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Sarah’s Vineyard, an Ohio Winery in a State Park

A small fire was ablaze on this beautiful October afternoon as I approached the outdoor seating area of Sarah’s Vineyard Winery & Art Gallery.  The welcoming stone fireplace was in need of a few more fire sticks to keep the embers burning, but the smell reminded me of a pleasant fall day, perfect for sampling wine.

It would have been a wonderful afternoon to linger by the fire but I soon learned that a private event was scheduled for this outdoor space.   The server kindly directed me towards the beautifully restored 1840s barn where I would find the tasting room and additional seating.  The bar was full but within minutes I was able to place my wine order and find the perfect high top table to enjoy my wine.

I started out with the Cuyahoga Valley Reserve, a red zinfandel blend that is aged in oak.  This grape varietal is one of my favorites and I am happy with my selection.  Sitting next to me was a woman in her mid-30’s waiting for a couple of friends for a wine tasting.  She suggested me that I return to Sarah’s Vineyard for their Annual Summer Solstice Festival in June, a celebration of the start of summer.

Looking for another red to sample, I notice a wine labeled “Miserabile.”   I asked about this wine and learned that it is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Rubiana grapes. This wine was far less miserable yet smooth and divine.

My final pour was the Sweet Elisa made from Niagara and Concord grapes.  A popular blend for Ohio wineries, the wine is a fruity wine that is refreshing when served cold.  Very sweet, this is a typical first wine for beginners who are just starting out.

Looking over the menu, I wished I would have made reservations for dinner.  With a great selection of starters, soups, salads and sandwiches, the winery also provides wood-fired pizzas.  I decided instead to order a carafe of Sweet Elisa, the winery’s top seller, and find a seat outdoors among the endless rows of grapevines.  The Indian summer sun felt comforting and warm. I sat at my table happy to have a few moments to relax and take in my rural surroundings.

The Lytz family has been serving wine at Sarah’s Vineyard since the early 2000s.  Sitting upon 15 acres in northeast Ohio, the property includes the winery, vineyards and a beautiful view of the surrounding farmland.  Varietals grown here include hearty grapes that easily sustain the cold Midwest weather such as Cabernet Franc, Traminette, Niagara and Rubiana.  They have six wines that they regularly produce which are the Blue Heron, Golden Solstice, Sarah’s Secret, Miserabile, Cuyahoga Valley Reserve and Sweet Elisa.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the winery was also an art gallery and studio.  Sarah’s Vineyards hosts a variety of art shows throughout the year and art classes are offered on a regular basis.  Located in the midst of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, quiet surroundings and gorgeous landscape are perfect for a day of art and wine tasting.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Sarah’s Vineyard?  What was your 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 Sarah’s Vineyard and wishing  you many Happy Travels!

Winery Contact Information:

Sarah’s Vineyard Winery & Art Gallery
1204 W. Steels Corners Road
Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44223
Telephone:  330 929 8057

Where to Stay:

Vineyard Woods
740 State Route 534 North
Geneva, OH 44041
Telephone:   440 624 3054
Website:  http://www.vineyardwoods.com/

Where to Eat:

The Pickled Pepper
4949 Golf Avenue
Geneva on the Lake, OH  44041
Telephone: 440 361 4014

We entered the brightly colored outdoor restaurant and ordered the deep fried pickles to satisfy my obsession. Yum!

The Roaring Fork Auto Trail, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Driving along the Roaring Fork Auto Trail, I felt transported from everyday life into a quiet wilderness of serenity.  Surrounded by white oak, chestnut oak, magnolia and maple trees, I could easily get lost in the moment, don a backpack and set off for an adventure into the wild.  I had not seen a car for miles and I slowly drove the six-mile route to enjoy the highlights of the auto tour.

The Great Smoky Mountains is a tree lover’s paradise thriving under optimal conditions.   With the perfect amount of rain and moderate temperatures, the canopy of cove hardwoods maintain a perfect ecological balance.  Wildlife also flourishes in the Smoky Mountains where there is an abundance of fox, opossum, raccoon, chipmunks and especially bears.

