A quick hop on over to @normadodge's Instagram page and it's easy to see why she has so many followers. Norma is 90 years young and living life to the fullest. From Instameets with her son, to Columbus Metro Parks with her great grand kids, she knows how to get out there and have fun. And her throwback pics are equally awesome - like shots of her petting white tigers or gorillas at the zoo. All we can hope is to be half the adventurer she is at her age, or any age.
And now, meet @normadodge... Where from? Ross County, but called Columbus home for 72 years. What do you love most about Ohio? I love Ohio and its history - from the hills and hollows of Ross County, where I grew up, to my husband's flat prairie lands in Union County. There is beauty in every season, emerging green in the spring, summer sun and flowers, the beautiful colors of fall, and the first snowfall. What is more beautiful to see than trees covered with sparkling ice? Favorite Ohio adventure? Columbus, my home for the last 72 years, is my very favorite city but I love to visit the others! Country woods and lanes, metro and state parks, the Wilds and the Columbus Zoo are some of my very favorite places to visit. I love finding new places to read about and visit (Thanks @myohioadventure). Favorite Ohio drink? My favorite Ohio drink has to be fresh apple cider -the best from Whitehouse, near Canfield or that from Laurelville. I can't think of anywhere I would rather live than Ohio.
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I simply love learning about people and what their interests are. I'm a curious person. That's probably why my grandpa recently gave me a copy of "A Curious Mind" by Brian Grazer to read. I started doing these Adventurer Profiles for a somewhat selfish reason related to this - so I could learn more about different people from Ohio and what they love about the state. @kylejacoby is one of them. Since finding him on instagram, I've not only enjoyed seeing and reading his posts, I've also enjoyed reading his blog, projectofplace. He's a wanderer that's drawn to his roots in Ohio, which is something I think a lot of us can relate to. Be sure to follow both his instagram and blog for inspiration and deep thoughts.
And now, meet @kylejacoby... Where from? This is a tougher question then you might think. Usually I just tell people that I am from Kent, OH. However, the truth is, I am really more of a mutt. I was born in Kent but moved to Maryland when I was 1. From there it has been a rollercoaster of changes. The easiest way to define those changes is to say, the longest I have lived in any house is 4 years. That house was in Stow, OH. Despite this constant change though, I have always had some consistency. Those consistencies have always been centered around Kent, OH. It is where my grandmother has lived my whole life, where the church I grew up in is, where my whole family meets when holidays arrive, and so on. So in a nutshell, I am from Kent and proud of it. Favorite Ohio adventure? Boom, another tough question. This one might even be tougher than the first. Hopefully my next question will be a simple one. It’s ok though, I love talking about adventures I have been on so this is a good tough question. When I look at my favorite adventures there is usually two common denominators, emotion and memories. It isn’t enough to simply go to a place. To have a real adventure you must have something occur within and around you in that space. Or in other words “find answers to questions you didn’t have when you began” (Documentary 180 degrees South). This leads me into one of my favorite experiences I have ever had in the boundaries of Ohio. I love the Shawshank Redemption (bet you didn’t think this is where I was going to begin haha). Whenever life seems to not make sense I put in that movie. If you ask me, I would say the whole thing is cinematic genius. To take it a step further, the last 45ish minutes are the greatest of all time. I have always gravitated to a particular scene. For those who have not seen it I will just set the mood. Morgan Freeman’s character finally gets out of prison. At the request of his friend, whom he made in prison, he travels to a hay field in Buxton that’s “got a long rock wall with a big oak tree at the north end. It's like something out of a Robert Frost poem”. It is at this tree that Morgan Freeman was instructed to dig up something at the base of the rock fence. Long story short, he locates the tree and digs up a tin box that conceals some cash and a note. If you have not seen the movie, I won’t spoil the note. However, know it is a message of hope and goodness that makes your heart and soul burst no matter how many times you have seen it. This tree and this note would be a message and memory in my youth and for years to come. Okay, now for the adventure part. It was 2009 and I was sitting in my Media, Power, and Culture class at Kent State University. While discussing what we did over the weekend, my professor mentioned he visited the tree that is in Shawshank Redemption. Immediately I rose my hand and asked where it was. He replied that it was near the historic site Malabar Farm about an hour and half from our present location. I had no idea that this place that has shaped me so much was somewhere in Ohio. Not just