Girlfriends' Daytrip- Wine Tasting in Geneva

Wine Tasting in Geneva
Geneva, Ohio
April 25, 2009

The northeast tip of Ohio is wine country and is a great destination for a one-tank day trip. We spent an amazing day celebrating a few birthdays in our group. Diana, Jean and Janet were all born on April 23. Diana came up with the great idea to spend the day doing a wine tour of five of the vineyards and wineries in the area. The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley planned ‘Around the World’, which paired appetizers from different European regions with wines from the Grand River Valley Wine Region. The participating wineries were Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Restorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards and St. Joseph Vineyards.

The group included Diana, Di’s friend Kristen, Janet and Jean, Jan, Megan and I. Much thanks to Kristen who provided our mode of transportation, a rocking minivan, and herself as designated driver! Jill, Di’s GPS, unit assisted in directing us to our destinations. The day couldn’t have been better. After a long winter, we were enjoying unseasonably warm April temperatures in the mid-80s. It was so nice being able to wear tank tops and sandals again. We all piled in the minivan and laughed and talked as we headed toward the wine region, taking Interstate 77 North to Interstate 271 North to Interstate 90 East to Route 534.

The first vineyard we visited was Debonné Vineyards. Debonné is a large, polished, bustling vineyard with a lot of outdoor spaces to sit and relax while drinking a bottle of wine and enjoying a cheese plate purchased at the vineyard. The grounds would also be beautiful for a wedding ceremony and reception. They were serving food from Slovenia- Zlinkrofi, a meat-filled dumpling with sauerkraut- and a choice of three white and three red wines. I tried two whites- Vidal Blanc, a sweet wine and Jazz White, a semi-dry. I tried a sip of Kristen’s Harmony, a blend of Chardonnay, Merlot and Riesling. All were good but I preferred the Vidal Blanc. After we each enjoyed a sample of the appetizer and two glasses of wine, we browsed the wine shop, beer tasting room and gift shop. After purchasing a few bottles of wine we gathered to head to the next stop. All in all, Debonné is a beautiful vineyard in a nice setting but lacks a little character.

We headed to St. Joseph Vineyards next. After the polished look of Debonné, St. Joseph seemed like a real home with a tasting room in the back. I loved it- it had a very low key appeal. They were serving food from Germany- a delicious quiche called Zwiebelkuchen German Onion Pie- which was simply scrumptious. Even my very picky little sister Megan, a real hamburger and fries type chick, loved the quiche! I enjoyed mine paired with a Riesling. My next wine choice was the Pinot Noir, which I really enjoyed. Jean got the Merlot and Megan tried the Shiraz so we were all able to sample and compare the three. I think the Pinot Noir won by a landslide! We wandered out back to a small pond and then headed out to the back porch of the tasting room. Picnicking is allowed at St. Joseph so patrons were enjoying their own cheese and fruit with a bottle of wine purchased on site while looking out toward the pond and the wooded areas beyond. I loved the quirky character of this place.

The Grand River Cellars Winery was right up the road and our next destination. To me and I believe everyone else in the group, this was the highlight of the ‘Around the World’ tour. The winery has nice grounds with a restaurant, outdoor patio and manicured landscaping and is understated rather than overdone. After purchasing our tickets, we were told to head down into the cellar. We walked down a series of steps into the basement and entered a huge room with giant vats of wine, other equipment and oak barrels lining the walls. The lights were dimmed and white twinkle lights illuminated the space, paired with candles on wine barrels set up to be used as tables to add to the ambiance. We were all blown away by the charm! We had our choice of their Austin’s White or Austin’s Red paired with an Irish Beef Stew and Oatmeal Bread. I’m not a huge stew fan but it was really good and I loved the bread. We gathered around a wine barrel turned cocktail table and enjoyed the atmosphere of the cellar. A gentleman invited us to sample more wines and we headed over to his table to sample their Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, a winner of the Director’s Choice Award for the Best Dessert Wine in the State! Next he gave us a glass of the White Fox, a sweet wine made from Niagara grapes. I loved the grapeyness of this wine and after resisting at other vineyards, I decided to buy a bottle of the White Fox. In terms of atmosphere, hospitality and warmth, the Grand River Cellars Winery was a huge hit among our group. I hope to visit again soon to try their restaurant, ‘The Tipsy Grape Grille.’

