Category Archives: US travel

Reaching Sioux Falls, South Dakota from Ohio! What a Drive

With an early morning departure of 5AM, I have set out for my week’s vacation out west.  The estimated number of miles I plan on traveling today are approximately 925 (Now that’s a lot of driving!). Estimated drive time is 13.5 hours with an added 2 hours for stops.  Arrival time estimation is 8:30PM Central time (will gain one hour).   Today I will pass through the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.  My route will take me from  I-70 West catching  I-74 West in Indianapolis.  Next I will take I-80 East and finally I-29 North.

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Darkness continued to cover the sky as I left my home state of Ohio.  I made my first gas stop in Clayton, Indiana where I purchased a $20 tank of gas.  In Le Roy, Illinois, I payed $25 for fill up the tank and I was good until making a stop at the Taylor Pick Quick in Mo Valley, Iowa to refuel, costing me $24.

Missouri River, South Dakota

My drive was uneventful and I had great weather!  Overcast and no rain, what a perfect day to be on the road!  Most of the drive is flat and I find myself passing by farmlands and long stretches of land.

I have made great time as I pull into the hotel and check into the Days Inn, Sioux Falls which is located on Gateway Boulevard, conveniently located off of the highway.  It is 6:30PM Central taking me about 13.5 hours including stops.  I made great time but it was definitely a LONG drive!  Left OH at 5:10AM;  arrived in Indiana at 6:36AM;  arrived in IL (8:51AM, eastern);  arrived in IA (12:04PM, eastern);  arrived at the SD border (5:36PM, eastern/4:36PM central).  Wanted to check out the Falls tonight instead of waiting until the next day (which was scheduled for tomorrow).  The sun was just starting to set and it was a beautiful evening.

Sioux Falls, SD weather:  High 82 and Low 63 with a chance of an evening thunderstorm

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Stopped at Taco John’s on the way to seeing the falls for a couple of tacos and a diet coke. This cute little taco place has been in business since 1969, and is a spicier version of Taco Bell.

Have you taken a long road trip?  Where did you go?  I would love to hear about your cross country travel trip if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Thanks for following my trip out West and wishing you many Happy Travels!!

What to See and What to Do:

Falls Park, Sioux Falls
131 E. Falls Park Dr.
Sioux Falls, SD   57104
Telephone:  605 367 7430

  • Admission Fee:  There is no fee for visiting Falls Park.
  • Hours:  Open daily from 5AM to 12AM
  • Amenities:  waterfalls, observation tower, picnic shelters, sculptures, restrooms, restaurant, open air shelter, bike trail access point, historic displays, drinking fountains and visitor center
  • Scenic View: Spectacular views of the falls and an observation deck for incredible scenic views of nearby Sioux Falls.
  • Length of Visit:  1 hour
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Wear comfortable shoes and be careful on the rocks.

Where to Stay:

Country Inn & Suites
200 E. 8th Street
Sioux Falls, SD   57103
Telephone:  605 373 0153

Where to Eat:

Taco John’s
1920 W 12th Street
Sioux Falls, SD  57104
Telephone:  605 338 8518

I ordered two tacos which tasted like Taco Bell with a little more heat.

What to Eat: 

  • Buffalo:  A meat substitute for beef which is much healthier to eat.
  • Chokecherries are a Native American cherry that is made into jam, preserves, butter, wine, jelly and sauce.  Wojapi is a chokecherry sauce.
  • Dakota Martini is made of three-fourths beer and one-fourth tomato juice
  • Fleisch Kuchele is a meat pie originating from Germans who lived in Russia.  The dough is filled with meat and onions, then deep fried until the pastry is hot and flaky.
  • Hot Beef Commercial, also known as hot beef sandwich, beef combination, hot beef combo and hot beef combination.  This is a sandwich made of real mashed potatoes and chunks of seasoned roast beef sandwiched between two pieces of white bread and smothered with homemade gravy until it floods the plate.
  • Indian Fry Bread is the state bread of South Dakota, a recipe of the local Indians.
  • Indian Tacos are made with a specially spiced beef and beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, onion, black olives and house made picante sauce on the top.
  • Kolache is an amazing Czech dessert made from pastry and filled with fruit filling such as apple, cherry, lemon, apricot, prune and strawberry.
  • Kuchen is German for cake and in South Dakota, visitors can enjoy this pastry filled with custard and fruit.
  • Lefse is a flat potato bread coming from Norwegian-American origin and served with butter
  • Mocha Cakes, also known as Blarney stones, are square or rectangular blocks of light and airy white cake.  Frosted on all sides with vanilla buttercream, they are rolled in lightly salted crushed peanuts for ideal flavor and texture.
  • Pasties are savory hand pies.
  • Tiger Meat is South Dakota’s answer to steak tartare.
  • Wasna is a buffalo and berry dish passed down by the Lakota Indians.
  • Zebra Donuts are marbled chocolate and vanilla donuts that is fried, dunked in sweet glaze and hand-dipped in homemade chocolate frosting which feeds 15.