somewhere in Ohio, but within two hours of me (in the movie it is in Maine). I knew I had to go. A few weekends after this new piece of information came into my life, me and a couple friends headed out to find this tree. When we got close to Malabar Farm we began looking around to see if we could locate it. We still weren’t even a 100% sure this was where the tree was located. Nothing online said it was there, and there were no signs anywhere saying “stop here, this is the Shawshank Redemption tree”. Luckily for us, Malabar Farm is a historic site (resident of a famous author) and state park. This means there was a visitor center where we could ask if the tree was really here. After some small talk with the gentleman behind the counter we finally got the piece of information we were looking for. “The tree at the end of Shawshank Redemption movie” he said, “is the tree across the street you passed on your way in.” He went on to tell us that it was not Malabar Farm property. “It belonged to a farmer at the time. When he passed his son took over the land. If you look at the area now you see the rock wall is mostly gone. That is because he began selling the rocks on Ebay when he took over the property. It is still private property so I can’t recommend you walk over to it, but that is indeed the tree.” Despite is warning, we had to go. When you are standing on the road looking at the tree, it doesn’t look like much. Actually, it doesn’t even look like the tree. In the movie it is so serene and feels like it is in the middle of nowhere. Here I stand though, on a street, 50 yards from this tree. I still had hope though. I mean, its Shawshank Redemption, you have to have hope. So we hopped the fence and walked closer to this large standing Oak. Once there we still weren’t sure. You could see the remanence of what looked like a rock wall. Mostly it was just rubble now. I mean, this could be it. I knew there was only one way to find out. In the movie, Morgan Freeman came toward this tree from the opposite side we did. I could tell because he walked up a slight hill, we walked on flat land. So I walk down the hill on the opposite side toward the tree line. I didn’t want to look till I made it all the way down. I had to see it like the movie showed it. I desperately wanted this to be that space. I wanted my heart and soul to burst. I stood there for a moment, facing the forest. Everything was calm, even my breath. It was time. Slowly I turned toward the tree. This is when everything went beyond calm. There are very few moments in life when you are truly present; when anything beyond the moment is too far less to even be recognized. This was one of those moment. This was the tree. This was hope and goodness. We stayed there for hours at the base of that tree and sunk into the moment. I felt like the message of the movie wasn’t just contained on the writings of a DVD. I felt like I was a part of that story. We (okay, I) even pretended that Morgan Freeman was sitting there with us. I will never forget this day, and those emotions. One of the many signs of a life changing adventure. What do you love most about Ohio? There is nothing easy about Ohio. To the world we are a place that doesn’t make sense to be. Most of our land is used for agriculture (which I think is a good thing) and flat. We have destroyed our natural spaces (they are bouncing back). Our cities have fallen from their once industrial prominence. The list goes on. However, despite the many reasons to not be in Ohio, it is filled with people who love and fight for this place. I have lived in many spaces and one thing I know, those kinds of people don’t exist everywhere. For example, in a recent campaign study to find out what issues matter to young adults they found out that two particular cities were different from the others. In those cities they found an influx of young adults moving back not because of the opportunities. They saw an influx because the people of those cities felt they had a duty to that space. One of those cities was Cleveland. Sure, Ohio still does possess cynical people who want nothing to do with it here. But if you let yourself love Ohio you will find others who do too. They are what I love most about this place. Favorite Ohio Company? It has to be Great Lakes Brewing Company. I am an environmental educator who cares a lot about how we treat the earth. As a company, they have embarked on so many initiatives to make Cleveland, and the world a cleaner place. Favorite Ohio drink? Alcoholic, I would have to say Chillwave by Great Lakes Brewing Company. Non-alcoholic, I would have to go with Beckwiths Apple Orchard’s apple cider. James, otherwise known as @lzrdking1, is all about exploring Ohio and beyond. He and his wife enjoy a good hike, camping, and spending time outside - and they bring their adorable son Liam with them. James has a degree in geology, so it was really cool to hike with him last month at John Bryan State Park because he was able to tell us about the area we were hiking. James blogs at Midwest Adventures. There talks about adventures he has been on, gives tips for getting started hiking, shares beautiful pictures of where he has been, and lots more. Check out his site and give him a follow on instagram for lots of Ohio adventuring inspiration!
