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April 2009 Magazine Edition |
The Niederman Family Farm is being saved one paintball game at a time. What began with a handful of locals asking to play paintball in an old cow pasture on a 210 acre farm has turned into nine sophisticated paintball courses attracting several hundred players for some games. “One day we’re sitting around the supper table racking our brains for ideas to save the farm and the next we’re knee deep in paintball requests,” said Bob Niederman. In order to generate a new form of revenue to preserve life on his family farm, Bob dove into the opportunity to meet the demand of paintball enthusiasts. He signed up for a paintball safety course having never played the game of paintball in his life. Then he added bales of hay and straw, old water tanks, cast off farm equipment and anything else he could rummage to create bunkers for players to seek protection from enemy fire. The early days in 2000 required a complete family effort. The Niederman children were occasionally summoned to play a game of paintball when teams needed an extra player to have even sides. Players must be at least ten years old and everyone participating has to sign a waiver. The paintball venture snowballed. In addition to working the fields of agriculture Monday through Friday, Bob Niederman now has to work the fields of paint Saturdays and Sundays. “We have come a long way and now host major tournaments and themed events that range from Star Wars to Wizard of Oz,” said Bob Niederman. Niederman Family Farm has everything anyone needs to play paintball: Safety goggles, guns, paintballs and anything else to suit up and join the fun. They get a lot of walk-ins. Those players are added to groups on various courses throughout the farm according to skill level. Any size group can reserve a field of play. Group events include church outings, bachelor and birthday parties, and corporate team building exercises, family reunions, youth day camps, and sports teams. “One of the nice things about reserving a field for a special occasion is that the game goes on no matter the weather conditions,” said Bethann Niederman. “Plus we have covered pavilions, and barns to keep everyone dry for parties while not on the field of play. Besides, some believe the nastier the conditions, the more fun the game.” Niederman Family Farm’s paintball courses are open year-round on weekends. There are about 50 players any given Saturday or Sunday. Groups may also play weekdays by reservation only. About Paintball Paintball has rapidly become one of the world's most popular outdoor participation sports. Players include anyone from housewives to high-school students. A paintball has a thin outer skin with colored liquid inside it resembling a gelatin-like capsule. The liquid interior is non-toxic, non-caustic, water-soluble and biodegradable. It rinses out of clothing and off skin with mild soap and water. Paintball is a very safe sport as long as safety rules are followed. Referees on the field enforce safety with strict game rules. Each player is required to wear safety goggles at all times. The rifle is an air gun. Players are eliminated when a paintball splats on them. Being hit by a paintball leaves a bright colored paint mark on the clothes and can sometimes sting, leaving a little bit of redness on the skin. About Niederman Family Farm Niederman Family Farm, surrounded by a burgeoning suburbia, is a working farm that invites the public to see an American culture of yesteryear. In its fourth generation, the Niederman’s have been educating families, school children and groups about farm life for more than a decade. This season, Niederman Family Farm’s 210 acres will offer more than ever before. In addition to farm tours, the Niederman’s provide hayrides and allow visitors to plant pumpkins to come back and pick in fall during the Harvest Moon Maze fall festival. There’s plenty of livestock to see and fun to be had. After all, it is a working farm. Ongoing activities feature barn rentals, primitive cabins (with heat and air), bonfire pits, paintball courses, and many seasonal events. Group accommodations are routinely made for families, Mom’s clubs, school groups, day care centers and home school groups. The Niederman’s also accommodate large family reunions and corporate events in a restored 1890s barn with modern amenities. If one day isn’t long enough to take in the relaxing sights and sounds of farm life, stay a night at the Gregory Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast located at the farm. Niederman Family Farm is located at 5110 LeSourdsville-West Chester Road in Liberty Township, Ohio between Cincinnati and Dayton. Reservations are required. Call 513-779-6184 or visit www.niedermanfamilyfarm.com. By Frank R. Satullo, OhioTraveler