Next we drove to Laurello Vineyards. We had a blast just getting there because Jill instructed us to turn into a grape vine field so Kristen steered the minivan down a dirt road but found another dirt road that led right to the vineyard parking lot. It was an adventure within an adventure. The Laurello Vineyard featured Sicilian Bruschetta. I’m usually not a huge tomato fan but I enjoyed the appetizer with an assortment of red wines. The decor of the vineyard was laid back. There were fish on the wall, large doors, concrete floors and a spacious sitting area with chairs in the back near the barn. The settling was lovely but there wasn’t anything about it that set it apart from the rest. But, the owner would come out to check on customers and the patrons would chat with each other. As one guy asked us what we were celebrating, another took a few groups pictures of us. The laidback atmosphere is complimented by laidback clientele.

The wine tour was from noon to five but it was nearly six by the time we reached Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, our final destination. Although we knew we’d miss the featured Italian appetizer of Portobello Mushroom Risotto and wine pairings, we thought it would be a great ending to our day because it has a restaurant where we could unwind and reflect on the day. The winery is big and bustling- quite the spot to end the evening. Many of the groups that were there were celebrating as well. We got on the restaurant list and then explored the building. There is a gift shop, wine bar and outdoor patio where live music was being played. The outdoor area had several different pavilions and a fountain in the middle. We relaxed outside with a few glasses of wine and listened to the music while watching a woman who was pleasantly drunk on wine dance around the patio. By this point I, too, was pleasantly drunk and very much enjoyed just sitting and enjoying the environment while sipping on glasses of Bianco and Vidal Blanc wines. Our table was large and situated right in front of the windows so we had a great view of the grounds and musician. Megan and I decided to share the Portobello Mushroom & Artichoke Bruschetta, the Pizza Margarita and the Tiramisu. All were amazing. A few others tried the dinner for two which was a three-course meal with wine pairings- cheese manicotti and lobster to start, a beef dish for the second dish and cannoli with red ice dessert wine for dessert. I really enjoyed the restaurant at Ferrante and look forward to returning. Although Ferrante is a larger vineyard that lacks some of the character the smaller vineyards seem to have, it is still warm and relaxing.

To say I had a blast in wine country would be an understatement. As celebrations go, the wine tour was the perfect choice. Not only did I get to spend a beautiful day with my closest friends but we got to enjoy a little slice of what Ohio has to offer. Each vineyard had its own feeling and attitude and I loved the mix that we experienced. There are several other wineries in the area to explore and I can’t wait to visit the region again!

Special thanks to Diana who provided all the pics!

Camp Tuscazoar Maple Days Festival- Dover, Ohio

Maple Days Festival
Camp Tuscazoar- Dover, Ohio
April 4, 2009

My family has always loved a good festival! Some of my fondest family memories are of jumping in hay bales at the Algonquin Mill Festival, camping out and listening to tribute bands at a Harvest Festival and enjoying ice cream at the Utica Ice Cream Festival. This year we decided to travel to many festivals around our state to get to know a little about each community that holds these celebrations. Along with the festivals we visit annually, we hope to get to a few new ones, too. Although most of these excursions will only be day trips, I’m going to include them in my blog to promote tourism within our own state. Traveling doesn’t have to be spending a certain amount of time in a destination that is a certain distance away. Traveling within the state is a great way to save time and money while spending tourism dollars at local businesses and organizations.

The Camp Tuscazoar Maple Days Festival is one that my family and friends have been visiting for the past four years. Featuring great hiking and all-you-can-eat pancakes with homemade maple syrup, this event kicks off the outdoor season and we all look forward to it. Maple trees within the camp are tapped and connected by miles of tubing. All the sap is collected and made into maple syrup on site. A local Boy Scout troop serves pancakes and sausage to accompany the syrup.
We all decided to meet in the campground parking lot. Although previous years have been cold and rainy, we had a perfect day. The turn-out was huge. The group consisted of my brother Michael, my friend Diana, my sister Joanna and her boyfriend Troy, my friends and sisters Janet and Jean and Jean’s boyfriend Bob, my friend Jan and her dog Carly and me. We decided to take a hike before eating breakfast and headed down the hill to the Dover Dam. There hadn’t been too much flooding this year so it wasn’t a very exciting sight.


