DiscoveringOhio

2013 Race Scene in Ohio Provides New Year Fresh Start

For many people the new year is a time to recharge, set goals and keep diet and fitness on track. What better way to work toward your 2013 goals than by signing up for a road race? Ohio is home to a robust road racing scene, with distances from 5Ks all the way up to full marathons in every large metropolitan city. If you're not ready for a marathon, consider another distance. Here are some of Ohio's largest and most popular races, many of which offer shorter distances in addition to the full 26.2 mile course!

Medical Mutual Glass City Marathon (Toledo, Ohio) - April 28, 2013: This annual race is a flat, fast Boston Qualifying (BQ) course that takes runners throughout Toledo, the campus of the University of Toledo, the area's popular Metroparks and biking trails. Named after the influential glass industry that helped build Toledo, each race finisher will receive a glass mug as a token of their accomplishment.

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon (Cincinnati, Ohio) - May 5, 2013: Oink oink! The Flying Pig Marathon is 15 years going strong and showcases a proud symbol of the city -- the pig -- a once strong source of income for Cincinnati. Enjoy a pick from several race distances as part of this event, which raises money for charities each year.

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon (Cleveland, Ohio) - May 19, 2013: The original race for the city of rock is a spring favorite and features not only a marathon, but a half-marathon, 10K and 5K. Enjoy the sights of downtown and finish the race just outside Cleveland Browns Stadium, positioned right on Ohio's north coast.

Akron Marathon and Relay (Akron, Ohio) - September 28, 2013: Known for it's impressive race swag, from track jackets to running shoes, the Akron Marathon is a favorite for locals. The relay portion of the race provides an unique experience for those not quite ready to run a full 26.2 miles.

Rock 'n' Roll Cleveland Half-Marathon (Cleveland, Ohio) - October 5, 2013: This is the first Rock 'n' Roll race to come to Ohio. What better way to rock out than, in the city that is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum? Enjoy live bands at every mile along the course and a post-race headliner concert.

Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon (Columbus, Ohio) - October 20, 2013: Every year thousands of runners fill the streets of Columbus for this race, which is touted as among the top 20 marathons in the country by Runner's World magazine. Crowd support is surely not to be scarce here. 

Training starts now and race day will be here before you know it. Plan your trip to a destination city in Ohio today and pair your race along with some sight-seeing while you are here. For tips on how to build your itinerary visit the DiscoverOhio. See you at the starting line!

Need a hockey fix? Here are some options

The cancellation of a significant part of the National Hockey League season has left fans jonesing for the game. And for fans who can't wait for the NHL to start back up later this month, there are plenty of opportunities to watch the sport on a minor league level throughout Ohio.

The Toledo Walleye play at the new Huntington Center. Toledo has a proud history of hockey teams, with numerous teams in the old International Hockey League, including the Goaldiggers, whose alumni include 1980 U.S. Olympic captain Mike Eruzione, the IHL's rookie of the year in 1978. From 1991 to 2007, the city was home to the Storm of the East Coast Hockey League, who played at the Sports Arena. The team went on hiatus as the creaky old venue was torn down, and the Walleye began play in the ECHL at the new arena in 2009, across the street from Fifth Third Field, the new home of the Toledo Mud Hens. The Walleye are affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, two of the original six NHL teams, and both recent Stanley Cup champions. The Huntington Center also hosts concerts, as well as high school hockey matches. This March, it will host NCAA hockey tournament games as well. With the two new venues, there is no shortage of restaurants and bars in the area, with plenty of pregame and postgame options for a drink or a meal.

One of the Walleye’s rivals in the ECHL is the Cincinnati Cyclones, who play their home games at U.S. Bank Arena, on the banks of the Ohio River next to Great American Ballpark. The Cyclones, affiliated with the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, have been in existence since 1990, and won the Kelly Cup for the 2007-08 season.

