Last weekend I was crazy enough to go out of town right before Joshua’s birthday party. What inspired such craziness? Well, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity given to me by Lake Erie Shores & Islands to take a little blogger tour of some of the fun places to stay & play in that part of Ohio.
Because, I am ASHAMED to say, as a born-and-bred Ohio lifer, I knew pretty much NOTHING about our state north of Coluumbus. And that’s just SAD! I wanted to learn more! I mean my husband SAILS SAILBOATS, why have we never been to Ohio’s Great Lake?
PLUS, they totally said I could bring a friend!! Since Emily was unavailable (responsibilities = lame), my BFF Luanne accompanied me. Which was awesome because we had not spent any good quality time together in a long time.
Lake Erie Shores & Islands (the name for their convention & visitors bureau) put us up at the lovely Sawmill Creek Resort. It’s a huge hotel on 235 acres adjacent to a nature preserve AND it has it’s own private strip of Lake Erie beach! Can’t wait to go back there to the beach in the summer!
It also has a gorgeous set of shoppes in an authentic old barn, it’s seriously like a giant department store in a beautiful barn, and they carried some of the coolest fashions, gifts, jewlery, accessories, and toys. I especially liked this apron:
We had a wonderful dinner and dessert in the restaurant at the resort, then we hit Sawmill’s in-house bar, the Black Bear Saloon, for a little Mommy Blogger dance-a-thon. Which may or may not be on video. (Fortuntately I am mostly hidden but Pauline is a SUPAHSTAH!)
The next morning we were off bright & early to Kalahari Resort, which OHMAHGAH is FLIPPIN’ HUGE! And I didn’t even know it was there! It’s like what I imagine a Disney resort to be like. GINORMOUS, with indoor activities (including a bazillion restaurants and candy shops and the largest indoor waterpark IN AMERICA) and outdoor, like it’s own ZOO with 350 animals, splash parks, a rope course, and a zipline. Oh, and did I mention they HAVE A SPA!? It’s soooo nice! I know this firsthand because we got treated to treaments. Here’s how I was feeling after my massage:
Here are some pics of Kalahari. The water park was indescribably huge and breathtaking. I am DYING to take my big kids there, they will be in heaven. I can really see just plopping our stuff down and staying there for hours, even with Jonah. The baby area was AMAZING.
The rest of the day was a blur of FUN and activity. We made chocolate bars at Tre Sorelle Ciococolato, where we all RAWKED the hair net. It was really fun AND yummy! They do birthday parties and kid’s chocolate-making classes, if you live up there you should TOTES get in on that.
Next, we were off to Firelands Winery for wine tasting and lunch. I brought Emily home a big ol’ bottle of bubbly which I shall have to let her review sometime. But I thought it was super cool that all the grapes for Firelands Wine is grown on one of Lake Erie’s Islands – North Bass Island!
Next, we went to the Wendy Kromer Bakery, (she’s only contributing editor for Martha Stewart Weddings – NO BIG DEAL!) where I ate the best thing I have ever eaten in my life . Not exaggerating, not joking, across all food groups, all food types, EVERYTHING, this is THE BEST THING I have ever eaten:
Then we headed to the Merry Go Round Museum, where we got to take lots of cool pictures of tons of vintage carousel animals and of course, go for a Merry Go Round ride! It was very fast & fun!
Finally, we finished out our day at the Ghostly Manor Thrill Center, where we literally got just about scared to death in their haunted house (dudes, they are NOT KIDDING with that thing). But, we also had some fun! They have 3-D mini-golf and other fun indoor rides and games, plus a skating rink, snack bar, etc. – it’s another great birthday party destination. And the married couple who run it and their baby are so freaking ADORABLE. It’s a great little family business!
I really can’t tell you how much fun Luanne and I had on this tour. Hanging out with other bloggers Jen of Big Binder (who has lots of amazing pics on her post), Pauline of Classy Chaos, and Valerie of Social Moms Around Columbus was also a huge part of the fun. I really, honestly, TRULY can’t wait to take my family back to the area this summer so we can explore the beach and Lake Erie’s Islands and maybe Bobby can get in a sail or two!
To check out all that Lake Erie Shores & Islands has to offer, click here.
Thanks to LESI for providing my lodgings and meals! And for letting me bring a friend! It was a great trip! And of course all opinions about it are my very own precious opinions.
Looks like a great weekend! I’m sad I missed it, but I’m awfully glad you brought me a present, even if you did give it to me in a brown paper bag in a room full of our teetotaling relatives.
This post is missing something, though… maybe you should add some pictures of yourself.
too bad she didn’t take the time to write “XXX” on the bottle. that would have made it even better.
Or given it to Sam.
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emily wouldn’t give sam alcohol…at a private family function. she likes to take him to a local watering hole toss back a few cool ones. duh.
dangit Gina, you are an evil genius! Wish I would’ve thought of that!
I thought you would enjoy all the many pictures of me, Em. Just wish your pretty face was squished right up next to mine in them.
I totally forgot that Kalahari had a zoo, as a testament to the insane hugeness of it! LOVE the hairnet and I’m glad Luanne got a pic; I was asked to put away my camera at that point and I’m happy to see some evidence exists 🙂
the hairnet must live on forever! so glad to spend time with you & your sis!
this place looks AWESOME! i am totes jealous! i have been a mom for seven weeks and i already need a getaway.
And this little blogger stayed home.
Well, now.
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Dear Gawd, am I craving that Wendy Kromer dessert right this very minute. Most delicious thing ever!
It really was! Luanne is trying to make her own version. I can’t WAIT to try it! It was so fun to hang with you, hope we are lucky enough to meet up again soon.
Em, hope I did not hurt your feelings with the brown bag. It was too funny to pass UP a little teasing. Too bad your camera-happy cousin did not get a picture to top it off.
Great post, Jenny! It was such a pleasure to hang with you for a few days and show you some things you never knew existed. So excited you want to come back with your family. Hope we can hang out again!!
Okay, now you’re twisting my arm and forcing me to plan a trip to Lake Erie this summer! Never knew such gems existed in our own home state of Ohio!
Shannon, I am totes going back with the fam. I don’t like long trips and there is so much fun to be had there!
Should I be insulted that you claim to not know much about Ohio north of Columbus?
The whole state of Ohio should be insulted! Sorry I did not count the Football Hall of Fame in my knowledge, but…I hate football.
Honestly, I don’t either. There are interesting things to do in Northern Ohio (football excluded, of course). I am glad you got to explore some of it.
Thanks for visiting our area!