Ohio's Tallest & Fastest Toboggan Chutes

Photo by OHventures

These giant toboggan chutes can be found at Mill Stream Run Reservation, one of the Cleveland Metroparks located in Strongsville. The chutes are 700 feet long, with a 70-foot tall drop at a 33-degree angle. You can travel down the chutes as fast as 50 miles per hour! There are many factors that can contribute to how fast you go, including the number of people on your toboggan (you can have up to four riders per toboggan), the weight of your riders (plus the weight of the toboggan, which is 37 pounds), the current humidity, and the current temperature.

Two 20-inch-wide chutes are side-by-side on tracks that are refrigerated with a cooling unit and a pump. We learned from facts that were posted at the site that the pump carries cooled diethylene glycol through an underground piping system to the chutes. The diethylene glycol chills the concrete and allows the water on the surface to freeze. This is what allows riders to glide safely and quickly down the hill!

READ MORE AT OHIO.ORG!

Northeast Ohio WaterFALL Hikes

Chagrin Falls - Photos by OHventures

The roar of rushing water echoing throughout the wilderness is a welcoming sound when hiking through Ohio’s parks and trails. Whether manmade or created by Mother Nature herself, waterfalls provide an element of excitement and wonder to any outdoor adventure. Add to that the changing colors of autumn’s leaves, and you are bound to take your scenic adventures to an entirely different level.

Growing up in Northeast Ohio, my friends and I loved to explore the woods throughout the year, but nothing would compare to the times when we’d hike in autumn. In our expeditions, we sought out many notable waterfalls, which have become some of my favorite landmarks. Here are some of my top picks for Northeast Ohio waterfall hikes:

Chagrin Waterfalls – Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga County
The waterfalls in the quaint city of Chagrin Falls can be easily found, and they don’t require any hiking boots or gear! These impressive 20-foot high falls are located right in the heart of town square, and can be accessed via a series of staircases. I always take a pit stop to see the Chagrin Falls after having dinner or shopping at the many establishments lining Main Street. The leaves turn golden yellow and fire red during autumn, which provides a beautiful frame for the cascading waters. Just hurry and catch them before they freeze for the winter!

Gorge Metro Park – Cuyahoga Falls, Summit County
The Gorge Trails at the Gorge Metro Park in Cuyahoga Falls are full of remarkable rock formations along some slightly rugged terrain. A boardwalk and wooden staircase were recently installed to make the hike less advanced. The unmistakable sound of crashing water can be heard while on the majority of the 1.8-mile path. The falls you see are primarily due to a manmade dam, but you can also spot some natural cascades, known as the Big Falls (pictured above). You can take a detour out of the woods and spot the Little Falls, located in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. These waterfalls is how the city received its name.

Cascade Falls – Nelson Township, Portage County
As a teenager, my friends and I often visited Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park, located along U.S. Route 422 in Portage County. The rocky cliffs proved to be a challenging endeavor, and the nearby quarry gave us a place to cool off in the summer. When the leaves changed, color, we would still head to the park, but stick to hiking. We’d explore the exciting rock formations, like Devil’s Icebox and Indian Pass, and we’d always uncover the gorgeous Cascade Falls. Surrounded by mossy rocks and russet leaves, the 50-foot tall Cascade Falls is a slender, less robust waterfall than the others on the list, but is striking nonetheless.

Brandywine Falls – Northfield, Summit County
By and large, the most picturesque and the most breathtaking of all of the waterfalls I have visited in Northeast Ohio is Brandywine Falls (pictured above). Located in northern Summit County (in between Akron and Cleveland), Brandywine Falls are approximately 65-feet tall, with rushing waters encapsulated by bright orange leaves in the autumn. When frost and ice form, the flow of the water changes as well, making for an interesting sight to see. These falls are a very popular spot for photo shoots, be it for a wedding, engagement, or just because (which is exactly what I did with my dog this fall). There is a small 1.5 mile hiking trail that leads to the falls, as well as a wooden observation deck, which is always bustling with visitors.