We continued down the trail and then headed off the beaten path and into the woods. We climbed a hill, hopped a stream and followed logging trails to the Zoarite Iron Mines, a mine established around 1817 by German settlers. An old stone wall probably used as a loading dock still exists in the middle of the woods. After resting at the mine, we continued on to Buzzards Roost, an outcropping of rocks that sits hundreds of feet above the Tuscarawas River. Once a Native American look-out, it now overlooks the Dover Dam and the river valley below. The views are breathtaking- each year this spot is the highlight of our hike.

We’d hiked a few miles and were ready for some food! We all headed back to Kimble Hall to enjoy some pancakes and maple syrup. The $6 all-you-can-eat breakfast is a hit with everyone. We always head up for seconds of the fluffy pancakes that are served with sausage links, apple sauce and coffee, water or punch. After filling up on breakfast, we walked off a little by climbing the hill to the parking lot. We were all beat but enjoyed another great year at the annual Maple Days Festival.

Maple Days 2010

Maple Days 2011

Maple Days 2013

Travel Products Rave

Joby Gorillapod- This little 6” tripod is the perfect size to carry with your digital camera. Its design makes it adaptable to a variety of situations. Recently, we used our Gorillapod to take photos of us by the ocean and in the rainforest when there was no one around to snap a picture. It is also great to use when taking photographs that require a steady hand like low light and nighttime scenes.

Sarongs- I’ve long been using sarongs as beach cover-ups and casual skirts but on our recent trip, I discovered another use. We were gone for 10 days and needed to do some laundry. We made laundry bags by wrapping our clothes in sarongs, tying the corners and carrying them to the nearby laundromat. We washed the sarongs with everything else and packed our clean folded clothes in them for the way back.

Carry-on Size Backpacks- Traveling carry-on only is made easier by eliminating the long handles and wheels and instead carrying a backpack style suitcase. We discovered that our backpacks were great when traveling over broken sidewalks and cobblestone streets, as well. I use the Jansport Weekaway and J uses the eBags Weekender. Both have straps that can convert them to a duffel-type bag and are a roomy but manageable size that fit into airplane overhead bins. Skipping the luggage claim is great!

Packing Cubes- When traveling carry-on only, organization is essential. Various size packing cubes make organization much easier. I use two medium, two small and two slim packing cubes with my Jansport Weekaway. These cubes hold a lot of stuff! For my most recent trip to Puerto Rico, I needed to pack a variety of clothing options because we were going to enjoy a wide range of activities from touring a historic city to hiking up a waterfall to enjoying nightlife. The cubes kept everything organized, somewhat like mini drawers within my suitcase.

5th Anniversary Trip- Puerto Rico

February 11-20, 2009

Puerto Rico was the perfect destination for our 5th anniversary trip for many reasons. Because of its size and geography, the island offers numerous land and water activities- perfect for a couple with one water lover and one lover of land. The history and features of the island can be explored during the day with laid back evenings spent in restaurants and cantinas. We were able to plan a trip that satisfied my desire to do and see as much as possible with J’s need to just slow down and relax.

Many of the travelers that we met agreed that Puerto Rico offers all the benefits of international travel without the hassle. Because it is a commonwealth of the United States, no passport is required. However, the look and atmosphere of Puerto Rico is distinct and unlike any area of mainland US. The Spanish Colonial architecture and Caribbean influences blend to create a culture of rhythm and color.

Old San Juan

Day 1- Arriving in Puerto Rico- Our flight departing Cleveland (connecting in Chicago) left on schedule at 6:05am EST. The flights were full of turbulence so we were happy to land and be on our way by a little after 3:pm AST. We had a great taxi driver who pointed out sights and gave us tips the entire way from the airport into Old San Juan. My husband described pulling into Old San Juan as “culture shock.” The one-way streets are very narrow and offer barely enough room for a line of parked cars, moving vehicles and pedestrians that are crowded off the narrow sidewalks. All of the buildings are beautiful Spanish architecture painted in bright colors with large iron gates that protect open-air courtyards. The streets are paved with blue cobblestones. It was unlike any place we’d ever seen.

