Romantic Weekend Trip- Findlay, Ohio

December 13-14, 2008

J and I had planned on going on a romantic weekend for quite a while but something else always came up. When we decided to travel to Findlay, Ohio for the University of Findlay Graduation Ceremony, it seemed like the perfect time to make a romantic weekend out of a quick in-state trip.

We left in the morning of Saturday, December 13, 2008. The route to Findlay is easy- Ohio State Route 224 West all the way from Akron to Findlay. We were on our way! The drive was beautiful. We were lucky to have cold but clear weather. There was a dusting of snow in most places. The route has a few areas of multiple-lane roadway but most of it is a two lane highway, a single direction each way. We drove through small country towns with general stores and small gas stations with only a few old-time pumps. One of the highlights of the drive was passing a family homestead called ‘Castle Hill Farm’. The home on the property is just beautiful and stands proud in her age.

We arrived in Findlay right around noon and checked into our hotel. We enjoyed our stay at the Findlay Holiday Inn Express very much! The excellent customer service started before we even checked in. We arranged to have early check-in and our suite was available when we arrived. The hotel was very welcoming and comfortable. The room and bathroom were very spacious. We had a Jacuzzi suite with a king size bed. The room had two televisions- one large LG flat screen in the bedroom and a smaller TV hanging from the ceiling of the Jacuzzi area.

The highlight of our trip was dinner at the Bistro on Main in Findlay, Ohio! We chose this restaurant based on the recommendation of a business associate and the reviews on TripAdvisor. It seemed like the perfect place and it was! The ambiance of the restaurant is great! All the tables are intimate with white linen table clothes and art-glass lanterns. The artwork is eclectic and quirky. The color scheme of deep green with exposed brick was very nice as well. The service was great- our waitress made great suggestions and while attentive, did not overwhelm us with attention. She had excellent timing when it came to removing our dishes when we were finished and never asked us a question while our mouths were full! We ordered the Brie Brule to start, enjoyed our salads (Hot Bacon Spinach salad and Bistro salad) and our main courses were amazing! I had the Al Forno which is spinach pasta in asiago cream sauce and Josh very much enjoyed the Kobe Beef and Shrimp surf & turf. Every bite was exceptional. We live almost 3 hours away from the Bistro and are planning to visit Findlay again just to try other dishes!

We spent our evening sitting the in tub, drinking champagne and watching the Cleveland Cavaliers game. We also packed a basket with wine and cheese and enjoyed a late-night picnic. We checked out the next morning and made the drive home. Although we didn’t spend much time out of town and even though we didn’t enjoy many sites, we made a quick trip a very romantic one by simply enjoying getting away for a few days.

(Photos of the Bistro on Main found on their website.)

Pedaling Through Amish Country- Holmes County Trail

October 4, 2008

My sisters and I love to travel around the state to try recreational trails we haven’t done before. One of the things I love most about the trails in Ohio is that each one is different and has its own unique atmosphere. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs along the Tuscarawas River and the Canal and features historic locks and canal towns. The Hike & Bike Trail and northern portions of the Towpath cut through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Kokosing Trail features rail influences. The Holmes Country Trail runs through the heart of beautiful Amish Country and was yet another exhilarating ride!

The Holmes County Trail is located in Holmes County, Ohio. It currently runs 15 miles from Fredericksburg to Killbuck, Ohio passing through Holmesville and Millersburg. There are plans to expand the trail to 31 miles running to Brinkhaven through Glenmont. It is paved on one side for hikers, joggers and bikers and chip and seal on the other for horses and buggies.

Most of the usual gang decided to come. Megan, Joanna, Janet, Jean and I all met at Jo & Megs. Joanna’s boyfriend Troy and her scuba diving buddy Matt decided to come along. We met Bonnie, her Aunt Betty and her mother at Fredericksburg.

We took US Route 30 West to State Route 241 to State Route 250 to County Road 2 all the way into Fredericksburg. The ride to the trailhead was a blast in itself. The scenery was beautiful. The leaves were starting to change, farmers had harvested their corn and stacked it in teepee formations, the sun was shining and the air was cool and crisp. We passed several Amish buggies as we drove on winding roads and climbed rolling hills through farmland. When we reached the top of a large hill and stared into the valley, white farmhouses and red barns dotted the green landscape. It was simple, quaint and breath-taking.

We parked at the elementary school in Fredericksburg and followed a short path to the trail. We soon were riding through tree cover, open fields and along babbling brooks. As Amish buggies would pass, we’d wave and exchange “Good Morning!” Unlike many recreational trails with several benches along the way, this trail is more of a main route of transportation for the Amish community and has fewer places to stop and rest along the way. We stopped about 5 miles into the ride in the community of Holmesville. It is a small area with nice homes and an agricultural supply facility. We continued on the trail and headed another 5 miles to the town of Millersburg. Millersburg is a beautiful town to visit. They have signs located near the trail with maps detailing the locations of local eateries, lodging, shopping, etc. It had historic buildings and a large Amish community- a small town with a lot to do!

We turned around at the 10 mile marker and headed back. The entire trip was about 21 miles including the trail from the school to the trailhead. After riding, we decided to visit an Amish country store in the area. Again we drove through beautiful Amish Country, over rolling hills and into deep valleys with no electric lines to obstruct the view. We came upon Ashery’s Country Store. From the outside, it looks like a cute little building with a large porch on which local patrons love to relax. Upon entering, you discover room after room of country goodies- a deli full of various cheeses and trail bologna, large freezers with homemade ice cream, a vast room that contained every imaginable food ingredient packed in bulk. Jars of barbeque, jellies and jams were lined on one shelf while pastas, grains and spices were on another. The other side of the room had candies, snacks and treats and other baking goods. Megan picked out graham cracker pretzels, provolone cheese and chocolate covered pretzels. I chose honey mustard pretzel bits and dill havarti cheese and brought home some trail bologna and smoked Swiss cheese for Josh. Jean found some apple butter barbeque sauce that I’m going to look for the next time I stop at this place!

From there we headed up State Route 241 North into Mount Eaten. We stopped there at a family restaurant called Mountaintop. It was decorated with country crafts for sale at reasonable prices. The menu was large for a family place. My grilled chicken club was delicious. Megan enjoyed her chili with salad bar and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well. Stuffed and tired, we headed out to our cars and back to civilization. We were touched by the friendliness of the Amish community and discussed the fun things we experienced such as Amish children laughing as they rollerbladed along their family’s buggy, pedaling through tunnels made with hand-quarried stones and relaxing in the trailside gazebo in Millersburg. It was a great ride and one we hope to continue in the future!

