the outdoor issue
Lighthouses of Lake Erie
12 beacons along the shore that illuminate our history
JUNE 2022
$5.99
Visit the Ohio Factory Where Airstream Campers Are Made
Hike 90 Miles Along the Ohio & Erie Canal
Refined Luxury Design Meets Amish Craftsmanship
Design Center | Leather & Upholstery Gallery | Hardwood Gallery | Outdoor Gallery 8233 State Route 241, Mt Hope, Ohio | Homestead-Furniture.com 2
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// 2022
the outdoor issue 50 Shining On
60 Towpath Trail
68 Happy Campers
Discover 12 historic lighthouses along Lake Erie that illuminate Ohio’s long maritime history.
The route that follows the path of the Ohio & Erie Canal offers a look into Ohio’s past and present.
Airstream travel trailers offer one of the world’s most recognizable ways to hit the road.
68 14 Calendar of Events
LIGHTHOUSE: MICHAEL COLLIER; FOOD: COURTESY OF THE CREST; DAYTON: COURTESY OF GREAT MIAMI RIVERWAY; AIRSTREAM: BAILEY WATRO; TRAIL: JIM VICKERS
29 Farm & Table The Crest in Columbus highlights Appalachian fare, and Wooly Pig Farm Brewery offers an inviting atmosphere.
33 Ohio Wine Month
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From the Hocking Hills to Lake Erie, visit six spots that showcase the range of Ohio’s winemaking industry.
47 LiveWell Prepare for summer with basic first-aid tips, and explore how time in nature can boost your health and mood.
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128 Milestones 2 Connect
In 1932, the city of Van Wert held the first installment of what has become its annual Peony Festival.
4 Editor’s Note
TRAVEL //
5 1803
75 Dayton
Heritage Haven Farm gives wildflowers a second life, and Kenn Kaufman discusses the allure of the outdoors.
LONG WEEKENDS:
DEPARTMENTS //
9 Datebook
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“Topiary Takeover” comes to Columbus, and a Cincinnati exhibition showcases vast American landscapes.
105 Erie, PA & Western NY
ON THE COVER: Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA TRAFFIS
OHIO, Vol. 45, No. 5 OHIO (ISSN–0279–3504) is published monthly, with the exception of February, October and December for a total of 9 issues. ©2022 Great Lakes Publishing, 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to OHIO, 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Subscription prices: Ohio residents, residents of other states and possessions, one year–$17; foreign–$86.
J U N E 2022
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CONNECT
JUNE SUPPLEMENTS
& SPECIAL SECTIONS
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OHIO WINE MONTH
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FAMILY FIELD TRIPS
Explore the fruits of our state’s wine industry at these spots. FAMILY FIELD TRIPS
special adverti si ng sec tion
Plan a getaway to these destinations that offer outdoor adventures, cool attractions and fun for everyone.
KEVIN KOPANSKI; ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DESTINATIONS LISTED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
Plan a getaway with outdoor adventures and cool attractions. WINGFOOT LAKE, PORTAGE COUNTY
J U N E 2022
S p ec i a l P r o m o t i o n a l S ec t i o n
adventures medina county
a
IN
VisitMedinaCounty.com
Ohio Eats: Ohio has a fleet of foodtruck entrepreneurs serving delicious and creative culinary creations on the go. Check out four food trucks to look for during your travels throughout the Buckeye State this summer, whether your tastes skew high-end hot dogs, fancy soft-serve sundaes, Cambodian cuisine or slow-cooked barbecue. ohiomagazine.com/foodtrucks
from the archive: Summer in Ohio is the perfect time to embrace the great outdoors, whether you’re a novice adventurer or a seasoned explorer. From day trips to longer outings, and from paddling to fishing, our guide to Ohio’s incredible and beautiful outdoor spaces is as varied as the adventures you can have within them. ohiomagazine.com/outdooradventures
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MEDINA COUNTY
Enjoy food, events, history and more across the area.
In This Issue:
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check out our newsletters:
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Natural Ohio @naturalohio The beauty of Ohio is calling! Follow along for incredible sights, fascinating creatures and inspiring places.
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instagram shoutout: @whitehousefruitfarm June means strawberries, and White House Fruit Farm is giving us a sweet taste with its seasonal doughnuts. Visit the Canfield destination for homegrown produce in the market as well as pick-your-own options. Follow along on Instagram for updates on the fresh flavors coming into season and more mouthwatering photos by Jamie Jamison.
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Bird Kelleys Island @kiaudubonclub
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Our favorite social media accounts for June
Summer is a pleasant time to go birding, and this account shares cool sightings and fun information.
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Chillicothe, p. 10 Cincinnati, p. 5, 12 Columbus, p. 10, 29 Dayton, p. 10, 75 Delta, p. 7 Dublin, p. 9 Fresno, p. 31 Geneva, p. 36 Hamilton, p. 37 Harrod, p. 30 Hartville, p. 34
Plus:
12 lighthouses along Lake Erie 90 miles of the O&E Canal Towpath Trail 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Jackson Center, p. 68 Logan, p. 34 Put-in-Bay, p. 10, 52 Smithville, p. 6 Thornville, p. 34 Troy, p. 30 Versailles, p. 30 Wakeman, p. 36
Great Lakes Publishing supports the use of paper milled from replanted forests as a renewable resource. All paper is purchased from Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified sources. All publications are printed with soy-based inks and responsible recycling is encouraged.
DOUGHNUTS: JAMIE JAMISON; TACOS: MATTHEW ALLEN; KAYAK: JOSH MUND
who to follow
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Are you receiving our email newsletters? Learn about fun experiences throughout the state, get great food and drink ideas or plan for your next weekend getaway. Sign up by visiting ohiomagazine.com/newsletters.
J U N E 2022
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Miles Together I
t all started with a walk — a first date. We didn’t call it that at the time, but that’s what it was. Melanie and I hadn’t seen each other since high school (and didn’t really know each other then), but then we struck up an Instagram correspondence over 1980s vinyl records and dogs and, finally, decided to meet up and take a spring walk in the woods. We both had grown up at the southern end of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Tuscarawas County, so we opted for a walk along the path, from Canal Lands Park in Dover to Fort Laurens, the site of a Revolutionary War fort, in Bolivar. Along the 3-mile route, we caught up, we shared our stories. My rat terrier mix, Ted, trotted between us as we passed under the reach of greening branches and along the ruins of old canal locks to our left and the waters of the Tuscarawas River to our right. It was the start of our adventure together, but also the first steps in a journey along the Towpath Trail that would fill the year to follow. We walked a small portion of the route during the summer, but as the more moderate temperatures of September approached, a new idea came to mind: Let’s walk the 90-mile length of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail by May 1, the anniversary of our initial walk. We tackled the portions between Tuscarawas and Stark counties first, then hiked parts of the Towpath Trail through Cuyahoga Valley National Park as fall took hold. On any given day, we would go 7 or 8 miles, and we quickly figured out that parking a car at two different trailheads was a key to making the most of every mile. Melanie kept detailed notes of where and when we hiked and our total mileage count, which grew as the months passed. During a year when we were getting to know each another, our weekend hikes were a way to get away from distractions and connect — be it through meaningful conversations or stretches of peaceful silence together as we took in the sights along the trail, from wildlife to history to how modernity has reshaped the route. (You can learn more about the trail and what we saw along it starting on page 60.) Even Melanie’s foot fracture near the end of our year-long hiking adventure didn’t derail it. We borrowed a wheelchair, and on a beautiful late-April day, I pushed her our final 7 miles. It was a fun accomplishment, and one that already has us thinking about trails we’d like to tackle next. Each year, we focus the June issue of Ohio Magazine on the outdoors, with nearly everything within it tied to that theme. Our hope is it inspires you to unplug, gear up and spend some quality time surrounded by the splendor of summer in Ohio.
Chairman Lute Harmon Sr. President & Publisher Lute Harmon Jr.
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL@OHIOMAGAZINE.COM
Editor Jim Vickers Associate Editor Hallie Rybka Contributing Writers Ruth Corradi Beach, Laura Watilo Blake,
Jason Brill, Nicholas Dekker, Kristen Hampshire, Nathan Havenner, Richard Jeffers, Sarah Miller, Kristina Smith, Ilona Westfall Digital Content Assistant Kelly Powell Editorial Interns Charity Ervin, Elena Kousaie
Art Director Rachael Jirousek Contributing Artists Laura Watilo Blake, Anthony Boarman, Michael Collier, Jason Damman, Tim Perdue, Todd Sechel, Matt Shiffler, Brenda Traffis, Bailey Watro
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Ohio Magazine is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited photographs, illustrations, manuscripts, books or any other material submitted for possible publication. All photographs are courtesy of the event or organization listed, unless otherwise credited.
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JIM VICKERS
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1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730, Cleveland, OH 44115 216/771-2833 | fax 216/781-6318 | glpublishing.com
Art Alive he vibrant colors and bold swirls of “Looking to Tomorrow” attract the eye. But look closer and you notice that living plants are seamlessly integrated into the work. Designed by Ohio artist April Sunami, the mural represents the literal and figurative growth of the community. Local group Urban Blooms created the living-wall portion, which is fed by a built-in irrigation system. The work is a partnership between the Cincinnati nonprofit ArtWorks, Urban Blooms and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. 1037 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati 45206, artworkscincinnati.org
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COURTESY OF ARTWORKS
Wild Beauty: Heritage Haven Farm in Smithville crafts jewelry, cards and bookmarks using pressed wildflowers that grow on the property.
Barns Reborn: Matt Gleckler’s Antique Beams & Boards carefully harvests wood from rural structures across Ohio and gives it new life. J U N E 2022
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Wild Beauty Heritage Haven Farm in Smithville crafts jewelry, cards and bookmarks using pressed wildflowers that grow on the property.
For more information, visit heritagehaven.farm.
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RACHAEL JIROUSEK
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ary and Dave Martin have a soft spot for nature. The couple are the sixth-generation owners of Heritage Haven Farm in Smithville, a homestead founded by Mary Martin’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents, who operated a dairy and grain farm there. Today, the property and its history serve as inspiration for Martin’s artistic endeavors: pressed flower jewelry, bookmarks, cards and sun prints. “My grandma had a big vegetable garden, but she had just as big of a flower garden,” Martin says. “And you were just always in awe of the beauty of flowers … [and] you could walk through the woods and find little native wildflowers that you couldn’t grow in the garden.” To create her delicate works, Martin collects, dries, arranges and presses seasonal wildflowers from the property, and she estimates that at least 25 varieties grow there. Necklaces feature blue violet and Virginia spring beauty, while the pressed bookmarks and cards are typically created with larger florals, like Philadelphia daisy, lilac and dandelion. The sun prints feature unique designs in which the summer sun is used to capture images of pressed flowers on chemically treated paper. That love for showcasing these fleeting seasonal blooms of our natural world has been a passion for Martin since childhood. “When I was little … I’d know dad was going to mow on Saturday,” she recalls. “So, I would run out and pick little bouquets of wildflowers, put them in a little empty jar and set them on the windowsill. I just loved that.” — Kelly Powell
Barns Reborn
OHIO FINDS
FASCINATING OBJECTS FROM OUR PAST
Matt Gleckler’s Antique Beams & Boards carefully harvests wood from rural structures and gives it new life.
TOM WESSELMANN “BLONDE VIVIENNE” PRINT Signed and numbered 61/100
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BARN: COURTESY OF ANTIQUE BEAMS & BOARDS; OHIO FINDS: COURTESY OF GARTH’S AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS
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he weather-beaten frames of old barns dot the fields of northwest Ohio. Where some see demolition and disposal, Matt Gleckler sees opportunity. His Antique Beams & Boards in Delta recycles historic structures into reclaimed-lumber showpieces. Barn boards find new life as beautiful countertops, solid mantelpieces and wood flooring. “At our core, we honor the past by showcasing the wood pieces in a new way,” Gleckler says. “I started this as a business to support my family, but over time my passion for these old barns has grown. Every barn provides a glimpse into the past.” Gleckler never planned on opening a reclaimed-lumber business. After graduating from the University of Toledo in finance, he worked in banking investments. Wanting to start his own business, Gleckler next built a new movie theater in Wauseon, which he and his wife still own and operate today. Inspiration struck when Gleckler had to knock down a dilapidated barn to build the theater. After researching demolition and reclaimed barn wood, he was intrigued. Barns from 200 years ago, built with hand-hewn timbers, still possessed quality and beauty. Today, he has helped give new life to materials from more than 1,000 barns. Ohio barn materials harvested by Antique Beams & Boards are found nationwide, especially in the eastern United States. In 2010, Gleckler disassembled a full-frame barn in Northwood and sent it to Stowe, Vermont, to be reconstructed as a vacation home. Homes and businesses in Ohio carry pieces of local barn history as well. Bass Pro Shops in Rossford purchased restored wood for the store’s flooring and siding. Orchard Bar + Table in Catawba Island used reclaimed beams and boards in its decor. Gleckler has also donated reclaimed wood to Sauder Village, a living-history destination in Archbold. “I can tell by the building style the age of the barn, give or take 10 to 15 years,” Gleckler says, adding that the types of wood used are often indicative of a barn’s location. Napoleon has lots of elm, he explains, and east of Toledo there is more oak. “There are barns in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, but not in the quantity that there are in northwest Ohio,” Gleckler says. “Material from an old barn is really recyclable. Everything gets used, down to every last nail.” — Sarah Miller For more information, visit antiquebeamsandboards.com.
orn in Cincinnati in 1931, Tom Wesselmann became internationally known for his pop art depictions of female nudes, but he didn’t originally see himself as an artist. He studied psychology at the University of Cincinnati and was drafted during the Korean War. Afterward, he enrolled at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and concentrated on drawing. He began his career by selling cartoon strips and illustrations, but it was only after leaving Ohio that he found purpose in his work. His break came in New York City, where in 1956 he enrolled at The Cooper Union and began a transformation toward painting. That eventually led to his Great American Nude series, which debuted in 1961. His take on the female body was often stark, as seen in his print “Blonde Vivienne,” and his creations were generally bold and often large. Wesselmann drew praise within the art world, but he garnered criticism outside that sphere for what was seen as the objectification of women. Although his work included other media and subjects, his modern slant on the centuries-old fascination with the female body still largely defines his career. He died in New York City in 2004. — Richard “Jeff” Jeffers
$10,625 SOLD AT AUCTION
Richard Jeffers is the owner of Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers in Columbus. J U N E 2022
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Nature’s Allure Kenn Kaufman of Oak Harbor is an expert in the birding world. We talked with him about the restorative and educational power of spending time outside.
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nown internationally as an expert on migratory birds and how to spot them, Kenn Kaufman has long been considered a celebrity in the birding world. For Kaufman, author of guides to migratory birds, mammals and insects of North America and other outdoors-related books, enjoying nature is so much Kenn Kaufman has authored field guides to more than finding colorful warblers and migratory birds, mammals and insects of unusual shorebirds. North America. It’s also noticing the brightly colored moths under the streetlights in your neighborhood. It’s seeing the differences in the trees throughout the seasons and spotting the wildflowers that pop up in unexpected places. We talked with Kaufman, who lives in rural Oak Harbor, about the benefits of spending time outside and what he likes to discover beyond birds. — Kristina Smith What do you feel are the benefits of spending time in nature? A: It really has restorative power. It’s not necessary to become a hardcore birder or an expert botanist or expert naturalist ... Just paying attention to nature and learning a little about it makes the world more three-dimensional and more interesting. If you go out in the backyard and you see this little yellow bird, and it looks nice, you can enjoy it without having any idea what it is. If you make the extra effort to find out what kind of bird the little yellow bird is, suddenly it opens up a whole world of interesting connections. Maybe it’s a yellow warbler and it’s just come back from Guatemala or Central America, and it’s flown thousands of miles.
Besides birds, what do you like to look for when you are out in nature? A: I really like insects, maybe more than most people do. There’s so much variety. Butterflies are really popular, but moths are much more varied. In the warmer months, I love to look for moths at porch lights or the lighted windows of convenience stores. People may think of moths as these dingy little brown things, but once you look closely, a lot of them have beautiful patterns, really rich patterns and different colors. Every year, I’ll see new kinds of moths that I’ve never seen before. For more information, visit kaufmanfieldguides.com. 8
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COURTESY OF KENN KAUFMAN
What are some ways those who don’t live near wildlife areas and forests can enjoy nature? A: Nature is essentially everywhere. In any little crack in the sidewalk or vacant lot, there are going to be a wide variety of plants growing there. Some might be wildflowers. Even a very small city park, all kinds of migratory birds are going to stop through. You can see an amazing amount of variety even in a really urbanized setting.
DATEBOOK Prancers in the park Year-round, Dublin
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he city of Dublin has its share of interesting public art. Along with “Field of Corn (with Osage Orange Trees)” and “Leatherlips,” you’ll find “Dancing Hares,” located at Ballantrae Community Park. Impressive alone due to their 24-foot height, ears included, a closer look will reveal that London-based artist Sophie Ryder cast everyday items into the three statues, including a hammer, screws and coins. Stay awhile and see all the hidden objects you can find, or enjoy the other amenities of the park like the splash pad, which opened Memorial Day weekend. 6350 Woerner Temple Rd., Dublin 43016
TIM PERDUE
Forces of Nature: This Cincinnati Museum Center exhibition showcases vast American landscapes by way of 33 large-scale paintings from artist Michael Scott.
Calendar of Events: Your summer plans start here. Check out our guide to festivals, concerts and other happenings scheduled between now and the end of July. J U N E 2022
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DATEBOOK exhibit
Topiary Takeover June 4–Sept. 11: Columbus
This summer, oversized animal topiaries are taking over Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Each topiary is filled with plants that mimic the colors and textures of fur, skin, scales and feathers, and the animals represent locations from around the world that have been designated a Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. From sea creatures of the Great Barrier Reef to a peacock with impressive feathers from India, take a journey around the globe by way of the 25 topiaries on display, including six large options that visitors can sit on and take a photo with. fpconservatory.org
other events
South Bass Island Kayak Rendezvous A three-day event for paddlers of all skill levels, the annual South Bass Island Kayak Rendezvous highlights the islands in the western basin of Lake Erie. Get your feet wet in Put-in-Bay Harbor or explore miles of island coastline, then join dozens of other kayakers for camping and socializing. sbikayakrendezvous.com
music
Picnic with the Pops
June 18–July 30: Columbus Bring your blankets and chairs and grab a spot on the lawn for this summer concert series that ranges from R&B to rock ’n’ roll. Held at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion at Columbus Commons, the series kicks off on June 18 with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The O’Jays and runs through a scarlet-and-gray celebration on July 29 and 30 with The Ohio State University Marching Band. The summer lineup also presents Patriotic Pops, the music of Fleetwood Mac, an orchestral take on the Rolling Stones and more. picnicwiththepops.com
Theater other events
Paul Laurence Dunbar 150th Celebration June 25: Dayton The first internationally renowned Black poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton on June 27, 1872. A series of sesquicentennial events are scheduled throughout the year, including this flagship event on June 25: an evening at the Victoria Theater with writer, commentator, activist, educator and renowned American poet Nikki Giovanni. Take part in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Dunbar’s birth, as the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and partners host the evening of recitation and visual and performance art. Tickets must be purchased in advance. nps.gov/daav
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Tecumseh! June 16–Sept. 4: Chillicothe Don’t miss the 50th anniversary season of the “Tecumseh!” outdoor drama at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre. With booming cannons, galloping horses and choreographed battle sequences, the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader comes to life, as he struggles to defend his homelands during the late 1700s. tecumsehdrama.com
TOPIARY: COURTESY OF FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY; POPS: RANDALL SCHIEBER; KAYAK: ISTOCK; DUNBAR: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE; TECUMSEH: COURTESY OF SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATRE
June 10–12: Put-in-Bay
South River Vineyard Geneva, Ohio
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Victorian Vineyards Start Off Summer At These Ohio Wineries By Paige Cone
The Victorian Era revolutionized American society and culture. These four wineries grant guests a glimpse into this progressive society with sustained, original architecture from the 1800s at the same time that guests can enjoy tastes of modern winemaking. Built in the 1850s in Nevada, Ohio, White Shutter Winery and Brewery’s farmhouse turned tasting room welcomes guests to a historic and delicious experience. Enjoy the rustic views while sipping on one of their award-winning Blooze Man slushies — delicious wine slushies available in blueberry, raspberry or strawberry. Pleasant Hill Vineyards’ tasting room in Athens provides guests with a blast from the past as the room leads into an authentic 1830s log cabin where visitors may sit and sip. Guests can flavor 10 different wines while taking in the distinctive architectural features of the winery or rolling hills that lay just beyond.
Historic roots accredit South River Vineyard with the nickname “church winery” given that an 1892 Methodist Episcopal Church houses all the vineyard’s wine. Owner of South River Vineyard, Gene Sigel, transported the old church from its original home in Shalersville, Ohio, to its current residence piece by piece. The winery contains original structures including pews, interior door, wainscotting, flooring and stained-glass windows. Admire the history with a glass of handcrafted sémillon from locally grown grapes or a malbec. The Baltic Mill used to be Ohio’s largest flour mill starting in the mid-1800s and tragically ending in 1907 with a fire. Today, Baltic Mill Winery replicates the brick and timber foundation while incorporating the mill’s original milling machinery, including a Russell Steam Engine. As Baltic Mill Winery says, “Step into our time machine” with your favorite selection of handcrafted wine. Its sauvignon blanc presents with a distinctive citrus flavor to pair with a clean and sharp finish.
614-728-6438 614-728-6438 ohiowinesvip.com ohiowinesvip.com findohiowines.com findohiowines.com
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DATEBOOK
FORCES OF
“ELK FIRE, HALF DOME” 12
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NATURE
This Cincinnati Museum Center exhibition showcases vast American landscapes by way of 33 large-scale paintings from artist Michael Scott. By Ilona Westfall
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COURTESY OF CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER
ater ripples over pebbles in a riverbed below vivid fall foliage as mist rolls off a steep cliff above. This serene image of the Buffalo River is one of the sprawling landscapes in “America’s Epic Treasures featuring Preternatural by Michael Scott” at Cincinnati Museum Center. The exhibition, which runs through Jan. 8, features 33 of the artist’s large-scale paintings and a variety of field sketches organized around the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. The paintings include works from Scott’s “Preternatural,” a series painted at national parks and other wilderness areas. The exhibition also includes 19thand 20th-century pieces from the center’s collections. “Somewhere between the mundane and the miraculous, exists the preternatural,” says Scott. “That is what I have tried to paint with my sojourns to these wild places in America that offer us a glimpse of why we need to protect certain lands.” The result is a series of richly detailed, large-scale oil paintings depicting the vastness and beauty of places like Yosemite National Park and Glacier National Park. Scott presented the exhibition to the Cincinnati Museum Center and has added context to the art by way of fossils and animal specimens displayed alongside the paintings. He also recruited Cincinnati composer Rich Bitting to create a soundtrack for the galleries. “Rich has made recordings of natural sounds — everything from the inside of beaver dens to rain, wind blowing and the crackling of fire,” says Scott. “That’s really going to activate the paintings in a different way.” The 19th- and 20th-century pieces from the museum’s collection feature local landscapes from Cincinnati and the surrounding region by artists like William Louis Sonntag and John Casper Wild. They depict the forest that once surrounded Cincinnati as well as the smokestacks that rose during the Industrial Revolution. “We have earlier paintings that have a primordial aspect, and others that frame Cincinnati as civilization in the wilderness,” says Cincinnati Museum Center registrar Maat Manninen. These predecessors to Scott’s works show that the exhibition’s overarching themes of conservation in the face of climate change and habitat destruction are not new. “We hope that people take a greater appreciation of the world around them after seeing the show,” says Manninen, “maybe even want to go out and explore these places and realize that there is a connection to it.” 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati 45203, 513/287-7000, cincymuseum.org J U N E 2022
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CALENDAR
State Regions Because dates, times and locations are subject to change, please call ahead to confirm all details before traveling. For a more complete listing of events, visit ohiomagazine. com/events.
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVENTS ACROSS OHIO, VISIT OHIOMAGAZINE.COM/EVENTS.
JUNE Central
Festivals JUN 10–12
Columbus Arts Festival
Festival features more than 150 artists. Held on the lawn in front of the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, 614/431-0329. worthingtonartsfestival.com. Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.
Museums + Exhibits THRU AUG 28
Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic
To submit event information, visit ohiomagazine.com/submit. Events must be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance. Include the date, cost, address of the event, phone number and website, as well as a brief description of the event. Events are published on a space-available basis; however, all events submitted 8 weeks in advance appear on ohiomagazine. com/events. Listings with photos are paid for by advertisers. For more information on enhanced listings, email us at adsales@ohiomagazine.com.
JUN 14–JUL 21
Art Quilt Alliance: Thread of a Poem
This exhibition features nontraditional quilts inspired by abstract and literal translations of poetry, woven by the 35-member Art Quilt Alliance. See beautiful artworks made from hand-dyed and painted fabrics, accented by items found in nature. Dublin Arts Council, 7125 Riverside Dr., Dublin, 614/889-7444. dublinarts.org. Visit website for times and prices. The Columbus Arts Festival is the city's welcome-to-summer event, pairing the finest artists from across the country with entertainment, activities for all ages and great food. Columbus Downtown Riverfront, 614/224-2606. columbusartsfestival.org. Fri. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m–10:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. JUN 11
Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair
Browse a rainbow of yarns and fibers. Fiber arts tools and supplies, as well as beautiful finished items are available. A raffle benefits the local food pantry. Canal Market District Pavilion, 36 East Canal St., Newark, midohiofiberfair.com. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. JUN 17–19
Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival
This exhibition highlights Depression-era photographers from the Works Progress Administration’s Farm Security Administration program as well as contemporary photographers reacting to the current pandemic. A theme throughout is the resilience of the American people as they tackle the trials and tribulations placed before them. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 740/681-1423. decartsohio.org. Wed.–Fri. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 1–4 p.m. Free.
Music + Theater JUN 3–5
La Traviata
Opera Columbus presents this show with equal parts romance and tragedy, depicting sensational party scenes as well as intimate and tender moments. The operatic experience follows a story of forbidden love and the hypocrisy of the upper class. Opera Columbus, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/461-8101. operacolumbus.org. Visit website for times. $60.
JUN 4–SEPT 11
JUN 16–25
See topiaries take shape as fascinating animals from around the world. Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 614/715-8000. fpconservatory.org. Visit website for times and prices.
Experience the comedy-drama production by writer Robert Harling, which highlights the bond among a group of Southern women. Weathervane Playhouse, 100 Price Rd., Newark, 740/366-4616. weathervaneplayhouse.org. Tues.–Sat. 7:30 p.m. Adults $37, seniors $35, students with ID $26, children $15.
