great takes on family travel in the U.S.

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!

So, for full disclosure, I should say a few things… first, I live in Tennessee. Second, I work blocks from the Stanford campus. Lastly, I work on the technical end of this blog. That said, it may not have made front page news, but the University of Tennessee ‘Lady’ Volunteers took on the Stanford University Cardinals for the 2008 NCAA womens basketball championship. The Vol’s won the game handily, but the Cardinals showed class. You don’t have to be a fan of sports to appreciate the accomplishment for the Lady Vol’s. It was their 8th National Championship under the leadership of Pat Summitt. The New York Times reported a story of her start:

Thirty-four seasons ago, after Pat Summitt had coached her first game at Tennessee, she phoned home.

“Did you win?” her father, Richard Head, asked.

“No sir, we got beat.”

“By how much?”

“One point.”

There was a long pause, and as Summitt feared that her father would blame her, he said: “Let me just tell you one thing, Trisha. Don’t take donkeys to the Kentucky Derby.”

There are a lot of directions you could take the story from here (remember, I said I live there :-)), but I’ll leave it at this… if you can appreciate the accomplishment of the Tennessee women or women in basketball, and if you happen to find yourself in the South East, you can visit the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in no other than Knoxville, Tennessee.

And, even though I live 3 miles from the UT campus, I don’t say this very much (my grass is blue), but go Vol’s.

David

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

I’m about to make myself very unpopular with the fitness-conscious, hard-bodied L.A. crowd, but I have a confession to make: I think walking is boring. I’d really love to make use of the track that winds around our local park or make walking my kids to school a healthy habit, but to be perfectly honest, until they line the entire route with Cirque du Soleil performers or end-to-end plasma screens showing Sex and the City reruns, I’ll continue to drive my car, damnit.

The one exception is when I’m mesmerized by a good garden. I’m not talking about the neighbor’s zero-scaped front yard, but a spectacularly crafted, bigger than life garden extravaganza that takes my mind off the doldrums of walking. Luckily, Los Angeles has quite a few of those and spring is the perfect time to visit them. Here are a few that actually get me out of my car and putting foot to gravel (or dirt.) I might just have to drop some cash on a pair of new walking shoes.

My favorite are the Gardens at the Getty Center. From the top of the garden, where you have a magnificent view of the grounds, to the winding path that leads down to the maze-like center, the entire environment is absolutely enchanting and at the same time Zen-like and peaceful. And no article of mine would be complete without a reference to food – the cafeteria-style Café at the Getty Center is one of my favorite places to eat in the city. Sometimes I meet friends there for lunch, and we get so distracted by our excellent meals and strong coffee that we forget to head over to the exhibits. Don’t tell anybody.

Slightly east of Los Angeles in the city of La Cañada Flintridge are the charming Descanso Gardens. You’ll find a beautiful, low key setting here, perfect for young children to explore. I went there last fall on a field trip with my daughter’s class and we had a very personal, thorough walking tour through the grounds that ended in a nice surprise – a small pumpkin patch.

A fifteen minute drive heading southeast will get you to the beautiful Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. This is one of the best-kept secrets in Los Angeles – a magnificent, lush garden with strolling peacocks and unusually small crowds. This holds special significance for me – it was one of the last places we took my husband’s 101-year old grandmother. Her eyesight was failing, but she was able to identify many of the plants and flowers just by their smell and feel.

Conveniently, from the Arboretum you can get to the famous Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino in just ten short minutes. You may have heard of the Huntington Art Gallery, home to such celebrated works of art as Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy and Thomas Lawrence’s Pinkie. The gardens are truly spectacular – my favorite is the Ikebana House, where you can see exquisite examples of the traditional art of Japanese flower arranging.

Bottom line? It amazes even me, but when surrounded by floral, fauna and a cool spring breeze at my back, I truly feel like I could walk forever.

Are you a walker? A gardener? A walker in a garden, like me? What are your favorite springtime destinations?

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!

I personally feel that spring break should be a mandatory holiday for every man, woman and child…not just those lucky enough to still be in school. Alas, this is not the case. So, these days, when I am feeling the siren call of a spring holiday, but just don’t have that kind of time, I plan a spectacular spring fling weekend.

There are a surprising number of appealing options in and around Austin. Plus, spring in Austin is more like summer for most states. By April, the skies are sunny, the hills are green and the temperature is climbing into the mid-eighties. So, water is an essential part of any getaway weekend here. One of the best bodies of water near Austin is Lake Travis. This large and beautiful lake is about a 45 minute drive away, and is a haven for water lovers. Surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs and green bluffs, the lake is nearly 64 miles long. It has a multitude of swimming coves and open spaces for skiing and boating. No matter your preference, you can find something to do here. There are ski boat and ski rentals, as well as jet-ski, canoe and sailboat rentals. Or you can be easier on your checkbook and just drive to one of the many beaches or coves around the lake, where you can lay out, picnic and swim.

For overnight accommodation, there is a plethora of options. Several companies rent house boats. This is a fun option, especially if you are traveling with a large group of friends or family. You can spend the entire weekend away from dry land, exploring the nooks and crannies of this spectacular lake. A few campgrounds are located on the water’s edge, including spots at Pace Bend Park. Many bed and breakfasts are located on or near the water and there are several spas nearby as well. I would recommend Barton Springs Resort and Spa or Casa Del Sol Bed and Breakfast.