Special thanks to Jean Z. for sharing her pictures from this trip!

Exploring Ohio by Kayak

In addition to hiking and biking recreational trails all over Ohio, my family and I love to canoe and kayak. We’ve spent many hot afternoons floating down the Tuscarawas River from Canal Fulton to Massillon. The Trailhead Canoe Livery is at the Towpath trailhead at Lake Avenue and State Route 21 in Massillon. Canoe and bike rentals are available.

The Tuscarawas River is a slow, shallow river that is also known as Indian River because it was once a main route used by Native Americans. My family enjoys getting thoroughly soaked during canoe adventures and has even been known to ambush unsuspecting strangers. We love it when the strangers fight back. As we call out our battle cry “Ramming Speed”, we maneuver our boats around and back to attach again, splashing each other. We always have a great time!

Last year, my middle sister and I bought kayaks and started out exploring the Nimisila Reservoir, which is in the Portage Lakes. The Nimisila Reservoir is a great area for recreational boaters. There are always wind surfers, fisherman and other yakkers enjoying the water.

We also enjoy kayaking the Sandy Creek, which is a 41.3 mile long tributary to the Tuscarawas River, part of the Mississippi River watershed. The Sandy Creek runs through my hometown. I have grown up swimming in the Creek, watching my brother jump from the bridge and enjoying hot summer days with other local kids. Later in life, the rail bridge that crosses the Sandy Creek in Oneida was a popular hang-out spot for all sorts of partying and fun.

June 7, 2008

For our first trip of Summer 2008, my sister and I put our boats in at the Pekin Bridge, which is outside of Minerva, Ohio. From there, we generally headed west toward Malvern, Ohio. The Sandy Creek is not maintained for navigation which made the trip quite an adventure. We had to push our boats over, crawl through branches or swim under downed trees. When we couldn’t find our way around debris dams, we’d get out and pull our kayaks along the shore until we found another spot to put in. There were areas of slight rapids and it is fun to try and maneuver in those places. We encountered full families of geese and enjoyed the tranquility of a creek that is not often traveled. After approximately 3 miles, we came upon the Oneida Bridge where we pulled out and headed home. Exploring the Creek, which has been a special place since I was a child, was a great way to start the summer.

June 29, 2008

Our second trip of Summer 2008 was full of excitement and adventure! Although the Sandy Creek is usually a slow moving and shallow body of water, after a week of rain it had risen at least a few feet and was moving much faster! When I mentioned to my dad that we were planning to kayak the Creek he replied, “Oh wow, that would be thrilling- it is moving so fast right now!” No mention of safety concerns or warnings- just enthusiasm. We were both a little nervous but also very excited! We put our boats in at the Oneida Bridge. Our dad was standing on the railroad bridge, cheering us on as we paddled toward our first area of rapids. I heard him exclaim “Wahoo! Watch out for that bump!” as Joanna and I paddled around an area of debris creating 1 foot waves. The water was moving swiftly and we spent more time steering than paddling for a lot of the trip. At one point as we were paddling through an area of Class I rapids, we began to hear a roar ahead of us. As we got closer we saw an area of intimidating nearly Class III rapids! It was a progressive elevation drop of only a few feet with a lot of debris and huge waves. It was scary! I screamed as I paddled into them, water splashing into my little recreational boat, and had a blast as I rode through the area! We were both thrilled with the experience! The rest of the ride was calm. We saw a deer, a crane and fish jumping out of the water to catch insects. We paddled through the pond along State Route 183, created by previous strip-mining activities, and we realized how much larger it is than it appears from the road. We passed under the SR 183 Bridge as well as the Reed Avenue Bridge in Malvern, which has been recently restored. We pulled out behind the ball fields at the Malvern Park, approximately 3-3.5 miles from the Oneida Bridge. Because the water was moving so quickly the trip only took an hour. This trip down the Sandy Creek was very exhilarating!

July 12, 2008

Our third trip down the Sandy Creek was the most dangerous to date. As we traveled farther down the river, the water became deeper and moved more swiftly. There were also many debris dams to deal with. We put in behind the ball fields in Malvern, Ohio. We paddled past the Water Treatment Plant and into the wilderness. Although the Sandy Creek runs parallel with State Route 183 from Minerva to Malvern, the Creek runs deeper into the woods on the Malvern to Waynesburg leg. We encountered lots of wildlife including cranes, ducks, geese and lots of fish.

We soon came to an area of debris that was about 6 feet above water surface and nearly 20 feet long. The water was moving very quickly because of the obstruction and it was much harder to maneuver our boats. We scoped out the area and realized that there was no way to get around the debris but to crawl over it. This was a dangerous endeavor. We had to get out of our boats and push them against rushing water to one side of the debris. Joanna led the way, carefully crawling over the debris. I pushed our boats from behind. Then, we slid back into our boats from atop the debris and headed back down the creek--- for about 10 feet before we encountered another debris dam. Joanna’s kayak rolled but I was able to get around most of the debris and roll out so I could pull my boat over the last bit of logs. It took us about 30 minutes to navigate that area. We found a small island and rested because it was exhausting work.

A mile or two down the Creek and another debris dam was encountered. Although this one was not nearly has high or dense, the water was rushing so swiftly that Joanna quickly rolled. I was right behind her so Joanna nearly got pinned between my kayak and the debris. As she went under the water to avoid my kayak, I rolled as well and plummeted into the water. I became tangled on the debris so although I was only a foot under the water, I was caught and could not breathe. Neither Joanna nor I panicked. Joanna was able to swim under the debris and caught her waterlogged boat on the other side. I broke free of the debris and floated down the creek. My boat became lodged in the pile but the force of the water eventually pushed it through and down the creek, where I caught it. Total loss- 1 Toledo Mudhens Baseball cap. Joanna and I made our way to the shore and rested for a bit, thankful to have made it through that obstacle intact and alive. For the rest of the trip we reflected on the safety issues associated with kayaking a river that is not maintained for navigation. We discussed what we should have done differently and decided to take a few weeks off to recover from our exciting and slightly scary adventure. We pulled out at the Greer Avenue Bridge, just east of Waynesburg, after kayaking approximately 6 miles.