We arrived at our guesthouse Casa Candela on Calle St. Sebastian and were lead to a beautiful room on the third floor and back of the building. Casa Candela is in a 400-year old building and features interesting and eclectic art throughout the passageways and rooms. Our room had beamed ceilings that were at least 15 feet tall and a balcony with beautiful views of Old San Juan, the water and the mountains beyond. There is also a roof-top deck with 360° views of Old San Juan, the bay and both forts. The doors and windows have shutters that can be opened to let the breezes pass through the room and we left ours open most of the time. Our room had no TV or telephone and we loved that we had no idea what was going on in the outside world for the time that we were there. Nicer then a hostel but without the amenities of a hotel, there were some drawbacks to our accommodations. There were signs warning of sporadic water problems and there certainly were issues. We were without water for one entire afternoon and evening and a few hours on another day but we agreed with other guests that for what we were paying, we could get by with the large jugs of water that were provided.

After settling into our room, we set out to walk around a bit and find some dinner. We headed down the hill and walked up Calle Fortaleza to Calle Cristo. We finally decided on Maria’s Bar and Restaurant, which has friendly service and the biggest pitchers of Sangria we have ever seen. We each ordered tacos and enchiladas and the casual dinner hit the spot. We couldn’t finish our pitcher of Sangria so they poured it in a bottle for us to take with us. After dinner, we walked around the area a little and strolled by the water for a while before heading back to our room. We were exhausted after a long day of travel and got to bed early.

Day 2- Touring Old San Juan- It was a beautiful morning and I decided to go for a jog around Old San Juan (OSJ). I was greeted by many of the people also jogging along the city walls. When I returned to the room, J was ready to go. I got ready and we headed down to Cafe Mallorca (400 Calle San Francisco) for breakfast. The service was great and we both enjoyed simple eggs and bacon breakfasts with toast for a good price.

After breakfast, J and I embarked on a walking tour of OSJ that I found on TripAdvisor.com. We enjoyed being able to do the tour at our own pace and took the time to visit and explore many of the historical features of Old San Juan. The walking tour passed many Old San Juan landmarks such as the Paseo de la Princesa where an exhibit of aerial photographs was being displayed, the Raices sculpture, the promenade overlooking the bay and then continued up the path along the outside of the City Wall to the City Gate. At the City Gate, we decided to walk the .75-mile one-way Paseo del Morro path along the outside of the wall and under El Morro to enjoy the beautiful water views. We’d heard about the cats and were happy to see most of them looking healthy and enjoying the warm morning sun. We spent a lot of time at the end of the path sitting by the water and watching the waves crash against the rocks. After walking back through the City Gate, we stopped for Limbers (fruit-flavored shaved ice) - I chose passion fruit and J enjoyed limon. We sat in a small plaza right beside the gate and enjoyed our cool treats. As we continued the walking tour, we visited more sites such as the San Juan Cathedral where I said a prayer, the Hotel Convento, the shopping districts of Calle Fortaleza and Calle Cristo, Casa Blanca, La Rogativa Plaza, La Fortaleza, Cristo Chapel and Pigeon Park.
El Morro Fort was one of the highlights of our trip. It is a huge fortress with dark passageways and several levels to explore. There are beautiful views of the sea and city from the walls and observation areas. It only cost $5/per person to visit both El Morro and San Cristobal Forts so it is worth it to see both if you have the time. Although guided tours are available, we enjoyed doing the self-guided tour listed in the pamphlet we received when we entered.
We finished our tour of El Morro in the early afternoon and decided to have lunch at a restaurant near our guesthouse, El Patio de Sam (102 Calle San Sebastian). Our server was friendly and funny and we really appreciated his service. I enjoyed a margarita and J drank beer. We shared the appetizer sampler and Cuban sandwich. All the appetizers were delicious with several types of Puerto Rican fritters and queso frito but I enjoyed the olive bites the most. We headed back to our room for a little siesta after lunch.
In the early afternoon we headed out again for a shared favorite pastime- drinking and shopping! J likes to drink, I like to shop- it works out perfectly. We stopped at Barrachina, the birthplace of the pina colada. I had a few classic pina coladas with dark rum and J sampled aged local rums. We then stopped to purchase cigars, look at hand-carved nativities, jewelry and outlet shopping while popping in small bars along the way to enjoy a few drinks. Since we had a large lunch we decided against dinner and instead picked up snacks and drinks and headed back to enjoy the roof-top deck of the guest house.

