Butler County’s Donut Trail: Kelly’s Bakery in Hamilton

4 June 201918 September 2024

There is nothing as sweet as Butler County, Ohio’s Donut Trail. With ten amazing bakeries offering a wide assortment of sweets, I couldn’t wait to order a donut at each one.

First, I stopped by Butler County’s Visitor Bureau to pick up my complimentary passport. I was so excited to swing by Kelly’s Bakery as my first stop, eager to try their Fruity Pebbles donut.

Located in downtown Hamilton, Ohio, I pulled up into the strip mall and could hardly find a parking spot. Kelly’s sign, advertising “Donuts and More,” was a welcome sight as the line continued to carry on outside the door.

From a dozen pastries to specialty treats, hungry patrons couldn’t resist the wide selection of donuts and more. From crème horns to fruit-filled confections, my list continued to grow, but I just couldn’t see myself eating so many donuts that day. Each donut was handcrafted and overflowed with toppings.

S’Mores with a generous heaping of graham crackers, marshmallows and melted chocolate.

Or decadent birthday cake with sugary frosty and colorful nonpareils.

With so many choices, I was happy to order the Fruity Pebbles donut and enjoyed every morsel of sugary cereal bits.

Have you visited Kelly’s Bakery in Hamilton? Which donut or donuts did you order? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

What to See and What to Do:

Kelly’s Bakery
1335 Main Street
Hamilton, OH 45013
Telephone: 513 285 4040

Where to Stay:

Beninghofen House
807 Dayton Street
Hamilton, OH 45011
Telephone: 513 275 9990

Where to Eat:

Tano Bistro
150 Riverfront Plaza
Hamilton, OH 45011
Telephone: 513 795 8654

We split the charcutarie board overflowing with prosciutto, porchetta, salame schiacciata, pecorino , sage derby, brie, orange fig jam, eggplant roasted pepper relish, grapes and pickled tomato.

Grandpa’s Cheese Barn, Ashland, Ohio

28 May 201918 September 2024

Each time I travel to see my brother’s family in Butler, I pass the large white barn of Grandpa’s Cheese Barn in Ashland, Ohio. Just off of the interstate, I think about stopping, but I always seem to be in a hurry arriving to either one place or the next. This time I decided to stop for lunch and to pick up a couple of items for gift baskets.

“Grandpa” Yarman began the business with cheese, selling a portable RCA radio to purchase a wheel of Swiss. Opening a shop in West Salem, Ohio, he broadened his offerings to include smoked meats. His daughter would marry Dick Baum and expand the business selling jellies and jams, dips, chocolates and more and eventually opened a total of three Cheesebarns in Ohio.

While there are many selections available, my favorite area of the store is searching for Ohio-made items, such as honey, flavored jams and syrups, perfect for filling gift baskets.

Not only is the barn a store, but a cafe as well where you can pick up a number of deli-style items such as sandwiches, soups and snacks for lunch. The menu items are made to order or you can choose from premade selections, all served on a souvenir Frisbee.

Some of the locations also include an ice cream shop which uses whole milk to create a number of delicious flavors of ice cream and decadent milkshakes. Select locations include a candy shop named Sweeties Jumbo Chocolates for a variety of baked goods and candies. I prefer the homemade peanut butter fudge or the Buckeye Pizza with bits of Buckeye candies layered over white and milk chocolates which is an incredibly rich combination.

Of course you can’t go wrong with the cheese, which come from Ohio’s Amish Country. With close to 300 varieties of cheese (from domestic to international), it may be overwhelming to make your decision. Luckily, the Cheesebarn provides samples to help make your selection much easier.

I could spend hours at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn sampling cheeses, searching for gift items and having lunch, but I only have a couple of hours to make it back to Columbus before dark. From now on, I will stop at Cheesebarn on my to and from Butler to explore any additional items I may have missed.