Weekend Road Trip- Mt. Vernon and Utica, Ohio and the Kokosing Gap Trail

Weekend Road Trip with my Sisters- Mt. Vernon and Utica, Ohio and the Kokosing Gap Trail

May 23-25, 2008

My family has always loved Velvet brand ice cream, which is made in Utica, Ohio. Our favorite flavor is Buckeye Classic, which is peanut butter ice cream with chocolate covered peanut butter balls that resemble the Ohio State Buckeye. While watching PBS one day, a show called ‘Our Ohio’ featured Velvet Ice Cream, the Old Mill and the Utica Ice Cream Festival. My sisters and I decided to attend the Ice Cream Festival, which is held annually over Memorial Day weekend.

While researching lodging and other things to do in the area, I found out about the Kokosing Gap Trail, which is a 14 mile, paved recreational rails-to-trail that runs from Mt. Vernon, through Gambier and Howard and ends in Danville, Ohio. Since my sisters and I love to bike, we decided to load our bikes onto my Vue and head down for a weekend of eating ice cream and cycling.

We left after work on Friday, May 23. We’d packed a cooler with fruit, sandwich fixings, bottled water, soda and snacks. We took US Route 30 West from Canton and through Wooster to Interstate 71 South. In Mansfield, we stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel and caught State Route 13 right in front of the restaurant. We followed SR13 all the way into Mt. Vernon.

Mt. Vernon is a cute little town with a round-about, big old homes and a lot of charm. We stayed at the Comfort Inn, which is very nice. It had an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna that we all enjoyed quite a bit.

On Saturday morning, May 24, we headed for the trailhead of the Kokosing Gap Trail. From there, we got on our bikes and headed toward Gambier along the Kokosing River. We crossed over old rail bridges and rode past cows grazing in open farm land. In Gambier, we stopped to enjoy the locomotive, flatbed car and caboose. We rode through the Howard Tunnel toward Danville. On the way back through, we stopped and ate lunch at the Howard Tunnel. We also saw a breath-taking bird called an indigo bunting. We had the most amazing day- the temperature was perfect, the sun was shining, other people were out enjoying the trail. We enjoyed the Trail very much!

After we were done riding, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the Ice Cream Festival. After we were done changing, we headed down SR13 for about 10 miles toward Utica, Ohio. The Festival is held about 1 mile south of Utica in an open area. There is plenty of room for visitors, vendor booths and strollers. The Festival is very well laid out and a brochure that details the location of all the stands is included. Our very first stop was the Ice Cream tent. We all tried our favorite flavor, Buckeye, and then got a second scoop of another flavor. I tried Turtle Tracks, Joanna tried Cookies & Cream as well as Raspberry Chocolate Cordial and Megan tried Black Cherry. Of course, each flavor was delicious. After finishing our ice cream, we walked around the vendor areas buying tie-dyed aprons, sandstone coasters, jewelry, candles and magnets.

After the festival we headed back to the hotel room. We ordered pizza and pasta from a local place, Dirko’s, and drank wine while watching ‘Knocked Up’ on HBO. The next morning we got up early, had breakfast at the hotel and then headed home. We decided to take a back road most of the way. We caught State Route 3 North in Mt. Vernon and followed that through Mohican Area into Wooster, where we got on US Route 30 East toward Canton.

Although the trip was just a weekend excursion, we had a lot of fun. We were able to enjoy an area that we had never been to although it was just a few hours away and really experience what that area has to offer. We were able to spend our tourism dollars in our own state and get to know our state even better. We spent very little time getting to our destination and quite a bit of time really enjoying it. I had a blast and enjoyed the weekend with my sisters very much!















May 23, 2009

We'd had so much fun at the Ice Cream Festival the previous year that we decided to return again! We took an afternoon trip, driving through Mohican Country and arriving in Utica in the mid-afternoon. This year we took the time to go inside the Old Mill, observe the ice cream making exhibit and take a walk around the grounds of Velvet Ice Cream. Then we headed to our most anticipated attraction- the Ice Cream Tent! We each chose two individual scoops so we'd have 6 flavors to sample. We tried Buckeye Classic, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peach, Pralines & Cream, Chocolate Raspberry Cordial and Cookies & Cream. All the flavors were delicious but I still prefer the Buckeye Classic. After finishing our scoops, we walked around the festival a bit and did some shopping. I ended up with a beautiful peacock pearl necklace purchased from a man that thought Jo, Meg and I were triplets. Yet again, my sisters and I had a blast at the Utica Ice Cream Festival and look forward to returning next year!

Great American Cities- New York City

May 17-21, 2007- Girls’ Weekend Getway!

Many of my adventures include a group of awesome girlfriends who are always up for anything. When we’re home our activities range from hiking, cross-country skiing and cycling to attending art shows and gallery openings. We enjoy meeting at Mexican restaurants for big pitchers of Margaritas but we also like spending a Saturday night playing games. My friends are an awesome bunch!

The NYC Girls’ Weekend idea originated with my middle sister, Joanna. Her friend Kevin offered to show us around the city. My middle sister Joanna, my little sister Megan, my best friend Di, my friends Jan and Janet (who are also co-workers of Joanna and Megan) and I were in. A date was set and plans started being made. We would celebrate Jan’s birthday in NYC!

We’re all budget travelers and cost was a concern. Although we’d heard that NYC is a very expensive, there are so many ways to save money in NYC! Before leaving, we all ordered the New York Pass (plus one for Kevin), which is a card that gives you admission to more than 40 top NYC attractions. We paid about $85/each for a two-day Pass- considering the cost of the Natural History Museum alone was $56, the Pass is a great deal! The Pass also saves a lot of time! We didn’t have to wait in line to buy tickets at any of the attractions. Because of the Pass, you get to skip the lines and go to a special desk that will issue the tickets.

We left after work on Thursday. We rented a minivan with lots of storage space and a DVD player. We all brought an assortment of snacks for the ride. We watched ‘The Warriors’ while driving toward NYC. We took Interstate 77 North to I-76 East to I-80 East and followed 80 all the way into New Jersey. We stopped around 9:00pm for a dinner at a little Amish place somewhere in Pennsylvania. We drove through the night and arrived at our hotel in the early morning hours. We decided to stay in a hotel in New Jersey near a PATH station and ride the train into the city everyday. What can I say about the hotel? I’ve seen much nicer but for $100/night compared to NYC prices there weren’t bugs and the rooms weren’t dirty but a mirror did come crashing down in the middle of the night and the exterior of the hotel is definitely on the shabby side.

