Ohio Day Trip- A Day of Shopping & Wine Tasting

Ohio Day Trip
A Day of Shopping & Wine Tasting
Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson & Aurora, Ohio
January 8, 2011
It all started as a simple shopping trip to Hoopla with my sister Megan. She mentioned that we should try a few wineries in the area during our afternoon out. I told our friend Di. Megan told our friend Janet. Before we knew it, we had planned a group outing to spend the day shopping and wine tasting.
Our first destination was Sarah’s Vineyard (1204 W. Steels Corners Road) in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Built in a restored barn with stunning chandeliers, large windows and wooden beams, the walls are covered with art for sale. We sampled several different wines, ordered appetizers and browsed the large selection of pottery, glassware and metalwork while waiting for our lunch (turkey panini, asiago & basil rollup and a cheese plate). The customers around us enjoyed themselves playing board games, working on their computers or simply relaxing with a glass of wine. Sarah’s Vineyard has a very casual feeling and I look forward to visiting it in the warmer months to enjoy their outdoor space.
 Next we headed toward Hoopla in Hudson but were disappointed to see they’d closed early. Not to be dissuaded, we decided to turn into the First & Main shopping development. Because our original plan was to browse accessories at Hoopla, we thought InStyle Accessories shop (96 First Street, Hudson) was the perfect compromise.
A sale sign beckoned us across the street to Outfitters (95 First Street, Hudson), a boutique with a fabulous assortment of women’s clothing, jewelry and outerwear. Megan found an amazing gold metallic jacket on the clearance rack. I was instantly drawn to a plum scarf and was thrilled to find it was 50% off. The owner was charming and commented on items as we looked around the store. I just love it when something I’m purchasing has a back story!

From there we walked down to Gracylane (103 First Street, Hudson), a shop that has a unique collection of ornaments, candles, tote bags and other items for those that appreciate a touch of flare. Of course I was crazy about an ornament of Santa, dressed as a butler and serving wine and cheese (which was a steal at 50% off). I caught a glimpse of a deep red feathered bird ornament on my way to the register and snatched that up as well.
Our final destination in the First & Main complex was Heather’s Heat & Flavor (94 First Street, Hudson). We spent quite a while sampling dips, sorting through the vast chocolate varieties and laughing at the adult-eyes-only hot sauces. I found some hot pepper jam that J and I love- a huge score as we’d just run out over the holidays!  We were ready for more wine and headed north on Route 91 to the North End Wine Bar (7542 Darrow Road, Hudson). However, when we pulled into the parking lot we decided that we were looking for more of a winery vibe and decided to check out ThornCreek Winery (155 Treat Road, Aurora, Ohio), instead. As soon as we opened the door, we were drawn in by the elegant decor. There was a fire burning in the corner with cozy love seats and arm chairs arranged around the area. We sat at a large table near where Ryan Humbert, the evening’s live musician, was setting up. Our server was friendly and upbeat, made menu and wine suggestions and was generally fun. We decided to try a flight with samples of several of their wines. There was more than enough for the four of us to try a sip or two of each wine. We decided to share a bottle of Riesling with an assortment of warm breads and herbed olive oil while enjoying the music. Between the beautiful decor, great wine, food and entertainment, ThornCreek Winery was the highlight of the day! I can’t wait to visit in the spring to take in their gardens.
By the time we left ThornCreek, we’d had a full day- good shopping, food and wine tasting, more shopping, more food, more wine tasting. There was only one missing component- dessert. We considered Main Street Cupcakes in Hudson but alas, they were closed. However, our spirits were instantly lifted when we discovered that the same plaza that holds Hoopla also holds Hershey’s Ice Cream Shoppe (50 W. Streetsboro Street, Hudson). We wound down our day enjoying a scoop of our favorite frozen treat and checking out the huge assortment of old-time candies, nuts and chocolates. Our afternoon and evening ended up feeling like an adventure- we discovered new places and shared the experience with good friends.