Group Getaway- Whitewater Rafting Weekend

Group Getaway- Whitewater Rafting Weekend
Minden, WV
August 12-14, 2011

You know what’s cool? When a Groupon for a rafting package comes up the day after I had just mentioned to the gang that it might be fun to try whitewater rafting. I took it as a sign and forwarded the Groupon to all of my friends. They were in- the deal was on!We had assembled quite a group for the trip- Joanna, Diana, Janet, Jean, her boyfriend Bob, Megan, her boyfriend Neil and his friend Zak and I all met at Megan’s and started packing up the vehicles. Thank goodness for Bob’s truck! Even when we try to pack lightly, we still end up with at least three times our weight in clothing, gear and snacks.

We were on the road by the early afternoon, following Interstate 77 South. As we crossed over the Ohio River into West Virginia, we decided to stop and relax under the bridge and take in the river scenery before heading into the mountains of WV. We followed I-77 South through Charleston to WV-612 to US-19 North to WV-16 to Minden. Minden Road, a narrow road that just about becomes one lane at points, twists and turns through the small town and up a hill to the ACE Adventure Resort, a deluxe campground that offers all sorts of recreational activities ranging from a lake full of inflatable toys and a life-sized chess set to mountain biking and whitewater kayaking. ACE has a very casual, laid back atmosphere where merriment is encouraged and we met many unique and interesting individuals during our stay.

Included in the Groupon package was two nights of primitive camping but we opted to upgrade to Cozy Cabins which include sleeping for five, air conditioning, a large back porch and a hot tub. We were able to reserve two cabins right next to each other with a large area and a fire ring between. The couples stayed in one cabin, the single girls stayed in another- Zak slept in a hammock by the fire.As always, we go way overboard when it comes to eating at any of our group outings. We all decided to bring something and ended up with a dish of stuffed shells, grilled bratwurst, Asian slaw, a pan of peanut butter bars, several bags of pretzels, chips and popcorn and an assortment of candy bars. After enjoying a feast we relaxed by the fire before heading to bed.

The next morning we rose at 6: am in anticipation of our big trip. Breakfast was included in the Groupon package and it was tasty. We were blown away by the selection. The buffet included eggs, biscuits, croissants, sausage, bacon, gravy, fresh fruit, French toast and many other items I can’t recall. After carbing up for our exciting day, we headed up to the big top tent to check in for our whitewater rafting adventure.We were briefed on the basics of whitewater rafting using hilarious terms like ‘dork dots’ (the indentations left on one’s forehead if their helmet is on backward) and ‘raft ass’ (the rash the develops on one’s bum as it rubs against the rubber raft all day). We were now ready to take on the New River Gorge with North American River Runners! Our guide, Archy, a totally awesome former military man, made me instantly feel safe. We went through all the motions before heading out into the river. The first rapids we reached were mild but we still cheered as we bounced through the rocky pass. On another set of rapids, Archy encouraged us to get out and swim. I think this was a great strategy in making us feel comfortable being in the rushing water. Soon, we were facing bigger rapids with larger obstacles that required more maneuvering. It was exhilarating! Halfway through the trip we pulled over to a sandy beach, rolled a raft over and made a picnic buffet. The lunch was pretty scrumptious- sandwiches, pasta salad, hummus and pita- all sorts of deliciousness. We spent some time chilling with other boaters, crawling around on the large rocks that line the river or swimming. After lunch we continued down the river to face bigger rapids with names like Dudley’s Dip, Double Z and Greyhound Bus Stopper. Each set offered a different challenge but Archy guided us through safely. One stop on the ride was ‘Jumping Rock’, which is exactly what it sounds like. Joanna, Janet, Neil and Zak all took up the challenge and jumped off the 30’ drop.