And now, meet @lzrdking1... Where from? I am from a small village, called Donnelsville, in western Clark County, between Springfield and Dayton. Your favorite Ohio Adventure? My favorite Ohio adventure, so far, has been at Tar Hollow State Park. Over this past 4th of July weekend, we spent 4 days at the state park. During our stay there, we hiked 8 miles and got to hike 2 of the 8 miles with the park’s naturalist, Amy, which was pretty cool and probably the most informative hike I have been on. We liked it so much, that we’re thinking of making it an annual 4th of July weekend camping trip. What do you love most about Ohio? There are two things that I love equally as much about Ohio. I love that, in Ohio, we get to experience each of the 4 seasons! Many people find this to be an annoying part of Ohio, but there are people in this world who have never seen snow, or never felt temps in the 80’s and 90’s, or have never seen the summer greens fade into crimson autumn colors… Here in Ohio, we are not deprived of any of that and I consider it a privilege! The other thing I love most about Ohio is the amount of rain we get on an annual basis. Yes, this is another thing many of us Ohioans complain about, but rain increases the aesthetic value of riparian features that we are fortunate to have! Most, if not all, of our State Parks, County Parks and Nature Reserves are centered on some riparian feature; whether it is a river, lake, wetland etc. Rain enhances the beauty of these features and makes for some great hiking and photo ops! Favorite Ohio Company? My favorite Ohio Company is a hat shop called Brim in Dayton’s Oregon Historic District. I love hats: fedoras, flat caps, trilby’s, etc., and I am never disappointed when looking for a hat in Brim! Favorite Ohio Drink? My favorite Ohio drink is Rhinegeist Brewery’s IPA, Truth. Rhinegeist is local to Cincinnati and has some terrific beers! Favorite Ohio City? My favorite Ohio city is Dayton! It is the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest and has the Great Miami River meandering through it. Dayton has an excellent metropark System (5 Rivers MetroParks) with opportunities for backpacking, camping, hiking, mountain biking and paddling. Dayton also has some great pubs and eateries in its Oregon Historic District & in the vicinity of the University of Dayton. My Ohio Adventure To-Do list: Explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park Camp at Kelleys Island State Park Backpack the Logan Trail in Tar Hollow State Park Canoe and camp on the Mohican River Backpack the 55-mile Cesar’s Creek Section of the Buckeye Trail (5-year goal) Favorite place to visit outside of Ohio? My favorite place to visit outside of Ohio, so far, is during the off-season (November/December) at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The mountainous views from the chalets are amazing! My family has been there twice now, and all without doing any real exploring of the trails and park. I would love to organize annual family Thanksgiving trips there, which would give me the opportunity to do some exploring throughout the years. Another week of lots going on! I'll be spending Saturday at my grandparent's farm out in eastern Ohio, and Sunday I'll be cheering on my mom and step sistah at the Columbus Marathon - gonna be a good one! If you've got something going on in the coming weeks, please let me know! I'm happy to share the details here.
