Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery: A Sweet Wine Experience

2 July 201918 September 2024

If you live in Ohio, you have most likely heard of Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery. I first learned of Raven’s Glenn while attending the AAA Travel Show in Columbus. Meeting the winery reps attending the booth, I was excited to see they were pouring wine. Promising to visit, I made a weekend of exploring the Three Rivers Wine Trail near Coshocton, Ohio and I could not have picked a better day for wine and wanderlust. Entering the winery, I felt miles away, surrounded by Tuscan charm and endless rows of vines.

I approached the tasting bar at the perfect time as a motor coach had pulled in with a busload of excited wine tasters. Within minutes, the winery was packed with visitors enjoying an afternoon of wine tasting and lunch. Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery produces a long list of wines that are sure to compliment any wine lover’s palate. The winery makes it easy to decide which wines to sample with pre-selected packages and recommendations. I couldn’t pass up the semi-sweet and sweet wine options which included the following:

White Raven which is described as a “semi sweet white, inviting, fruity, fragrant. Blended Niagara varietals, grapey, crisp and clean finish”…all I can say is this hardly tastes like a wine but rather grape juice which is absolutely spectacular. It would not be difficult to enjoy this wine chilled by the pool on a hot summer day.

My next selection is the Raven Rouge, a semi-sweet red is a “Concord blend with other estate grapes, fruity and grapey, serve chilled or room temperature.” I found this wine delightful and very similar to the White Raven, a wine I could keep on hand at all times.

The White Merlot is a semi-sweet Rose which is described as “smooth with a mixed berry taste, sweet jammy flavors, clean finish worthy to bear the name Merlot.” This is not your average, dark red, drier Merlot, but I wouldn’t turn away a glass of this fabulous wine.

I had the opportunity to try the Strawberry Lemonade which is a semi-sweet with “hints of strawberry with lemon aromas. Citrus tones with a clean berry finish”. I was absolutely smitten with this wine because it is so different than what I had expected. Another wonderful summertime selection for a tropical day.

I was excited to try Raven’s Glenn Sangria which is a sweet wine described as “a delightful combination of luscious, zesty, tropical fruits that started as crisp apple wine”. Like they say…an apple a day. I will take two bottles please.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a tropical wine on the menu. Tropical Temptations is a sweet wine described as a wine of “ripe mango and papaya with hints of coconut and a smooth lingering finish. This wine was perfect for transporting me to an exotic beach with the sound of waves crashing around me. I enjoyed the fruit combination of this blend.

Raven’s Glen Wildly Cherry is also a sweet wine with a “deep yet gentle flavor….reminiscent of eating a fresh picked black cherry”. I was delighted by the beautiful color and smooth taste of this fabulous, fruity wine.

The Blackberry Wine is super sweet, but I was also able to try this as a spritzer which cuts down the sweetness and makes it a fun bubbly wine to drink for all occasions. It is a “sweet and smooth…well rounded blackberry aromas will prepare your senses for a gentle modestly sweet wine”. It is perfectly priced at $13.99 per bottle.

Chantilly Lace is an incredibly tasting dessert wine with “soft aromas of apricots and honeysuckle, succulent sweet and creamy flavors with a long lingering finish. I remembered tasting this at the AAA exhibit a couple of years ago and fell in love with this wine. Priced at only $9.99 per bottle, I had to pick up a couple of bottles.

After experiencing a fabulous wine tasting, I made a reservation with the restaurant where there were a few visitors ahead of me waiting to be seated. From where I was standing, I noticed the towering stone fireplace and stunning picture windows which let in the afternoon’s light. Tables were at a premium as they were occupied with customers who had just completed their tasting and couldn’t wait to enjoy the fabulous Italian selections from the menu. I could smell the mouthwatering aroma of pasta and cheese and decided to order the Three Cheese Manicotti and the Arancini,

Sitting along the Tuscarawas River, Raven’s Glenn Winery provides romantic river views and an opportunity to dine outdoors along the scenic waterway. I found the location of this winery reminiscent to some of the beautiful wine estates that one would find out west. The intricate design and thought that was given to the details of this estate added to the wine tasting experience. No wonder it is consistently rated one of the best wineries in Ohio.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Raven’s Glenn Winery? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks and Cheers!

What to See and What to Do:

Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery
56183 County Line Road 143
West Lafayette, OH 43845
Telephone: 740 545 1000

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn, Newcomerstown
200 Morris Crossing Avenue
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
Telephone: 740 498 9800

Where to Eat:

Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery
56183 County Line Road 143
West Lafayette, OH 43845
Telephone: 740 545 1000

The cheese manicotti was flavorful and creamy. I had also ordered the Arancini, which has become one of my favorite Italian dishes.