When it Comes to Water Recreation
Located near the summit of the Miami and Erie Canal, the lake was constructed as a reservoir to maintain the water level of the northern half of that waterway. Grand Lake St. Marys, 17,500 acres at its completion in 1845, was the largest man-made lake in the world. It is still the largest one built without the use of machinery. The workers used shovels, pick axes and sleds pulled by mules to move the earth and dam the sides of a low lying area to create the lake. German and Irish immigrants were paid 31 cents a day and given a jigger of whiskey for their daily labor. At the time it was thought that the whiskey helped ward off malaria carried by the hordes of mosquitoes in the swampy area. The construction of Grand Lake St. Marys took eight years at a cost of more than $600,000. Initially the lake was not created for recreation. Commercial enterprises on the early reservoir included ice harvesting—remember this was prior to electricity and refrigeration, commercial fishing and for a short period of time the lake was also dotted with oil derricks. In fact, Grand Lake St. Marys was the site of the first off shoring oil drilling rigs in the world. The railroads ended the need for the canals in the early 1900’s and people began using Grand Lake St. Marys for more recreational purposes. At one time a large amusement park was located on the east side of the lake, a concert and dance hall was located in the north west corner and numerous cabin and camping resorts and church camps could be found along the lake’s 52 miles of shoreline. Grand lake St. Marys became an Ohio State Park in 1949. Today Grand Lake St. Marys State Park consists of nearly 600 acres of prime lakeside parkland. You fill find numerous trails and walkways, great access to fishing, swimming beaches, picnic amenities, bird watching and a large off-leash dog park. Check out the three lighthouses that grace the lake. During the summer, there are lakeside concerts each weekend, as well as festivals, events and hydroplane racing that bring crowds to the water’s edge. You truly don’t want to miss the events featuring fireworks over the lake, watching from land or boat, they are spectacular. The Greater Grand Lake St. Marys Region makes a wonderful weekend getaway destination. With a state park campground, private campgrounds, cabins, cottages & hotels right on the lake, visitors can find accommodations ranging from posh to primitive. There are over a dozen restaurants, bars and clubs on the lake with docks, making them accessible to boaters. Don’t have a boat? Many of those same establishments offer patio lakeside seating for a great view f the water. If you bring your boat, be sure to take advantage of the four boaters’ beaches, those are a great place to socialize with other boaters. Grand Lake St. Marys has no horsepower restriction for boats and features six full service marinas and seven free public launch ramps. Wakeboarding, Skiing and tubing are popular activities. You will also see numerous kayaks, sailboats and personal watercraft sharing the water with speedboats and pontoons. Boat rentals are available. Fishing is another very popular activity on Grand Lake St. Marys. Sport fishing species in the lake include bass, crappie, perch, bluegill, catfish and walleye. Adjacent to the lake is one of the state’s six fish hatcheries and you will find a waterfowl refuge area and wetlands nature observation decks on its south side. With a little luck you may catch sight of one of the four resident bald eagles that have made a permanent home on the lake. While visiting the Greater Grand Lake St. Marys Region you may want to check out historic Fort Recovery, the Bicycle Museum of America and the Miami and Erie Canal Lock One in New Bremen or the numerous antique shops, quaint eateries and The Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta. You will find plenty of fun and interesting options for a great getaway when you check out Ohio’s largest inland lake this year. For more information log onto www.SeeMore.org.
