It would seem that summer has finally arrived in Ohio and while temperatures in the mid to upper 80′s and low 90′s might seem insignificant to the majority of people in America, it’s the humidity that’s bothering us.  We’re Ohioans, we don’t do humidity!  Besides, it frizzes my hair.  The most logical alternative is to stay indoors in very close proximity to an air-conditioner and a well stocked refrigerator.

I’m not logical.  (I blame the kids–they incapacitate the area of my brain responsible for rational thought.)

Sufficient Cause for Insanity

Kids thrive on adventure, activity, intrigue.  I thrive on cool temperatures.  I found both at the Olentangy Indian Caverns Read More »

Shopping for beach toys on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.

Initially the trip was planned with only economics and convenience in mind. You can get to Delaware in about five hours from New York City (assuming traffic and a rest stop), and only spend three quarters of a tank of gas on the drive down. It’s also considerably cheaper than Virginia Beach during the high season, which is generally late spring through Labor Day. And Rehoboth Beach not nearly as unpredictable as Myrtle Beach. What’s more is that Rehoboth Beach is much tamer than it’s neighbor Ocean City and has substantial appeal for families looking for an affordable getaway during tight times when every penny counts. Read More »

The Eight Presidents from Ohio--The Mother of Presidents (photo world almanac.com/us gov)

One would think that the selection pool for presidential office holders in the United States would be spread fairly wide.  There are 50 states, we’ve had nearly 50 presidents.  To be exact we’ve had 44.  Unless you live under a rock, and no offense intended if you do, I hear rocks are very nice, you certainly recall the historic events of last month.  (We inaugurated the 44th president of the United States.)  The thing most fascinating about Mr. Obama is not that our new president is left handed for there have been others.  No, what I find most astounding is that he was not from Ohio!

That’s right.  Ohio is noted not only for cold, harsh winters and a disturbing fascination with a football team that considers a poisonous nut its mascot but also to have provided this great nation of ours with eight presidents, more than any other state in the nation.  Hence its fitting nickname, The Mother of Presidents.

Presidents Day is coming up this Monday, February 16.  And certainly you could spend the three day weekend firing up the barbecue and celebrating with family and friends, relaxing at home.  Or…

You could pack up the caravan and give yourself a three day weekend of history in America’s Heartland.  A mini presidential tour.

• William Henry Harrison (9th)  The Harrison Gravesite is located in North Bend, Ohio a small village on the Ohio River just 21 miles west Cincinnati.  There is also a marker at the corner of Symmes Avenue and Washington indicating the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison (23rd).  He was the grandson of William Henry and though Indiana also claims him Ohio gets him, too, because he was born here.  (Apparently, the rules for claiming a president are fairly lax as William Henry was born in Virginia but lived in Ohio.)

Harrison Tomb in North Bend, OH (photo by Bonnie Wetik)

• Ulysses S. Grant (18th)  Ulyssess was born in Point Pleasant, OH, east of Cincinnati on the Ohio River.  The Grant birthplace is a 3 room cottage located at 1551 State Route 232, just off of U.S. Route 52.   It has been meticulously restored and furnished with period items.  The site is open April-October Wednesday-Sunday.

Grant Birthplace Point Pleasant, OH (photo Bruce Uher)

• Rutherford B Hayes (19th)  Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware, Ohio.  There is a marker on E. William St. where the house once stood but I wouldn’t waste too much time looking for it unless you need some gas and a snack or a maybe a haircut.  The marker is in front of a gas station and sits next door to a barber shop.  No appointment is necessary.  Rather, you’ll want to visit the Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, OH on the sprawling estate known as Spiegel Grove.  The center consists of the Hayes Home, a 31 room mansion constructed by Hayes’ uncle, and the Hayes Museum and Presidential Library.  It was the first presidential library in the country and houses over 70,000 books.  The library is closed on Sundays, otherwise the facility is open year round, save holidays.

Rutherford Hayes Home Fremont, OH (photo Tom Reed)

• James A. Garfield (20th)  The Garfield home, known as Lawnfield, located in Mentor, OH offers regular tours of the home and grounds.  There are also various special tour options available to appeal to any age visitor.  The center is open weekends November through April and seven days beginning May.

James Garfield Home Mentor, OH photo public domain

• William McKinley (25th)  The McKinley birthplace home located at 40 South Main St. in Niles, Ohio is decorated with period furnishings and artifacts.  The home is open daily for tours but it is suggested by  their website to call for specific details prior to visiting.  Just up the street at 46 N. Main St. is the McKinley Memorial Museum and Library.  The facility, which takes up an entire city square, is open year round and does not charge an admission fee.