At one point, Archy told us to jump out of the boat, form a chain and let the water carry us between a group of rocks called ‘Thread the Needle’. He assured us that even though it looks like we’re going to slam into the boulders, if we stick together in chain formation, we’ll slide right through. I was the leader and he was right- it DID look like we were going to splat against the giant rock. Joanna was behind me chanting ‘We won’t hit, we won’t hit’ as we got closer and closer to running into the jagged edge of stone. But, just inches away from the rock face, the current caught us and slid us through the rocks. We’d just threaded the needle! The entire whitewater rafting experience was thrilling and we got to relive it all over again by watching a video captured by a kayaking cameraman named Rob that followed along documenting the events of the day. It was hysterical. Rob captured several of the funniest moments in our group including a group of Girl Scouts singing ‘Rock the boat, but don’t tip it over.’ Believe me, that song sticks in your head for days. Not to mention a particularly fun song that I gather is about a dog named after a bean that goes ‘Where oh where has jelly been? Where oh where has green been? Where or where has garbanzo been?’ That’s another song that will never leave my mind. Anyway...We were starved by the time dinner rolled around. You can imagine our glee when we walked into the dining hall for our Groupon-included dinner and found an oyster bar, clam & mussel bake, barbequed ribs, a roasted pig, carved brisket, sides, veggies and desserts. They really outdo themselves when it comes to delicious food at ACE Adventure Report.

After dinner Joanna, Megan and I decided to play on the lake inflatables and jump around on the water trampoline. Apparently, I am not as agile as an 11 year old- after the trampoline, I attempted to crawl up on an inflatable but fell right off. I was able to get up on something I called the AstroSlide, a super slippery runway leading to steps you have to pull yourself up only to slide down the other side and into the water- total blast! After a few trips down the slide and after giving up attempting to pull myself up onto a giant inflated iceberg, we decided to head back to the cabin, relax in the hot tub, and sit by the fire with some drinks. Some of the gang headed up to the bar to listen to the live blues band- I never made it.This is where things get a little hazy. What started with a bottle of wine, a bucket full of frozen mango margaritas and some super sweet, extraordinarily spiked herbal tea ended with me being helped back to the cabin to sleep it off. I declared the day to be ‘The Most Extreme Day of my Life!’

The next morning we woke up early, packed up the vehicles and browsed the gift shop before heading home. On the way we stopped at ‘Shoney’s’, which was featuring a breakfast and dinner buffet- yum! We piled our plates with biscuits and gravy, bacon, pancakes, turkey stuffing, macaroni & cheese and dinner rolls. We were all tired and sore but had the time of our lives. On the ride home we discussed returning for a week, trying more activities, rafting the harder Gauley River, doing the Bridge Walk or a jet boat tour and experiencing more of what that area of West Virginia has to offer. We had a truly crazy time- West Virginia really is wild and wonderful!

Ohio Day Trip- An Afternoon of Wine Tasting

Ohio Day Trip-
An Afternoon of Wine Tasting
Dover, Ohio
July 23, 2011

You know you’re all grown up when you feel delighted for a friend getting a minivan. With seating for seven, Jan’s new vehicle is the perfect mode of transport for our large group of girlfriends. Dubbed ‘Jansportation’, we were thrilled to get to ride in it to explore some wineries in the Dover area. Jan, Megan and I met at Janet & Jeans. We all piled into the sweet ride and headed down Interstate 77 South from Canton. Jan’s GPS ‘Tom’ had a wandering mind of his own. Frequently waiting until after we’d turned one way to indicate that we should have headed the other direction, he also preferred the scenic route vs. the path more taken. Luckily we quite enjoyed the roundabout way which took us through beautiful green countryside dotted with brightly painted red barns. We erupted in laughter when the road went even more rural and changed from paved to gravel but the thought that Tom was leading us along an access road into a strip mine was definitely in the back of my mind.

It was a typical Ohio July day- sunny, 90F with 75% humidity. With that kind of weather comes afternoon storms. The sky was darkening as we pulled up to our first stop- Silver Moon Winery (4915 Old Route 39 NW, Dover). Silver Moon is a boutique winery that produces all of their wines on site. As a storm raged on we each tried several samples at the Tasting Bar, bought glasses or bottles of our favorites and sat in a corner booth to enjoy our wine. Silver Moon understands the female wine drinker’s desire to shop and includes a large gift shop to browse seasonal gifts, wine accessories and funny magnets. At one point the power went out- everyone continued to drink wine, browse the shop and enjoy the afternoon. The electricity was quickly restored, we made our final wine and gift purchases and enjoyed a picnic snack of cheese, crackers and fruit in the minivan before moving on to our next destination.