On Friday morning we took off toward NYC. We had an awful hand-drawn map from the front desk with nothing resembling directions to the train station. We still managed to find it with the help of some friendly New-Jerseyians outside the restaurant where we had breakfast. Once we got to the station, we were a little confused because we’re from Ohio and just don’t ride public transportation on a daily basis. Another kind person helped us with the ticket machines and a very helpful man herded us to train minutes before it took off. He spent the 10 minute ride telling us the various places to shop, eat and enjoy ourselves. We rode the train from Journal Square to 33rd Street and come up under the Manhattan Mall. That’s where we met Kevin.

The next few days were a whirl-wind tour. I think I remember most of it but I could have things confused. It is a lot to take in. But, for all the times I’d heard about how overwhelming NYC can be, I didn’t feel that way at all. When we were confused, a local would help us. The signs are pretty clearly marked and no matter what, there’s always some major landmark close to where you are so you can get back on track if you need to. The trains are easy once you get the hang of it. NYC is a visitor-friendly city.

Our first stop was the Museum of Sex, which was covered by the NYC Pass. The MoS was not my thing. I was expecting risqué exhibits but we went on a day when celebrity porn was being featured and that didn't interest me. I enjoyed the first exhibits which featured different fetishes and some of the exhibits at the end were quite interesting. It wasn’t a museum of sexy stuff, it was really a museum of sex.

Next, we went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, also covered by the Pass. This was slightly fun because you can get your picture taken with your favorite actor, politician, athlete, etc. But, the museum was packed with people and it is hard to navigate around the crowds and the statues. I did enjoy getting a picture of myself kicking Derrick Jeter in the balls.

After Madame Tussaunds we wondered around the city a little taking in Times Square, which basically has everything we have at home, but all lit up and shiny, then heading over to see Rockefeller Center, Saks 5th Avenue, Radio City Music Hall and many other landmarks in that area. We plan on visiting Top of the Rock on our next visit. One of the highlights of the trip was saying a prayer in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was absolutely beautiful and quite calming in the middle of the hectic city. We only stayed for a few minutes but it was quite touching.

We decided to stop for dinner at a little Italian place at 150 W. 49th St. called Bella Napoli. We just read the menu in the window and decided it looked good. We ordered carafes of red wine and enjoyed delicious salads and entrees. I ordered Tries Fungi, which was mushrooms in cream sauce over pasta and it was amazing. We all got pleasantly tipsy on red wine and headed over to the Empire State Building for a view of NYC at night.

The Empire State Building at night was another of the highlights of the trip. There are long lines getting to the elevators to go up and even longer lines getting to the elevators to go down. But, the time spent on top of the building was great. What a beautiful view! We got our picture taken and then headed down. Kevin headed for Penn Station and we headed back to the PATH to go back to the hotel for the night.

The next day was another day full of running, running, running. Jan ended up walking about 12 miles on her birthday! We came up under the Manhattan Mall but asked a local where a good place to eat was and she pointed us toward a little deli a few blocks over. It had a name like Amores or something like that. I got a huge egg salad sandwich and drink for a few dollars. They also served pizza, sandwiches, soup and salads. We wanted to take a boat tour but because of cold and rainy weather, it was cancelled. Instead we wandered around the Garment District, saw the Parson’s School of Design (where Project Runway, a show that Janet and I love is taped) and the big needle.

We rode the train to the upper West Side and headed to the American Museum of Natural History, covered by the Pass. The museum had a lot of amazing historical exhibits but they all run together now. I know we saw dinosaur bones, Inuit canoes and a solar-system exhibit.

We walked through Central Park toward the Guggenheim, which is on the Upper East Side. The Guggenheim Museum was amazing and I think we all enjoyed it quite a bit. There were interactive light exhibits along with exhibits by well-known painters. There were hidden galleries and the building itself is a work of art.

From there we headed south toward the financial district. First, we stopped at Katz Diner for some lunch. I’m glad we stopped since it is a landmark but since I don’t eat much meat, it wasn’t really for me.

From there we headed down to Battery Park so we could see the Statue of Liberty. The park was deserted and quiet and I enjoyed visiting on a rainy day. We walked into the financial district and got a picture taken with the Bull. We then headed to the World Trade Center/ Ground Zero to pay our respects. There was a simple memorial made up of pictures, statements and timelines of the tragic events of 9/11. I cried most of the time. This was where we separated from Kevin. We all thanked him for being a wonderful guide- he headed back to Penn Station and we got the PATH right there. Instead of going out for Jan’s birthday, she was beat and we decided to order in.

We spent our last day in NYC wondering around and just enjoying the city. When we arrived in the city that morning, we ate at another local diner where the owner was very friendly and the food was good. From there, we headed to the Pier for the Beast Speedboat Tour (which is covered by the Pass). Don’t bother with the slow-boat tours- just take the Beast! We flew by everyone else with the wind in our hair and being splashed with water. The operators are great guys and made the tour even more fun. We circled the Statue of Liberty, saw lots of Manhattan from the water and had the best time. The Beast is probably the most fun we had! We got a limo ride back to Times Square and spent the rest of the day shopping. We spent one last night in our hotel and headed back to Ohio on Monday morning.

We had a great trip and saw so many attractions. I cannot wait to go back and spend more time in Central Park, take in sites we didn’t get to see, like Top of the Rock and the Museum of Modern Art, and get to know the city a little better. Although I’d budgeted $1K for the weekend trip, I barely spent $500! We were able to do everything on a budget. NYC is def a great weekend trip!

Great American Cities- St.Louis

St. Louis- September 5-10, 2006

St. Louis, Missouri is a fantastic vacation destination. We took a road trip to St. Louis, as well as Quincy, Illinois, to attend the wedding of my husband’s cousin William to his bride Jennifer.

On Tuesday morning after camping over the long Labor Day weekend, we packed up the car and headed west toward St. Louis, Missouri. We drove from Interstate 76 West to Interstate 71 South to Interstate 70 West through Columbus, Indianapolis and into St. Louis. The drive took about 8 hours and we arrived at our hotel in Edwardsville, Illinois just outside St. Louis.

