Featured Ohio Winery: Stoney Ridge Winery in Bryan

27 May 202210 March 2025

As I travel down the long graveled drive, coming into view is Stoney Ridge Winery appearing more like a schoolhouse or the church of a small congregation. The pristine white-sided structure with its red brick addition provides plenty of space for wine tastings, events and an afternoon out with friends. Located in the rural town of Bryan, Ohio, Stoney Ridge is a sprawling estate with over thirteen acres of vineyards to produce their award winning estate wines.

The winery was first opened by Philip and Pamela Stotz who began planting the vineyard in 1997. Among the varietals grown here are hearty, French-hybrid grapes that can survive the cold such as the Frontenac, Marechal Foch, Vidal and Vignoles. While all of their wines are produced here, they purchase a variety of grapes from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie to include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Riesling. The winery provides samples of not only their wines, but handcrafted hard ciders as well.

Entering the Stoney Ridge Winery, my eyes are immediately directed to the beautiful woodwork interior and stunning stone fireplace. A viewing tower and upstairs loft provides spectacular views of the outdoor landscape. In front of me is the long, light colored granite bar with plenty of space for a large number of wine tastings. The winery will be hosting an event for the Humane Society and I have arrived an hour before the occasion begins.

While sampling a few wines, I learned that the Stotz family property offered a local farmer’s market where they first began selling produce from their forty acres. As their endeavor grew, they planted their first acres of vines in the late 1990s. Visitors can tour the vineyard on a harvest wagon, enjoy samples of their wine and shop in the gift store for a wide variety of foods, gift baskets and crafts.

Stoney Ridge Winery has a great following with about eighty percent of their business local. Their best-selling wines include Sweet Barn Dance Red, Sunset Cruise, Stormy Nights and their semi-dry Riesling. I ordered a bottle of Barn Dance Blush and took a seat at one of the picnic tables by the pond admiring the well-manicured trellis vines in the distance.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Stoney Ridge Winery in Bryan, Ohio? 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 winery experience and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Stoney Ridge Winery
07144 County Road 16
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone: 419 636 3500

Where to Stay:

Colonial Manor Motel
924 E. High Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone; 419 636 3123

Boutique in the heart of downtown Bryan, this motel also includes a complimentary breakfast.

Where to Eat:

Stoney Ridge Winery
07144 County Road 16
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone: 419 636 3500

Stoney Ridge Winery offers a great selection of flatbread pizzas and appetizers.

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

Canal Market District in Newark, Ohio

27 October 201616 September 2024

Fresh fruit and vegetables, new products and crafts were just a few of the items available at the Canal Market District in downtown Newark.

Opening in 2016, the market began with close to ten vendors and offered a summer schedule of local entertainment.

Some of the amazing merchants I met included Nay and Terry Dismore from Pretzels with a Twist. Their company offers miniature gourmet pretzels with lots of flavor. From ChipotleQue to Peppermint Cocoa, there is a fantastic combination for any pretzel lover.

JC’s Lemonade was such a refreshing drink and I absolutely loved the pineapple twist flavor.

The marketplace was once a section of the Ohio & Erie Canal which passed through this space in the early 1800s. Horse-drawn boats would transport goods along the 308 miles of waterway until 1913 when the Great Dayton Flood destroyed much of its banks, aqueducts and locks. A beautiful black and white mural memorializes the canal’s culture and history.

The market is located at 36 East Canal Street and is open on Fridays between 4 – 7PM from May through October. While there are several downtown restaurants, food trucks are also available for food and for those who prefer to drink, Canal Market District is also located in the DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area), allowing person s aged 21 and older to buy alcohol. In addition, the Canal Market District’s covered pavilion may be rented to host weddings and memorable occasions for up to 190 attendees.

What to See and What to Do:

Canal Market District
26 East Canal Street
Newark, OH
Telephone: 740 527 0420

Where to Stay:

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
50 N. Second Street
Newark, OH 43055

Where to Eat:

Bummie’s On Main
400 West Main Street
Newark, OH 43056
Telephone: 740 522 0730

Best Reuben sandwich in town!