Breitenbach Amish Country Wines (5934 Old Route 39 NW, Dover) was just a few hundred yards up the road. Breitenbach produces a variety of fruit and berry wines and includes an Amish Country Store where deli meat, cheese, preserves, chocolates and other items complimentary to wine can be purchased. Probably the most commercially well-known winery on our tour it was very crowded. We saw a group of girlfriends that we’d chatted with earlier at Silver Moon. We continued to run into them at various wineries throughout the day joking and laughing each time we saw each other. They were obviously another group of girlfriends that just liked to have a fun time!

From Breitenbach we headed toward the Broad Run Cheese Factory & Swiss Heritage Winery (6011 Old Route 39 NW), which is basically right across the street. An assortment of cheese and dips to sample sat on the wine tasting counter. Divided into a tasting room, cheese & meat deli and gift shop, there are bountiful shopportunities. To add to the fun, on our way out we stopped to take pictures with the cheesy character cut-outs that I adore so much.
From there we headed to the School House Winery (455 Schneiders Crossing Road N.W.). Housed in an old one-room school house, the winery features live music either inside or at the pond-side stage.
We sat at a large candle-lit table and enjoyed a snack of bread & oil and pepperoni rolls while drinking a few glasses of wine and listening to a local band called ‘Blonde on Blonde’. Obviously a very popular place we enjoyed the wine, music and atmosphere very much.
As always, we evaluated which wineries were our favorites on the ride home. Not surprisingly, everyone had a different personal favorite. The wineries each have their own personality and something unique appealed to us. I, personally, am looking forward to visiting all of them again. But aside from the wine, food and shopping, we had a blast just driving around the charming countryside. What I enjoyed most about the afternoon is that I never stopped laughing.

Ohio Day Trip- Gordon Square Arts District

Gordon Square Arts District West Side-
Cleveland, Ohio

The Gordon Square Arts District is part of the vibrant Detroit Shoreway community centered on Detroit Avenue between W. 54th to W. 76th on the west side of Cleveland. Theatres, restaurants, galleries, wine bars and shops occupy the area. The neighborhood has a diverse population and a hip vibe while maintaining laidback charm. I was first introduced to the Gordon Square Arts District while working as an environmental consultant on a restoration project in the area.

I spent my lunch hours and time after work exploring the neighborhood and find it a fabulous destination for an Ohio Day Trip. Exploring Gordon Square Arts District is best done on foot. With all the cute shops and eclectic restaurants, don’t risk driving right past a fabulous find. There is plentiful parking in any of several public lots. Groupings of funky-shaped benches are arranged on the sidewalk for relaxing, people-watching or reading the latest Scene Magazine. Community gardens now occupy formerly vacant lots. The Cleveland Lakeshore Bikeway also runs through the neighborhood between Ohio City to the east and the Lake Erie shore to the north.

Theatres
The Cleveland Public Theatre (6415 Detroit Avenue) is a group of performance spaces which bring exciting productions to the stage by showcasing plays, dance troupes, and performance artists. The appearance of the buildings and the intimate seating add to the ambiance of the theatre experience. My sister Megan and I attended a performance of the Verb Ballet, a contemporary dance company. The dancing and music were expressive and evocative and the performance was so stirring that Megan and I were moved to tears.


The Capital Theatre (1390 W. 65th Street) shows independent movies, documentaries and foreign films on three screens. The building was originally built in 1921 and was vacant for two decades before reopening as a movie house with concessions as well as beer and wine sales- my kind of movie theatre!