Cleveland is another city with a proud hockey tradition. The Cleveland Barons, who played at the old Cleveland Arena, were regarded as the seventh-best hockey team in America, behind the original six of the NHL. Today, Cleveland is home to the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters, who play their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which previously served as home ice for the AHL’s Barons and the Lumberjacks. The Monsters are affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche. As in the case of Toledo, the new arenas have led to new restaurants and bars around them.

The Covelli Centre was built in 2005, with the hopes of spurring a downtown revitalization in Youngstown. It’s home to the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League. The Phantoms are a junior hockey team, with players retaining their amateur status. In recent years, downtown Youngstown has seen an influx of new nightspots, including V2, the Lemon Grove and O’Donalds, in addition to mainstays like the Downtown Draught House (as seen on A&E’s “City Confidential”).

Now that the NHL has reached an agreement, don't miss the rest of the Columbus Blue Jackets season! The Arena District will light up as the Columbus Blue Jackets take the ice for the first time this year! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy Toledo Walleye & Tony Bailey/Cincinnati Cyclones

Ice Skating In Akron

Just because the mercury has been rapidly dropping in your thermometers doesn't mean you should stay cooped up indoors all winter. Staying active in Ohio during the blistery months of December and January can be possible, thanks to the seasonal ice skating rink located at Lock 3 Park in downtown Akron. The 10,000 square foot rink (which is the largest seasonal rink in all of Ohio) allows every member of your family the opportunity to perfect their triple axles and figure eights in the heart of the Rubber City.

Lock 3 magically transforms itself from a concert venue and park with biking and running events in the summer, into an ice skater's haven in the winter! A massive decorated Christmas tree sits majestically on one end of the rink while holiday music blares from speakers to add some extra holiday flare. Folks of all ages circle around the man made tundra while others watch on nearby benches with their cocoa and coffee. If this doesn't make you like winter in Ohio, I'm not sure what will!

Ice skating outdoors beats any indoor rink hands down! There's nothing like having the brisk wintry winds blowing on your face as you zip around near the skyscrapers of Akron! The rink is open for business until January 27, 2013 on Thursdays from 11 AM to 9 PM; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 AM to 11 PM; and on Sundays from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free for those who have their own skates, and just $3 for rentals (that's a far cheaper winter sport than skiing or snowboarding)!! With a wristband on, you are free to skate for as long as you want along the perimeter of the rink for casual skating, or in the center of the rink for more advanced moves.

If you are reluctant to go ice skating (either because you never have before, or because it's your first time in a long time), there is staff available to assist you. It's definitely something you should try so that you can scratch it off of your bucket list, and feel like a kid again! Also, Lock 3 now has a 150-foot sled riding hill adjacent to the rink for those who are looking for some extra excitement.

 

I try to make it an annual tradition to get down to the Lock 3 during the winter. When I get the chance to ice skate here, it always puts me in a good mood, and makes for a great day trip to downtown Akron. The rink is located right next to the historic Akron Civic Theatre, where you can catch a fantastic show. It also sits directly across from the Lockview, a restaurant known for their eclectic and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and vast array of beers!

If Akron is too far of a trip for you, there are plenty of outdoor ice skating options in all corners of Ohio at a number of Ohio State Parks.

Skiing in Ohio – It’s all Downhill from Here

I remember the first time I hit the slopes.  My brother took me to Alpine Valley in Chesterland, 30 minutes east of Cleveland, when I was barely old enough to ride a bike.  It was there he taught me the basics of skiing (because the basics were all he knew).  After getting my simple instructions and after a few tumbles along the way, I thought I was ready for the Winter Olympics.

While Alpine has gone through some renovations and expansions to their hills since my time there as a kid, it is still a nice place to learn how to ski because they have a great beginner slope  as well as some tougher terrains for the more advanced skier.  Alpine also has Thunder Valley Xtreme Park for snowboarders or you can ditch the skis or board and head to the snow tube park.  

You don’t even have to leave the lodge to have a good time.  You can warm up at the Final Run Lounge and enjoy refreshments.

