- 7 US presidents- Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, McKinley, Taft & Harding, all born in Ohio
- Aviation Pioneers, Orville Wright, John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, all born in Ohio
- the first professional baseball team- the 1869 Cincinnati Reds
- the all-American favorite- the hot dog.
But, if you want to stay in the city we can do that, too. Today we're going to explore the cities of Cleveland and Cincinnati.
So, Cincinnati still has the Reds (have I been calling them the Red Sox incorrectly my whole life?) that you can go and cheer for but they also have the Cincinnati Bengals that you can cheer for in the fall. Or go and cheer for the nationally ranked college basketball teams from Xavier University or the University of Cincinnati.
For Tera and Trey, there's the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Have y'all checked that one off your list yet? Now, I'm on a mission to find all zoos. How about aquariums? The Newport Aquarium looks like fun. I'm into sharks right now.
We'll come back on August 31st to celebrate the end of summer at the Riverfest. There is all the usual festival events including food, music, entertainment all day ending with a spectacular fireworks show. There's also Taste of Cincinnati. There are only 337 more days until it's here again. Yes, sadly we missed this years event.
We have to get this show on the road so let's go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. This place looks cool and they host events and concerts throughout the year. They're only closed Christmas day and Thanksgiving day so we should be able to make it.
Of course, we can always go and cheer for the Cleveland Browns, Indians, Cavaliers or the new Lake Erie monsters. But if you're not into sports we can always go shopping, art gazing or the ever popular ZOO! Be sure to check out the link above to Positively Cleveland. It really does look like a cool city to visit.
We have to hurry now. I hate to rush you but we still have to go to Vermont. I do want to share one more stop in Ohio though. We have to go to Lake Erie Shores & Islands. If I'm looking at this correctly, it looks like the strip of land between Toledo and Cleveland. It has boating and roller coasters and lighthouse and, and, and the Merry-Go-Round Museum! I love it! Let's go!
Fun facts for Ohio are the state bird is the Cardinal, the state flower is the Scarlet Carnation, and the state tree is the Ohio Buckeye.
All Buckeyes meet on the Buckeye deck on Friday, June 20th and tell us what makes Ohio the Taste of USA!
But don't go away yet. We have one more stop today. Please keep your hands inside the boat as we cruise up to Vermont. Welcome to the Green Mountain State. North Dakota was ranked 51st in violent crimes (and no, I didn't see Fargo) and now Vermont is ranked 50th in violent crimes. Hey, two safe places to live! And, it's ranked 49th in population. Vermont thrives on the maple syrup industry and the skiing/tourism industry.
There are any number of farms for us to visit in Vermont. Country Shop at Robb Family Farms, Billings Farm and Museum, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, or just go to Vermont Farms and discover one on your own.
From the list of 30 Great Things To Do in Vermont, I really want to take an art class at Frog Hollow. Vermont also advertises for a lot of "Romantic Getaways" and the place made me laugh. It's called the Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant. Didn't I just hear on the radio that the younger "Cougars" are being called "Panthers" or did I make that up. Anyway, it looks like a nice place to go.
All the pictures of Vermont look so peaceful and relaxed. If it wasn't so darn cold there in the winter, I would want to move there today! They have beautiful covered bridges in Vermont like we talked about in Iowa. There is something very romantic about their photos.
We have to go to Basin Harbour Club. It looks like camp for families and the photos are stunning! We're going to get up and take a stroll, play some tennis, go for a swim, play bingo and make s'mores! Pets are welcome! Maybe I can get a summer job here when my kids grow up and leave the nest! That's how beautiful this place is!
The fun facts for Vermont are the state bird is the Cardinal, the flower is the Red Clover and the tree is the Sugar Maple. That reminds me... fall! You have to check Vermont out in the fall because I hear the leaves are amazing.
All Vermonters meet on the Maple Syrup deck Friday, June 20th, to tell us what makes Vermont the Taste of USA.
