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Tag Archives: Inniswood

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

+120312 La Jolla Cove Beach

Beautiful La Jolla Cove, California

+120312 Seals on the South End of La Jolla Cove

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

008 Harrah's Hillbillies

Slot Winners at Harrah’s

Las Vegas

001 Las Vegas Airport

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

DSC_0184

Visiting Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

United States:  Wyoming

Wyoming, Cody

DSC_0437

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!

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

 

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A Photographic Review of My 2017 Travel Blogs

5 January 201816 September 2024

I have had so much fun writing about my many travels that took place in 2017 and past travel as well.  Here is an overview of my blog posts for this past year.  Don’t forget to select the link to check out more photos and additional information regarding each attraction.  Enjoy!

Indonesia:  Bali

Kuta Beach

An Evening Stroll Along Kuta Beach

North Bali

Ulun Danu Temple:  The Most Photographed Temple in Bali

Mexico:  Cabo San Lucas

El Arco in Cabo San Lucas

Mexico:  Mazatlan

The Port of Mazatlan, Mexico

Mexico:  Puerto Vallarta

A Port Day in Puerto Vallarta

Turkey: Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

DSC_2204, hagia Sophia

The Facade of the Hagia Sophia

United States:  Arizona

The Grand Canyon

The Colorado River Runs Through the Grand Canyon

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Indian Settlement at Montezuma Castle National Monument

The Painted Desert

The Spectacular Colors of the Painted Desert

Rawhide

Rawhide, Arizona

United States:  California

San Diego

Spectacular California Sunset

Sebastiani

An Amazing Visit to Sebastiani

Viansa Winery

Acres of Vineyards in Sonoma, California

United States:  Colorado

The Rocky Mountains

Camping in the Rocky Mountains

United States:  Louisiana

Mardi Gras

Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans

New Orleans:  Black & White Photos

The Old Absinthe Bar

United States:  Ohio

The Farm Restaurant in Adena

Enjoying a Fabulous Dinner at The Farm

The Merchant House

Enjoying a Fabulous Dinner at the Merchant House

The Old Arcana Restaurant

The Bourbon Praline French Toast

Cincinnati:  National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Columbus: Inniswood

Having Fun with my New Camera

Columbus:  Ohio Village

Celebrating 100 Years of Beatrix Potter at Ohio Village 

Springfield:

Farmer’s Market

The Historical Springfield Farmer’s Market

Westcott House, Frank Lloyd Wright

The Westcott House

Clifton Mill Lights at Christmas

Gorgeous Holiday Lights in Clifton

Ohio Wineries:

Bardwell Winery

Brandeberry Winery

Hafle Winery

Knotty Vines Winery

Meranda Nixon Winery

Plum Run Winery

United States:  Tennessee

Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation

Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville

United States:  Washington DC

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

United States:  West Virginia

New River Gorge

Floating down the Lower Gauley at the New River Gorge

I hope you enjoyed checking out all of my travels and post-related photos for 2017! I look forward to seeing what 2018 brings! Happy New Year!

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

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Inniswood: The Hike

9 April 201615 September 2024

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There is an amazing solace that comes from hiking in the winter and I had planned my day around visiting Inniswood Metro Gardens in Columbus.  The perfect location for spending time during the cold  frigid months, the path is mostly paved with a lovely boardwalk which winds through the woods.   As I arrived at Inniswood, there was a chill in the air and I realized that I had the gardens all to myself.

The main path is a 1.4 mile loop which begins after making a left at the entrance.  To the right are the memorial gardens followed by the Brookwood Trail Garden to the left.  About  .2 miles into the trail, I crossed the stately stone bridge leading to the Conifer Garden and stopped to check out the stream running beneath it.

DSC_0043

As the path bears right, I came upon the Sister’s Garden, one of my favorite features of the park.  A statue of Grace and Mary Innis, who grew up on the property, stands at the entrance.  These sisters were avid gardeners and protectors of the local wildlife, leaving the thirty-seven acres to the Columbus MetroPark system in the 1970s.   The Woodland Rock Garden is one of the main attractions at the park with a secret garden waiting to be explored.