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How about a famous painting? Let’s say, for example, Georges Seurat’s 1887 A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grand Jatte, which is a depiction of people gathering on a Sunday afternoon at the Seine River in Paris. The original is shown at the Art Institute of Chicago. But the version in downtown Columbus, Ohio offers a totally different experience. In downtown Columbus' Old Deaf School Park, artist James T. Mason created the only topiary garden in existence based on a work of art. Elaine Mason was the first of many topiarists to trim and meticulously maintain the living topiaries of 54 people, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey and cat. The seven-acre sanctuary is not only a destination for art and nature lovers, but it is perfect for picnics, walks, playing board games, or even tossing a little Frisbee. Take a stroll to the top of the hill overlooking the masterpiece. There, you’ll see a bronze easel and picture of the original painting by Seurat, who invented the technique of pointillism, using dots of color to create light. Take a step back and see the 3-D version of the picture unveil itself before your very eyes. The tallest topiary is 12-feet. This provides depth from the vantage point atop the hill to keep all the figures in proportion as seen in the bronze relief. Walk around the landscape and take pictures. Roll out a blanket and catch a nap. This park is everything a park should be. It is meant for a lazy afternoon. Find a shade tree or tall topiary and be still. The breeze, the birds, the flowers will all take hold as you breathe deeper until you feel cleansed. Special events are planned throughout the year. The Topiary Park Visitor's Center and Museum Shop opens April 4, 2009 through December on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11AM - 3PM. The Topiary Park Museum Shop and Visitors Center is housed in a chateau-style building. It offers restrooms, drinking fountains, and museum store. It is furnished in period décor. The park and Topiary Garden are always free and open daily from dawn to dusk. You may enter at 480 E. Town Street, which is a block south of the Columbus Museum of Art. More information is available by calling 614-645-0197 or visiting www.topiarygarden.org. The neighborhood around has beautiful grand old mansions with lovely architecture. But to park on the street requires feeding the meter unless it’s an evening or a Sunday afternoon on the isle of topiary. By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler Return to Top(Play Video)
Oddities aside, The Allen County Museum in Lima, Ohio is serious about history. So much so, it has the distinct honor of being the only county museum in Ohio accredited by The American Association of Museums. This year, the museum itself will celebrate its 100-year history. But its content explores a past as old as rocks. The main building features 42,000 square feet of fascinating exhibits. It took an entire room to display the model built by a local couple depicting George Washington’s plantation – Mount Vernon. The exhibition galleries feature the area’s history of geology, Native Americans, canals, Civil War, locomotives, and Lima’s oil fields; once the largest known in the world. The museum is kid-friendly too. Many of the exhibits have that “cool factor” that prompts the inevitable, “Wow! Check this out.” One such visual is the full-body iron lung encasement. The main building also lets kids be kids while not only learning history, but re-creating it at the new Children’s Discover Center. They can sit around the fire in the Indian mud huts, stare in wonder over the huge model train display illustrating and demonstrating railroad town culture and even stop in the one-room school for a quick lesson. If anyone acts up, there’s a tall pointed Dunce Cap on a stool in the corner. The Allen County Museum grounds have much more to explore than the many treasures inside the main complex. The MacDonell House is a Victorian mansion open for tours depicting the high life on what used to be known as Lima’s “Golden Block.” The nearby Log House interprets pioneer living in 1848. Yet another structure portrays The Shay Locomotive Shelter, which even houses a narrow-gauge, geared locomotive built in 1925 by Lima Locomotive Works. Don’t forget the troops at The Military Annex/Transportation Building, which includes military items and vehicles. And again with children in mind, there’s the Children’s Garden offering hands-on horticultural experiences. Although this museum is in a historic small Ohio town, it is widely recognized to offer more than many of its “big-city” counterparts. Its diverse and extensive collection has more than 250,000 archival and material items putting it in the league of some of the finest museums in the United States. It is highlighted by its:
Perhaps the most memorable story and exhibit is the distinction Lima has by holding captive the outlaw John Dillinger in 1933. He was jailed in Lima for robbing a bank in Bluffton, Ohio. But before he could be tried for his crime, Dillinger’s gang members busted him out of the Allen County Jail. In the process, they shot and killed Sheriff Jess Sarber. They even locked the sheriff’s wife and deputy in the jail cell. The scene is replicated in the museum with Sarber sitting at his desk and Dillinger peering through the cell block bars at him. Whether you visit for the peculiar tales or extraordinary historic specimens and documentation, The Allen County Museum has been recognized by national media in addition to regional media for its achievements and offerings. The Allen County Historical Society creates special events and educational opportunities year-round for both children and adult levels of interest. In addition, some of the most passionate and interesting tour guides gifted with the art of story-telling are available to provide your group a guided tour. Visit The Allen County Museum and help move the past forward. It invites anyone to visit for free Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed Mondays and holidays). Located at 620 West Market Street in Lima, Ohio; you may plan your visit or learn more about the museum by calling 419-222-9426 or visiting www.allencountymuseum.org. By Frank R. Satullo, OhioTraveler I believe baseball is the greatest sport of all time. On the surface, there’s the game, but to real fans, there are layers to the game and at its core, there’s an inside game that is fascinating. It isn’t so much the action that compels me but the anticipation of action. Sure in the modern game, casual fans cheer the towering home runs but to me the most beautiful play in the game is stealing home. Imagine the pent up intensity. The eyeballing of every micro move from pitcher, catcher, third baseman, base runner, third base coach, on deck circle, dugout, umpire and even fans on top of the action in the box seats down the third baseline. As the runner inches down the line and retreats, as the pitcher eyes him and then the plate and him again, voices aloud, voices in the head, the tension builds to the moment it just can’t be contained. The pitcher goes into his windup and the runner breaks for the plate as if someone just shot him from a canon. This is the action after the suspense but it also builds new suspense. For the next three seconds time slows to a crawl and everything is vivid. All five senses dance to life. Sound – silence. Sight – red. Voice – breath. Touch – sweat. Smell – dirt. The play at the plate is going to be close. The third baseman shrieks. The fans gasp and then are dead silent. The pitcher panics after releasing the ball and charges in on the plate as well. The catcher now knows what’s barreling down the line and has to hold his position and wait for the ball. The runner decides his approach – take the plate wide and reach in or try to knock the catcher into the stratosphere. Then, everything speeds up again and in a flash of lightning, ACTION! It is over as soon as it started and the dust is everywhere. Everybody is frozen. More suspense. More anticipation. SILENCE. Then there it is; the culmination of the most beautiful thing in sports. “SAFE!” I grew up learning about baseball from my Dad and Grandpa. My Grandpa moved to Cleveland from Sicily when he was 7-years-old and probably never missed an Indians game win or lose. If the team did poorly, he was a spectator of individual achievements like a perfect game or a rare sight like the triple play. Nothing beats seeing feats live. The ESPN highlight reel is a poor substitute for totally unexpected live phenomena. My favorite memory of baseball growing up was when Dad took Grandpa and me to old Municipal Stadium on the Lake Erie shore. Grandpa kept a scorecard. This is another great treat of baseball. Scoring a game on a card is better than taping the game in my mind. There’s an account for most every movement and each scorer develops a style of their own to mark things like how hard or where a ball is hit and other subtleties of the game. It’s a mind opener. Anyway, Dad went to get some foot longs and I sat there with my little league glove next to Grandpa who was pushing 80. I heard the crack of the bat. I saw the ball coming closer. Closer. CLOSER. We were in the upper deck down the third base line. When that ball whizzed directly over my head I yanked back my outstretched glove because I wanted no part of it. The thing looked like a basketball at that moment. I shook Grandpa afterward and screamed “Did you see that!” He grunted, "See what, see what?” He had no clue what just happened. Little did he know that was the moment I became a die-hard fan of the game, the Indians, and Cleveland sports. Dad started me on my baseball card collection. He would get a pack and I would get a pack (with his money). We kept our collections separate. Then one night he gave me his box of cards. I was stunned. Then I became an addict. I got a paper route to support my addiction. I’d go to the five and dime in our neighborhood in Avon Lake and use all my paper route money