great takes on family travel in the U.S.

I started out intending to write about several things to do on Mother’s Day in Cleveland. But as I began my research, I found nothing that excited me as much as the Cleveland Botanical Garden (CBG). And let me make it clear that I do not garden, and much to my husband’s annoyance, I don’t notice when he gardens, either. I just can’t pull myself away from this place, though, so I have to make it the entire focus of this blog.

The CBG is having Mother’s Day Brunch at the Garden on Sunday, May 11^th, from 10am to 3pm. The menu will consist of traditional buffet fare such as carved beef, homemade soup, salads, and a pancake station. Cost and additional menu items can be found on the site.

The neat thing about this is that it’s not just a meal—your group will have access to the gardens and their special exhibit, Zensai:The Horticulture of Japan. After that, be sure to visit the other gardens, including the Hershey’s Children Garden, the Mary Ann Swears Sweetland Rose Garden, and the Western Reserve Herb Society Garden. There are several others as well, so there is plenty of beauty to enjoy on the grounds.

One thing I did not realize is how much goes on at CBG. In addition to the outdoor gardens, there is also a Glasshouse which houses the Cloud Forest of Costa Rica and Spiny Desert of Madagascar exhibits. The CBG also offers a wide selection of programs including classes, lectures, and travel programs for area residents. And you can rent the CBG for weddings, corporate events, and other private events, with catering provided.

I think this is a wonderful place to add to your Places to Visit list in the Cleveland area. If you can’t make it for Mother’s Day, be sure to check it out at another time. It’s simply stunning!

In honor of the recent Earth Day publicity, I thought I’d look into what Ohio has to offer in the way of eco-friendliness. There was so much press about events planned in other cities across the country, but I heard nothing about Cleveland. So to the Internet I went!

The biggest change taking place right now is that of Cleveland’s landscape, beginning with the design and construction of EcoVillage, an initiative set forth by Cleveland that will focus in urban regeneration with eco- and social-sustainability as the focus. From the EcoCity website, here are the specific goals:

EcoVillage is:

• An innovative partnership involving nonprofit organizations, the city, the regional transit authority, private developers, and neighborhood residents.

• A national demonstration project that will showcase green building and transit-oriented development.

• An opportunity to realize the promise of urban life in the most ecological way possible.

Currently, Green Cottages are available for purchase, with other housing initiatives in the works as the project progresses. These are 2 and 3-bedroom homes designed for families in the moderate income level. I’m not sure about the other home designs as far as size, but they will follow the same eco-friendly basics as the Green Cottages.

Another interesting city-wide undertaking is the Cleveland Design Competition. The 2008 competition is not yet underway, but the award winners for 2007 are listed on the Design Competition site. The competition is an open, anonymous, single-stage ideas competition being administered by a local committee that seeks to find new ideas for land that is currently languishing in Cleveland. Last year’s competition involved Irishtown Bend, an area outside of the Flats with a rich history that is sadly now mostly overgrown and uninhabitable. To view the amazing 2007 winning concepts, click here.

While Cleveland may not have garnered the same amount of attention on Earth Day as San Francisco and other large cities, I’m proud to know that in our small corner of the planet, we are taking steps to ensure the longevity of the Earth and our community.

I live near Cleveland on Lake Erie (and am darn proud of it), which means there is no getting around the fact that Spring Has Sprung! Area marinas are beginning to show signs of life as boaters make their way to their vessels to paint, clean, and prep for the traditional May launch. Seasonal workers are starting to trickle in as the tourist industry gears up for yet another summer of putting smiles on millions of faces as they pass through the region. And local merchants begin the process of enticing visitors to shake off their cabin fever and step out to enjoy all that life on Lake Erie has to offer.

One event guaranteed to bring folk out of their winter funk is Bay Harbor Restaurant’s “Spring Fling” Wine Pairing Event. Located on Sandusky’s waterfront in the Cedar Point Marina, Bay Harbor will serve up an evening of fine wine and dining on Friday, April 25, 2008. Gloria Ferrer wines will be paired with 5 courses*, including Shrimp and Scallop Ceviche, Lobster Stuffed Chicken Breast, Pretzel Crusted Halibut, Grilled Clams, and a Mixed Berry Trifle.

