs of spring. 

Sound a little too tame? No worries. More experienced hikers and outdoor lovers should not lose heart: Alum Creek also has offerings for the slightly-more-ambitious, including camping (available year-round), mountain biking (there are trails for easy, moderate and difficult experience levels), horseback riding, fishing, boating and the largest inland beach in Ohio’s state park system.

It was the first hike we’d ever been on with the baby, and though she slept the whole time, we consider that an indication that she found it enjoyable. Which made it a win for all of us.

Families can save money on an overnight stay at Alum Creek State Park - or any Ohio State Parks - by purchasing a Large drink cup from McDonald's this summer. Ohio State Parks campgrounds are offering "25% off one night camping (Thursday-Sunday)" and Ohio State Park Lodges are offering "stay 2 nights and receive 20% off" or "$50 Lodge credit". The Discover Ohio To Go campaign is running until June 9th in McDonald's restaurants (deals are good all summer). 

The Best Birding Locations in Ohio

Ohio offers some of the best birding sites in the country, particularly along the Lake Erie shoreline. Ohio State Parks, nature preserves, forests and wildlife areas are spectacular locations to view many species of birds, including warblers, song birds, waterfowl, and shorebirds among many more.

Kirtland's Warbler

The best times of the year to see these migrating birds begin in April, but more specifically you can see shorebirds from April-June, hawks from April-May, and warblers from April-May.

There are many unique locations around Ohio to see these magnificent birds including:

Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area in Lucas and Ottawa counties is recognized as one of the nation’s premier birding destinations. It offers thousands of acres along the western Lake Erie shoreline ideal for viewing the spring migration activities of warblers, song birds and mentor headlands. A handicap-accessible boardwalk, known as the bird trail, is next to the Sportsmen’s Migratory Bird Center at Magee Marsh and provides access to one of the best birding areas in the marsh.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Summit County located in the northeastern region of Ohio has many bird watching areas. Some of the popular birds you can see are blue heron, song birds and raptors (which stay in this area to nest).

Shawnee State Park located in Scioto County near the edge of Appalachia is the best region to go to from late April to early May. At this location you can see song birds, blue grosbeaks, prairie warblers and chuck-wills’-widows. These migrating birds are in this part of Ohio during early May for breeding.

Summer Tanger

Oak Openings Preserve in Toledo, the northwest region of Ohio, is where you will see some rare birds as they are migrating north. This is one of the best places to see raptors because they do not like to go over water. Lark sparrow can also be seen in this region as this is the only place where they breed. Bird watchers will get a great view of red headed wood peckers and summer tanagers.

These locations around Ohio are some of the more unique locations to visit to see these one-of-a-kind birds. We will also break it down regionally, as you will see below:

Southwest Ohio

• Spring Grove Cemetery – April and May
• Cincinnati
  • Great for birds due to green space in an urban setting

Southeast Ohio

• Crown City Wildlife Area
• Lawrence/Gallia County line
  • Best location is near Gallipolis during late April and early May
  • You can see grassland birds, henslow’s sparrow (bird watchers come specifically to Ohio to see this bird), eastern meadowlarks and orchard orioles

Central Ohio

• Grange Insurance Audubon Center – Early May
• Columbus
  
  • The rivers in this area are like super highways for bird migrations
  • You can also see water birds and cormorants

Northwest Ohio

• Allen County – April and May
  • Kendrick Woods
  • Johnny Appleseed Park District

 

The Biggest Week in American Birding is May 3-12. Most of these migrating birds can be seen along Lake Erie in northern Ohio. There are more than 150,000 birders along Lake Erie during this time of year. If you have never gone bird watching before, grab a pair of binoculars and head out to enjoy one of the greatest activities Ohio has during the spring season.

Magee Marsh Boardwalk

The Hidden Gems of Southeast Ohio

When deciding on a college, the location is just as important as the program you choose to study. I spent four of my most formative years at Ohio University in Athens. As a wide-eyed freshman I was unaware of the all the unique locations and experiences Southeast Ohio has to offer. Between the Appalachian Mountains and the Hocking Hills, this region has some great hidden gems for anyone wanting to visit.

 

Grouse Nest Restaurant, South Bloomingville

I had the delicious pleasure of visiting this restaurant during my senior year. Literally nestled high on top of a hill deep in the Hocking Hills Resort, this casual diner features entrees with ingredients indigenous to Ohio such as rabbit sausage, Ohio Whitetail venison, Bluegill fish, and western diamondback rattlesnake. I tried the Roasted Red Pepper & Smoked Gouda Soup and the Grilled Salmon BLT from their lunch menu and it was probably one of the most tasty soups and sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Barton Meadows, Hocking Hills

My roommates and I stayed here right after graduation as a weekend getaway. This inviting cabin has all the classic country vacation staples including a Jacuzzi, fire pit, a large yard but it was the game room and the library stocked full of movies that kept us entertained on the hot summer night. Being tucked away and secluded (no cell phone service) in this comfortable home in Hocking was a nice break from our busy post grad lives.

