The Cure To Boredom Fall/Winter 2016-2017

Adventure To Do List Fall/Winter 2016-17

It has been a while since I have done a 'Cure to Boredom List' (aka bucket list). I have been in the habit of just saying yes to new things without actually writing anything down. I have also referenced my old lists for things I have yet to cross off. I have since crossed off few things from my combined lists like taking a food tour out of town. I have taken two, one with Cincinnati Food Tours and if I can count The Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns in Amish Country. What? Aren't cookies food? Lol. I took a very short trip to Canton, Ohio, though I didn't get to do anything on my Canton To Do List, it counts.

The cold seasons are always harder to make things happen. I want to try to get out and do things but I also hate to be cold. Winter is a boring season and some of us get a little depressed, so this year I really want to find as much to do as possible. I will share some of it with you as it happens. Follow me on instagram @krisofohio.

1. Have Dinner on the Cincinnati Dinner Train
2. Take a photography workshop or class
3. Go Snow-tubing
4. Visit Clifton Mill
5. Try Cupping
6. Finish the Columbus Ale Trail
7.Start a food blog.
8.Grow garlic
9.Take a winter hike.
10. Learn to brew a batch of beer.


What are your plans for the fall/winter season?

Until next time,
 
Kris,

Holiday In Glass City

Sometime ago, I started a notebook with places I wanted to visit in Ohio. Some places were exciting and new to me and others were places I needed to return to in hopes that the city would redeem itself. Toledo made up part of the negative half of my list because my previous experiences in the city were not pleasant. I remember going that way for Christian Camp as a child, which I did not enjoy. My last experience was with a work friend to check out the night life. I was maced by police in a club where people were fighting. That same night my dress was ruined by a bleach leak inside the designated driver's car. Since then the word Toledo has left a very sour taste in my mouth. Thank goodness I am mature enough not to let experiences like that keep me from EVER revisiting a place. 

 Monday was the Fourth of July holiday, so Sunday my companion and I headed to Toledo with a plan to get a feel for Glass City life. Toledo is nicknamed 'Glass City" because of it's long history and continued innovation in all areas of the glass business. One thing I was curious about was the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium. Being from Columbus,  which is considered the city with the number one zoo ( when Toledo isn't snatching the the title away from us) I had to see what all of the fuss was about. On my to do list was also Tony Packo's and visiting a local brewery. The rest we made up as we went along.

The Toledo Post Card Mural project by Victor Ving & Lisa Beggs  Located on Front & Main

The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

In Columbus, we like to always think that we have the best zoo. It is one of the largest zoos in the world and we have Jack Hanna. We are always one of three Ohio zoo's in the top ten list in the US, but the Toledo Zoo is the number one zoo on a few lists and has been rated number one for the last few years over Columbus, Cincinnati and other Metropolitan cities such as Chicago, San Diego and  Dallas. Sunday I got a better understanding of why Toledo tops the list though I only have the Columbus Zoo and Disney's Animal Kingdom to compare it to. 

Toledo's Zoo & Aquarium offers a few things that you will not find in Columbus like the Hippo Aquarium, African Elephants (Columbus has Asian elephants) and a Conservatory. The zoo's location, smack in the middle of the city, even makes it a little more interesting. It felt strange looking at cars traveling the street as I navigated over the bridges and paths through the zoo. I really loved the old buildings that house the indoor exhibits, beautiful stone buildings built in the 1930s, most of which are still being used for their original purpose according to the zoo's website. What I loved most about the zoo, other than the African elephants and the hippos, were the grounds. The landscape is very well maintained. The flowers were impressive, especially the ones all around the Conservatory. They had a vegetable garden with a path through it. The Aquarium and the Aviary are also very impressive with enough species in each that they could stand against lone aquariums and aviary sanctuaries. 

Rhinoceros Hornbill located in the Toledo Zoo Aviary

Moon Jellyfish located in the Toledo Zoo Aquarium

Hippos playing at the Toledo Zoo.