Day 3- Touring & Shopping- We decided to take the day a little more slowly. After enjoying a delicious breakfast of toasted mallorca, eggs, bacon, toast and fresh-squeezed orange juice at La Bombonera (259 Calle de San Francisco), we spent the morning relaxing in various plazas around OSJ in between shopping for a hat for J and making purchases at the Puerto Rican Craft Store (204 Calle Fortaleza) and a few outlets for myself.
We set out for San Cristobal Fort in the early afternoon and enjoyed doing the self-guided tour. Although San Cristobal is larger than El Morro, it didn’t seem to have all the areas and levels that El Morro has. I suppose that most pick a favorite and I personally enjoyed El Morro more.
After the Fort we enjoyed a Puerto Rican lunch at El Jiberito (280 Calle Sol). Our server Luis made great suggestions- I had the chicken with a side of beans and rice and J had cube steak with mofongo. We then walked to the cemetery near El Morro and strolled though Casa Blanca’s tropical gardens. Finally, we headed down to the bottom of the hill to sample some of the local rums at Casa Don Q. Even though we had tried to take it easy, we were still weary by the end of the day.
Luquillo

Day 4- Moving to the Beach- Old San Juan is a great option for a long-weekend vacation destination. Three days was the perfect amount of time for us to explore OSJ, enjoy a few restaurants and bars, some shopping and the general atmosphere of the city. We spent a quiet morning sitting on the roof-top deck and packing up our stuff. We walked down to the Plaza de Armas to catch a taxi back to the airport where we picked up our rental to drive to Luquillo for the rest of our vacation. Along the way, we stopped at a road-side stand for a traditional weekend lunch of lechon asado, roasted pig. The people of Puerto Rico are so friendly and open- even though the pig man knew no English and we knew only a little Spanish, we figured out the transaction with smiles and laughs. We ate under a plastic canopy by the side of the road and the experience was one of the most authentic we had.

For the second leg of our trip, we wanted to slow down and spend some time relaxing at the beach. After three days in the hustle and bustle of OSJ, it was nice to pull into Luquillo, a sleepy beach town that looks worn but appreciated by its warm and friendly inhabitants.
When we arrived at the B&B, the Luquillo Sunrise Beach Inn, we were blown away. To say that this place is immaculate would be an understatement. Everything looked great from the parking lot swept free of sand, to the rooms with new tile floors, showers and granite countertops, to the activity room with internet station, games, books and notebooks full of reviews of local restaurants, activities and more. What a great idea! We relied heavily on those review books when deciding where we wanted to eat. The front desk and support staff are all so friendly and helpful. The B&B also serves a great breakfast, with Continental items like breads and bagels with fruit and cereal and hot options that change every day like eggs and potatoes, banana pancakes with bacon and Caribbean breakfast pizza. We had a king-sized room with an extended balcony. Our view of the ocean was so close that we could actually feel the mist of the waves on our balcony!
So, this was Valentine’s Day, our 5th anniversary. We spent the afternoon sitting on the beach in front of the B&B, watching the waves crash. In the evening we started thinking of what we really wanted to do for our anniversary dinner. We usually just enjoy a special dinner at home and decided we’d really rather do something like that. So, we ordered pizza and it was fantastic. We walked to the local place, William’s Pizza, and ordered two personal pizzas. We picked up some rum and beer from the local carry-out and spent our 5th anniversary eating pizza on the balcony overlooking the ocean.