Lanterman’s Falls – Youngstown, Mahoning County
As a student, we took countless field trips to Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, where we could go see Lanterman’s Mill and its accompanying waterfalls! Our teachers would take us here so we could learn how the water from the creek is used to power the gristmill to grind grain. We would always tour the mill and take home some grain products that were made on site! The waterfall next to Lanterman’s Mill is only about 15 feet tall, but it works in conjunction with the mill and a nearby covered bridge to create a beautiful backdrop.

There are countless other waterfalls in Northeast Ohio (and the state as a whole) to check out in the fall (or any time of the year). Some other good ones to check out are Buttermilk Falls in Brecksville, Cuyahoga County, and Paine Falls in Painesville, in Lake County.

Pedal & Party With BrewBoat Cleveland

Photos by OHventures

Part bike, part boat, and part bar, the BrewBoat in Cleveland is a one-of-a-kind experience that will guarantee to be a hit for you and your adventure-and-beer-loving friends.When trying to find a perfect birthday gift for some family members who "have it all," I decided to get creative and book a reservation aboard the BrewBoat!

This is Ohio's first and only pedal-powered paddle-wheel party boat, which launched Memorial Day weekend of this year. The boat is 31-feet long with 10 seats for pedalers and four additional seats for passengers who opt to not pedal (we took turns, so no one felt left out). Yes, the boat is human-powered, which means you get a bit of a workout mixed in while you drink. It's like the Pedal Wagons of Columbus and Cincinnati, but on water instead of on the streets!

I reserved 10 seats for our 2-hour cruise this August (the other 4 were already booked, so we would be on board with a few new friends). Each ticket was $35 plus tax, and the trip required you to BYOB. When you arrive at the launch site, located on Whiskey Island in the heart of Cleveland, you are able to purchase cold brews at the convenience store found at the dock.

Most of us brought our own favorite beers from home (each person is permitted to bring no more than 36 oz. or beer, or 18 oz. of wine for themselves). There are convenience coolers of ice located right in the middle of the bar, so you can keep your drinks chilled and readily available during your excursion (no need to bring your own coolers).

Our group consisted of myself, my brother and his wife, my parents, my aunt, and my friends Zac, Kyla, Ben, and Emily. As mentioned, we were joined by 4 other folks who booked at the same time as us. Also on board was the Captain (Katie), and a driver, both of whom were extremely fun and personable. 

We disembarked from the marina at 5 PM and pedaled down the Cuyagoga River. As we pedaled, we were able to gawk at the gorgeous Cleveland skyline against the bright blue skies, and take in the sights of the revitalized riverfronts of the Cleveland Flats. We floated by notable hot spots, such as the Nautica Pavilion, the Music Box Supper Club, Alley Cat Oyster Bar, and more. We shared the waterway with kayakers, jet skiiers, paddle boarders,, and other seafaring folks out enjoying the fantastic weather and exciting scenery. There was so much to see and to soak in on our cruise!

At one point, the driver challenged us to try and work together to pedal as fast as we could in order to beat the record speed. After pedaling and pedaling, we ultimately did not come close to setting a new record, but we had a blast trying! It was also a blast plugging our iPods in and choosing the music we listened to along the way. It was a nice added feature. One downside, however, is that there is no bathroom on board the boat (which doesn't take long to figure out). So, it is a good thing that the ride is not much longer than 2 hours, and that we had a cap on how many drinks we could bring with us. 

Food is also allowed on board (anything from snacks to pizzas to cold cuts!), however, we were planning to eat dinner at one of the restaurants in the Flats after the ride, so we did not have any food on board with us.

All in all, our experience on the BrewBoat CLE was extremely positive. We are glad to have had the chance to book a ride, since slots fill up fast! The season ends on October 1, but they are already taking reservations for 2017. Captain Katie told me that while they currently have just one boat, it is their hope to soon have more boats in order to meet the demands of the public. Until then, make sure to make a reservation far in advance to ensure you get the time you want. The BrewBoat is perfect for bachelor or bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations (like ours), or just an excuse to get together and enjoy the beauty of the Cuyahoga River and downtown Cleveland in a fresh, new way!

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Photos by OHventures

ALL ABOARD the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad!