African Elephant at the Toledo Zoo

The Toledo Zoo Conservatory.

The Original Tony Packo's 

Made famous by Jamie Farr when his character in Mash mentioned the restaurant in several episodes of the show. After constantly hearing about Tony Packo's food on the show, the people came in droves. So, like those people, I decided that if I was ever going to Toledo for a day or weekend, I had to check out the famous place. I am glad I did. While it isn't the healthiest fare, it was better than I imagined. I had the fried pickle appetizer and the Tony Packo's Feast which included a cup of chili, the homestyle cabbage roll and a famous Tony Packo dog with shredded cheese. I was stuffed before I could finish. The customer service was impeccable, my tea never reached the middle of my glass. Going to Toledo for the first time and not having Tony Packo's would have be like going to Philly and not having the steak sandwich named after the city. Another good reason is the many famous people who have sat in those same booths and signed the hotdog buns that decorate the walls of the cafe. I snapped a few photos of some of the buns signed by comedians, movie and television stars.
 

The Original Tony Packo's located on Front Street Toledo.

The Original Tony Packo's Interior decor.

Famous comedians who have eaten at Tony Packo's.

The Tony Packo's Feast plus fries. My cup of chili was previously devoured.

The famous Tony Packo's dog!

Maumee Bay Brewing Co.

I had two brewing companies on my list, but Maumee Bay was familiar and they had parking. Located in the Warehouse District and far enough away from the Mud Hens baseball game on Sunday, we were pleased to easily find a parking space. The brewery is housed in The Oliver House. The building is the oldest remaining structure in the downtown area. They were out of a few of their beers, so I tried six of the seven they had available. My favorite beer was the very first taste I tried, Willie MacDougal's Wee Heavy Scottish Ale. I am not yet a seasoned beer drinker but I know what like. I liked a solid three out of six. Not bad! We got there half an hour before closing, so I didn't get to hang out as long as I wanted but the place had a lot of cool things to look at. They have a small museum and there are old brewery collectables all over the place, including the bar area where I spent the 45 minutes I was there.

The Historic Oliver House. Home to Maumee Bay brewing Co.

Taking a few moments at the entrance of the Maumee Bay Brewery.

A Maumee Bay Brewing Co. flight

Maumee Bay State Park 

I do not know much about the park since I arrived just in time to see the sun set. Let's just say this is a beautiful place to watch that happen. There are deer all over the place, hanging out and people watching. There is a beach. There are cabins, cottages and a lodge. We hung out with a couple families roasting marshmallows for s'mores at a fire pit by the water. I enjoyed my free dessert with a side of natural beauty. It was the perfect end for my day trip to Glass City. It was everything I needed to see to want to return. I am not finished with you Toledo.  

 

Sunday's sunset at Maumee Bay State Park.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous! 

Kris,

101 Cool Places And Things In Ohio (Part IV 31-40)

Thank you to those who have returned to check out the fourth part of my very long list of Ohio attractions, you can skip the next paragraph! For those who missed the first few parts of my list,you should read the next paragraph. It explains what this list is all about. Thank you, to you as well!

If you have been following me on instagram @krisofohio, you have seen my posts from the first day of spring last year. I posted over a month's worth of cool places and things in Ohio using #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio. These posts have included Ohio attractions that have made World and National best lists, places off the beaten path and exceptional Ohio brands. I have two months of posts left to go. I have posted a good portion of my favorite places and things in Ohio and I will continue my list as I explore throughout the next few seasons. On this post you will find the fourth group of ten attractions from my list. Feel free to help me with suggestions to complete the list. Leave your favorite Ohio attractions in my comments and they may just make my list. To the Ohio tourist, whether you are visiting from out of state or a resident exploring your home state, there is so much to do in Ohio. Use my list to start your Ohio adventure. I have posted only places I have experienced and all photos are mine unless otherwise specified.

Happy Exploring!