Topiary Takeover
JUN 10–12
Storybook Village
Steel Magnolias
JUN 18
Summer in Vienna
Located in Gahanna's Creekside District, the annual Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival returns for three days to celebrate more than two decades of outstanding blues and jazz music. Creekside District, 117 Mill St., Gahanna, 614/418-9114. creeksidebluesandjazz.com. Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 2–11 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Adults $15, children 11–17 $10, 10 and under free. JUN 18–19
Worthington Arts Festival
One of central Ohio’s premier community fine art and fine craft shows, the Worthington Arts 14
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Connect with the New Albany Symphony for the final evening of the first annual Rose Run Fest. The concert celebrates Vienna, Austria, the capital of classical music and a heartbeat of European art and culture. Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, 614/469-0939. newalbanysymphony.com. 8 p.m. $24–$500. Bring your little ones to meet their favorite characters from books and TV, as the characters roam Ohio Village and interact with visitors. Advance timed tickets are required. Ohio Village, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 800/686-6124. ohiohistory.org/storybook. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $13, seniors and students with ID $11, children 4–12 $7, Ohio History Connection members and children 3 and under free.
JUN 24
Croce Plays Croce
Join A.J. Croce for a night of timeless music, including songs by his late father, Jim Croce. The lineup includes “Time in a Bottle” and “Lover’s Cross.” Croce also covers songs by artists like Bessie Smith and Lieber and Stoller. Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/3455483. midlandtheatre.org. 8 p.m. $35–$40.
JUN 25
Boogie Wonder Band
Get groovy at this high-energy show featuring ‘70s chart-toppers like “It’s Raining Men,” “Funky Town” and “Boogie Fever.” Dress in your best disco threads, and you may even win a prize. Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. columbussymphony. com. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Northeast Festivals JUN 2–4
Canton Greek Fest
for gifts from high quality arts and crafts makers. Bath Community Park, 1615 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., Akron, 330/603-4924. bathartfestival. com. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit website for prices. JUN 23–25
Ribs-N-Rock Festival
Chow down on ribs at this annual festival spicing things up. Plus, enjoy more fair food and live music. DeBartolo Commons, 7401 Market St., Boardman, 330/758-4512. ribsnrock.com. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 26
Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day Festival
Join the annual celebration of Harry Stevens, a Niles native credited with creating the ballpark frank, baseball scorecard and drinking straw. Downtown Niles. facebook.com/harrystevens hotdogday. Visit website for times and prices.
Museums + Exhibits
Josiah Stoltzfus, an Amish farmer from Pennsylvania. Stedman quickly decides someone like Josiah should be running the country and he sets things in motion to get Josiah elected as president. This lively musical is sure to entertain. Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte. 39, Sugarcreek, 855/344-7547. dhgroup.com/theater. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 7–26
My Fair Lady
Hear your favorite tunes, including “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “The Rain in Spain.” This musical revival tells the delightful tale of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and a story of transformation. State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/7714444. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 9
Marlow Rosado at Gervasi Vineyard
THRU SEPT 11
Reflections on Perceptions
Celebrate summer the Greek way with entertainment by comedian Gus Constantellis, Hellenic dancers, church tours, a variety of authentic Greek food, fireworks on Saturday and more in-person fun. St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, 251 25th St. NW, Canton, 330/454-7278. cantongreekfest.com. 11 a.m.– 11 p.m. daily. Free admission. JUN 11
Walnut Creek Vintage Fair
Gaze at works centered on literal reflections, with a lineup of artists who employ mirroring in their work to add depth to their compositions. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330/376-9186. akronartmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices. THRU SEPT 11
The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion
Experience this exhibition bringing art and fashion photography to the foreground, with works from 15 groundbreaking talents depicting the Black experience. Photos from ad campaigns, museums, social media and lifestyle magazines appear. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216/421-7350. clevelandart.org. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 26–AUG 7
John Mellencamp Art Exhibition
If you like garage sales and the TV show “American Pickers,” the annual Vintage Fair is for you. This one-day maker fair features repurposed and reused items, refurbished furniture, rustic signage, antique and “junk” items, candles and more. Located in the field next to Mast Sales and Service and Walnut Creek Furniture, Walnut Creek, 330/893-2995. 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. JUN 11–12
Fairy Days Festival
This magical play day celebrates its 11th year at the rolling fields surrounding Heritage Festivals. Enjoy the Magical Meadow Market, a costume parade, a fairy circle and more. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, 330/657-2330. heritagefarms.com. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $8, children 3–17 $12, children under 3 free. JUN 12
Bath Art Festival
Enjoy all that Bath has to offer with artist booths, local food vendors and live entertainment. Shop
Marlow Rosado, a two-time Grammy winning artist, producer and writer, will be performing Latin jazz in the beautiful covered Pavilion at Gervasi. Be sure to enjoy dinner at one of the three distinct restaurants before the show. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/4971000. gervasivineyard.com. 8–9:30 p.m. Visit website for premium and general seating prices. JUN 9–10
Oak Ridge Boys Dinner Concerts
Experience the warm atmosphere and delicious food at Hartville Kitchen while enjoying a great concert. The Oak Ridge Boys have a recognizable sound, with four-part harmonies and upbeat songs that have earned them dozens of country hits and a No.1 pop smash, as well as Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards and a host of other accolades. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com/events. Visit website for times. $79. JUN 11
Grammy Award winner and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, John Mellencamp brings his mixed-media exhibition “Paintings & Assemblages” to The Mansfield Art Center. Mansfield Art Center, 700 Marion Ave., Mansfield, 419/756-1700. mansfieldartcenter.org. Tues.– Fri. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $5 donation, members free.
Music + Theater
Sounds of Summer: A Beach Boys Tribute
Enjoy the sounds of four talented guys who have known each other since grade school and share a love of 1960s music and Beach Boys harmonies. The band has been playing across the nation since 2015, delivering an authentic look and sound. Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Route 39, Sugarcreek, 855/344-7547. dhgroup. com/theater. Visit website for times. $34.
THRU NOV 3
JUN 17
Abandoning his own plans for a presidential campaign, Congressman Mark Stedman meets
Watch the story of Peter Pan and his sidekick, Tinkerbell, and hear classic songs, including “I
Josiah For President The Musical in Concert at Ohio Star Theater
Peter Pan: The Musical presented by the All-City Musical
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Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land.” The high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has delighted audiences for 60 years. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 330/253-2488. akroncivic.com. 7:30 p.m. $10–$25.
lage Mall, 4230 Belden Village St. NW, Canton, 330/494-8815. beldenvillagemall.com. 1–4 p.m. Adults $7, children 10 & under eat for free.
JUN 23
Experience the zoo after hours! Receive eight sample tastings, with full-size beer and wine available for purchase. June’s theme is “Luau.” Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, 330/3752550. akronzoo.org. 6:30–9:30 p.m. Nonmembers $35, members $30, nonmember designated driver $24, member designated driver $19.
Terry Lee Goffee: The Ultimate Tribute to Johnny Cash
2770 State Route 38 NE, Wash CH, 43160 PRESENTED BY:
OHIO WINE ARTISANS LOCAL FOOD LIVE MUSIC BEER GARDEN FIREWORKS
Get up close with great entertainers while enjoying the warm atmosphere and delicious food at Hartville Kitchen. Ohio-born and raised, Terry Lee Goffee brings to life the music of Johnny Cash in his tribute to the iconic country legend. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com/events. Lunch at noon, concert at 1 p.m. $47.
JUN 21
The Great Race 2022
From Richard Strauss to George Walker
Conductor Franz Welser-Möst leads the Cleveland Orchestra with soprano Latonia Moore in a program of George Walker’s “Lilacs” and an extended suite from Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier.” Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/231-1111. clevelandorchestra. com. 7 p.m. Visit website for prices.
JUN 1–SEPT 28
$5 Parking
Akron Brew at the Zoo
JUN 24
Other Events General Admission Free
JUN 18
Gervasi Vineyard Cruise-Ins @Toast2Summer
The Great Race is the country’s oldest and richest vintage automobile event. On June 21, a lunch stop is scheduled at Medina’s Historic Square. Enjoy the free public viewing of the cars. Historic Medina Square, Medina, 330/7225502. visitmedinacounty.com. Target time noon–2 p.m. Free. JUN 25
Underground Railroad Experience
Hungry for More Ohio Magazine? Visit OhioMagazine.com/recipes for new dishes and reader favorites.
Gervasi’s weekly cruise-ins are casual, familyfriendly gatherings for car lovers of all ages, featuring a wide range of cars and trucks from classic to new. Enjoy a relaxing summer evening, enjoy the vehicles and admire the beauty of the property. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/497-1000. gervasivineyard.com. Wednesdays 5–8 p.m. Free. JUN 4
Belden Village Mall’s Taste for the Space
Take an inspiring trip back to 1821 in a walking drama performance to learn about escaping the realities of slavery and Spring Hill’s role in the Underground Railroad. Spring Hill Historic Home, 1401 Springhill Lane NE, Massillon, 330/833-6749. springhillhistorichome.org/ugrre. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $13, seniors 60+ and students 7–17 $10.
Northwest Festivals THRU JUN 19
Frontier Festival
Enjoy food, entertainment and family activities. Eat and drink your way through the culinary cook off and vote to help select one lucky chef to win prizes and a new dining space at Belden Village Mall. The north parking lot at Belden Vil16
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Bring things back to the wild, wild west with this annual happening. A street festival comes alive with music, character entertainment, games, crafters and more. Sip on craft brews, spiked seltzers and signature cocktails, and grab a bite from the more than 20 specialty food items. Cedar Point Amuseument Park, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, 419/627-2350. cedarpoint.com. Noon–8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
JUN 10–11
Pork Rind Festival
This annual two-day celebration offers family fun, live entertainment and Rudolph Foods’ famous fresh-popped pork rinds. Downtown Harrod, 419/648-4162. porkrindfest.com. Fri. 6–11:45 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–11:45 p.m. Free.
June 11–September 4, 2022
JUN 15–19
Holland Strawberry Festival
Join the residents of Holland in this tribute to one of Ohio’s favorite fruits. The scrumptious event consists of a parade, a bake-off, a toddler pageant, carnival rides and more. Community Homecoming Park, 7807 Angola Rd., Holland, 419/867-1532. holland-strawberryfestival.com. Visit website for times and prices.
GET TICKETS NOW: taftmuseum.org/Jane-Austen
JUN 17–19
Festival of the Fish
Highlights at this fish-focused event include the crazy craft regatta and a lighted boat parade, as well as fireworks, food and a sandcastle contest. Downtown Vermilion, 440/967-4477. vermilionohio.com. Fri.–Sat. noon–11 p.m., Sun. noon–3 p.m. Visit website for prices.
We are very grateful for our many generous funders of this exhibition.
JUN 18
Toledo Beer and Bacon Festival
Presented by Exhibits Development Group, USA, in cooperation with Cosprop Ltd., London, England. Image: Silk Evening Dress and Turban, Pride and Prejudice, 1995, Simon Langton, director. Worn by Anna Chancellor as Miss Caroline Bingley. Dinah Collin, costume designer
Fry up your favorites at this festival packed with beer samples, food offerings and themed merchandise. The Hungarian Club of Toledo, 224 Paine Ave., Toledo. toledobeerandbacon.com. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 24–26
Crosby Festival of the Arts
See beautiful art and enjoy great food, drink and live music at our state’s oldest outdoor juried art festival. Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Dr., Toledo, 419/270-7500. crosbyfest.com. Visit website for times and prices.
IN THE HOCKING HILLS
JUN 24–26
Maria Stein Country Fest
This annual festival features square dancing, tractor pulling, chainsaw wood carving, horse and wagon riding, live music and food, as well as a petting zoo, games and carnival rides. Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, 2291 St. Johns Rd., Maria Stein, 419/202-6255. facebook.com/ mscountryfest. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 24–26
Put-in-Bay Pyrate Fest XIII
July 8, 9, 10, 2022 Bishop Educational Gardens 13200 Little Cola Rd, Rockbridge, Oh Dress like a pyrate and join in the festivities, including the Friday night bar crawl. Enjoy family fun on Saturday and Sunday with Captain Jack, treasure hunts, vendors and the sounds of a live cannon. DeRivera Park, downtown Put-in-Bay, 419/285-2832. visitputinbay.com. Fri. 5–8 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission.
No reservations needed, donations appreciated!
More info at: Lilyfest.com
Thanks to our sponsors:
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ADVERTISEMENT
WAYNE COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Over 20,000 patrons from across the country and around the world come to Wooster for the Ohio Light Opera performances. The 2022 festival season, which runs June 18th through July 31st, includes “Cinderella” by Rodgers and Hammerstein, “Hello, Dolly!,” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.” During your visit, you may also enjoy Lehman’s Hardware, The J.M. Smucker Co. Store and Café, P. Graham Dunn and Secrest Arboretum. 800-362-6474 • WCCVB.COM
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY
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CARROLL COUNTY OHIO VISITORS BUREAU
RELISH
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Your peaceful adventure awaits. We invite you to visit our rolling hills and beautiful lakes. Enjoy a quiet and relaxing time away, whether at one of our hotels or many campgrounds. You can find a little bit of everything from historic sites to unique locally-owned businesses. Stop by our visitor’s bureau in downtown Carrollton for local maps and event schedules. 330-627-4811 • CARROLLCOUNTYOHIO.COM
Summer is bright in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country! Home to wineries, breweries and with plenty of local markets and restaurants, your taste buds will be delighted! Quaint downtowns are a shopper’s paradise and the local trails are an outdoor enthusiast’s delight! With plenty of lodging options, your dreams will be sweet! We can’t wait to welcome you! 800-527-3387 • TRAVELTUSC.COM
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AKRON/SUMMIT CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Come eat, shop and play in Medina County and enjoy a wealth of fascinating attractions, unique festivals, world class dining, incredible shopping, outdoor/indoor concerts, outstanding parks and challenging golf courses. Discover the many possibilities in Medina County. 330-722-5502 • 800-860-2943 VISITMEDINACOUNTY.COM
DISCOVER
MEDINA COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
City Life. Outdoor Life. Grab Life Right Here! Greater Akron has hot metro places & cool outdoor spaces. You pick the vibe that’s right for you. Explore: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron Art Museum, Hale Farm & Village and Cuyahoga Valley National Park & Scenic Railroad. Don’t miss: summitbrewpath.com, thedripdrive.com & newagainakron.com. 800-245-4254 • AKRON.TRAVEL
LIVE STEUBENVILLE VISITOR CENTER
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Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in a rich culture, hop on a tour, enjoy a little comfort food, or find your bliss away from the everyday, you’ll find what you are looking for here in Ohio Amish Country. 330-674-3975 • VISITAMISHCOUNTRY.COM
UNCOVER
Looking for antiques, larger-than-life murals, an 18th century fort, historic parks, serene lakes, nature trails, First Fridays entertainment, festivals, unique shops, concerts or magical holiday Nutcrackers? Visit Steubenville & Jefferson County! 866-301-1787 • VISITSTEUBENVILLE.COM
OHIO AMISH COUNTRY
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EXPERIENCE VISIT CANTON It’s the season for outdoor concerts, live music, festivals and events, including the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week. See the Class of 2022 Enshrinement Ceremony, the Las Vegas Raiders take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL Hall of Fame Game, and Journey take the stage at the Concert for Legends. Check out the event calendar and plan your trip! 330-454-1439 • VISITCANTON.COM/EVENTS-CALENDAR
A trip to Lehman’s is like a trip back in time. What you’ll find is products you may have thought no longer exist. Anything that will help build a life that is understanding, comforting, sustainable, prepared and satisfying. Lehman’s wants to find products you thought they quit making years ago. 800-38-5346 • LEHMANS.COM
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Nature lovers will be excited by our three state parks, birding trails and kayaking excursions. Foodies will relish the local food and drink. Farmers markets, bakeries, and cafés will please your whole gang! And for music and festival lovers, Portage County hosts events throughout the year, including the Ravenna Balloon A-Fair. Order your free Explorer’s Guide to Portage County today. 800-764-8768 • CENTRALPORTAGEVCB.ORG
FAMILY FUN
The campgrounds located along the shoreline of the MWCD lakes provide some of the best accommodations in Ohio! Enjoy the new campsites, swim, boat, and relax this summer! Rent a boat, or kayak from the marina, or join a guided kayak tour and immerse yourself in nature. 330-343-6647 • MWCD.ORG
Get outdoors in Mill Creek MetroParks. Rent a kayak, explore forty-five miles of scenic trails, or visit beautiful Fellows Riverside Gardens. Learn while having fun at OH WOW! Children’s Center. The new DeBartolo Commons offers fun entertainment and dining venues. Enjoy plenty of summer festivals. Request your free travel guide. 800-447-8201 • YOUNGSTOWNLIVE.COM
GERVASI VINEYARD This summer, escape to Gervasi Vineyard and experience the beauty of a unique, Tuscan-inspired winery resort. Three distinct restaurants offer casual and upscale cuisine paired with award-winning wines and spirits. Retreat to a luxurious suite and enjoy the comforts of high-end amenities, as well as an outdoor patio providing beautiful lake views. A complimentary continental breakfast is delivered each morning of your stay. 330-497-1000 • GERVASIVINEYARD.COM J U N E 2022
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ENJOY
SHOP
LEHMAN’S
JUN 25
GroveFest
Enjoy the 25-acre estate of Rutherford and Lucy Hayes at this free event including crafts, games and live animal booths for children. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Museums + Exhibits ONGOING
Findlay Rocks: 1960s Garage Bands
THRU JUL 17
Bestowing Beauty: Masterpieces from the Persian Lands
Learn about the ultra-rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Persian civilizations with more than 100 works from the sixth to the 19th centuries, including manuscripts, textiles, paintings and more. Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo, 419/255-8000. toledomuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.
JUN 24
ONGOING
Enjoy this tribute to the Eagles’ easy-going warmth. The cover band performs songs from the iconic group that racked up six No. 1 albums. Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania, 419/885-7106. centennialterrace.org. 8 p.m. $23–$27.
The National Museum of the Great Lakes tells the awe-inspiring stories of our Great Lakes through breathtaking photography, more than 300 incredible artifacts, a number of powerful audiovisual displays and 40 hands-on interactive exhibits including the 617-foot iron ore freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the historic Museum Tug Ohio. National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St., Toledo, 419/214-5000. nmgl.org. Visit website for times and prices.
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JUN 21
The Great Race 2022
Music + Theater
Look back in time at Findlay in the 1960s, with its Teen Center, Porter’s Music and The Pub. This exhibit highlights local bands throughout the decade, playing recorded music that’s sure to bring back memories. Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, 419/423-4433. hancockhistoricalmuseum.org. Visit website for times. Adults $5, seniors $3, childen $2, members free.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Historic Barn Mural Driving Trail, featuring murals painted by Scott Hagen, the “Barn Artist.” Driving maps are available at the visitors bureau weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and online. Various locations throughout Sandusky County, 419/332-4470. sanduskycounty.org. Trail can be driven year-round. Free.
Brooks & Dunn
Join this country duo for its Reboot 2022 tour, accompanied by Tenille Townes. Huntington Center Toledo, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 419/255-3300. huntingtoncentertoledo.com. 7 p.m. Visit website for prices. JUN 25
Hotel California
Other Events ONGOING
Sandusky County Historic Barn Mural Trail
Take a drive to Sandusky County to enjoy the
The Great Race is an antique, vintage and collector car, controlled-speed endurance road rally from Rhode Island to North Dakota. Watch as 130 racers make a pit stop in Historic Downtown Perrysburg, meet the racers, and enjoy live music, a classic car show and Kid Zone. Louisiana Avenue, downtown Perrysburg, 419/874-9147. visitperrysburg.com. 4:30–8:30 p.m. Free. JUN 25
Lima Half Mile Motorcycle Races
Enjoy the area’s premier motorcycle racing event. Watch the Grand National Circuit’s top racers in the nation participate in the halfmile dirt track race at the fairgrounds. Allen
County Fairgrounds, 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, 419/991-1491. limahalfmile.com. 1–9 p.m. $40.
Southeast Festivals JUN 9–11
Coschocton Hot Air Balloon Festival
Be blown away by this colorful festival delighting its guests with an entertaining look into air travel. One of our state’s oldest hot air balloon festivals, the event is sure to bring joy to visitors of all ages. Coshocton County Fairgrounds, 707 Kenilworth Ave., Coshocton, 740/6224877. coschoctonhotairballoonfestival.com. Visit website for times. Free.
Museums + Exhibits THRU JUN 30
Food Justice: Growing a Healthier Community Through Art
Fifteen nationally and internationally recognized contemporary artists created works that address inequitable food access, food waste, hunger, climate change and farming methods. A hydroponic garden is included, which will grow and produce fresh greens in the gallery. The hydroponic garden will be harvested every Friday during the exhibition. Southern Ohio Museum, 825 Gallia St., Portsmouth, 740/3545629. somacc.com. Tues.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 1–5 p.m. Voluntary donation $2, students and children 12 and under $1.
Music + Theater ONGOING
Live Music at Hocking Hills Winery
Visit Hocking Hills Winery for an evening of live music, wine and relaxing on Fridays and Saturdays. Bring your own food, call for a pizza delivery or just enjoy the music. Hocking Hills Winery, 30402 Freeman Ranch Rd., Logan, 740/385-7117. hockinghillswinery.com. Fri.– Sat. 6–9 p.m. Free. THRU SEPT 4
Layered and Stitched: 50 Years of Innovative Art
Marvel at 50 art quilts by renowned masters of the craft. This exhibition shows an evolution in the practice from early pioneers to today’s innovators as they experiment with new materials, forms and technologies. Dairy Barn Arts Center, 8000 Dairy Ln., Athens, 740/592-4981. dairybarn.org. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 8
KC and the Sunshine Band
Get groovy at this concert with hit-makers KC & The Sunshine Band. The group’s unique mix of funk, R&B and Latin percussion groove has produced classics like “Get Down Tonight” and “Shake Your Booty.” Peoples Bank Theatre, 224 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/371-5152. peoplesbanktheare.com. 8 p.m. $69–$259. JUN 16–SEPT 4
Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama
Witness the epic story of the legendary Shaw-
nee leader as he struggles to defend his sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700s. The mesmerizing drama is celebrating its 50th anniversary season. Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe, 866/775-0700. tecumsehdrama.com. Mon.–Sat. 8–10:30 p.m. $25–$50. JUN 18
Patty Griffin
One of the most significant singer-songwriters of her generation, Patty Griffin is not afraid to explore her most intimate emotions. See the two-time Grammy Award-winner live for tunes filled with poetic imagery and earthy tones. Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Sq., Nelsonville, 740/753-1924. stuartsoperahouse.org. 8 p.m. $40–$55.
Other Events ONGOING
Belmont County Explore More GeoTour
This GeoTour offers something for everyone, from families to retirees, while exploring friendly, beautiful Belmont County. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS coordinates. Various venues in Belmont County, Headquarters at 67800 Mall Ring Rd. #485, St. Clairsville. Free. JUN 2
Chillicothe Paints Baseball Home Opener
Join collegiate summer baseball team the Chillicothe Paints for the first home game of the
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MAY 21 – AUGUST 28, 2022
season. V.A. Memorial Stadium, 17273 St. Rte. 104, Chillicothe, 740/773-7117. chillicothepaints. com. 7–9:30 p.m. $5–$7. JUN 4
Historical Chillicothe Hope Clinic Garden Tour
migrants. The event includes the shooting of a hand-carved eagle, entertainment and plenty of beer, wine and food for the whole family. Kolping Center, 10235 Mill Rd., Cincinnati, 513/8517951. schuetzenfestcincy.com. Fri. 6 p.m.– midnight, Sat. 4 p.m.–midnight, Sun. 1–9 p.m. Visit website for prices. JUN 17–19
Summer Solstice Celebration
Engage in free festival fun honoring Serpent Mound’s celestial alignments and celebrating summer with great guest speakers, including historians, Indigenous Americans, scientists, spirtualists and more. Serpent Mound, 3850 St. Rte. 73, Peebles, 800/752-2757. serpentmound. org. Visit website for times and prices. Spend the afternoon with friendly Chillicothe folks who are pleased to share their beautiful gardens with you. Eight historic homes are featured in this tour, rain or shine. Purchase tickets at Julie’s Shop on Paint or at hopeclinicfree.org. Various venues, Chillicothe, 740-253-2779. hopeclinicfree.org. 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $20. JUN 9–11
Southern Ohio Forest Rally
This rally event is an all-terrain, extreme motorsport spectacle. Rally cars race at high speeds on paved and unpaved forest roads filled with hairpin switchbacks. Multiple locations, Chillicothe, 740/702-7677. southernohioforestrally.com. Visit website for times. Free.
JUN 19
Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee
Celebrate Juneteenth at four unique venues and experience live music, a Freedom Ride cycling event, Ohio Underground Railroad tours, food trucks, a three-on-three basketball tournament and prizes. North Park Amphitheater, 195 Tamarack Trail, Springboro. springborojuneteenth.com. Visit website for times. Free. JUN 25
Fayette County's Toast to Summer & Hot Air Balloon Glow
JUN 18
Kenworth Truck Parade
Experience this parade exhibiting more than 50 new, classic and customized Kenworth semi trucks, most of them originally built at the Chillicothe plant. Downtown Chillicothe, 740/7027677. downtownchillicothe.com. 8–10 p.m. Free.
Southwest Festivals JUN 4–5
Troy Strawberry Festival
Featuring more than 100 arts and crafts vendors and more than 60 food vendors, this jam-packed festival has no shortage of booths to engage with and indulge in. Downtown Troy, 937/3397714. troystrawberryfest.com. Fri. 6–9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.
CHRONICLES THE Great Depression AND THE Pandemic Presented with support from The Fox Foundation, Inc.
FREE ADMISSION
Wednesday–Friday, 11am–4pm; Sat & Sun, 1–4pm 145 E. Main St. | Lancaster, Ohio | 740-681-1423
www.decartsohio.org
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JUN 10–12
Versailles Poultry Days
Don’t be a chicken! Enjoy the 71st annual poultry festival, where the theme this year is “Just One More!” The event includes two parades, an ultimate frisbee tournament, a free kids tractor pull, carnival rides, games, a flower show, an art and photo show and an egg contest. Downtown Versailles. versaillespoultrydays.com. Fri. 3–11:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Visit website for prices. JUN 17–19
Schützenfest Cincinnati
Sound off at this traditional German festival brought to Cincinnati in 1866 by German im-
Head to Fayette County to enjoy Ohio wineries, artisans, local food, a beer garden and live music. After dusk, don’t miss the hot-air balloon glow and fireworks display. Fayette County Airport, 2770 St. Rte. 38 NE, Washington Court House, 740/335-0761. 1–10 p.m. General admission free, parking $5. JUN 26
Rail Festival at Carillon Park
Enjoy model train displays, live steam engines, historical exhibits, railroad vendors and free miniature train rides at this annual festival. Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Patterson Blvd., Datyon, 937/293-2841. railfestival.com. Sat. 9:30 a.m.– 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $12, seniors $10, children $8, children three and under free.
Museums + Exhibits THRU JUL 10
Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe
Nellie Mae Rowe is known for her artistic practices as a form of radical self-expression in the post-Civil Rights era South. Experience her vibrant, colorful and unique work during this exhibition highlighting her most influential pieces. Springfield Museum of Art, 107 Cliff Park Rd., Springfield, 937/325-4673. springfieldart.net. Visit website for times and prices.