Almost everything is free in St. Louis. On Wednesday morning we left early for a big day of attractions in St. Louis. First, we went to the Budweiser Beer Tour. We had a great time learning about the history and process of making beer. We saw the Clydesdales and where they stay. We got to try selections of beers and other beverages not sold in stores. The free tour was a lot of fun. After the beer tour we went to the Missouri Botanical Garden ($8/pp)- I had a blast, my husband dragged his feet the whole time. If you are the kind of person that enjoys garden after beautiful garden with themes like Japanese Water Garden, Buddhist Temple Garden, Classic Rose Garden, English Garden..... etc, etc, you are the type of person that would love the Missouri Botanical Garden. If you don’t care to see a lot of plants, it is not for you. I personally enjoyed the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog ($3/pp) quite a bit. It features art and exhibits that focus on dogs of the AKC. As a dog lover, I enjoyed everything I saw. We finished our day at the Laumeier Sculpture Garden, which displays many modern art sculptures in a garden setting that spans acres which is free for all. There are some very interesting pieces in the sculpture garden and I suspect I had a much better time than my husband did.

On Thursday we had more free fun. We visited the St. Louis Zoo, which is free. Our favorite exhibits were the penguins and the giraffes, both of which felt like we could reach out and pet the animals if we wanted. We had a wonderful time. Next we visited the St. Louis Art Museum, which is also free. The St. Louis Science Center is free, as well. All of these places are situated around Forest Park, the biggest park in St. Louis. Once the location of the World’s Fair, there is plenty to fill a whole days worth of sightseeing! There is free on-the-street parking around the zoo so look for a spot before paying to park in the lot. We had a picnic lunch in Forest Park near the Boathouse, then drove past the Jewel Box on our way from the Art Museum to the Science Center and Planetarium.

We enjoyed our best meal at Schlafly’s Brewery in St. Louis. My husband enjoyed the local selection of beers. The choices on the menu utilized local ingredients and both our choices were good ones.

On Friday, we drove from St. Louis to Quincy, Illinois where the wedding was taking place. Quincy is a lively river town with a few sights. We enjoyed the sunset over the bridges that cross the River, the rehearsal dinner held at a local pub and the small-town feel of Quincy. William and Jennifer got married on the banks of the Mississippi River with a beautiful ceremony. We enjoyed spending time with family at the lovely reception. On Sunday, we headed back home. The drive back took about 10 hours.

We had a great time on our St. Louis vacation. We were able to do the entire vacation spending next to nothing- we converted frequent traveler points into free hotel rooms, saved restaurant gift cards and used them while on the trip and bought gas with a free gas card we earned through Speedy Rewards. AAA offered discounts on admission to the Botanical Garden an almost everything else was free. We had a great budget vacation!

Our Honeymoon- Key West, Florida

Our Honeymoon- February 14- 23, 2004

We got married at 11:am on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2004. Everything went exactly as planned and we were able to have our closest family and friends share the day with a luncheon reception. We were glad that we decided to have an early wedding because we could head to our honeymoon suite early and enjoy the night.

We spent our wedding night at the Sheraton Suites Fallsview in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. We had an amazing view of the Falls and rapids from the balcony of our suite. The bathroom was huge and featured a giant hot tub. We enjoyed a wonderful first night together sipping Champagne in a luxurious suite.

We spent our honeymoon in Key West, Florida. We left on Monday morning. Our flight left from Cleveland and had a connecting flight in Atlanta. Because of delays, we had to run through the Atlanta airport to make our connecting flight to Fort Lauderdale. Although we made it by a few minutes, our baggage did not and we had to wait an hour for it to arrive on the next flight. We enjoyed a lunch and drinks at the airport Chili’s. After we retrieved our bags, we rented a convertible and headed south.

We decided to take Route 1 all the way, which ran right thru Miami. We took in the sights and sounds of a place we’d never been. Miami is full of vibrant colors and colorful people. We drove through the Florida Keys in the evening. Each of the keys has its own personality. We pulled over and bought deli sandwiches. We stopped a convenience store for bottled margaritas and beer. We enjoyed our leisurely drive through the Florida Keys. We arrived in Key West after midnight.

We’d rented a private cottage for the week. It had a kitchen, outdoor patio with grill, hot tub and outdoor shower, set in a lush garden with mango trees and tropical flowers. It was paradise and the perfect place to spend our honeymoon. We enjoyed cooking fresh seafood on the grill. We spent an entire day just lounging on the deck, sleeping on towels in the sun. We were only half a block off of Duval but we didn’t hear anything. We had our own little oasis.

Key West is one of the those places where you could spend hours partying or hours walking quiet streets in quaint neighborhoods, just depending on what you want to do at any given time. We had a great time just walking around and taking in the unique qualities of Key West. It is an eccentric island with a lot to see and do. We enjoyed the Hemmingway House, the Southernmost Point, the Butterfly Exhibit, the Glass-Bottomed Boat but had the most fun on the speedboat that flew around the island going more than 80 mph! That was definitely the highlight of our vacation. We took in the sunset every night at Mallory Square and loved watching the various street performers.

We always like to get a place with a kitchen so we can prepare our own meals to save money. We went to the Waterfront Market and bought produce, fruit, breads and best of all, fresh seafood. Our best meal was grilled Key West Pink Shrimp skewers marinated in orange juice and herbs. Making our own meals was a great way to spend special time together.

We did eat out a lot! We had fish sandwiches at Hog’s Breathe, drank rum drinks at Sloppy Joes and had amazing Cuban food and a huge pitcher of Sangria at El Siboney. A perfect day of meals to me would be Blue Heaven for breakfast, Camille’s for lunch and the Key West Seafood Garden for dinner. Blue Heaven, at 729 Thomas Street, serves Moscow Mimosas with delicious breakfasts at an open-air restaurant with lots of quirky charm. Camille’s, at 1202 Simonton Street, serves delicious sandwiches. The Key West Seafood Garden, at 519 Duval Street, looks like a tiki bar from the outside but is really a collection of romantic tables set in a tropical garden. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is serene- we spent our most romantic dinner there. El Siboney, at 900 Catherine Street was another dinner favorite. The Sangria was tasty and plentiful and we enjoyed the stuffed crab and rice dish. There is always a line out the door for this place!