When I got older, I tried skiing again, this time at Mad River
Mountain in Zanesfield, an hour northwest of Columbus.  It was there where I realized that the basic things I had learned years before had disappeared from my mind.  I was like a newborn fawn just getting used to my legs.  I fell one time when I was just standing.

After some time there, I was able to regain my “ski-legs”. I slowly graduated from the beginner slopes, like Deer Run and Fanny Hill, and moved on to some more moderate trails like the Eagle Nest and the Regulator.  The more advanced skier, however, may find the appropriately named Sidewinder Glades or the Mogul Fields more challenging. 

Another great amenity is the Loft Bar and Pizzeria, which has live music every weekend.  There is also on-site lodging - making Mad River Mountain a perfect place for a weekend getaway.

As I anticipate this winter season and my skiing comeback, I was excited to learn about several Ohio ski clubs.  I received great insight from Inner City Ski Club, the oldest African-American ski club in Ohio.  They have travelled all around the world and faced challenging terrains, but said that there are some great places to ski right here in Ohio, as well.  

On January 26, the Inner City Ski Club, which is focused on introducing the African-American community to skiing and snowboarding, will host the 39^th annual “Bob White” Learn to Ski Venture at Alpine Valley.  Anyone who would like to learn to ski or just refresh his or her skills, like me, is welcome.

For other ski destinations in Ohio, check out No Business Like Snow Business or Winter Fun.   

Where are your favorite Ohio ski destinations?

 

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No Snow in the Forecast? No Problem for Ohio Ski Resorts!!

Stark County: Mecca for football fans -- and other stuff to do too

By Vince Guerrieri

There is probably no state in America where football is more revered than Ohio. It can claim the birthplace of the National Football League, and on Saturdays (and some other days of the week as well), the colleges throughout the Buckeye State stop on a dime for their football team.

And the weekend after Thanksgiving, the center of the football universe in Ohio is in Stark County, when Canton and Massillon host the Ohio high school football championships.

Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon was the site of the first AA Championship in 1972, when Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary beat Columbus Bishop Watterson. The sites for championship games bounced around, in the Rubber Bowl in Akron, at Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware and for many years at the Horseshoe in Columbus.

But in 1990, the Ohio High School Athletic Association made Tiger Stadium – named after the football coach who put the school on the map and then went on to win championships at Ohio State and with the Cleveland Browns – the state championship site, along with Fawcett Stadium in Canton.

The stadiums each host three divisions for championship weekend, and are nothing shy of mecca for football fans (They’re also both indirectly shrines to Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal; both were built in the 1930s as Works Progress Administration projects). There are barn-burners, like the 2007 Division IV championship, won by Coldwater, 28-27, after the Cavaliers blocked a tying extra point attempt by Cardinal Mooney with 21 seconds left. There are future stars, like Brandon Saine with Piqua in 2006 and Dane Sanzenbacher with Toledo Central Catholic in 2005. The two went on to be teammates at Ohio State and now play in the NFL.

And there’s the atmosphere. It isn't just the product on the field that makes a weekend in Stark County so special, although it does afford you the chance to see future stars. Fawcett Stadium is in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's even the home field for the annual Hall of Fame Game. There's tailgating. There are mascots running around the field -- and invariably more than a few students with painted chests or in costume themselves. There's packed houses of crowds screaming enough to rattle the stands. And some schools have followings that make you believe there can’t possibly be anyone in that town that day, since they’re all at the game.

But if football’s not your thing, there are other things to do. Canton is also home to the Canton Classic Car Museum, and the town is also the final resting place of President William McKinley as well as his wife Ida. There’s also the Military Aircraft Preservation Society Air Museum, showing off warplanes of various vintages and honoring the military personnel who flew them. And Massillon is home to the Massillon Museum, a collection of local art and history now housed in what used to be a department store in the downtown area.

So there’s something for everyone in Stark County the weekend of the state championships (which will be Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 this year).

