The Mystery of Stonehenge

21 January 20253 May 2025

My friend David arrived in London where we spent time with his son and girlfriend. Before leaving for Paris, we made plans to visit Stonehenge which had been on our bucket lists for quite some time. Deciding to make a day of it, we booked a tour that included a stop at the luxurious Windsor Castle and the charming town of Bath.

Before we reached the entrance to Stonehenge, we could see the Stone Circle from miles away. In the distance, the stones seemed small and unassuming until the bus continued up the drive to the Visitor Center and an eerie wave of fog rolled in

Stonehenge, a unique, circular arrangement of bluestone, is located 80 miles west of London in the county of Wiltshire in the central part of southern England. Standing in the midst of English farmland, the closest town to this architectural phenomenon is Amesbury, 2.5 miles east.

David and I agreed that had we not read about Stonehenge prior to our arrival, we may have left here more confused. The mere fact that this structure had survived thousands of years is enough to appreciate its simplicity. We debated on how the rocks could have been arranged so long ago with limited tools. So mystifying and magical,

Archaeological estimates date the first initial stage of Stonehenge to have been built around 3,000 BC when the large circular stonework was erected. Sarsen stones were placed in the shape of a horseshoe while an additional circle of bluestones were added in between them about 500 years later.

What remains of Stonehenge today is the ring of thirty stones that stand 13.5 feet high, 7 feet wide, weighing about 25 tons per stone. Recent scientific finds have uncovered burial mounds nearby which date back to the Bronze Age, long after the stones were initially raised.

The fog was beginning to lift as we departed the bus at the Visitor’s Center and boarded a tram that took us to a path leading to Stonehenge. There were several posted placards along the trail leading to Stonehenge providing additional information about the structure as well as additional earthworks surrounding the Stone Circle.

We came to a fork in the path where we could take a short detour to the Heel Stone where the Avenue meets the earthwork enclosure. This rock remains in its natural state, untouched by tools. Legend declares that it was here where the devil threw a stone at a friar, leaving the friar’s foot imprint upon the stone. We thought the stone resembled a whale jumping up from the ocean. Yet one thing is certain, the stone was positioned to mark the rising sun on the day of solstice.

Retracing our steps, we made a left towards the Stone Circle, identifying the larger, outer circle of sarsen stones (“hard silicified sandstone found scattered naturally across chalk areas of southern England”) the smaller formation of bluestones towards the center. Had the weather cooperated with a bit of sunshine, we may have been able to see the orange-brown and blue colors of the stone.

We identified stone lintels and tried to imagine Stonehenge when it was first constructed known as the place of the “hanging stones”. Making an educated guess, we tried to determine where the altar stone would have been located. We wished we would have brought binoculars to try to find the slaughter stone or to identify stone number 53, which is said to show evidence of the Mycenaen civilization. Because the Stone Circle is roped off to preserve the land within and surrounding the stones, we were limited to how close we could reach the structure.

Surprisingly, at about the time we were ready to make our way back to the Visitor’s Center, the sky began to clear up just enough for us to explore the huts of the prehistoric inhabitants near Stonehenge and make a quick stop at the gift shop to purchase a Stonehenge Woolly Jumpers Sheep Tea Pot.

Prehistoric in nature, several theories have tried to explain how these stones at Stonehenge were erected and why. The most popular beliefs are that it was once a Druid temple or a cult center. It may be a simple as a place where ancestors worshipped or as complicated as an astronomical computer for predicting eclipses and solar events. We may not determine the reason in our lifetime, but Stonehenge is undoubtedly a once in a lifetime experience during the summer solstice and continues to attract over one million visitors per year.

Have you visited Stonehenge? Did you take an excursion from London or stay local? If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating World Heritage site, I recommend the book by Christopher Chippindale titled, Stonehenge Complete. Many thanks for taking the time to read about my visit to Stonehenge and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Stonehenge
Amesbury
Salisbury SP4 7DE, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 0370 333 1181

Admission Fee: £19.50 for adults (16 – 59); £11.70 for childrens ages 5 -15; children for and under are free; Seniors (60+) are £17.60
Hours: Open daily from 9:30AM to 5PM
Amenities: Outdoor archaeological site, museum, cafe, museum store, restrooms, special events
Scenic View: The Stonehenge Archaeological site
Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
Tips for Your Visit: Do not climb over the ropes; stay within public areas permitted by visitors. Check out the exhibits. During my visit, there were over 250 archaeological artifacts on display from pottery to ancient human remains.