Explore Medieval Life at the Ohio Renaissance Festival

13 October 201616 September 2024

Stepping into another place and time, I entered the charming medieval village of the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg, Ohio. This festival was voted one of the best in nearby Warren County, and I imagined a day of eating overesized turkey legs and drinking lots of beer. What could be better than that? So, on a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon, I set out to enjoy a day in the Middle Ages.

The Ohio Renaissance Festival takes place yearly on the weekends running from late-August to October. Dating back to 1990, the venue eventually established a permanent location in Harveysburg and began building a medieval village.

What I found most fascinating about the festival was the number of people in costume. From wenches to rowdy pirates, lords and ladies, it was as though I had been transported to England in the 16^th century. I was also surprised at the size of the venue which sits on about 30 acres displaying over 100 shops in the Medieval Marketplace and a large number of outdoor stages for entertainment.

As I wandered through the village, the smell of barbecue drew me to the food stalls where I started my feeding frenzy with, of course, that turkey leg and a beer. It was a difficult choice because there were so many options such as bread bowls filled with soup, fish ‘n chips and corn on the cob.

I could hear cheering from the jousting field and began to wander towards the Tournament Joust. The royal family was joined by their friends and watched the competition from their box seats. The excitement of the crowd was contagious, so I joined in to cheer on my favorite knight, jousting to the bitter end.

The shops were filled with medieval merchandise, including gorgeous gowns and armor. Made-to-order crafts were available for purchase and I enjoyed browsing through the leather goods, stone carvings and jewelry. High end, more expensive items were those made from glass and novelty items such as dragon eggs.

In addition to the shows and entertainment, children and adults played games, competed in feats of skill and enjoyed carnival-like rides. It was an opportunity for me to try my hand at archery, knife and ax throwing, a few tries to “drench a wench”, and a ride on the swinging ship called SeaDragon.

The admission covered most of the activities at the festival. Additional attractions not covered included the Premium Jousting Seating (the Royalty Box), Open House Mead Tasting and the Naughty Bawdy Pub Show and required a small fee.

I spent most of the day at the Festival and found myself browsing the shops, trying a few games and watching some of the shows. I joined in with the singing at the bar and was living the life of a serf. I was amazed at the amount of fun I was having and loved the camaraderie of the crowd.

What was even more amazing was how much time and effort that goes in to setting up the Renaissance Festival each year. The authenticity of the venue was so outstanding that I felt I was actually visiting a medieval village, immersed in the experience.

The Festival also hosts themed weekends, so check them out online to see if there is one that interests you. You may want to dress up and experience the Ohio Renaissance festival in a whole new way,

Have you visited the Ohio Renaissance Festival? What was your favorite part of the festivities? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading my post about the Ohio Renaissance Festival and I wish you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Ohio Renaissance Festival Grounds
10542 OH-73
Waynesville, OH 45068
Telephone: 513 897 7000

Admission Fee: Tickets for Adults are $19 while General Admission tickets for Children (ages 13+) are $7.50.
Hours: The 2019 festivities will begin the weekend of August 31^st and continue until the weekend of October 26 – 27. The event opens at 10:30 AM to 6 PM each festival day.
Amenities: Themed weekends, entertainment, food, crafts, games and rides as well as special events.
Length of Visit: Full day of food, fun, activities and entertainment
Tips for Your Visit: To immerse yourselves in the spirit of the festival, dress in medieval costume!

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Wilmington
123 Gano Road
Wilmington, OH 45177
Telephone: 937 283 3200

Where to Eat and What to Eat:

Ohio Renaissance Festival Grounds
10542 OH-73
Waynesville, OH 45068
Telephone: 513 897 7000

1572 Roadhouse Bar-B-Q for Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Sausages, Baked Beans, Mac-N-Cheese, Peach and Blueberry Cobbler
Aleing Knight Pub for King’s Weinie, Hot Dogs, Tots, Scotch Egg, Wedge Fries, Cheese Curds, Spicy Corn Nuggets, Chicken Sandwichies, Fried Mushrooms, Strawberry Cheesecake and Cheesecake on a Stick
Archebald Drake’s for Fish and Chips
Bourbon Chicken at the Dragon’s Lair
Bread Bowls
Davinci’s Pizza
Garden of Eatin for bourmet burgers and Fries
Jerky Stand for Beef Jerky
Turkey Legs, Loaded Potatoes and Fried Pickles
Corn Dogs, Brats and Pork Shops

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