Day 5- Beach Day- We just relaxed for most of the day. We carried lounge chairs down the beach to an area near the rocks and a group of palm trees. The beach directly in front of the B&B, Playa Pared, is a surfers’ beach and there were always at least a few to watch. The swimmers' beach, Playa Azul, was just a 5-minute walk away. Only a short drive away is world-known Luquillo Beach, which boasts the European Blue Flag designation. In the early afternoon, we headed down to Luquillo Beach and to check out the Kiosks for lunch. The Kiosks are made up of approximately 60 individual food stands that sell everything from towels and souvenirs to Puerto Rican food like fritters and mofongo and other stands offer Peruvian food, upscale Italian or fresh oysters.

We decided to try El Jefe Burger Shack (Kiosk #12). What a great place. The burgers are delicious! J ordered the Sampler, which offers mini versions of each of their stuffed burgers- short-rib stuffed, Spanish-chorizo stuffed or Firecracker (green chili and jalapeño stuffed). J loved the Firecracker the most. I ordered a burger with cheddar, bacon and BBQ and it was scrumptious. The food takes a little longer at the Burger Shack because they make everything fresh as you order it but it is worth the wait.

That evening we enjoyed one of our best dinners at Guavas (Veve Calzada Street # 16, La Pared Beach, Luquillo). Guavas is within walking distance of our B&B. They have live music on the weekends and the music they were playing when we were there was amazing. Two classical guitarists were backing up a vocalist singing traditional songs. Patrons of the restaurant would sing along to their favorites and some stood up to dance at their tables when ballads were played. They served beautiful dishes that appeared gourmet in presentation but with appropriate portions. I had the Lobster Ravioli in a Saffron Sauce and J had the Stuffed Chicken. Everything was delightful and we consider this dinner to be the best of the trip.

Day 6- Icacos- We took a Spread Eagle catamaran sailboat trip to the deserted island of Icacos, a small uninhabited island off the northeast coast of PR. J and I spent the first part of the day walking around the island, beach combing. They served a great sandwich buffet on the boat and after lunch I jumped in the water and took a dip while Josh relaxed. In the afternoon the sailboat moved to another reef where I enjoyed snorkeling. Although we were careful to dowse ourselves in sun-screen we both were still slightly red and very tired by the end of the trip. We stopped at the grocery on the way back to pick up pan agua or water bread, a soft white bread, and other sandwich fixings so we could make lunches for our hike the next day. We decided to just have sandwiches that night and got to bed early.

Day 7- El Yunque Rain Forest- Visiting El Yunque Rain Forest was the highlight of the trip for me. I love to hike and trekking through such lush vegetation was a thrill. We took the advice of many and got to the forest early, a little after 8:am. By the time we left, the place was crawling with visitors- thank goodness we arrived early because we felt like we had the place to ourselves in the early morning. We drove all the way to the end of the road, parked and started our walk to the Britton Observation Tower from there. The entire walk to the Tower is uphill but because the path is well-maintained the hike is fairly easy. The view from the tower is amazing. We could see all the way to the ocean and were even able to see the area our B&B is in.
Next, we hiked the Big Tree Trail to see La Mina Falls, which was breathtaking. The trail follows a stream down the rocky riverbed filled with boulders that are easily climbable. There are cool pools to stand in and you are even allowed to swim in the pond that La Mina Falls pours into. We had the entire falls to ourselves. As we hiked out, we encountered a lot of people hiking in so we were happy to be done rather than part of a huge crowd.

J and I headed out to Playa Azul to hang out at the beach that afternoon. J and I jumped in, waded out to where the waves broke and enjoyed splashing around. We had a picnic lunch that day and decided to head out for good old bar food for dinner. We ate at the Brass Cactus, which offers a great menu of pub-style foods like steak fajitas and beer-battered mahi sandwiches. I enjoyed a few stiff margaritas which were perfect.