Have you visited Grandpa’s Cheesebarn? What is your favorite part of the store? I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my visit to Grandpa’s Cheesebarn and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Grandpa’s Cheesebarn
668 US Highway 250 E
Ashland, OH 44805
Telephone: 419 281 3202

2019 Travel and Blog Schedule for The Suite Life of Travel

5 January 201927 July 2024

2019 will be my busiest travel year to date….and I can’t wait! So many opportunities that I could not pass up, so they are booked and I am counting down the days!

Belize: Port of Belize, Xunantunich, Scuba Diving

China: Beijing, Tiananeman Square, Imperial Palace and the Forbidden City, tri-shaw rides, hutongs, Zhangjiajie (the land of Avatar), Tianzishan Ten Miles Natural Gallery highway, Bailong Elevator, Tianmen Mountains, Gui Gu Plank Road, Highway to Heaven, Tianmen Fairy Fox Show, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the glass-bottom bridge, Baofeng Lake, Chengdu, Jinli Ancient Street, Qing Cheng Mountains, Dujiangyan Panda Valley, Panda Conservation,

Egypt: Cairo, Giza Plateau and the Pyramids, the Sphinx and Valley Temple, Khufu Ship, Camel Rides, Cairo Museum, Khan El Khalili (Souk), Felucca Ride and Belly Dancing; Nile Cruise starting in Luxor, Luxor, Karnak Temple, Thebes and the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Ramesses III, Dier El Madina, the Locks of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples, Aswan and the High Dam, Philae (the most beautiful temple in Egypt, Coptic Cairo, Sakkara and diving in Alexandria.

Honduras: Port of Honduras, Altun Ha, Scuba Diving,

Israel: Qumran, Caesarea Maritima, The Dead Sea, Masada, Mount Arbel, Capernaeum, Mount of Beatitudes, Church of the Fish and the Loaves, Sailing the Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemene, Sepphoris, Mount Zion and the Upper Room, Jerusalem, David Center in Jerusalem, Southern Wall Excavations and the Teaching Steps, The Western Wall, Pool of Bethesda, The Via Dolorosa, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Temple Mount, The Garden Tomb, Ein Karem, Nebi Samuel, Valley of Elah

Mexico: Cozumel, Cancun, Chitzen Itza, Tulum, Cenotes, Underwater Park

United States:

California: Yosemite, Napa, John Muir State Park, Hearst Castle, San Francisco, Sausilito

United States:

Connecticut: East Haddam, Gillette Castle, Mystic, Hartford

United States:

Michigan: Upper Peninsula: Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Pictured Rocks National Seashore

United States:

Ohio: Cincinnati, Bellefontaine, Dayton, Greenville, Yellow Springs, Ohio Wines

United States:

Louisiana: New Orleans

What travel plans await you in 2019? I would love to hear about them, so list your future adventures in the comments section below! Wishing you an amazing 2019 and lots of Happy Travels!

Reclamation Brewing Co., Butler, Pennsylvania, NOW CLOSED

2 July 201816 March 2025

During a weekend visit to Butler, our family stopped by Reclamation Brewing Co. for lunch. It was a place that my brother had visited often and highly recommended their food….especially their Beer Cheese Macaroni.

As we passed the bar, the large chalkboard provided a list of their craft brews while a smaller board posted their daily specials. We placed our orders for drinks as we reviewed the menu and made our decision for lunch.

The kids ordered hot dogs and beer cheese macaroni and it looked absolutely delicious.

I was happy when my bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich arrived with a side of beer cheese macaroni while my brother and his wife ordered burgers and beer cheese macaroni as well.

We sat over lunch catching up and listening to the kids talk about their school. It felt like old times when my brother’s family had lived closer and it was so wonderful to see how much they had grown since my last visit.

Have you been to Reclamation Brewery in Butler, Pennsylvania? What was your favorite menu item? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Where to Eat in Butler, PA:

Reclamation Brewery
221 South Main Street
Butler, PA 16001
Telephone: 724 790 4370

Featured Ohio Winery: Barrel Run Crossing Winery & Vineyard

18 June 201817 September 2024

It was a beautiful spring day and I had set out for Barrel Run Crossing Winery & Vineyard to sample wine on the Canal Country Wine Trail. The tree branches were just beginning to bud with new leaves as I approached the winery. I had stopped short of a set of railroad tracks ahead in rural Rootstown, Ohio. Stepping through the arbor, I entered the beautiful white farmhouse turned winery.