THRU AUG 1
Our Shared Story: 200 Years of Jewish Cincinnati
Jewish influences in Cincinnati have shaped the city’s food, medicine, art, social justice and sports spaces. Meet the people who made waves in the community and rediscover traditional elements of yarmulkes, menorahs and more. Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, 513/287-7000. cincymuseum.org. Visit website for times. Adults $16.50, seniors and children 3–12 $12.50.
Outdoors LIVE LIFE
THRU SEPT 30
African Americans Fighting for a Double Victory
Explore the many ways African Americans served our country in the military and on the homefront during World War II. Discover the art of Charles Alston, commissioned by the Office of War Information to promote the war effort among African Americans; explore stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Red Ball Express, the Triple Nickels and Wilberforce-area veterans; and get a look at the impact World War II veterans had on the advances in civil rights that followed the war. National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center, 1350 Brush Row Rd., Wilberforce, ohiohistory.org/naamcc. Visit website for times and prices. JUN 10–SEPT 4
Henry Mosler Behind the Scenes: In Celebration of the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial An artist in the late 19th and early 20th century, Henry Mosler was part of a Jewish family that settled in Cincinnati. See an extensive collection of his work, including a few select loans, encapsulating his unique journey. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, 513/721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.
Let nature be your guide. 45+ miles of trails. Challenging golf. Great wineries & breweries. youngstownlive.com 800.447.8201 @youngstownlive Plan a weekend in Youngstown.
Music + Theater JUN 11
ABBAFab: The Premier ABBA Experience
Be a “Dancing Queen” for a night with this fabulous production that delivers the essence of ABBA. Enjoy a stunning tribute to the beloved band, spanning its extensive catalog. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 513/621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org. 4 & 8 p.m. $31.75–$51.75. JUN 17–19
The Addams Family
The Addams family faces many of the same challenges faced by any other — their kids are growing up! Their beloved and macabre daughter, Wednesday, has fallen in love with a sweet boy from a respectable Ohio family. What could be worse? In one hilarious night, secrets are disclosed and the Addams family must face up to the one terrifying thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change. A story of love and friendship through adversity, “The Addams Family” is funny, poignant and altogether ooky. Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, 937/228-3630. daytonlive.org. Visit website for times. $27–$65.
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JUN 25
The Temptations & The Righteous Brothers
The Temptations and the Righteous Brothers team up for a lively night jam-packed with legendary hits, signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies. Join the groups for an evening of music put on by artists lauded by the Grammys and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Rose Music Center, 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights, 937/610-0288. rosemusiccenter.com. 8 p.m. $23.50–$72. JUN 29
Killer Queen
Voted “worldwide best tribute band,” Killer Queen will rock you. Head to Fraze Pavilion to experience a phenomenal Freddie Mercury impersonation and musical show. Fraze Pavillion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering, 937/296-3300. fraze.com. 8 p.m. $20–$35.
Other Events JUN 25–26
28th Annual Historic Home and Garden Tour
woven directly from painted compositions. Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., Columbus, 614/221-6801. columbusmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.
Music + Theater JUL 9
Landslide: A Tribute to the Music of Fleetwood Mac
Join the Columbus Symphony in a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, with hits including “Go Your Own Way,” “Landslide,” “Dreams” and “Gypsy.” Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. columbussymphony.com. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Northwest Festivals JUL 9
Twin Oast Brewing Apricot Fest
Shop from vendors, listen to live music, grab a bite from a variety of food trucks and try several beer selections, including the featured Apricatawba. Twin Oast Brewing, 3630 NE Catawba Rd., Port Clinton, 419/573-6126. twinoast.com. Noon–10 p.m. Visit website for prices.
JUL 21
Columbus Jazz Orchestra & Friends: Tribute to Aretha Franklin
JUL 12–17
Northeast
JUL 15–17
The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, world renowned vocalist Niki Haris and the Milt Ruffin Chorale come together in a soul-stirring concert featuring gospel, blues and spirituals in a tribute to the legendary Aretha Franklin. Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, 614/469-0939. cbusarts.com. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Music + Theater JUL 3–4
A Salute to America Visit historic homes and gardens, two houses under renovation, a historic church, a business in a repurposed building, the Historical Society Museum and The Urbana Country Club. Enjoy craft demonstrations and sales, food and live entertainment. Municipal Building, 205 S. Main St., Urbana, 800/791-6010. ccpapreserveohio.org. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $15.
Box Derby. Derby Downs, 789 Derby Downs Dr., Akron. aasbd.soapboxderby.org. Visit website for times and prices.
Blossom’s traditional star-spangled celebration with the Blossom Festival Band returns with a program featuring a mix of patriotic marches, Broadway favorites, an Armed Forces salute and more — concluding with the “1812” Overture and fireworks. Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216/2311111. clevelandorchestra.com. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Summer Moon Festival
Celebrate Wapakoneta’s son, Neil Armstrong, with this multiday, multilocation festival in his hometown. Chow down on offerings from the Moon Menu Trail and enjoy learning at the history-packed museum. Armstrong Air & Space Museum, 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta, 419/738-8811. armstrongmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.
Celebrate KI
Join Kelleys Island’s largest celebration of the year. The event features craft vendors, food, a beer tent, music, a parade, fireworks and more. Memorial Park, 112 Division St., Kelleys Island, kelleysislandchamber.com. Fri. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sat. 10:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 11 am.–4 p.m. Free.
Other Events JUL 3–4
Fourth of July in Findlay
JUL 16
JULY
YLive featuring Luke Bryan
Central
Festivals JUL 1
Red, White & Boom!
Kick off the Fourth of July with the largest Independence Day celebration in the Midwest, featuring a parade, street festival and live music. Downtown Columbus, 614/299-8596. redwhiteandboom.org. Noon–10:25 p.m. Free.
Museums + Exhibits JUL 15–OCT 30
Raphael — The Power of Renaissance Images, The Dresden Tapestries and their Impact Visit the only American venue showing this tapestry-focused exhibition, which presents monumental and historically significant works, 24
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YLive, Youngstown’s premier summer concert, is back at Wean Park in downtown Youngstown. Luke Bryan headlines with special guests Riley Green and Mitchell Tenpenny. Wean Park, 229 E. Front St., Youngstown. ylivemusic.com. 7 p.m. Tickets start at $48.50.
Other Events JUL 17–23
All-American Soap Box Derby
The greatest gravity racers come together at the world-famous Derby Downs Track for the 84th running of the FirstEnergy All-American Soap
Enjoy lots of fun in Flag City with the Light Up the Sky Fireworks, a parade and an old-fashioned ice cream social. Events at various venues including downtown Findlay, Hancock County Fairgrounds and Hancock Historical Museum, Findlay, 419/422-3315. visitfindlay.com. Free.
Southeast Festivals JUL 1–3
Ohio Jeep Fest
Buckle up as this event rides on for its fifth year, presented by the Ross County Agricultural Society and Mid-Ohio Jeepers Organization. Ross County Fairgrounds, 344 Fairgrounds Rd., Chillicothe, 740/775-5083. ohiojeepfest.com. Visit website for times and prices.
JUL 8–10
Lilyfest
creativity. Historic Downtown Urbana, 937/7882812. monumentsquaredistrict.com. Visit website for times. Free. JUL 16
Cincy Blues Fest
Enjoy southwest Ohio musicians, including G. Miles and the KY Cuzins, Toronzo Cannon and Noah Wotherspoon. Smale Riverfront Park, 166 W. Mehring Way, Cincinnati, 513/739-2583. cincyblues.org. 2–11 p.m. $20. Lilyfest is a popular art and garden festival in the Hocking Hills. Visitors can learn tips and tricks from experienced gardeners, enjoy live music and shop from a variety of creative art vendors. The family-friendly event also features hiking and good food. Bishop Educational Gardens, 13200 Little Cola Rd., Rockbridge, 740/969-2873. lilyfest.com. Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.– 5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. JUL 29–30
Y-Bridge Arts Festival
Enjoy art, entertainment, demonstrations and activities for children at this long-running festival. Zane’s Landing Park, W. Market St., Zanesville, 740/455-0637. ybridgeartsfestival.com. Visit website for times and prices.
Music + Theater
Music + Theater JUL 19–24
The Band’s Visit
This critically acclaimed smash-hit Broadway
musical is the winner of a Grammy Award and 10 Tony Awards. With a score that seduces your soul and sweeps you off your feet, rejoice in the way music makes us laugh, brings us joy and brings us together. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 513/621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org. Visit website for times and prices. JUL 21
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
Local Parrot Heads won't want to miss their chance to soak in the full Margaritaville experience, as part of Jimmy Buffett’s Life On the Flip Side Redux Tour. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave. Cincinnati. riverbend.org. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
10-12
at the riverfront columbus, ohio
PRODUCED BY
200+ Artists 3 Stages
JUL 21
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Experience a refreshed lineup from American roots group the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The sextet played its first gig in 1966. Peoples Bank Theatre, 224 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/371-5152. peoplesbanktheare.com. 8 p.m. $29–$108.
Great Selection of Food and Drinks
Other Events
Rhinegeist Beer Garden
JUL 23
Cruise In for the Shelter Dogs
Classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and campers are welcome to park at this seventh annual cruise-in centered around supporting shelter dogs. Live music, raffles, door prizes and delicious food are featured. The Market on State, 1002 E. State St., Athens, facebook.com/ athensfosd. 3:30–8 p.m. $10.
Family Fun
Southwest Festivals JUL 9
Water Lantern Festival
Be awed by this family-friendly event jampacked with food trucks and music. Design lanterns, before launching them into the water, creating a beautiful display. Eden Park, 980 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati. waterlanternfestival.com. 6–10:30 p.m. $25.99–$55.99.
Shadowbox Live Fri. 8:30 p.m.
We Were Promised Jetpacks Sat. 9:00 p.m.
JUL 16
Art Affair on the Square
This artsy event is packed with music and food vendors as well as a special activity area for children. Whether you prefer art, architecture, literature or shopping, this festival will flex your
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p romot ion
great ohio
Road Trips This month, we visit Wayne County to explore downtown Wooster, outdoor destinations and Amish Country attractions.
For more information about these destinations and others throughout Wayne County, visit the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau at wccvb.com.
Downtown Wooster The Quinby Building has stood in the heart of downtown Wooster since 1887, and in March 2022 it became E&H Ace Hardware’s flagship store. Covering nearly 20,000 square feet of retail space across three floors, it offers a unique shopping experience. The first floor has a boutique feel that welcomes browsing, with engaging retail displays and areas featuring seasonal wares. The second and third floors offer the traditional hardware store experience, with a friendly and helpful staff that is happy to field any questions. The neighboring Wooster Gift Corner is one of downtown’s oldest shops, with a mix of jewelry, accessories, greeting cards, ceramics and more. Blackbird Records, located on the opposite side of Market Street, stocks a well-curated selection of new and used vinyl records that range from classic titles to recent releases. Around the corner, on Liberty Street, Books In Stock, provides an inviting space for bibliophiles to explore, thanks to its well-organized and large selection of used and rare books that span a variety of genres. A few doors away, Blue Spruce Boutique features a thoughtful collection of gifts, home decor, clothing and more. For more information about downtown Wooster businesses, visit mainstreetwooster.com. 26
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The Ohio Light Opera Lyric theater fans head to the College of Wooster each year for The Ohio Light Opera. In residence on the campus of Wooster, the repertory summer festival presents a rotating lineup of traditional operetta and musical theater performances, allowing travelers to take in different shows over the course of a multiday visit. The 43rd Ohio Light Opera season includes six full productions. “Cinderella,” “Hello, Dolly!” “The Student Prince,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “The Mock Marriage” and “The Fantasticks” represent the best of the lyrical theater tradition. Those looking for a preshow meal can head to downtown Wooster. Broken Rocks Cafe & Bakery is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and all day on Saturday, offering fare ranging from pizzas and pastas to sandwiches and steaks. The adjoining Rox Gastropub (open only in the evenings) features a menu of creative dishes that changes frequently. T.J.’s Restaurant has been a local favorite since 1964 and is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Its menu spans pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and meat- and seafood-focused entrees. Those looking for a place to stay have a range of options, including the boutique St. Paul Hotel, nearby B&Bs and popular hotel chains. Visit the online box office at ohiolightopera.org or call 330/263-2345.
Biking & Birding
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF WAYNE COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
Rails to Trails of Wayne County has converted 21 miles of former railbeds into pathways for biking and hiking since the nonprofit organization was incorporated in 1996, and the work continues today. Trails already completed include the 6.8-mile County Line Trail that stretches from Creston to Rittman and the 10.5-mile Sippo Valley Trail, which runs from the rural community of Dalton to downtown Massillon, where it connects with the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Almost 4 miles of the Heartland Trail have also been completed. During the past century, The Ohio State University’s Secrest Arboretum in Wooster has grown to a 110-acre outdoor laboratory that is home to themed gardens featuring more than 2,500 varieties of plants that showcase different ecosystems. It is a great place for bird-watching, with a variety of species spotted here throughout the year, according to the Ohio Ornithological Society. Guided bird walks are also scheduled periodically. The state-owned Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area, spanning 5,703 acres along the border of Wayne and Holmes counties, also offers excellent birding opportunities, with trumpeter swans, bald eagles and dozens of other species among those seen here during the year. waynecountytrails.org, secrest.osu.edu, ohiodnr.gov
KILLBUCK MARSH WILDLIFE AREA
Amish Country Lehman’s in Kidron has long been a destination for those who want to embrace simpler living. What started in 1955 as a small business serving locals is today a sprawling shopping destination that focuses on tradition and self-reliance, with an emphasis on nonelectric items and time-honored homesteading practices. A
visit makes for a fun browsing experience, and the store’s expansive selection of products ranges from wood-burning stoves and gas-powered appliances to traditional toys and camping gear. P. Graham Dunn, located about 5 miles north of Lehman’s, provides the opportunity not only to browse a wide selection of inspirational home decor items (as well as other gifts) but also watch them being made. Along the sides of the large retail showroom, viewing areas and windows look out on the production floor, and a grand, two-story lobby and wooden staircase just beyond P. Graham Dunn’s entrance set the tone for this inviting shopping experience. Another favorite in Wayne County’s stretch of Amish Country is the J.M. Smucker Co. Store. The company was founded in Orville in 1897 and now makes a variety of great tasting, convenient and responsibly produced food that appeals to both people and pets. lehmans.com, pgrahamdunn.com, jmsmucker.com/smucker-cafe-store
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FARM & TABLE Country Flavors The Crest in Columbus gets a new look and approach, presenting a menu of Appalachia-inspired fare that highlights an overlooked American cuisine.
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he Crest in Columbus’ Clintonville neighborhood has lived several lives. For decades it was a dive bar with dim lighting and dartboards. Then in 2013, local restaurant group A&R Creative transformed it into a gastropub. Now it has taken on another life under A&R, with a stunning renovation and a focus on modern Appalachian cuisine. Co-owner Justin Wotring describes The Crest’s updated menu as “what your grandma cooked but with the eye of an executive chef.” That would be Jon Gruseck, who developed the restaurant’s dinner and brunch fare.
COURTESY OF THE CREST
GAME PATE ON CROSTINI
Food Fun: These three festivals across the state this month provide delicious summer diversions filled with entertainment, family fun and flavors of Ohio.
Wooly Pig Farm Brewery: This Coshocton County brewery makes great beers and offers a place where visitors can enjoy the inviting farm atmosphere. J U N E 2022
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“His family is all tied to Appalachia,” Wotring says. “That region has all the things we love: being sustainable, getting local ingredients and preserving them by pickling.” Wotring directs newcomers to Gruseck’s pierogies, which align with the chef’s Polish heritage (the pierogies and hand pies are both crafted using his grandmother’s recipes). The Crest’s menu also includes several unique offerings: quail and dumplings, rabbit hash, country ham. The hearty burgoo is a rich stew made with a rotating selection of local meats simmering in gravy and topped with a buttermilk biscuit. The Crest’s walleye dish balances the delicately seasoned fish with a refreshing crisp of redbud capers, lemon and rhubarb pickle. The Crest’s menu is rounded out with familiar favorites: burgers, Reubens, pork chops, eggs Benedict and pancakes. True to its origins as a dive bar, the spot maintains a solid beer list and Instagram-worthy cocktails. Large windows flood the space with natural light, showcasing the cool greens and natural woods, the intricate tiled floor and the U-shaped bar in the center of the space. In line with The Crest’s focus on rural Appalachian fare, Wotring and his team are building out a greenhouse attached to the restaurant. They are also partnering with the agricultural school at Hocking College for a seed-saving program. So, despite the restaurant’s big-city location, it brings much-deserved attention to the flavors of the country. “A big part of Appalachian fare is overlooked but amazing,” Wotring says. “It’s a lost piece of cuisine that no one was focusing on, but everyone is familiar with if you think about it.” — Nicholas Dekker 2855 Indianola Ave., Columbus 43202, 614/261-7128, thecrest614.com
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Food Fun These three food festivals across the Buckeye State offer delicious summer diversions. Troy Strawberry Festival
June 4–5 Head to Miami County for the Troy Strawberry Festival, which routinely draws over 150,000 people to the city for this sweet celebration that was first held in the 1970s. Browse works by more than 100 arts and craft vendors, and sample fare from more than 60 food stands that feature the festival’s star fruit. The lineup of events includes a car cruise-in and a strawberry-pieeating contest with categories for kids and adults alike. troystrawberryfest.com Pork Rind Heritage Festival
June 10–11 Go ahead and pig out at the Pork Rind Heritage Festival in the Allen County village of Harrod. What started as a summer centennial celebration for the community in 1989, became an annual event after local snack-maker Rudolph Foods signed on to sponsor it and keep it going. Today, the festival has grown to include a parade, cruise-in car show, live entertainment, a princess contest and, of course, the chance to sample its star food. porkrindfest.com Versailles Poultry Days
June 10–12 Dig into barbecue chicken at this annual Darke County festival, where the birds are slow-cooked over charcoal for two hours and basted with a secret blend of spices every two minutes. (Plus, dinners are just $10 and include a drink, chips, applesauce and roll.) Versailles Poultry Days sold 35,000 dinners last year and has served a total of more than 1 million dinners since 1952. The event also includes two parades, a car show and more. versaillespoultrydays.com
CREST: COURTESY OF THE CREST; STRAWBERRIES: VISIT MIAMI COUNTY OHIO
FARM & TABLE
Wooly Pig Farm Brewery This Coshocton County brewery makes great beers and offers a place where visitors can enjoy the inviting farm atmosphere.
T
COURTESY OF WOOLY PIG FARM BREWERY
he rural property that Wooly Pig Farm Brewery calls home is draped over wooded hills not far from Coshocton in eastern Ohio, molding itself to the land rather than clearing and flattening it for convenience. It’s an apt picture for the business philosophy of this lager-focused brewery that is about a 90-minute drive from both Columbus and Cleveland. The families that run the brewery have learned to live and work in harmony with their rugged yet picturesque setting, raising farm animals and brewing some of the best German-style lagers in the country. The farm setting isn’t a gimmick. Wooly Pig is a working farm, raising a herd of Mangalitsa pigs — a Hungarian breed known for their thick, wiry hair — and feeding them the organic waste from the brewing process. Eventually, the pigs are butchered, and the meat is sold at the brewery. This closed loop allows the business to be both ecologically and economically sustainable.
“How can small farms continue to contribute instead of being outcompeted for their ag products?” asks Jael Malenke, who co-founded the brewery in 2017 with her husband, Kevin Ely, and her brother and sister-in-law, Aaron and Lauren Malenke. “We have a lot of assets that people don’t necessarily see as assets.” Despite the whimsical livestock adjacent to the large outdoor seating area, beer is still the star at Wooly Pig Farm Brewery. Ely crafts excellent rustic German lagers like the crisp Keller Pils, quenching Rustic Helles, and hearty Rye Dunkel, as well as more esoteric options like Coffee Pils, Pawpaw Pils, and Maple Baltic Porter. There is a small taproom at Wooly Pig with a larger all-weather enclosure attached, but if it’s a nice day, the beer is best enjoyed on the brewery’s grassy beer garden, with tables, a fire pit and plenty of room for the kids to play. For cold weather, there is a row of heated wooden huts — called salettl — hemming the lawn. “We have a modified Bavarian beer garden atmosphere,” explains Ely. “There’s lots of space to enjoy beer outside. Being a farm with animals, a lot of people come just to enjoy a beer while watching the pigs.” — David Nilsen 23631 Township Rd. 167, Fresno 43824, 740/693-5050, woolypigfarmbrewery.com
Living life simply. Holmes County & beyond. Get your Amish Country Ohio Map & Visitors Guide online at visitamishcountry.com or call us at 330-674-3975.
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RELAX IN OHIO’S AMISH COUNTRY. Win a one night stay in a standard room at your choice of Carlisle Inn Walnut Creek or Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country. Carlisle Inns are the perfect place to Rest and Reconnect. This prize package also includes a meal for two at a Dutchman Hospitality restaurant in Ohio’s Amish Country and tickets to the musical “Josiah for President” playing at Ohio Star Theater.
ENJOY ALL THE GREAT MIAMI RIVERWAY HAS TO OFFER!
RECONNECT AND RECHARGE IN BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO!
Win tickets to events all along the river, like Miami County Parks’ Trail Run Challenge & a murder mystery dinner in Sidney, passes to WACO Air Museum, and gift cards and swag for your perfect day on the water!
Go on a serene horseback trail ride with passes for 4. Enjoy sweet treats from The Cone with a $30 gift card. Your weekend getaway includes a complimentary, relaxing onenight stay at the Cincinnati Marriott North in West Chester.
(Overnight stay based on availability and not available in October. Offer expires May 1, 2023.)
Enter at ohiomagazine.com/win by June 30, 2022, for a chance to win!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Adventures in NE Ohio Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau Armstrong Air & Space Museum ArtsinStark Belden Village Mall LLC Boardwalk Village Carlisle Inn, Amish Country Carroll County Convention & Visitors Bureau Central Portage County Visitors & Convention Bureau 10. Champaign County Preservation 11. Chateau Tebeau Winery 12. Chautauqua County CVB 13. Cincinnati Museum Center 14. Clermont County CVB 15. Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau 16. Columbus Arts Festival 17. Coshocton Visitors Bureau 18. Dayton CVB 19. Dayton History 20. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio 21. Defiance Development and VB 22. Destination Mansfield 23. Destination Toledo 24. Dutch Creek Winery 25. Erie, PA Composite Co-op Shell 26. Experience Columbus 27. Experience Hartville
28. Fayette Travel and Tourism 29. Fayette County Chamber of Commerce 30. Gervasi Vineyard 31. Gillig Winery 32. Great Lakes Beach Glass & Coastal Arts Festival
33. Greater Grand Land Visitors Center 34. Great Miami Riverway 35. Gunton Corp./Pella Windows 36. Guppy’s Tavern 37. Heineman Winery 38. Hocking Hills Tourism Association 39. Hocking Hills Winery 40. Holmes County Chamber & Tourism Bureau 41. Homestead Furniture 42. Hope Clinic 43. Hotel Versailles 44. Huntington Area CVB 45. Kingwood Center Gardens 46. Knox County CVB 47. Lake County Visitors Bureau 48. Lehman’s 49. Leisure Time Winery 50. Lilyfest 51. Lincoln Way Vineyards 52. Majestic Oak Winery & Neon Groundhog Brewery
53. Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO WIN. Sweepstakes is open to anyone 18 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of the Sponsor, its parent and their immediate families (spouse, parents, children, siblings and their spouses) and individuals living in the same household as such employees are ineligible. Sweepstakes subject to all applicable federal, Ohio, local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating in this contest and submitting an entry, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decision of the Sponsor in conducting the contest. By entering the contest, winner agrees to waive any and all claims against the Sponsor, its parent, employees and representatives for a personal injury or loss that occur from the participation in this contest or from the receipt or use of any prize. Sponsor, its parent, employees and representatives, are not responsible for incorrect, inaccurate transcription or loss of entry information for any reason whatsoever. By entering, entrants acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements. HOW TO ENTER: Sweepstakes begin on June 1, 2022, and end on June 30, 2022 (“Sweepstakes Period”). There are multiple ways to enter this contest. Each person can enter both ways for additional chances of winning.1) Fill out the Reader Response card and
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54. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum 55. Medina County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
56. Merry Family Winery 57. Miami & Erie Trading Company Ltd 58. Miami County VCB 59. Mother Angelica Tour 60. Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District 61. MVP Dairy 62. National Comedy Center 63. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force 64. North Canton Chamber of Commerce 65. Office of TourismOhio 66. Ohio’s Appalachian Country 67. Ohio Grape Industries 68. Ohio History Connection 69. Perrysburg Area CVB 70. Plum Run Winery 71. Portsmouth-Scioto CVB 72. Red Fern Inn 73. Ross Chillicothe CVB 74. Sauder Village 75. Scott Enterprises 76. Spring Hill Historic Home 77. Steubenville Visitor Center 78. Taft Museum of Art 79. The 720 Market LLC 80. The Boathouse at Grand Lake
81. The Farm Bell 82. The Winerie 83. Travel Butler County, OH 84. Traverse City Tourism, MI 85. Trumbull County Tourism Bureau 86. Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau
87. Vermilion Valley Vineyards 88. Vinton County CVB 89. Visit Canton 90. Visit Cincy 91. Visit Dublin Ohio 92. Visit Findlay 93. Visit Greater Lima 94. Visit Grove City 95. VisitErie 96. Warped Wing Brewing Company 97. Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau 98. Webb’s Captain’s Table Restaurant 99. Western NY Composite Co-op Shell 100. Winans Chocolates + Coffees, Maria Stein 101. Wright State University 102. Youngstown/Mahoning County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
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OHIO WINE MONTH From the forests of the Hocking Hills to the shores of Lake Erie, visit six destinations that show the range of Ohio’s statewide winemaking industry. By Ruth Corradi Beach
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF WINERIES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
M CELLARS, GENEVA
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OHIO WINE MONTH Hocking Hills Winery Tucked off the highway, surrounded by woods, you’ll find the 100 acres that make up Hocking Hills Winery. The former cattle ranch has been reimagined as a winery run by Blaine and Drew Davidson (grandsons of the property’s original owners) and their wives, Allison and Laura, respectively. Hocking Hills is a camping and outdoor hot spot, and many of the winery’s patrons are in the area for just that reason. “There’s a huge cabin industry here, and campgrounds aren’t far from us,” says Blaine Davidson, the winery’s CEO. “You can be off the hiking trail or canoeing or dressed up and coming back from a nice dinner. We’re very welcoming and friendly. Bring your dog.” Indeed, enjoying a glass of wine on the flagstone patio or at a picnic table on the edge of the woods, visitors may feel like they’re in a friend’s backyard. There is live music every Friday and Saturday year-round (and Sundays during warmer months), as well as food trucks and wood-fired pizzas to supplement the charcuterie boards and snack plates on the menu. “The wine slushies are our most popular [offering on-site],” says Davidson. “We’ve got peach, raspberry, sangria and pink lemonade flavors.” 30402 Freeman Rd., Logan 43138, 740/385-7117, hockinghillswinery.com
Tables and chairs on the grounds of Buckeye Lake Winery make for an inviting place to spend an evening (above). Wine slushies are one of Hocking Hill Winery’s most popular on-site offerings (below). Maize Valley Winery offers great farm views (opposite page).
