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Tag Archives: mill

Strolling Through Windmill Island Gardens

29 May 20233 May 2025

Traveling to Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Time Festival, I scheduled time to visit Windmill Island Gardens with its fields of tulips and authentic Dutch windmill.  This year, the festival opened on Saturday, May 4th and continues to Sunday, May 12th, 2024.

Windmill Island is one of three islands on Holland’s Macatawa River.  To reach the island’s gardens, visitors must drive over the causeway before reaching the 36 acres of beautiful flowers.  As soon as I had arrived on the island I immediately noticed the adorable Dutch village, windmill and never-ending fields of tulips.  Planted in late-September, these colorful tulips begin to bloom in late April and can be enjoyed as late as June.

The park opened the spring of 1965, following the reconstruction of De Zwaan windmill.  The restoration project was authorized by the Dutch government as the structure was one of the most damaged windmills during World War II.  De Zwaan is Dutch for Graceful Bird or Swan.

To avoid the long lines to enter De Zwaan, I made my first stop at the Amsterdam Street Organ known as the “Four Columns”.  Street barrel organs were popular in Amsterdam during the late 1800s bringing the most up-to-date music to local neighborhoods. Children would often drop coins in a box as a token of appreciation for the street musician who was required to purchase a permit to operate.  With the advent of the radio, the number of street organs dwindled.

Passing through acres of tulips, I arrived at De Zwaan, the only Holland windmill in the United States.  Originally from the town of Vinkel, Netherlands, this once damaged mill was brought over to Michigan on the Prins Willem van Oranje in 1964.  It took six months to reconstruct the mill and was dedicated the same year.  In 2018, De Zwaan was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

De Zwaan’s construction was purposefully thought out to maximize the productivity of flour.  From the slanted ground floor to drain water to the careful design of the blades to utilize wind power, the windmill has several features that are essential to grinding the grain.

Standing 125 feet tall, I climbed the five stories of the windmill, each having its own unique  function for the production of flour.  At the  ground level are double doors where wagons would drop off the bagged wheat.  From this level, the wheat was hoisted up to the top level by a pulley system so it could be processed.  The miller spent most of his time on the top floor, so if he needed to communicate with the outside world, he would write a note and place it in a wooden shoe.  He would lower the shoe to the first floor waiting for  the next visitor to read it.

The second and third floors were used for the packing and storing of flour.  At De Zwaan, there is a display of the mechanical parts that make up a windmill with an explanation of how they work.

The fourth floor is where the miller can regulate the grinding of the flour by loosening or tightening the connection of the millstones.  This determines the fineness of the flour.

On this level, Norwegian fir beams and wooden timbers replace the brick interior, making it a more homey space.  If you look closely, you can see the boards are marked with Roman numerals so that the windmill would be much easier to reassemble.

Also known as the gallery floor, the fourth level offers spectacular views of the tulip fields.

The fifth floor is where the millstones are housed and where the miller would spend most of his time.  The top of the pulley system is located here which brings up the grain and sends down the messages.  When the blades of the windmill are turning, the grinding process begins as the gear in the center turns the millstones.   I was fascinated by the whirring of the machine and the soothing sound of the grindstones.

A book about De Zwaan has been written by author Alisa Crawford.  She began milling at De Zwaan in 2002 and several years later, applied for a training program in the Netherlands.  The Dutch Mill Society approved her application and not only would she learn the craft of milling, but would be required to study the trade in Dutch.  Not only was Crawford the first Dutch-certified miller in the United States, she became the first woman to be admitted into the Dutch Miller’s guild.  Today, Alisa is the miller at De Zwaan, milling over 10 to 12 thousand pounds of wheat per year.

After touring De Zwaan, I strolled through what seemed like acres of tulips.  Over three thousand are registered at the park and were labeled by variety, of which there as many as one hundred and fifty.   Surprisingly, tulips originated in central Asia and were brought to Europe in the mid 1500s. In the 1600s, tulips were so valuable that they were as expensive as homes.  Some historians credit the popularity of the tulip as the reason for the 1637 economic crash.