Paired wines will include Brut, Carneros Chardonnay, Carneros Pinot Noir, Rust Rock Terrace Pinot Noir, Carneros Merlot, Carneros Syrah, and Blanc de Noirs. A vineyard expert will be on hand to explain each wine as it is tasted and Bay Harbor’s experienced staff will ensure that every guest has an enjoyable evening. Wines will be available for purchase at the close of the dinner for those who wish to take home a bottle (or a case) for themselves or as a gift.

I’ve been part of Bay Harbor’s wine dinners in the past, and I guarantee they are a good time. Everyone is so prim and proper at the beginning of dinner, but by the end of the evening the dining room is full of smiles and laughter. Whether you are a couple looking for a night out together or a large group of friends hoping to catch up, Bay Harbor can accommodate you. A stellar view of the lake as spring unfolds, combined with excellent food and wine, is a recipe for success regardless of the number of people at your table!

Dinner begins at 7:30 and the bar will open at 6:30 for “gathering” (i.e., a pre-dinner cocktail). The cost is $65.00 per person + tax. Gratuity and additional beverages are not included in the price of dinner. Reservations are required as the restaurant will be closed that night to other business. Parties of all sizes are welcome (and encouraged!), so call now to guarantee your spot: 419-625-6373.

Have fun, and remember to designate a driver or arrange for alternate transportation–no drinking and driving, please!

*Menu subject to change. Additional course may be added.

Here in the Heartland, spring is in the air. Temperatures in the low 60’s are allowing the daffodils to make their first appearance, and our family’s annual “ice breaking” trip to Kelleys Island took place yesterday.

Which makes this the perfect time to consider your first outdoor destination road trip. One of my greatest pleasures is looking for new and off-the-beaten path things to try. I mean, anyone can call a travel agent to plan a trip to Disney, right? But how many get to make the Dandelion May Fest their point of destination?

Work with me here, people.

So it’s not glitz and glamour, but you have to admit that it sounds quaint. If you live in Cleveland, it’s only a 90 minute trip to beautiful Amish country, and the festival truly offers something for every family member.

The Dandelion May Fest is held the first weekend in May (2^nd and 3^rd in 2008) at Breitenbach Wine Cellars in Dover, Ohio. The winery makes 40 varieties of wines, one of the most popular being their Dandelion Wine. Wine tasting and cellar tours are part of the festival and finals for The Great Dandelion Cook-off are held during the weekend. There will be dandelion foods to sample, including dandelion sausage, dandelion salad, dandelion bread and dandelion gravy. The festival also features a juried arts and crafts show, 5K Run and various forms of entertainment.

If you need a place to stay, I found several interesting options. Of course, you can stay right at the winery in their B&B, but I imagine that they are booked at this point. If you find that they have no rooms available, another option is Cricket Hill Cabins. They have four secluded cabins in neighboring Millersburg, OH. You may also want to check out Donna’s Premiere Lodging, located close by in Berlin, which has cabins as well as numerous other types of accommodations. Or, if you want to stick with a B&B atmosphere, I think the Garden Gate looks very nice. I’m all over that Garden Gate Suite with the Jacuzzi tub and fireplace!

On your visit, be sure to enjoy the gracious nature of the local Amish community. There are several options for Amish lodging, and many more choices for shopping, dining, and visiting. Amish Tours of Ohio offers progressive meal tours (although none are scheduled for the weekend of the Dandelion May Fest), meals in Amish homes, historic tours, and private tours that allow visitors to experience Amish culture firsthand. If you are part of a larger group of 20 or more, consider utilizing Country Coach Adventures to head up your group’s tour.

Regardless of what you do, I hope you find something that allows you and your family and/or friends to enjoy the feeling of renewal and see the beauty of spring time in Ohio!

Clevelanders can feel it. Spring is in the air. And with spring, comes America’s favorite pastime: BASEBALL.

Save your comments about apple pie and lemonade. What any Cleveland Indians fan wants is a winning season. The bittersweet taste of last year’s season still lingers on the tongue of many an Ohioan, and hope always remains alive for a stellar follow-up in 2008. To fall one game short of winning the World Series is not something that is easily forgotten; however, Clevelanders are adept at manning up and moving on, so we face the upcoming season with anticipation.

The season lineup consists of Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, Casey Blake, Franklin Gutierrez, and Jhonny Peralta. While you won’t be seeing a barrage of home runs every night from this group, they have a thousand different ways to get the better of other teams with their combination of power and speed. Sensible hitting is what will make this one of the American League’s best lineups.