Kris, 

31. The Crystal Cave at Heineman Winery

Below Heineman Winery,you will find a cave that houses the worlds largest geode. The Heineman family used the under ground discovery to stay a float when they could not sell wine during Prohibition. For a very reasonable fee, you can get a tour of both the cave and the winery. The fee also includes a cup of either wine or grape juice after the tours.

32. Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama

On June 10, the outdoor drama about the life of Tecumseh begins and shows continue until September 3. The drama is performed outside using the natural surrounding with real elements including a stream and live horses. Since the show is outside expect to see squirrels and birds in the scenes as well. You may also need to plan for some very real mosquitoes, unfortunately. Tours are given before the show and after the show you can meet the cast. If you get hungry, you can dine at the Terrace Buffet before the show or have snacks at the Snack Shack before the show and during intermission.

33. Marblehead Lighthouse

The oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes is found in Marblehead, Ohio. It's been lighting the way since 1821. The light house is the most photographed landmark on Lake Erie. You can tour the lighthouse from the day after Memorial Day until the September 2. You can view South Bass island, Kelley's Island and Cedar Point from from the tower and the viewing scopes around the park. Take part in activities like fishing, picnicking or just walking the park. You can also explore the Marblehead Historical Society Museum on site.

  

34. Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum

The largest railroad museum in Ohio is found in Bellevue, Ohio.It opened in 1976 as a community bicentennial project in honor of Bellevue's  history in the railroad industry. Climb aboard and walk through the railcars and engines starting from from the 1800s. Displays include a former troop sleeper car from WWII, a dining car and a refrigeration storage car. The museum is open daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

 35. Krema Nut Company

Did you know that the oldest peanut butter company in the world is in Ohio? They have been whipping up nut butter since 1898. You can stop in for lunch any day of the week but Sunday, for a gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwich off their menu or create your own. They also serve milkshakes and sundaes. You can choose from several kinds of nut butters including cashew and almond. The butters are all natural with no additives or preservatives. Tours are offered to adult groups with a reservation.

36. Vectren Dayton Air Show

We call Dayton, Ohio the Birthplace of Aviation, so it makes sense that it would be the host of one of the best air shows in the world. You can walk through aircraft, take helicopter rides and enjoy scheduled air performances like the Blue Angels. The show will take place in 2016 on June 18th through 19th.

37. Short North Columbus 

Columbus has a huge art scene and in the past was voted in the 25 big cities for art by American Style Magazine. The Short North is the best places to experience Columbus art culture. The area is lined with galleries and on the first Saturday of each month, you will find performance artists on the streets performing. Visual and performing arts aren't all the area is known for though. Culinary is also a big deal in the Short North. The area is blessed with an abundance of restaurants with different cuisine and price points. They share one commonality, delicious beautiful food.

38. The Motts Military Museum 

 You can find Warren Mott's collection of American War History in Groveport, Ohio. The museum covers all of the wars of America's past with artifacts and antiques from the time periods. They have one of the largest collections of Holocaust history and incredible items from 9/11 including a fire engine that was crushed by the second World Trade Center twin tower that belonged to Ladder 18 of the New York Fire Department. You can also walk through a replica of Eddie Rickenbacker's childhood home.

 39. Dublin Irish Festival

Dublin, Ohio hosts the largest Irish Festival in the United States. It brings people from all over the U.S and other parts of the world. Musicians come from Dublin, Ireland to perform at the festival. The festival includes Irish fare and vendors selling Celtic art, leather goods and clothing. There is plenty of beer drinking happening as well. This year's festival takes place August 5-7th.

 

40. Loveland Castle 

The Loveland Castle aka Castle Laroche, was the home of Harry Andrews, who built the castle with his own hands stone by stone. He worked on the castle with a group of young men called the Knights Of The Golden Trail. They are the same men who Andrews left the castle to after he died. The castle is located in Loveland, Ohio, not far from the Cincinnati.