A bar on every corner makes it very easy to remain relaxed in laid back in Key West. We drank way more than usual. It is also fun to get your own rum or vodka at the liquor store and add it to a fruity smoothie, sold in every flavor you desire everywhere on Duval. Just walking around and taking in the atmosphere of Key West was a highlight of the trip. It was a beautiful honeymoon location and we had an amazing time!

Great American Cities- Indianapolis

Tool Concert- September 7- September 9, 2001

A friend in Indianapolis called and said she had an extra ticket to the Tool concert that weekend. I’d been to Indianapolis a few times before and always enjoyed myself. I packed up my car and drove 5 hours on Friday night after work, taking Interstate 71 to Interstate 70 into Indianapolis.

The next morning my friend and I drove around taking in the city- past the Indianapolis 500 Raceway, into downtown and then went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. I love visiting a museum in every city I visit and I enjoyed this one! We went back to the apartment to get ready for the show.

I’ll just say I drank a lot at the show. My friend and I were able to convince guys to pay for each of the several Long Island Ice Teas we drank that night and we had a great time laughing and stumbling around. We found a fun bunch and partied the night away with our new friends. The concert was a blast with amazing optical and lighting effects that matched the transfixing music. We caught a ride with a non-drinking friend and made it home fine! I drove home the next afternoon. The weekend trip was a much needed fast break from life!

Great American Cities- Pittsburgh

As much as the former Clevelander in me hates to admit it, Pittsburgh is a great American city! I’ve visited Pittsburgh as a child and an adult and always have a blast.

Three Rivers Stadium Implosion- February 10-11, 2001

The very best trip I’ve ever taken to Pittsburgh was a spur of the moment trip that was conceived, executed and completed within 24 hours! I heard that Three Rivers Stadium was going to be imploded. I called my sisters and asked them if they wanted to go see that building fall down. They were down so we got our mates in on the plan and got to it. I called a hotel and reserved a room. We decided not to get exact directions to Pittsburgh and instead just headed east in the general direction. We knew we’d run into the area eventually. We found a highway with Pittsburgh signs and headed for a tunnel, which I hate! But, as we pulled through the tunnel and Pittsburgh appeared, a crowd favorite song started playing on the radio and we all cheered and got keyed up for an excited experience.

We parked our car and used public transport to explore the city. We took a train to Station Square and rode an incline up to Mount Washington. We ate dinner at a little restaurant that served comfort foods. We headed back to the hotel in downtown Pittsburgh and got to bed early.

The next morning we got up at 5:am so that we could find a premium position to overlook the stadium. We decided to head back to Mount Washington and found a great place to view the whole thing. The weather was freezing and we wrapped ourselves in the hotel blankets. The crowd around us consisted of Pittsburgh sports fans- Steelers and Pirates fans that enjoyed many games at Three Rivers- and a few Cleveland fans that enjoyed watching their rival team’s stadium fall. When you get diehard fans from rivaling teams drinking beer at 6:am, fights are bound to break out and they did. But the crowd finally commenced a count down and at the right time the stadium began to fallsection by section. When the entire thing had collapsed, the crowd cheered and then ran because a giant plume of dust and debris had risen into the air and was heading right for Mount Washington! The dust reached the crowd as we all scurried into shuttle buses that were headed to the train station. We were off the hill in no time and back at the hotel room by 9:00am. We packed our bags, checked out and headed home, this time taking US Route 30 all the way from PA, briefly passing through West Virginia and into Ohio. We were home before noon, less than 24 hours after we first decided to go and witness the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Ohio. We all had a blast!

Weekend Getaway- April 12-14, 2002

My sisters and I decided to see a performance art exhibit which was being held in the East Liberty area of Pittsburgh. We asked our mates to make a weekend out of it. The six of us rented a van, reserved a hotel suite with a kitchen, packed coolers of food and left first thing in the morning. The drive to Pittsburgh is only about an hour and a half and we arrived in the late morning.

Our first stop was the Phipps Conservatory, which has been a family favorite since I was a girl. I’ve been to the Conservatory during each season to experience the gardens and exhibits. The spring weather was beautiful and we enjoyed the indoor and outdoor areas at Phipps. We had a picnic in a nearby park.

Our next stop was to the Andy Warhol Museum. We walked up all 7 flights of stairs and enjoyed exhibits that included his famous screen prints of consumer products and famous people, his collections of Fiestaware and Tiffany jewelry, and other unique and imaginative objects. After the museum, we drove around and took in the area before heading back to the hotel to make dinner and play games.


The next day we saw the performance of Graceful Light in Weightless Darkness at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre. The performance featured modern dancers that wore costumes made of fiber-optics and other light creations. Dancers of all body-types were included and the ideas were innovative and inspiring. We all enjoyed ourselves. We spent the night at the hotel and headed home the next morning.

International Travel~ Canada

First Trips with my Grandparents~

First, a word about my grandmother~ A large part of my wanderlust came from her. She loved to talk about her travels and where she wanted to go. She talked about the ‘Big Apple’ and ‘Lady Liberty’. She looked for napkins that stood up and ordered in French when we went to upscale restaurants. She wore a different broach her dress every day. My grandmother was fabulous. I’m sure she inspired my mother to be the vacation planner that she was, too. I love and miss my grandmother and wanted to mention her in this section. My grandfather is a WWII hero who also loves to travel. (He's in his 80s and is still traveling to Great American Cities!) He has his pilot’s license and we flew on short missions to Pennsylvania to visit family. He’s a stern and sometimes scary guy but some of my best memories include him at his best.

Canada is just across Lake Erie and was always a popular destination in travels throughout my life. I’ve been there many times! Some of my earliest trips were to Niagara Falls with my grandparents when I was five to ten years old. We stayed on the Canadian side at a hotel on the rapids, just minutes from the Falls. The Fort was right up the road and we visited that every time we went. The Maid of the Mist was scary and awesome and my grandfather looked much happier than he usually does. We entered the caves under the Falls and saw them from underneath. We’d always go up in a tower and eat in the revolving restaurant. The touristy things like the mummy musuem were fun for us as kids. The night-time light show was a favorite! Niagara Falls is an amazing natural wonder that never loses its appeal!

Later Canadian Travels~

I visited Niagara Falls a few other times before I was 21 because we could drink there. We drove all the way up on a whim one New Year’s Eve, got a hotel room for $20 (got to love off-season) and celebrated the New Year in a bar on top of a tower overlooking the Falls. We walked down to the Falls- the mist almost froze in the air. Everything glistened. There were no visitors and it was all quiet. We stood there alone for a long time and took in the majestic sight. It was a memorable road trip.