Wine Barrels at the Entrance of Raven’s Glenn Vineyard and Winery

The Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas

19 March 201921 September 2024

Images reflecting off of the canopy, screaming teens riding the zip-line, and stages of entertainment on the outstreets of Fremont Street summed up my Fremont Street Experience in the Old Town of Las Vegas.

It was a short distance for our hotel where we picked up the shuttle for Old Las Vegas. Dave and I grabbed a seat on the local city bus and within fifteen minutes we had arrived. Fremont Street spans four blocks with casinos, buffet specials and bars on each side. Three stages provide live music and we were excited to take in the tunes of the Beatles with look-a-like musicians dressed up as John, Paul, Ringo and George. The electric atmosphere and intimate space differs than the wide open spaces of Las Vegas Boulevard and the prices were less expensive as well.

We enjoyed our time strolling the old strip where historical casinos have existed since the early 1900s. The Golden Gate & Casino Hotel, once known as the “Hotel Nevada” was the first casino in Las Vegas, built in 1906. More casinos would soon follow in the early 1930’s and Vegas’ gambling industry would grow over the next few years. People continue to visit the Golden Gate with a bit of nostalgia, but most will stop by for their cheap shrimp cocktails and best odds of winning.

The Fremont Hotel & Casino opened in 1956 and was the first high rise to be built in Las Vegas and was considered to be the tallest building in the whole state of Nevada. This hotel makes up one of the “four corners” located at the crossroads of Casino Center Boulevard and Fremont Street. It is here where Wayne Newton made his Las Vegas debut in 1959.

Fascinated with the crime show, “Snapped” I had somewhat of a morbid interest in the Ted Binion case. Strolling the slots of Binion’s Gambling Hall and Casino I thought of the episode in which Ted Bunion was allegedly killed by his girlfriend and her lover. The indictment would eventually be overturned in 1998.

The hotel first opened in 1951 under the name of the Horseshoe Club and was owned by the Binion family until 2004. Poker players will recognize this building as the venue of the annual World Series of Poker which began in 1970. The hotel portion of Binion’s was closed in 2009.

The Golden Nugget was completed in 1946 and is said to be the largest of the downtown casinos. With close to 2,500 rooms and suites, it is known as the first building built as a casino from the ground up. The resort’s famed attraction is the 960 ounce gold nugget called the “Hand of Faith” and is on display inside.

Whether it is the Fremont Street Experience or the endless wandering among the Fremont Street casinos, visitors leave the strip to explore Old Vegas made famous by the Rat Pack. A trip to “Glitter Gulch” is an experience of unusual dimensions. Given this nane due to the number of neon signs, many of the originals have since retired and can be found refurbished in the Neon Museum exhibit.

The most famous of the neon signs on Fremont Street is Vegas Vic. With his cowboy boots and cigarette, it is one of the most prominent of all figures representing Las Vegas. The number of lights can be overwhelming yet its animation is entertaining.

Classic movies such as Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas”, the James Bond film “Diamonds are Forever” and the 1997 comedy “Vegas Vacation” will forever memorialize the original Las Vegas. What an amazing Strip of history.

Do you prefer the atmosphere of “Old Vegas” or “The Strip?” I would love to hear your opinion, so please leave your comments below! Many thanks for joining me on my Fremont Street Experience and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Fremont Street Experience

Golden Gate & Casino Hotel
1 Fremont Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: 702 385 1906

The Fremont Hotel & Casino
200 Fremont Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: 702 385 3232

Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel
128 Fremont Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: 702 382 1600

The Golden Nugget
129 Fremont Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: 702 385 7111

Where to Stay:

Harrah’s
3475 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone: 800 214 9110

Where to Eat:

Golden Gate for its cheap shrimp cocktails!

What to Eat:

Anything! Las Vegas has it all!

What to Read:

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson
Leaving Las Vegas, by John O’Brien

Photo Guide for Las Vegas:

“Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign
The Paris Hotel Entrance and Eiffel Tower
The Luxor Walkway and Sphinx
The Excalibur Hotel
New York New York Hotel
The Arc de Triomphe at the Paris Hotel
The Eiffel Tower view from the Bellagio
The Bellagio Fountains and its Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The Rose Covered Entrance to the Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio
The Linq Promenade with views of the High Roller and Inside the High Roller
The Venetian Stairs and Lobby
Gondola Ride at the Venetian
The Venetian Bridge
The Stairs at Wynn Las Vegas
Neon Museum signs
Fremont East District sign
Retro Vegas Sign
Abbey Road
The Empty Club
Fremont District Murals
Red Rock Canyon’s Red Rocks and Joshua Trees
Valley of Fire State Park – Slot Canyon, Fire Wave, Mouse Tank Road, Pastel Pink Canyon
Seven Magic Mountains
Mrs. Coco’s Cafe (book in advance)
Hoover Dam
Canyon West (about 2 hours from Vegas)