whenever I got paid and buyout the supply of cards at the store. Then I’d sit in the parking lot with my friend and we’d go through each pack like it was Christmas morning to see what was there. I’d give him the gum that came with each pack. After a while, I grew tired of getting triples and quadruples of certain cards and wrote a letter to Topps baseball card company asking if there was a way I could just buy one of every card they made that year. I was delighted to receive the news that I could buy the complete set for something like $50. It got expensive when other companies appeared in my consciousness like Fleer, Donruss and Upper Deck. I loved my Oscar Gamble and Toby Harrah cards and missed getting doubles or triples of those cards. It’s funny, but I don’t remember any of my childhood friends or classmates being Cleveland Indians baseball fans. Maybe it was too painful to admit openly. When Pat Corrales was manager, I was in 10th grade. The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an essay contest – “Why Do You Like The Indians?” By this age I was reading the sports section daily so I was all over it. And I won! I think back and wonder if I was perhaps the only one who bothered writing an essay. None-the-less, the prize was “dinner with the Indians” and a free ballgame. “Dinner with the Indians” meant I got to eat lunch with a friend at the stadium for the first stop of the winter press tour. Only the manager and a couple players showed up to talk to the room full of reporters and afterward, I got to wait in line and shake some hands. But when we got there, Mom dropped us off and my buddy and I walked in. When we entered the room we scanned it for a place to sit and this booth, center stage and next to huge windows high above ground outside, had our names on it. Not really but we knew it was ours! Until some lackey in a suit scrambled across the room to us as some old guys and their entourage entered. He said we couldn’t sit there. We said we could. He demanded we move. I said I won the contest. He looked dumbfounded and by this time, the old guys were standing there too. One said “What seems to be the problem?” The scared looking man (lackey) sounded like he had diarrhea of the mouth so I explained. The old man in charge said, “You boys have a good time” and left us to the enormous booth while he and his entourage pulled tables and chairs together. Later he was introduced as Gabe Paul, General Manager of the Cleveland Indians. The other old guy was assistant GM Phil Seghi. Say what you will about those men and how they handled the Indians, but in that brief moment they taught me the success of selflessness in the world of business. On the way out, my friend and I shared an elevator with a rising star named Pat Tabler. He had a girl under each arm and had become a bigger hero of ours than just a moment earlier. When I returned from overseas after spending a few years in the Army, I lived at home for the summer and decided to coach little league baseball. My old coach was a legend in Avon Lake youth sports and he gave me the opportunity. At 21-years-old, I was able to share my favorite pastime with a new generation. But it was also an eye-opener into the underbelly of youth sports. First, our team stunk. But we did win some games and eventually made the playoffs. But the early part of the season grew frustrating, not for me, but some of the parents. They wanted me to make their kids into little Rick Mannings or Sandy Alomars. Then one game, a father that always sat at the end of the parent line near shallow right field with a cooler, sprang from his lawn chair and charged the umpire (who was only 17-years-old). He was spitting, cussing, and when I finally got my shocked body out there to diffuse him, I was shocked again for the potent smell of alcohol was in the air all around this nut. The commissioner later had me contact the nutty father to notify him he was banned from coming to any other games. My Dad and I drove to downtown Cleveland to watch the progress on Gateway’s construction when I came home from college. Gateway was the name given to the complex downtown that would house Jacob’s Field, new home to our beloved Tribe. When I began my career, Major League Baseball went on strike just when the Indians were legitimately competing for the first time in my life. Jacobs Field magic or carryover from the curse of Rocky Calavito? The following year we went to the World Series and my wife became a fan of the Tribe even though she grew up far from C-town. As players from that year did the modern-day shuffle from one team to the next, my wife would track their careers and tell me how Tavarez was doing or Sorrento. Another World Series in 1997 and my wife learned what The Drive and The Shot felt like. Only this time it was one word – MESA! When the Indians fell back out of favor and we were clearly rebuilding, I took my, then, four-year-old daughter to a game. I gave her the whole experience I grew up with. We got on the Rapid Transit and she loved the train ride. A man plopped