Anietra geocaching in northern Ohio If geocaching is one of your favorite pastimes, Visit Lorain County has unveiled a fun way to explore northern Ohio on the new Geo Trail. Situated along the Lake Erie shoreline, the Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multi-sport Route now offers a Geo Trail that families can enjoy. Using a GPS-enabled device, treasure hunters use online clues to search for hidden caches, which are small containers. The caches come in various sizes and each contains nominal items that can be traded as well as a log to document your visit. Back Roads and Beaches... Continue reading

Glass Rooster Cannery carving As I drive into the country along South State Route 605 just past New Albany, I spot a large carved rooster peering above the trees off to the right. It turns out the enormous carving is just one of many unique pieces of yard art that decorate the grounds of the Glass Rooster Cannery, a sustainable farm and licensed cannery. I am greeted by Jeannie Seabrook who started Glass Roster Cannery in 2011 with her sister, Susie Schmidhammer. Susie is the artist and Jeannie is the foodie. Jeannie Seabrook making beef logs Together, they create an... Continue reading

Liz and Donald Staas - photo: Anietra Hamper Nothing says Friday afternoon and “hello weekend,” like a warm welcome at the corner pub and a cold brew on tap. At Staas Brewing Company in Delaware, no one is a stranger. In fact, owners Liz and Donald Staas are the brewers during the week, the bartenders on the weekends, and the welcoming committee all the time. Now in its second year in operation, Staas Brewing Company is the first brewery in Delaware since prohibition.They have a full menu featuring Belgian and English beers and seasonal brews like Apricot Wheat and Vienna... Continue reading

Modified Stock Car Race - photo: Anietra Hamper Are you looking for an action-packed way to spend a Saturday night? Columbus Motor Speedway is the non-stop, engine-revving, high-octane way to do it. During my first visit to the track, I cannot help but notice the diverse crowd: women, men, kids, couples, retired folks, car enthusiasts and groups of friends. The scene is lively and exciting as modified stock cars line up to compete on the 1/3 mile track. Legend Series Cars - photo: Anietra Hamper Now in its 68th year, Columbus Motor Speedway operates four stock car divisions as part... Continue reading

Hideaway Country Inn - photo: Hideaway Country Inn If you detour onto State Route 4, you will stumble on an inviting and majestic yellow Bed & Breakfast called the Hideaway Country Inn. The name is appropriate for a place that gives visitors a quiet retreat and a reason to stay awhile. I am impressed at the attention to details that make the Hideaway Country Inn so charming, like the flowering herb garden out back where the chef gets his fresh ingredients for the meals served to guests. Chef in the garden - photo: Hideaway Country Inn The Inn’s owner, Debbie... Continue reading

Wildlife at Innis Woods Metro Gardens - photo: Anietra Hamper For families sticking around Ohio this spring break, you have dozens of options to keep the family busy and remain budget-conscious at the same time. In fact, you can easily to combine a few of my staycation ideas for a week of diverse fun. Metroparks You can spend part of your spring break at a Morning Coffee and Wildlife Watch, on a Nature Bike Ride or exploring Swamp Things in one of the many scheduled MetroParks programs. Ohio is rich in MetroParks systems that offer hiking and bike trails as... Continue reading

I wish that every dinner could start with an aromatherapy Jacuzzi bath; accented by a warm fireplace in a cozy cottage. It seems like an appropriate way to set the stage for a romantic dinner, secluded in the still winter woods of southern Ohio. Within the first few hours of checking into the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, my boyfriend and I forgot about life back at home and turned our attention toward each other. Anietra Hamper & David Peters at Kindred Spirits Restaurant - Inn at Cedar Falls We toasted “us” at the Inn's restaurant, Kindred Spirits, with... Continue reading

Columbus Zoo Wildlights There are few holiday traditions that can compete with strolling through the Wildlights display at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on a chilly December evening. The smell of fresh kettle corn in the air, my cup of hot coco to keep me warm and the sounds of holiday music and excited children provide a festive backdrop. This is a winter wonderland of three million colorful, twinkling lights that whisks me away to that magical place where Christmas comes to life. Anietra looking for Santa's reindeer - photo: Schrader Dan I set out to North America to look... Continue reading