While this is one of the oldest tourist excursion railways in the country, it is one of the most recent attractions I have visited on my growing Buckeye Bucket List!

The CVSR can be found in Northeast Ohio, running through the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (the one and only national park in the state of Ohio). The main portion of the railway runs northbound from Akron in Summit County, all the way to Independence in Cuyahoga County. There are smaller stops along the way, such as at the town of Peninsula. Occasional trips are planned to Canton as well, but they have not been on the regular schedule since 2012.

There are many ways in which one can experience the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The most common way is by purchasing a round trip ticket, boarding at any one of the stations, and taking the full 3 hour ride. You can get coach seats (seats are in sections of 2 seats facing 2 seats), first class seating (cushioned seats in sections of 2 seats facing 2 seats, with plenty of leg room), and upper dome seating (elevated section with a panoramic view of the National Park). 

This is a great way to see the beautiful landscapes roll by: trees, rivers, hillsides, meadows, and some residential areas. You can take an audio tour (called "Voices of the Valley") upon request. Wearing this set of headphones will allow you to hear the tales of the history of the National Park, some facts about the wildlife, and more. 

You could also opt out of the audio tour, and simply enjoy the company of the fellow passengers and the knowledgeable volunteer staff. On my recent trip, the staff pointed out a large eagle's nest, and told us some more fun facts along the way. Take a book or magazine to read, and definitely a camera or camera phone to capture some of the scenery. A snack bar is located in one of the cars in the back of the train, which offers hot dogs, popcorn, chips, candy, beer, wine, soda, and more! There are also souvenirs, like shot glasses, stuffed animals, and t-shirts.

Aside from a regular trip, there are many extremely creative and exciting special events that take place at different times of the year. Some of these events include:

Grape Escape: A 2-hour wine tasting excursion, with 5 different wines paired with hors d'oeuvres. There are several Grape Escape themes, such as California Wines, Summer Wines, and Ohio Wines.

Ales On Rails: Much like Grape Escape, but with beer instead of wine! You get 5 different beers paired with hors d'oeuvres. Again, different themes exist for each ride, including: Hoppin' Frog Beers, Summer Brews, and Thirsty Dog Brewing Company Beers.

Bike Aboard!: This special feature allows you to bring your bike on board the train for just $3. However, this is just a one-way trip! Take it to another station and then bike back to your car at your starting point!

Polar Express: This extremely popular event takes kids and their families on a holiday themed train ride the the "North Pole!" Complete with elves, Santa Claus, hot cocoa, and a train station transformed to look like it's straight from the famous children's book!

Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner: Special meals are served for those that want to dine on more than just snacks during their train ride. Tickets go fast, so if you want to have this cool dining experience, be sure to plan ahead!

There are tons of other fun events, such as a "Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine," and Murder Mystery experiences, so be sure to check the website.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is something everyone should try in one form or another! 

Cleveland's "A Christmas Story" House

Photos by OHventures

A Christmas Story House & Museum
3159 W 11th Street
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 298-4919

Do you still have that Christmas itch? Did you find it hard to get into the holiday spirit due to the unusually warm winter Oho has had so far? Are you sad that all the festivities have come and gone so quickly?

Even though Christmas has technically passed, there is one place in Ohio where the sun never sets on Christmas: the “A Christmas Story” House & Museum located in the Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland.

Everyone is familiar with this insanely popular holiday film, in part due to the 24-hour marathon of the movie every Christmas season on TBS! Who could forget the film's central character, Ralphie - the boy who wanted nothing more for Christmas than a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, but was repeatedly denied of his request by Santa, his teacher, and his parents - all warning him by retorting, "you'll shoot your eye out!"

The movie is iconic in so many ways. The movie scared me into not swearing so that I didn't get my mouth washed out with a bar of red soap, and to this day I still get freaked out when I watch the "tongue stuck to a flagpole" scene.

You may recall me participating in the annual A Christmas Story Run around this time last year. This was a 5K with a finish line at the unmistakable yellow and green house (pictured above) that appeared in the 1983 cult classic movie. It's such a popular movie that hundreds and hundreds of people run each year, many dressed in pink bunny suits and evil elf costumes to represent the colorful cinematic characters.