(Photos courtesy OHSAA)

Banking on Baseball in Cincinnati

If you haven't been to Downtown Cincinnati lately, chances are you haven't witnessed the resurgence taking place along the waterfront. Cincinnati is known as a river town, and more importantly, a baseball town. The Cincinnati Reds traces its origins as the very first professional franchise in the Major Leagues and the city shows that off with with great pride. The old Riverfront Stadium was demolished back in 2002 to make way for what is now Great American Ballpark. Directly where the old stadium once stood, an entertainment, recreational and living complex known as The Banks has been strategically planned for maximum urban fun.

My favorite ritual before any Reds game now is visiting the new Christian Moerlein Lager House, a local craft brewery and restaurant that has redefined the traditional "Biergarten". Try all their various bavarian brews on tap, and be sure to taste my favorite one, OTR, named after the historic Over-The-Rhine neighborhood where the original brewery was first founded in the late 1800s. Their extensive menu goes along with this same theme, offering updated twists on traditional German fare. Today the new Lager House looks onto a finely manicured Schmidlapp Event Lawn, where free family-friendly concerts take place throughout the year.

You will be in baseball heaven upon entering the lobby, since it was built where the old Riverfront Stadium once stood. Directly in front of the hostess stand, lies a commemorative first base where Pete Rose aka "The Hit King" stood after achieving his 4,192th hit, waving to the cheering crowd for nine minutes. Pretty incredible to realize that history happened in that very spot!

Besides the Moerlein house, you will find many popular spots to enjoy before or after the game like the bustling sports bar, Holy Grail, upscale dining like Crave or you can get your country music fix with Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill. Check The Banks' official website for all the great options and the many new entertainment venues that are slated to open throughout this coming year, including the Wine Guy Bistro and Ruth's Cris Steakhouse.

After having my fill of appetizers and beer, I can feel the buzz and excitement as the moving crowd of Reds fans advance towards the entrance of Great American Ballpark. Notice the tribute statues of great players long ago scattered along the raised lawn or grab a souvenir at the soaring multi-level official Reds Team shop. Once inside, a bad seat is nowhere to be found. Again taking on that theme of the river, the stadium opens up in the outfield to get a view of the Ohio and the shores of Kentucky and beyond. Every detail was meticulously planned to give the fans a very up-close-and-personal experience, showcasing what this city is all about. A truly spectacular ballpark and a great American tradition I am always thankful to partake in. Play Ball!

Advanced tickets and group sales can be purchased through the Reds box office, visit the official website for more information.

Enjoying the sunset...and much more...at Maumee Bay State Park Lodge

Enjoying a Lake Erie sunset is the perfect way to end a busy day, but it is just one of many attractions awaiting visitors at the Maumee Bay State Park Lodge.

Maumee Bay's location just east of Toledo makes it a great base from which to plan day trips to attractions like the Toledo Zoo, the city's new Hollywood Casino, the Toledo Museum of Art, a trip to the downtown ball park to see the Toledo Mud Hens in action or a visit to the arena to see Toledo Walleye hockey.

That is, if you find the time to take yourself away from the Maumee Bay State Park and its many activities.

Golfing, fishing, riding Jet Skis, paddle boarding, paddle boating, swimming, geocaching, making s'mores over a fire pit and enjoying the lakefront view are only a few of the activities visitors enjoy at the park. I took some time during my recent visit to grab one of the resort's rental bicycles and explore the grounds via a network of mostly level and paved trails.

One of my favorite places at Maumee Bay is the Nature Center and two-mile interpretive trail through some of the park's meadow, marshland and wooded areas. Much of the trail is boardwalk and includes a couple of shorter loops if you only have a few minutes to take a walk. The Lake Erie shore is very popular among birders, and the wetland habitat at and near the nature center is a prime spot for bird watching year round.

Colder weather doesn't pose a problem, either. An indoor pool, children's play area, racquetball/wallyball courts, an arcade area and rocking chairs in front of a massive fireplace in the lobby offer plenty of indoor diversions. You can also rent cross-country ski equipment or borrow a sled from the lodge during the winter.