Buckeye Lake Winery This spot outside Columbus bills itself as “Where Napa Valley Meets Buckeye Lake.” The Buckeye Lake aspect is obvious: tables and Adirondack chairs are positioned on the shore, and the winery’s long dock makes a visit after a day on the water an easy decision. As for Napa Valley, a few sips of wine will clarify that part of the slogan. “We work
directly with growers in the Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma and Lodi regions,” says Tracy Higginbotham, who owns the winery. “We travel to California each fall to evaluate the grapes and determine when to harvest, coordinate and participate in the harvest … to get the young raw wine back to our facilities for aging, blending and bottling.” He adds that this hands-on approach from start to finish is what ensures a Napa-quality wine. Try the winery’s signature white, the Sweet Lake View (soon to be known as Lake Water), which has hints of lemongrass, green apple, pineapple and papaya. Enjoy a glass while watching the boats go by or enjoying the regularly scheduled live music. “The experience might be different every visit,” Higginbotham says, “but there are consistencies of quality and service every time.” 13750 Rosewood Dr., Thornville 43076, 740/246-5665, buckeyelakewinery.com
Maize Valley Winery Maize Valley is counted among Ohio’s estate wineries. This designation is given only to wineries who grow all the grapes they use in their wine (most others grow some of their grapes and source the rest from oth34
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er vineyards). Maize Valley, which is located a few miles from downtown Hartville, makes all its own beer on-site, too. “We have gatherings and events, and there are couples where one may like beer and one may like wine,” explains co-owner Bill Bakan. Maize Valley hosts outdoor festivals and events through the summer as well as in the fall, in-
cluding the annual harvest fest that features an 8-acre corn maze, lavender festival, sunflower field, car nights and regularly scheduled live music on the outdoor stage. “We like to have fun,” says Bakan. “People can get a great burger wherever. But between all of the car nights, music, families — we make great food, great beer and great wine fun.
… We’re known as a fun place to go.” Maize Valley Winery is known for its Redneck Red, a sweet red wine that’s the winery’s most popular offering, and its Maize Valley Riesling, voted Best of Show overall at the 2021 Ohio Wine Competition. 6193 Edison St. NE, Hartville 44632, 330/877-8344, maizevalley.com
Celebrate Summer!
at Gervasi Vineyard
outdoor dining
pups on the piazza
gv cruise-in
Dine and drink al fresco Bring your canine Car lovers of all ages on the expanded Piazza. companions every Tuesday will enjoy our weekly Two levels of outdoor for a night out on the patio. gatherings, Wednesdays seating are also available Special treats are available though September. at The Crush House. for our furry friends. Admission is free!
live music
Enjoy live performances while you dine, or purchase tickets for our summer concert series in the open-air Pavilion.
V I S I T G E RVA S I V I N E YA R D . CO M FO R D E TA I LS • C A N TO N , O H J U N E 2022
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OHIO WINE MONTH Vermilion Valley Vineyards “As much as I like to call myself a winemaker, at the end of day I’m just a farmer,” says Joe Juniper, co-owner of this estate winery, where all the grapes used to make the wine are grown in the property’s more than 100acre vineyard. “Our biggest claim to fame is our cabernet franc,” Juniper says. “It’s our number-one seller: herbal, savory and complex. This is the wine we’ve built our company on and our reputation for quality wine.” In addition to the wine, travelers find a welcoming and relaxing place to spend some time with family and friends. “Our focus is a casual, working farm in the countryside,” notes Juniper. “We bring people from all over and every walk of life. We’ve always been a dog winery. On any given Saturday you’ll see a half dozen dogs on the patio.” The vineyard has a small menu that includes cheese plates and hummus, but it welcomes customers who bring in outside food. “We very much welcome a blanket on the hillside overlooking the pond and a picnic with the family,” Juniper says. “We’re creating customers for generations to come, where young families can come out and relax.” 11005 Gore Orphanage Rd., Wakeman 44889, 440/9655202, vermilion-valleyvineyards.com
M Cellars
This Ashtabula County destination is also counted among Ohio’s estate wineries, meaning all the grapes used to make its wines are grown in the vineyard on the property. Founded in 2012, M Cellars is all about the wine, according to Matt Meineke, winemaker and founder of the winery with his wife, Tara. “Our focus has always been the wine and service to match it. It’s about growing our wine from start to finish, vine to bottle, with 100% authenticity.” M Cellars’ most popular white is its Gewürztraminer, a sweetly spicy wine with flavors of melon, orange blossom and honey. Grab a seat on the top level of the two-tier patio for an outstanding view of the vineyard. Dogs and kids are welcome, too. “We’re laid-back, not a party atmosphere,” explains Meineke. “The bands we bring in aren’t usually rock ’n’ roll, but acoustic guitars and 36
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Customers enjoy wines at M Cellars (above). Vermilion Valley Vineyards has more than 100 acres of grapes (below). Musicians perform at Hanover Winery (opposite page).
singer-songwriters. It fits our personality well.” The menu features high-end shareables like warm brie, fig jam, crackers and beautiful meat and cheese boards. M Cellars is an ideal place to relax with family and friends when you want to concentrate on conversation, beautiful views and, of course, fine wine. 6193 South River Rd. W., Geneva 44041, 440/361-4104, mcellars.com
Spring 2022
Learn more about the newest boutique hotel experience at hotelversaillesohio.com.
Hanover Winery
This comfortable and park-like setting between Hamilton and Oxford offers picnic tables set up around a pond with a fountain. There are even dog-friendly Thursdays. Dogs are a theme here, with several of the wines named for canine pals, including the winery’s award-winning Dammit Annie! named for the owners’ chocolate lab. “It’s a sweet red wine, made with blackberry wine blended with haskap berries from the nearby Johnson Family Farm,” explains Eddie McDonald, who owns the winery with his wife Elizabeth. The couple got into the business after an unlikely inspiration. “Twenty-two years ago, we saw a program on TV. I wasn’t a winemaker at the time but was really interested in the process. Beth and I have always been self-starters, and we like the people in [the winemaking] world. We were interested in what we could do with wines and make a living.” Today, the couple is preparing to pour a larger patio and add more outdoor tables. Food is available along with occasional food trucks, and bourbon and beer are on the menu, too. Grab a blanket or chair and relax for an evening of live music. Get a sitter though: Hanover Winery is for those age 21 and older. 2165 Morman Rd., Hamilton 45013, 513/863-3119, hanoverwinery.com J U N E 2022
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FERRANTE WINERY & RISTORANTE
unwind.
Presented by...
Plum Run Winery
3946 Broadway Grove City, OH 614-991-0338 plumrunwinery.com
Locally owned boutique winery in the heart of downtown Grove City, featuring 22 varieties of house wines & ciders, 40 taps of artfully crafted beers, along with a full scratch kitchen and large pet-friendly patio. Great space for meetings & private events as well!
Gervasi Vineyard
1700 55th Sreet NE Canton, OH 330-497-1000 gervasivineyard.com
Three Rivers Wine Trail
Red Fern Inn at Rocky Point Winery
Fill Your Glass on the Three Rivers Wine Trail! Enjoy the wide-open spaces of the Appalachian foothills and explore the eclectic mix of eight unique wineries and a craft brewery, all 432 North Whitewoman Street within a short drive of one another in beautiful Coshocton County. It's Coshocton, OH the perfect romantic getaway or 740-622-4877 girlsʼ weekend adventure.
threeriverswinetrailohio.com
111 West Main Street Marblehead, OH 419-967-5344 redferninn.com
12157 State Route 690 Athens, OH 740-818-4699 dutchcreekwinery.com
30402 Freeman Road Logan, OH 740-385-7117 hockinghillswinery.com
Chateau Tebeau Vineyard & Winery
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525 State Route 635 Helena, OH 419-638-5411 chateautebeauwinery.com J U N E 202 2
Experience our French Chateau featuring a wide selection of wines and cider. Walk the vineyards, sit by the koi pond or have a glass of wine by the fireplace in the tasting room. You are sure to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Open Year Round. Menu — Craft Beer — Live Entertainment — Tours
Located in the historic Marblehead Schoolhouse just steps from Lake Erie and down the street from the Marblehead Lighthouse, the Red Fern Inn is the perfect getaway. Guests have access to complimentary bicycles, a private lounge and several fire pits. We’re open year-round, with live music and special events April-October.
Hocking Hills Winery
Dutch Creek Winery Dutch Creek Winery creates artisanal, small-batch honey wines, ciders and fruit wines. Enjoy ciders and wine tastings with charcuterie boards in our tasting room, on our covered patio, or in our picnic grove.
This summer, escape to Gervasi Vineyard and experience the beauty of a unique, Tuscan-inspired winery resort. Three distinct restaurants offer casual and upscale cuisine paired with award-winning wines and spirits. Retreat to a luxurious suite and enjoy the comforts of high-end amenities, as well as an outdoor patio providing beautiful lake views. A complimentary continental breakfast is delivered each morning of your stay.
The family-owned Hocking Hills Winery provides the region a friendly gathering place for visitors to enjoy family-produced, quality wines. Come by for a tasting and stay to enjoy a glass or bottle by the fire or on our patio. No reservations necessary. Live music on the weekends.
Merry Family Winery
2376 OH-850 Bidwell, OH 740-245-9463 merryfamilywinery.com
Come Sip, Sit, Relax at Gallia County’s first winery/brewery. Take in the picturesque views of the countryside, stroll through the vineyard. Sample handcrafted wines and beers, try our homemade root beer soda. With so many great varieties to choose from you are sure to find something to love!
Leisure Time Winery
16982 CR-M2 Napoleon, OH 419-758-3442 leisuretimewinery.com
As our name implies, Leisure Time Winery is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon or evening. Tucked into the peaceful countryside of Napoleon, Ohio, we offer a little something for everyone. We proudly craft an assortment of wines, including several fruit options.
Heineman Winery
978 Catawba Avenue Put-In-Bay, OH 419-285-2811 heinemanswinery.com
Celebrating 134 years of family traditions, Heineman’s is the oldest family-owned and -operated winery in Ohio. This award-winning winery is also home to the world’s largest known Celestite geode and offers combined tours of the winery and Crystal Cave. Visit the tasting room featuring wines made on-site, while enjoying a fresh-cut cheese plate. Check our website for hours. Online ordering 24/7 to 38 states!
Lincoln Way Vineyards
Gillig Winery
Find Your Wine Time® with us.
A relaxing environment to wine and dine, all wines are produced and bottled in-house. An extensive wine menu consisting of a broad range of wines for every wine-lover to try. Full menu options for lunch and dinner. Conveniently located off I-75 on Northridge Road, with hotels nearby to have a nice stay. Check website for hours.
Come sit in the tasting room, on the patio, picnic area or our event space, relax and enjoy our wine, hard cider, fruit-based wine slushies and more. Check out our website or like us on 9050 West Old Lincoln Way Facebook to see our year-round Wooster, OH food truck and entertainment 330-804-9463 schedule.
lincolnwayvineyards.com
1720 Northridge Road Findlay, OH 419-408-3230 gilligwinery.com
Vermilion Valley Vineyards Vermilion Valley Vineyards produces excellent quality wines with a classic, old-world European style on its 15 acres. This beautiful estate winery offers a tasting room, live music, and 11005 Gore Orphanage Road an extensive wine menu throughout the year. Come enjoy our outdoor Wakeman, OH space which overlooks our vineyard 440-965-5202 and 1.5-acre pond.
vermilion-valleyvineyards.com
The Winerie
6413 Hayes Avenue Sandusky, OH 419-502-1290 facebook.com/thewinerie
Offering a large selection of wines produced from 100% estate grown grapes, The Winerie is an estate winery and the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing night out, a special weekend date night while enjoying live music on select nights.
Majestic Oak Winery & Neon Groundhog Brewery
13554 Mohler Road Grand Rapids, OH 419-875-6474 majesticoakwinery.com
We are a farm winery and brewery located in Providence Twp near Neapolis, Ohio. Open year round Thursday 2–8 pm, Friday and Saturday 12–9 pm and Sunday 1–5 pm. You are welcome to roam our vineyards and enjoy a glass under our majestic oak. We continue to work hard to make Majestic Oak a place for you to relax and enjoy. J U N E 2022
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S p ec i a l P r o m o t i o n a l S ec t i o n
AMENITY KEY R S W T H P L
Full-Service Restaurant Snacks Tours Tours by Appointment Only Handicap Accessible Picnicking Large Groups/Motor Coach Large Groups/Motor Coach by Appointment Only V Vineyard Pet Friendly Entertainment Lodging VIP Location
LIVEWell Be Prepared
A day out in nature sometimes comes with cuts, bumps and blisters. Having basic first-aid supplies on hand and properly preparing for your trip will give you peace of mind.
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ou need more than your phone for safety when hitting the trail. Being ready for minor injuries can help keep your day filled with fun rather than frustration. “You never known when the simplest items can help alleviate a more serious injury,” says John Gareis, regional manager, disaster preparedness for the American Red Cross — Northern Region. Gareis advises packing a first-aid kit in your vehicle, but the American Red Cross also sells daypack-friendly kits such as its 73-piece Be Red Cross Ready First Aid Kit that comes in a zippered pouch measuring just 9-by7 inches and includes a variety of bandages, ointments and more to help navigate any bumps along the trail. “No one plans to be in an emergency and having the [right] tools can prevent injuries from escalating,” Gareis says. — Kristen Hampshire ON THE TRAIL: Terrain, weather, insects and other facts of outdoor adventuring can stir up unexpected circumstances, from blisters to bites. Apply insect repellant before you head out and pack for the conditions. “Keep an extra pair of socks in case your feet become blistered from walking, or your socks get wet,” Gareis advises. A rain poncho can be folded and tucked into a backpack without taking up much space or weight. AT CAMP: Sparks from a campfire can cause stinging burns that can be addressed with simple first-aid supplies. “Clean the burn gently with soap and water and cover with a dry bandage,” Gareis says. “You may put a thin layer of ointment like petroleum jelly on it but avoid putting ointments on a burn to prevent infection.” A small pair of scissors comes in handy in case you need to cut bandages to size.
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ON THE ROAD: Your car needs to be prepared for the unexpected, too, be it a breakdown or flat tire. Make sure people will be able to see you if you need to pull off to the side of the road. “Road flares are inexpensive ... Red rags or material can be used to tie onto your mirror if you don’t have flares,” Gareis says. Bring an extra mobile phone charger, and don’t rely on GPS alone. A paper map is a reliable, old-school backup. J U N E 2022
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LIVEWell
See our Social Side. Find Ohio Magazine on
Opt Outside
Physical activity outdoors does a body good in many ways. Here’s how spending time in nature can boost your health, mood and more.
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utdoor exercise does much more for your body than merely burn calories. Fresh air, sunshine and terrain that is more engaging than a treadmill belt deliver health benefits that make it a wise decision to plan on regularly spending more time outside this summer. “Any workout is better than no workout, but outside there are other stimulants like seeing an eagle flying above you and noticing nature,” says Dr. Sergio Ulloa, orthopedic surgeon for OhioHealth Physician Group Heritage College in Athens. Here are some health benefits you gain by trading your gym workout for a day in the park or on the trail. — KH
A Boost in Mood
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The physical benefits of exercise in nature are well documented, but the effect that spending time outside has on the way you feel gets less attention, Ulloa says. “Getting outdoors gives you some time to reflect or to not worry about your job,” he adds. Fresh air increases oxygen levels in the brain, making you feel happier and less anxious. When you head outdoors with others, the act of socialization is a factor in helping reduce depression. “You can enjoy the outdoors and be with friends who enjoy similar activities,” Ulloa says. “Having that opportunity is valuable.”
More Vitamin D
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the body produces Vitamin D3, which can protect against osteoporosis, cancer, depression and heart disease. “The sun provides us an opportunity to absorb calcium and releases endorphins,” Ulloa says. Be sure to mind your exposure to the sun and protect your skin. During the summer, as little as 10 minutes outdoors in the sun can reap rewards.
Find road trip inspiration, learn about giveaways and events, and connect with the beauty, the adventure and the fun of Ohio.
Better Balance
Whether you’re walking along a hilly, wooded trail or navigating sidewalks, outdoor exercise engages different muscle groups that can ultimately improve balance. If you are just starting a walking program, begin with flat and predictable ground and work your way up to different terrain as you grow confidence and stamina. “You’ll use other stabilizing muscle groups including your core and improve mobility in your hips, knees and ankles,” Ulloa says of hiking. “Not only is it a different type of cardio exercise, you’ll activate different muscle groups.” Be sure to wear appropriate shoes, too. “Some people will use a walking stick to provide a sense of stability on irregular terrain,” Ulloa adds.
Welcome Distractions
The sights and sounds of nature help take your mind off the fact that you are exercising, which often results in staying active longer. There are a range of outdoor activities to mix up the way you move, from kayaking and bicycling to hiking and simply strolling in the park. Just get your doctor’s advice and take it slow. “The goal is to be the oldest guy exercising,” Ulloa says, “not the fastest or strongest.” J U N E 2022
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Shining The lighthouses that stand along our shoreline illuminate Ohio’s long maritime history. Here are 12 places where you can connect with that heritage. By Charity Ervin
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BRENDA TRAFFIS
FAIRPORT HARBOR WEST BREAKWATER LIGHT
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uilt in 1897, this historic lighthouse along the southwestern edge of South Bass Island has been maintained to look much as it did when it was first constructed. The landmark consists of a large, two-and-a-half-story red brick dwelling attached to a 12-footsquare tower that stands 45 feet tall. Travelers can visit the lighthouse’s grounds from dawn to dusk, but because the building houses staff from The Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant program, guided tours are only offered periodically. For those who want to step inside, free tours are scheduled in 2022 for June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10 and Oct. 8, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. During tours, visitors can learn about the history of the island and climb the tower stairs for a view of Put-in-Bay and the surrounding waters of Lake Erie. 2368 Langram Rd., Put-inBay 43456, 419/285-1800, ohioseagrant.osu.edu/visit/south-bass-lighthouse 52
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COURTESY OHIO SEA GRANT
South Bass Island Lighthouse
Port Clinton Lighthouse This 20-foot-tall structure, built in an architectural style known as “pepperpot,” stands along the shore in Port Clinton’s Waterworks Park and is believed to be the last timber-framed lighthouse on the U.S side of the Great Lakes. It was built in 1896, as steam-powered excursion boats necessitated a new lighthouse at the mouth of the Portage River (an earlier stone lighthouse built in 1833 had been decommissioned by the federal government during the 1870s.) In the 1950s, the U.S Coast Guard deemed the second lighthouse unnecessary as well and called for it to be torn down. That’s when a local marina owner relocated it to his property, where it stood for six decades. In 2012, the Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy moved the structure to storage, where it was restored and then moved to Waterworks Park in 2016, which offers a welcoming spot to spend time along Lake Erie. 1868 E. Perry St., Port Clinton 43452, portclintonlighthouse.org PORT CLINTON: TODD SECHEL; TOLEDO: LAURA WATILO BLAKE
Toledo Harbor Lighthouse South Bass Island Lighthouse Port Clinton Lighthouse
Toledo Harbor Lighthouse The Toledo Harbor Lighthouse sits on a 20-foot-deep stone crib in Lake Erie, about 5 miles north of Maumee Bay State Park. Completed in 1904, the three-story structure was manned by the U.S. Coast Guard until the mid-1960s, when an automated light was installed. The federal government owned the site until transferring the property to the Toledo Lighthouse Preservation Society in the early 2000s. The nonprofit organization has been working since to raise money for renovations to the historic property in the hopes of eventually offering public tours of the lighthouse. Those who want to support the cause can save the date for the annual Toledo Lighthouse Festival held at Maumee Bay State Park (scheduled Sept. 10 and 11 in 2022). Because the lighthouse is located offshore, it’s tough to get a closeup view, unless you have a boat or can enlist the help of a local boat line. toledoharborlighthouse.org
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Huron Lighthouse Located at the end of North Main Street in Huron Park, the Huron Lighthouse stands along a pier that offers beautiful views of Lake Erie. The spot provides a perfect place to take in sunrises to the east and sunsets to the west (as well as the roller coasters of Cedar Point along the horizon). The milelong pier is open to the public and provides a great place for fisherman to cast a line. Birders flock here, too, as the pier is a location along the Lake Erie Birding Trail. Visitors can get photos of the 72-foot automated lighthouse’s squared base and tower from the pier. The structure was built in 1939, and the original light was replaced in 1972 by a solar-powered lens. Still in use today, the red light can be seen over a 12-mile radius, gleaming on and off in three-second intervals. End of North Main Street, Huron 44839, cityofhuron.org
Marblehead Lighthouse
Huron Lighthouse
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Marblehead Lighthouse elping guide sailors since 1822, the Marblehead Lighthouse holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It is also one of just a few lighthouses in Ohio that visitors can ascend. Those
who take the guided tour (offered daily between noon and 4 p.m. from Memorial Day until Labor Day, weather permitting) are invited to climb the 77 steps to the top of the 65-foot-tall lighthouse to take in views of Lake Erie, as well as Kelleys Island, South Bass Island and Cedar Point. The experience also provides visitors with an understanding of the history of the village of Marblehead and life along the lake, thanks to 70 dedicated volunteers. “All of us enjoy talking to visitors and sharing where we live,” says Dennis Kennedy, president of the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society. Two small museums stand alongside the Marblehead Lighthouse. The Keeper’s House, where the lighthouse’s former stewards resided, offers further insight into local history. The Marblehead Room shares information about community life and the area’s limestone quarries, which thrived
here during the 1800s and still remain in the area today. The Lighthouse Room houses the last Fresnel lens to operate inside Marblehead Lighthouse. The lens was installed after it was exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. It served the lighthouse until 1969, replaced now with an LED light that projects a green signal every six seconds that can be seen for 11 nautical miles. Travelers can also visit the replica of an 1876 U.S. Lifesaving Station. Built in 2016, the museum displays a restored 27-foot rescue boat as well as exhibits on the history of the Lifesaving Service (the precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard), boat safety and shipping on the Great Lakes. Outside, tables and grassy areas make a welcome spot for a lakeside picnic. “A lot of people are surprised to see a 600-foot lake freighter go by on its way to Sandusky,” says Kennedy. 110 Lighthouse Dr., Marblehead 43440, marbleheadlighthouseohio.org
HURON: TODD SECHEL MARBLEHEAD: ISTOCK
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Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light
Vermilion Lighthouse Once known as the “Village of Lake Captains,” the city of Vermilion has historic homes where those who sailed Lake Erie resided, and the Vermilion Lighthouse at Main Street Beach pays tribute to that long lake history. The structure is a replica of Vermilion’s original 34-foot-tall lighthouse that was built in 1877, before it was removed in 1929. (That structure is now known as the East Charity Shoal Light and is located on Lake Ontario near the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River.) The city was without a lighthouse for more than 60 years until a local effort was launched to raise money to construct a replica. The tower was completed in October 1991 and dedicated the following summer. It is operational, serving as a navigational aid in addition to a tribute to local history. 480 Main St., Vermilion 44089, cityofvermilion.com 56
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Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse Located just north of the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, the Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse has been in operation since 1911, but a signal station has stood along Cleveland’s shoreline since the early 1830s. Many people are familiar with the spark-plug-style, 67-foot-tall lighthouse because the wintry waves of Lake Erie cause it to become encrusted in ice, much to the delight of photographers. This lighthouse was first lit, along with its sister East Pierhead Lighthouse — a 25-foottall structure that sits a bit farther out on the lake — on the same day. Although the West Pierhead lighthouse initially stood alone, a fog-signal building was built beside it in 1916. In 2021, the federal government began seeking a new owner for the lighthouse, free of charge if the entity meets the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. 2800 Whiskey Island Dr., Cleveland 44102
VERMILION: LAURA WATILO BLAKE; FAIRPORT: BRENDA TRAFFIS; CLEVELAND: MICHAEL COLLIER; LORAIN: V1DRONEMEDIA
This classic, four-square-style lighthouse with a 42-foot tower at the mouth of the Grand River was lit in 1925 and replaced the historic one that still stands today along the Fairport Harbor shoreline. In 2005, the U.S. Coast Guard identified the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light as government surplus, and six years later, Sheila Consaul took ownership of the property after submitting the winning bid for it in an auction. Since then, she has been working to restore the lighthouse, and hosts an annual birthday open house (scheduled this year for June 11). Improvements to the structure have included new windows and doors, fresh paint, floor repairs and upgraded wiring and plumbing. Travelers can also walk out along the breakwater to take a closer look at some of the exterior renovations for themselves or take in views of the lighthouse from Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve in neighboring Mentor. For more information, visit fairportharborwestlighthouse.com.
Lorain Lighthouse nown as the Jewel of the Port, the Lorain Lighthouse is a beautiful focal point of the city’s downtown shoreline, sitting about a half mile out on Lake Erie at the entrance to the harbor. Completed in 1919, the lighthouse got its nickname from being one of the few lighthouses lit from the base of the structure to the top of it. The landmark was threatened with demolition after the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned it, but in the fall of 1981 a local nonprofit organization was successful in its bid to save the historic structure and has worked over the years to bring it back to the shoreline beauty it is today. During the summer months, travelers can take a brief boat ride to the lighthouse to attend private events and select public ones, including sunset wine dinners, scheduled tours and a July 4 picnic and fireworks event. For more information, visit lorainlighthouse.com.
Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light
Lorain Lighthouse
Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse
Vermilion Lighthouse
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Fairport Harbor Marine Museum + Lighthouse Ashtabula Lighthouse The Ashtabula Lighthouse holds the distinction of having been the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The U.S. Coast Guard took care of the beacon until 1973, when the signal was automated. The lighthouse sits near the northern end of Ashtabula Harbor’s west breakwater. Some version of a lighthouse has stood in this area of Lake Erie since 1836, but the current structure was built in 1905 before being moved a short distance to the location where it is today and expanded in 1916. Visitors can explore local Lake Erie history at the Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum, which was originally built as a keeper’s house in 1871. The museum is inland from the lighthouse and features a pictorial history of the city of Ashtabula, as well as a collection of ship models and the pilothouse from the steamer Thomas Walters that is filled with its original equipment. The lighthouse is only accessible by boat; the museum is at 1071 Walnut Blvd., Ashtabula 44004, 440/964-6847, ashtabulamaritme.org, ashtabulalighthouse.com
Conneaut West Breakwater Light This white-and-black steel tower was built at the Conneaut pierhead in 1934, replacing a series of earlier signals that have stood at this location along Lake Erie’s far-eastern Ohio shoreline since a century earlier. The federal government sold the structure to a private owner in 2011 and it remains in private hands today. The lighthouse, which has two stacked rooms, is not open for tours and is located a quarter mile into Lake Erie, but you can get a view of the 60-foot-tall lighthouse from along the shore at Conneaut Township Park. 480 Lake Rd., Conneaut 44030 58
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rive about 40 minutes east from Cleveland to explore the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse, which tells the story of the beacon that operated along the Lake Erie shore from 1825 to 1925. This 60-foot-tall lighthouse was built in 1871 to replace the original structure, and it is also one of the few in Ohio that visitors can climb to the top of to take in the same views the lighthouse’s keepers once did. “People write to us and tell us how much they love coming to our lighthouse,” says Mary Alyce Gladding, president of the Fairport Harbor Society. “They love the 69 spiral steps leading [up] the tower to the spectacular view of Lake Erie and the Grand River. That’s one of the highlights.” Beside the lighthouse stands the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum, housed in a building also built in 1871. The museum was founded in 1945 as the first Great Lakes marine museum in the United States. Inside the small museum’s four rooms, visitors will find Native American arrowheads and tools unearthed in the village in the 1900s, as well as ship navigation instruments and models of lake freighters and ore boats that were common to Fairport Harbor commerce during the 19th century. The Fairport Room of the museum presents the history of the community with pictures of past mayors hanging on the walls. The room also houses the lighthouse’s original Third-Order Fresnel lens. “At one time, they were [fueled] by lard or whale oil,” Gladding explains, adding that the ThirdOrder Fresnel lens was fueled by kerosene. In 1925, the lighthouse was replaced by an electric-powered beacon and foghorn station constructed on Fairport Harbor’s West Breakwater pierhead, leading the earlier structure to be proudly nicknamed “the light that shone for 100 years.” Outside the museum stands the main mast from the USS Michigan, the U.S. Navy’s first iron-hulled warship, which was commissioned in 1843 and renamed Wolverine in 1905. North of the museum and lighthouse, visitors can walk along the shore at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park and take in views of Lake Erie and the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light. 129 Second St., Fairport Harbor 44077, 440/354-4825, fairportharborlighthouse.org
Fairport Harbor Marine Museum + Lighthouse
ASHTABULA: COURTESY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU; CONNEAUT: JOY COBB: FAIRPORT: COURTESY OF LAKE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU
Conneaut West Breakwater Light Ashtabula Lighthouse
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A Year on the
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Towpath Trail Walking every mile of the route that follows the path of the Ohio & Erie Canal offers a look into the Ohio that was, the Ohio that is and our place in it.
By Jim Vickers
It follows rivers and borders farm fields, cuts through the middle of cities and passes under enormous highway bridges. Beyond its natural beauty, the most alluring traits of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail are its ubiquity and accessibility. Ninety continuous miles of the trail are complete, from Canal Basin Park in Cleveland to state Route 800 in Tuscarawas County. Most of it traces the path that mules followed while pulling barges on the Ohio & Erie Canal. It spans multiple regional park systems and more than 50 trailheads, offering flat terrain that changes from hardened earth to crushed limestone to pavement. Plus, those who want to hike the entire route really can. Few people can take on the 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail, but with planning and persistence, you can experience every mile of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. We did just that over the course of a year, under blues skies and gray ones, among the buds of spring and the leaves of fall. Here’s what we saw along the way, and what you can, too.
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Canal Lands Park to John Glenn Grove (18.15 miles)
The southern end of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is currently a patch of crushed limestone along state Route 800. It won’t always be that way though. In February 2022, Tuscarawas County commissioners hired consultants to design a 2-mile extension reaching south to Dover Dam, part of the trail’s proposed 101-mile route between Cleveland and New Philadelphia. Until then, the Canal Lands Park trailhead, a 2.75-mile walk north from state Route 800, is the best place to begin when exploring the Towpath Trail’s southernmost portion. It’s where we start in early May. First, we hike 3 miles north to Bolivar and the site of Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort. A month later, on a drizzly summer afternoon, we head south to the trail’s end. By the end of August our thoughts turn to walking more of the Towpath Trail — all of it, in fact. The 90 miles seem a little daunting but doable, plus we had covered almost 6 miles of it already. With a plan to hike in all seasons, a May 1 goal seems reasonable. So, on Labor Day, we head to the McDonnell trailhead near Bolivar, catching sight of inner tubers on the Tuscarawas River as we cross the bridge that connects the Tuscarawas County and Stark County portions of the trail. We walk north to John Glenn Grove in Massillon over a series of a few different hikes (and cover the short portion between Fort Laurens and the McDonnell trailhead in late fall). This southernmost part of the trail reflects the area’s rural nature, with thick woods lining the path and even a farm field bordering it for a stretch. When we reach John Glenn Grove, we are treated to one of the many discoveries made during our year on the trail: a sculpture of the Ohio native and first American to orbit the Earth. Artist Indigo Loveland’s inspiring piece depicts Glenn from the waist up and outfitted in his Friendship 7 spacesuit, his left arm outstretched, hand open and eyes focused on three stars within his grasp.
John Glenn Grove to St. Helena Heritage Park (13.2 miles)
The day after Christmas brings a sunny and unseasonably warm morning, so we walk north from John Glenn Grove to downtown Massillon. (Just beyond, an ongoing levee-restoration project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers creates a temporary, 1.4-mile break in the trail.) This 4-mile stretch is where the Towpath Trail’s wooded southern portion first gives way to city. The path emerges from trees to run along state Route 21. Down to the left, a wide swath of the Tuscarawas
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This southern portion of the Ohio & Erie Canal
Towpath Trail near Navarre is less busy and features long and quiet stretches of wooded hiking.
River drifts past, and to the right, a safe distance away, vehicles rush by on the highway. At the intersection with Walnut Road, the trail makes a left, across the river and through part of Massillon’s Oak Knoll Park. Here, it passes by the “Oldest Iron Bridge in Ohio, 1859, Built in Massillon,” as noted on a small metal sign. (The bridge originally stood in Alliance but was moved and displayed in the city park in 1899.) This and other finds along the trail offer insight into local heritage. One of the best places to see this merger of past and present is in Canal Fulton. On a clear and crisp day in mid-March, we walk north from the Lake Avenue trailhead. After first passing under bridges, the trail runs through quiet sections of trees. Several miles in, Lock 4 comes up on the right. But rather than a crumbling ruin as most of the canal locks are today, it holds water, illustrating how barges were raised or lowered to make their way on to the next portion of the staircase-like waterway. A bit farther and we pass the dry dock where the St. Helena III is stored. It’s only then that we learn about the authentically built canal boat that offers rides on this original portion of the canal each summer. It also explains an unusual sign we spotted near Lock 4 — a black, upturned triangle with these words: “Trail users must yield to canal horses.”
St. Helena Heritage Park to Wilbeth Road (16.1 miles)
CANAL BASIN PARK
BACCI PARK AQUEDUCT
STATION ROAD BRIDGE
BOTZUM
Traveling north from Canal Fulton’s St. Helena Heritage Park, the Towpath Trail heads past an ice cream stand and into the woods toward the Summit County line. The walk is easy on a late-April day and provides an opportunity to take a closer look at a large lock ruin, one of many that dot the length of the canal corridor. Locks were the cornerstone of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which opened between Cleveland and Akron in 1825 and ran to the southern Ohio town of Portsmouth by 1832. It was dug by laborers, who used picks and shovels to create the 4-foot-deep waterway. The Towpath Trail seems flat, but the canal varied in elevation as it followed the terrain. It climbed gradually from New Philadelphia to its highest point in Akron — known as the Portage Summit — then it dropped almost 400 feet as it passed through the Cuyahoga Valley and on to Lake Erie. Locks were numbered sequentially both north and south from the Portage Summit, with 44 located between Akron and Cleveland alone. Near Vanderhoof Road, the Towpath Trail passes through property owned by the glass company PPG, which has long had a presence here. Because the path of the Ohio & Erie Canal through Barberton had been lost over the years, this easement allows for a trail connection although it veers from the original route. (This happens periodically along the trail, including where it passes through Akron and north of Harvard Avenue in Cleveland.) Barberton became known as the Magic City in the 1890s due to a population boom fueled by industry. That growth followed the rise of railroads that, along with the Great Flood of 1913, brought an end to the Ohio & Erie Canal.
WILBETH ROAD
ST. HELENA HERITAGE PARK
JOHN GLENN GROVE
CANAL LANDS PARK
The Towpath Trail passes through several industrial
areas, including this section just south of downtown Barberton that runs parallel to railroad tracks.
JIM VICKERS
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Summit Lake sits just north of Wilbeth Road. The trail here traverses a floating boardwalk that crosses a portion of the lake before returning to land.
Places where industry intersects with the trail are more plentiful the farther north one goes. It is a reminder that the canal was an economic corridor long before it was a recreational one. It also highlights the complexity of linking the trail through the industrialized parts of northeast Ohio and why the work has been ongoing since the 1990s.
Wilbeth Road to Botzum (11.15 miles)
We encounter the slate-gray expanse of Summit Lake on a late November day when flurries fill the air. The 100-acre body of water, which sits just south of the highway ramps and concrete of downtown Akron, seems out of place, but the lake has been here since the last glacier passed through. A portion of the Towpath Trail along the lake crosses a floating boardwalk, a concept that surprisingly was in practice when mules pulled canal barges across a similar setup. The lake suffered from industrial pollution at the dawn of the 20th century, but it has since been cleaned up to become a place for recreation and wildlife watching. 64
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The historic Mustill Store just north of downtown
Akron looks much like it did during the canal era.
As we enter downtown, the trail threads itself between Akron Children’s Hospital and Lock 3 Park. It’s also where we detour off for a beer and snacks at Akronym Brewing — the incentive that brought us out to hike on this wintry day. We cover the northern half of the stretch during the last half of April, months later. The path out of downtown weaves under overpasses, down an incline and across a busy two-lane road. Then, suddenly, the city is behind you, and you’re standing in front of the historic Mustill Store. The store and the Greek Revival house next to it date to the 1840s and sit next to Lock 15. Three generations of the Mustill family worked the grocery, which served farmers, neighbors and those who traveled the canal. Heading farther north, the trail takes hikers by the Big Bend trailhead, named after a spot along the Cuyahoga River. A mile farther, the statue of an indigenous man carrying a canoe stands where the trail briefly passes by Merriman Road. It marks the northern end of the Portage Path, an 8-mile route Native Americans once used to travel between the Tuscarawas and Cuyahoga rivers. A second statue stands at the opposite end, and bronze arrowhead sculptures mark the route, reminding modern travelers of those who followed the same path centuries ago.
Botzum to Station Road Bridge (13.4 miles)
JIM VICKERS
Many hikers log their first miles on the Towpath Trail within the borders of the roughly 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The crushed-limestone pathway serves as the park’s central artery, and on a sunny summer afternoon it is usually filled with bicyclists, runners, hikers and families out for a stroll. We walk a large portion of it in the fall, when crowds have waned a bit, particularly on gray-sky afternoons when brown leaves already skitter across the ground and the woods have started to take on the gaunt look of winter. If one can hike only a small portion of the Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is where to do it. Long wooded stretches make for excellent places to have long conversations or enjoy long silences, while also getting a look at the Cuyahoga Valley as it existed during the canal era and before. Heading north from the Botzum trailhead, Beaver Marsh is the first landmark that hikers encounter. It is teeming with life in the
The trail passes under the Ohio Turnpike bridge near the village of Boston in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
summer and a large wooden boardwalk with built-in benches provides an inviting place to take it all in. Beyond that, the town of Peninsula offers the chance to take a close look at Lock 29 or stop into the Trail Mix park store, while farther north — across a short, boardwalk-covered portion of the route that winds through a place known as Stumpy Basin and on past the towering supports of both the Ohio Turnpike and Interstate 271 bridges — sits the historic village of Boston. Boston is considered the heart of the park and where the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park built a new visitor center. (The historic Boston Store down the street is now a market serving travelers.) The Boston Mill Visitor Center is a must for those who want to fully understand the geography and complexity
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The Towpath Trail in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, close to where Everett Road and Riverview Road meet
of the region through which the Towpath Trail runs. The visitor center offers a birds-eye perspective of the Cuyahoga Valley by way of a tabletop map and is a good spot for stopping in to learn more about the history of the area and how the park came to be.
Station Road Bridge to Bacci Park Aqueduct (8.1 miles)
Brecksville’s Station Road Bridge was built in 1881, just after train tracks reached the area. Today, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad chugs the length of the park for sightseeing excursions and makes stops at the depot next to the historic span. On a fall day, we walk north from Station Road Bridge, taking in views of the towering Brecksville-Northfield High-Level Bridge that connects Cuyahoga and Summit counties, and follow the curve of the Towpath Trail as it emerges from the woods and runs parallel to Canal Road. Soon after, the brick, Federal-style Frazee House appears. The Frazee family built the house in 1827, after first living in a cabin on the property. They were farmers, and their land’s proximity to the canal not only brought produce buyers to them, but also provided access to markets far beyond the region. Today, tours of the home offer a glimpse of frontier living in the 66
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Cuyahoga Valley. (A footbridge across the canal provides trail access to the home.) A couple miles north sits the Canal Exploration Center, where we are greeted by a life-size statue of a mule like the ones that pulled canal boats up and down the waterway. Although horses are often used today during excursion canal-boat rides, mules were hardier and could better tolerate the long days of pulling. The Canal Exploration Center is housed in a historic-but-updated white structure once known as Hell’s Half Acre, a tavern and inn that served canal-era travelers. Today, it houses a small museum staffed by the National Park Service. Lock 38, located immediately along the trail outside the center’s front door, is another working lock that illustrates the principle at the heart of canal travel. Two more miles north, Lock 39 appears before the trail passes beneath Rockside Road in Valley View and beyond the borders of the national park. It marks a distinct shift, passing by restaurants and a multiplex movie theater before being dwarfed by the enormity of the Interstate 480 bridge just south of Cleveland. Beyond that, two suspension bridges carry hikers and bicyclists over a pair of busy roads, allowing safe crossing above the hum of traffic.
The trail passes by the Eagle Avenue
Bridge in Cleveland’s industrial Flats after it leaves the city’s Tremont neighborhood.
Bacci Park Aqueduct to Canal Basin Park
Grab a seat and take in the Cleveland skyline along the trail (below). The route crosses the Carter Road Bridge as it nears its northern end (above).
(9.3 miles)
TOP LEFT: MATT SHIFFLER; ALL OTHERS: JIM VICKERS
Some years, the first day of summer arrives before winter ever leaves. On a Saturday in early March, warm temperatures and blue skies show up and convince us that, yes, today is the day to tackle the more than 9-mile leg of the Towpath Trail that runs from the Bacci Park Aqueduct in Cuyahoga Heights to the trail’s end at Canal Basin Park in Cleveland. It is a fitting finale, and one that was only recently made possible. In June 2021, local leaders celebrated the completion of the last links along Cuyahoga County’s paved, 11-mile portion of the trail during a ribbon cutting at Camp Cleveland, a former Civil War training site that looks out toward downtown. As we head north from the Bacci Park Aqueduct, the trail is paved and easy to navigate, crossing under a large train trestle and past former industrial areas. Beyond Harvard Avenue there is a brief bit of sidewalk hiking, but the route is clearly marked, and soon the trail cuts between the big-box retailers of Steelyard Commons and the hulking ArcelorMittal steel plant. These last miles are some of the most unusual and exhilarating of our entire trek: As the trail rises to meet the Tremont neighborhood, a walkway invites us to step out and take in a view of the steel mill. Around a curve is Camp Cleveland and the entirety of the Cleveland skyline. We watch for a moment as a freight train thunders along the tracks far below the cars zipping by downtown on the elevated Innerbelt Bridge.
As we head down the hill over the last few miles, we slow down and take in the city, as we pass along the Cuyahoga River and the huge bridges that stand along it. The sun is setting as we walk across one last bridge and toward Canal Basin Park. The lights of the skyscrapers become more apparent. With each step, we soak in the warm air and this modern city, one with roots that stretch back to a 4-foot-deep canal that was dug by hand. J U N E 2022
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Sporting shiny aluminum exteriors and riveted construction, Airstream travel trailers are one of the world’s most recognizable ways to hit the road. Since 1952, they have been made in Ohio, assembled by hand at a factory in the village of Jackson Center.
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On July 24, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin returned from the moon. Then, they camped out in an Airstream. Prior to launch, there was concern the astronauts might bring back unknown pathogens. So, NASA decided the trio would be held in a mobile quarantine
The space agency hired Virginia-based government contractor Melpar, and they in turn subcontracted the job to Airstream. The company, which had manufacturing facilities in California and Ohio, built four modified versions of its travel-trailer models at its Jackson Center, Ohio, factory to fit NASA’s specifications. With shiny all-aluminum bodies and visible rivets, the trailers’ futuristic appearance looked the part, too. After spending 88 hours in the mobile unit, the astronauts were transported to Houston, where they spent the remainder of their quarantine. “We’re associated with the first man to walk on the moon,” says Airstream president and CEO Bob Wheeler. “Talk about a pioneering spirit of adventure.” Airstream’s space age didn’t end with NASA’s Apollo era. In 1983, the company modified its Excella motor home to ferry astronauts to the launch pad for space shuttle flights. (The vehicle was lovingly known as the Astrovan.) The NASA connection is just one aspect of the long history explored at Airstream’s new Heritage Center, which will open inside the company’s 750,000-square-foot headquarters and factory in Jackson Center in summer 2022. A display of photos includes one of President Richard Nixon talking to Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin over a microphone as they peer back through the window of their Airstream quarantine trailer. Nearby, a fun photo op allows visitors to re-create the famous scene themselves. The museum tells the Airstream story, starting with its founding by Wally Byam in 1931, showcasing the evolution of its hand-built design by way of 15 vintage trailers and documenting the communal culture of caravan road trips, where dozens of Airstream owners travel together. 70
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11 astronauts arantined Apollo speaks to the qu traveled n st xo mo Ni s nt ld’ ide or es “w Pr a Byam with the ell e page) St sit d an po y (op all ry W (top); e Airstream facto th ide ins e); ov trailer” (ab
In recent years, the company has experienced the sort of surge in business it last saw during the travel boom of the 1950s. Dealer waitlists for some of its trailers, which run from the boondocking-friendly Basecamp to the glamp-worthy Globetrotter, are months long. Airstreamers — those who own one of the company’s travel trailers or motor homes — are a loyal bunch, too, and Wheeler expects many will make the trip to Jackson Center, trailers in tow, to see the museum. “The ability to celebrate our history and acknowledge the milestones, the people and the trips that helped make us who we are … is very gratifying,” he says. “It’s just a great part of Americana.”
APOLLO: COURTESY OF NASA; BYAMS: COURTESY OF AIRSTREAM, INC.
facility upon their return.
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he Airstream factory floor is a hive of sound, sights and activity. Depending on where you are along the L-shaped production line, you will see sheets of aluminum being hand-formed to create travel-trailer walls, hear rivets being used to secure those walls in place or smell the wood being sanded on a piece of cabinetry destined for a trailer. What you won’t see is much, if any, automation. Prebuilt chassis come into the factory at one end of the L and leave as hand-built travel trailers out the other end about four to five days later. There’s a carpentry department for tables, counters and cabinets. A sewing department makes cushions, curtains and upholstery. An electrical department wires lights, TVs and heating and cooling systems. The company’s quality is legendary in recreation vehicle circles, and you can see why on the factory floor. Midway through production, every trailer travels through a sealed room to be pummeled by nearly hurricane-force winds and pounding rain (with someone inside!) to make sure there are no leaks. Near the end of the line, employees even test the TVs to make sure they’re in working order. That attention to detail and doing things by hand is part of why Airstreams cost more than most other recreational vehicles. The company’s trailers range from about $40,000 for the 16-foot-long Basecamp which sleeps two people, to the 33-foot-long $179,000 Classic, which sleeps five and is essentially a luxury apartment on wheels. Each Airstream model comes with a bathroom and a kitchen, making it an all-in-one wonder for people looking to get away — but not too far away from comfort.
ZOOM ZOOM CREATIVE
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(Clockwise from top left): Airstream’s 1999 Classic Limited; a dealership in the 1960s; Wally Byam; the “World’s Most Traveled Trailer” in the 1940s; the Torpedo model in the 1930s; the Safari travel trailer during the 1960s; (opposite page): Byam’s gold Airstream; the entrance to the Heritage Center
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from the east, you’ll pass the Airstream Club International headquarters and then Wally Byam Boulevard and Airstream Drive before seeing either Airstream factory. When people get a job here, they stick around, too. The company has had multiple employees reach 50-year milestones in the last several years, and in the late 2000s, before hiring was ramped up to meet demand, the average tenure was around 20 years. (It’s closer to five now.) “We love to celebrate the fact that we’re a Midwestern company,” Wheeler says. “We know how to make stuff in the Midwest.”
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elcome to the Mothership. The illuminated blue-and-white sign bearing these words is mounted to a huge curving wall of aluminum that greets visitors to Airstream’s Heritage Center. “It’s the moniker that our customer base gave to us,” says Samantha Martin, curator of the Heritage Center. “It’s sort of a pilgrimage out to Jackson Center to come see the plant and get their [trailer] serviced.” The Heritage Center is many years in the making for Airstream, and the museum charts a path through the company’s storied history. What makes the 16,000-square-foot destination possible
COURTESY OF AIRSTREAM, INC.
“It’s this juxtaposition of the great outdoors and all that wideopen space, and then being able to come back and have a comfortable and familiar experience back at the campsite,” Wheeler says. That experience is what Oregon native Wally Byam had in mind when he built his first travel trailer in 1929, before founding what would become Airstream two years later in Los Angeles. Byam opted for aluminum because it is lightweight and durable, and the Airstream’s iconic shape, which has been nipped and tucked but never drastically altered, came from his love of aeronautics. By the early 1950s, the company was outgrowing its West Coast plant, and Byam and some of his partners found a factory in Jackson Center while scouting locations — during a camping trip, of course — in the Midwest. In 1952, the company opened its second plant here. In the late 1970s, the company closed its California operations and Jackson Center became the only place in the world where Airstreams are made. Today, the company makes eight models of travel trailers and five types of motor homes at its two Jackson Center plants. More than 1,200 people work for Airstream, making it the third-largest employer in Shelby County, where Jackson Center is located about an hour north of Dayton. It takes just a few minutes driving through town to see signs of Airstream’s presence. If you arrive
is the abundance of artifacts that Airstream had available or was able to secure through its relationship with Airstream Club International, the owner organization that Byam started in 1955 and today has more than 16,000 members. Martin says some artifacts were donated by Byam’s family members. A huge aspect of Byam’s influence on the company is the communal atmosphere that surrounds Airstream ownership. In 1951, he led the first Airstream caravan through Mexico and Central America, and 63 travel trailers showed up in El Paso, Texas, for the four-month trek. Byam led 14 Airstream caravans, through places such as Africa and Europe, shipping trailers to those locales by boat. Martin says Byam, who died in 1962, dreamed of leading a caravan that circled the globe. While he did not see it, a 105-person caravan in his honor set off from Singapore in 1963. After 403 days and 30,000 miles, the caravan arrived in Cabo Da Roca, Portugal, having crossed more than 30 countries. “Wally’s mission was to provide all the comforts of home,” says Martin. “And he promised to foster traveling all around the world together, and that fellowship is still one of our key pillars.” Museum displays feature artifacts from the years just before Byam founded the company, to reconditioned early Airstream models, souvenirs brought back from caravans, and trailers that
belonged to former caravaners. Standouts include two of Byam’s own: a gold-colored trailer he took on a caravan to Africa, and an all-white one that went to Europe and was featured in an issue of National Geographic. “Wally would always kind of test [potential trailer] features out on his own first,” Martin explains. “The gold trailer is a good example of that. He was toying with anodized aluminum to have different colors. But he discovered that over time it fades at different rates, so the gold one had different shades of gold all over it.” To build out the section dedicated to Airstream’s role with NASA, Martin tracked down and interviewed former Airstream employees who helped build some of the NASA projects, as well as shuttle-era astronauts who were ferried to the launchpad in the Airstream-made Astrovan. With the opening of the museum, the company is excited about restarting its public factory tours, which were paused during the pandemic. While tours are open to anyone, Wheeler says they are a special experience for Airstream owners, since there is a good chance some of the people that they see building trailers in the factory helped build theirs. It’s that aspect of community and kinship that seems to make adventuring in an Airstream so alluring — along with the luxe comforts of home, of course. Even though part of traveling is escaping from it all, we can’t slip free of the gravity of finding each other while we’re out on the road. “When you pull into a campground and set up your Airstream, after a couple hours, the other Airstream owners will come wandering over,” says Wheeler, who himself owns a vintage 1958 Airstream Pacer. “It makes you realize that wherever you go, you’ve got this support network and connection with like-minded people.” For more information about visiting Airstream’s Heritage Center and taking a factory tour, go to airstream.com. 1001 West Pike St., Jackson Center 45334, 937/596-6111
COURTESY OF AIRSTREAM, INC.
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DAYTON
From outdoor adventures along the Great Miami Riverway to a record-setting streak of minor league baseball fun, here are great ways to explore the city this summer. By Nicholas Dekker
COURTESY OF DAYTON DRAGONS
DAYTON DRAGONS
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DAYTON SAVE THE DATE These five summer events in Dayton promise a celebration of food, heritage and outdoor fun.
Montgomery County Fair July 10–16 The long-running Montgomery County tradition returns this summer with farm animals, fair concessions, rides and more in a celebration of the region’s agricultural side. montcofair.com
Dayton Celtic Festival
Get instruction on surfing and paddleboarding on downtown’s whitewater features (above). Moeller Brew Barn has a new Dayton location near the Dragons’ ballpark (opposite page).
July 29–31 Take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Celtic heritage at this annual celebration that features a variety of activities and events. daytoncelticfestival.com
Great Miami Riverway The Great Miami Riverway follows 99 miles of water that connect 10 southwest Ohio cities, from Sidney to Dayton to Hamilton. The river is the only National Water Trail in Ohio, and it encompasses both waterways and the Miami Valley trail system, the largest collection of connected paved trails in the United States. “It really is the glue between all our riverway communities,” says Dan Foley, director of the Great Miami Riverway. “The first mile of paved trail was built in Troy in 1972. In 50 years, we’ve built 340 miles of connected, paved trail. Long term, we have the opportunity to connect the Dayton-area trail system with the Cincinnati-area trail system.” Foley says the mission of his organization is to “bring the river closer to the communities” by encouraging development along the waterway. That means more housing but also more parks and activities on and around the river. In downtown Dayton, anyone can put in a kayak or canoe and enjoy incredible city views. 76
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Moeller Brew Barn Moeller Brew Barn started in Maria Stein, Ohio, and has now grown to three locations, with the latest opening in early summer 2022 in downtown Dayton. The new brewery and restaurant has a prominent location in the heart of the city, close to other restaurants, additional breweries and major local attractions.