The historic Buxton Inn A stroll along the New England style downtown corridor of Granville, Ohio almost always leads visitors to the giant wooden marquee for the Buxton Inn. This spot, which was once the town’s post office and a main stagecoach stop between Columbus and Newark, showcases carefully landscaped gardens and historic buildings decorated for the season. What started as a small tavern on a patch of land during the early settlements in 1812 has transformed into a stunning five-building complex. When you walk into the lobby at the Buxton Inn, you feel like you are home. It’s this... Continue reading

Photo Credit:Historic Fort Steuben Short road trips provide the most interesting and enjoyable ways to explore some of Ohio’s hidden gems. While road trips through Amish country and the state’s covered bridges are notable, Ohio born and raised author, Robin Yocum, recently opened my eyes to the opportunities that rest in Ohio’s Appalachian region. The gritty blue-collar life of steel mills, mines and railroads in eastern and southeastern Ohio provide the perfect backdrop for Yocum’s award-winning suspense/mystery and literary novels Favorite Sons and The Essay. Author Robin Yocum - photo: Mine Munden Photography As a former crime columnist for The... Continue reading

Childhood memories at the fair The gates open for another season at the Ohio State Fair, and like a gunshot at the start of a race, it signals the start of something fantastic and exciting that I’ve been looking forward to since last year. Running as fast as my 4-year old legs can carry me, I dash past the arts buildings, the sky ride, the agriculture and livestock demonstrations, midway rides and head directly to the Ohio Division of Natural Resources area at the other end of the fairgrounds. My goal: to be first in line at the children’s fishing... Continue reading

South Drive-In, Columbus “The drive-in theater is where you used to go with your boyfriend,” says my mother as we drive along the gravel parking lot of the South Drive-In in Columbus, weaving through vintage speakers to find our spot for the evening. “Wake Up, Little Susie” serenades us into a 1950’s flashback forcing smiles on my parent’s faces as they join a lonely girl on assignment uncovering one of the few drive-in gems in Ohio still in operation. Don and Robbie Hamper My parents, Don and Robbie Hamper, recall the last time they were at a drive-in theater during... Continue reading

Anietra and mom (Robbie Hamper) Moms inspire us, support us and encourage us – they are indeed deserving of their own special Mother’s Day, which is just around the corner on Sunday May 11, 2014. If you are looking for unique brunch for mom, maybe a visit to a park, the zoo or setting sail would be the perfect way to honor her. Keep in mind, these events all take place ON Mother’s Day and all require advance reservations. Toledo Zoo aquarium Top 5 Mother’s Day Brunches: 1. Toledo Zoo Mother’s Day Brunch (Toledo) Spend a fantastic day at the... Continue reading

We know the song: “Dashing through the snow, On a one-horse open sleigh, Over the Fields we go, Laughing all the way…ha,ha,ha," But, wouldn’t it be fun to add a real-life version of that song to your holiday experiences? Photo credit: Guggisberg Swiss Inn Covered by blankets in a horse-drawn sleigh through snow-covered Ohio fields is an experience like none other and one that brings the holidays alive. There are several locations in the state that offer authentic, horse-drawn sleigh rides that are often capped off with a cup of hot chocolate and a lifetime of memories to go along... Continue reading

Photo courtesy- Ashtabula covered bridge festival Ohio in the fall always puts me in the mood for a road-trip. The changing colors of leaves and the smell of apple cider make the season really come alive. This year, join me as I head to northern Ohio for the Ashtabula Covered Bridge Festival. Northern Ohio at the peak of autumn is spectacular! An online tour map that you can print makes it easy to take a self-guided tour through Ashtabula County to see each of the 18 covered bridges. If you visit during the second weekend in October you can also... Continue reading

You have to be a certain kind of person to say you’re the “outdoors-y type.” Admittedly, I am, but for many people who are not—they miss out on so many new experiences because enjoying the outdoors typically means enduring lodging and activities beyond their comfort zone. Many Ohio State Park Lodges offer families a new way of "roughing-it.” They offer all the comforts of home just steps away from many types of outdoor activities that run the gamut from mild to extreme. Salt Fork Lodge, in Guernsey County, is Ohio’s largest state park. Inside the spacious and comfortable lodge you... Continue reading

Father Christmas-photo credit: Dickens Victorian Village Almost an intriguing as this incredible display during the holidays is what happens to it in the off-season. Dickens Unwrapped is a unique opportunity for visitors to get a sneak peek behind the scenes of this incredible display and the artists who bring it to life. Inside this enormous warehouse is where the mannequins are stored and where scenes are refreshed for next year. Tours inside are usually only reserved for large groups. Behind the scenes at Dickens Universal-photo credit:Dickens Victorian Village During a special Open House on Sunday, August 11 from 1-3 p.m.,... Continue reading