What to Read: 

  • The Spirit of Sioux Falls, by Terry Wooster
  • The Road to Grace, by Richard Paul Evans
  • American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

Photo Guide for Mount Rushmore, South Dakota: 

  • The park’s artwork along the Sculpture Walk
  • A view of the falls from the overlook or the restaurant
  • A close up look of the falls along the outcroppings

Hiking the Sunken Gardens Trail at Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania

Visiting my brother and his family over the Labor Day Weekend, my parents rented a camper for the drive to Butler County, northern Pennsylvania.  They parked the RV at a campsite near Moraine State Park for afternoon hikes and fishing.

The Saturday before the holiday, we decided to hike the Sunken Garden Trail at the nearby state park.  The hike is located on the southern side of Lake Arthur, one of the largest man-made lakes in Pennsylvania.   Marked with blue blazes, there are three different trail options ranging between 2 to 3 1/2 miles.

The children were more excited about the hike than the adults, but their energy made it just as fun for us.  Pointing out cattails, tiny orange flower and tall trees, no one was in a hurry to complete the easy nature walk.

After a short distance, we crossed over a small bridge.

We were surrounded by thick trees enjoying the shade.

On a few occasions we would catch a glimpse of the lake.

Colorful flowers bloomed along small sections of sand where the waves from the lake lapped the shoreline.  A man and his two children had brought fishing poles in hopes of catching Walleye, Crappie and Largemouth Bass.

From here we noticed Pleasant Valley Beach on the opposite side of the lake.  A family or two had set up blankets and lounge chairs as a couple of children were wading in the shallow end.

We approached the marshy area and heard a couple of frogs croaking under the vegetation.  Just across the marsh, we could see the boat dock and parking areas so we knew it wouldn’t be long until we had finished the hike.

Overall, we had a wonderful hike at the Sunken Garden Trail with the children and had worked up an appetite, so it was time to return to the campground to make some lunch.

Have you visited Moraine State Park and hiked the trails?  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 our family day at the park and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Moraine State Park
225 Pleasant Valley Road
Portersville, PA  16051
Telephone:  724 368 8811

Where to Stay

Smith Grove Camp Grounds
1085 Herman Road
Butler, PA  16002
Telephone:  724 285 3600

Where to Eat:

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

Loved their pizza and beer mac-n-cheese!

What to Eat: 

  • Pierogie Pizza

 

Old Stone House, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Over the weekend, we passed the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock several times that we made plans to stop by the house on our way back to Ohio.  The home, a two-story, six-bay structure made of sandstone was built by John Brown in 1822 and is today, a museum of rural life.

Perfectly situated at the crossroads of the Pittsburgh-Franklin and Butler Mercer Pikes, it was the perfect location as a stagecoach stop and tavern for those who were moving away from the east coast.  First, a small log tavern provided ale and food to travelers, but when the family home was completed, it became a historic inn.

Within its interior are three rooms on the first story, each room fitted with its own fireplace and exterior entrance.  Upstairs is one large room which is separated by curtains.  The 2 story wooden porch is accessible from each level.

The stone structure may have already existed when Brown purchased the property and may have been used as a tavern room for travelers passing by.  Locals would also arrive to the tavern to meet with the travelers in hopes of news from other states.  The tavern would have offered food and drink and an overnight stay when room was available.

Of course, not only did the Stone House attract everyday travelers, highway bandits were also known to hang around the taverns and stagecoach stops.  A list of rules was posted to reduce rowdy behavior and local disturbances.

There were two separate counterfeit gangs who were known to hang around The Old Stone House, led by a man nicknamed “Old Man North Pole”.