Inside the village was a recreation of a Dutch town with its colorful windmills, modest houses, cobblestone streets and charming canals.  The backdrops show endless grasslands with cloudy skies and rolling hills.  Many small towns in the Netherlands started out as fortresses and have a large number of historical monuments to explore.

My last stop was the gift shop where I picked up a few pairs of wooden shoes and stroopwafels, a chewy waffled wafer cookie with a caramel filling.  The first time I had tasted these yummy pastries was when I stayed at the Schiphol Sheraton Airport Hotel and they would leave them on my pillow each night.  I was so excited to find them at Windmill Island Gardens and took me back to the cobblestone streets  of Amsterdam.

Have you visited the Windmill Island Gardens or attended the Tulip Time festival in Holland, Michigan?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments below.  Many thanks for reading about my fun-filled day at Windmill Island Gardens and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Scroll down for more photos of the gorgeous tulips at Windmill Island Gardens!

What to See and What to Do:  

Windmill Island Gardens
1 Lincoln Avenue
Holland, Michigan  49423
Telephone: 616 355 1030

  • Admission Fee: Adults for $12;  Children ages 3 – 15 are $6; Last admission sold at 5PM
  • Hours:  The park is open from April 17th to October 3rd, seven days a week from 9:30AM to 6PM.  Tulip Time hours are 9AM to 7PM with the last tickets sold at 6PM.
  • Amenities:  Free parking, Windmill tours, Amsterdam Street Organ, Welkom Movie and Virtual Windmill Tour, Visitor Services with restrooms, miniature village displays, gift shops and conservatory
  • Length of Visit:  2 to 3 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:   Check the venue’s website to prepare for your visit during the Tulip Time festivities as well as the Tulip Time website (www.tuliptime.com) in advance to plan their stay during the festival.  You will find that not all of the events take place on a daily basis, so checking out the itinerary may assist one with preparing a schedule ahead of time.  For example, if you arrive on Friday, there may not be a parade and if you happen to attend on the day of a parade, you can purchase grandstand tickets ahead of time.   The site also provides a detailed schedule of the events that take place as well as a great map to help you get around.  And if you stop by on a whim, you will find various information stands throughout the enchanting town of Holland that offer assistance as well.   Happy klomping!

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn Holland
12427 Felch Street
Holland, Michigan, 49424
Phone number:  855 605 0317

Hampton Inn is one of my favorite, low cost hotels and this was, by far, one of the best accommodations for this hotel chain.

Where to Eat:

Crust 54 – (two locations in Holland, Michigan)
*54 E. 8th Street, 616 394 3002

1145 S. Washington Avenue, 616 848 7787

*We stopped by Crust 54’s downtown location for Chicago style pizza!

Where to Drink: 

  • Bam! Brewing
  • Big Lake Brewing
  • Brewery 4TWO4
  • Coppercraft Distillery
  • Great Lakes Winery Brewery Distillery
  • Hopland Brewstillery
  • New Holland Brewing Company
  • Our Brewing Companies
  • Warner Vineyards

What to Read:

  • Holland, the Tulip Town, by Randall P. Vande Water
  • Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, by Geoffrey D. Reynolds
  • Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City, by Robert P. Swierenga

Photo Guide for Tulip Time and Holland: 

  • The Fields of Tulips throughout the city
  • DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens
  • Sunset on Lake Michigan
  • Polder Molen Windmill at Nelis’ Dutch Village
  • Dutch Dancers
  • Nelis’ Dutch Village:  landscaped gardens, canals, carousel, brick walkways, gardens of tulips, petting farm, Carillon Bell Tower, The East Gate, Dutch houses
  • Windmill Island Gardens, merry-go-round, carousel, dutch dancers

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

 

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The Clifton Mill Holiday Lights, Ohio

31 December 202022 September 2024

The Clifton Mill Holiday Lights

Sometimes I find myself lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and realize that there is so much more to Christmas than mall shopping for gifts.  I decided to take an evening to escape the madness and planned a visit to Clifton Mill for their spectacular light show.