What was once a family farm over the last four generations, is now a vineyard with French-American hybrids. These varietals, known to successfully grow in the climate of Ohio, are cold-hardy vines and resistant to disease. Barrel Run Crossing planted their first crop in 2008 with a selection of grapes to include Corot Noir, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Marquette, Noiret, St. Pepin, Traminette and Vidal Blanc.

Excited to sample a few wines, I studied the menu and soon realized the selections were cleverly themed around the railroad. The $9.95 BRX Wine Tasting flight included a choice of five wines and a customized wine glass to take home. Hardly noticing the description of the wines, I based my decision solely on the names starting with Locomotion, Engine Number 5, Tipsy Conductor, Off the Tracks and All Aboard.

Locomotion was labeled as a dry white blend of Chardonnay, Traminette and Vidal, a new crafted wine recently added to the menu. The combination of estate grown varietals with the Chardonnay was the perfect balance resulting in a nice, smooth finish which could find myself easily pairing with a white sauce pasta.

“A True Ohio Dry Red Blend Wine with Cherry Notes and Blackberry and Plum Aromas” adequately described the Engine Number 5. I enjoyed the subtle tart stone fruit flavors of this wine while tasting a hint of blackberry at the finish.

An estate wine, “crafted entirely from Frontenac and Frontenac Gris grown onsite”, the Tipsy Conductor is satisfyingly crisp with a lovely sweetness from a semi-sweet white.

All Aboard, was a white wine much sweeter than my previous selections. Produced from the estate grown Vidal Blanc, I imagined this wine would be perfect on a spring or summer afternoon.

Off the Tracks, a sweet red created from the local estate Frontenac grapes is popular among Ohio wine drinkers. The addition of blackberry juice gives this wine an added element of sweetness.

Barrel Run Crossing offers the Sugar-Luv chocolate pairing of truffles with five complementary wine samples for $7.50, every third Friday of the month. They also host a food and wine pairing event by reservation only and encourage visitors to facilitate the space for family gatherings.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Barrel Run Crossing Winery & Vineyard? I would be interested in hearing about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reviewing my port about my visit to Barrel Run Crossing and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Barrel Run Crossing Winery & Vineyard
3272 Industry Road
Rootstown, OH 44272
Telephone: 330 325 1075

Where to Stay:

Rocking Horse Inn
248 W Riddle Avenue
Ravenna, OH 44266
Telephone: 330 297 5720

Where to Eat:

Lil’ Paisan’s Pizzeria
4129 Tallmadge Road
Rootstown, OH 44272
Telephone: 330 325 4000

I went for the 9-inch Deluxe Supreme made with homemade pizza dough and fresh toppings. I wished I would have ordered a larger size it was so good!

Award Winning Wines at Henke Winery and Restaurant, Cincinnati

11 June 201817 September 2024

Spending the day in downtown Cincinnati, I made a quick visit to my old neighborhood on the west side of the city. Entering Henke Winery and Restaurant, I was surrounded by several wine awards as well as the yummy smell of garlic coming from the kitchen. Sounds of Paul Simon were streaming over the intercom, I could not wait to start my wine tasting and fill up on some amazing pasta.

Escorted into the tasting room, I could not help but notice the beautiful bay window with an urban view of the historic Cincinnati neighborhood town of Westwood. The room was bright, cheery and I found a small table by the bar. While waiting for a few moments, I took the liberty to explore the various wine displays and familiarize myself with the wines I would be sampling.

Established in 1996, owner and vintner Joe Henke has a well-founded approach to his winery and restaurant. With his focus on passion, quality and pride, it is no surprise that awards adorn the walls of the rooms, providing recognition for a large number of his wine blends, using a wide variety of grape varietals. Joe began making wine as a hobby and for nearly 25 years, he has turned his passion into a living. Ohio now boasts over 300 wineries, yet when Joe first started there were a total of 36.