I approached the trailhead to Trillium Gap Trail, but there were so many cars parked alongside the roadway that I decided to stop by on another day. The trail led me to the top of Mt. LeConte, but I only hiked up to Grotto Falls and back which was about 2.6 miles roundtrip.

I passed through groves of hemlock and tulip trees which brought me to the Old Road.  I had seen a section of this road when I visited Noah “Bud” Ogle’s home.  It was a primitive trail with large rocks that made it difficult to travel by wagon.

Through the trees I caught a glimpse of the home of Ephraim Bales, another early settler to the area. The road passed by the house and there was a noticeable drive-thru split in the home.  The Bales family owned 70 acres where they had built their house, pig pen and barn.

On the left side of the road is the Alfred Reagan Place.  Although Alfred was a farmer, he was a carpenter and blacksmith as well, which provided more money to afford a more modern home.  He later opened a store along the roadside and a mill for making bread.  The home was not the typical log cabin and it was painted in the three colors offered by Sears and Roebuck.  The house and the mill are all that remain on the property.

Approaching the mill, I heard the sound of water rushing through the flume, traveling down towards the wheel.  The “tub mills” were given this name because the wheel was surrounded in a wooden tub-like enclosure.  Eventually, these casings would be removed, exposing the wheel.  Millers  would usually charge a “toll” of one gallon per bushel of corn meal.

As I came to the end of the drive, I passed through boulder fields and waterfalls before entering back into “civilization”.   It was a beautiful escape from the everyday life of technology and manufacturing.  The demanding yet uncomplicated days of manual labor are experienced by so few.  I wonder how many of us could really go back?

Did you drive the Roaring Fork Auto Tour during your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains?  What were your favorite stops?  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 time on the auto tour! Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Roaring Fork Motor Tour
Just beyond the Rainbow Falls Trailhead
Telephone:  865 436 1200

  • Admission Fee:  There is no charge to drive the Roaring Fork Motor Tour as it is a part of the Great Smoky National Park.
  • Hours:  The park is open year around, though this road is closed during the winter season.
  • Amenities:  Pamphlet for auto tour ($.50)
  • Scenic View: Spectacular views of Great Smoky Mountains throughout the drive
  • Length of Visit:  1 – 2 hours, depending on whether you stop to visit the attractions
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Wear comfortable shoes for walking should you decide to stop at the attractions.  Wildlife, such as bears, may be wandering around the property, so be on the lookout and do not approach them.  We like to visit here in the afternoon as the trees provide shade from the warmer weather.

Where to Stay: 

We stayed in a rental through VRBO called the Firefly Chalet.

Where to Eat:

Bennett’s Bar-B-Que
2910 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
Telephone:  865 429 2200

I ordered the Carolina Pork Sandwich and the Salad Bar.

 

 

 

Cade’s Cove, Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

I found myself mesmerized by the playful shadows fading in and out upon the Smoky Mountains.  Surrounded by clouds, the rolling hills were dense with firs and oaks, rising up in the distance from the valley of Cades Cove.  I decided to take an early morning drive along the 11-mile loop, one way auto tour to visit this informative living history museum.  Picking up the brochure, I began my adventure at the Orientation Shelter and followed the road heading west.

A cove is defined as a flat valley that exists between mountains or ridges.  A perfect location for settlers coming from the east, Cade’s Cove provided the ideal terrain for farming and raising cattle.  Today, there are over 80 structures that contribute to the historical perspective of life in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Dating back to the early 19th century where the population totaled 685, these buildings include homesteads and outbuildings, churches, barns and an early grist mill.

Dating back to the early 1820s, the John Oliver cabin is the oldest log home in Cades Cove and the first homestead on the tour.   Made from trees within the vicinity, the home has an upper and lower level that housed their Cadlarge family.

Organized in June of 1827, Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church was the meeting place for early settlers until the time of the Civil War.  Crossing into its entrance, there was a group of visitors singing hymns towards the front.  Several pews were occupied with onlookers enjoying the entertainment.  I took my place on one of the benches and closed my eyes for a moment to listen to the sweet sound echo off of the wooden logs.