Day 8- Beach Day- We had planned on biking the Pinones Boardwalk on this day but decided we’d rather have a quiet beach day instead. We walked from the B&B along the beach to an outcropping of rocks that are a part of a Nature Preserve and explored that area for a while. We had tacos at a well-priced local Mexican place called El Sabor. In the early afternoon we got the call we’d be dreading- our trip to the Biobay had been cancelled due to strong winds and bad weather moving in. This was one of our most anticipated activities and we were disappointed that we couldn’t do it. We decided to go out for dinner instead and enjoyed a quiet Italian meal at Osobucco, one of the Kiosks. We were surprised that this place wasn’t busier than what it was because we enjoyed our meals of Pesto Gnocchi and Chicken Parmesan very much. The server was beyond gracious and the sage green decor with Caribbean wood accents was tasteful and welcoming.

Day 9- Gallery Day- It rained most of our last full day in Puerto Rico but that didn’t get us down. We chose to use the day to drive around the area and visit local galleries. Our Inn has a mural painted by a local artist and we wanted to see more of her work so we headed out to Palmer to check out her gallery and others in the area. First we visited a large gallery, the Coqui International Store, that exhibits the work of several Puerto Rican artists in the area. Everything from paintings to wood carvings to food delicacies are available in this area. Across the street is the Melloy Gallery of Jaymee Weinreich that she shares with two other local artists. Jaymee is the mural artist we were looking for and we were pleased and honored to meet and talk with her at her gallery. We ended up purchasing two linoleum prints from a fellow artist at the Gallery as well as a painting done by Ms. Weinreich that was displayed in our B&B. We spent the rest of the afternoon driving around Luquillo and Fajardo gathering the supplies needed to ship a box full of all our purchases back home. Because we enjoyed the burgers so much the first time, we headed back to try something new at the El Jefe Burger Shack. J got a Firecracker burger and I got my burger with sautéed mushrooms. I enjoyed being able to customize my burgers each time depending on what I felt like having.

Day 10- Our Last Day- Our last day had finally arrived and we woke up early to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. Although we were sad that our vacation had come to an end, we missed our dogs so much and looked forward to getting home just to see them. Our flights home were not nearly as turbulent and we had much more room so we relaxed and enjoyed the flights back. We were home by 8:pm that evening and snuggling with our dogs on the couch shortly after.

Summit MetroParks Fall Hiking Spree Trail Review

September 1 through November 30, 2008

Anyone that gets a chance to travel to Akron, Ohio should take a few hours to explore one of the many MetroParks in the area. The Parks have so much to offer the community, including ball fields, swimming and other recreational activities but what my family and I enjoy most about the parks are the hiking trails! Summit County MetroParks holds an annual hiking event called the Fall Hiking Spree. They challenge participants to complete at least 8 hikes between September 1 and November 30. My sister Megan and I decided to go for it. This is a review of each of the trails that we completed.

Quarry Trail- Deep Lock Quarry Park (near Peninsula)- 1.2 miles, Difficulty Rating- 2

The Quarry Trail is a beautiful one to complete in the fall. Although there are some hills and rocky terrain, it is an easy trail to complete. When we went, there were many children as well as seniors on the trail. One of the highlights of the trail is an abandoned rock quarry and many were gathered there enjoying the day. Old mill stones still lay along the path and stone-paved walkways presumably used by quarry workers are still evident. The history of the area is apparent by the artifacts that were left behind. This trail would be good for running but be aware of rocks and loose stones! A quick walk with only a few hills, we enjoyed the trail but much prefer more difficult ones.

Willow Trail- Firestone Park (South Akron)- 1.6 miles, Difficulty Rating- 1

One thing we quickly learned about the trails was the lower the difficulty rating, the higher number of people you’ll see there! This trail was packed with families! It goes through open fields, past fishing ponds, streams and canals and over rolling hills. Due to recent rain, part of the trail was flooded but we just waded through. It was a simple and quick walk and would be nice for running.