Spending all day on the water will work up quite an appetite. Luckily, there are some fantastic restaurants to choose from if you don’t feel like cooking. Hudson’s on the Bend is a wonderful fine dining experience. For a good, old-fashioned hamburger, check out Sandy’s. Also, no trip to Lake Travis would be complete without visiting the Oasis. This landmark restaurant is nestled on a cliff, 400 feet above the lake and has an extensive network of multi-tiered decks from which to enjoy the view. They have a broad menu and typically offer live music. The sunsets are amazing and so are the margaritas!

If you live in Austin or are just visiting, I highly recommend making the short trip out to Lake Travis for the weekend. With beautiful views, clear water and a wealth of activities, it is sure to cure your spring holiday fever. It might even become a springtime tradition!

Where do you like to go when spring rolls around?

My brother came to visit for the day on Saturday with his 9 year old son. I currently live in Palo Alto near Stanford University, and after lunch my nephew had just one request. He desperately wanted to see the Stanford baseball field. He has visions of himself playing ball there one day. Well, I was happy to oblige. However, I am embarrassed to say that I had no idea where the field was and we were forced to track down and study a campus map.

Once we found the field, we had a terrific surprise. There was a game going on! So, we bought our tickets and walked inside. Sitting in the stands, with the warm sun on my shoulders, I looked around at the energetic crowd. There were many pairings of fathers and sons, elderly couples wearing their Stanford colors and shouting words of encouragement to the team and kids running around on the grassy hillside, eating huge sticky towers of cotton candy. It has been years since I have been to a baseball game, but, I found that little has changed. Baseball is still as “American as apple pie”.

My memories of baseball were formed at the University of Texas in Austin. My father was a big fan and he wanted to share his love of the game with his children. I can still remember him belting out “The Eyes of Texas” along with a crowd full of fans, his voice filled with emotion and pride. The Longhorns have always had a strong baseball program and this year is no different. They are ranked #13 in the country! If you find yourself in Austin this spring, put on your burnt orange and head over to Disch Falk field for a great game.

Is professional baseball more your style? Then head just north of Austin to Round Rock, Texas. Here you can watch the Round Rock Express (farm team for the Houston Astros) play at the impressive Dell Diamond complex. Order a beer and a hot dog, listen to the crack of the bat as it hits a home run, and spend your afternoon “cheering for the home team”. Go with a group of friends or bring your family….one of the great things about baseball is its wide appeal.

I might not be able to take in a game of Texas baseball…but, after this weekend, I will be sure to attend more games at the Stanford field. Especially now that I know where it is!

Do you like baseball…what are some of your best memories?

When I was asked to write about the Dodgers this week, I have to admit momentary panic set in. I’m not a baseball fan and don’t remember the last time I went to a Dodger game. In fact, I’m not even certain how the game is played. All I know is someone hits a little white ball with a stick and then runs like hell.

But then I realized that a trip to a Dodger game might be right up my alley. After all, it involves two of my favorite activities, sitting and eating. So, here’s how my ideal Dodger day might unfold:

One of the first things I would do is check out the parking situation on the Official Dodger Stadium website. Even though Opening Day in 2007 went down in the record books as one of the worst parking days in the stadium’s history, with 16,000 parking spaces I figure I shouldn’t have any problem finding a spot. Even if I take up the usual four spaces parking my minivan, that still leaves 15,996 spaces for the rest of you.

(I found this article that pointed out the absence of bike racks at Dodger Stadium. This doesn’t concern me, seeing as I drive my car even to the corner mailbox. But normal people and fitness buffs might want to take note.)

Next up would be tickets. I’m not a season ticket holder, so I would head down to Chavez Ravine (as all us Dodger experts call it) and buy a one-day ticket. They range in price from $130 for MVP seating all the way down to $11 for what appears to be a seat in the top section inside a stall in the men’s bathroom. I’d decide to splurge for a $70 seat, which along with having a great view of the field appears to be painted a pleasing orange color that would go great with my complexion.

Upon entering the stadium I would waste no time in procuring the most coveted of Dodger memorabilia – the Dodger Dog. Make no mistake – I consider the concession stand as important a location as home plate. In fact, I may not be able to tell you who the Dodgers are playing that day, but I guarantee I will have memorized the entire snack stand menu including the condiment bar.

Perhaps most thrilling is the new AmPm All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion. According to the Dodger website, for $35 you can get a seat in the right field bleachers and “unlimited Dodger Dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn and Coca-Cola products.” Just saying the words “unlimited nachos” out loud gets me more excited than a home run in the bottom of the ninth.

But I know the Dodgers aren’t just about the hot dogs, or the peanuts, or the Cracker Jack. It’s the excitement of being a part of a 50-year tradition, and I’m sure once the game got started I would get swept away by the smell of the infield and the roar of the crowd. Now if I could just get one of those big foam fingers to wave around…

Any baseball fans out there? What’s your ideal ballpark day that doesn’t involve your couch and a big plasma screen?

The London Eye, March 2008