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Making a sharp left after visiting the  Woodland Rock Garden, I climbed a few stone stairs that brought me to the overlook for lovely views.  There are two additional bridges to cross before reaching the next landmark located at .6 of a mile on the winding trail.

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The gazebo, well camouflaged in the woods, came into view towards my right.  As I approached, it began to rain.  I was happy to come out from the weather and rested awhile in the charming blue shelter.  I could hear the rain as it softly landed on the rooftop and the therapeutic sound as it lightly began to dissipate.  It was perfect timing as the rain began to turn to mist, wanting to finish around dusk.

After a short distance, the pathway exited the woods but returned at .7 miles at the Boardwalk Preserve Trail.  The remainder of the trail is wooded and ends with the washroom facilities on the left.  From here I could see the entrance as I followed along the parking lot with only .2 miles to go.

Inniswood is a lovely park and open year around.  The best time to visit is in the springtime when the flowers are blooming and the croaking of the frogs can be heard near the herb garden.  The area is known as home to pileated woodpeckers and warblers.  Don’t forget to check out the additional features of the park which includes the Frog Talk Walk, the Cutting Garden and the Rose Garden as well.  It is a perfect location to enjoy nature no matter the season.

Have you visited Inniswood and did you explore the park in the winter?  I would love to hear what you enjoy about this park, so kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Happy Trails!!

What to See and What to Do:

Inniswood Metro Gardens
940 S. Hempstead Road
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone: 614 895 6216

Where to Eat:

Delaney’s Diner
Glengary Shopping Center
5916 Westerville Road
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone:  614 776 5788

Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, Delaney’s extensive menu is keeping the Salvi’s Pastasalvi tradition alive!   This dish, starts with  egg noodles with a cream sauce and scallions, dips it into panko crumbs and deep fries it until golden brown with a creamy middle on the inside.  It’s a Columbus favorite!

Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:

  • Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream:  Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
  • North Market:  A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
  • The Thurman Cafe:  The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village.  There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
  • Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant:  While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.

What to Read: 

  • Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
  • Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
  • Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
  • Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper

Photo Guide for Columbus: 

  • Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
  • Columbus Museum of Art:  the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
  • Everal Barn and Homestead:  landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
  • Frank Fetch Park:  gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
  • Franklin Park Conservatory:  beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
  • Gantz Park:  barn, beautiful trees,
  • German Village:  brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
  • Grove City:  brick roads, small town, shopping area
  • Hayden Falls – wooden walking path, waterfall
  • Historical Village of Hilliard:  a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
  • Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
  • Inniswood Metro Gardens:  gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
  • Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
  • Ohio State University:  campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
  • Park of Roses in Clintonville:  various types of rose gardens
  • Riverfront Park:  city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Schiller Park:  gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
  • Scioto Mile:  city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Scioto Park in Dublin:  statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
  • Short North:  restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
  • Topiary Park:  depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo

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

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Photographing Inniswood Metro Gardens, Columbus

12 January 201614 September 2024

My first experience at Inniswood was shortly after I bought my new Nikon D3100 camera.  I wanted to find a park where I could photograph nature, scenery and interesting creatures to broaden my portfolio.  Looking for the chance to shoot macro, wide angle and experiment creatively, I could not believe all of the fabulous photo opportunities at this park.

+110730 Bee on a Flower

Practicing some of the tips I had read in my camera’s manual, I was ready to explore the aperture and shutter priority settings.  I came upon a bee flying around the flowers as I walked the tour.  I waited for the right moment to frame the insect between the flowers and was eager to experiment with creating blurred images, focusing on the bee and the flower.  Set on aperture, I adjusted the F-stop to f/5.6 and the exposure time to 1/40 sec.  There was plenty of sunlight, so my ISO speed was perfectly set at 100 and my lens’ focal length was 55mm.  It took me several shots, but in the end I was very pleased with the outcome.

+110730 Water at Innswood

I was so excited to see the waterfall because I could practice using the shutter priority setting, allowing me the chance to practice another photography skill.   It took me several attempts before I found a shot that satisfied me, but I enjoyed the challenge and the result of freezing the waterfall perfectly.