Where to Stay:
Budget Hotel

George Hotel
19 High Street
Amesbury, Salisbury
SP4 7ET, United Kingdom
Telephone: 44 1980 622108

Where to Eat:

Solstice Bar & Grill
Mid Summer Place
Tidworth, Wiltshire SP4 7SQ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 0845 241 3535

What to Read:

Stonehenge, by Bernard Cornwall
Stone Lord: The Legend of King Arthur, the Era of Stonehenge, by J.P. Reedman
The Pillar of the Sky, by Cecilia Holland
A Brief History of Stonehenge, by Aubrey Burl

Bath, England: Ancient Rome’s Influence on the United Kingdom

14 January 20253 May 2025

Bath, England, was once an artists’ paradise where the likes of Jane Austen, the famous writer, made frequent visits as a child. Today, visitors from all over the world are drawn to the historical Roman baths, the beautiful Bath Abbey and the quaint pedestrian square lined with British restaurants and souvenir shops.

On our way to Bath, the countryside was dotted with farms and charming villages as well as picturesque cottages and lovingly tended gardens. Corner pubs seemed to have been plucked from a popular London crossroad and relocated to this rural scene.

The purpose of my trip to Bath was to explore the Roman Baths, the site of Aquae Sulis and the surrounding courtyard, that were built here in the 1^st century AD. Rome’s empire spanned as far as England at the height of its success and this therapeutic pool of water is what remains of Rome’s influence on this area.

Our big red bus dropped us off in the heart of Bath so we followed the crowds making their way to the Roman baths and took in the extraordinary charm of the town. The cobblestone roads and Georgian architecture reminded me of Jane Austen’s book about Bath’s high society in Northanger Abbey and her novel, Persuasion.

The sky had been threatening to rain all morning, but seemed to have held off for now. Our wait in line extended out the doors and around the corner near Bath Abbey and somehow I managed to bring up the end.

While standing in line, I noticed the square was surrounded by four story buildings with shops, restaurants and bakeries on the ground floor open for business. The Roman Baths Kitchen, Jack’s of Bath, tourist center to exchange money, the Cornish Bakery, the Edinburgh Woolen Mill, Hawkin’s Bazaar were well lit and provided a respite from the drizzling rain.

Bath Abbey stands behind me in the Abbey Church Yard in the heart of the city. The dark, carved wooden arched doors, gorgeous stained glass windows and yellow-hued Bath stone are highlights of the Gothic façade, while its crown jewel are the stone angels climbing up Jacob’s Ladder towards heaven. The church is dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul and was formerly a Benedictine monastery founded in the 7^th century.

Our entry into the Roman Baths provided us access to the upper and lower levels of the museum. Following along the top floor of the complex, statues of Roman emperors and British governors lined up at intervals along the terrace overlooking the Great Bath. From this point of view, I clearly noticed the green water of the bath below and wondered if it was warm, as steam seemed to have been coming off of the pool. A doorway led into a dark room where well lit exhibits provided a timeline and explained how Rome transformed the Sacred Spring of Bath into England’s first spa.

The Sacred Spring not only fed into the baths, but was a collection pool for curses and offerings to the gods and goddesses. Metallic inscriptions on lead or pewter contained curses where locals would write the names of the suspects and blaspheme them for their wrongdoing, many times for theft or perjury. Offerings to the goddess included jewelry, personal belongings or even coins. Some of the currency dated back to the Republic when Augustus was Caesar of Rome.

The lower level leads to the Great Bath yet the complex extends beneath the square and streets of town. The water’s natural temperature is a steady 46 degrees Celsius. The pool’s depth is just over five feet and stairs lead down on each side. Tables and benches may have lined the sides of the pool where visitors could enjoy drinks and snacks.

Large pipes of water extended from the Great Bath on the east and west sides creating additional spa features to the complex. The baths were constructed where the patrons would begin with the hottest bath to the coldest. The hot plunge bath, known as the Caldarium, was heated by a system under the floor called the hypocaust. They were constructed of stacks of pilae (tiles) that allowed the heated air to circulate throughout the floors and surrounding walls. The Laconicum, similar to today’s sauna, was a small room with intense heat designed to induce sweating.