Look for my next ten cool Ohio features, coming soon. Thank you again for checking out my list! Follow me on instagram to get daily Ohio posts about restaurants, wineries and breweries. You can also get the next features from my list before I post them to the blog. Look for me @krisofohio  or search the hashtag #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous! 

Kris,

The Castle of Loveland

Imagine having lunch in front of a real castle! Friday this was reality when my sister and I made a stop in Loveland, Ohio to visit Château Laroche. Known to most people as Loveland Castle, it was built by Harry Andrews with the help of a group of young men he taught in Sunday school. The group of young men called themselves Knights of the Golden Trail. While on a tour of duty in the Army stationed in Europe during World War I, Andrews was inspired by the castles of France and decided to build  his own. Andrews spent over fifty years working on the castle. He started the construction in 1929 and he was still working on the castle just before he died in 1981. Though he did not completely finish the castle according to his plans, the Norman style castle contains 15 rooms which includes the bedroom that Andrews slept in, a banquet hall, a great hall and a small dungeon. The grounds outside include a rock garden with a Loch Ness monster, flowers and gorgeous vibrant plants.

For a fee of $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under, you can tour the castle and the grounds. This is a beautiful place with plenty of photo opportunities. I recommend packing a lunch and picnicking on the grounds. When you are asked what you did that day, you can casually reply, "I had lunch at a castle".

 

 

 

For more information check out the Loveland Castle website.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!
Kris,

101 Cool Places And Things In Ohio (Part III 21-30)

Thank you to those who have returned to check out the third part of my very long list of Ohio attractions, you can skip the next paragraph! For those who missed the first two parts of my list,you should read the next paragraph. It explains what this list is all about. Thank you to you as well!

If you have been following me on instagram @krisofohio, you have seen my daily posts since the first day of spring. I have posted a month's worth of cool places and things in Ohio using #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio. These posts have included Ohio attractions that have made World and National best lists, places off the beaten path and exceptional Ohio brands. I have 71 days of posts left to go. This is where I plan to slow it down. I have posted a good portion of my favorite places and things in Ohio, but now I need to do some more exploring. On this post you will find the third group of ten attractions from my list and I will be adding to my list throughout the rest of the year. Feel free to help me with suggestions to complete the list. Leave your favorite Ohio attractions in my comments and they may just make my list. To the Ohio tourist, whether you are visiting from out of state or a resident exploring your home state, there is so much to do in Ohio. Use my list to start your Ohio adventure. I have posted only places I have experienced and all photos are mine unless otherwise specified.

Happy Exploring!

Kris, 

21. Hartman Rock Garden
 1905 Russell Avenue
Springfield, OH 45506 

This is my favorite garden and one of my all time favorite places. After Ben Hartman was laid off during the Great Depression he created the rock garden using hundreds of thousands of stones. The folk art creation is opened 365 days of the year and is free to the public. Donations are always welcomed. The garden is the most beautiful from Memorial Day to Labor Day when flowers are at full bloom. Follow their facebook page to learn about volunteer opportunities like helping plant this year's flowers in the garden.

22. African Safari Wildlife Park
267 S Lightner Rd
 Port Clinton, OH 43452
419.732.3606

We have some interesting drive-thrus in Ohio. One of them is the drive-thru safari at African Safari Wildlife Park. You can feed animals like zebras, bison, camels and kudu all from the comfort of your car. It is a cool experience if you don't mind the car getting a little dirty or having animals literally sticking their heads into your car. Animal lovers will enjoy it, I know I did. You can also watch pigs race and interact with other animals and staff through educational shows.

 
23. Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
1777 E Broad St  
Columbus, Oh 43203 
 614.715.8000

We have more than a few attractions on best lists in Ohio and a handful of them are in Columbus. One of those places is Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It was voted one of the best botanical gardens in the US by the Travel Channel along with botanical gardens in DC, New York and San Francisco. It features over 400 species of plant life and includes botanical environments such as a rainforest and desert. There are new exhibits quarterly but my favorite is the annual spring/summer exhibit, Blooms and Butterflies.