I am excited to be working with Clay, one of the sommeliers at Henke, to assist me with my wine tasting. I am offered seven wines for a nominal cost of ten dollars, which includes the beautifully etched glass as a souvenir.

The Chardonnay is made from grapes grown in the Appalachian region, aged six months in American Oak barrels with a hint of apple, pear, butter and lemon flavors. The color of the wine is a very light lemon shade, served warm, which I rather enjoyed. I could taste the buttery flavors and agreed that there was a low acidity, which gave the wine a very smooth texture. This wine is sold for $6.25 per glass or $14 per bottle to take home.

Bottled in a beautiful blue container, the Vidal Blanc is a white wine made from grapes in the Ohio Valley. Stored in stainless steel containers, this is a sweeter wine with flavors of apple, grapefruit and pineapple. The taste of pineapple is stronger than the other fruits and the acidity of the wine can be tasted at the back of my tongue. It was served chilled and I found it to be quite refreshing. This wine can be purchased for $5.50 per glass.

Winning the Gold Award this year, the Cellar Blush is Henke Winery and Restaurant’s best seller. I love the beautiful peach hue to the wine and the smell is heavenly. Served chilled, it is a sweeter wine with flavors of kiwi, apricot, bubble gum, strawberry with an apple finish, which is what I adore about this wine. This is a rosé, sweet blush wine that sells for $11 per bottle and $5.50 per glass.

The Cabernet Franc has a perfect blend of flavors that include vanilla, blackberry and black cherry resulting in a full body taste. Spending 12 months in new neutral oak barrels, this wine is perfect with steak. The alcohol content of this wine is 15.5% and I can taste the blackberry on the top of my tongue. It is a drier red and as I continue my tasting, there is a wonderful tang of cherry that lingers as well. This wine has won several awards over the last few years both in Indianapolis and Ohio.

Red Zinfandel is one of my favorite wines, so I was looking forward to trying the CinZin. Henke Winery has been making this fabulous wince since the early 2000s and they have definitely perfected it. With flavors of raspberry, prune, raisin and blackberry jam, this amazing combination gives the wine a fruity taste with a spice that hits you at the back of the tongue.

Sadly, I am nearing the end of my wine tasting as I eagerly await the Cabernet Sauvignon. Clay mentions that this wine is similar to the Cabernet Franc in regards to the processing, but only 15.2% alcohol content and no residual sugars.

A glass of Merlot was one my early red wines of choice and this was my next selection. Made from Amador grapes grown in California, this wine exhibits flavors of nutmeg, vanilla, cherry and strawberry. It also has a nutty flavor with a hint of raisin. This wine is divine and rates high above most of the Merlots I have ever tasted.

Throughout this wine tasting, I have enjoyed savoring every drop of wine in my glass and I am down to my last sample, the Vendange a Trois. This wine is a 10% blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, while the remaining 80% is Merlot. With aromas of black cherry and violets, this is a softer wine with an alcohol content of only 13.7%.

There are so many reasons to like Henke Winery, not to mention the fifteen amazing wines they produce. The wine tasting experience is formal and carried out with such precision. I enjoyed the professional manner in which Clay provided me with such in depth information about each wine and gave me plenty of time to enjoy each sample.

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Joe Henke, the owner, who has been producing award-winning wines for over twenty years. Prior to opening the winery and restaurant, Joe worked at Mallinkrodt Tool Company, but I could see that he was in his element, greeting customers, visiting tables and noticing how happy he was to talk about his wines. His passion for winemaking extends to ensuring that each patron has a fabulous winetasting experience.

I was fascinated to learn that each year, Henke Winery hosts a cork contest called “The Window Garden”. On display are various objects of artistry that have been created out of corks and some of them are unbelievably outstanding.

I recommend visit Henke Winery and Restaurant for a fabulous winetasting experience and delectable meal. I absolutely enjoyed my visit and was happy to learn that their products can also be found at Cincinnati’s Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield. Henke Winery exceeded my expectations and I look forward to visiting here again soon.