The final bathing experience was the cold bath which helped close the pores of the skin. The water would have come from outside of the baths, most likely a nearby cold water spring. The two columns were added in 1904 as additional support when electric trams were installed.

Adjacent to the Roman Baths was the Temple of Sulis Minerva, honoring the native Celtic goddess of the spa, who carried out the curses provided to her in the Sacred Spring. The temple, built in the classical style, had four large Corinthian columns that supported both the Temple Pediment and beautifully decorated frieze. The Temple Pediment, discovered in 1790, is one of the most fascinating relics of the temple. The detail in this piece of artwork is thought to have come from the area of Gaul in the first century AD.

An inscription that was found in the Temple of Minerva is dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva and may have been the podium that supported her statue. Identified as the Haruspex stone, it was committed to the temple by a Haruspex priest L. Marcius Memor, who had the power to provide consulting services and made important decisions for the temple.

Several tombstones and relics on display represent the kinds of people who lived and died near the Roman bath. Many came to Bath, from Europe, leaving their homes to find work here. One stone inscription was identified as the gravestone of Rusonia Aventina who passed away at the age of 58. She came to Bath from Metz, France.

Another fascinating find was the altar where the priests conducted animal sacrifices. Several altar stones and inscriptions were found at the Temple of Sulis Minerva. Discovered in 1965, two of the cornerstones remained in their original positions. The pedestal carvings depicted the Roman gods, such as Bacchus and Jupiter and were thought to have been painted.

The bronze head of Sulis Minerva is one of the rarest objects from Roman Britain as there were only two other fragments of its kind. Discovered in 1727, it is said that it was most likely from the statue of Sulis Minerva that stood in the temple. Dating back to the first century, there are several layers of bronze gilding applied at various stages over time.

Shortly after the discovery of the first century Roman Baths, John Woods and his son revived the town of Bath into a spa resort once again in the 18^th century. They added to the landscape by building The Royal Crescent’s thirty townhomes were decorated with beautiful Ionic columns and Palladian molding. Today it is a museum and houses the Royal Crescent Hotel.

The charm of this town is in its Gregorian architecture and the pedestrian square and it is just as I had imagined it would be, thanks to the writings of Jane Austen.

Have you had the opportunity to visit the charming English town of Bath? 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 excursion to Bath from London and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Roman Baths, Bath
Abbey Church Yard
Bath, BA1 1LZ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1225 477785

Admission Fee: £16.50 for adults (18 – 59); £10.25 for children ages 6 -16; children five and under are free; Seniors (65+) are £14.50
Hours: January to February: Open from 9:30AM to 5PM; March 1 – April 18: Open from 9AM to 5PM; April 19 – April 22: Open from 9AM to 7PM; April 23 – June 20: Open from 9AM to 5PM; June 21 – August 31: Open from 9AM to 9PM; Open September – October: 9AM to 5PM; November to December: Open 9:30AM to 5PM
Amenities: local guides, museum, restrooms, audioguides, WiFi throughout the site
Scenic View: Upstairs there are stunning views of the baths below.
Length of Visit: 2 hours
Tips for Your Visit: Wear comfortable shoes for walking. No re-entry is provided. Photographs are permitted. There is no bathing at the baths.

Where to Stay:

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
16 Royal Crescent
Bath, BA1 2LS
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1225 823333

Where to Eat:

Sotto Sotto
10 North Parade
Bath, BA2 4AL
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1225 330236

What to Eat:

Fish and Chips – fried fish and French fries
Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding – usually eaten from noon to five on Sundays
Full English Breakfast – includes eggs, sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, blood pudding, tomatoes and toast
Pie and Mash – typically a simple steak and kidney pie or pork pies, this is a classic British comfort food served with mashed potatoes and gravy
Bangers and Mash – which is sausage served with mashed potatoes and gravy
Cockles – a small type of clam
Eton Mess – a dessert made of merengue, cream and strawberries
Sticky Toffee Pudding – a moist sponge cake baked with dates or raisins and smothered in toffee sauce served with custard or ice cream
Afternoon tea – with teacakes, scones, jam and clotted cream as well as champagne and tea
Beef Wellington – filet steak covered with pate and wrapped in puff pastry

What to Read:

Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen
Bath Tangle, by Georgette Heyer
Persuasion, by Jane Austen

Photo Guide to Bath:

The Roman Baths
The Town of Bath

The Roman Baths of Bath, England

Funerary Statue at Bath, EnglandAncient Coins found in the Roman Baths of Bath, England

Exploring London and Paris through Gate 1 Travel

3 December 20243 May 2025

Booking a last minute trip to London and Paris through Gate 1 Travel, this vacation would include many first experiences for me. l would finally be exploring two of the most popular travel destinations for the first time and managing my travel through an independent tour company. I could not pass up this deal where I would spend three days in London and then three days in Paris for under $1400, including round trip flight from Columbus, a flight to Paris from London, transportation to and from the airport, three excursions and the additional single supplement fee, which is usually an outrageous add-on.