Aug. 12–14 This annual festival celebrates the Miami Valley’s rich German heritage and serves as a fundraiser for the city’s oldest German club, Dayton Liederkranz-Turner. germanfestdayton.com
U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship Aug. 25–28 The fourth annual installment of this contest will be hosted at NCR Country Club’s South Course in the Dayton suburb of Kettering. usga.org
Dayton Greek Festival Sept. 9–11 Head to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to enjoy the city’s premier festival for Greek food, pastries, culture and history. facebook.com/daytongreekfestival
BEER: COURTESY OF MOELLER BREW BARN; RIVERWAY: COURTESY OF GREAT MIAMI RIVERWAY
Germanfest Picnic
“There are two whitewater features in downtown Dayton,” Foley adds. “We’ve got people who surf in downtown Dayton on the Great Miami. It’s really a popular thing.” Companies like Surf Dayton offer instruction on surfing and paddleboarding. Foley says travelers should also be sure to explore RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton, which sits at the junction of the Great Miami River and the Mad River Trail. In addition to biking trails and opportunities for river paddling, the park hosts live music and festivals and is home to fountains, murals and more. For more information, visit greatmiamiriverway.com.
“Moeller Brew Barn isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience, a destination,” says Jess Nielsen, creative director for Moeller Brew Barn. “And we’re in great company being located next to the new AC Hotel and across the street from the Dayton Dragons. We look forward to joining the community and adding to the evolving streetscape.” Nielsen says the Dayton location is the complete package: a full kitchen, an on-site brewing facility, three bars and a pet- and bicycle-friendly outdoor beer garden that features expansive views of Day Air Ballpark. The brewery and restaurant offers a great place to hang out before or after Dragons games and, fitting with the location, the menu features an elevated take on ballpark fare. While sipping house brews, visitors can dine on favorites like Neapolitan-style pizzas, smoked wings and Bavarian pretzels. For newcomers to Moeller Brew Barn, Nielsen has suggestions for beers to try. “A few fan favorites are our Wally Post Red, Blueberry Blonde and Orange Peel Krush,” she says. “More than 24 beers will be on tap in Dayton at any given time, including new beers brewed on-site and established Moeller favorites.” 416 E. First St., Dayton 45402, moellerbrewbarn.com/dayton
937.222.7003 - WARPEDWING.COM
Mound Cold War Discovery Center
From Miamisburg to Mars!
Dayton Dragons Does it get any better than a baseball game under the lights, with beer and hot dogs in hand, surrounded by good friends and family? That’s the experience at Day Air Ballpark, home of the Dayton Dragons, the city’s High-A Cincinnati Reds affiliate. Located in the middle of downtown Dayton, the ballpark has been a local landmark for 22 seasons and is still going strong.
45 years of Mars missions, powered by Mound Laboratory’s 1954 nuclear battery invention
COLD WAR
NUCLEAR AGE
MANHATTAN PROJECT
SPACE RACE
Mound Cold War Discovery Center • 937-247-0402 • daytonhistory.org 1075 Mound Rd., Miamisburg, OH • Wed-Sat: 10am - 4pm • FREE! J U N E 2022
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DAYTON
Dayton Arcade The Dayton Arcade, which takes up almost an entire downtown block, is focused on restoring the historic 1903 structure back to its original intent as a market. The initial
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Visitors to the Arcade can currently see The Contemporary Dayton, a 6,200-square-foot art gallery with rotating exhibitions (above). The Dayton Dragons are a downtown favorite (below).
steps focused on housing and office space, says Megan Dunn Peters, community manager for the Dayton Arcade. This includes a mix of 110 residential units and The Hub Powered by PNC, an innovation center that’s a joint venture between the University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs’ Center. Peters says more public food and beverage retail is coming to the Arcade later in 2022 and early in 2023, including a sharedused commercial kitchen that will serve as an incubator for food entrepreneurs. Dayton’s Ghostlight Coffee also plans to open Gather by Ghostlight — offering coffee and cocktails, as well as artisanal breakfast, lunch and dinner options — by late summer 2022. Travelers can currently visit The Contemporary Dayton, a 6,200-square-foot
art gallery with rotating exhibitions that is open Wednesday through Sunday. “If you’re into art,” Peters says, “you can go out for a drink, see some art, go grab dinner.” The Dayton Arcade’s iconic rotunda is open during private and public events, like seasonal market days that feature local vendors, and there is more development to come. Peters says the project’s future phase two includes a marketplace with 10 to 15 food and drink stalls plus a 91-room hotel. “You’ll be able to travel here, stay in a historic building built in 1903,” Peters says. “The location couldn’t be better ... We’re excited to integrate with our neighbors and make Dayton a great place to visit.” 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton 45402, arcadedayton.com/ plan-your-visit
ARCADE: COURTESY OF CROSS STREET PARTNERS; BASEBALL: COURTESY OF DAYTON DRAGONS
“The stadium is built very well and designed very well so it’s in great shape,” says Eric Deutsch, executive vice president for the Dayton Dragons. This contributes to the fun and easy accessibility of games for everyone. “The great thing is it’s not always about wins and losses,” he says. “It’s about having a lot of fun, making memories, spending quality time with people. It’s definitely more about the party going around the game versus the game sometimes.” The ballpark features three lawn areas where families can spread out blankets and let the kids run around. “It’s very Americana,” Deutsch adds. But if you want to go on a certain date, be sure to get your seats early. The Dayton Dragons hold the United States record for the most consecutive sellouts at their stadium — it’s close to totaling 1,400 since 2000. “The [Dayton] fans are great fans, very loyal to all their sports,” Deutsch says. “The Dragons have had an incredible run of sellouts since day one. Everything that’s been played here, every seat. It’s a great thing the community is proud of. It’s a testament to our fan base.” 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton 45402, 937/228-2287, milb.com/dayton
FAMILY FIELD TRIPS
s pecial adve rti s i ng s ection
Plan a getaway to these destinations that offer outdoor adventures, cool attractions and fun for everyone.
KEVIN KOPANSKI; ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DESTINATIONS LISTED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
WINGFOOT LAKE, PORTAGE COUNTY
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Lake County
Lehman’s
This summer, step away from screens and chaotic schedules to enjoy a relaxing visit to Lehman’s in Kidron. Gathering four pre-Civil War-era buildings under one soaring roof, Lehman’s rambling retail store is a place to embrace the past: from old-fashioned treats and sodas to practical, nonelectric goods that help you live a simpler life. (Don’t think a product is made anymore? You might be surprised!) While you’re there, discover everything you need to savor the outdoors, from a wide selection of cast iron cookware that is perfect for the campfire and grill to outdoor games and treats that will keep the whole family entertained. As you shop, browse Lehman’s collection of antiques on display and the Museum of Light, featuring the iconic Aladdin lamp collection. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to browse — the full shopping experience is nearly a quarter-mile long. There is always something fun happening at Lehman’s, and what better way is there to enjoy summer than creating new memories with family and friends? Lehman’s event schedule is packed full of family-friendly workshops and events, including the Country Living Workshop, goat yoga demonstrations, Christmas in July and a classic car show. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit lehmans.com/events. 82
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Visit Fairport Harbor Creamery in Lake County (above). Lehman’s stocks a wide variety of items to make the most of your time outdoors (left).
TOP: LAURA WATILO BLAKE
This summer is the perfect time to plan a fun, affordable and memorable trip to remarkable Lake County, Ohio! The first must-visit location on your adventure is the award-winning beach at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park. The sandy, Lake Erie beach that’s been named one of the “best beaches in America” features swimming, kayaks, paddleboards and even a designated dog-friendly section. See the historic Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and Marine Museum, and check out amazing views of Lake Erie from the top of the lighthouse. Then, walk across the street to the Fairport Harbor Creamery for the best homemade ice cream you’ll find. Adults will especially enjoy the selection of “boozy” ice cream and shakes. Following a day at the beach, take an easy 15-minute drive to Lake Metroparks Farmpark for a hands-on experience with farm animals and other highlights of a working farm. Families can also choose to explore one of the largest arboreta and botanical gardens in the country at Holden Arboretum. While you’re there, walk among the treetops at the Canopy Walk or take in an amazing 360-degree view of the area by climbing to the top of the 120-foot Emergent Tower. Plan your trip around a Lake County Captains game and finish the day at the ballpark. Grab some hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy while you take in a fun-filled Minor League Baseball game for this Single A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, complete with a post-game fireworks show. For more information about your trip to Remarkable Lake County, visit mylakeoh.com.
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Huntington, West Virginia
From scenic trails to thrilling activities, adventures abound in the Huntington, West Virginia, area. West Virginia’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, Huntington’s Heritage Farm has highlighted Appalachian heritage and celebrated the ingenuity and creativity of its people through tours, festivals, events and educational programming for 26 years. New adventure experiences have recently been introduced, including TalithaKoum, a four-story aerial adventure course; Red Tail Racers, a dual zip line course; Mountain Top Drop, a freefall experience; Tree Rock Challenge, a multilevel challenge course; the Mountain Bike Park featuring five trails; and the Rock Climbing Wall. Other outdoors attractions in Cabell and Wayne counties include Beech Fork State Park, a 3,144-acre park offering campsites, miles of hiking trails and plenty of lake activities. The 720-acre lake has 31 miles of shoreline where you can catch some of West Virginia’s most popular sport fish. Located 27 miles south of Huntington, Rustic Ravines offers deluxe cabin rentals, special event planning and noteworthy ATV and hiking trails. You’ll also find kayaking and canoeing, a 3D bow range, fishing, hunting, golfing and a pet- and horse-friendly resort. Camden Park is Huntington’s 26-acre amusement park that opened in 1903. One of only 13 trolley parks that remain open in the United States, it’s home to more than 30 rides and attractions. The adventures continue in downtown Huntington. Decipher your way to safety at The Lost Escape Room, take out some aggression at Battlearium or go retro gaming at Old North Arcade. After you play, fuel up on the area’s local dining. For more information and activities, go to visithuntingtonwv.org.
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Steubenville
Having fun and learning more about the world are among the joys of family travel, and Jefferson County offers opportunities for both. By enjoying historic sites, public art, festivals and natural beauty, lots of memories (and photos) can be made. Plan a weekend adventure in Steubenville, kicking off with the First Fridays on Fourth, a monthly family-friendly themed event with activities, food, crafts and live entertainment. Step back 200 years with a tour of Historic Fort Steuben, a reconstructed 18th-century military fort. Youngsters enjoy taking the History Hunt to find the site’s unique artifacts and features. Both guided and self-guided tours are available. The adjacent 1st Federal Land Office — a circa-1801 log structure — is included in the tour. The Visitor Center houses a Museum Shop with books, games, candy, maps and puzzles to please every member of the family. Explore the history captured in 24 murals throughout the city, most of them within walking distance in the downtown area. A Mural Map and Scavenger Hunt can be obtained at the Steubenville/Fort Steuben Visitor Center. Include a visit to the Antique Warehouse filled with treasures and memorabilia, and then find sweet treats at the Steubenville Popcorn Co. Get moving in Beatty Park, which offers well-marked hiking and walking trails through 99 acres of wooded terrain with areas for picnicking, birdwatching and disc golf, plus the monthly StoryWalk geared for kids. Seasonal nature trails, hikes and events are offered. For a complete list of festivals, concerts, dining, shopping, events and attractions, go to visitsteubenville.com.
Outdoor experiences in Huntington, West Virginia, include TalithaKoum, a four-story aerial adventure course (above). Kids love the StoryWalk at Beatty Park in Steubenville (left).
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Butler County
Get out and try something new this summer. Enjoy a family-friendly adventure in Butler County, Ohio. From doughnuts to vintage pinball, a quick trip is always a great way to spend a day. Travel along the Butler County Donut Trail. Taste delicious treats at 13 mom-and-pop doughnut shops, collect your passport stamps, and earn a sweet T-shirt. It’s a tasty adventure the whole family will love. Chug into the station at EnterTrainment Junction, the world’s largest indoor train display. Wander through three time periods of train travel, explore the A-Maze-N Funhouse, and pick up a souvenir from the best toy and train store in the region. No boat, no problem! Sunshine and water are a perfect combination as temperatures rise, and travelers can learn to wakeboard at Wake Nation, the Midwest’s only cable wake park. At Wake Nation, riders are pulled by an overhead cable tow system, which helps make learning easy and fun. Also be sure to enjoy the Aqua Park and new Superslide. Wrap up your day with some an old-school vibe. Peruse vintage vinyl at Three Feather Records and Unsung Salvage. Set a new high score at Pinball Garage, a vintage pinball arcade with the coolest retro games around. And venture to Hamilton Auto Theatre to catch a double-feature of the latest movie releases under the stars. To start planning your Butler County adventure, visit travelbutlercounty.com.
Traverse City, Michigan
Get active and pile on the fun during your next family vacation to Traverse City, Michigan. There are many adventures to enjoy, starting with the hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. A new and final section of the Boardman Lake Trail is coming to fruition, completing a full path around the lake and offering a fantastic addition for families that want to take their kids for a bike ride around Traverse City.
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore had a record 1.7-million visitors last year. The most popular choice is heading straight to the dunes climb, where kids love to go tumbling down the incline, but don’t overlook all the additional options available at the Visitor Center. The wealth of activities for parents to enjoy alongside their kids includes stargazing, looking for animal tracks, partaking in the Junior Ranger Program, and exploring Port Oneida with demonstrations of the shipwreck-rescue methods of old. Continue the action at the new Elev8 climbing gym, where families can do climbing and other activities together. It’s an especially great choice for rainy days, as is a visit to the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. Kids will love the chance to learn about water, the outdoors and shipping, with lots of activities and opportunities to get hands-on. While you’re in Traverse City, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the beautiful lake, lush scenery and colorful summer blooms. For more information about family adventures, visit traversecity.com.
Visit Pinball Garage, a vintage arcade with cool retro games, in Butler County (above). Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Traverse City, Michigan, is a family favorite (below).
GreaterGrandLakeRegion.com
Soak in the
Grand Lake Vibe Let us help you punch your ticket to laid-back family fun, festivals, breathtaking sunsets, fascinating historical sights and oh so much more. We are the Greater Grand Lake Region, and we can’t wait to show you adventure and entertainment from bank to bank and beyond!
Daily tours are available, come see our cows!
Follow milk’s journey from soil to yogurt cup
www.MVPDairyLLC.com 567.324.7100 ext 6
7124 US ROUTE 33 CELINA, OH 45822
interactive displays for all ages
AUTHORIZED DEALER OF
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“The Boathouse... the house that makes boat calls.” 1112 S. Main Street • Celina, Ohio 45822
Phone: 419-586-6657
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GreaterGrandLakeRegion.com
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1. Armstrong Museum
3. Miami & Erie Trading Company
Located in the historic hometown of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the Armstrong Air & Space Museum chronicles Ohio’s impressive contributions to the history of aeronautics and spaceflight. Take that one small step and journey to a destination that is truly out of this world! 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta, OH 45895 419-738-8811 • armstrongmuseum.org
This modern twist on the general store features Ohio and American made goods, locally made artisan items, unique food selections, antiques, home decor, art, baby gifts, jewelry, toiletries, candles, t-shirts, candy, and more. The welcoming staff, attention to customer service, and unique atmosphere combine to create an amazing shopping experience. 209 West Spring St., St. Marys, OH, 45885 419-300-3743 • MiamiErieTrading.com
2. Boardwalk Village Boardwalk Village is your all-in-one experience alongside Greater Grand Lake. We offer both locals and visitors an adventure. From vacation rentals and recreational activities, to dining and shopping… you’re sure to have a stunning lakeside view. For online bookings and to explore more, go to BoardwalkVillage.com. 729 West Bank Rd., Celina, OH 45822 567-510-4333 • boardwalkvillage.com 88
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4. Winans Chocolates + Coffees We offer premium hand-made chocolates and sustainably sourced, locally roasted coffee in a quaint, modern, and family-friendly environment. We drink our coffee and eat our handcrafted confections, every day. Each of our products are made with quality ingredients using time-tested methods. 8020 Booster Dr., Maria Stein, OH 45860 419-925-3040 • winanscandies.com
Plan Your
Grand Lake Getaway Today!
Looking for a Grand Getaway, then Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio is your perfect destination! Grand Lake is Ohio’s largest inland lake. At 13,500 acres you will find a wonderful variety of outdoor recreation from boating, tubing, fishing and kayaking to birdwatching, hiking and picnicking. The lake area has a very relaxed, friendly vibe with more than a dozen restaurants, bars and clubs offering delicious food, entertainment and great views. While visiting the Greater Grand Lake Region enjoy shopping, dining and strolling the beautiful downtowns of Celina, St. Marys and Wapakoneta. You also won’t want to miss visiting the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, historic Fort Recovery and the Bicycle Museum of America. To add even more fun when you visit, check out the Grand Lake Brews-N-Vines Trail where you can enjoy locally crafted beer, wine and coffee creations. Visit 10 of the 16 locations and receive a free T-shirt. Always remember when you need a break, just come to the lake!
Your Grand Lake Getaway begins at GreaterGrandLakeRegion.com J U N E 2022
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Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania
Step back in time with the Summer Heritage Passport in Pennsylvania’s Columbia and Montour counties. Start planning a fun family field trip this summer by packing up the car for a visit to Central Pennsylvania. The newly unveiled Summer Heritage Passport takes travelers throughout the central region of the state to check in at historical attractions, museums and points of interest. Each stop is not only educational, but also highly engaging for kids of all ages. Along the way, trail-goers can learn about the region’s fascinating past. Tour historic mansions and museums full of antiques. See vintage planes, cars and even a war-time tank. Get a glimpse at Pennsylvania coal-mining life with an educational trip into a historic mine. See unique architecture, learn how early area settlers lived, and discover much more during your family’s fun and educational road trip back in time. To get started, sign up for the passport and begin visiting the 20 participating locations between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The mobile passport is free to download, though some of the locations have admission fees. Visit at least three stops to receive a commemorative embroidered patch, sent in the mail. Visit at least 12 stops to be entered to win one of several amazing
grand-prize bundles filled with regional gift cards and local goodies. Visit at least 16 of the locations to receive a double entry for the grand prizes. To sign up or find more information about the Summer Heritage Passport program, visit itourcolumbiamontour.com/ summerpassport.
See vintage cars at Eagles Mere Auto Museum in Pennsylvania.
NEWEST ADDITION!
MAKE the Past... Stay at the Sauder Heritage Inn with indoor pool or Sauder Village Campground with splash pad Homestyle dining at the Barn Restaurant and tasty ice cream at the Soda Fountain Freshly baked treats & specialty drinks at the Doughbox Bakery Discover handmade brooms, baskets, pottery and more at our unique shops
Call 800.590.9755 for details. 22611 State Route 2 Archbold, OH 90
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SauderVillage.org 5 minutes from I-80/90 (OHIO TURNPIKE) Exit 25
Cozy t ruly happ y pcted laces c onne Up and w it h wiy de t o t all op en spaces c hill Summer in Traverse City...or TC. The one place to truly connect with your friends or special someone. At the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Over drinks. Or anywhere your heart leads. TC in summer — a Pre y Great Place.
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TraverseCity.com
S P EC I A L A DV E R T I S I N G S EC T I O N
Sauder Village
Make the past part of your future with a visit to Sauder Village, a fun place to slow down, unplug and spend quality time with family. Whether you’re planning a day trip or looking for a special vacation destination, Sauder Village is a memorable place to explore, stay, eat, shop and have fun. Visit the Historic Village to enjoy engaging stories, demonstrations and fun activities while exploring historic homes, barns, gardens and craft shops. Take a walk through time from 1803 through the 1920s while visiting the living-history destination’s Natives & Newcomers, Pioneer Settlement and 1920s Main Street. As families stroll down Main Street, they can take a peek at what’s playing in the movie theater, explore a 1920s grocery store, sip a chocolate malt at the soda fountain, meet horses at the livery, and explore the bank, fire station, car dealership and barbershop. Enjoy a free train ride, meet farm animals, take a buggy ride and explore the candy counter. Sauder Village also includes the Barn Restaurant and Doughbox Bakery, offering homestyle food and sweet treats. Overnight accommodations are available at the Heritage Inn with an indoor pool and hot tub, or at the 87-site Campground with a splash pad, playground and a lake for fishing. Enjoy the warmth of genuine, old-fashioned hospitality while making special memories with your family at Sauder Village. For more information, visit saudervillage.org.
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Sauder Village is a fun place to slow down, unplug and spend quality time as a family while exploring Ohio’s past. Travelers can stay on-site at the Heritage Inn (above) and dine at the Barn Restaurant.
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Greater Grand Lake Region
Searching for ideas for a fun family road trip? Then the Greater Grand Lake Visitors Region in western Ohio is the ideal destination. Beautiful Grand Lake St. Marys is Ohio’s largest inland lake at 13,500 acres. Discover a wonderful variety of outdoor recreation for the whole family. Enjoy boating, tubing, fishing and kayaking. Check out the eagles while birdwatching or go hiking and then relax with a picnic along the lakeshore. The Grand Lake area has a relaxed and friendly vibe, with more than a dozen restaurants, bars and clubs offering delicious food, entertainment and great water views. Enjoy a little education that is also fun when you visit the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, historic Fort Recovery, the Bicycle Museum of America and the MVP Dairy Learning Center. Take a drive along three state scenic byways that traverse both Auglaize and Mercer counties: The Miami-Erie Canal Byway, the Neil Armstrong Byway and the Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches Byway all offer wonderful scenery with a nod to the interesting history of the area. While visiting the Greater Grand Lake Region, enjoy shopping, dining and strolling the lovely, historic downtowns of Celina, St. Marys and Wapakoneta. You will find that small-town charm and hospitality is alive and thriving in Auglaize and Mercer counties. For more information about the Greater Grand Lake Visitors Region, visit greatergrandlakeregion.com.
Enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation options for the whole family in the Greater Grand Lake Region, including boating, tubing, kayaking and fishing.
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A Short Drive to Summer Fun!
DAYTON
Wright Brothers National Museum, Wright Flyer III
FREE—National Aviation Hall of Fame
Dayton Ale Trail
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show July 30-31, 2022–U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Nation’s Largest Network of Paved Trails—340+ miles!
Carillon Historical Park Carillon Brewing Company
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
FREE—National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Complete the Aviation Trail Passport and earn a Wilbear Wright Aviator Teddy Bear
SunWatch Indian Village/ Archaeological Park
Dayton Art Institute
Download the FREE Visit Dayton App! Discover Daycation Itinerary Ideas and more!
Contact us for your FREE Destination Dayton Visitors Guide J U N E 2022
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Grove City
Family members of all ages will find activities they love in Grove City. Jump into the action at LVL UP Sports in the Columbus suburb of Grove City, Ohio. The 36.5-acre paintball park features a fully stocked pro shop, competitive tournament fields and themed outdoor playing fields — with hideouts and obstacles from boats and cars to the largest paintball castle in the Midwest. You won’t have to stray far from urban life to enjoy a backpacking or camping excursion. Scioto Grove Metro Park offers 620 acres filled with mature forests, scenic bluffs and cool features like a rope bridge. Or, make a splash at Trapper John’s Canoe Livery, where families can rent canoes or kayaks for an on-the-water experience. All abilities and ages can enjoy Mirolo Dream Field at Mount Carmel Stadium, which features a rubberized surface navigable for those using wheelchairs, crutches and walkers. The all-inclusive play continues at Dream Field Playground, an innovative and sensory-rich playspace at Windsor Park. After a full day of fun, fill up on a cheesy treat on the Grove City Pizza Trek. Make sure to get your Trek Guide
stamped, as patrons can earn a free T-shirt for visiting a total of six participating mom-and-pop pizzerias. Plan ahead and don’t forget to add the Grove City Arts in the Alley event to your calendar. The event returns Sept. 16 through 18. For more information, go to visitgrovecityoh.com.
Get on the water in Grove City (above). The Mazza Museum celebrates the art of the picture book (opposite page).
FAMILY FUN!
Exit 187 on the Ohio Turnpike/I-80 featuring 9 affordable hotels, 2 campgrounds, 50 restaurants, 60+ nearby attractions and more.
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From the Ohio Turnpike south to I-76 you’ll find good times on your route! Exit 33 on I-76 offers budget friendly hotels, campgrounds dining spots, shops, parks – and more!
S P EC I A L A DV E R T I S I N G S EC T I O N
University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum
Enter a world of art, creativity and storytelling at the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum. Home to more than 17,000 pieces of individual artwork from children’s books, the museum founded in 1982 is one of the largest and most diverse collections of picture book art in the world. Explore the Mazza Museum’s six galleries, which exhibit more than 300 original works of art at any given time. Visitors can see every aspect of the creative process, from the first sketches to the final original artwork. A plaque for each piece notes the names of the artist, the title of the book, the date of the creation, the media the artist used and the sponsor. Some pieces are sure to be a first-time discovery for visitors, while others are likely to spark a beloved memory from their own childhood. Some of the instantly recognizable works come from names such as Steven Kellogg, Dr. Seuss, Ted Rand and Eric Carle. The Mazza Museum invites people to explore the art within the story through exhibits, events and artist visits. Several monthly programs for children include Sunday Funday and Tales for Tots, and other educational opportunities are geared toward authors, teachers and the general public. Before you leave, visit the Mazza Museum gift shop for an assortment of art-inspired gifts for all occasions, from children’s books and toys to collectibles and apparel. For more information, visit mazzamuseum.org or visitfindlay.com.
You won’t believe your eye.
Exhibit Extended by Popular Demand cincymuseum.org/pixar
Produced by
The Science Behind Pixar was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios. © Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.
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Pack up the car and head to Portage County, where families can discover an array of outdoor activities. Among the highlights are the area’s three state parks. Step into a world of natural wonders at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges, where families can hike alongside unique rock formations. At West Branch State Park, take advantage of the large 2,650acre lake as well as hiking, boat rentals, fishing, swimming and disc golf. Located just minutes from Akron, Wingfoot Lake State Park offers a relaxing escape with the picturesque lake as a backdrop. There is also a Storybook Trail, nature center, disc golf course and a new floating bridge families are sure to love. Mila’s Hope and Rowyn’s Dream Playground is a new, all-inclusive playground in Randolph that was installed in fall 2021. The monkey bars are a favorite, and a
Take your family bird-watching at Moebius Nature Park in Portage County (left). The Cincinnati Museum Center offers much to explore (opposite page).
FUN
for the whole
FAMILY all year long
Reserve your tickets now at gowhoazone.com
Play all day at the beach, boat or fish at the lake, and hike the trails! Plus, conquer the course on the WhoaZone Water Park. Full hook-up campsites await at Pleasant Hill Lake Park!
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KEVIN KOPANSKI
sensory experience with different textures to walk across is a fun addition. The playground’s spongy surface helps protect children from falls. When you’re ready to return to the trails, try birding at Moebius Nature Park or Portage Park System’s Berlin Lake Trail, where 212 different bird species have been spotted. Other great Portage Parks include the 222-acre Trail Lake Park in Streetsboro, where you can enjoy the walking trail, biking, fishing, kayaking and more on the 30-acre lake. Visitors to the area can also find kayaking opportunities on the Cuyahoga River. For more information, visit centralportagevcb.org or streetsborovcb.com.