Have you visited Henke Winery and want to share your experience? I would love to hear which wines rank high on your list, so leave a message in the comments section below! Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

Henke Winery and Restaurant
3077 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45211
Telephone: 513 662 9463

Visit their website for additional information about their wines, weekend entertainment and future special events.

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Express West
5505 Rybolt Road
Cincinnati, OH 45248
Telephone: 513 574 6000

Where to Eat:

Henke Winery and Restaurant
3077 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45211
Telephone: 513 662 9463

For a starter, I selected the Awesome Pan Seared Cheese and ordered the Center Cut Yellowfin Tuna as my entree. Henke makes their own Ricotta Tortellini which is exceptional!

More of My Favorite Places to Eat:

Skyline Chili: My go-to meal at Skyline is the 4-way chili with onion served with oyster crackers and hot sauce. I always pick up two York peppermint patties after cashing out. Cincinnati chili is a beef based sauce served over spaghetti noodles and cheese. Additional toppings include onions and beans.
LaRosa’s Pizza: A local chain pizzeria, this Sicilian style pie is made with a sweet crust and sauce. My favorite menu item is the Caprese pesto Flatbread Pizza.
Graeter’s Ice Cream: It’s the French Pot process that makes Graeter’s Ice Cream so decadent and rich. Towards the end of the process, they pour chocolate into the mix creating large chunks of yummy goodness.
Montgomery Inn BBQ: Visiting the original Montgomery Inn BBQ at the boathouse is a culinary and scenic experience. Their ribs are served with a sweet and tangy sauce that has since made them the “Ribs King” and a favorite among locals. Load up on their amazing BBQ flavored Saratoga chips,
Glier’s Goetta: While it looks like a slab of corn beef hash, this breakfast staple is made of sausage and oats, cooked until crispy. Most breakfast restaurants carry it as a side, especially the local cafes and diners.
BonBonerie: One of the most decadent pastry shops in Cincinnati, their rich confections are absolutely amazing.

Where to Drink:

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 421 2337

Books to Read:

Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld
Running, by J.T. Cooper
Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper
Romiette and Julio, by Sharon M. Draper

Photo Guide for Cincinnati (as provided by Chris Thompson on FourSquare):

The John A Roebling Suspension Bridge
- Pick a spot near the Covington pier and shoot north toward the Cincinnati skyline. Shoot at sunset and underexpose by a few stops to get the lights just right.
- The new lights on the bridge create excellent stars when you photograph them using a narrow aperture (~f/16 and above) on your camera. That means you’ll need a longer exposure (and thus a tripod).
General James Taylor Park
- Shoot from the top of the flag pole mound to get more building reflections in your shot. Shoot at sunset or sunrise for great lighting.
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
- Arrive first thing in the morning when the sun is coming up
The Fountain at Fountain Square
- For great photos of the fountain: set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (2-5 seconds) to capture the running water. Get Carew or the colored lights above Rock Bottom in the background.
Fountain Square (look for reflections in puddles)
Celestial Restaurant in Mount Adams – The restaurant is now closed, but you may still be able to use the parking lot.
Carew Tower Observation Deck
- Provides some neat photos of the highways snaking around the city. Set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure to get moving car trails. It’s only open at sunset a few days each year.
Engine Company 46, 2733 Erie Avenue (at Michigan), Cincinnati
- One of the most beautiful historic firehouses in all of Cincinnati. The firefighters here are used to having their photo taken while they work. Ask nicely and you can get some cool shots.
Cincinnati Observatory Center
Krohn Conservatory
Great American Ball Park
- Shoot the front of the stadium around sunset to get a nice color blue in the sky. Get one of the player statues in your shot for extra effect.
Devou Park
- The overlook next to the Drees pavilion affords a great view of the Cincinnati skyline. Shoot at sunrise or sunset for the best lighting. Underexpose slightly to get the city lights just right.
Newport Central Catholic for fireworks
- Shoot the Riverfest fireworks from this location. Bring a long lens and a tripod. You’ll want a long-ish exposure (5-10 seconds) to capture the bursts, but make sure the skyline isn’t overexposed.
Riverfront Park
- The colorful fountains make a great subject, but you need to use a relatively fast shutter speed (>1/20 or so) to catch the lights before they change color, leaving your pic with plain white lights.
American Sign Museum
- Be sure to bring a tripod to capture all the signs. Manual white balance is the way to go, because there are so many crazy colors of lights that your camera won’t know how to react.

Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast, Conneaut, Ohio

4 June 201817 September 2024

It was harvest time for grapes in Ohio, and with so many vineyards, I planned to spend a weekend exploring some of the more established wineries around Ashtabula County. Traveling as far northeast as possible, I found the little town of Conneaut, the home to Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast, a vineyard with a charming bed and breakfast.

Joanna and Fred Buccia have been tending to their vineyard since the 1970s and I looked forward to sampling a broad representation of this region’s wines. Resting under an arbor of grapes above me, Joanna picked a few grapes for me as she sat down at the picnic table eager to tell me more about the history of grape growing around this area. She reminded me that the weather in May was cold and while July and August were unusually hot, the harvesting of grapes would come early this year.

From dry and full bodied Cabernet Francs to the semi dry Lake Erie blend of Reflections, there seemed to be an endless selection of premium wines and new grapes of which I had never heard. For example, the Baco grape produces a wonderful red wine that was dry, smooth, with a minimum acidity while the Chambourcin, a French-American hybrid that thrives in the cold temperatures, producing a red wine with a higher acidity and low tannins.

Many of the wines at Buccia Vineyard are made from the grapes that they grow on the property, called estate wines, while the remaining grapes and juice come from Chile, Argentina and California. My next sample was the Seyval, another French hybrid that is grown mainly to produce white dry wines.

A small group of four unloaded out of an early model station wagon. Inquiring if they could try a few of the wines, they also asked if they could stay the night at the bed and breakfast. Joanna excused herself from our conversation and tended to the visitors as I overheard Fred tell them that the winery was for sale.

Enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by vines full of grapes, I continue sampling the Vignoles and another new wine for me, the Agawan that has “fruity start with an herbal finish”. Rounding out my wine tasting, I poured a small taste of Reflections, a red blend made from the “best of Lake Erie grapes”, then took my last sip of Maiden’s blush, a sweet wine combined with the juices of local blueberries.

Joanna returned after setting up her new guests in one of the four rooms at the bed and breakfast. She gave me a quick tour of the property and showed me the available rooms with quiet decks, hot tubs and fireplaces. I listened to the faint sounds of Jimmy Buffett coming over the radio as I gave Joanna my list of remaining sites I planned to visit in Conneaut. It was a lovely summer day and I had the beautiful shores of Lake Erie to explore.

Have you visited Buccia Vineyard? Did you have a favorite wine? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my visit to Buccia Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast
518 Gore Road
Conneaut, Ohio 44030
Telephone: 440 593 5976

Where to Stay:

Stay at the Buccia Vineyard Winery Bed and Breakfast or there are several options along the Lake Erie seashore.

Where to Eat:

Biscotti’s Restaurant
186 Park Avenue
Conneaut, OH 44030
Telephone: 440 593 6766

Serving Italian cuisine, I ordered the Medallions Gorgonzola Alfredo to try their homemade Alfredo sauce, so rich and delicious.

CincyCinco

7 May 201817 September 2024

Did you know that an estimated 81 million avocados will be consumed on Cinco de Mayo? Major cities all across the US will be celebrating this annual holiday and Cincinnati, Ohio is no exception!

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the city’s 13th Annual Latino Festival Cincy-Cinco at Fountain Square where I enjoyed listening to Latin music, learning some of the cultural dances and feasting on some spectacular Latino food!

While joining in on the festivities, I was surprised to learn that Cinco de Mayo is not widely honored as a national holiday in Mexico. The date is more important for the residents in Puebla, Mexico who celebrated their defeat over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. California began observing the event in the late 1860s and it has grown in popularity over the years in both Mexico and in the United States.