For London, my tours included bus transportation throughout the city, a ride along the Thames and a day touring Bath, Windsor and Stonehenge.

In Paris, I booked the Hop On/Hop Off bus which also included a river cruise down the Seine, a night tour of Paris and a day in Versailles. Granted, I am taking my chances by traveling in February for the weather, but I am up for the challenge.

The day of departure arrived and for starters, the Delta flight coming in from JFK was delayed. I would not be able to make my connection. The gate agent stated that I would need to come back tomorrow and that they would rebook me for an earlier flight. In hopes that they would help me reach my destination by tomorrow morning, I explained that I was traveling light with a carry on and wanted to see if there were other flights traveling to Heathrow. I was so happy when Rodney was able to reroute me through Atlanta. The flight was currently boarding and was only a couple of gates down from where I was standing. I would be arriving an hour and a half later, so I called Gate 1 Travel and they made arrangements to have a driver pick me up at my rescheduled time.

Arriving in Atlanta, I needed to reach Terminal E and we had arrived in Terminal B. Everything was running smoothly to reach my gate in Atlanta and shortly after taking a seat in the concourse, Zone 3 is called and I board the plane, eager to find my seat. I am so relaxed and looking forward to take off. What a crazy start to my trip, but it is all working out in my favor.

I decided to watch The Girl on the Train and soon after leaving Atlanta, I was provided dinner which includes pasta, shrimp cocktail, salad, cheese and crackers and a brownie. I ordered a couple of glasses of white wine (included with the international flight) in hopes that I will be able to fall asleep sooner. Unfortunately, it seemed to have the opposite effect and I could not manage to find a comfortable position. After the movie, I played a couple of games of Bingo and finally rested before I realized that daylight was slipping through the window.

This was possibly one of the worst landings I have ever experienced, not by any fault of the pilot, but apparently we had wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour. I was so happy to be on the ground and ready to bolt for ground transportation.

Customs and immigration took less than ten minutes and I was in search of the driver, so kindly arranged by Gate 1 after reaching baggage claim. I finally found Fernandes after searching through a crowd of hand-held signs and learned that he would be picking up additional passengers to include a newlywed couple and another solo traveler.

I was so happy that I packed my winter coat, scarf and umbrella at the last minute with a forecast of rain, rain and more rain. Our driver explained that the winds were exceptionally strong and unusual for this time of year. Leaving the Heathrow Airport, the scenery from the airport to the West End was grey and industrial. I would be staying at the charming Ambassador Hotel for the next three days.

I checked in at the front desk and learned that I was too early to enter my room, and that the hotel staff was working quickly to help accommodate a large group that was waiting in the lobby. I was asked to take a seat and they would call me as soon as my room had been cleaned. I picked up a few brochures and reviewed some of the additional tours available and within minutes I was dropping off my luggage and heading out into London to find a bank to exchange some money, Off to find a place for Fish and Chips and a pint. Welcome to London.

Trying to reach the Thames River where I could reach Westminster Abbey, somehow, I managed to walk in a circle in an hour’s time. I’m not sure if I was lost because I had not had enough sleep or of it was merely because I could not read the map. I found the MetroBank where I exchanged $100 for British Pounds (72 BPs to be exact) and by now starting to feel hungry. I asked the bank attendant if she could direct me towards a restaurant with fish and chips, which was easy enough. Just around the corner is the Earl’s Court Tavern Taylor Walker and within 20 seconds I am entering the pub. I placed my order for a pint of Punk IPA and the Ultimate Fish and Chips, not settling for anything less than ultimate on this vacation.

Either I was extremely hungry, or this was the best fish I had ever tasted. The batter was perfectly crisp and warming me up on the inside. I had as much malt vinegar as I wanted for drowning my fish and fries, careful not to contaminate my peas. My bill came to a little over 18 BPs without the tip and the pub began to fill up for happy hour just as I was ready to leave.

