Powell Village Winery

Photos by OHventures

Powell Village Winery

50 S. Liberty Street, Suite 174

Powell, OH 43065

(614) 505-7465

After a work-related visit down to Columbus, my friend Kory and I wanted to meet up for a bite to eat before I drove back to Northeast Ohio. I asked for him to find the nearest winery to his house, and he came up with Powell Village Winery, which is found tucked away in the picture perfect town of Powell in Delaware County. Described to us as an "urban" winery, Powell Village Winery is camoflauged amongst the downtown storefronts, and is easily missed if you aren't looking for it specifically!

The quaint locale had a trellised entryway to a small summertime patio, and a cozy interior complete with seating at the bar or at individual high-top and low-top tables, some made out of wine barrels! Eclectic and modern, the decor was warming and inviting. We went on a Wednesday afternoon, so the place was not buzzing with too many patrons, but everyone who came in seemed to know the employees well!

While we knew that we were at a winery, we needed to first take care of ordering dinner before diving into the juice! Kory and I each ordered a full-bodied flatbread pizza, which had oregano, basil and rosemary laced crust highlighted with a thin layer of tomato sauce and mozzarella & provolone cheeses. I opted for "The Guido" which came with banana peppers  & pepperoni, while Kory got "The Gina Maria," which had balsamic drizzle and basil-pesto. Other food options on the menu include hummus & veggie plates, cheese plates, and signature bread with dipping oil.

Now that the grub was taken care of, it was down to business! At Powell Village Winery, the wines are made from juices which are purchased from various parts of the country (mostly California) and then made on site. This is typical for urban wineries such as this (and Camelot Cellars in Columbus, for instance), since they do not have the land available to grow their own grapes. While this means that not all of the wines are true Ohio wines, that does not take away from the fact that they are still made in Ohio, and the fact that they are amazingly delicious!

You can order wine in one of three ways: by the glass, one-ounce single taste pours, or in a paddle wine flight (this consists of four half-glasses of wine served in a wine bottle-shaped paddle). Kory got the paddle and I had a few 1-oz. samples (only because I had a long drive ahead of me, otherwise the paddle is the way to go!).

The bartender did an excellent job describing all of the wines to us, and was fantastic at making the best suggestions based on what kinds we were looking for. I am an avid wine drinker always seeking the fun and adventurous wines, but also keeping close to my favorites, which are typically dry red wines. Kory, on the other hand, is completely new to wine and didn't know what kind he would like!

Powell Village Winery does a fine job of creating a nice variety of unique flavors, all of which were tasty in their own way! Based on my tastings, here are some of my suggestions if you want to get a bit adventurous:

• My Place Or Yours (Gewurtztraminer): An "off-dry" white wine choise with a hilarious name, this won me over with its crispness and spicy notes!
• Simplicity (White Merlot): The bartender referred to this one as a "patio pounder" because it is SO easy to drink, you would have no trouble downing a whole bottle out on the porch on a breezy summer day.
• High Maintenance (Bordeaux Style): This is the most popular red wine at Powell Village Winery, and with good reason. A middle-of-the-road red with an oaky, fruity taste.
• Sugar Daddy (White Cranberry): This was one of the most unique of the fruit-infused wines available. It was sweet, but not too sweet. Other fruit wines at Powell Village Winery include peach, raspberry, pineapple/kiwi, strawberry, and green apple!
• Guilty Pleasure (Red Zinfandel): You don't come across too many red zinfandels these days, so this was a treat. It turned out to be one of my favorites out of those that I tasted - very bold with cedar notes.
• Call Me A Cab (Cabernet Sauvignon): Cab Savs are always my go-to wine, and this one did not disappoint. Full-bodied and VERY bold, it is not for the casual or novice wine drinker ;-)

I am so glad to have found Powell Village Winery - it was the perfect spot to catch up with an old friend and soak in our surroundings. Can't wait to come back.

Winter Hiking 101

Photo by OHventures

Located in Logan in Hocking County, the most visited state park in Ohio is Hocking Hills State Park (pictured above)! On January 19, the park held its annual "Winter Hike" event in which over 4,300 people came to trek through the snow and see all of the iconic landmarks, including Old Man's Cave, Conkle's Hollow, and Cedar Falls. With the new realignment of State Route 664, the park is new and improved and deserves a visit this winter!!

Winter Hiking is indeed just as rewarding as hiking during warmer weather months. Check out the OHventures guest post on DiscoveringOhio.com to get tips on what to bring and how to prepare for a winter hike, as well as a list of some of the best winter hiking spots in the state:

- Clear Creek Metro Park, Rockbridge, OH

- Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, OH

- Alum Creek State Park, Delaware, OH

- Quail Hollow State Park, Hartville, OH

- Prairie Oaks Metro Park, West Jefferson, OH

READ MORE AT DISCOVERING OHIO!

