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.

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!