down in the seat in front of her and she laughed and pointed and said very loudly, “Dad – look, that man has a comb stuck in his head.” Having survived that uncomfortable event, we walked to the stadium. Then she said, “Dad look, Indians.” And so there were, Native-Americans protesting Chief Wahoo. By the way, my Grandma was a full-blooded Delaware (Lenape). My Dad is half Lenape and half Sicilian. But we respect everyone’s convictions and right to free speech so we chatted a bit and went inside the gate. I don’t give my kids a lot by today’s standards but I flat out spoiled my daughter on this day. Program – yes. Hot dog – yes. Peanuts – Yes. Cracker Jack – yes. When I tried to show her how to keep a scorecard – NO! Then after all this and three innings, she saw the cotton-candy man and I knew instantly this was her moment that would forever make her a fan. One section over, she followed him with her eyes. Then she asked questions about this strange sight and knew she had to have cotton candy. Half an inning later she was twisted backward thumping my shoulder without looking as she panted, “He’s coming Dad. Dad here he comes.” So I decided to make her earn this treat and said that she had to get his attention to come down here or she’s out of luck. She asked how to do it and I said just yell “Cotton Candy Here.” And she did! LOUDLY and REPEATEDLY. She handled the entire transaction herself and when she was done, like she needed it, many in our section gave her a standing ovation. Gone are Thome, Belle, Ramirez, Visquel and in were a fresh batch of kids making noise. In 2007 I found myself far away from the shoreline I called home. But a business trip brought me back for a night. My Dad and I watched the Tribe win a huge ALCS game against Boston putting us one win from another World Series. It was a special night I’ll remember. Just the two of us watching the game alone in his family room, cheering, reminiscing, analyzing, talking, and having the time of our lives. When I returned home, my son met me at the door donning his Sizemore jersey and Wahoo cap eager to share something he learned to sing at school – “Take Me Out To The Ball Game …” You can start your great American family pastime all over Ohio at Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Toledo Mud Hens, Akron Aeros, Lake County Captains, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Columbus Clippers and Dayton Dragons. For those that want a fascinating look at the history of the game, visit Ohio Village Muffins, read Baseball Anecdotes, or rent the 10-pack DVD set – Baseball.
By Frank
R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler |
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It seems to be a law of nature that the best things are not easily acquired. If achievement is effortless the result is never fully appreciated, according to the natural decree. So it has always been with Cave Canyon, and admiration of this natural wonder has never diminished. There was a time when the forests of southern Ohio were so dense over rough terrain that the only way to reach the canyon was by horseback or wade up miles of Rocky Fork Creek from an access point in a little town called Paint—no longer on the map. Regardless of the difficulty, thousands of people made the trek to view one of nature’s premier showplaces. Today entry is more obliging, but still a little hard to find. It’s south of SR50 about halfway between Chillicothe and Hillsboro, just west of the Highland/Ross county line. You have to watch for the sign and Cave Road. Recent maps still list the site as Seven Caves. That’s what it was called until this past year. Cave Canyon Nature Preserve, as it is now titled (officially the Rocky Fork Gorge) is part of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995. It is unusual that such a spectacular landscape is not part of the state’s park system, but in fact owned privately for more than a century. In 1928 Clyde Chaney visited from Indiana and was so captivated with the gorge he went home and convinced five other investors to buy the property. Chaney improved the track now known as Cave Road, cleared trails, constructed rock steps, ran electric lights into the seven caves, and increased admission from the previous owner’s dime to 25 cents. It is to Chaney’s credit that access was made available to volumes of nature lovers but it was also unfortunate to be a time without regulations or full appreciation for nature preservation. There were thousands of stalactites formed over thousands of years hanging from cave ceilings, but souvenir hunters removed every one. However, there were always more appealing caverns in Ohio, and the caves in these canyon walls were never the main attraction. They are shallow--ranging from a few feet to a few hundred feet. Other than sanctuaries for fleeing desperados in early days the caves were a necessary habitat for cave-dwelling species, especially bats. Currently the caves are dark and off limits to visitors and fast being returned to their natural inhabitants. It’s the