5 Ohio Museums That Won't Bore You

Museums can be one big yawn fest, and the simple utter of the word can send a shudder down an adventurer’s spine. But there is such a thing as a cool, adventurous museum, and Ohio is home to quite a few kickass museums. Below is a list of some of Ohio’s coolest museums that you’d be more than pleased if you chose to visit!

1. Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton): Ohio has some pretty hardcore football fans, from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Browns. The genesis of the nation’s captivity and affection for the pigskin sport began in the Canton area, as the city is considered to be the birthplace of the NFL (originally the American Professional Football Association) in 1920.

2. Rock & Hall of Fame & Museum (Cleveland):  Cleveland was overall chosen as the spot where this iconic structure would be built due to the fact that Cleveland DJ Alan Freed is widely credited as coining the term "rock and roll" and that Cleveland was the location of the very first rock and roll concert. I first traveled here as a junior in high school, and most recently in 2009. It is a jaw dropping experience entering a place where you can marvel at Les Paul guitars, Michael Jackson's glove, Elvis' signature apparel, and numerous other music gems. You can also walk through the "hall of fame" itself which lists all inductees, from The Beatles to Madonna.

3. National Air Force Museum (Dayton): It is only fitting that the Dayton area is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (or NMUSAF), as this is known to be the "Birthplace of Aviation," where the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur) lived and invented the world's very first successful aircraft. The museum houses many artifacts relating to the history and development of aviation and pays homage to the Wright Brothers.

4. COSI: Center of Science & Industry (Columbus): This science museum has been named by Parents Magazine as the #1 Science Center for families in the country. But this museum is good for all ages, old and young and everything in between. The plus side is that the museum makes science fun instead of geeky with exhibits on space, the ocean, weather, the human body, and more. There are also limited edition exhibits like the Titanic, dinosaurs, or the current H2O exhibit! You will bring out the kid in you and learn a ton while getting lost for hours in this absolutely awesome learning experience.

5. Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum (Pickerington): While working in the Ohio state legislature, I had the opportunity to meet the government affairs specialist for the American Motorcycle Association (AMA). While crafting bills pertaining to motorcyclists and traffic actuated stop lights, he also took the time to inform me that the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame was located just minutes away from downtown Columbus! Again, I was absolutely gobsmacked that Ohio is home to such a kickass museum that any young boy fascinated with motorcycles (or those experiencing their mid-life crisis) would die for.

Indoor Trampoline Parks

Photos by OHventures

Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park

459 Orange Point Drive, Suite E

Lewis Center, OH 43035

Remember when you were little and the coolest kid on the block was the one with the giant trampoline in his or her backyard? It was an absolute blast gathering the neighborhood friends together to try our best flips and twirls and see who could jump the highest...that is, until we got yelled at by the adults for having too many people on the trampoline at once, or doing dangerous stunts. No matter how big that kid's trampoline was, it was never big enough. 

But now, there's a new cool kid on the block: indoor trampoline parks! And while there are a great deal of child and teen oriented events (like birthday parties) that take place here, these massive warehouses of fun are not just for kids! 

These indoor funhouses typically consist of a massive arena with a giant trampoline court, oftentimes with trampolines even on the walls! At these facilities, you can participate in trampoline aerobics, dodgeball (pictured above), free jump (pictured below), or a number of other awesome activities. 

Winter at Alum Creek State Park

Photos by OHventures

Alum Creek State Park
3615 S. Old State Road
Delaware, OH 43015

Alum Creek State Park is located in Delaware County right off of Interstate 71. With over 3,000 feet of beaches, it is the largest inland beach in all of Ohio's parks. It is widely known for the 3,387 acres of water for boating, swimming, and kayaking on the breathtaking Alum Creek Reservoir. There is also a popular 18-hole disc golf course with equipment rental.

Many people, however, may not know that Alum Creek State Park is also a fantastic destination for outdoor winter activities. The Reservoir (in the right conditions) is the perfect place for ice fishing, ice boating, and ice skating. Additionally, there's a number of hot spots that are great for sledding.

There are two hiking trails for those wishing to cross Winter Hiking off of their OHventures Buckeye Bucket List, and both are ranked as "easy" trails. The Park Office Trail is 1.5 miles, and the Hollenback Trail is about double that length. A Multi Purpose Trail is available for snowmobiling, dog sledding, and cross country skiing. 38 miles of bridle trails also exist.

One important tip for OHventurers heading to a large state park such as Alum Creek: check out the actual park map rather than using your GPS when finding your way, as there are many entrance ways. Plan ahead to see which is the entrance best for your adventure!! Click here to download a trail map.