Friday, October 16th Mason What: Halloween Haunt at Kings Island Where: Kings Island When: Friday - Sunday until November 1st Cost: $29.99 and up More Details: Mazes, thrill rides, scare zones, entertainment and more! www.visitkingsisland.com Springfield What: All Hollows' Eve at the Crabill Homestead Where: Crabill Homestead When: Friday and Saturday, 6:00 - 9:00pm Cost: Adults 16+ $5, Ages 6-15 $3, 5 & under free More Details: http://grcha.org/ Saturday, October 17th Clarksville What: Bonnybrook Farms Lantern Light Dinner Ride & Corn Maze Where: Bonnybrook Farms When: 7:30 - 10:30pm Cost: $38 - 50 More Details: From the website: Enjoy a famous 'made from scratch' Bonnybrook farm dinner with seasonal fall sides and desserts in the post and beam Gathering Barn. After dinner, board the wagon for a ride along old stone roads on this historic farm. Soldiers, town folk, spies and politicians portrayed by professional theater actors commemorate the 150 year anniversary of the Civil War in Ohio. Bring a flashlight to find your way through the shadowy crazed corn maze. Reservations required. $38 - $50. http://clintoncountyohio.com/list/events/events-bonnybrook-farms-lantern-light-dinner-ride-corn-maze545bb91f6b2d5a3a1e000001 Columbus What: All Hallows’ Eve Where: Ohio Village, 800 E. 17th Ave. When: 5:30 - 9:30pm Cost: Adults $12, ages 6-12, $9, children 5 and under free More Details: Enjoy an evening of family fun with the retelling of Headless Horseman and more! Harveysburg What: The Ohio Renaissance Festival Where: Harveysburg When: Saturdays and Sundays through October 25th, 10:30am - 6:00pm Cost: $18.95 adults, $8.95 kids (5-12) More Details: A 30-acre re-creation of a 16th century English Village. Food, drink, crafts, costumed characters, shows and more. http://www.renfestival.com/ Logan What: Grandma Gatewood’s Fall Color Hike Where: Old Man's Cave, 20160 State Route 664 South When: 1:00pm Cost: Free More Details: From the website: Bring along a cool drink and celebrate the season's colors. Meet with the naturalist at the Old Man's Cave Visitor Center for a strenuous hike that spans roughly 6 miles of the Grandma Gatewood trail. We will be traversing the section that runs from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and back while enjoying the scenic beauty and cultural personality. This hike does include several hills and steps and is not recommended for the easily winded individual. Approximately 3-4 hours. Sunday, October 18th Columbus What: The Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon Where: Starts and ends at North Bank Park, but the course goes through Bexley, German Village, Campus, Upper Arlington, Grandview When: 7:30am - but depending upon where you watch, you can show up hours later and still see a lot of action. Cost: Free to watch, $125 for the full, half is sold out More Details: If you’re not already training, it’s probably too late for you to sign up now BUT there is still time to spectate and volunteer! As someone who has run several half and full marathons, I cannot stress enough how vital volunteers and spectators are. Volunteers keep the race going in more ways than one, and random strangers cheering for you is beyond helpful. I can’t run this year, so I will be cheering on the runners and cannot wait! http://www.columbusmarathon.com/ Westerville What: Fall Fun Day Tram Rides Where: Blendon Woods Metro Park When: 2:00 - 6:00pm Cost: Free More Details: From the website: Take a tram ride between the Nature Center and Picnic Area to hear seasonal fun facts and stories, see fall colors, stop to play in a giant leaf pile, and roast a marshmallow over a campfire. A fall craft will also be in the Nature Center. https://reservations.metroparks.net/programs/34363 Tuesday, October 20th Hamilton What: Conservation Connection: Salamander Run Planting Where: Salamander Run When: 11:00am - 3:00pm Cost: Free More Details: From the website: Join other volunteers from MetroParks and Three Valley Conservation Trust at Salamander Run for woodland and meadow planting of native meadow, shrub and tree stock and seeds. Choose once or all five days (October 17, 20, 27, 31 and Nov 7)! Great for individuals or groups. Tools and refreshements will be provided! http://reservations.yourmetroparks.net/programs/?s=y&list_programs=1&sdt=10%2F18%2F2015&edt=10%2F20%2F2016&pt=&series=&rm=&kw=&Search=Submit If you want some Ohio adventuring inspiration, look no further than @KrisofOhio. Seriously, this girl gets around. If you follow Kristin on Instagram you know she is always up to something fun - concerts, wineries, food tours, historical sites, parks - and she always looks super cute while adventuring! She also blogs about her adventures over at Once Upon A Stylish Life, and is even working on a fun 101 Cool Places and Things in Ohio series. Definitely check out her site and Insta feed. You'll learn about new places and find lots of things to add to your to do list.