Strouds Run State Park, Athens

A popular destination for OU students and Athens County residents, this park features a large lake great for canoeing, kayaking, fishing or just basking in the sun’s rays. I’ve gone for a picnic on a lazy Friday and to a wooded photo shoot for a campus magazine I worked for. This park is great for a leisure-filled day trip.

Athens Farmers Market, Athens

Most people in Athens don’t wake up early enough on Saturdays to take advantage of this gem and they are really missing out. The community gathers at 10 am to buy and sell some of the freshest fruit and flowers this county has to offer. Many times I would get delicious apples and peaches to enjoy and some flowers to put in my dorm room window.

These are only some of a few great places in Southeast Ohio that I was lucky enough to experience. What are your favorite hidden gems?

A Trip Down the Road is a Trip Back in Time

For some, the essence of central Ohio can be summed up in one word: farm. The deep agricultural roots that have pushed this state forward for years are still alive and growing, and a day’s visit to Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County can prove it to you.

Malabar Farm State Park has more to offer than we could see on a single, chilly March day, but the prospect of spring was everywhere in the air.  Upon arriving, the Visitor Center was welcoming and informative.  Numerous interactive activities kept our children happy and even taught us a thing or two about farming and the environment.  Malabar Farm prides itself on being a “green” facility; there is a windmill located on the property and even the bathroom ceramic tiles are made from recycled materials!  There is a cow station to learn how to milk, bird calls to learn, and a scale model of the entire property to entice you to head outdoors…after you check out the well-stocked gift store, complete with fudge and a parrot that like to talk to you after you walk away.

The farm itself is a working farm and visitors are able to walk through the barns on a tour or by themselves as we did.  Cows, sheep, ponies, goats, chickens and turkeys graced our afternoon, and a clever barn cat followed us around before sneaking into the straw for a nap. 

Also available for a tour is the Big House, once the home of Louis Bromfield.  The Pulitzer Prize winning author and conservationist lived in a fully-functioning Malabar Farm from 1942 until his death in 1956.  In his lifetime he wrote a number of fictional and non-fictional novels, including many based on his life at the farm.  His books are available in the gift store.

During our spring visit, we decided to head to the woods for a family hike.  The property is laced with hiking trails, allowing you to see all of the property.  We walked through a beech-maple forest and stopped to watch wildlife and play in some of the sandstone blocks that specked the forest.

Malabar Farm State Park has a number of activities planned for the year, and I can easily see how a family would make a wonderful weekend out of a visit.  There are places listed on their website for lodging, and a delightful farm stand and restaurant up the road.  I would say it is well worth the journey in a car to take a trip back in time into a landscape of rolling hills, pastures, forests, and a brilliant writer who made it all possible.

 

 

Earth Day In Ohio

Earth Day is April 22, 2013 but events abound the weekend prior (April 20 & 21) throughout the state. From cleaning up neighborhoods and hiking trails to hands-on educational programs, pick your favorite way to celebrate and protect our precious Earth.  

Earth Day Columbus 

Thousands of people are taking an active role in sustainable living this year in Earth Day Columbus. The weekend of April 20 & 21, you can volunteer to plant trees, clean up neighborhoods and prepare community gardens. A free community celebration touting this year’s theme Stand Together takes place at Columbus Commons on April 27 featuring a day of bands, local food trucks, green businesses and environmental groups.

 

EarthFest 2013 – Cuyahoga County

Billed as the longest running Earth Day celebration in the country for 24 years, EarthFest 2013 kicks off Sunday, April 21^st  (10am - 5pm) at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. New exhibits this year include: a renewable energy exhibit area with a wind turbine and energy education center, healthy local foods demonstrations, composting demonstrations, rides and inflatable obstacle courses for kids and a flea market. There’s even a bike valet for those who arrive on two wheels. RTA buses are running a free EarthFest shuttle to the fairgrounds.

Earth Day at Sawyer Point – Cincinnati

On April 20^th (Noon – 5pm) enjoy a free family Earth Day at Sawyer Point. This year’s theme “One Earth…One Chance” is demonstrated throughout the grounds with hands-on exhibits on environmental awareness, animals from a local farm and Earth Day storytelling. Highlights this year include a children’s fashion show with items made from recycled materials and a parade featuring Earth Day flags made by children.