Exiting the pub, the wind had picked up and my hair was flying in every direction possible. The sky was spitting rain and I was being pelted by dirt and any type of debris that could have been picked up in 30 degree winds. I thought it best to turn in early and reach my hotel before dusk.

There were several apartments and pubs where the local police were assisting with flying debris from balconies and windowsills. I was ready for a great night’s sleep so I could wake early to watch the sunrise down at the Thames. The weather was once again calling for rain, so I would be prepared with my raincoat, umbrella and new pair of wellies.

I arrived at the hotel, unpacked my belongings and turned on the television, which is something I do not typically do on holiday. Flipping through channels, I happened upon the British Bravo television show of the Ladies of London, where I watched a couple of episodes back to back. Seriously, now I will need to find the Eclipse Bar so I can order a watermelon martini and isn’t Sophie the most amazing Brit with her fabulous hair?

Needing to have at least a couple of hours of sleep before the early dawn, I finally switched off the telly and feeling a bit knackard (tired), I enjoyed an amazing night of restful slumber. I can’t wait to explore London tomorrow!

Have you been to London? What fun “touristy” things did you attempt during your visit? I would love to hear all about your adventure if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my first day (short as it was) in London and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Watch Ladies of London on the local television station!

Check out my later posts for a list of amazing attractions in London…

Where to Stay:

The Ambassadors Hotel
16 Collingham Road
Kensington, SW5 0LX
London, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7373 1075
Photo Credit: Ambassadors Hotel London

Where to Eat:

Earl’s Court Tavern
Taylor Walker
187 Earl’s Court Road
London, SW5 9RL
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7370 2760

I ordered the Fish and Chips and a local beer for dinner.

What to Eat:

Fish and Chips – fried fish and French fries
Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding – usually eaten from noon to five on Sundays
Full English Breakfast – includes eggs, sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, blood pudding, tomatoes and toast
Pie and Mash – typically a simple steak and kidney pie or pork pies, this is a classic British comfort food served with mashed potatoes and gravy
Bangers and Mash – which is sausage served with mashed potatoes and gravy
Cockles – a small type of clam
Eton Mess – a dessert made of merengue, cream and strawberries
Sticky Toffee Pudding – a moist sponge cake baked with dates or raisins and smothered in toffee sauce served with custard or ice cream
Afternoon tea – with teacakes, scones, jam and clotted cream as well as champagne and tea
Beef Wellington – filet steak covered with pate and wrapped in puff pastry

Where to Drink:

Eclipse Bar
158 Old Brompton Road
South Kensington, London, SW5 0BA England
Telephone: +44 20 7259 2577

What to Read:

The Light Over London, by Julia Kelly
London: The Biography, by Peter Ackroyd
The Five, by Hallie Rubenhold
London: A Travel Guide Through Time, by Dr. Matthew Green
The Diaries of Samuel Pepys

Photo Guide to London:

Inside the Natural History Museum
Oxford Street and Regent Street – lovely street photos
Neal’s Yard – colorful surroundings
Notting Hill and Ladbroke Square- upscale architecture
Portobello Street and Hillgate Place – pastel colored flats
Leadenhall Market
Peggy Porschen Cakes
Coppa Club
Churchill Arms Pub
Tower Bridge
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Millennium Bridge

A Fall Day at Hale Farm & Village, Part 1

2 October 202122 September 2024

Fall in Ohio is magnificent for watching the leaves change, so I decided to take a road trip to Hale Farm & Village to enjoy the scenic fall leaves and to learn more about farm live in the early 19^th century. The farm is a historical property within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and was previously owned by of Jonathan Hale. The addition of 30+ structures had been added over the years to complete the village which is locally known as Wheatfield.

I purchased my ticket at the Welcome Center, gathered some additional information about the grounds and exited the back of the main farmhouse. Vendors were selling large pumpkins to visitors who would decorate them for the fall season. Young children happily shared what they would be wearing for Halloween while their parents sorted through large boxes of watermelon.

From the moment I stepped outside of the farm house, I could smell the tempting aroma of kettle corn made by volunteers who were raising money for local charities. A young man wearing gloves stirred the popcorn in a large vat to keep it from burning while a young lady waited for a batch to cool down before placing the popped corn in plastic bags. There was a line of visitors waiting to purchase a bag or two.