Each year, the Mill sponsors a legendary holiday event that takes place in Clifton, Ohio.  From the day after Thanksgiving to December 31st, visitors can experience this over-the-top display with more than 3.5 million lights.

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For over 20 years, the mill has been lighting up the holiday season by illuminating the mill, the bridge, the gorge, and the riverbank.  In preparation for the event, it takes six men approximately three months to put up the light display.

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Located just outside of the mill is a miniature village that displays some of Clifton’s local, historic buildings as well as other structures that would be found in town.  For example, there is a drive-in movie theater where a movie is actually playing on its “big screen” as well as the county fair with its moving ferris wheel.  I watched the men working in the  auto mechanics shop and firefighters climbing on a ladder to put out a fire at the village’s log cabin.

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A 1950’s re-creation of Clifton Mill, and the Ohio State band creating its script Ohio as the Goodyear blimp hovers over the field are additional  displays which are absolutely spectacular.  Before Christmas, visitors can see Santa working out of his workshop.  through the frosty glass, I stepped up to the window to see what kinds of toys he was making.

The Santa Claus Museum displays the Satariano family’s private collection of over 3,000 Santas. Some of the items date as far back as 1850 and has taken the family about 40 years to collect.  You will find a wide variety of Santas from over the years that range from interesting, odd and elegant.

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One of my favorite features was the 100 foot “waterfall” of red and white lights along the riverbank.  From here I had a wonderful vantage point to view the synchronized light show that includes the covered bridge and gorge.

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After perusing the fascinating holiday display, I strolled over to the mill where  I had my choice of hot dogs, sandwiches, popcorn, soft drinks, cookies and pies.  I just couldn’t resist a hot chocolate.

Have you made visiting the Clifton Mill’s Legendary Light Display a holiday tradition in your family?  I would love to hear from you, so leave a message about your experience in the Comments section below!  Happy Travels!

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

What to See and What to Do:

Clifton Mill
75 Water Street
Clifton, OH  45316
Telephone: 937 767 5501

The light display begins the day after Thanksgiving and open nightly through December 31st.  Gates open daily at 5PM and the light show starts at 6PM. Gates close at 9PM and the lights are turned off 30 minutes after the gates close.  Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, the gates close at 8PM.

Parking is free and there is an admission of $10 for guests, 7 years and older, while children 6 and under can enter at no charge.

Where to Stay:

Mills Park Hotel
321 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH  45387
Telephone:  937 319 0400

Where to Eat:

Clifton Mill
75 Water Street
Clifton, OH  45316
Telephone: 937 767 5501

Clifton Mill is open on New Year’s Eve with a full menu from 5PM to 8PM, and open daily for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is served all day.

One of my favorite meals at Clifton Mill is the order of pancakes. They are huge!  Their pies are delish as well.

What to Read: 

Not That I Could Tell, by Jessica Strawser

Photo Guide to Yellow Springs: 

  • Clifton Gorge
  • Colorful, Artsy Streets
  • Glen Helen Nature Reserve
  • John Bryan State Park
  • Sunflower Field, located at 4625 US-68, Yellow Springs (The Tecumseh Sunflower Field)
  • Wall Murals
    • Preparation for Life Work by Axel Horn hangs in the Yellow Springs Post Office
    • Village Cyclery is the location of the oldest mural in Yellow Springs
    • “Keith’s Alley” located behind the shops on the east side of Xenia Avenue between Cory and Glen Street showcases several murals
    • Winds Cafe displays one of the largest murals in town
    • Ohio Silver Co. displays a beautiful painting by Maxfield Parrish
    • The patio of Sunrise Cafe
    • The Smoking Octopus displays the works of Sarah Dickens
    • The Xenia Avenue Shops’ painting was created by local Mandy Knaul (Mandy Sue)
    • Corner Cone mural designed by Pierre Nagley
    • Kings Yard murals

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The beautiful Clifton Mill Holiday Light Display

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The County Fair, Auto Mechanics Shop and Firefighters at the Scene

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1950’s style diner

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The Ohio State Football Game

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A re-creation of the Clifton Mill 

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Santa and his reindeer

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The Roaring Fork Auto Trail, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

5 November 202022 September 2024

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.