May 30-June 5, 1999

One of my very best road-trips to Canada was a week long Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto trip in the summer in my early twenties. We got tickets to see Phantom of the Opera when Paul Stanley from KISS was playing the Phantom. We followed Interstate 90 East from Cleveland to Buffalo, New York and into Niagara Falls. We visited the Falls, which were packed with people. We road the Maid of the Mist, drove up the river along the rapids, visited some beautiful gardens and a temple and had a great dinner. The next day we relaxed and hung around. We left the next morning for Niagara-on-the-Lake. We didn’t have a plan- we just decided to stop at a few wineries along the way. We bought a bottle in the early afternoon and had a picnic on a riverbank. We found another winery and bought another bottle for later that night. We headed toward Toronto.

Toronto is, to me, the New York City of Canada. It is fashionable and fast paced but clean and courteous. Our first day in Toronto we visited a few museums. I’d waited a long time to see a collection of Henry Moore’s and was thrilled to go to the Art Gallery of Ontario. We also visited the Royal Ontario Art Museum, which had a beautiful collection of Inuit Art. We spent the following day experiencing the city. We ate at an amazing place that was made up of stations with different foods featured at each station. We went from station to station ordering what we wanted. My partner picked a piece of beef and watched as it was prepared. I picked a mushroom dish and we shared some sushi from another station. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the place. I thought it was ‘Marchette’ but when I Google that, nothing comes up. (Update: Thanks to the Travel Board on http://www.thenest.com/, I've been informed that the restaurant is called Le Marche/ Richtree Market at 42 Yonge Street (BCE Place on Front Street) in Toronto!) I was amazing, though. The next day, we saw the show and had a great time. The audience was a combination of KISS and Andrew Lloyd Webber fans- a fun bunch. We headed back the next morning, stopping at the duty-free shop and getting huge bottles of vodka and whiskey.

This trip was also amazing because of the budget price. The conversation rate was great and the $500 USD I budgeted were more than enough to sustain us in Canada for almost a week! We got room service, ordered movies, shopped and had a great vacation!

Crazy High School Road Trips- Cross-Country

From Malvern, Ohio to Victorville, California and beyond...
September to November, 1993

Includes Great American Cities- Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV

Amy and I had the travel bug and parents that let us do what we wanted. We’d gotten into but somehow out of a lot of trouble along the way. We had wanderlust, only a few boundaries and we decided, at the ages of 16 and 17, the same day our senior year of high school was to start, to take a cross-country road trip to California. Amy had a friend there (the Air Force guy from SC) and we could crash with him. We packed up clothes, a boom box, a television and a few stuffed animals in the Cavalier and embarked on our adventure.

We traveled on US Route 30 West to Interstate 71 South and into Columbus, Ohio. We caught Interstate 70 West and headed toward Indianapolis, driving under a huge ‘Good-bye Ohio’ sign. The only thing I really remember about Indianapolis was the road construction. If the Cavalier blew a tire (a fear we carried with us ever since our excursion to SC), there’d be no place to pull over. Another thing we noticed in Indiana and Illinois was the abundance of anti-abortion signs along the highway. We drove into St. Louis, Missouri at around 1:am. The Arch was prominently displayed and was our first major site! Amy and I were ready to pass through on our westward journey. We slept in the car with sheets rolled up in the windows somewhere in Missouri that night.

We caught Interstate 44 West and headed toward Tulsa, Oklahoma. The scenery had changed. The topography was flatter and the soil was darker and deeper red. We passed under a McDonalds that spanned the highway, a water tower proclaiming the town was the birthplace of Garth Brooks and lots of signs for road-side Native American attractions. Even though our hometown in Ohio boasted a large buffalo farm, we still loved the sight of them grazing. In Oklahoma City, we took Interstate 40 and into Texas. Night had fallen by that point and storms had started. The flat topography and blowing dust and debris was much different than the storms we’d experienced back home! It was a scary and exhilarating experience! A rest stop in Amarillo, Texas was where we slept that night.

The farther we went the more excited and surprised we were! Farm land had turned to the distinctive southwestern landscape we’d only seen in photographs and television before. Cacti, rock formations, deep earth colors- we were blown away. Albuquerque, New Mexico was one of the best cities we passed through. We got lost in the inner-city and needed help finding the highway. We were offered help by what could only be considered to be thugs by a couple of teenage girls from rural Ohio- but they were the nicest guys ever. We blew out a tire (a reoccurring theme in our travel, apparently) on our way out and a road crew worker changed it for us. The people of New Mexico were welcoming, helpful and polite. We loved it there! We followed Interstate 40 West into Flagstaff, Arizona and slept in a motel.

The biggest mistake of our trip was not detouring to see the Grand Canyon. We decided to see the Painted Dessert instead and it was beautiful. We periodically got off the interstate to drive on stretches of Historic Route 66. We stopped at roadside stands. We were finally close and we enjoyed a day of leisurely driving through the southwest. We arrived in Victorville, California that night. Victorville, CA is a small desert town in San Bernardino County. The landscape is filled with Joshua trees. There are mountains in the distance.

For the next few months, Amy and I lived freely. We didn’t have much money, ate a lot of ramen noodles and potatoes and had a blast. We visited Los Angeles, California- we saw a taping of Love Connection, walked on Hollywood Blvd. at 3:am, visited sex shops, drove up Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, jumped in the ocean and climbed huge boulders in the mountains. We loved every day of low 80°’s F weather with no rain but experienced a few small earthquakes- a fault line literally ran through the back yard.

A Cali guy and I drove to Las Vegas, Nevada a few times and although I was still a teen, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the casinos. He threw dice while I drank drinks with OJ and we ate for about $5. We walked up and down the strip and visited Excalibur, the Mirage, Caesar’s and a bunch of other casinos in downtown. He won enough Black Jack to score a room with lights around the bed. I flirted with an older Texan with a giant hat and he gave me some money. Porn was scattered around the streets and people who looked broken congregated around the casino entrances. Las Vegas was different than any place I’d experienced before. It was easy to blend in at a place like that.

We finally decided to come home after a few months of scraping by and missing family. We did the drive home in two days. We went back to high school. I finished up in summer school.

