Jeni's Ice Creams

Jeni's Ice Creams
59 Spruce St
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 228-9960

Whoever "Jeni" is, she must be rolling in the dough.

Jeni's Ice Creams is a goldmine. There is constantly a line out the door no matter what hour of the day or what time of the year (the beauty is Jeni's is open in the winter and late night)!

The long line (which is totally worth it by the way) could be sped up a bit, but the employees graciously encourage you to try any and every flavor you want with a free baby spoon sized sample! The flavors of ice cream are so unique that you can't NOT try most of them.

The signature flavors you can't pass up are Salty Caramel (I gather it to be the most popular...a perfect mix of sweet and salty), Queen City Cayenne (intriguing with a spicy kick to it that sticks with you), and The Buckeye State (if you're a true Ohioan - er, Buckeye - you'll induldge in this peanut butter and chocolate pasttime). And if you're in the mood for sorbet, you owe it to yourself to try Cherry Lambic, which is made with real alcohol! ;-)

5 Great Ohio Bike Trails

1. Back Roads & Beaches Bike Route: The video above from our pals at Discover Ohio and the Ohio News Network speaks for itself when it comes to the Back Roads & Beaches Bike Route in Lorain County. Riding along the shores of Lake Erie makes this one of the most scenic and interesting bike paths in the state. The path starts in Vermillion at Mill Hollow Park and heads east 22.5 miles to Avon Lake. It is part of the greater biking site, the Lake Erie Coastal Bike Trail (a mammoth path that contains over 300 miles of multi-purpose trails).

Back Roads & Beaches Bike Route offers a much less intimidating route than the Lake Erie Coastal Bike Trail as a whole. It is perfect for visiting wineries and the quaint Northern Ohio towns such as Oberlin, Sheffield Lake, and Avon.

Brothers Drake Meadery

Ohio's one and only meadery is Brothers Drake Meadery in Columbus.

It being National Wine Month (and unofficially Wine Week on OHventures), I was tempted to stop by the newly established Brothers Drake Meadery located just a few short minutes away from my home in Columbus, essentially on the corner of 5th Avenue and High Street. While OHventures tries to cover the entire state, and not just my homestead of Columbus, Brothers Drake Meadery was an absolute must, being that there are virtually NO other meaderies located in the state of Ohio! While the "Brothers Drake" (Woody and Eric, whom I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with on my visit) have been producing mead in Ohio since 2004, it wasn't until a few short months ago that they opened the meadery to the public for tastings, tours, and what has become a regular hangout for some.

Come Parasail Away!

Me with my friend Anna parasailing in 2008.

Parasailing: It's the happy medium between the ultra-extreme skydiving and the ultra-lowkey sailing. It's getting towed behind a motorboat while attached to a long cord and hanging from a specialized parachute. It's really an exhilerating activity that's both low risk and relatively low cost.

On a clear day, when winds are calm enough (yet not too calm), parasailing companies operate all over the world, including on Lake Erie. Some offer just one person, but more powerful boats can offer rides for two or three people. Going with someone makes the ride all the more fun, so you have someone to talk to while you're up there in the air.

Ohio Statehouse

The Ohio Statehouse is commonly known as "The People's House," so you owe it to yourself to make a trip!

I do a lot of work in this building, and have for 4 years, so I sometimes get desensitized by its beauty. But let it be known, The Ohio Statehouse is absolutely gorgeous and was named as one of THE best Statehouses in the country, and I can tell you why!