Following the map, I started my walk towards the left, stopping at a large, red barn. I shuffled through the damp leaves towards the John McAlonan Carriage Manufactory exhibit where several antique carriages were on display. The posted placard explained that the four carriages were called cabriolets with fold-down tops and were manufactured by the George J. Warden & Company from Cleveland, Ohio. Named after England’s Queen Victoria, the convertibles were popular after the 1870s.

The white single story Sugar House was the next stop on my tour of Hale Village. Entering through the side door was Josie, a period dressed attendant who was showing visitors how to make small candles. Using a thick string, she was dipping one of the ends into the hot wax, sitting over an open fire and gently draping them over a string to cool. Each candle was available for purchase at $1 per piece and proceeds would be donated towards the upkeep of the Village and Farm.

The Sugar House was built by the Hale family at the start of the 20^th century. Charles Oviatt Hale continued his grandfather’s tradition of collecting sap to produce nearly 200 gallons of maple syrup from the 20 acres of maple trees surrounding the farm. Today the farm uses modern technology to continue this tradition using a wood burning parallel flow evaporator to process the sap into syrup each February.

On my way to the quaint log cabin home of the Hales, I passed an empty lean-to. Overgrown with grass and in need of repair, it may have provided shelter for some of the family’s farm equipment. Nearby, in the open field, I couldn’t help but notice a middle aged man with a saucepan on his head. A crowd had gathered around him as he discussed the importance of conservation and said he was willing to plant some apple trees on the property as the children giggled at his “hat”.

Passing an overrun garden with weeds and dead plants, I arrived at the one room log cabin sitting beneath a maple tree.

In the corner sat a twin-sized bed that had been made up with a feather mattress and an animal hide. A long side table had been placed to the right of a 12-paned window lighting up the space with natural light. While many homes of its time would have left the dirt floors, this home’s wooden floors were perfect for keeping out forest animals and rodents.

A large, well-used fireplace had been built to the far right of the home and with evidence of smoke damage to the stones. The stonework was absolutely perfect, built to the top of the roof. The hand-cut logs were stacked on top of each other with a thick layer of clay in between could be seen from the inside while the outside was reinforced with tar. The nearby outhouse resembled the log cabin and sat a few feet from the family home.

Nearby was a fence surrounding a large pasture with a noticeable tree line in the distance. Approaching the fence, I was searching for farm animals as I strolled towards the red barn, one of several barns on the property. I was happy to see a muscular, chocolate brown steer giving me hope that I would see some additional barnyard animals.

Jonathan Hale moved to Ohio from Connecticut in 1810 and settled in Bath Township. A few months later, his wife and three children arrived, moving into a log cabin built by a local squatter. Several years later, Hale completed the green shutter, three-story brick home around 1825 and lovingly referred to it as “Old Brick”. The Hale home is considered to be the second brick house built in the Cuyahoga Valley.

The first floor was a large open space that included a great room, kitchen and dining area. The second floor acted as a formal space used for special occasions such as a parlor and formal dining room. The third floor was originally set up with six small bedrooms but later converted into fewer large bedrooms.

When Jonathan’s son Andrew married in the 1830’s, he built a small home across from the Jonathan Hale estate. Later, Andrew’s home was moved and attached to the original Hale home, labeling it the “South Wing”. To store coal to heat the home as well as additional supplies, the family added a “North Wing” to the structure.

My last stop before exploring the additional structures at Wheatfield, was the old gray barn where I found several chickens, adorable sheep and cute little pigs. It was the highlight of my visit but I was also excited to learn more about 19th century farm life in Cuyahoga County, but who can resist spending just a few more minutes with my new furry farm friends.

Have you visited Hale Farm & Village? Did you attend one of its many amazing events? 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 fun, educational experience at Hale Farm & Village and wishing you many amazing travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Hale Farm & Village
2686 Oak Hill Road
PO Box 296
Bath, Ohio 44210
Telephone: 330 666 3711

Admission Fee: $15 for adults ages 13 & up; $8 for children ages 3 – 12; WRHS members, active military and children under the age of 2 and younger are free
Hours: Daily from 10AM to 5PM with the exception of holidays. Check the website before your visit as there may be special events and a change in hours depending on the season.
Amenities: Period actors, historical sites for self-guided experiences, the Marketplace to purchase beverages and snacks, free parking, restrooms
Scenic View: The farm animals, historical buildings
Length of Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Tips for Your Visit: Wear comfortable clothes because there is a lot of walking. Your ticket is valid all day, so you can leave and come back to explore the park.