As far as pitching, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona create a double-whammy impact and lead one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. This alone will hopefully be enough to lead the Indians into the postseason.

With manager Eric Wedge at the helm, there will be little excuse for the Indians not having a great season. This is Wedge’s year to prove that he’s a solid manager, so he will no doubt be focused on proving his ability for longevity. Combine that would a solid team with good chemistry, and 2008 should prove to be another exciting, if not World Series-bound season.

For season ticket info, visit The Official Site of the Cleveland Indians: Tickets.

Visit their Cleveland Indians: 2008 Schedule page to choose the home and away games you’ll attend.

To keep up with the active roster and injuries, bookmark this page.

If you are interested in an active forum in which you can discuss all things related to the Tribe, check out Cleveland.com’s board.

And last but not least, Go Tribe!

Easter is almost here, which means spring is just around the corner! There is so much to do in Cleveland, and Easter time is no exception. If you haven’t made your plans already, here are some suggestions. But don’t wait until the last minute, places that aren’t booked already will be soon.If you are looking for a fun outdoor family excursion, head to Lyndhurst to view the Manolio family’s egg-ceptional Eggland. This unique display is set up for just 10 days from Palm Sunday until just after Easter each year. The Manolio family has been decorating their lawn with thousands of painted egg shells since 1957, and the display includes cartoons, secular Easter bunnies, and religious images — all made from real, hand-painted eggshells. The 2008 display will be up from March 16^th through the 24^th. It’s fun and it’s free, so be sure to check it out!

If you are unable or not interested in cooking a big dinner at home (I, for one, am all about letting someone else to the cooking and cleaning), think about enjoying Easter dinner on the Lake. Head down to the Flats and out on the Nautica Queen for Easter brunch on March 23 from 1:00pm to 3:30pm. The Easter Bunny will be on-board to help in celebrating spring as it unfolds along the Cleveland shores.

Another option is attending an Easter Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues. The Stan Moore Gospel Ensemble will perform at both the 10:00am and 12:30pm brunches, and plenty of delicious Southern-style food will be available on the buffet. Lively, uplifting, fun, and tasty. Sounds like my kind of celebration!

Lastly, if you want to take the kids to a movie, Atlas Cinemas is showing Easter in Bunnyland at three of its Cleveland area locations. Two cinemas in Mentor and one in Euclid are showing this family favorite, and it may be in a theatre near you and not showing up in the bigger search. Be sure to look up your local movie listings if this outing interests you.

No matter what you do, be safe, have fun, and enjoy your day with your friends and/or family!

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s time to take a look at some fun things to do in the Cleveland area. I had about ten activities that look awesome, because let’s face it, Cleveland rocks. But I will narrow it down to three so that you all don’t fall asleep before the green beer even begins to flow.

For the adult Clevelanders, check out the Oberlin Inn’s St. Patrick’s Day Irish Murder Mystery. Located in Oberlin, the Inn offers a package that includes overnight accommodations, dining on an Irish Feast, and a fun-filled Jovialities Murder Mystery evening.

The Irish Murder Mystery will take place on Saturday, March 15 and begins at 5:00 PM. A cash bar will be available and St. Patty’s Day attire is recommended.

As far as the kiddies go, encourage their creative side with exposure to some Celtic art! Visit the Cleveland Children’s Museum for Great Artists: Shamrocks. The days are Wednesday, March 12; Friday, March 14; and Monday, March 17; all three events begin at 3:30 PM.

The Great Artists series explores works of Celtic art and encourages kids create their own masterpieces based on the examples of and techniques used by the featured artists. Geared toward kids ages 1 through 8, this looks to be both educational and fun.

For a St. Patrick’s Day event for the entire family, attend the annual Cleveland Irish Parade on Monday, March 17 at 1:04 PM. The parade will begin at the intersection of Superior Ave. and East 18th St., then will travel southwest on Superior Ave. to East Roadway. The parade will head northwest on East Roadway for one block; and then it will head northeast on Rockwell Ave. It ends at the intersection of Rockwell Ave. and East 6th St. This is a different route from years past, so be sure to check out a map of the new route.

Regardless of what you do to celebrate the history of the Irish, do it responsibly and with respect. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and may the luck o’ the Irish be with ye throughout the year!