Gorge Trail-Gorge Park (North Akron, near Cuyahoga Falls)-1.8 miles, Difficulty Rating- 3

The Gorge Trail is a family favorite! One of the most scenic trails in the system, it passes by a cave where a 12 year-old settler girl was held hostage by Native Americans, through rock formations and along the Cuyahoga River Gorge but the gem of the park is the waterfall, which used to be used to create hydropower. The upper trail is full of rocks, roots and sandy areas and is not best for running due to trip hazards. Areas of the lower trail are better for running but trip hazards such as roots exist. One area of the trail offers an ‘Easy’ and a ‘Difficult’ option. The ‘Difficult’ option takes you through a series of rock crevices and includes rock steps. Even in the heat of the summer, it is cool within the rocks. Although this trail has a high difficulty rating, it is a community favorite so many people enjoy the park. There are also picnic tables, pavilions and a fishing dock that make the area a park-dwellers delight.

Adam Run Trail- Hampton Hills Park (Cuyahoga Falls, near Blossom)- 3.2 miles, Diff.- 3

Adam Run is one of the most difficult in the Park system. It has varied terrain which includes several hill climbs, some with steps. Nearly the entire trail passes through a deeply wooded area including a pine grove planted by Girl Scouts in the 60s, more than 40 years ago. There is an open field area at the top of the trail with wild flowers. Because of the difficulty, the trail is less populated. Areas are well suited for trail running and the steps are always a challenge. This trail is great for winter hiking! Adam Run is one of the go-to trails my sis and I consider when we want a good ‘work-out’ hike.

Parcourse Trail- Sand Run Park (Akron)- 1.4 miles, Difficulty Rating- 3

Speaking of ‘work-out’ trails, the Parcourse was designed just for that. Although it is a short trail, it is tough because of the hilly terrain and the twenty individual workout stations that line that path. Signs prompt you to run or walk from station to station providing a total body workout. Stations range from strength exercises such as squats, lunges, push-ups and sit-ups to cardio activities like jumping jacks and jumping logs. Stretching and balancing stations are also included. Cross-country runners love this trail, as well. Because it offers such a great work-out, my sis and I call it “THE Trail” and we’ve brought many friends and family with us to experience the intense workout. My sis and I were pretty devoted to the trail for all the summer and fall and went from flabby and slow to toned and able to run the entire trail within a few months. We can’t wait to take it on again this spring! This is one of our all-time favorites because it is a great fitness trail!

Cherry Lane/ Fernwood Trail- Nature Realm Park (Akron)- 1 mile, Difficulty Rating- 1

The Nature Realm is an educational facility surrounded by a scenic park. It features an arboretum, an herb garden and calming ponds. The trails were very easy to complete. This is a great spot for families and seniors. Because it is more family/senior oriented, running is not allowed.

Deer Run Trail- O’Neil Woods Park (Bath)- 1.8 miles, Difficulty Rating- 3

This trail was the find of the season! It is a new family favorite. It starts at the top of the Cuyahoga River Valley, winds deep into the valley, along the Cuyahoga River and back up to the top. It is a strenuous running trail, just the kind my sis and I love! It is also very scenic- there is a long area of steps that wind down into the valley and the views that overlook the valley are breathtaking. The last part if the trail is a long, somewhat steep hike back up to the top that gets the heart going. For a real workout, we run it backwards so that we’re going up all the steps, rather than down, which is a killer! Because of the scenery and the difficulty of this trail, it is one of our favorites!

Dogwood Trail- Sand Run Park (Akron)- 1.8 miles, Difficulty Rating- 3

The Dogwood Trail has been a family favorite since we moved to Akron. We enjoy trails with hills and this one delivers. It hikes into a valley and back out, ending with what we affectionately call ‘The Big Hill.’ The last time we hiked this trail we saw a fox and have previously encountered deer within feet of us! It is an excellent running trail, as well. This trail is frequently populated because of its great location within Sand Run and good terrain.

Other Great Trails in the MetroParks System

Mingo Trail- Sand Run Park (Akron)- 3.3 miles, Difficulty Rating- 3

The Mingo Trail is a new favorite of Megan's and mine. We've gotten more and more into trail running and the Mingo Trail offers everything we love- varied terrain, lots of elevation changes and great scenery! There are two 'big' hills on the trail that really get your heart going. The rest is smaller hill after smaller hill making it a great trail for interval-type exercising. The trail is packed well and isn't too rooty or rocky so it is a great choice for trail runners! We always run into a few others on the trail but it is never crowded.