A quick stop at the Methodist Church provided me the opportunity to examine several epitaphs dating back to the late 1800s with names familiar to the area.  It was here where I located the headstone of John Oliver and his wife Eurena Frazier Oliver who are noted as the first permanent white settlers of Cade’s Cove.

A group of Baptists that believed in the emphasis of Missionary work, started a church in 1839 called the Missionary Baptist Church.  The congregation shut its doors in 1944.

Once an Indian trail, Cooper Road Trail is a popular hiking path for visitors to Cade’s Cove.  Named after Joe Cooper, the road was a direct route to nearby Marysville.

Elijah Oliver left Cade’s Cove during the Civil War but made his home here once he returned.  There are several buildings on the property to include the dog-trot style cabin with the detached kitchen, springhouse, smokehouse, corn crib, a chicken coop and a barn. Oliver later added the “stranger room”, an addition to the front porch for overnight guests.

Approximately halfway through the driving tour is the Cable Mill Historic Area & Visitor’s Center, the perfect place to experience the everyday life of the Smoky Mountain settler.  Starting out at the center, I pick up additional information about the area and check out a couple of books and guides.

The blacksmith shop was once owned by Tipton Oliver and was brought to this site from another location in the park.  The blacksmith held an important position within the community creating farm-related items for the local residents.  With the use of hot coals and fire, the iron was shaped into tools, bits, chains and axes.

In addition to homes, the barn was one of the most important structures on the frontier because they provided shelter for the animals during the winter season. The cantilever configuration left half of the barn open as storage space for farm equipment and animals, while the opposite end was enclosed.

Following the wooden flume along the path, I notice the mill which was once owned by John Cable one of the area’s original settlers who purchased this land in the 1860s.  Soon after purchasing the land, he built the water-powered grist mill and sash sawmill around 1870.   The grist mill uses circular stones that crush grains to create meal while the sawmill cuts into the logs which were used for building homes.  Demonstrations of the grist mill take place here and visitors can purchase a small bag of grain.

A short distance from the mill, is the smokehouse where the meat from the hogs were cured by using smoke or salt.  The meat was stored here until it was time for the next hog was butchered.

The corn crib was a structure with cracks in between the logs to ensure that the corn would stay dry.  Consumed by both animals and man, corn was an important staple for the local residents.  They could grind it down to make bread or use it in their stills to produce moonshine.

The bridge-like structure within the distance of the corn crib was actually barn.  The load of hay could be brought up to the drive through so that the hay could be unloaded by two men speeding up the process of delivering the load.

Several important structures sit on land that was parceled out by the state of Tennessee once known as “Kate’s Cove”, named for the wife of Cherokee Chief Abrams.

The Gregg Cable House is known as the first frame house to have been in the area making it one of the greatest landmarks in Cade’s Cove. Many of the homes during this time period were not only homes but places of business as well.

Due to its location on a lush valley, surrounded by mountains, it is a wonderful place to see deer, making it one of the most popular destinations within the park.

Leeson Gregg built this house in 1879 on land that he had purchased from John P. Cable, who also provided him the lumber.  The home included the main open-style living quarters with a fireplace as well as three room upstairs.  A porch and kitchen were added later.  Looking up at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but notice a couple of bats, which had me running out of the building as soon as possible.

In addition to the Becky Cable House, there are two additional important sites located on this land which includes Don Lawson’s cabin….

…and the Tipton Cabin.