6 comments:
I've never been to Vermont so I can't comment there but Cincinnati, OH is basically well...practically my hometown. As anyone from Northern Kentucky will tell you we are from "Cincinnati". Cheryl posting the Newport Aquarium is testament to the fact that Ohio claims the NKY area since the Newport Aquarium is technically in Kentucky, along with the Cincinnati Airport (technically called the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Airport). Another great stop if you want to go to Cincinnati is Sawyer Point. This is a great park right on the Ohio river with an outdoor skating rink and other fun things for the whole family. Dayton is home to the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum which is a really fun day trip for the family. Columbus has Cosei children's museum which is another great place to visit. You've got Cedarpoint Amusement Park up north, along with Seaworld, and the lakes.
All in all, Ohio gets two big thumbs up.
O-H.....
I spent four years in college in Cleveland. That's also where Treye is originally from and also went to college (Go Blue Streaks!!). It's a great city and we hope to end up there eventually to raise a family.
Yes, Cheryl, Treye and I have been to the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium (pics to come later today maybe). We've also been to the Cleveland Zoo and Rainforest a handful of times. All are wonderful places to visit.
I'm a HUGE Browns, Cavs, Indians and Ohio State fan even though I'm from PA. The Ohio State things started after I found Treye and my PA friends aren't a big fan of it, but hey, it happens.
I've got to give a shout out to my favorite bar, the Knotty Pine. I spent just about ever Thursday of college here. Pete, the bartender, just sold the place so I'm not too thrilled, but I have TONS of great memories from that place!
There is a small town outside of Cleveland called Chagrin Falls. It's a quiet little town with a lot to see. There is a store called the Popcorn Shop...they've been featured on the food network. Check it out http://www.chagrinfallspopcorn.com/
Also, Ohio is home to Ceader Point. They have some of the best coasters in the country there. My favorite is Millenium Force...with the Raptor in a close second!
I could go on for days, but I probably should get a shower and head over to work for a little bit. I'm sure Treye will post more later :)
.....I-O
Heather- you are right about Cincinnati claiming parts of Kentucky! I would start writing about something and then see that it was in Kentucky- doh! I didn't catch the aquarium though. :)
I agree, along with Heather, that Cincinnati likes to take claim on Kentucky. I too am from Northern Kentucky and grew up with Cincinnati as my "hometown". As the Reds were the first professional baseball team, and I have 2 brothers but no sisters, I grew up with the Reds being MY TEAM. There is no better way to spend a summer's night than sitting in the old ball park, with a coke and hot dog in hand.
One other GREAT thing about Cincinnati is the chili!! Who can forget Skyline, Gold Star, or Dixie Chili just to name a few. Cincinnati is famous for their 3 way chili spaghetti. Noodles, Chili sauce (including cinnamon and chocolate) and LOTS of shredded cheese. There's nothing else quite like it- at least not to me, a Cincinnati girl at heart.
As a native Clevelander, I have many great things to add. Here are a few interesting notes:
- Cleveland has an amazing arts scene including the Cleveland Orchestra, Playhouse Square Theater and the Cleveland Arts Museum.
- So many great places to eat, but Mama Santas in Little Italy, the Winking Lizard and Lelolai Cuban Deli definitely deserve shout-outs.
- Drew Carey, of the Drew Carey show and the NEW Price is Right is from Cleveland
- The West Side Market - a great market where you can get any kind of fruit, veggies & meat
- Michael Symon, the winner of the 'Next Iron Chef' competition is from Cleveland, and has 2 restaurants there - Lola & Lolita
- Lakeview Cemetery is the final resting place of detective Eliot Ness, inventor Garrett Morgan, billionaire John D. Rockefeller and former president James A. Garfield.
- Hang on Sloopy by the McCoys is the official rock song of the state.
O-H-I-O
I forgot to add this ...
RIP Tim Russert, alumnus of John Carroll University - also Tera & my alma mater.
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