Most of the rooms in the lodge have great lake views, while fully equipped housekeeping cottages, tucked a bit back from one of the resort's side roads and spaced nicely apart, provide for a more private retreat. The cottages feature gas fireplaces in the living area, screened and open porches and can accommodate anywhere from six to nearly a dozen people.

I attended a writers' conference at the lodge several years ago. I remember being impressed with the conference meals, and it's tough to please a conference crowd on a budget.

The food during my visit last month was also impressive, ranging from a causal lunch of a grilled cheese sandwich with soup on my own in the lodge's Water's Edge restaurant to an evening outdoor clam bake for our group featuring steamed lobster and Chef Monica Jazwiecki's seafood bisque.

For all of the hustle and bustle of activity and fun at the lodge, it's still possible to grab a quiet moment to enjoy the Lake Erie view and the area's natural beauty, which may turn out to be one of the more memorable moments of your visit to Maumee Bay State Park Lodge.

Thanks to Xanterra Parks and Resorts, Maumee Bay State Park Lodge and Destination Toledo CVB, which provided lodging, meals and a tour of Toledo-area activities for my review during my most recent visit to Maumee Bay, with no further compensation. I was free to express my own opinions about my stay and experiences, and the opinions expressed here are mine.

Back to School Fun in Wilberforce

It’s that time of year again.  I’m in the store wrestling another mother for the last pack of No. 2 pencils and a Star Wars lunch box.  For me, it’s just getting my son ready for first grade, but other parents are getting their kids ready for their first day of college.

While you are away getting your kids set up in their dorms, why not make a trip out of it?  Friends of mine recently sent their child off to Wilberforce University, so I researched ideas of what was nearby for them to do. Here were my suggestions:

Wilberforce University, located in southwest Ohio near Dayton, is the oldest private African-American university in the United States and a tourist attraction in its own right.  Some of the greatest minds, like sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois, taught there.  The city, named after abolitionist William Wilberforce, was a stop on the Underground Railroad and is also home to another historically black university, Central State University. Tourist attractions include the home of Charles Young, the highest ranking African-American officer in the U.S. Army until after World War I and the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center.

Book a stay at Victoria’s Bed and Breakfast, close by in Xenia, and celebrate another milestone in your life accomplished.  The beautiful, historic Victorian mansion has five bedrooms and the whole building can be rented out for business conferences or other events.

When you are looking for a place to eat, take a short trip to historic Clifton Mills restaurant, in Clifton for breakfast or lunch.  It’s the perfect place for beautiful scenery, nostalgic memorabilia and the biggest pancakes you’ve ever seen! 

For an evening out, visit Peach’s Bar and Grill in Yellow Springs, where live bands perform hip-hop, blues and reggae music. 

Go back over Labor Day weekend to check on your student to make sure he or she is keeping their head in the books and then attend the Dayton Classic VIII for a weekend of events, including a golf scramble and a football game with Central State’s Marauders against the Stillman College Tigers.

My friends were surprised by all the great things there are to do and see around Wilberforce, and look forward to sharing with me some new discoveries. As always, I’m open to suggestions!

Canoeing the Big Darby Creek

Always seeking out a fun physical outdoor adventure, I decided to do some research on canoeing in Central Ohio. I ended up finding Trapper John's Canoe Livery located just 20 minutes south of Columbus in Grove City. The trip took place on the Big Darby Creek and prices were very reasonable, ranging from $14-$25. My friends and I opted for the $25 trip, which is the "All-Day" 12-Mile long trip. We came to find that this was a very ambitious trip, but we all have very ambitious personalities, so it would all work out!

Being that we booked the longest trip available, we had to arrive bright and early (10 AM departure) and pack a ton of sunscreen. We also decided to pack a nice six pack of beer so that we could go "ca-brewing." The trip allowed for alcohol only on the "lower river" as the "upper river" was part of a nature reserve, and therefore, no booze allowed. This was fine, as we needed to stay hydrated during this very intense endeavor.

