Girls' Weekend Getaway- Kalahari Waterpark Resort

Girls’ Weekend Getaway
Kalahari Waterpark Resort- Sandusky, Ohio
April 16-17, 2010

An indoor water park is not my typical destination. I prefer state parks to water parks, smaller hotels to large resorts and like to explore an area rather than stay within a complex. But, I found a great price as part of a University of Findlay Alumni Event and decided with my friends Jan and Janet and my sister Megan to take a quick weekend getaway.

We met at my place around 10:30am on Friday morning and packed up the Vue with our overnight bags and a cooler full of wine and food. We decided to bring our own breakfast, lunch and snacks and eat out only for dinner. We were on the road before 11:am, heading up Interstate 77 North to I-80W to US Route 250 N. We arrived a little after noon and our room was already available. Although cozy, our room was immaculate and had everything we needed- a micro/fridge, a flat-screen TV, a fairly private balcony with a nice view of a pond, a large bathroom and two comfortable beds. Every detail was addressed- beds had faux canopies, the lighting was made from faux ox horns- all the decor screamed safari. We moved into the room, had lunch, a few glasses of wine and then headed down to the water park.

Years back, I’d had a bad water park experience where I lost control on a particularly hairpin turn of a waterslide and went from going feet first and on my back to flipped over and going down on my chin, elbows and knees- scrapped up and bruised, it was my ego and pride that were most hurt that day. I had not braved a water slide since, sticking to the wave pool. But, the water park was a blast! I built up the courage to try the Rippling Rhino, a 4-person tube slide where we plunge into complete darkness, spinning around turns and down slopes. Next we tried the Swahili Swirl, another multi-person tube slide where we ended up shooting into a giant funnel. After a few fast rides, we decided to head to the lazy river where we laid in tubes and floated around the perimeter of the water park, going under waterfalls and bouncing off of the walls- it was quite relaxing. I enjoyed the lazy river, the wave pool and laying in a lounge chair reading magazines but the highlight of the park was the indoor/outdoor hot tub with swim-up bar. We spent quite a while and drank many drinks while sitting in the hot tub, steam rising into the chilly mid-April air. At some point it started to rain, which only added to the novelty of the entire experience. After enjoying the water park into the evening, we decided to head back to our room and get ready for dinner.

As we walked around the resort we found plenty to do outside the water park. There is an arcade with indoor mini-golf, some shopping including a boutique with cute bathing suits, cover-ups and sandals, a spa, restaurants and a candy store. We had dinner at the Great Karoo Marketplace and everything was fantastic! The atmosphere was casual but the decor was very nice with huge dining tables, canopied booths and interesting artwork. We walked past a HUGE buffet with just about everything but we decided to order from the menu. We ordered the Southwestern Quesadillas and the Shrimp & Crab Cakes for appetizers and both were superb. Janet tried the Cranberry Chicken Salad, Jan had the Club and Meg and I shared the Pepper Jack Chicken sandwich- our meals were delicious! Our server did a good job of recommending drinks, as well. We stopped by the Candy Hut as we were leaving and chose a few items for dessert like chocolate-covered strawberries, huge peanut butter cups and truffles.

After dinner, we decided to have a little more fun at the water park. Megan and I rode a few two person rides like the Zip Coaster, a watercoaster with uphill climbs, freefalls and sharp turns, a raft ride called Victoria Falls and the Wild Wildebeest and the Elephant’s Trunk, tube slides that I deemed two of my favorite rides. We ended the evening in the hot tub, drinking until closing time. The area had filled with quite a few rambunctious characters and we had a good time laughing and enjoying our drinks. By the time we headed back to our room, we were exhausted. We ended the evening by drinking wine and relaxing on the balcony.

The next morning we got up early and headed back to enjoy the water park a little more. After doing a few of our favorite slides and reaching a goal of climbing at least 1000 steps during the weekend, we headed to the wave pool. We made the most of the pool by swimming laps, battling the waves, dodging people and getting a great workout, all while having a blast splashing around. We relaxed one last time in the outdoor hot tub. The steam rising from the water in the cold air of early morning hours made it a beautiful sight. Although we could have stayed until 3:pm, we were tired out by the point and decided to head out early. We were on the road by 11:am and back home by 12:30 on Saturday afternoon.

It was just a quick weekend getaway but we did all sorts of activities, relaxed and had a great time. Everything was in one large complex- it was nice to be able to walk from the park to our room and back whenever we wanted. It was a very active excursion- there’s plenty of walking, stair climbing and swimming. There were many little perks which made our stay enjoyable, including the Kalahari Outpost, a gift shop that had everything from canned soup, candy bars and postcards to bottle-openers and corkscrews (which we just happened to forget), the laundry facilities on each floor in which we dried our towels and suits and all the coupons for the restaurants and spa that we received at check-in. We continually commented on how our visit to Kalahari far exceeded our expectations. Although it isn’t my typical destination it ended up being a good time with great friends!