According to historian, Brad Pfugh, the Mohawk/Wigton story has ties to the Old Stone House as Mohawk journeyed by stagecoach to the town of Butler.  Roaming around town, it is said he stopped by the Kiester House, a local tavern where he was given milk.  He fell asleep and after awaking, returned to the Old Stone House where he fought the owner who would not serve him alcohol.  Mohawk spent the night outside not far from the Old Stone House and at some point, visited the Wigton family home.  Mrs. Wigton was alone as her husband had left town that day and Mohawk killed her and her family then fled.  Mohawk was eventually captured and hung on March 22, 1844.

With the invention of railroads, the stagecoach stops were no longer needed for travelers, so the Old Stone House became a family farmstead in the 1870s.   By 1918, it was abandoned and hidden beneath the underbrush, in need of repair where eventually, only the north wall and chimney were left.

In 1963, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy restored the property with the help of Charles M. Stotz a local Pittsburgh architect and converted the space into a museum for the next 20 years.  The 1980’s recession led the Conservancy to consider selling the property  but the local community was outraged as it had poured large donations into its restoration.  They came up with a solution to allow Slippery Rock University to rent the property, maintain its condition and manage its tourist events.   With this agreement, Old Stone House is available for visitors to learn more about rural life in Western Pennsylvania.

Have you had the opportunity to visit the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock?  I would love to hear your thoughts about the property if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my stop at Old Stone House and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

Old Stone House
865 William Flynn Highway
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
Telephone: 724 738 4964

Where to Stay: 

Springhill Suites by Marriott Pittsburgh Butler/Centre City
125 East Jefferson Street
Butler, PA  16001
Telephone:  844 207 5336

Where to Eat: 

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

What to Eat: 

  • Pierogie Pizza

What to Read: 

  • Rage, Murder and Execution! The Story of Sam Mohawk and the Wigton Family Massacre, by Bradley Pflugh
  • An Unconventional Life, 1815 – 1884, by Jane Grey Swisshelm

Butler, Pennsylvania: Downtown Walk

We had just finished lunch at Reclamation Brewery and decided walk off our meal by exploring downtown Butler, Pennsylvania.  The children were more excited to play in the fountain, so we started out on this beautiful Saturday afternoon.

The city of Butler, Pennsylvania was established in 1800 and is named after General Richard Butler, who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Butler County, Pennsylvania’s original stone courthouse was built in 1807.  It was later replaced by a second building which was destroyed in a fire in 1883.  Architect James P. Bailey was provided the commission to build the third courthouse which he completed in 1885.  Bailey designed the county’s third courthouse in the High Victorian Gothic style which is the tallest structure in downtown Butler.

Reaching three-stories, the sandstone and brick building showcases a beautiful four-faced clock tower along with two double pyramid shaped roofs on its exterior and stained glass windows, marble floors, domed ceilings, several crown moldings and a grand staircase connecting the first and second levels.  In 1977, the Butler County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The simple fountain in Butler’s downtown square is a great place to cool off and pose for photos.

Located in Diamond Park, there are several memorials in honor of the local veterans who fought in war to protect our country’s democracy.

While Pittsburgh may be known as the Steel City, there are several counties that also have a strong steel heritage.  Butler County is recognized under the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.

In addition, Butler, Pennsylvania is known as the “Birthplace of the Jeep.”

The invention was made possible with the United States Army reached out to several auto manufacturers to design a reconnaissance car within 49 days and The American Bantam Car Company accepted the challenge, resulting in the design and production of “The Jeep” in 1940.  The car company produced 2,675 Jeeps but eventually closed in 1956.

Butler has been celebrating the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival each year since 2011.  The first festival drew 1,000 jeeps to the area and last year they broke the record when 2420 jeeps arrived in downtown Butler arriving from over 30 states and Canada.   It’s a Jeep Thing.

Have you visited Butler, Pennsylvania and did you stroll its downtown?  Which restaurants or shops did you visit?  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 family day in Butler, PA and wishing you many Happy Travels.

What to See and What to Do: 

Explore Downtown Butler

Where to Stay: 

Springhill Suites by Marriott Pittsburgh Butler/Centre City
125 East Jefferson Street
Butler, PA  16001
Telephone:  844 207 5336

Where to Eat: 

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

What to Eat: 

  • Pierogie Pizza

What to Read: 

  • Jane Grey Swisshelm, An Unconventional Life, 1815 – 1884

Reclamation Brewing Co., Butler, Pennsylvania, NOW CLOSED

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

RV Camping in Butler, Pennsylvania

Anytime spent with my nieces and nephews is the best time, so when I went up to Butler to meet them for the weekend, we would be staying in an RV and exploring nearby Slippery Rock.  Here are some of my favorite photos from that weekend at the park.