So why celebrate in Cincinnati? According to information posted on the Cincy-Cinco website, Latinos make up 25% of the area’s increase in population over the past 10 years. This event is a great venue to bring awareness to their culture, values and traditions. It also provides an opportunity for interaction among the growing Latino population and its community. The proceeds that are collected from the event will provide financial support to important health and educational charities that assist the Latino community.

Cincy-Cinco
May 7, 2016 12 – 11PM
May 8, 2016 12 – 7PM

Official Address:
520 Vine Street (Fountain Square)
Cincinnati, OH

Fun Facts about Cincy-Cinco:

In 2006, Cincy-Cinco set the record for the world’s largest Piñata and lays claim to the world’s largest taco!
The first Cincy-Cinco festival took place at Coney Island and was re-located to Fountain Square in the heart of downtown Cincinnati!
There were ten participating restaurants offering a wide range of items, including empanadas, nachos, burritos and more!

In addition to enjoying some amazing Latino food, there are so many reasons to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! I hope you include the festivities at this year’s Cincy-Cinco in your plans and support the local Latino community! You can visit the Cincy-Cinco website at www.cincy-cinco.com to learn more about the event and to confirm the date of the celebration each year!

What’s Happening in 2018? My Travel and Blog Schedule for Next Year

12 January 201816 September 2024

I am so excited for the many opportunities I have for travel this year! Here is an overview of my travel schedule for 2018 and what you can expect to read on The Suite Life of Travel!

Travel Schedule, 2018:

Will start out celebrating the New Year with a week in San Francisco and a long weekend in Las Vegas!

My best friend will be marrying late winter/early spring, so a few days in Miami and a few more in Tampa to check out possible real estate! Super excited!!

Work will take me to Montreal and Quebec City, where I will extend my stay in Canada with a vacation along the east coast.

Photo Credit: Best of Italy Photos

I will wrap up my spring travel plans with a Mediterranean cruise….ALL EXPENSE PAID!! This is my first writing assignment as the ship I will be sailing has an all new itinerary!

Summer plans include exploring more of my home state of Ohio!

Photo Credit: AFS

Late summer, I will spend ten days on African Safari and visiting friends in South Africa, many thanks to some friends that live there! I will make the drive up to Victoria Falls, check out a rescue where I will volunteer to assist and interact with animals that require medical care before heading back to the States….a possible side trip to include Madagascar??!!

Photo Credit: VRBO

My last overseas (tentative) trip, will be spending a couple of weeks on the island of Sicily taking cooking classes and exploring the island by rail. Any suggestions or recommendations for places to stay are appreciated!

I will be speaking at two conferences this fall….one in San Francisco and Seattle, so a couple of added days to my itinerary will fit in just perfect.

Wow! So much to anticipate and so many more plans to make. I have quite a few writing projects in the works and look forward to seeing where this year leads!

Blog Schedule, 2018!

Continued coverage of my Ohio outings (lots of posts about Cincinnati this year) as well as Wine Wednesdays will continue!

Winter posts will include my December west coast trip to San Francisco and Las Vegas as well as last year’s last minute trip to London, Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge!

Check out my National Parks in the West/Midwest series coming in May and July.

Paris takes center stage in August with a side trip to Versailles.

September makes a detour back to the US with a weekend in Yosemite.

I can’t wait to share my insights on New Orleans, which is full of restaurant recommendations and amazing things to do in the “Big Easy”!

And the rest of the year will cover my recent trip to Jordan and Israel which will carry on into 2019!

Hang out with me to explore some amazing locations across the world and to hear about my exciting adventures! Thanks for reading my updated posts to “The Suite Life of Travel” and wishing you many Happy Travels!

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A Photographic Review of My 2017 Travel Blogs

5 January 201816 September 2024

I have had so much fun writing about my many travels that took place in 2017 and past travel as well. Here is an overview of my blog posts for this past year. Don’t forget to select the link to check out more photos and additional information regarding each attraction. Enjoy!

Indonesia: Bali

Kuta Beach