I value the memory of our cross-country trip from Ohio to California and back. Seeing the country change before my eyes really inspired me. I loved experiencing the different cultures of the various places we visited along the way. Colorful local experiences in restaurants, seeing things we’d only heard about and experiencing a level of freedom were all things that changed my perspective on the world and the way I travel.

Crazy High School Road Trips- South Carolina

I’ve taken a few trips in my life that changed the way I look at the world around me. Two of these trips happened while I was in high school. My best friend Amy and I were free birds. We always had a boy or two on the side but it was me and her against the world. And, for a couple of cute chicks not more than 17 years old, we saw quite a lot!

Shaw Air Force Base- Sumter, South Carolina

Interstate 77, which runs from Cleveland, Ohio to Columbia, South Carolina, ran right through Canton and we’d traveled that road many times. We’d joke about not taking our exit off of 77 and following it to the end. One night, we decided to do it!

In the middle of February in the middle of the night, Amy and I decided it would be a great idea to pack up my little Chevy Cavalier and drive to South Carolina to visit a friend who was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in SC. It was supposed to be a 10-hour drive but we did it in 8. We left around midnight and arrived in the early morning.

We got on Interstate 77 from US Route 30 in Canton, Ohio. We drove through Marietta, Ohio, before passing over the Ohio River and into West Virginia. Driving through the mountains was scary but exciting- we could peer over the edge into a deep valley in some areas. The first big city we encountered was Charlestown, WV. I remember that it seemed to glow with a gold hue. We passed through the western part of Virginia and into North Carolina. Once we were near Winston-Salem, we started to notice the differences between the eastern Midwest and the South, namely lots of cigarette ads! We drove through Charlotte, NC and into Columbia, South Carolina. We headed east for Sumter from there.

We had some trouble finding the Air Force Base and stopped to ask for directions. The small group that had gathered around the counter of the convenience store looked amused and told us the Base wasn’t called that there- it was called Shaw Field. We finally pulled up to security as the sun was starting to rise. We had to do some fast talking to get on the base but I don’t think that two teen-aged girls that looked a little out of place seemed too suspicious to the MP guards and they let us through security.

We had a great time. We went to a basketball game between the Air Force pilots and the airplane mechanics. Apparently, there was a big rivalry between the two groups. I really don’t remember who won but I do remember a particularly hot pilot named Peach- “Whew Peach!” We also went to a Super Bowl game- Dallas won! The drive back through the mountains during a blizzard was scary. We experienced our first blown out tire. But, we sang and laughed the whole time.

I had to serve two Saturday-schools for skipping two days of class to take the trip but it was worth it. I now knew I could get as far as I could drive!













Postcard from Sumpter, South Carolina

Great Ohio Cities- The Big Three Cs

Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati are the three largest cities in Ohio. They each have their own culture and a lot to offer the budget road-tripper. Cleveland is in the north of the state on the shores of Lake Erie, Columbus is in central-Ohio and Cincinnati is in the southwest tip on the Ohio River. They are connected by Interstate 71. One thing these three cities have in common- they LOVE their sports!

Cleveland~

The first trips I remember were to Sea World and Geauga Lake in Aurora, near Cleveland, Ohio with my family (probably my first time in a hotel) and the Cleveland Zoo with my cousins when my sister was still in a stroller. Childhood trips also included the Natural History Museum and the Cleveland Art Museum, which are nearly next to each other. The art museum is free! We've made the 1.5 hour drive to Cleveland many times. More recent Cleveland visits included the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Edgewater Park, Browns, Cavaliers and Indians games, lots of Playhouse Square shows and countless concerts!

Our most recent family trip to Cleveland was a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. My father wanted to go. My friend Katie gave me 6 FREE TICKETS (thanks, chica)! My siblings and I were able to enjoy a great afternoon with our father who had a great time talking about his own Rock & Roll memories. The exhibits were very interesting. The films were great. The Rock Hall is definitely one of the best attractions Cleveland has to offer.

Iron Chef Michael Symon has two restaurants in near downtown Cleveland- Lola and Lolita. My family’s choice is an Italian place a little out of downtown but worth the drive- Stancato’s in Parma. The buffet on Sunday is the best!

Columbus~

We’ve taken many family trips to Columbus. One of the last trips we took before my mom passed away in 1992 was to Columbus. We went to COSI (a science museum), the German Village and the State Fair. A decade later, my sisters and I planned a weekend get-away to Columbus to visit the Zoo and just have some fun. We ended up planning it on exact weekend that we spent our last family trip together ten years earlier! My sisters and I had a blast on that trip. I unknowingly turned the wrong way down a one-way street and did a quick, tire-squealing U-turn to the glee of my passengers. We rode go-carts. We saw manatees, which are actually way bigger than what they seem on TV. We even ordered room-service. Good fun!

Recent trips to Columbus included visits to the Columbus Museum of Modern Art and the Franklin Park Conservatory. Both the museum and Conservatory are always changing exhibits and are different every time you return. The natural beauty of Conservatory is absolutely stunning.

I can’t think of any one place I enjoy eating in Columbus. I love to indulge in a cream puff from the German Village.

Cincinnati~

Cincinnati is a great place to visit. There is so much to do! I had a friend that attended University there and I visited quite often. We’ve enjoyed King’s Island Amusement Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum, Krohn Conservatory and Eden Park. We crossed the Ohio River to enjoy the Newport Aquarium which is in neighboring Kentucky. Riverboat gambling is in nearby Indiana. There are always concerts and other cultural events going on in Cincinnati. It is a vibrant city.

You can’t visit Cincinnati without trying some of the famous Skyline Cincinnati Chili. Don’t worry- they have great Greek salads and other sides of chili isn’t your thing, but you should try it once because it is unlike chili from anywhere else! Montgomery Inn is a fantastic ribs place with a great atmosphere. There are a few locations and while the original location is very nice, the Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse has a perfect view of the Ohio River. It is a favorite spot!

August 24, 2009

On a recent business trip to Cincinnati, I was looking for things to do in the evening. The Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center is open late on Mondays and is free after 5:pm. I drove into downtown, parked at a deck and first walked to Fountain Square. It is a nice place to sit, people watch or relax. From Fountain Square, I walked to the CAC.

It is seven floors- the top floor was the children's museum and photography was allowed in that area. I enjoyed the exhibits and video installations in other galleries very much. The CAC is located in a bustling part of Cincinnati with a lot of restaurants nearby. It is a great Cincinnati attraction!