Great American Cities- Lexington, Kentucky

Great American City- Lexington, Kentucky
March 25-28, 2010

As a huge fan of the Kentucky Derby I had originally intended to travel to Louisville, KY but when I found out that the Derby Museum was closed for repairs, I had to rethink my original plan. I knew that Lexington offered a lot of what I was hoping for in a Kentucky trip- great hiking, beautiful countryside and close to the bourbon trail so I shifted my plans a little to the east and decided to explore that area. What a fabulous experience it turned out to be!

Megan, my sister/usual travel partner, and I decided to make this trip as economical as possible. We chose a hotel that served breakfast, packed our lunches and snacks, brought our own wine and ate out at local places for dinner. Many of the activities we did were free. We prefer to spend our mornings doing active things like hiking and spend our afternoons visiting local attractions, seeing the sights or shopping.

Megan and I left after work/school on Thursday evening. We headed out around 5:30pm and followed Interstate 76 West to I-71 S to I-75 S into Lexington, Kentucky. Because of snow and rain, visibility was terrible and we were happy when we pulled into out hotel around 10:30pm. We settled into our cozy but comfortable room.

The next morning Megan and I got ready for our first activity- hiking in Raven Run Nature Sanctuary. The drive to Raven Run is beautiful- into horse country, past vast farms with thoroughbreds out for morning exercise. The weather was beautiful as well- although it was supposed to rain and started out on the chilly side, by midmorning the sky was blue and it was starting to warm up. Raven Run is a 734-acre nature preserve that features babbling streams, artifacts of 19th century settlers, scenic overlooks of the Kentucky River and many other beautiful sights. When we arrived we found an empty parking lot and didn’t encounter anyone else the entire time we were there. We did, however, encounter abundant wildlife including a group of wild turkeys, beautiful song birds and two friendly dogs. Megan and I did the 4-mile main Red Trail as well as a few of the side trails which included a walk past an old grist mill, through a ‘flower bowl’ and to an old lime kiln, which frankly looks like something Blair witch related. The trail followed a moss-covered stone wall built almost two centuries ago, along a deep ravine with a gushing brook and to a cliff overlook with beautiful views. We found fossils imbedded in the rock, viewed woodland flowers and small waterfalls. We continually commented on the beauty of the area. We explored for a few hours and then headed back to the hotel.

After enjoying a lunch consisting of homemade sandwiches, salad and snacks, we got ready to visit a distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We decided on Woodford Reserve and made it just in time for the last tour of the day ($5/per person including tour and sample). We were so thankful to have chosen this location- Woodford Reserve it the most prestigious of bourbons. Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, is manufactured in a building on the National Register of Historic Places and produces only small batches of top-quality spirits. Some distilleries produce thousands of barrels a day- Woodford barely makes a thousand barrels a year- the spirits age an average six to nine years to become a complex and smooth bourbon. By the end of the tour we knew a little about how to make bourbon, the history behind it and even a few Kentucky political accounts involving bourbon ‘lubricating the wheels of policy’. After the tour we were each given samples- while whiskey is typically not my drink of choice, I enjoyed my taste of the deep and complex bourbon.

We went into downtown Lexington in the late afternoon- through the cute little area that holds Transylvania University, past Triangle Park and the beautiful fountains in downtown Lexington. Our dinner destination, Joe Bologna’s Restaurant & Pizzeria (120 West Maxwell Street, Lexington, KY), is located in an old Jewish temple and maintains many of the original architectural features like the stained glass windows. Joe Bologna’s was recommended by many and it lived up to its reputation. We ordered the pan pizza, half cheese/half pepperoni, and a breadstick and were so surprised to be served one huge breadstick in a dish of garlic butter for dipping (about $20 for 2). Everything was delicious- we enjoyed the food as well as the atmosphere of hanging out in a local Lexington hot spot.

Our hotel was located in a commercial area with other hotels, restaurants and shopping and a Hustler Hollywood store was nearby. Megan and I decided to visit and browse a little. Hustler Hollywood is not a seedy establishment with creepy clientele- it is like a department store for adult goods. We looked at clothing, lingerie and accessories without even venturing into the back that held magazines and videos. After shopping for a bit, we headed back to the room to relax. We spent the evening drinking wine, playing card games, bananagrams and watching TV movies.

The next morning we took I-64E to the Mountain Parkway and toward the Red River Gorge Geological area, ‘the Land of the Arches’. We were excited to do some strenuous hiking and take in some of the best views of natural arches in this part of the United States in the Natural Bridge State Park. The experience blew us away. We started out on the Original Trail but soon branched off onto the Battleship Rock Trail, a much steeper, more difficult trail that included rugged terrain, the Needles Eye Staircase which consists of hundreds of steps and even a couple areas where we had to pull ourselves over ledges by grabbing onto roots and small tree trunks! We continued climbing- about 500 feet or 40 stories- and were soon looking out over the vast valley from Lover’s Leap. We followed the Laurel Ridge Trail to an Overlook and got our first view of the Natural Bridge. The sight was breath taking. Millions of years of wind and water chipped away at 900 tons of rock and formed a huge arch suspended between two ridges. We moved up the trail which curved around to the Natural Bridge. From the top of the path, you’d never know you were standing on a huge arch. From the Natural Bridge we took the Balanced Rock Trail down.