And now, meet @KrisofOhio... Where from? I always tell people I wave two flags because I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but was raised in Columbus, Ohio. I spent my summers in Florida and the rest of the year, I was here in Ohio. They are both home to me. I lived in Los Angeles for a year while I studied fashion design at FIDM. I took a year off and came back to Ohio. Then I transferred to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, where I finished my degree ten years ago. I currently reside in Columbus. Favorite Ohio Adventure? This is hard because I have had many Ohio adventures that I love. One that sticks out in my mind is from last holiday season. I participated in the Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns in Amish Country. It is an annual charity event where hotels, lodges, cabins and bed & breakfasts get to show off their holiday decorations and sell themselves to the participants. Last year the theme was 12 Days of Christmas. The twelve inns that participated were given one of the 12 days to use as their theme for their decorations. At each stop I received a different cookie that was made for the event. Some Inns used the theme to create their cookie and others made their house specialties. Some of the hotels went all out with their decorations. There were also lots of snacks and hot cocoa bars at the stops. Since I received a souvenir book before the event, I was able to plot out the course of travel before the date and the book also included the recipes for all the cookies I received. I have made a couple of them. The event was so much fun but it literally took an entire day. http://christmascookietour.com/ What do you love most about Ohio? It's funny, I used to kind of hate Ohio, coming from Florida where I adored the quick access to the ocean and it only took a few hours to reach Disney World. I only started to really appreciate Ohio about five years ago when I started doing more traveling in state. I love that you can find anything in Ohio. We have castles, the largest Amish population in the United States, islands and more festivals than any other state. There is literally a festival covering just about any food, hobby or music you may be interested in. You would never know about a lot of this stuff unless you make the effort to research. Ohio has something for everyone. Favorite Ohio Company? I am a foodie so my favorite Ohio company is Columbus Food Adventures. I have been on five different tours. The last three years I have gone on a tour in October around my birthday. I am currently trying to figure out which tour I am going to take at the end of the month. I have enjoyed every tour but my favorites have been the Dessert Tour, the Taco Truck Tour and the Breakfast Tour. I love that they partnered with my favorite breakfast blogger Dr. Breakfast/Nick Dekker for the Breakfast tour. The great experiences I have had with Bethia, Nick and the rest of the CFA family made me want to venture out to take my first out of town tour with Cincinnati Food Tours a couple weeks ago. http://columbusfoodadventures.com/ Favorite Ohio drink? I love wine and Ohio has a great wine presence. My favorite is Dandelion wine from Breitenbach Winery in Dover, Ohio. I'm also a fan of any drink Cris Dehlavi has ever made for me at M. She makes some of the best cocktails I have ever had. http://www.breitenbachwine.com/ Favorite Ohio City? I have a few favorite cities I adore. I love Cincinnati. I am just always excited to go there. I also really love Put in Bay and Yellow Springs. When I want to party I go to Put in Bay. If I want to relax and wander around, I enjoy the artsy feel of Yellow Springs. My Ohio Adventure to do list? My ultimate goal is to visit all 88 counties in Ohio. To accomplish this, I make seasonal lists quarterly and some things get relisted when I don't get to them during a particular season. I do a lot of research on attractions and hidden gems all over Ohio. This is an abbreviated list from combined seasons... 1. A Christmas Story house http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/ 2. Canton Food Tours http://www.cantonfoodtours.com/ 3. Geneva on the Lake 4. Hamburger Wagon in Miamisburg http://www.hamburgerwagon.com/ 5. The Shawshank Redemption Trail http://www.mansfieldtourism.com/what-to-do/the-shawshank-trail Favorite place to visit outside of Ohio? I always love going back to Florida. I just took a trip to Disney with my family. My nephew had never been and it was one of my favorite past times with my father who is no longer with us. Outside of that, I love going to New York and Chicago for the food and museums. The problem with these roundups is that they are weekly reminders that there is always more going on around Ohio than I have time for, and therefore I am always missing out on something fun. A great problem to have, I suppose. Here is a small, small sampling:
Friday, October 9th Cleveland What: Downtown Dead Zombie Crawl Where: Barley House When: 8:00pm Cost: $15- 20 More Details: From the website: Join us for our annual fundraiser as we celebrate the premier of The Walking Dead with a downtown zombie crawl! Starting at Barley House, we'll be shambling through W 6th St, with drink specials and raffles to guarantee a spooktacular time. Megan Boo, a professional make-up artist, will be transforming guests into zombies, so just bring your appetite for fun (and brains). The crawl starts at 8 pm, and the cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. http://www.downtownresidents.org/ Columbus What: The Columbus Italian Festival Where: North 4th St and Lincoln - Italian Village/Downtown When: Friday from 5:00 - 11:00, Saturday 12:00 - 11:00, Sunday 11:00 - 7:00 Cost: Free More Details: Live music from bands like The Floorwalkers and Gas Pump Jockeys, a Bocce Ball Tournament, a parade (Sunday at 1:00pm), Italian lessons, food, and they'll even be playing the OSU game Saturday! Saturday, October 10th Harveysburg What: The Ohio Renaissance Festival Where: Harveysburg When: Saturdays and Sundays through October 25th, 10:30am - 6:00pm Cost: $18.95 adults, $8.95 kids (5-12) More Details: A 30-acre re-creation of a 16th century English Village. Food, drink, crafts, costumed characters, shows and more. http://www.renfestival.com/ Independence What: Ales on Rails, Beer Tasting Oktober 2015 Where: Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Rockside Station When: 7:00pm Cost: $49 - 80 More Details: Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad while sampling fiver different Oktoberfest brews. Appetizers to compliment the drink will also be served. The cost also includes a commemorative glass. http://www.cvsr.com/ Yellow Springs: What: Yellow Springs Street Fair When: 9:00am - 5:00pm Cost: Free More Details: Craft and art vendors, food, music, beer, street performers, and good times. http://www.yellowspringsohio.org/street-fair/ Sunday, October 11th Oberlin What: Frank Lloyd Wright House Tour Where:534 Morgan St; Oberlin, OH 44074 When: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm Cost: $5 More Details: Every Sunday through November 1st the Weltzheimer/Johnson House at Oberlin College, a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian House, is open for tours. The house was designed in 1947 and completed in 1949. Monday, October 12th Bexley What: Taste of Bexley Where: Franklin Park Conservatory When: 5:30 - 8:00pm Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $5 kids 3-12 More Details: From the website: Taste of Bexley is a unique event highlighting some of the best food in Bexley and in Columbus. The 7th Annual Taste of Bexley is held at the Franklin Park Conservatory which provides a beautiful setting for a fun filled evening of food from over 20 area restaurants and caterers, live entertainment, celebrity judges, green screen, chair massages, and more! There will be something for everyone! The event will be hosted by Kevin Rouch from the Drexel Theatre. Wednesday, October 14th Peninsula What: Early Evening Hike Where: Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Ledges Shelter When: 6:30 - 8:00pm Cost: Free More Details: A 2.2 mile hike at a moderate pace along the Ledges Trail @suburbinnati might be my adventurer hero. Jennifer has done so many fun and cool things around Ohio and the surrounding states - so much exploring she wrote a book on it! "Cincinnati Day Trips: Tiny Journey's From the Queen City" is an awesome resource, even if you don't live in Cinci. It gives suggestions of places to visit in and around Ohio, and not just the same things you've read about over and over. I love her appreciation for Ohio and all it has to offer.