I left the F-stop at f/5.6 and the exposure time was changed to 1/20 sec.  There was plenty of sunlight, so my ISO speed was perfectly set at 100 and my lens’ focal length was 55mm.  My exposure bias was +0.7 step.   I was pleasantly surprised with how well this photo turned out.

+110730 Interesting Stigma and Style

For my first shots, I have to say that they came out fairly well.  The image viewer on the back of the camera was not large enough to give me an accurate assessment of each photo.  For example, I really thought I had captured the circular tips on the stigma of my flower, but in the end, they were still a little blurry.  I hope that as I practice, I will become accustomed to improving the clarity of my shots and will learn to make the proper adjustments for shooting better photos.

+110730 Inniswood Park

Towards the end of my walk, I started to take some photos without setting up the shots.  Surprisingly, I had a couple that turned out to be some of my most interesting and favorite shots.   I shot this photo in aperture priority, with an F-stop of f/5.6, exposure time:  1/60 sec., an ISO speed of 200 using the 55mm focal length.  There was an exposure bias set at +0.3 step.  It seemed to one of those photos that I would never be able to recreate.

DSC_0228

My favorite photo of the whole afternoon was taken at dusk when this tiny little raccoon peeked out from the brush as I was exiting the park.  The park ranger noticed him as well and was trying to encourage him back into the woods.  He allowed me a quick opportunity to photograph him, but of course, the grass was in the way of the shot.  I hope that someday in the future I will be able to learn how to modify photos with software to preserve some of the great moments that did not turn out so well. And until then, I will continue to photograph all manners of landscape, animals, and architecture just for the joy of photography.

Are you a photographer or just have a love for documenting your adventures?  Whether I am out traveling the world or in my own backyard, the digital camera has allowed me to capture some of the best moments in my life!  I would love to hear any photo tips or to learn of some your most memorable photographic experiences!  Please share your stories and tips on the comments section below!  Many Thanks and Happy Travels!

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

What to See and What to Do:

Inniswood Metro Gardens
1069 West Main Street
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone;  614 891 0700

  • Admission Fee:   Free
  • Hours:  Open daily from 7AM to dark.
  • Amenities:   Family programs, hiking/trails, gardens, restrooms, Innis House, Wedding venue, tours and entertainment

Where to Stay:

Aloft Columbus Westerville
32 Heatherdown Drive
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone:  614 899 6560

Where to Eat:

Northstar Cafe
109 S. State Street
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone:  614 394 8992

One of my favorite menu items at Northstar is the Thai Burrito with roasted chicken, peanut sauce, crunchy slaw and brown rice served with a Thai dipping sauce and tortilla chips.  When dining with a larger group, I prefer the Margherita Pizza with organic tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and shaved Grana Padano.

Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:

  • Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream:  Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
  • North Market:  A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
  • The Thurman Cafe:  The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village.  There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
  • Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant:  While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.

What to Read: 

  • Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
  • Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
  • Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
  • Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper

Photo Guide for Columbus: 

  • Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
  • Columbus Museum of Art:  the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
  • Everal Barn and Homestead:  landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
  • Frank Fetch Park:  gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
  • Franklin Park Conservatory:  beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
  • Gantz Park:  barn, beautiful trees,
  • German Village:  brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
  • Grove City:  brick roads, small town, shopping area
  • Hayden Falls – wooden walking path, waterfall
  • Historical Village of Hilliard:  a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
  • Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
  • Inniswood Metro Gardens:  gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
  • Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
  • Ohio State University:  campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
  • Park of Roses in Clintonville:  various types of rose gardens
  • Riverfront Park:  city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Schiller Park:  gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
  • Scioto Mile:  city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Scioto Park in Dublin:  statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
  • Short North:  restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
  • Topiary Park:  depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo

NOTE:   The following photographs were also taken on the same night as I “hiked” the 1.4 mile loop at Inniswood:

DSC_0162

The Secret Garden at Inniswood

DSC_0159

The Secret Garden at Inniswood

DSC_0163

Exploring the Secret Garden at Inniswood

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Peeking through the circular brick feature of the Secret Garden

DSC_0169

The Secret Garden

+110730 Flower Stigma

Beautiful flower at Inniswood

DSC_0149

Inniswood Metro Gardens

DSC_0157

Inniswood Metro Gardens

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About Me!

I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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