Perfect spring weather, exercise and a bit of family bonding: My dad and I had it all for our first-ever trip along the Richland B&O bike trail on a recent Saturday in May. We mapped a route from Butler to Mansfield and back--about 37 miles round-trip. It was the first bike trip of semi-significant length (well, of any length) I’d made since the birth of my daughter in February, and while I was itching to get back in the saddle, I was a little nervous about how I’d hold up. We prepared to depart from a parking lot in Butler,... Continue reading

The last (and only) time I’d visited Alum Creek State Park before our stop there on a recent weekend was as a participant in the bicycle leg of the Greenswell Triathlon, and while that occasion left me with a nice impression of Alum Creek, I didn’t exactly have time to slow down and take in the scenery. We ambitiously traveled there with our 2-month-old and 3-year-old daughters for some family-friendly hiking, and left quite impressed with the various options for what you can do there. In terms of hikes that are accommodating to families of young children (including the kind... Continue reading

It did, indeed, feel like an old-fashioned Christmas. Saturday, Dec. 1, was my first time attending Roscoe Village’s Christmas Candlelighting. I didn’t know what to expect aside from the fact that it would probably involve something Christmasy and, most likely, candles. It did, of course, but there was much more to it. During each of the three Christmas Candlelighting events in Coshocton’s historic Roscoe Village, folks are invited to stroll through the downtown Roscoe shops to take in bits of history (a blacksmith shop, old-fashioned general store, canal boat replica) and/or browse gifts from Christmas present (chic scarves and jewelry,... Continue reading

It’s been awhile since I read Charles Dickens, but after departing Cambridge recently following a tour of his namesake Victorian Village, I found myself in the mood to sit down with a cup of coffee and “A Christmas Carol” (not the Mickey version). Cambridge’s Dickens Victorian Village is a slice of Victorian life visitors can enjoy at their own pace while they take in the sights and sounds of the downtown area – a mix of past and present, as women in long dresses and fancy hats mingle with (in a manner of speaking) jeans-wearing tourists learning about life in... Continue reading

A visit to the pumpkin patch: It’s not just for the kids. That’s part of the beauty of Pigeon Roost Farm, located on U.S. 40 in Licking County, about 25 miles east of Columbus. Of course, there are pumpkins: Big, small, orange, yellow, white, green, bumpy, smooth. There’s also a great selection of squash and pie pumpkins to be used in baking, as well as goodies like kettle corn and bulk Halloween candy. There’s a market with cute autumn décor and a place to purchase costumes. There are chickens, goats and rabbits. And there are loads of places for kids... Continue reading

It was by accident that we ended up visiting Blue Rock State Park last weekend. The original plan had been to head to Perry State Forest, but because Yours Truly didn’t pay close enough attention when looking up directions, Blue Rock was where we ended up. No worries — I bet Perry State Forest is wonderful, too (we’ll get there one of these days), but stopping at Blue Rock was a happy mistake. The 322-acre park adjacent to Blue Rock State Forestin Muskingum County is a haven for hikers, campers, fishermen (and fisherwomen) and folks looking for a nice, quiet... Continue reading

When our family wants to take a hassle-free sailing jaunt somewhere close enough to reach in a couple hours, but large enough to have a bit of breathing (er, sailing) room, we usually end up at Atwood Lake. I use the term “we” loosely, as the main sailor (and boat owner) in our family is my dad. But he’s nice enough to let us join him on an excursion every now again, and by the time this summer’s temperatures started rising, we were ready to give our almost-three-year-old a taste of sailing. Atwood Lake is located in Tuscarawas and Carroll... Continue reading

My husband and I graduated from Kent State University in 2007. Aside from an occasional brief trip back in the last few years (including for our engagement photo session), we hadn’t spent much time downtown until we arrived in Kent this month for a reunion of Daily Kent Stater staffers. Our first glimpse on the ride into town from Route 43 was a surprise. The structures that will soon house the Davey Tree Company were taking shape atop what, as best we can remember, was the former site of a few unattractive buildings. Water Street and Franklin Avenue were lined... Continue reading

In light of recent news events relating to escaped exotic animals, I thought it would be good to give Muskingum County some good PR. It’s a pretty cool place, and it's too bad that reporters at The New York Times and CNN--who popped in for the sad story--missed out on the fact that Muskingum County (Zanesville, specifically) is the site of the Longaberger Homestead and the World’s Largest Basket; has a Y-shaped bridge that’s on the National Register of Historic Places; and is home to several state parks where outdoorspeople of all sorts (hunters, fishermen, hikers, campers…) have a number... Continue reading