With more than 450 steps to the bottom, we were happy to be heading downhill but sometimes got our heart pumping by turning around and marching up again. The Balanced Rock trail was just as scenic as the other trails in the park with rock formations, caves and ledges. Although each individual trail was only half a mile to a mile long, they each displayed rough and rocky terrain, steep inclines and some obstacles so the approximately 3.5 miles we completed were some of the most challenging hiking we’ve ever done.After hiking in the Natural Bridge State Resort Park, we decided to take in a little more of the area by driving some of the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway. We followed it to the 900-foot Nada Tunnel, a one-lane, hand-carved tunnel through solid rock. I’m not a big fan of tunnels, caves or any other deep, enclosed spot but the Nada Tunnel was quite an experience. From there we followed the Byway along the Red River, past Raven Rock, the Gladie Historic Site and to a beautiful view of the Sky Bridge, the largest arch in the system. Along the way we past campgrounds and primitive camp sites, a rock-climbing event, several backpackers and countless other hikers- it is an amazing place to visit for the outdoor enthusiast.

After lunch, we headed down I-75S to Berea, Kentucky, an artisan village which features shops, galleries and boutiques pedaling local wares. Our first stop was Powdermill Pottery in Old Town. We browsed the selection of absolutely eye-catching pottery made by the shop’s owner Jeff Gieringer. The prices were equally amazing. As soon as I set eyes on a handmade brie baker, I knew I had found my first purchase. Megan chose a soy candle made by Lesa Gieringer that turned out to be half-off so we were both pleased with our purchases. Next we headed to the Chocolate Factory- we couldn’t resist- a small candy shop with an assortment of sweets, homemade chocolates and European truffles. We immediately recognized some of the Easter candy forms- the shop owner told us that his molds are made in Hartville, Ohio from the same place my mom got her molds so long ago- small world! Megan and I picked up a dark chocolate Amish buggy form for our sister Jo, an assortment of traditional German ganache truffles for my husband J, some homemade peanut butter cups, choco-covered graham crackers and, my favorite, chocolate-covered blue berries. The flavor and juice of the berries exploded in our mouths when we bit through the chocolate coating. In I Love My Stuff, I found a great gift for my mother-in-law, something handmade by a local artist. From Old Town we headed to the shops on Chestnut Street- the goods at PeaceCraft, a not-for-profit fair trade organization with items from all around the world, were interesting and unique. I passed on an amazing stone necklace made in South Africa but chose some great green wooden earrings made in India for Jo. Next we headed up to College Square were we browsed a number of stores, purchased bourbon-smoked peppercorns for J at the Appalachian Fireside Gallery and a magnet and ladybug miniature at Appalachian Arts & Crafts and Quilt Shop. We walked around the corner and into the Promenade Gallery- I was instantly in stirred by the local art that was displayed. Amazing watercolors, intricate wood carvings, colorful and quirky prints were exhibited and everything we looked at, from large paintings to lawn ornaments, we loved. Megan found a miniature nativity scene with animals other than the usual camels, sheep and donkeys in normal nativities- this had rabbits, cats and birds. I found several linoleum prints by Jan Heather- I spent quite a while narrowing down my choices and walked out with a beautiful piece called ‘Trees Along the Road- Spring’.

When looking into local Kentucky dishes I heard that the Hot Brown, an open faced turkey and ham sandwich with bacon, gravy and melted cheese was the local favorite. Ramsey’s Diner was recommended and that’s where we went. Ramsey’s (3090 Helmsdale Place, Lexington) was near our hotel, just one exit up off of Man O’ War Blvd. When we walked in I was immediately attracted the casual atmosphere. We were quickly seated and served- we shared a Hot Brown, Megan got a side of fries and I tried the side of mac & cheese (dinner for two, around $20). This was comfort food at its best.

At the end of the day Megan and I swam in the pool, chatted with people from around the US in the hot tub and hung around the hotel. We started to pack our bags, played games and reminisced about the experiences of the past two days. The next morning we got an early start and were on our way by 8:am. We had planned to stop at the Jeffersonville Outlet Shops just north of Cincinnati on our way home but decided against it because Megan had plans later that evening. We were home by 1:pm on Sunday afternoon.

When reflecting on the trip, one thing that really struck me was everything we did not get to do- we wanted to stop at a winery or two, take in at least one more distillery, maybe see the Botanical Garden and visit the Shops at Lexington Center. Lexington has a wide-range of activities for any type of visitor whether it is a sports lover looking for a March Madness game, an outdoor enthusiast that’s looking for an amazing nature experience or a couple of girlfriends looking for great shopping. Lexington, KY went from a city I hadn’t considered visiting to a city I can’t wait to visit again!