visual impact from the creek’s edge that first strikes most people—the waterfalls running between dolomite canyon walls rising one hundred feet. Towering hemlocks at the base seem to lend support to ancient white cedars clinging to the cliff’s edge. For serious botanists and naturalists the appeal is the plant life and climatic conditions existing in the canyon that differs drastically from the environment above. At the base there is a micro-Canadian ecosystem, so called because of similarity to weather formation hundreds of miles north—and of course unique to the latitude of southern Ohio. There are three self-guided trails for exploration, ranging in length from one quarter to one third of a mile—not long but a lot of up and down travel. One trail follows the Rocky Fork Creek with panoramic views of the soaring trees and canyon walls. Another takes you along the rim with a breathtaking sight of the canyon floor, and a third is through an old-growth beech forest—an intact ecosystem and forest community, as close as can be duplicated to frontier experience. A fourth trail is available only with a guide and limited to Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The guide assumes the persona of William Sullivant, a 19th-century naturalist who steers you along springs, sinkholes, and cave entrances and points out the geological beauty and botanicals. Most rare of the flowers is a saxifrage discovered by Sullivant and named Sullivantia sullivantia for obvious reasons. Previously unknown to science, it has since been found only in a few parts of the world. It is recommended that the best time to visit Cave Canyon is the month of April and early May during the spectacular display of wildflowers said to be the best in the state. Known as the Pyramid of Trilliums are the large-flowered trilliums tumbling out of side valleys by the thousands. At the same time there are masses of the more rare diminutive snow trilliums clinging to the bare rocks of the canyon walls. By mid-summer the vertical dolomites are so densely blanketed with bulblet ferns, wild hydrangea, and ginger that the rocks are virtually hidden, but there is no time during their open season from April through October when the scenery of this geological and botanical paradise is not impressive. For an adult entry fee of $10 and $5 for children, enjoy a slide presentation and roam the trails to your heart’s content. Also greeting you is the newly renovated museum that interprets America’s eastern temperate forest as it was when covering the eastern third of the entire country. To capture the spirit of this rich historical region you should bring a camera and binoculars. If you plan to spend the day bring a lunch because there are no food concessions—and above all bring a good pair of hiking shoes. For more information call 937-365-1935 or go to www.arcofappalachia.org.
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FOODIES
In 2009, the trendiest Americans are seeking comfort and value when dining out. And when they’re eating in, they’re seeking to inject a bit more pizzazz into their home cooking. In addition, the restaurant industry is forecasting trends that reflect today’s recessionary economy. Ohio’s Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is keeping pace with those trends with a new menu, featuring regionally grown produce as well as creative culinary classes. The Lodge’s Executive Chef Stephen Gary shares insights on trends with others throughout the national Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts family of chefs. Within the organization, chefs are tuned in to the latest trends that will satisfy guests’ desire for comfort and value…with some creative culinary touches. In addition to his new menu for Horizons Restaurant, Chef Gary has scheduled some new culinary classes that will give guests the opportunity to learn how to prepare fresher, more flavorful dishes at a reasonable cost – similar to what they enjoy at their favorite restaurants. A Menu Designed to Satisfy Today’s Palates Horizons menu includes some of the restaurant’s long-time favorites alongside items that reflect America’s desire for the new and innovative. Chef Gary made an effort to keep value in mind by giving diners more for their money. “For example, we kept several long-time favorites on the menu, such as our Lake Erie Walleye dinner, but added a small house salad with each. Prices on all entrees were reduced, and now include a side salad,” Gary notes. Entrée prices range from $12 to $18. “At the same time, we’ve introduced new menu items such as the Grilled Chicken Breast with Andouille and Mushroom Jambalaya, as well as Italian Herb Seared Sea Scallops with Basil Pesto. These new dishes are popular among those looking to try something a bit different without deviating too far from what we grew up eating,” he says. Many of the flavors of these entrees are enhanced by the sauces, glazes, salsas and creams that are made from scratch by Chef Gary and the Horizons culinary team, and are done so using only natural reduction