 

 

 

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Visiting Clifton Mill for Dessert with a Scenic View

13 October 201716 September 2024

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Growing up in nearby Springfield, I have some great childhood memories of visiting Clifton Mill for their spectacular light show during the Christmas Holiday.  I decided to visit during the fall to explore this unique flour mill and to enjoya piece of their delicious pie.

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Tucked away in the little town of Clifton, Ohio, the mill is one of the largest remaining grist mills in the United States.  It is powered by water with the help of a 20 foot water wheel, located along the outer banks of the Little Miami River.

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Approaching the mill, I took a quick peek inside to see one of the seven floors used for making flour.

Just a close walk on the left side of the mill is the restaurant offering scenic views of the Little Miami River and the water wheel.  Greeted by a friendly server, I was escorted to a sought-after window seat and handed a menu with a selection of pies.

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With so many made-from-scratch options, I decided on the chocolate pecan pie.  Sinfully decadent, this slice had a flaky crust topped with chocolate and pecans and lived up to my expectations.  I thoroughly enjoyed every last bite.  If I would have arrived sooner, I would have been tempted by their famous pancakes which are also one of the restaurant’s specialities.    IMG_8350

The gift shop is located next to the restaurant and offers flour from its mill as well as a wide variety of country-style gifts and food times such as preserves, sauces and dips.

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I was happy to find a two pound bag of apple cinnamon pancake mix and would make them for the brunch I was hosting the next weekend.

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Settled in the year 1802, Clifton is a small town with a population of 150.  There are several historical buildings within the city that are worth checking out as well.  I am deeply grateful for the Satariano family for their passion in preserving the mill back in 1987 and their yearly display of holiday lights that bring thousands of visitors to the area each year.

Have you had the opportunity of having a meal at Clifton Mill or visited during the holidays for the lights?  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 afternoon dessert stop and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Clifton Mill
75 Water Street
Clifton, OH  45316
Telephone: 937 767 5501

The light display begins the day after Thanksgiving and open nightly through December 31st.  Gates open daily at 5PM and the light show starts at 6PM. Gates close at 9PM and the lights are turned off 30 minutes after the gates close.  Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, the gates close at 8PM.

Parking is free and there is an admission of $10 for guests, 7 years and older, while children 6 and under can enter at no charge.

Where to Stay:

Mills Park Hotel
321 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH  45387
Telephone:  937 319 0400

Where to Eat:

Clifton Mill
75 Water Street
Clifton, OH  45316
Telephone: 937 767 5501

Clifton Mill is open on New Year’s Eve with a full menu from 5PM to 8PM, and open daily for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is served all day.

One of my favorite meals at Clifton Mill is the order of pancakes. They are huge!  Their pies are delish as well.

What to Read: 

Not That I Could Tell, by Jessica Strawser

Photo Guide to Yellow Springs: 

  • Clifton Gorge
  • Colorful, Artsy Streets
  • Glen Helen Nature Reserve
  • John Bryan State Park
  • Sunflower Field, located at 4625 US-68, Yellow Springs (The Tecumseh Sunflower Field)
  • Wall Murals
    • Preparation for Life Work by Axel Horn hangs in the Yellow Springs Post Office
    • Village Cyclery is the location of the oldest mural in Yellow Springs
    • “Keith’s Alley” located behind the shops on the east side of Xenia Avenue between Cory and Glen Street showcases several murals
    • Winds Cafe displays one of the largest murals in town
    • Ohio Silver Co. displays a beautiful painting by Maxfield Parrish
    • The patio of Sunrise Cafe
    • The Smoking Octopus displays the works of Sarah Dickens
    • The Xenia Avenue Shops’ painting was created by local Mandy Knaul (Mandy Sue)
    • Corner Cone mural designed by Pierre Nagley
    • Kings Yard murals

Check out my write up on the holiday lights to experience the tradition of Clifton Mill that brings so much joy during the holiday season.  I hope you make it a family tradition for you and your family.

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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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