Earth Day at Garden Station – Dayton

On Saturday, April 20^th at Garden Station in Dayton, take part in dozens of workshops on gardening, beekeeping, composting, solar panels and ways to make your home more energy efficient. Learn how to make homemade paper and get kids craft ideas from recycled materials. You can try yoga, eat organic produce and enjoy lunch from local food trucks. Admission is free!!

Many events happening around Earth Day are settled in locations that your family can return to later in the year and celebrate Earth Day everyday.

Wilmont Wilderness Center - (near Canton)

The Wilmont Wilderness Center has Earth Day education all year long, but on April 20^th instead of just walking the trails, you can help clean them. Programs include learning about native birds and the role that nature plays in sustainable living.

Blue Rock Station

Home to Ohio’s first Earthship, Blue Rock Station is a sustainable homestead farm made entirely from recycled tires, barn wood, straw bales, cans and mud. This 40 acre farmstead runs group tours and programs throughout the year. It will be open to the public for an Earth Day tour on April 20 (1 -3pm). Then, you can plan your next visit to experience one of the many workshops offered throughout the year.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Who can resist a visit to the zoo? Earth Day celebrations at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo begin April 17^th with more than 175 “green” exhibitors on the grounds. Enjoy organic food, eco-friendly activities and even a six-mile educational walk throughout the zoo grounds. Don't miss "Party For the Planet" on Sunday, April 21 from 10am-4pm and receive $2 off regular admission rate.

 

Valley Zipline Tours in Lancaster

 

Above Photos by Mike Evans of OHventures

Zip lining consists of a series of heavy duty wires suspended in the air, typically connected to a tree or man-made platform at either end. A harness straps the daring rider in and a pulley system allows the rider to hang from the wire and glide - or "zip" - across from one end to the other! This extreme activity offers thrills on a multitude of levels. The speed and height of the zip line varies throughout each "course" and beautiful views of Ohio's lush flora are consistent through and through!

We are fortunate here in Ohio to have some fantastic zip lining facilities right at our fingertips! The newest of which is Valley Zipline Tours, found in Fairfield County in the northern part of Lancaster. Built in 2012, Valley Zipline Tours consists of 10 zip lines soaring high in the sky at heights up to over 100 feet above the ground. Brave souls get the rare opportunity to soak in amazing views of the local Catfish Valley, home to an extremely popular fishing pond called Paylake. 

The tour begins with a short how-to presentation to get folks acquainted with zip lining. After you get your gear on, you hop onto a mini-zip line to practice with the instructors. Our instructors and tour guides did an awesome job at making us feel comfortable and have a great time the whole way through!

Transportation then took our group (we had three, but groups can be as large as eight people) to our very first zip line! We found that the first five zip lines were built from treetop to treetop and were noticeably closer to the ground than the others. This was by design, so that the zip lines would get progressively higher off the ground and therefore ease folks into the idea of the more extreme zip lines that were to come!

We completed the treetop zip lines with ease and moved on to the tower-to-tower zip lines! Three of these zip lines run right above the aforementioned Paylake pond, providing a pretty spectacular view! These above-the-water zip lines are complete behemoths, spanning 1,000 feet from start to end and zooming at over 40 mph! 

Next came "The Duel," two side-by-side zip lines where two opponents "face off" to race each other to the other side! I unfortunately lost to my friend in this race, but it was a super fun element nonetheless, and one that is not found at many other zip line courses in Ohio. 

Last but not least was the final zip line which takes you to a 50-foot platform that you then must rappel down to the ground (think of it as a bonus 11th zip line!).

Zip lining can be for almost anyone! While it offers an extreme thrill, it does not require a great deal of skill or athleticism, as most of the action comes from gravity and physics! While there are weight, height, and health restrictions, when it comes to age, the sky is the limit!

There's virtually no excuse for you to get out and feel the wind against your face as you zip above Ohio this spring!

Putting the "Man" in Mansfield

Like many men in their late 20s, I’m still in contact with several of my closest friends from college. After graduating from Miami University in 2006, some moved as east as New York and as west as Wisconsin. I have been in Columbus since 2008. To connect more than the standard e-mails and at Homecoming, we developed an annual challenge to compete in called the Man of the Year, or MOTY for short.

It started in 2012 and includes 132 tasks over categories like self-improvement, travel and sports. There are points attributed to each task and we keep track of them on Google Drive and share pictures/videos of our exploits in a Facebook group. The winner gets a 16” statue of Paul Bunyan and bragging rights for the following year. Each city offers some advantages when it comes to the list. For example, it’s easier to go to an NFL game if you live in a town with a pro team. I spend a lot of time in Mansfield for work and visiting my girlfriend’s family. Admittedly, it doesn’t look like an advantageous location for the MOTYs, but I realized it is sneakily helpful for dozens of items in this competition. Here are a few things on my list that any guy looking for a manly trip in Ohio could do.