Toledo - View of Lake Erie When was the last time you made a visit to Toledo? The Toledo Convention and Visitor’s Bureau wants to give you a couple of good reasons to put this industrial city on your destination radar: price and proximity. Since many venues are within a short distance of one another, it is easy to pack a lot of fun into a weekend getaway. You will notice that prices in Toledo are cheaper, from event admission to food - meaning you also get more for your money. To help you mark Toledo as a stop on... Continue reading

Few sights are more spectacular than an army of hot air balloons gracefully floating across the evening sky lit only by the burners that propel them far into the distance. For 32 years, the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival has wowed crowds with incredible, colorful displays of magnificence. The upcoming festival runs June 7–9, 2013, at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. The weekend features musical entertainment, karaoke, carnival rides, great food, arts and crafts booths, an antiques flea market and fireworks. Throughout the weekend there are several opportunities to see 25 impressive balloons take to the skies. Balloon launches take place... Continue reading

Perkins Observatory My Friday evening begins with a wish for clear skies as I wonder what kinds of galactic gifts the night might bring. Telescopes of enormous sizes are sprinkled across the front lawn of the Perkins Observatory in Delaware, Ohio, as daylight gives way to dusk. There is a feeling of excitement as families and star gazers arrive for the public program that takes place every Friday evening. With too much cloud cover to do the program outdoors, Director Tom Burns takes the group inside for an alternative program. In the meantime, we literally wait for the skies to... Continue reading

More than a century after the death of renowned Ohio poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, his words and emotion come alive again in the home and environment that inspired him. Sitting in the Dunbar House in Dayton, African-American poet Herbert Woodward Martin brings to life Dunbar's famous poetry. Dunbar's work is notable for the two distinct voices in his poetry: Standard English and the sometimes controversial style written in dialect that was signature of turn-of-the-century African-American culture. Check out the video from the "On the Road" Saturday Literary Adventure Series. Standing in front of a larger than life photo of Dunbar,... Continue reading

Earth Day is April 22, 2013 but events abound the weekend prior (April 20 & 21) throughout the state. From cleaning up neighborhoods and hiking trails to hands-on educational programs, pick your favorite way to celebrate and protect our precious Earth. Earth Day Columbus Thousands of people are taking an active role in sustainable living this year in Earth Day Columbus. The weekend of April 20 & 21, you can volunteer to plant trees, clean up neighborhoods and prepare community gardens. A free community celebration touting this year’s theme Stand Together takes place at Columbus Commons on April 27 featuring... Continue reading

Young's Dairy Easter Egg Hunt- photo courtesy Young's Dairy Easter hits early this year, and there’s no doubt kids are anxious to get out of the house. What better way to cut them loose than to hunt for more than 4,000 Easter eggs on the sprawling grounds at Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, Ohio. On Easter Sunday, March 31st, Young’s Dairy hosts their 31st Annual Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 2:00pm (ages 4 and under), 2:15pm (ages 5-7) and 2:30pm (ages 8-10). Be sure to bring your camera to capture great photos of your kids with Barnabe, Young’s mascot,... Continue reading

I am standing in the middle of Maumee Bay State Park searching for hidden treasure. My Smartphone GPS says I am just steps away. Is it under that rock? Hidden in a hallowed out tree? My excitement builds wondering what will be inside the Geocaching canister. Geocaching is a phenomenon among kids AND adults across the country who set out to find hidden treasure. It is basically an outdoor treasure hunt for hidden containers (termed geocaches) found by way of a Smartphone or GPS that are hidden all over the country. Treasures inside range from Girl Scout patches, to bouncy... Continue reading

Nothing warms your heart faster on a blustery February Ohio day than wine and chocolate with the one you love. As I cozy-up to the fire at the Old Firehouse Winery in Geneva, Ohio sipping samples of warm spiced apple wine and the Firehouse white, I wonder why I have never done the Chocolate is for Lovers Wine Trail before. My significant other, David Peters and I got a couples ticket and a map with 20 participating wineries and set out on a self-guided tour enjoying two samples of wine and indulgent treats at every stop. During the two weekends... Continue reading