methods to ensure a richer, healthier, natural taste. Some long-time favorites, such as Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Polenta, and the ever-popular Grilled Salmon with Jasmine Rice are among the hearty, simpler dishes that customers enjoy. “In the end, it’s about offering diners a great dining experience – a romantic view of Lake Erie, a selection of long-time favorites along with some new palate-pleasing entrees – all at a valued price.” Gary adds. “But perhaps most importantly, you get to sit back, relax, and have the professionals prepare your meal and serve you.” Freshly Prepared, Locally Produced A commitment to the freshest quality, locally grown produce is another mainstay of the Horizons menu, reflected in ingredients used to prepare such items such as Roasted Wild Mushrooms and Parmesan Tomato Cream. With heightened demand for more natural and fresh items, Chef Gary has made an effort to incorporate local flavors, such as the maple syrup used in the Maple Walnut Glaze. Choosing to use locally-grown produce or products guarantees freshness and has the added benefit of supporting Ohio products and the local economy. The Lodge regularly partners with The Chef’s Garden, a fully sustainable farm in Huron, Ohio that provides lettuce, herbs and micro-greens. “The amount of flavor produced out of some of these small shoots and bulbs is intense, and with the way that they are cultivated organically, it’s just a better product overall,” Gary comments. Many of the selections on the wine list feature Ohio wines from vineyards located throughout the local region along with other national and international selections. Although comfort foods and local products are the trend, there is still room for the exotic, which is grounded in simplicity. One popular trend is in Asian flavors, such as ginger used in sauces as well as different types of noodles. “Most recently, specials such as fresh pork wontons with ginger soy reduction and lotus root chips, as well as a sesame crusted sushi grade ahi tuna with soba noodle bowl, have been well received. We make an effort to incorporate new, creative and exciting recipes in the specials that we offer each evening.” For Horizons reservations, call (440) 466-7100, then press “2." About The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake Located at 4888 North Broadway (State Highway 534) in Geneva-on-the-Lake, The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake features 109 finely appointed guest rooms (the majority with lake views); Horizons, an upscale restaurant with a striking octagonal dining room and breathtaking view of Lake Erie; a lounge with a rectangular bar and great views of Lake Erie; and amenities that include a fitness center, game room, indoor pool and gift shop. The Lodge entrance is located one mile north of Geneva State Park, on the left. For room reservations, call 866-442-9765 or visit www.thelodgeatgeneva.com. For Horizons reservations, call (440) 466-7100, then press “2." The Lodge is adjacent to Geneva State Park, which encompasses 698 acres featuring 1.6 miles of Lake Erie shoreline as well as a beach and bathhouse, six-lane boat ramp and marina, hiking, picnic areas and more. To learn more about the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, visit www.thelodgeatgeneva.com. Return to TopUnderstanding many people don't have the discretionary income they may have had as little as a year ago, OhioTraveler.com's focus is on admission-FREE tourism. Most sections of OhioTraveler.com feature places with FREE ADMISSION at the very top of menu options. Find your free fun now: Historic Sites, Museums and Landmarks Great Indoor & Outdoor Adventures In addition to featuring freebies and places worth the price of admission, OhioTraveler.com seeks the more interesting and unique in Ohio tourism. Instead of endless listings of events, lodging, restaurants and stores, we veer away from mainstream and choose the road less traveled. Take a look:
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This
year make plans to check out Ohio’s LARGEST inland lake, Grand Lake St.
Marys. At 13,500 acres, this grand lake invites you to enjoy its vast
expanse for water recreation fun. There are plenty of reasons to enjoy a
visit to Grand Lake St. Marys-- fishing, swimming, boating, skiing,
tubing, picnicking, eagle watching and camping—just to name a few. Many
visitors also say they find its historic past intriguing. 
The
down economy has brought many folks back to basics. And that’s just what
Amish merchants like Miller’s Furniture & Bakery cater to in Southern
Ohio’s Wheat Ridge Amish community. 
In this
economy, more and more people are opting not to drive from store to store
looking for items. Many of them find it hard to spend a lot of time
looking for that one item they need for food storage or household
organization. The Everything Rubbermaid Store in downtown Wooster, Ohio is
trying to make the search easier by providing, not only store front
shopping, but also offers mail order service and on line shopping. 