We had absolutely no canoeing instructions from the folks at Trapper John's Canoe Livery. The warning sign at the livery even indicated "YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN!" This would be my only complaint about the trip and the livery itself, but I can understand that lessons were not given, since the prices are so cheap. My advice would be to read up on canoeing techniques before signing up for a trip like this.

Canoeing is a very strenuous activity which requires a lot of upper body strength as well as coordination and communication with your canoeing partner. It was essential for my canoeing partner and I to synchronize our strokes in order to stay straight or turn when desired. The river was rather calm, aside from a few minor currents on some sharp bends.

My canoeing partner and I learned a few lessons the hard way when our canoe got caught in a few currents and flipped over. The unexpected tousling taught us to never underestimate the power of Mother Nature and to only bring essential items on the trip, as you can lose things and damage valuables if the canoe tips!

Despite tipping over, my friends and I really enjoyed canoeing with rentals from Trapper John’s. The weather during our weekend trip was fantastic. There was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was in the upper 70s and lower 80s. This allowed us to take amazing pictures and soak in the rich river scenery. We found that having just two canoes of two people each was a perfect number, as a group any larger may be more difficult to stay with.

Overall, canoeing on the Big Darby Creek through Trapper John’s Canoe Livery was a fantastic and memorable experience. The downstream experience provided quite a few thrills. You can find a number of other great places to canoe by checking out Discover Ohio’s comprehensive list of spots, or by visiting my blog, OHventures.

Get close to football's stars at the Hall of Fame inductions

It’s the first day of August, and football is in the air. College athletic conferences are having media days, two-a-day practices have begun for high school teams, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend looms in Canton.

Festivities associated with the Hall of Fame inductions have been going on since last weekend, but the excitement really begins to ramp up as this year’s crop of inductees -- Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin and Willie Roaf – and some of the other 267 previous honorees descend upon the town that is the birthplace of the NFL.

The American Professional Football Association was incorporated in a Hupmobile dealership in Canton in 1920. 39 years later, the city organized to become the site for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which opened with 19,000 square feet in 1963.

At the time the hall opened, football was on its way to being the pre-eminent sport in America, as the National and American football leagues dueled for supremacy, leading to the establishment of the NFL-AFL Championship Game, the Super Bowl, and ultimately a merger between the two leagues in 1970.

Since then, the complex has had three additions, bringing it to a total of 85,000 square feet, and is undergoing a fourth, which will bring it up to 119,000 square feet in time for the Hall’s 50^th anniversary in 2013.

Festivities include a reception Friday night, a grand parade, the induction ceremony on Saturday, and the annual Hall of Fame Game – back after a year’s hiatus because of the NFL lockout – on Sunday. There was a time, not that long ago, that folding chairs would be set up in front of the hall for the inductions, but the ceremony has been moved to Fawcett Stadium, the venue that hosts the Hall of Fame game. Fawcett Stadium is the home field for Malone and Walsh universities, Canton McKinley and Timken high schools, as well as the Ohio High School Athletic Association state football championships.

The enshrinement ceremony and the Hall of Fame Game offers a chance for football fans to rub elbows with noted football figures. In my travels there, I’ve been close enough to touch Jerry Jones as he was being chauffeured in a golf cart and saw Bob Lilly and Randy White walking through the main concourse during the 1999 game between the Browns – their first game back! – and the Cowboys. When the Seahawks’ Steve Largent was inducted into the hall in 1995, he was a Republican member of Congress and invited then-speaker Newt Gingrich.

In addition, it offers poignant looks at players and coaches becoming part of an elite club. Who can forget Michael Irvin’s tearful speech, or Browns guard Gene Hickerson, plagued by a variety of physical ailments, being wheeled out by the hall of fame running backs he blocked for: Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell?

The Hall of Fame Game, in a 22,000-seat venue of Fawcett Stadium (NFL venues have to have at least 50,000 seats), offers a chance for fans to be as close to NFL games as they would be to high school games. The Hall of Fame Game used to be the AFC vs. the NFC, but that tradition has fallen by the wayside. Sunday, the New Orleans Saints will face the Arizona Cardinals.