Portage County
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Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center is housed in historic Union Terminal, a 1933 train station reimagined as the award-winning home of three museums under one roof.
The Museum of Natural History & Science is a playground for amateur paleontologists, aspiring astronauts and future scientists. Stand in the shadow of prehistoric dinosaurs, walk among dire wolves and saber-tooth cats on an Ice Age trail, see a moon rock collected during the Apollo 11 mission and drive your own Mars rover. The Cincinnati History Museum takes you back in time to rediscover the story of Cincinnati. Tower over a sprawling model of historic Cincinnati, walk the cobblestone streets of the 1850s riverfront, climb aboard a streetcar, and test your knowledge of all things Cincinnati. The Children’s Museum is your destination for learning through play. Throughout eight themed areas, you can climb, crawl, splash and imagine your way to adventure. In the domed Omnimax Theater, the immersive film experiences allow you to travel to some of the world’s most incredible places without leaving your seat. Explore the vastness of space, the vibrance of the ocean, the beauty of our wild spaces and more. Through Aug. 21, pull back the curtain on the whimsical world of Pixar in the featured exhibition, “The Science Behind Pixar.” Come face to face with Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley and more as you explore 50 interactive stations that put you in the artist’s seat as you use science to re-create memorable Pixar moments. For more information, visit cincymuseum.org.
ENJOY BEING UNPLUGGED OUTDOORS
This summer step away from screens and chaotic schedules, and enjoy a relaxing visit to Lehman’s in Kidron. Discover everything you need to savor the outdoors and experience family fun events like Christmas in July, Goat Yoga and more!
See the full schedule of events at Lehmans.com/events @lehmanshardware | On the Square in Kidron, OH • 800.438.5346 • Open every day except Sunday J U N E 2022
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Marblehead Lighthouse
This summer, join the celebration of the Marblehead Lighthouse’s bicentennial. When it was built, there were no roads, few settlers and the Great Black Swamp covered much of northwestern Ohio. Yet, about 130 ships entered Sandusky Bay during the 1822 shipping season when the Marblehead Lighthouse was first lit. Today, the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society helps keep the history of this destination alive. Step inside the Keeper’s House Museum to see the Fresnel lens and learn about the history of the lighthouse. Visit the Replica of the Lifesaving Station to browse exhibits about the lifesaving service and imagine what it was like to rescue boats and sailors in distress. Both offer free admission. Visitors can also climb the 77 steps to the top of the Marblehead Lighthouse. (Tickets are sold only at the tower beginning at noon.) The Keeper’s House, Lifesaving Station, lighthouse and gift shop are open daily this year from May 28 to Sept. 5. This summer also brings a lineup of concerts. Marblehead Lighthouse State Park is open year-round and is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic and the waterfront. From the lighthouse property, travelers can soak up views of Kelleys Island, South Bass Island and Cedar Point. With its iconic look and picturesque setting, the Marblehead Lighthouse remains one of the most photographed landmarks in Ohio. For hours and more information, visit marbleheadlighthouseohio.org.
Travel to visit the historic Marblehead Lighthouse this summer as it celebrates its bicentennial (above). Visit Greater Dayton’s aviation sites to fill your passport and earn a Wilbear Wright Aviator Teddy Bear (opposite page).
Scan to learn more!
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Dayton
Make the short drive to Dayton for memorable field trip fun! Dayton is the Birthplace of Aviation and home to Wilbur and Orville Wright. Wilbear Wright the Aviator Teddy Bear, a rumored distant relative of Wilbur and Orville Wright, invites you to explore Greater Dayton’s amazing aviation sites. If you download a Wilbear
Passport, collect stamps from eight of 17 sites and submit your passport, you will be sent your very own Wilbear Wright Aviator Teddy Bear in the “air-mail.” According to Wilbear, if you’re really flyin’ you can hit eight sites in one day. However, it’s recommended that you spend several days (or take a year if you’d like!) to complete your passport, which includes must-see sites in Ohio. The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park’s Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center is the only required stop. You can download a passport or pick one up at any of the 17 participating sites. Experience the free National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s 19 acres of enclosed exhibits featuring over 350 aerospace vehicles. The museum offers free parking, a giant-screen theater, flight simulators, interactive exhibits, an on-site cafeteria, a gift shop and the co-located free National Aviation Hall of Fame. Explore the Wright Brothers National Museum at Carillon Historical Park, which features more Wright brothers artifacts than anywhere else in the world, including an original Wright Flyer III airplane. For more information about these and other Dayton attractions or to download the passport, visit daytoncvb.com.
Located just north of Findlay, Hancock County is home to beautiful Van Buren State Park. The Ohio State Park’s 296 acres offer a calm, peaceful retreat for dedicated explorers and first-time wanderers alike. Camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and picnicking can be enjoyed year-round along with seasonal opportunities like boating and kayaking. Get out and let your imagination run wild! VisitFindlay.com
Van Buren State Park @OhioDNR J U N E 2022
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Cincinnati
Discover the technology that brings to life legendary characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Dory and Wall-E this summer at Union Terminal as the Cincinnati Museum Center presents “The Science Behind Pixar.” Since Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” debuted in 1995, the studio’s films and characters have evolved filmmaking, setting a new standard for animation. Via eight interactive areas, “The Science Behind Pixar” presents the STEM concepts behind Pixar’s films in fun ways, with 50 interactive elements that capture the imagination. (Separate exhibit ticket is required.) Young adventurers will love Tremmel Fossil Park (named after the R.L. Trammel family who donated the property) in nearby Sharonville. This 10-acre park is a unique summer destination because it provides a safe, accessible and fun place for kids to dig for fossils. The attraction is owned and operated by the city of Sharonville, and signs at the site educate visitors about the different layers of rock strata and the fossils that can be unearthed on-site. Head across the Ohio River to Newport, Kentucky, and visit the new Newport on the Levee. The retail-entertainment destination, which opened in 2001, underwent a major redevelopment that was completed this year. The riverfront destination features a 20-screen AMC theater, national retailers and restaurants and the
Newport Aquarium, which houses thousands of aquatic creatures from around the world, ranging from sharks and stingrays to playful penguins. For more information about these and other attractions in Cincinnati, go to visitcincy.com.
REMARKABLE Rediscover the joy of the fаmily vаcаtion! Reаch new heights аt the Holden Arboretum’s Cаnopy �аlk аnd ���� �аlberer Emergent Tower. Relа� аnd Rechаrge on the beаches аnd wаters of Lаke Erie. Creаte memories everyone will Remember аt the Lake County Captains, Lаke Metropаrks Fаrmpаrk, Squire’s Cаstle, or Rаbbit Run Theаter. Revisit history аt the President Jаmes A. Gаrfield Home аnd Fаirport Hаrbor Lighthouse & Museum. Plаn your trip to Remаrkаble Lаke County, OH! 102
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Request а guide аt MyLаkeOH.com #RemаrkаbleLаkeCountyOH
S P EC I A L A DV E R T I S I N G S EC T I O N Putters Amusement Park in Canal Fulton has 18 acres of outdoor family fun that includes mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats, a rock-climbing wall, batting cages and classic rides ranging from Dodge ’Em Bumper Cars to The Scrambler. Funtimes Fun Park in Alliance is also home to mini golf, go-karts, batting cages and rides as well as a new racing mega slide and kiddie train. The Pro Football Hall of Fame provides a great summer escape for football fans of all ages. Beyond the museum experience, fans can take a tour of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and explore the upcoming Play-Action Plaza. Set to open this summer at the Hall of Fame Village, it will feature a 3.5acre space designed as an interactive gathering place for all ages. For more information on these and other summer attractions, go to visitcanton.com. Tremmel Fossil Park offers fun for young explorers (opposite page). The Pro Football Hall of Fame takes you into the game (above). The MWCD hosts moonlight kayaking (below).
Canton & Stark County
Visit Canton and Stark County for family fun ranging from outdoor play to karting to an array of experiences at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Beech Creek Gardens in Alliance offers a 2-acre Nature Playce that features treehouses with a swinging bridge, a miniature zip line and giant bird nest among its diversions, as well as a Logs O’ Fun Playground that welcomes kids to jump, balance, run and crawl. Youngsters can step on the gas at K1 Speed, a North Canton go-karting destination with an indoor and outdoor track. There is a minimum 48-inch height requirement, but there are no age restrictions. Sluggers and
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
FOOTBALL: MATT SHIFFLER
Plan a visit to one of the eight lakes of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) to enjoy outdoor fun, ranging from kayaking and hiking to quality time around the campfire to staying lakeside while enjoying the comforts of home. Guided kayak tours and moonlight kayak trips are planned throughout the summer. Kayak tours are guided by park staff and offer a group experience on the water to discover plant life, animals and the history of the lakes. Moonlight kayak trips are guided tours under the light of a full moon and are offered June through September (registration is required). If you prefer to bring your own, Clendening, Leesville and Piedmont lakes in southeast Ohio are favorites among the locals for kayaking. The MWCD also has more than 37 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails throughout its parks and properties. Modern campsites like the ones at Atwood Lake Park and Tappan Lake Park range from electric-only sites with water nearby to full-hook-up sites with 50-amp power and concrete pads. Those who want time along the lake in comfy surroundings can book a vacation cabin at any of the MWCD lakes. Families looking to plan a getaway around a summer event can make a reservation for the July 2 fireworks display at Atwood Lake Park, Charles Mill Lake Park, Seneca Lake Park and Tappan Lake Park. Pleasant Hill Lake Park hosts its Christmas in July with fireworks July 16 and the Bigfoot Festival Sept. 9 through 11. For more information about the lakes of the MWCD or to make a campsite or cabin reservation, visit mwcd.org. ● J U N E 2022
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TourChautauqua.com - 866-908-4569
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Chautauqua: YOUR SUMMER VACATION DESTINATION Request a free travel guide today and plan your adventure! Summer fun is closer than you think. This summer take a Western NY road trip to the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region. Discover the unrivaled natural beauty of our many lakes, waterways and trails as well as experience one-of-a-kind cultural attractions. Start planning your vacation today! 1. CHAUTAUQUA MARINA BOAT RENTALS & SALES A full-service marina offering boat rentals,sales, dockage, storage, fuel and a showroom, Chautauqua Marina is open 7 days a week during the season. Chautauqua Marina is a YAMAHA Certified Five Star Dealer. Mention this ad and receive $25 off your power or pontoon boat rental. Fun in the Sun! 104 W. Lake Road, Mayville, NY 14757 716-753-3913 ~ chautauquamarina.com
2. THE FARM BELL Come in and browse our selection of wicker furniture, Lee Middleton Dolls, Chautauqua Tees & sweatshirts, Minnetonka moccasins, antiques and new & vintage jewelry. Our baskets make unique gifts. We have a barn full of ways to tell someone you care. Open 10-5 daily thru Labor Day. Call for winter hours.
3. GUPPY’S RESTAURANT & TAVERN Owners of Guppy’s Restaurant & Tavern, Doug & Christy Spegar are providing a new, safe and totally unique experience! Dine in a ski gondola offering a private new fun way to dine! We have something for everyone to enjoy! 4663 Rte. 430, Bemus Point, NY 14701 716-386-4422 ~ guppystavern.com
4. PEEK’N PEAK RESORT Experience summer at The Peak! Climb through the Aerial Adventure Ropes Course, golf on the championship-caliber Upper Course, and relax at the Pool Complex and Serenity Spa. Overnight packages at The Inn and mountainside condos are available! 1405 Olde Road, Clymer, NY 14724 716-355-4141 ~ pknpk.com
5252 Rte. 430, Dewittville, NY 14728 716-386-4033 ~ 716-386-4033
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PROMOTION
5. WEBB’S CAPTAIN’S TABLE RESTAURANT A friendly meeting place on Chautauqua Lake, Webb’s Captain’s Table specializes in locally sourced, classic American cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an upscale carryout service featuring grab-and-go foods, gourmet coffee and curbside or boatside pickup. 115 W. Lake Road, Mayville, NY 14757 716-753-3960 ~ webbscaptainstable.com
ERIE, PA
WESTERN NY
LONG WE E K E N D S
Deck text goes here and here deck text goes here and here deck text goes here and here deck text goes here and here deck text goes here. Byline Head to Erie, Pennsylvania, and western New York to find lakeshore attractions, quaint towns and plenty of fun to fill a summer weekend. By Laura Watilo Blake
LAURA WATILO BLAKE
BICENTENNIAL TOWER, ERIE
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ERIE, PA WESTERN NY Both Sides of the Bay Pennsylvania has some of the best beaches on Lake Erie and they can be found directly across a deep natural harbor from Erie, the state’s fifth-largest city. Presque Isle was once called the loneliest place on Earth by the original lighthouse keeper stationed there starting in 1873. The peninsula now ranks as the most visited state park in Pennsylvania, dominated by 7 miles of sandy beaches connected by road or the shady 13.5-mile Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose National Recreation Trail. Don’t miss the view from the tower of the newly restored Presque Isle Lighthouse, historically nicknamed The Flashlight. It’s open seven days a week for tours, including a new in-depth tour designed for history buffs and lighthouse enthusiasts. If you want to walk a bit longer in the keeper’s footsteps, take the 1.25-mile Sidewalk Trail from the lighthouse to Misery Bay. “There were no roads out here until the 1920s,” says Deborah Lore, the lighthouse’s gift shop manager. “To get into town for school or for doctor’s appointments, the keeper’s family would walk the trail to Misery Bay, then row across.” These days, the Lady Kate waits in Misery Bay to take passengers on 90-minute scenic boat rides of the Presque Isle Bay.
On the Erie Bayfront
Erie is transforming its waterfront into a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood centered around Dobbin’s Landing, home to the iconic 187-foot-tall Bicentennial Tower. Head to the top observation deck for rewarding panoramic views of Erie’s bayfront, downtown district, Presque Isle State Park, and even Canada on a clear day. The tower is also great for a birds-eye view of Erie’s largest mural, “Flotsam,” painted by international artist Rafael Gerlach, known professionally as SatOne. The colorful 12,000-square-foot abstract image represents the wreckage of a ship carried ashore in spuming waves — a nod to Erie’s heritage. The Erie Maritime Museum has a more literal interpretation of history, much of it revolving around the 106
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Presque Isle Lighthouse in Erie (left); Mazza Chautauqua Cellars in Westfield (above); Mountain bikers in Ellicottville (opposite page)
War of 1812. The most impressive artifact is the U.S. Brig Niagara, a sailing replica of the square-rigged, two-masted U.S. relief flagship built for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. A re-creation of the top deck is located inside the museum. “Before it was installed,” says docent Bruce Miller, “an actual cannon was aimed at the structure and fired.” The hands-on exhibit gives you the opportunity to light the fuses of the on-board cannons with a 3-foot-long botefeux, a stick used to hold a match at arm’s length.
Bicentennial Tower, porterie.org/bicentennialtower
20 unique wineries that have made a mark in the region. Lakeview Wine Cellar and Noble Winery have unforgettable Lake Erie views, while Mazza Chautauqua Cellars is a winery, distillery and brewery in one. Sensory Smokehouse has a mouthwatering barbecue at a vineyard with a brewery, and Johnson Estate has a lot of history as the oldest continuously operating estate winery in New York. “Here, you can trace the evolution of the region in one place,” says Jennifer Johnson, who co-owns the vineyard with husband Fred Jr. “My husband’s grandfather established a fruit farm here in 1910. His son, who founded the winery in 1961, was savvy enough to recognize the microclimate was suitable for growing French-hybrid grapes.” Today, visitors can take a self-guided Vineyard Walk on weekends to see the estate’s 14 grape varieties, then try three wines paired with light snacks.
Erie Maritime Museum, eriemaritimemuseum.org
Adventure in Ellicottville
When You Go Presque Isle State Park, dcnr.pa.gov/stateparks Presque Isle Lighthouse, presqueislelighthouse.org Lady Kate, piboattours.com/lady-kate
Lake Living Western New York and the Chautauqua Lake region offer a wealth of reasons to visit, from inviting wineries to quaint shore towns.
The Flavors of Wine Country
The Lake Erie Wine Country Trail encompasses 30,000 acres of sun-drenched grapes growing along a 50-mile stretch between Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, and Silver Creek, New York. While the region is dominated by Concord grapes used for juice, jams and jellies, there are more than
The village of Ellicottville is a triple threat. It has unique shopping and dining venues in its charming and walkable downtown, there’s abundant natural beauty to explore in the surrounding hills and forests, and its two ski resorts make it a great place for outdoor recreation even after the snow melts. Since 2006, Holiday Valley Ski Resort has renovated its golf course and built the Sky High Aerial Adventure Park, a mountain coaster and climbing forest to keep the family fun going all summer long. Now, mountain biking is taking off at Holiday Valley and HoliMont Ski Club, which both have added bike carriers to their ski lifts so riders can take the easy way up the slope. At the
LIGHTHOUSE: ISTOCK; MAZZA: COURTESY OF MAZZA CHAUTAUQUA CELLARS; BIKING: COURTESY OF HOLIDAY VALLEY SKI RESORT; MAYVILLE: LAURA WATILO BLAKE
On the Peninsula
MORE ALONG THE SHORE Chautauqua Lake offers a variety of visitor experiences along its shoreline, including these favorites.
top, cyclists can connect with an extensive multi-use trail system within the adjacent McCarty Hill and Rock City state forests or cruise back down to either ski base on singletrack for all skill levels. “Many of the trails are quite beginner friendly,” says Dash Hegeman, marketing director at Holiday Valley.
Big Laughs in Jamestown
Jamestown — the largest community on Chautauqua Lake — may be comedienne Lucille Ball’s birthplace, but the National Comedy Center celebrates all the people who make us laugh. The high-tech museum dedicated to the craft of comedy has been
The Chautauqua Institution’s nine-week season, which runs from June through late August, is like summer camp for adults and kids alike. Once inside the gates, visitors can partake in educational, artistic, spiritual and recreational activities throughout this Victorian village, founded as a Methodist training center for Sunday school teachers in the late 19th century.
The village of Mayville is near the Chautauqua Institution and gets overflow visitors every year, but it also stands on its own as a destination for shopping, dining and boating. Stock up on picnic-worthy snacks at Reverie Creamery, then take a ride on the Chautauqua Belle Steamboat or rent your own watercraft at the Chautauqua Marina.
Located on the eastern shore of Chautauqua Lake, the village of Bemus Point feels like it’s frozen in time, but a sunset never goes out of style. Dine on the water at The Fish or the Village Casino, or grab a seat in one of the Hotel Lenhart’s many porch rockers or Adirondack chairs. For more information, visit tourchautauqua.com.
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1. Oliver’s Rooftop Restaurant & Bar Panoramic views and delicious cuisine are waiting for you at Oliver’s Rooftop, located atop the Hampton Inn & Suites on Erie’s Bayfront! Come and enjoy the views of Presque Isle Bay, the Bicentennial Tower and the historic US Brig Niagara. 130 E. FRONT ST. · ERIE, PA 16507 814-920-9666 · OLIVERSROOFTOP.COM
2. Great Lakes Beach Glass Festival
The Great Lakes Beach Glass Festival will be held Oct. 8 and 9, 2022, at Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. For more details, visit relishinc.com. 3835 W. 12TH ST. · ERIE, PA 16505 814-836-1827 · RELISHINC.COM
3. Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort
Enjoy weatherproof fun at Splash Lagoon, where it’s always 84 degrees! Swirl down thrilling slides, ride the FlowRider Indoor Surf Machine and splash in the massive wave pool! Book an overnight package and stay at one of our connected hotels! 8091 PEACH ST. · ERIE, PA 16509 1-866-3-SPLASH · SPLASHLAGOON.COM
4. VisitErie
Located on the southern shore of our namesake lake, Erie is your destination for a lakefront getaway! Erie is home to Presque Isle State Park, featuring seven miles of sandy beaches. Explore our vibrant downtown, Bayfront district, wine region, restaurants and so much more! Plan your itinerary with the ‘Hello Erie’ app,
and make your escape to Erie, Pa.
800-524-3743 · VISITERIE.COM
When You Go Lake Erie Wine Country Trail, lakeeriewinecountry.org Lakeview Wine Cellar, lakeviewwinecellars.com Noble Winery, noblewinery.com Sensory Smokehouse, sensorysmokehouse.com Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, enjoymazza.com Johnson Estate Winery, johnsonwinery.com Holiday Valley Ski Resort, holidayvalley.com HoliMont Ski Club, holimont.com McCarty Hill and Rock City state forests, dec.ny.gov National Comedy Center, comedycenter.org Chautauqua Institution, chq.org Reverie Creamery, reveriecreamery.com Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, 269belle.com
Request Your Free Erie Adventure Guide! VisitErie.com. 108
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Chautauqua Marina, chautauquamarina.com The Fish, bemuspointfish.club Village Casino, bemuspointcasino.com Hotel Lenhart, hotellenhart.com
COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER
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heralded for its interactive exhibits that span the ages, from vaudeville to the viral memes of the modern era. After answering a few questions about your comedy preferences, your profile is stored on a chip-enhanced wristband that interacts with various exhibits throughout the museum. “The experience is never the same,” says Victoria Pane, marketing coordinator at the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau. Starting July 1, the multimedia exhibit “Carl Reiner: Keep Laughing” will highlight the funny man’s creative contributions over his seven-decades-long career as a comedy writer, director, producer and actor. Reiner, who would have turned 100 this year, had far-reaching influence in the comedy world. “Carl Reiner’s comedic legacy is unmatched,” says Journey Gunderson, the National Comedy Center’s executive director. “His distinctive wit and remarkable talent enabled him to take the ordinary and transform it into indelible and timeless comedy.”
S p ec i a l P r o m o t i o n a l S ec t i o n
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medina county 4 MEET ME IN MEDINA
Explore the shops lining the Historic Square. 6 WELCOME TO WADSWORTH One of Ohio Magazine’s
Best Hometowns.
8 BEST OF BRUNSWICK
Enjoy the outdoors and feast on local eats. 10 TAKE A RIDE THROUGH HISTORY
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Learn the rich history of the area. 12 FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Check out family-friendly activities for all ages. 14 DOWN ON THE FARM
Medina County is full of agrotourism destinations.
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15 LODGING
ON THE COVER: The Galaxy: Laura Watilo Blake,
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Brunswick shopping: Stephanie Park, Chill Artisan Ice Cream: Laura Watilo Blake, Medina Town Square: Casey Rearick
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VISITOR INFORMATION 330-722-5502 | 800-860-2943 visitmedinacounty.com 32 Public Square, Medina 44256 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 216-377-3715 Copyright © 2022 by Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without permission of Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions. All information is subject to change.
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Mark your calendars! Medina County bustles year-round with exciting events.
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Kick off summer by shopping for your new favorite items at the village-wide World’s Largest Yard Sale in Seville June 17–18. The lighting of a 20-foot blue tip match kicks off the annual Blue Tip Festival from June 21–25. Celebrate the Wadsworth community with a parade, rides, festival foods and live music. Have a hoppin’ good time at the Valley City Frog Jump as kids and adults alike compete to get their frogs to jump as far as they can on July 24. Friends from all over come to experience the Medina County Fair — one of Ohio’s oldest and largest county fairs — from Aug. 1–7. On Aug. 14, explore vendors’ booths on Medina’s Public Square during the Affair on the Square Craft & Vintage Fair, where you’ll find beautifully crafted pieces like jewelry, home décor and more. This fall, take part in a decades-long tradition during the Fall Foliage Tour Oct. 8–9. Along with beautiful fall colors, the self-driving tour showcases Guilford, Montville, Sharon and Wadsworth. Each weekend is a different theme when you visit Pumpkin Village at Mapleside Farms. Enjoy live performers, a super slide, a corn maze and more attractions to get you in the spirit of fall. Winter events around Medina County help make the season merry and bright. Begin the celebrating Nov. 18–20 in Medina’s historic district during the Medina Candlelight Walk, where the Holiday Parade of Lights and a stunning fireworks show light up the night. Also on Nov. 18, step into a Hallmark movie at the Main Street Wadsworth Candlelight Walk with horse and carriage rides and themed activities at downtown businesses. Then visit Valley City Dec. 10–11 for cookie decorating, the Reindeer Dash Fun Run and more at the annual Christmas in the Valley. Be in Medina Feb. 17–20 for the largest ice festival in Northeast Ohio. The Medina Ice Festival boasts over 100 stunning ice sculptures in the city’s historic square. Throughout the year, visit the Medina County Fairgrounds Community Center for flea markets, gun shows and even the Model Railroad & Toy Show. And from May through October, check out Buckin’ Ohio to watch professional bull riding.
BLUE TIP FESTIVAL: BLUE TIP FESTIVAL, MEDINA COUNTY FAIR: JIM SOMMERS, MEDINA ICE FESTIVAL: ERIK DROST
Music Nights with ORMACO
ORMACO hosts talented musicians and singers throughout the year. Enjoy free Jazz and Opera Under the Stars concerts on Medina Square featuring Eric Everett and the Cleveland Opera in June, Indigo Jazz Ensemble in July, and Akin for Jazz and Ryun Louie Jazz Ensemble in August. Or take in Concerts in the Country in Homerville: James Marron on July 10, Pitch Blend: Barbershop Quartet on Aug. 4, Strauss Duo: The Expressive Viola on Sept. 11, Jeffrey Slater: Jazz Brass & Beyond on Oct. 9 and Miki Sato: Traditional Music of Japan on Nov. 13. For details about upcoming events, visit ormaco.org.
VisitMedinaCounty.com
Top: Watch Buckin’ Ohio’s professional bull riders at the Medina County Fair on Aug. 4. Left: Witness the lighting of a 20foot match at the Blue Tip Festival June 21–25. Right: See gorgeous ice sculptures at the Medina Ice Festival Feb. 17–20.
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Medina’s downtown is a charming conglomeration of history, local shops and exciting attractions.
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ROOT CANDLES: STEPHANIE PARK, DOWNTOWN MEDINA: KRISTEN JONES, CIRCLES ON THE SQUARE: RACHAEL JIROUSEK, MEDINA COURTHOUSE: MEDINACOUNTY CVB, COURTHOUSE PIZZERIA, CORKSCREW SALOON: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, FOUNDRY SOCIAL: FOUNDRY SOCIAL
Pictured: Enjoy beautiful displays as you shop at the historic Root Candles flagship store. Bottom Left: Downtown is full of unique architecture, like the old firehouse. Bottom Right: The historic county courthouse presides over Public Square.
Top: Spend summer evenings on Foundry Social’s spacious patio. Below Left: Try donuts with amazingly unique flavors at Circles on the Square. Below Right: Relax with a bite to eat at Corkscrew Saloon. Bottom: Enjoy Courthouse Pizzeria’s New York-style pizza.