Goofing around in the gift shop!

This Christmas season, I visited the house once again (this time not in any running attire) with my friend from Toledo, Steve. Steve is a huge movie buff and so I knew this would be right up his alley when he visited Cleveland. The A Christmas Story House is open all year-long, 7 days a week! So even if it's not Christmas time, you can still get a taste of the holidays. Admission is just $10 for adults, and it gives you entry to the house itself, as well as the museum located directly across the street.

Tickets are purchased in the gift shop (also across the street from the house), and tours run every half hour, beginning at 10:15 AM. Tickets never expire, so you can bring it back again and again in order to visit the house over and over! 

Steve in front of THE house!

Steve and I easily found free street parking, but nearby houses also charge small fees if the streets are filled. Be prepared for standing in line outside, because this place is super popular! We had to wait in line about 15-20 minutes, but this gave us time to pose for photos in front of the house, and hear a few tidbits of trivia from one of the tour guides who was on the porch.

It's A Major Award!

The house was used for filming all exterior shots of the movie (including when The Old Man put the infamous leg lamp in the front window, and the backyard scenes with Ralphie fighting the robbers and shooting his gun). However, interior shots were filmed on a sound stage. Therefore, the inside of the house is merely a replica of what the film contained. The leg lamps found inside are also replicas (in fact, the original no longer exists, as it was broken after filming). The furniture, props, and Christmas decorations are all recreated to make it look like Ralphie's house. It's fun to walk around and feel like you are in the movie. We had a kick posing with the BB gun and leg lamp!

Steve and I inside the A Christmas Story House

Immediately after our self-guided tour, we went to the museum across the street where we saw some really awesome memorabilia from A Christmas Story. This included actual costumes (such as the maroon winter coat worn by Ralphie's little brother), vehicles (like the fire truck that came to help during the flagpole scene), scripts, photos, and memorable props (such as a piece of the classroom chalkboard and the actual BB gun)!

Before we left, I of course had to buy a miniature leg lamp Christmas ornament (which was just $11, versus the $500 for a large leg-size leg lamp)! Our visit to this landmark was one for the books. It's great to have such an important piece of American pop culture right here in Cleveland, Ohio! 

Peace, Love, & Little Donuts

Photo by OHventures

Peace, Love, and Little Donuts

115 S. Prospect Ave.

Hartville, OH 44632

(330) 877-3043

(and additional Ohio locations)

While driving through the City of Hartville in Stark County one day, I happened across a small and colorful bakery that caught my eye with its tie-dye and peace symbols on the storefront. The name of the confectionery was Peace, Love, and Little Donuts - and with a name like that, it's hard to pass by without stopping in!

Talk about a place that is adventurous with its flavors! Inside this tiny donut shop were tiny little donuts in a not-so-tiny display case full of sugary goodness. It was sensory overload, with the rainbow of sprinkles, and the sweet aroma of chocolate, cinnamon, and other delights. My friends and I were flabbergasted by the impressive selection of traditional and obscure flavors and varieties.

As if the name of the joint didn't give it away, a bit of a hippie theme was going on, as evidenced by the donut categories: Groovy, Far Out, and Funkadelic.

Groovy Donuts included any donut topped with cinnamon and sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon, honey, or maple sugar. Far Out Donuts are donuts with "far out" frosting, including vanilla, chocolate, maple, raspberry, strawberry, orange, banana, lemon, and mocha. 

Funkadelic Donuts are the ones that get the most attention, as they have "far out" frosting along with fun and exciting toppings that you'd be hardpressed to find at any other donut shop: Oreos, coconut, pretzels, marshmallows & graham cracker (s'mores), maple bacon, salted chocolate, M&Ms, Nestle Crunch, apple pie, blueberry French toast, strawberry shortcake, samoa, and the list goes on (and on and on)!

Each of us ordered a half dozen little itty bitty donuts to gorge on. Mine are all shown above, with the stand-out flavor being the Funkadelic Fruity Pebbles donut! That one definitely wins the award for most bizarre (but bizarre in a good way, of course).