Where to Stay;

The Ohio Motel
2248 N. Cleveland Massillon Road
Bath, OH 44333
Telephone: 330 659 9999

Where to Eat:

Ken Stewart’s Tre Belle
1911 N. Cleveland Massillon Road
Bath, OH 44333
Telephone: 330 666 9990

What to Read:

The Jonathan Hale Farm, by John Horton and Herman Vail
Edith Hale: A Village Story, by Thrace Talmon

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Reflecting Back Over 2018 Travel and Blog Posts

29 December 201827 July 2024

What a great year for travel! From conquering France to exploring the Wild West of the United States, it was a wonderful year of exploring 2 continents and 5 countries. There were past memories of travels gone by as well as discovering amazing sites in my own back yard! Here are some of my favorite photos from this years’ travel blogs and the amazing journeys I experienced in 2018!

Asia

Philippines

Naomi’s Heart Mission in the Philippines: A Day of Travel

Flying Into Hong Kong Before Reaching the Philippines

Caribbean

A Port Day in Dominica

The View of the Cruise Ship in Dominica

Puerto Rico

Walking Tour of San Juan: Part 1

The Raices Fountain in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Walking Tour of San Juan: Part 2

The Cementerio de San Juan

Raices Restaurant

Authentic Puerto Rican Costumes at Raices Restaurant

Sunny San Juan

My First Mofongo Experience

Europe

Italy: Rome: St Peter’s Facade

St. Peter and the Keys

Monaco: A City of Wealth

The Wealth of Monaco

Monaco: The Port of Monaco

Strolling the Port of Monaco

Spain: Barcelona and Its Architecture

La Sagrada Familia

Middle East

Israel

Bethlehem: Shepherd’s Field

The Chapel of the Angels

Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity

The Altar of the Nativity

Turkey: The Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace

United States

United States: California

Joshua Tree National Park

The Joshua Tree

La Jolla Cove, California

Beautiful La Jolla Cove, California

Seals at La Jolla Cove, California

A Day in Morro Bay

Visiting the Rock at Morro Bay

A Weekend in San Diego

The Coronado Hotel

United States: Connecticut

East Haddam

United States: Georgia

Savannah

Strolling Through Savannah

United States: Maine

Acadia, Whale Watching and Visiting the Doubling Point Lighthouse

Acadia National Park

Enjoying the Coast of Maine in Rockland

Kayaking Near Owl Head Lighthouse, Maine

United States: Massachusetts

Salem

Touring the House of the Seven Gables

United States: Michigan

Oswald’s Bear Farm

Feeding a Baby Bear at Oswald’s Bear Farm

United States: Nevada

Harrah’s, Las Vegas

Slot Winners at Harrah’s

Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas!

United States: New York

An Afternoon at Niagara Falls

The Gorgeous Falls on the US Side

United States: Ohio

Cincinnati: The Blind Lemon

The Patio in Winter

Cincinnati: Krohn Conservatory

Exploring Krohn Conservatory

Columbus: Inniswood Hike

Strolling through Inniswood Metro Park during Winter

Columbus: Zoo Lights

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo

Ohio Festivals:

The Banana Split Festival

Making our own Banana Splits at the Banana Split Festival

Medieval Life at the Renaissance Festival

Exploring the Ohio Renaissance Festival

United States: Ohio Wineries

A.R. Winery

Buckeye Lake Winery

Gervasi Vineyard

Entering Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio

Charcuterie Plate at Gervasi Vineyard

Henke Winery and Restaurant

Hundley Cellars

Lakehouse Inn and Winery

Moyer Vineyard Winery & Restaurant

Vinoklet Winery

Winery at Versailles

Yellow Butterfly Winery

United States: Rhode Island

Cliff Walk

A Furry Friend on Cliff Walk

United States: South Dakota

Deadwood

Mount Rushmore

Visiting Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

United States: Wyoming

Wyoming, Cody

Beautiful Landscape from Cody, Wyoming

It is amazing how much ground one can cover in a year! This year will be another amazing travel year! Where did you go in 2018? Do you have any plans for this year? I would love to hear from you! Leave a message in the comments section! Happy Travels!

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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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Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.