 


24. The Depot Rail Museum

921 Old Henderson Rd.

 Columbus, OH 43220 

 614.324.5945 

The museum is unknown to many because it is used mostly as an event venue. However, I am told that they will open for large tour groups if you call to make a reservation. I was given a private tour by a a friend of the owner a few years ago and fell in love with car 100. It was built in 1886 for the Ringling Bros. The rail car is gorgeous! It has cherry wood interior, antique Victorian style furniture and plenty of props and photos from the early circus life of the well known entertainment brand. The museum is a cool place to learn about rail road history or book your birthday party, wedding or work event.

25. Cedar Point
One Cedar Point Drive 
Sandusky, OH 44870

Most people who love roller coasters will tell you that their favorite amusement park is Cedar Point. It is another Ohio attraction ranked highly by the Travel Channel. It doesn't get any better than number 1. This place has the ability to turn adults into screaming children. It is a roller coaster enthusiast's dream, the Disney World for adults. New this year is the Rougarou, a floorless roller-coaster that dives down 137 feet and goes 60mph as your legs dangle. Opening weekend is just weeks away, May 9-10.

 
26. Ye Olde Mill (Home Of Velvet Ice Cream)
11324 Mount Vernon Road
 Utica, OH 43080
740.892.3921 

As you can tell, I love ice cream since this is my third ice cream feature. Velvet's Ye Old Mill makes the cut because they offer a full experience. They have been serving ice cream from this historic mill since the 70s. They provide free tours during the week. There is a small museum on site that covers the history of the mill from it's original use in 1817. There is also information about the history of ice cream and the Velvet brand from it's beginning in the early 1900s. They throw an annual Ice Cream Festival at the end of spring. This year's dates are 5/23-5/25.

27.Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
4850 Powell Rd
Powell, OH 43065
 614.645.3400

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium frequently makes the top ten list of zoos in America. It was voted number 1 zoo by The USA Travel Guide recently. It is also the headquarters of Jack Hanna. It is home to 10,000 animals and 575 species. The recently added Heart of Africa exhibit offers patrons a chance to feed giraffes, take a ride on a camel and watch cheetahs and lions.

28.COSI (Center of Science & Industry)
333 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
614.228.2674

Another museum on a best list is COSI. It was ranked 10 of the top science museums by the Huffington Post. It is a great place to workout the brain with thought provoking and interactive exhibits.  I am excited that the planetarium is back! There are always new exhibits quarterly. I look forward to checking out 'Top Secret' a new spy inspired exhibit. There are also always cool movies showing in the National Geographic Giant Screen Theater.

29. Ohio State Buckeyes
 The Horseshoe 
411 Woody Hayes Drive 
Columbus, Ohio 43210



I don't need to say much about why the Ohio State Buckeyes made my list, so I will keep it short and sweet. History was made when the football team against all odds, won the first National Championship. They also have the best band in the land. This will be a hot ticket this coming football season.

30. The Honda Indy 200 At Mid Ohio
7721 Steam Corners Road
 Lexington, OH 44904

If you are a fan of car racing, this may interest you. In Lexington, Ohio, Honda hosts the annual Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. This summer will be the 31st Verizon Indy Car Series. Past winners have been Andretti, Castroneves and Unser. Patrons can camp out on the grounds. If you get tired of watching the cars race, you can find activities at the Indy Car Fan Zone. Sponsors give away free items. There are autograph sessions and driver Q&As. The year I went, I missed my opportunity to meet Patrick Dempsey, race car driver and (McDreamy aka Dr. Derek Shepherd of Grey's Anatomy). I am still pouting.

Look for my next ten cool Ohio features, coming soon. Thank you again for checking out my list! Follow me on instagram to get daily Ohio posts about restaurants, wineries and breweries. You can also get the next features from my list before I post them to the blog. Look for me @krisofohio  or search the hashtag #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous! 

Kris,