And now, meet @suburbinnati! Where from? I was born, raised and currently reside just outside of Cincinnati. I spent my college years in Portsmouth, Ohio at Shawnee State. Favorite Ohio Adventure? I have so many--I've literally written a book about them--but if I had to narrow it down, I'd have to say Moonville Tunnel near Zaleski. For those who are not familiar, it is a train tunnel that is reportedly haunted. For me, it combines most of what I look for in an adventure. It's a little spooky, has lots of history and is in a scenic, remote location. I love the entire region and the tunnel just sums it up quite nicely. We've done many hikes there, usually in fall and winter when it's very peaceful. I love that you can see traces of the railroad along the way. There is a cemetery in the area that I still haven't visited (I am obsessed with old cemeteries) so that will be next on my list. What do you love most about Ohio? For a state that has birthed many presidents and astronauts, many people don't seem to appreciate Ohio as much as they should! I find that many people perceive it as a boring state and when those people tell me there's nothing to do, I look at them like they're crazy. My favorite thing about our state is that if you know where to look, our history is everywhere. From Native American sites to presidential homes and birthplaces to the Underground Railroad, we're so rich in learning opportunities and I always feel a sense of connection to the past when visiting these places. One of my absolute favorite things to do is visit sites where you can see traces of the past that aren't exactly called out with signs--you have to really look for them. I like walking through a field and seeing old house foundations for instance. Then I'll practically run home to figure out what they were. I find that exciting! Favorite Ohio Company? I have a few because I love supporting them whenever possible! Beech Street Candleworks (http://www.beechstreetcandleworks.com/) I'm a bit obsessed with candles and scent. These are far and away the best candles I've ever purchased, My mom turned me on to them a few years ago and I've been in love ever since. Clean-burning and their scents are great! I've also recently become a fan of Midwest Shades (http://midwestshades.com/). They design stylish, affordable sunglasses. As someone who used to buy high-end sunglasses only to lose, scratch or break them, I appreciate that buying a few pairs at a time won't break the bank! Dojo Gelato (http://www.dojogelato.com/) is owned and operated at Cincinnati's Findlay Market by a former coworker of mine. You can also find his carts or truck at many events. I've never met someone so dedicated to his craft. His innovative flavors and high quality make it worth every single penny! Favorite Ohio Drink? I love MadTree Brewing (http://www.madtreebrewing.com/). My husband loves craft beer and I join him on occasion and these guys consistently turn out great products. Their can designs are to die for! My favorite beer of theirs is probably Shade. I also enjoy Vinoklet Winery's (http://www.vinokletwines.com/) In Vino Veritas, which is a sweet white wine. Favorite Ohio City? I won't count Cincinnati since I live here, but my favorite place (technically a vilage) would have to be Yellow Springs. It's just so quirky and fun and reminds me of the little creative mountain towns you can find in Tennessee or North Carolina where you can head straight from the trail to a sit-down restaurant. I'll never turn down a trip to Yellow Springs! My Ohio Adventure To-Do List: Even someone like me (who has been all over) can find something new to do! I want to:
If we're talking a domestic vacation destination, I would have to say the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota or Lake Superior Provincal Park. We've been all over and those were the best trips! But--I love to share day and weekend trip ideas so I would have to choose Shaker Village in Harrodsburg, KY (http://shakervillageky.org/). I could wander around all day--in fact, they welcome that! For a small admission fee, you can enter the grounds and many buildings to learn about the Shakers who resided here. It's so peaceful and scenic. Best of all, it's great for all ages, so we take our toddler. He loves the farm animals! This is an excellent place to practice photography and sketching too. I love that you are free to tour at your own leisure or join up for one of the many demonstrations throughout the day. I feel recharged and calm after visits to Shaker Village. |
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