Peace, Love, and Little Donuts is not just in Hartville. There are 4 other Ohio locations: Massillon, Canal Fulton, North Canton, and Cleveland. There are also 6 in Pittsburgh (where it started), one in Grove City, Pennsylvania, one in Oregon, and one in Florida. So, while it's not entirely exclusive to Ohio, we are definitely fortunate that this wild and adventurous bakery has a large presence in Stark and Cuyahoga Counties!

National Live Life Adventurously Day

If you are an avid Ohio adventurer, you are in for a treat! September 27, 2015 is National Live Life Adventurously Day! This is a celebration of outdoor fun and fitness. For each ticket you purchase for the Go Ape Treetop Obstacle Course in Strongsville (or anywhere else in the nation) on Sept 27th, one ticket will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.



National Live Life Adventurously Day is a chance to make a positive change in your own life and in someone else's. Reach beyond your comfort zone. Get out there and do something that scares you (within reason, of course). On September 27, we challenge you to live life adventurously and share that inspiration with a child.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and help others #livelifeadventurously

10 Reasons To Go Ape in Ohio

Photos by OHventures

Earlier this summer, OHventures took a visit to the Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course in Strongsville in Cuyahoga County. It was an enormous hit for those of us who went, and it caught a LOT of attention of our friends and readers! Our post was even featured on the Discover Ohio blog (the official travel site for the State of Ohio).

Because of this, our friend Erica wanted to take her boyfriend Paul to Go Ape - but make it a SURPRISE for him! about 15 of us kept the plan under wraps, and secretly met at Go Ape, located at the Mill Stream Run Reservation. Paul was definitely surprised, and was more than thrilled to take on the challenge of Go Ape!

And, now, OHventures gives you "10 Reasons To Go Ape in Ohio!", presented in picture form!

1. To get the opportunity to take a "selfie" 40 feet above the ground (pictured: Me, Erica, & Brandon)

2. To experience the incredibly adrenaline-pumping Tarzan swing, where you get to free fall and fling into an enormous cargo net (pictured: Paul)

3. To LIVE LIFE ADVENTUROUSLY

4. Because where else can you get a view like this?!

5. To fly through the air on 5 enormous ziplines!

6. To perfect your balancing act on dozens of suspension obstacles!

7. To get the chance to wear these chic and fashionable safety harnesses!

8. To climb on crazy contraptions so unique you'll never see them anywhere else!

9. To get this snazzy finisher's certificate once you complete the course!

10. To spend quality time with all of your closest friends!

VeloSano Photo Blog

Who: Thousands of cyclists and cancer survivors (known as "Living Proof")
What: VeloSano Bike To Cure - bike rides varying in distance (12, 25, 50, 100, 179, & 207 miles)
When: July 17-19, 2015 (next year's ride is July 29-31)
Where: Starting/ending in downtown Cleveland, and weaving through Geauga, Portage, and Stark Counties.
Why: To raise money to fund cancer research at the Cleveland Clinic.
How: Sign up at Velosano.org and commit to raising a minimum amount of money!

Photos by OHventures, VeloSano, and others as noted

For more photos, visit the VeloSano Recap post!

Giant "#ThisIsCLE" sculpture at the VeloSano Kickoff Party

"WHY I RIDE" wall honoring cancer victims and survivors

Finish line food by Zach Bruell Events

Exactly how I felt after riding 100 miles - summed up in one photo!

A rider painting abstract art in honor of cancer survivors and victims

One of the GIANT hills (around mile 88) of the 100 mile course

A spread of food at Rest Stop #2 of the 100-mile course!

VeloSano finish line (photo by cbslocal.com)

Zumi The Pig! A virtual VeloSano bike rider & fundraiser!

Me painting at Rest Stop #6!

US Senator Rob Portman at the VeloSano kickoff party An amazing weekend biking 100 miles and raising $1575 for cancer research in the second annual VeloSano event! #thisisCLE #cleveland #velosano @bikevelosano #bikevelosano #cle #biking #bikingforcancer #centuryride #trekbike #bicycle #trek #trekbicycle #bicyclist #cyclist #ohventures #activelifestyle #fitness

A photo posted by OHventures (@ohventures) on Jul 22, 2015 at 6:14pm PDT