Restaurants

 Breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert are covered in the Gordon Square Arts District. I’ve made quite a few restaurant discoveries while working in the neighborhood. My first meal in the area was at the Gypsy Bean & Baking Company on the corner of Detroit and 65th. Since enjoying that tasty sandwich I’ve tried bagels, breakfast muffins, paninies, pizza and Greek pasta but my absolute favorite dish is the Open Face Hummus Sandwich- yum!

One of the most unique places in the area is Happy Dog (5801 Detroit Avenue), a hot dog joint that serves quarter pound meat and veggie dogs with just about any topping you can imagine. While you can get the usual ketchup and mustard you can add habanera sauce, chipotle hollandaise or baby bok choy coca cola stir fry. I had my first vegan dog with saffron aioli, garlicky escarole and smoked gouda- delish! The next time I had a meat dog with truffle mustard and bacon- tasty! A favorite of Cleveland native Iron Chef Michael Symon, they even had a write-up in the July 2011 edition of ‘Travel & Leisure’ magazine. Plus, they sell the cutest T-shirts- who doesn’t want a shirt that says ‘Happy Dog’?

Across the street from Happy Dog is another great area restaurant- Latitude 41 (5712 Detroit Avenue). Latitude serves the most delectable comfort foods with soup, salads, sandwiches and pizza on the menu. They also have a good wine selection and some delicious desserts. Megan and I shared pasta for dinner before our night at the theatre and returned afterward to discuss the performance over shared desserts- everything was scrumptious!

Another fine dessert place is Sweet Moses Soda Fountain & Sweet Shop (6800 Detroit Avenue). The shop has an old-fashioned cash register, a long counter with stools and tables with restored wrought-iron chairs. Handmade confections are sold from a large display case and homemade ice cream is served from behind an authentic soda fountain. I’m always thrilled when I can get an old family favorite, a chocolate soda! There are many more restaurants in the area that I have yet to visit. These include the Big Egg, La Boca Barrio Tapas & Wine Bar, XYX Tavern, Stone Mad Irish Pub & Restaurant and Rincon Criollo Puerto Rican Restaurant.

Shopping

I’ll just admit it- I love clothing and accessories that are glamorous, bold and edgy. Turn Style Boutique (6505 Detroit Avenue) has a unique selection of pieces with a certain type of sophisticated sex appeal. On top of nice clothing is the boutique atmosphere- the owner Terri introduced herself to me the first time I visited. I truly felt treated to high-end personal service.

Right next door to Turn Style is another great boutique- Duo Home Decor (6507 Detroit Avenue). As I first gazed in the window at the collection of contemporary and quirky furniture and home decor I thought anything inside would be way out of my price range. I was wrong. Pleasantly surprised, I found that everything in the store was very reasonably priced and of high quality- a rare combination!

In the Gordon Square Arcade building is S.P. Leather (6702 Detroit Avenue) a little leather goods shop with a nice collection for the girly biker set (in addition to the usual leather stuff). Not that I’m a biker babe or anything, but I know a cute pink-detailed fringed leather vest when I see one. They also do leather repair, a service I’m going to keep in mind as I have some boots and a few purses that I never want to see injured!

Every Saturday from June to October the Gordon Square Farmers’ Market is held in the parking lot of the Bethany Presbyterian Church at West 65th and West Clinton Streets from 10:am to 2:pm. Herbs, produce, baked goods and other local items can be purchased from local vendors.

On the third Friday of every month the 78th Street Studios stays open late for browsing the galleries, music studios and design firms. Music and live events are often hosted by galleries within the complex. As a huge fan of Canton’s First Friday celebration I look forward to getting a chance to visit Gordon Square’s Third Friday affair.

In June an arts festival is held in the neighborhood. Around this time pop-up boutiques, retail spaces which operate on a temporary basis, featuring the work of local artists, designers and craftsman fill available storefronts. I learned that everything sold at Collective Upcycle, a gift shop with items ranging from handmade clothing and jewelry to home and outdoor decor, was created from items that were repurposed as art or decoration- a classic trash to treasure story and a great shopping experience. The only downside is that it was only open for about three weeks- I hope it returns next year.