VisitMedinaCounty.com
The City of Medina, Ohio’s All-American Hometown, is steeped in tradition yet is a vibrant and exciting location for businesses, residents and visitors. From the made-for-movies Historic Square to the charm of its walkable neighborhoods, these are the attributes that resulted in Medina being recognized twice in recent years by Ohio Magazine as Northeast Ohio’s Best Hometown, and a place to shop, dine and unwind. Not only is Medina picturesque and a great place to live and work, it is the perfect day trip from anywhere in Ohio. Or you can choose to stay here and use it as home base while you take in all that one of Ohio’s fastest growing counties has to offer. You can choose to spend the day shopping in the one-of-a-kind local boutiques that range from Amish-made furniture and fine pottery to women’s fashions, educational toys and artisan jewelry. You can visit an art gallery and museums, then attend a festival or band concert in the park. Medina offers it all. If you have a taste for a really great burger, authentic Texas barbecue, Irish stew, a farm-to-table meal, New York style pizza, fine dining or a formal tea, all of that and more is waiting for you in Medina. Enjoy the city’s wide variety of great eateries, plus every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Square, from mid-May to mid-October, you can purchase the best fresh produce and other fresh-made food items at the Medina Square Farmers Market. If your tastes are a little more adventurous, Medina is now home to four local breweries, a wine bar, an Irish pub and several fine drinking establishments. For the more daring, try your hand at High Voltage Indoor Karting. Racing goes on seven days a week and reservations are recommended. History runs deep in Medina and it is now proud to have two businesses that can boast to being 150 years old: the flagship store for Root Candles and the serendipitous Medina Hardware. Both offer a taste of what put Medina on the map in the late 1800s and what keeps people coming back for a truly amazing experience. In addition to the entire Square being listed on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to the beautifully restored Victorian era architecture, history buffs will want to visit Medina’s newest restored shopping and dining venue, the Farmers Exchange (also listed on the National Register of Historic Places). This former agriculture center from the early 1900s now pays homage to its roots with two levels of dining and shopping options, plus two floors of industrialinspired apartments. Medina can take you back in time with some of the finest examples of restored Victorian era architecture to be found anywhere, while simultaneously bringing you into the 21st century with busy shopping districts and yearround family-centered events. Whether you live here or visit here, Medina will always make you feel like you are in a special place.
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Left: Enjoy mimosa flights and good company at UnWined. Top: The gyro at Alexandris Restaurant is a fan favorite. Right: Find your new favorite home decor item at Perfect Match Decor. Below: Get a sweet treat pick-me-up at Sonnets Coffee & Whiskey Bar.
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You don’t have to live in Wadsworth to feel at home there. In fact, the locals make it a priority to make everyone feel at home. And they’ve been richly rewarded for those efforts: Wadsworth was named one of Ohio Magazine’s Best Hometowns for 2021–2022. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the town has continued to grow and invest in the community — particularly its vibrant downtown business district — and has attracted a continually growing number of residents who are proud to say there’s no place like home…in Wadsworth.
Eats and Treats Start your day off right with delicious dishes from breakfast spots like Valley Cafe and Water Main Grille. For a comforting, home-cooked meal, look no further than Alexandris Restaurant, which serves up blue-plate favorites like country fried steak, beer-battered fish and stuffed French toast. Sonnets Coffee & Whiskey Bar and Zydeco Bistro, a combo coffee shop and eatery, offers more than 150 whiskeys, locally sourced coffees and Cajun foods. If you’re looking for a later meal, check out Great Oaks Tavern, where you can choose from a collection of 500 board games to play while you enjoy a sandwich or burger. Wine lovers can kick their feet up and relax at UnWined. Enjoy a rotating menu of reds, whites, bourbons and craft cocktails. Warm evenings call for a visit to Filia Cellars to sip wine on the grounds of a charming historic farmhouse. The outdoor dining area is dog-friendly! Crafted Cocktail has an extensive drink menu that includes everything from classic cocktails to specialty drinks made with fresh ingredients. If beer is more your speed, try Wadsworth Brewing Co. where you can sample an ever-changing list of house-made brews with imaginative flavors like Bucket’s Coffee Porter, which serves up a kick of caffeine, and nosh on shareables. Spunkmeyers Pub & Grill is a one-of-a-kind place with drink and food specials every month and The Deck, where you can relax and enjoy a fun, warm, beachy atmosphere. Looking to satisfy a sweet tooth? At Ann’s Pastry Shop, you’ll get a taste of tradition. This bakery serving cakes, cookies and fresh baked doughnuts has been serving the community for over 30 years. Rise and Grind gives you the chance to order up customizable donuts, your way.
Add icing and toppings ranging from sprinkles to more whimsical choices like Fruity Pebbles. Try a taste of Italy with a heaping bowl of housemade gelato at Dolce at the Strand, or an “adult milkshake.” Find more flavors at wadsworthcity.com/930/wadsworth-eats.
Shop Stops Opal Dragonfly Boutique specializes in cute-and-comfy casual wear that keeps busy women looking great while on the go. Be sure to check out the crafting workshops! Peruse shelves of gently used tomes at The Bookshelf, a second-hand shop fashioned in a former bank building (yes, there’s even a selection of antique books in the old vault). Perfect Match Decor features everything from vintage items to collectibles. Guitar wizards won’t want to miss Wadsworth Music, a one-stop shop for instruments, sheet music, accessories, parts and even repairs and customizations. It’s been a town staple since the 1920s and one of the top 50 Fender dealers in the U.S. Explore more shopping options at wadsworthcity.com/931/wadsworth-shops.
Main Attractions One of Wadsworth’s most beloved and
enduring landmarks is the Blue Sky Drive-In, treating generations of locals to Hollywood flicks since 1947. Explore local businesses and enjoy themed food, entertainment and exhibits at First Friday events, held the first Friday of every month in downtown Wadsworth. The Wadsworth Library hosts live concerts year-round in conjunction with ORMACO, bringing in artists like Olivia Polash, Erin Nicole Neal and Victor Samalot. Find the full schedule at ormaco.org/wadsworth-library-concerts. And the annual Blue Tip Festival — named for the famed matches once made there — brings five days of classic festival fun to town every June. Left: Challenge your friends to a game at Wadsworth Brewing Co. Far Left: The iconic gazebo in downtown Wadsworth is a perfect photo-op spot.
VisitMedinaCounty.com
WADSWORTH GAZEBO: KEVIN KOPANSKI, UNWINED, ALEXANDRIS RESTAURANT, PERFECT MATCH DECOR: STEPHANIE PARK, SONNETS COFFEE & WHISKEY BAR AND ZYDECO BISTRO: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, WADSWORTH BREWING CO.: WADSWORTH BREWING CO.
join the warm and bustling community of wadsworth at new downtown shops and eateries.
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best of
Brunswick Brunswick’s got plenty to explore — whether you’re diving into a new restaurant, shopping for the perfect item or getting active in the great outdoors.
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D SCENE75 ENTERTAINMENT CENTER: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, WEST BRANCH MALTS & DISTILLERY: WEST BRANCH MALTS & DISTILLERY, OHIO PIE CO.: OHIO PIE CO., THE BOOKSHELF: KIM STAHNKE, ARKAY FLORAL & GIFTS: ARKAY FLORAL & GIFTS, MAPLESIDE FARMS: MAPLESIDE FARMS
Dining Favorites Donut Land is
celebrating 50 years in Brunswick, which adds up to a lot of made-fresh-daily donuts and even more local goodwill. At FatBob Pizza, order up a classic pizza pie or try a twist with crazy pizzas like taco or Philly cheese steak. Another Brunswick favorite is Old World Deli, with a selection of Mediterranean food like gyros, hummus and tabouli in addition to standards like corned beef and subs. Trends and nostalgia collide at Geeked Out Pub and Grille, where you can play classic video games projected onto flatscreen TVs while enjoying your elevated bar food and cocktails. Find out more about a local brand of whiskey and vodka served at Geeked Out by touring and sampling at the nearby West Branch Malts & Distillery. They make malt from local barley and sell it to homebrewers and craft breweries, in addition to making their own spirits. In warm weather, a stop at the patio of Panini’s Bar and Grill is a terrific way to enjoy sunshine and good food. Finally, put an end to the “what state has the best pizza” argument with the definitive answer: Ohio now has its own native pie at Ohio Pie Co. — made fresh, square-cut and finished with a delectable sauce swirl.
Shop the Block Whether you’re
Pictured: Get your game on at Scene75 Entertainment Center. Bottom Left: Try the spirits from West Branch Malts & Distillery. Below: The pizza pie at Ohio Pie Co. is deliciously cheesy.
looking for a unique gift for the people in your life or are shopping for your next favorite piece, find it in Brunswick. ArKay Floral & Gifts is a go-to place for flowers for occasions big and small, and their gift selection has meaningful add-ons like candles, gift baskets and seasonal décor. A brand new addition to Brunswick, Handmade Haven is your one-stop-shop for finding handcrafted goods from the artisans of Northeast Ohio. Or roam the stacks at The BookShelf, which has shelves stocked with gently used books, including local school reading lists and a section of author-autographed copies. You’re making a difference as you shop — the store provides revenue for Project: LEARN and functions as a tutoring center.
VisitMedinaCounty.com
Explore the Outdoors Take part in events year-round at Mapleside Farms, from summer and winter concerts to fall’s Pumpkin Village. Bring the kids to expend some energy in the jump park before stopping for a sweet dessert. Families will enjoy exploring Brunswick Heritage Farm and Museum, which contains artifacts from Brunswick’s past like schoolhouse items and a working farm on 32 acres. Annual events at the farm, which is operated by Brunswick Area Historical Society, include a farmer’s market and canine costume contest. A rainy day doesn’t mean you have to have the blues — Scene75 Entertainment Center is an indoor entertainment center that includes 10 indoor attractions including laser tag and black light mini-golf, 150 arcade games and a full bar and grill. Gather the kids to take part in the Cleveland Clinic’s Trike and Bike event this September. As a fundraiser for pediatric cancer research, it’s both a fun activity for the family and helps a worthy cause. Check out page 2 for more events.
Top: Find your favorite books and support a worthy cause at The BookShelf. Left: Shop for fresh flowers at ArKay Floral & Gifts. Below: Enjoy the vista before racing down the super slide at Mapleside Farms.
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Above: The Northern Ohio Railway Museum gives trolley rides twice a month. Far Left: Learn local history at the Brunswick Heritage Farm. Left: See historic artifacts at the Johnson House Museum. Right: See vintage furniture and other pieces at the John Smart House Museum. Far Right: Explore the McDowellPhillips House, built in the 1890s.
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NORTHERN OHIO RAILROAD MUSEUM: MEGAN BUCHANAN, BRUNSWICK HERITAGE FARM: BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, JOHNSON HOUSE MUSEUM: JOHNSON HOUSE MUSEUM, JOHN SMART HOUSE MUSEUM: HANNAH FINOTTI, MCDOWELL-PHILLIPS HOUSE: MAIN STREET MEDINA
find historic wonders galore in medina county
by linda feagler
Travel through the corridors of time at Brunswick Heritage Farm, filled with a treasure trove of artifacts reflecting what life was like at the mid-19th-century homestead. The 32-acre property also features a barn, carriage house, corncrib, granary and chicken house. Meet Seville’s most famous couple, the Seville Giants Martin Van Buren Bates and his wife Anna, at the Seville Historical Society. In addition to life-sized statues of the couple — each known for their 7-foot-plus stature — the museum contains riveting exhibits and chronicles Bates’ life as a Confederate captain during the Civil War. Return to school days of yesteryear by visiting a pair of one-room schoolhouses filled with relics from a different age. Built in 1890, the York Township building features desks, books and other historic memorabilia. Constructed in 2017, Seville’s schoolhouse — an 1820s replica — hosts a variety of educational activities and events. Admire 19th-century craftsmanship at Medina’s McDowell-Phillips House, an 1890s Queen Anne beauty featuring three stories, 12 rooms, seven fireplaces and leaded stained-glass windows. Once home to five generations of the town’s most storied family, it was purchased and preserved by the Medina County Historical Society several years ago. Not-to-be-missed exhibits include an original invitation to Abraham Lincoln’s Union Ball Inauguration held in 1861 and a Grand Army of the Republic uniform vest and coat belonging to Civil War veteran Robert McDowell.
Experience the romance of train travel at the Lodi Railroad Museum. The restored depot is a fitting homage to the lines associated with Ohio, including the Wheeling & Lake Erie, Nickel Plate, Norfolk and Western, Norfolk Southern and Baltimore and Ohio railroads. Exhibits at the site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, include a Wheeling & Lake Erie caboose and a Norfolk and Western caboose, both built in 1949. Discover why train travel is so captivating at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum in Seville. The museum, which is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., mid-May through October, offers walking tours of the more than 40 streetcars, interurbans and transit cars that have been collected and restored along a 2-mile section of the historic Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus right-of-way. During second Saturdays of the month, visitors are invited to hop aboard and take a ride on the museum’s 1914 trolley car. See exquisite furniture and vintage clothing, as well as Native American artifacts, at the John Smart House Museum in Medina, built in 1886. The Victorian Queen Anne-style home sports bay windows, a second-story porch and an intricate roof pattern of scalloped shingles, clapboards and cornices. Learn about Wadsworth’s rich history at Johnson House Museum. Built in 1852 by noted carriage factory owner Henry J. Traver and operated by the Wadsworth Historical Society, the dwelling is filled with exquisite exhibits shedding light on the past.
VisitMedinaCounty.com
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No matter your family’s preference, it’s easy to get out and play in Medina County.
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Top: Start your engines at High Voltage Indoor Karting’s outdoor track. Above: Get in the competitive spirit with your siblings at Foundry Social. Below: Have a family picnic at Medina County’s local parks.
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Whether it’s challenging a sibling to a game of glow-in-the-dark mini golf or racing Dad around a lightning-fast go-kart track, the sky’s the limit for family activities around the county. Just as the buzzards return to Hinckley each spring, so too can your golf game at Hinckley’s Buzzard Cove Mini Golf, which not only boasts a top-flight miniature golf course but also a lighted driving range. Their scratch pizzas and tempting appetizers are enough to keep you coming back for more. For an out-of-body golf experience, play a round at Alien Vacation Mini Golf. It’s a crazy-unique indoor adventure where you’ll play on a course with far-out graphics, actual sci-fi movie props and three-dimensional illusions. While you’re there, check out the wonders of Castle Noel, America’s largest indoor, year-round Christmas attraction. Explore several New York City shopping window attractions and the world’s largest private collection of Hollywood Christmas memorabilia. You can even ride the Higbee’s slide from “A Christmas Story,” just like Ralphie. Hone your golf game and baseball or softball swings at Sandbaggers Golf and Game Center in Medina. Five batting cages range from slow-pitch to 70 miles per hour, and there are 18 turf mats for golfers. Cool down with soft drinks or a beer after your workout. Have a genuine Western experience from May through October at Buckin’ Ohio, a working ranch in Burbank that’s the site of professional bull riding and barrel racing. “Mutton Bustin” is a delight for kids — a competition to get the best score riding a sheep. Pack a picnic and take the family for a hike at Princess Ledges Nature Preserve. With nearly 50 acres of wooded land, the preserve features a nature trail and
a ledges trail that explores the preserve’s sandstone ledges. Search the starry sky at the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association’s observatory in Letha House Park. The nonprofit holds periodic public viewing events using three telescopes. By day, enjoy the park’s nature trails, picnic grounds, playground, catchand-release fishing pond and bridle trail. Experience duckpin bowling, bocce ball, ping pong and other family activities at Foundry Social, a 135,000-square-foot fun center in Medina. The highlight is High Voltage Indoor Karting, where adults can race go-karts around the track at top speeds nearing 50 miles per hour, and juniors also race at a slower pace. Get your sugar rush at Sweets & Geeks in Medina. The shop is full of old-time candy, sodas, novelty and pop culture candy, drinks and toys. Play the afternoon away with board games, roleplay games and trading card games. Scene75 Entertainment Center in Brunswick is a huge playground that has something for everyone. Go mini-bowling or go-karting, play laser tag or blacklight mini-golf, or try your hand at one of over 150 arcade games including a giant Connect 4 game. Enjoy your meal on Food Truck Alley where permanent food trucks are ready to serve. Great Oaks Tavern in Wadsworth is more than just a food and drink spot — it’s a board gamer’s nirvana. There are more than 500 available board games to play for a $5 fee; a collection carefully curated by brothers Alex and Jordan Nassos. Enjoy burgers, sandwiches, salads and a full bar, including specialty whiskeys, while you play.
family
VisitMedinaCounty.com
HIGH VOLTAGE INDOOR KARTING: HIGH VOLTAGE INDOOR KARTING, FOUNDRY SOCIAL: FOUNDRY SOCIAL, PICNIC, CASTLE NOEL: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, RV: RACHAEL JIROUSEK
Pictured: Explore the magic of Christmas at Castle Noel. Opposite Page: See movie props like the RV from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
fun for the entire
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All the Way Come the holidays, buy a real tree at one of the county’s many Christmas tree farms, all of which offer a variety of trees and experiences! Kall Christmas Tree Farm (below) l Old Colony Farm l Timber Valley l Uncle Wally’s l Medina Christmas Tree Farm l Eichel’s Tree Farm
Various orchards, farms and gardens are scattered across Medina County just waiting to be explored. By Gwynnie Ball
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KALL CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, MAJESTIC MEADOWS ALPACAS: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, RICHARDSON FARMS: STEPHANIE PARK
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Whether you’re craving homemade apple pie or looking for a healthy snack, there’s nothing like picking your own fresh apples in the fall. Along with a variety of apples you can harvest, Geig’s Orchard sells fresh apple cider and hosts a cannery offering jams, pie fillings and other treats. Hillside Orchard is another great location to find ripe apples, and after you’ve picked your fill, stop in the farm market to enjoy a homemade donut. If your visit doesn’t coincide with fall, don’t fret — these farms have events that span every season. Spring Mist Farms offers sleigh rides in the winter and a summer festival called Fun on the Farm featuring horse and wagon rides. Mapleside Farms hosts indoor barn concerts in winter and outdoor concerts in summer, along with themed weekends at their Pumpkin Village in the fall. Come springtime, little ones can even have breakfast with the Easter Bunny! Kids will also love Discovery Park at Earth Song Farm, which is open year-round and encourages them to explore on their own in a safe environment. Meet an assortment of animals at Majestic Meadows Alpacas; in the farm’s 25 years, they have acquired over 70 alpacas, along with other creatures including miniature horses, llamas and red kangaroos. Don’t miss The Alpaca Boutique, which sells alpaca yarn and handmade gifts. For the freshest produce and delicious foods, visit Medina County’s farm markets. Pine Crest Farm and Beriswill Farm Market both offer a selection of freshly grown crops to support your own farm-to-table experience. Greet the farm animals at Richardson Farms before picking up plants, fruits, veggies and baked goods at the market. Bring your green thumb to Hirt’s Gardens, which specializes in hard-to-find plants. Hill Haven Florist and Greenhouse has seven greenhouses and is known for their water garden plants, water lilies, fish and tadpoles, and supplies. Boyert’s Greenhouse grows thousands of annuals, herbs and perennials, in addition to hosting free planting workshops and seminars. Visit the large gift shop for bird feeders, unique gifts and Christmas items.
a Bed & Breakfast
Reutter’s Roost Bed and Breakfast 3 rooms, 3 with private baths 2267 Columbia Rd., Valley City 44280; 330-483-4145, reuttersroost.com
Spitzer House Bed and Breakfast 5 rooms, 5 with private baths 504 W. Liberty St., Medina 44256; 330-952-2129, spritzer.housebandb.com
Campgrounds = = = =
Cabins Camp Store Entertainment Fishing
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AMENITIES:
Homerville KOA Open May 1–Oct. 31. 11450 Crawford Rd., P.O. Box 26, Homerville, 44235; 330-625-2817, koa.com/campgrounds/homerville AMENITIES:
Maple Lakes Campground Open April 15–Oct. 1. Hours: 10am–8pm. 4275 Blake Rd., P.O. Box 86, Seville 44273; 330-336-2251, maplelakes.com AMENITIES:
Pier-Lon Park Open April 15–Oct. 15. 5960 Vandemark Rd., Medina 44256; 330-667-2311, pier-lonpark.com AMENITIES:
Shawnee Lake Park RV Campground April 24–Oct. 13. 6464 Congress Rd., P.O. Box 121, Spencer 44275; 330-648-2577, shawneelakepark.com AMENITIES:
Sunset Lake Campground Open May 1–Oct. 13. 5566 Root Rd., Spencer 44275; 330-667-2686, sunsetlakecampground.com AMENITIES:
Willow Lake Park Open May 1–Oct 18. Mon.–Thurs. 10am– 7pm, Fri.–Sat. 9am–9pm, Sun. 9am–7pm. 2400 Substation Rd., Medina 44256; 330-225-6580, willowlakepark.net
= Group Tour Friendly
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Meeting Room Outdoor Pool Shuttle Service Suites Wireless
The Brenner 250 S. Court St. 1A, Medina 44256; 210-758-1201, airbnb.com Brunswick Comfort Suites 1464 Town Center Blvd., Brunswick 44212; 855-239-9300, comfortsuites.com AMENITIES:
Comfort Inn & Suites 5 Park Center Dr., Wadsworth 44281; 330-336-7692, comfortinnwadsworth.com AMENITIES:
Hampton Inn 3073 Eastpointe Dr., Medina 44256; 330-721-8955, hamptoninn.com AMENITIES:
Lake Laundry Overnight Sites Pool Propane
Chatham Lakes Campground Open May 1–Oct. 15. 6794 Avon Lake Rd., Spencer, 44275; 330-605-8038, chathamlakescamping.com
AMENITIES:
= Car Charging = Complimentary Breakfast = Fitness Room = Indoor Pool
Hawthorn Suites 5025 Park Ave. W., Seville 44273; 330-769-5025, hawthorn.com
AMENITIES:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 5185 Gateway Dr., Medina 44256; 330-722-6006, hiexpress.com/medinaoh AMENITIES:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 231 Park Center Dr., Wadsworth 44281; 330-334-7666, hiexpress.com/wadsworthoh AMENITIES:
Lakehouse Rental on Chippewa Lake vrbo.com Motel 6 3122 Eastpointe Dr., Medina 44256; 330-723-3322, motel6.com AMENITIES:
Quality Inn 1435 S. Carpenter Rd., Brunswick 44212; 330-273-1112, qualityinn.com AMENITIES:
Quality Inn & Suites 2850 Medina Rd., Medina 44256; 330-723-4994 AMENITIES:
Quality Inn & Suites 4949 Park Ave. W., Seville 44273; 330-769-4949, choicehotels.com AMENITIES:
Red Roof Inn 5021 Eastpointe Dr., Medina 44256; 330-725-1395, redroof.com AMENITIES:
Super 8 5161 Montville Dr., Medina 44256; 330-723-8118, super8.com AMENITIES:
Super 8 6116 Speedway Dr., Seville 44273; 330-769-8880, super8.com AMENITIES:
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Pictured: Meet cute alpacas at Majestic Meadows Alpacas. Above and Left: Savor baked goods and start your garden with plants from Richardson Farms.
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Buckin’ Ohio @shandapatalon
Circles on the Square @farflungtravels
Wadsworth Brewing Co. @ohiojourneys Medina Town Square @uavision.photography
Allardale County Park @kirbucci Antiquation @antiquation1
Medina Gazebo @pmeyerhoefer Scene75 @simply_me1029
Mapleside Farms @jennimeestyle
Geigs Orchard @mitch_mahon
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Need a change of scenery? Find cozy cabins, fresh air, outdoor adventures, small town charm and a needed break in the Hocking Hills, Ohio’s Natural Crown Jewels. Free Visitors Guide: 1-800-Hocking ExploreHockingHills.com
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TRAVEL DIRECTORY Ohio’s Appalachian Country AN AUTHENTIC AMERICAN EXPERIENCE FIND IT HERE
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TRAVEL DIRECTORY Prepare for an Away Game.
MAKE LIFE A LITTLE GREENER
Raise a glass in the Glass City!
This summer, discover hidden gems or uncover something new to experience in Columbus. Book a weekend adventure and dine at one of Columbus’ extensive nationally recognized spots like historic North Market or Katalina’s. There are attractions, museums, and fun for all in all of our unique neighborhoods. And…..festival season is back! Plan your summer weekend away at ExperienceColumbus.com.
Request a free travel guide – the official playbook for America’s Playing Field! VisitCanton.com 800.552.6051 OH
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Dedicated to the lifestyle, places, events & people of the Lake Erie region. O H I O • PEN N S Y LVA N I A • NE W YOR K • ON TARI O • M I C H I G A N
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MILESTONES
In 1932, the city held the first installment of this event, which was revived in the 1950s following a 14-year hiatus and continues today.
K
nown as the “peony capital of the world” during the early years of the 20th century, Van Wert was renowned for the flowering blooms that filled the fields surrounding the city, but it wasn’t until 1932 that the community’s signature Van Wert Peony Festival was born. First hosted in the northwest Ohio city on June 7 and 8, 1932, the celebration was organized by the Van Wert Garden Club. The festival took the form of a classic hometown extravaganza, complete with both a daytime and evening parade, dancing and a musical performance. The festival became an annual tradition, until the outbreak of World War II caused it to be canceled in 1941. 128
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It took 14 years for the Van Wert Peony Festival to finally make its return in June 1955. Claire Miller, reporting for The Lima News, wrote in the newspaper’s June 9, 1955, edition that the celebration was back, and in a big way. “Dancing high school bands, fleecy floats adorned with beautiful girls, martial drill teams, strutting drum and bugle corps, gaily bedecked automobiles, and finally, the dazzling spectacle of Queen Jubilee XI’s Coronation.” An estimated 100,000 visitors attended that year. Even a curveball from Mother Nature that meant there were few peonies during the 1955 celebration could not dampen the spirit of the revitalized festival. “Early blooming this year left the community with a minimum of peonies ... but didn’t seem to deter from the beauty or the gayety of the event,” Miller noted, adding that several girls on floats carried bouquets of the flowers. While the festival endured periods of postponement over the years, it was resurrected again in 1992. These days it has grown to include other attractions, but the classic events such as the Grand Parade, crowning of the festival queen and garden tours remain. — Nathan Havenner
A 1950s photo of the Van Wert Peony Festival, which is held each year in June
COURTESY OF OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION
Van Wert Launches its Peony Festival
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www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
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World’s Largest Aviation Museum! Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day)
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Bring your family, or group, tour the aircraft and then experience Virtual Reality, 360˚ Flight Simulators, Aviation-themed Gifts for everyone, Movies on a Giant Screen, and Cafe Dining. Plus, the Museum provides a unique and memorable venue to host your next celebration or event — large or small.
Learn more about supporting the Foundation at www.afmuseum.com/donations or 937.258.1218. J U N E 2022
The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., is a Section 501 (c)(3) private, non-profit organization incorporated under Ohio law. The use of the Roundel image in the Foundation’s logo is with the permission of the United States Air Force; endorsement by the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force in fundraising activities of the Foundation is not intended nor implied pursuant to DoDI 5535.12.
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What will you find in Ohio? Get away with your besties—and your pup—at a majestic vineyard set against rolling hills. The Winery at Wolf Creek boasts the perfect spot for a picnic with a variety of award-winning Ohio wines. Plan your next adventure at Ohio.org The Winery at Wolf Creek in Norton 4
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