 

What a great weekend of camping…the kids had lots of fun and so did we.  It was hard to leave Butler, but will be back soon….

Featured Ohio Winery: Barrel Run Crossing Winery & Vineyard

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

The Engineering Marvel of the Soo Locks

I decided to take a long weekend and travel up to Michigan to the region of the Upper Peninsula. By the time I had completed my research, I narrowed my list of sights to include Whitefish Point, Pictured Rocks State Park and the Soo Locks.

While working for the cruise lines, I experienced the Panama Canal passageway, so I was very familiar with the locks system and found it to be fascinating.   The purpose of a lock is to transport ships, boats and vessels from one level of water to the next by raising and lowering a chamber.

Flowers at the Soo Locks, Michigan

As I parked along the street of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, the beautiful flowers welcomed me to the Soo Locks complex.   I made a stop at the Visitor’s Center to learn more about the history of these Great Lakes locks.  There was a great working model of the locks, educational videos and television monitors that provided a real-time view of ships passing through.

The Soo Locks

There are approximately 11,000 ships that pass through the Soo Locks each year and there is an observation platform to watch the vessels as they transfer 21 feet from one elevation to the next.  There are two canals and four locks within the Soo Locks system that cover 1.6 miles between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, located in both Canada and the United States.

The Soo Locks are under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers who maintain the system as well as the buildings within the park.   There are future plans to automate the current lock system to bring the plant’s technology “into the 21st century”.  There is also a proposal to replace some of the locks with more up to date engineering, similar to the updates that were completed on the Poe Lock to allow larger ships to pass through.

If I have an opportunity to visit again, I would love to plan my trip around the annual Engineer’s Day Open House.  It takes place on the last Friday of June and visitors can cross the lock gates for an up close and personal look at the lock system. It is from here that one can enter the Administration Building into the lock area to watch the vessels up close.
Bridge to Canada from Soo Locks

I completed my visit to Soo Locks and drove west to check out the long bridge in the distance. It looks very much like the Mackinac Bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.  I learned that it is the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge that connects the United States and Canada and since I did not bring my passport, I will be staying on the US side and making my way towards my next stop.

Have you ever visited an engineering marvel that you found to be interesting?  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 trip to the Soo Locks in Michigan!  Wishing you many Happy Travels!!

What to See and What to Do:

Soo Locks 
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
Phone: 906 632 3336

  • Admission Fee:  Sightseeing Lock Tour:  $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 – 16, $10 and children under5, no charge.
  • Hours:  The Soo Locks will be open late March to mid-October but check their website for the most up-to-date information.  Open daily from 9AM to 10PM. The hours of operation are seasonal so check the website or call before arrival.
  • Guided Tours and Informational Booklets:   Guided tour of the locks is $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 – 16 and there is no charge for children under the age of 5.
  • Scenic View:  Watching the ships pass through the locks is extraordinary.
  •  Length of the Tour:  90 minutes (tour) and take an additional hour to watch the ships pass through the locks and explore the interpretive center.
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Wear comfortable shoes for walking.  Metered parking is available near the attraction but just a couple of blocks away there is free parking.   You will go through a metal detector so ensure that you do not have any weapons or alcoholic beverages.  Bring your passport if you want to cross the bridge into Canada.

Where to Stay:

Quality Inn & Suites
13954 M-28
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 293 3218

Where to Eat:

Wolf Inn Grill and Spirits
18568 Co. Rd 407
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 658 3355

I stopped at this nearby restaurant for just a small meal until dinner, so I ordered the appetizer size of nachos. Their servings are huge!  I could not eat even half of them, but they were absolutely delicious.

What to Eat: 

  • The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale
  • Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
  • Better Made Chips from Detroit
  • Germack Pistachios 
  • Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
  • Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

  • Y is for Yooper, by Scott Reddinger
  • U.P., by R. A. Reikki
  • Mystery on Mackinac Island, by Anna W. Hale
  • The Remarkable Tale of Captain Kidd and the Astor Fortune, by Eugene Thor Petersen
  • A Transplanted Yooper, by Tina Lonski