The Gordon Square Arts District is one of those neighborhoods that pulsates with a metropolitan vibe and a real feeling of urban community. While it is cultured and open-minded it isn’t pretentious or snobby. With something to do any time of the day, visiting the Gordon Square Arts District is a fabulous way to spend a day.    

Sister Trip- Warrior Dash and Other Adventures

Sister Trip- Warrior Dash and Other Adventures
Gambier, Utica, Logan and Athens, Ohio
June 4-6, 2011


Someone recently asked me how I got into doing activities like the Warrior Dash. The truth is, I really don’t know. I’ve always enjoyed outdoor recreation but I’d never felt the need to compete in organized events. However, as soon as I heard about a mud run/obstacle course race known as the Warrior Dash I knew I had to give it a try. My sister Joanna was also up for the challenge and we decided to make a weekend out of it. Similar to last year’s Sister Trip with Jo to Indiana, we utilized Hotels.com Reward Nights, restaurant gift cards and visited free attractions to get the most bang for our buck.


We packed up Jo’s Jeep Wrangler, our favorite mode of transportation for active weekend excursions. Jo and I planned a leisurely drive making a few stops along the way. Meg and Neil came along for the day trip in another vehicle. As we drove west on US Route 30, we decided on our first stop, a family favorite- Shisler’s Cheese House. We shopped the small store for snacks and treats like pumpkin cookies, sesame sticks and, of course, cheese.

We’d decided to take a roundabout way to enjoy the scenery and small villages along the rural route which winds through farm land and Amish Country. We were sure we’d find a restaurant along the way and had a feeling when we pulled into the small town of Nashville, Ohio, that there’d be a good place to grab some lunch. The Buckeye Deli was that place. We chose a booth by the front window, ordered some garlic bread and shared a bacon pizza in the local hang-out. Back by the bathrooms pictures hang of men, women and children proudly displaying the bucks they bagged that year. Local sports memorabilia covers the walls. The Buckeye Deli is a comfortable place with a fun personality and pizza that hits the spot.Our next stop was an attraction that we’d been meaning to visit for quite some time. I first learned of Schnormeier Gardens years ago while researching a biking trip to the area. Schnormeier Gardens in Gambier, Ohio is a privately owned residence with 50 acres of spectacular gardens featuring unique sculptures, Oriental structures, waterfalls, stone walls and wooded paths surrounding a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home. The grounds open to the public once a year so that visitors can enjoy the extraordinary estate. It really is an amazing place. There are no distinct pathways- they encourage roaming the property so that each individual experience is unique. A stunning view is found around every corner. Sculptures are hidden in little nooks, waiting to be discovered. The terrain is hilly, stone paths are uneven, some areas may be slippery. Don’t make the same mistake I made- ditch your cute sandals and put on some shoes that won’t cause blisters. You want to be able to meander around freely to make the most of this dramatic setting.

Another family favorite, Velvet Ice Cream in Utica, Ohio, was next on the agenda. We’ve been to the Utica Ice Cream Festival many times but had never eaten in their ice cream parlor. We all indulged in their specialty, ice cream made onsite in an assortment of flavors. Joanna went for a double dip of her favorite Black Raspberry Fudge Cordial and Butter Pecan & Cashew. Megan had Wild Blueberry Pie and Neil tried Caramel Crunch. Although I usually get one of their traditional flavors, Buckeye Classic, I decided to go for a seasonal variety- Peanut Butter Overload. We were all pleased with our choices. After finishing up a delicious mid-afternoon snack we split up, Neil and Megan toward home and Joanna and I heading to the Hocking Hills region. Hocking Hills is a wonderful place to enjoy outdoor recreation. Miles of hiking trails, repelling areas, ATV courses, zip line tours, canoeing, horseback riding and many other activities make it a marvelous spot for adventurers. Instead of staying in a cabin like we usually do, we booked a room at the Baymont Inn in Athens, Ohio. As always our only requirements are a pool and hot tub- after a long day of physical activity, it is nice to unwind in an aquatic setting. We met a few other Warrior Dash participants while relaxing in the whirlpool that night. They had completed the race on the first day of the competition and filled us in on the course, offered encouragement and made us feel a bit more prepared for what was ahead the next day.