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San Francisco’s Iconic Golden Gate Bridge

26 January 201514 September 2024

Whether it is the Arch of St. Louis, the Alamo in San Antonio, or the Space Needle in Seattle, very few iconic images compare with the glorious representation of a city than San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

It is impossible to imagine San Francisco without thinking of its spectacular bridge. Regardless of the number of times I travel to San Fran, I am not satisfied until I drive over it or walk the span for breathtaking views of the city. Once the largest suspension bridge in the world, visitors can walk, bike, drive or ride over the two-mile platform that connects the city of San Francisco to Marin County.

It was an overcast day on my last visit, but I layered up and made sure I would be comfortable for a stroll across.

The Golden Gate Bridge was not named for its color but for the strait that it spans, Opening in May of 1937, this steel suspension bridges retains a main span measuring 4,200 feet.

As cars drove across the bridge during my walk, I could hear the whirring sound of the tires and the hollow thumps from the grates that offer views into the water below.

The men who designed the bridge were Joseph Strauss, Irving Morrow, and Charles Ellis. But it was Joseph Strauss, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, who provided oversight for the day-to-day construction of the bridge beginning in January of 1933.

It is said that Strauss became fascinated by bridges during a hospitalization in Cincinnati. With a view of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge from his hospital room, he would later be employed by a company that specialized in building them.

The view of the bridge from the southeast side visitor parking lot shows the roadway straight through to the other side. The visitor’s center, gardens and café are accessible from this lot and it is a great starting point for enjoying scenic overlooks and vistas.

The Golden Gate Bridge is open 24 hours a day and it is estimated that approximately 110,000 vehicles travel over the bridge on a daily basis. That does not include the 10,000 pedestrians and 6,000 cyclists that cross as well.

Tolls are only collected in one direction as you head into San Francisco from Marin County. There is a toll charge of $7.25 for 2 axles and motorcycles (as of this writing).

Enjoy the San Francisco rite of passage by walking or biking the Golden Gate Bridge and you will see San Francisco from a whole new perspective.

Have you visited San Francisco and was the Golden Gate Bridge on your itinerary? How did you cross it? 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 short post about the Golden Gate Bridge! Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Golden Gate Bridge
P.O. Box 9000, Presidio Station
San Francisco, CA 94129-0601
Telephone: 877 229 8655 or 415 486 8655

Admission Fee: Walk or bike the Golden Gate Bridge at no charge. There is a fee to travel by car, so check the website for the most recent information.
Hours: The Golden Gate Bridge is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Amenities: Parking, welcome center, cafe, bookstore, historical site
Scenic View: From several vantage points from the Golden Gate Bridge, explore the Pacific Ocean and surrounding mountains.
Length of Visit: 1 – 5 hours depending on how you explore the park
Tips for Your Visit: Access the bridge from both the north and south. Where comfortable shoes for walking across the bridge. The six lanes for cars is tight, so be mindful of other drivers and keep your eyes on the road.

Where to Stay:

Sheraton Palace Hotel, now The Palace Hotel
2 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: 415 512 1111

Where to Eat:

Castagnola’s – The restaurant is known for its soups served in bread bowls. Select the clam chowder bread bowl or the lobster bisque bread bowl.
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company – The world famous hot fudge sundae is the best seller.

Where to Drink:

Iron Horse – Their signature drinks include the James Bond Martini, Goldfinger, Alice in Wonderland, Tiki Temple and Happy Fortune.

What to Read:

Cool Grey City of Love by Gary Kamiya
San Francisco Stories by Jack London
Zodiac by Robert Graysmith
Alcatraz-1259 by William Baker

Photo Guide for San Francisco:

Aquatic Park is the best place to photograph San Francisco’s waterfront
Broadway Street in North Beach for its neon signs and was formerly known as the area’s “red light district”
Chinatown is absolutely amazing for taking photos of America’s oldest Chinatown.
Coit Tower for 360 degree views of San Francisco and the harbor
de Young Museum Observation Deck located at Golden Gate Park is perfect for panoramic photos of the city. Bypass the line to enter the museum to reach the Hamon Observation Tower to take your photos.
Fort Point is a decommissioned military base on the waterfront which provides outstanding views of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
The Marin Headlands is one of the best places to photograph the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge
Treasure Island for spectacular views of San Francisco’s skyline
See the entire city of San Francisco from Twin Peaks