Drive 100 MPH

There are two ways to go about doing this: the dangerous, illegal way that ends with you meeting a state trooper and the safe, legal way at a driving school. Based at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, The Mid-Ohio School offers the Acura High Performance Course for people that want to learn the physics of driving, how to get the most out of your car…oh and how to go fast! The full day course starts with a classroom session before you head out to the paddocks for drills. After learning all the skills, you get on track for an hour of lapping. The fastest drivers may hit 115 MPH down the back straight and just about everyone will see triple digits on the speedometer.

Shoot a Gun

This is something you can do a number of places, but Bake’s Best Shot is a hidden gem. Not too far from Mid-Ohio (9028 State Route 314, Mansfield), you can fire your own weapon or one of theirs in a clean, safe and fun shooting range.

Go Camping

Where are you going to stay when you’re here doing all this macho stuff? A hotel? Get real. How about a tent, or if you’re less inclined to rough it, an RV or a cabin. Charles Mill Lake Park is close to the action, but quiet enough to connect with nature. Go swimming, rent a pontoon boat, fishing boat or kayak and get out on the water. Plus they have Wi-Fi so you can post pictures of your excursions on Facebook at night. I can grab points on our MOTY list here for hiking, canoeing and starting a fire with just one match.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go Fishing

There is definitely no shortage of bodies of water around Mansfield. There are several kinds of fish at Pleasant Hill Lake Park, the aforementioned Charles Mill Lake Park, or you can venture southeast to Loudonville and cast a line at Mohican State Park. If you’re lucky enough to catch something, cook it up that night back at the campsite for true manliness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eating Challenge

This isn’t on my list, but should be. A great way to refuel after all these activities is a big meal. Stop by the Buckeye Express Diner in Bellville for their long menu and large meals. The Locomotive Buckeye Pounder is my favorite, though if you’re brave give the Buckeye Belly Buster a shot. At 10 lbs, it’s bigger than most newborns or kittens. It doesn’t just have great food, but most of the seating is found in its iconic train car on the top of a hill, appealing to your inner train conductor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mansfield has a lot to offer in the realm of manliness. I enjoy my time up there whether I’m at work, with friends or crossing an item off my 2013 Man of the Year list. There was one more thing on this MOTY list that I didn’t do in Mansfield, but rather about it… “Get published by a third party.”  NAILED IT!

 

*Full disclosure, I work for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School.

 

Lanterman's Mill -- a picturesque Youngstown landmark

It’s one of the iconic images in the Mahoning Valley: Water rushing over Lanterman’s Falls, so named for the grist mill that was built next to it. The mill, and the creek that ran alongside it were the namesake for what became the second-largest metropolitan park in the United States and informally nicknamed Youngstown’s Green Cathedral.

I’m a Youngstown native, so I grew up spoiled by the presence of Mill Creek Park. I figured everyone had a park like that in their backyard (The Butler Art Institute also made me think every town had an art museum). But Lanterman’s Mill isn’t just a showpiece: It’s a working mill highlighting a vanished way of life.

Lanterman’s Mill – named for German Lanterman, who built it in 1846 with his brother-in-law Samuel Kimberly – was the third mill built on the site. The city of Youngstown was founded in 1797 by John Young, a New Yorker who stipulated the construction when he sold the land of a saw and grist mill, which operated from 1799 until its replacement in 1822. The second mill on the site was a grist mill, but it was swept away in an 1843 flood.

Lanterman’s Mill used an overshot water wheel for most of its existence, but converted into turbines before ultimately closing because of its obsolescence in 1888. The six-story structure was used for years by Mill Creek Park, which was established in 1891. It served as a bathhouse and concession stand when people could still swim in the creek, as nature and historical museum space, and as storage and offices for the park.

In 1982, thanks to a donation from the Ward Beecher Foundation, work began to restore the mill to its working condition. I’m old enough to remember the days when Idora Park, an amusement park within walking distance of the mill, was open while the mill was closed. The restored mill opened in working condition, and continues to grind grains for flour and meal.

It continues to offer spectacular views of a concrete arch bridge that is now Canfield Road, and also features a smaller covered bridge like those taken by farmers bringing their grain to be milled. Like most Youngstown natives, I took a field trip to the mill, for Mr. Gilboy’s science class in eighth grade at Volney Rogers Junior High School (its namesake was the founder of Mill Creek Park). The mill is open on weekends through the month of April, but will return to its summer hours in May.

We had a picnic on the flats down near the Silver Bridge when we went there in eighth grade, but the mill and the park aren’t far from the original Handel’s Ice Cream Stand, at the corner of Midlothian Avenue and Market Street. It’s been called the busiest ice cream stand in the world. It’s worth it.