The next morning we rose early and prepared for the Warrior Dash, donning our matching outfits and psyching ourselves up for the challenge ahead. After a breakfast of bagels, cereal and fruit we headed to Kaeppner Woods in Logan, Ohio. Our excitement grew as we pulled into the parking lot with hundreds of other Dash contestants and made our way to the race location. We had the perfect amount of time to sign in, get our packets, t-shirt and warrior helmet, put on our Warrior Dash eye patches, take a few pictures, go to gear check and get to the starting line. Although we were fairly far away, we could still feel the heat of the pyrotechnic flames as the beginning of the race was signaled. 

From there Joanna and I had the time of our lives climbing huge hills, sliding down muddy ravines, scaling walls, wading through water and jumping over fire. Although each obstacle presented its own challenge, they were all enjoyable to complete. Joanna and I had decided before the race that we were just going to relax, stick together and enjoy the race at an easy pace instead of going all out for a great time. In the end, I’m glad that we were able to complete the race as a team. Some of my best memories of the day include high-fiving after completing the most difficult obstacles, jumping over the fire together and running over the finish line with our arms up in victory.

Even though we were sprayed down with a fire hose after the race, we were still pretty muddy and just wanted to get back to the hotel room to clean up. We turned down our complimentary turkey legs, left our shoes in the huge piles of discarded footwear to be donated to charity and made our way back to the parking lot and out of town. As we passed other racers on the street we’d wave and cheer to each other. The ride back to the hotel was filled with excited discussion of the adventure we’d just completed.

After getting cleaned up we set out to have some lunch enjoy the rest of our afternoon.  The Olde Dutch Restaurant was the right place to refuel after our big morning.  We walked past the lunch buffet as we were being seated and Jo immediately declared that was what she’d be having.  I decided on the soup and salad bar.  We were both well-fed for a very reasonable price.

Joanna and I have both been to Hocking Hills many times but neither of us had ever been to Conkle’s Hollow, one of the most impressive features of the Hocking Hills region.  Towering cliffs with vast overlook points display views of birds soaring above the lush foliage of a deep gorge and a recently renovated path to accommodate visitors of all abilities winds through the rock formations on the valley floor.  Jo and I spent the afternoon exploring the area.  We chose to do the rim trail first, climbing to the cliffs above, circling and hiking down into the gorge, following the gorge path all the way to the end to take in the striking views of a steam cascading over the rock formation.

 

We went back to the hotel to relax a little before dinner.  While there, we watched a few episodes of a show on the National Geographic channel called ‘Locked Up Abroad’.  Wow, that is one scary show!  Not that I’d ever planned on it before, but I will most definitely not be engaging any international crime after seeing this!  Still, I was pretty excited to have found a show that combines my love of crime shows with my passion for travel.

Joanna and I were craving Mexican food for dinner and went out in search.  We drove down a main commercial street surveying the restaurant options as we went.  We drove farther and farther down the road, passing restaurants on the right and left but none of them were Mexican.  Just as we were about to turn around we saw Casa Lopez- qué suerte!  Unfortunately, we did not learn until after we were seated that this Mexican restaurant does not serve alcohol- no margaritas for us.  While we enjoyed our dinners, it just wasn’t the same.  

We wound down our evening by taking one last dip in the hot tub before dropping into bed and almost instantly falling asleep.  After breakfast the next morning, we packed up and headed home.  I had two bruised knees and a smashed finger.  Joanna had lots of bug bites and some minor scrapes.  We both left with the goal to compete in the Warrior Dash being held in Carrollton, Ohio in September.  We ended up finishing right in the middle of the pack, an acceptable position, but now that we have a time to beat we’re both determined to shave a little time off in our next performance.  No matter what, I’m looking forward to sharing the experience again with Joanna.