The “Cove”, once a hunting ground for the Cherokee, is located in a valley surrounded by spectacular mountains and an abundance of wildlife.  Living history demonstrations add an added educational aspect from spring through fall. Cade’s Cove is the perfect location for hiking, biking or taking a scenic drive and learning about the history of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Have you visited Cade’s Cove?  Did you drive, bike or walk through the park?  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 adventure at Cade’s Cove and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Cade’s Cove
Cade’s Cove Loop Road
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN  37738
Telephone:  865 436 1200

Where to Stay:

Firefly Chalet
Highway 321 North
Gatlinburg, TN  37738
Website:  www.vrbo.com

Where to Eat:

Bennett’s Bar-B-Que
2910 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
Telephone:  865 429 2200

What to Eat:

  • Barbecue

What to Read:

  • Cade’s Cove, by Nann Wilson
  • Cade’s Cove:  A Personal History, by William Wayne Oliver
  • Cade’s Cove:  The Dream of the Smoky Mountain by Rose Houlk

Old Firehouse Winery, Geneva On The Lake, Ohio

I could hear the beautiful, distinct sound of bagpipes through a large crowd of onlookers as I approached Old Firehouse Winery.   I immediately took notice of the quaint little antique fire truck at the front of the building, half the size of the ones today, and entered the winery to sample a few of their wines.  The sassy red barn had been converted into a firehouse before becoming a winery and restaurant twenty-five years later.  “Old Betsy”, a 1926 Graham Brothers engine, represents the historical evolution of Old Firehouse Winery.

Standing in line with other patrons, I soon realized that the slushies were one of the winery’s best sellers.   I was easily entertained by the television screen with interesting information about the winery and Old Firehouse wines.

I had watched the informative loop twice when I was next in line to be served.   I decided to try the preset Sweet Wine Tasting Samples which included ten 1-ounce sized  plastic cups for a cost of $8.99 plus tax.

The umbrella-covered table had a lakeside view where I could enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie.  An Arts & Crafts Show had been set up in an open area where visitors browsed the booths and made a few purchases. During the summer, the fair takes place every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day with hours from noon to 8.

Each Old Firehouse sample was numbered in the order of less sweet to the sweetest.

  • The Firehouse White is made of Catawba grapes was a Gold Award Winner.
  • The Firehouse Red is a semi-sweet wine, with a jammy taste and beautifully red in color.
  • Made from the popular, local Niagara grape, my next sample was the Lighthouse Niagara wine.
  • Lake Erie Riesling was surprisingly sweet compared to other Rieslings I have sampled in the past.
  • Raspberry Reflections has a sunset hue, but with its aromatic raspberry scent, it was perfectly prepared with just a hint of raspberry flavor.
  • Not quite sure what to expect with Spiced Apple, I was pleasantly surprised by its refreshing taste.
  • Frosty Peach, a lovely summertime wine,  was lightly flavored with a hint of peach.
  • Grape Jamboree is typical of an Ohio sweet wine and is one of the winery’s best sellers.  The Grape Jamboree is also an annual festival that takes place in Geneva during the month of September.
  • Pink Catawba, with its deep cranberry color was the sweetest wine yet.
  • My final sample was the Sweet Concord which tastes like grape juice that packs a punch.  This was my favorite sample and I purchased a bottle to make some sangria on a hot summer afternoon.

The view from where I was sitting was absolutely gorgeous.  Within a few feet from the seating area was an antique Ferris wheel at the edge of the lake.  This stand-alone attraction is well known to the locals and was built in 1956.  They call it the #5 Big Eli because it was fifth patent of George Ferris.   Old Firehouse Winery has a port wine named after this colorful wheel and has a spectacular view from the top.

Strolling through the winery before leaving for the Lakehouse Inn and Winery, I could not pass up the opportunity to try the slushie and I quickly learned why they are one of Old Firehouse Winery’s best sellers.

Have you visited Geneva on the Lake and tried the wines at Old Firehouse Winery?  I would love to hear about your fun experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for checking out my post about the Old Firehouse Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Old Firehouse Winery
9425, 5499 Lake Road East
Geneva on the Lake, OH  44041
Telephone:  440 466 9300

Open seven days a week year around, the winery and restaurant provides daily entertainment during the summer months with extended hours over the weekend.  For more information about the winery and their themed weekends which run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, check out their website.

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Express Ashtabula – Geneva
1831 Austinburg Road
Austinburg, OH   44010
Telephone:  440 275 2020

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.