McKinley Birthplace Home Niles, OH (photo public domain)

• William Howard Taft (27th)  The William Howard Taft National Historic Site is located at 2038 Auburn Ave. in Cincinnati, OH.  It is open year round (save Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years) and is free to the public.  The center is operated by the National Park Service and offers numerous educational and informative programs.  The park service recommends visiting the TEC (Taft Educational Center) for more information on Taft and some other points of interest in Cincinnati.

Taft National Historic Site Cincinnati, OH (photo nps.gov)

• Warren G. Harding (29th)  The Warren G. Harding Home at 380 Mt. Vernon Ave and Harding Memorial at the intersection of Delaware and Vernon Heights Blvd are located in Marion, OH.  The house reportedly contains almost all of the original furnishings of President Harding.  It is open for tours year round with hours of operation varying.  Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6.  The Memorial is free to visit.

Harding Memorial Marion, OH (photo Ed Lamaze)

So there you have it.  One state, 8 US Presidents.  OK, so it may take you more than three days to hit them all.  So stay longer.  Really, we’ve just had a winter heat wave move through our fair state and most of the snow has melted.  The resulting flooding has been minimal and should not be of concern to the heartiest of travelers.

Happy Presidents Day!

The leaves have begun their autumnal transfiguration exchanging green hues for reds, oranges, yellows, browns and every imaginable shade in between. There’s a crispness in the air that literally screams fall is upon us though not quite as loudly as my children. The fall season is a family season, a holiday season, specifically, it’s pumpkin season. Miller’s Country Gardens in Delaware, Ohio has your pumpkin needs covered.

Less than an hour’s drive from Columbus, Ohio at 2488 State Route 37 just north of the city of Delaware, Miller’s Country Gardens makes for the perfect family weekend day trip. The quickest route would most likely be to take State Route 23 North from the I-270 outer belt. But we’re not looking for fast, we’re looking for pumpkins and a proper christening of the fall season, right?

Life’s a journey—take the scenic route. Head north past the Columbus Zoo and Acquarium and Zoombezi Bay on Riverside drive which becomes State Route 257. The road winds along the reservoir and follows the tree lined Scioto River. The fall colors are breathtaking and well worth the extra drive. SR 257 will intersect SR 37 about 4 miles west of Miller’s Gardens. (For those like me who may be navigationally impaired, take a right on SR 37 if you are driving north.)

When you arrive at Miller’s Gardens make sure to check out the Farm Market. The sweet corn has been harvested and there’s plenty left. There’s also quite a selection of fresh produce. Winter is coming and if you are anything like me you’ll want to stock up, fill the freezer as it were. But remember, we’re after pumpkins, right?

Just outside of greenhouse to the left of the store there are tables lined with hundreds of meticulously selected and size sorted pumpkins. You see, Miller’s has made the process as painless as possible. So if you’re OK with a pumpkin that has been hand selected for you just hours earlier you can move on.

There’s an animal petting area. That’s farm animal.  After the barnyard mavens have received their due lovin’ you can check out the corn maze. I can guarantee there’s not a kid out there who isn’t thrilled to run screaming through a corn field. They’ve even got a smaller hay bale maze suitable for toddlers. Though I’ll admit, my seven year old daughter had almost as much fun the the hay bales as she did in the corn field.

Lost in the Corn Maze

But let’s not let this talk of mazes get us lost. We’re after pumpkins, fresh pumpkins. The highlight of your trip to Miller’s Country Gardens is surely to be the hayride from the barn out into the pumpkin patch. Once there you are free to pick and choose your perfect pumpkin right from the vine. It doesn’t get any fresher than that.

A bit of advice as told to my kids, “you can have any pumpkin you want as long as you can carry it out.” Trust me, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a pumpkin patch trying to sherpa five pumpkins back without dropping them. They will burst if dropped. I know where of I speak.

Five Perfect Pumpkins

Miller’s prices the pumpkins by the pound (0.29 cents as of this posting) and scales are conveniently located at the hay ride drop off area. There are also plenty of wagons available to carry your fresh picked perfect pumpkin back to your vehicle. Parking, by the way, is free of charge and the lots are located on the grounds.

This year, celebrate the arrival of fall by treating the family to a trip to the pumpkin patch at Miller’s Country Gardens.

(Seasonal operation. Hay rides offered Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4pm.  Call for specifics or check their website for more detailed hours of operation.)

All Photos by Ed Lamaze.