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!

Brandywine Falls

Photos by OHventures

Brandywine Falls
8176 Brandywine Rd.
Sagamore Hills, OH 44067
(234) 380-3789

I am pretty certain that I have found one of the most gorgeous places in Ohio: Brandywine Falls. Part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the falls are part of the Brandywine Creek, which is a tributary of the Cuyahoga River. These majestic waters fall from a height of 86 feet, making it one of the largest waterfalls in the entire state (click here for a map of all of the significant waterfalls in Ohio).

On top of being one of the tallest waterfalls, Brandywine Falls is certainly one of the most scenic in the state. You can access the falls by a series of wooden pathways built to overlook the water. From there, you can also take dirt and rock-covered trails to the base of the waterfall. It makes for awesome photos, as shown on this blog!

The falls are dog friendly, too. Slider definitely enjoyed trotting alongside me and soaking in the sights on a recent visit to Brandywine Falls in May. Additional amenities of the park include public restrooms, a 1.5 mile gorge trail (which bypasses the man-made boardwalks mentioned above), and a nearby bed and breakfast, called The Inn at Brandywine Falls.

Wellness Walk & Run Video

Akron General from Infocus Studios LLC on Vimeo.

Tim Frankish of Infocus Studios LLC created an amazing video that captures the essence and excitement that took place during the Akron Wellness Walk & Run earlier this year on September 5. The video is a fantastic representation of the event, complete with action shots of the warm-up session, and views from inside the Wellness Trails. Take a look!

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!

Go Ape Treetop Adventure Photo Blog

Who: Any ape-like homo sapiens aged 10 and older
What: Go Ape Treetop Adventure aerial obstacle course
When: Spring & Summer months
Where: Cleveland Metropark's Mill Stream Run Reservation, Strongsville
Why: To test your endurance, balance, strength, and monkey-ish-ness 40 feet above the air
How: Book a time slot online now!

Photos by OHventures

Go Ape With The GoPro!

Thanks to a friend's handy GoPro Camera, I was able to capture some fantastic one-of-a-kind first-person POV shots of the Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course located in Strongsville!

The zip lines were pretty wild, especially since they spun me around and forced me to have a not-so-graceful landing in the wood chips! But, they were also exhilarating, as they served as the grand finales to each of the 5 sections of the aerial obstacle course.

Read more about OHventures' experience at the Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course in Strongsville, and take a look at the fun videos on this post!

Discover Go Ape Treetop Adventure

Photos by OHventures

This past April, the Go Ape Treetop Adventure course opened to the public in the Cleveland Metroparks' Mill Stream Run Reservation. The Strongsville location is one of many courses built in the United States, and the only one that can be found in Ohio (the others are currently located in Tennessee, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other nearby states).

The Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course challenges participants with an outdoor obstacle course over 3,000 feet in length and is suspended up to 40 feet above ground. It takes between 2-3 hours to complete, depending on your ability and how busy it is. The course gives you the opportunity to see the world from a bird's eye view as you navigate the treetops like a monkey by traversing bridges, zooming on zip lines, and hanging on ropes.

All obstacles are fastened to tree trunks in an environmentally friendly way, using special bolts and cables that adjust themselves as the trees grow larger over the years. The health and well-being of the park is of utmost importance to Go Ape, as a portion of its proceeds and services is given back to the parks.

Safety is the number one rule at Go Ape. When you arrive, you will be strapped in by a harness, and given a 30-minute safety briefing to train and prepare you for the excitement ahead. A series of cables, platforms, pulleys, and ropes will keep you safe as you progress throughout each of the five sections,

I had the pleasure to "Go Ape" in Strongsville, which tested my strength, balance, focus, and endurance in an awesome way. I was in for a treat as I managed to complete 5 zip lines (4 of which took me over a wetland), and 42 obstacles (including a spider's web, cargo nets, wooden planks, and more). 

READ MORE AT DISCOVER OHIO

Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump

AGMC Orthopaedics Team at the Polar Bear Jump 2015

Chalk this up to one of the wildest things I've ever done: The Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump! 

Now in its 12th year, the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump is the initiation into the Polar Bear Club, which consists of warm-hearted people willing to freeze their bodies to raise money to feed people and fight hunger! That's right, like all of the off-the-wall challenges I get myself into, it's all for charity. Every dollar that is donated to someone who signs up as a jumper provides four meals to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (also the benefiting organization in the Selfless Elf 5K).

On Saturday, February 21, 2015, I joined a group of co-workers to "Go Polar" for the Foodbank. Our team was called "AGMC Orthopaedics" and it included doctors, residents, and other young professionals from the hospital and health system (I figured if medical professionals were on my team, I had safety on my side).

An aerial view of the event - courtesy of Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club

You may remember that last year, I took part in the Polar Plunge at Mosquito Lake in Cortland. The main difference between that event and this one was: the depth of the water! In the event last year, we simply had to run through freezing cold water that went up to our knees at its deepest. The Polar Bear Jump requires you to literally JUMP off of a dock into the freezing cold water of Turkeyfoot Lake! The entire lake is frozen with a thick layer of ice, so the event organizers had to carve out a special area for us to jump!

2015 carved in ice - courtesy of Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club

The weather at Portage Lakes (located in Summit County) was especially severe this week, with temperatures as low as -20 degrees below zero! By some miracle, the temperature on jump day was around 30-35 degrees (balmy!), but there was still a great deal of snowfall and accumulation, which made the roads pretty rough for traveling! This, coupled with a prior engagement I had to attend earlier in the day, caused me to get to Portage Lakes at approximately 2:15.

Our scheduled jump time was supposed to be 3:25, so I figured I had made it in enough time. However, for some reason, the event was WAY ahead of schedule. When I arrived, I called my friend and fellow jumper Ashley and she told me that our team was already in line to jump! I immediately ran to the line, threw my bags down, tore off my clothes (into my bathing suit), and joined my team for a group photo (they were easy to spot because many of them were wearing scrubs!).

Our team jumping in!

In the blink of an eye, we were making our way down the dock to the jumping platform, and just like that it was "bombs away" into the frigid water. I didn't even have time to think, it was such a blur!! In retrospect, it was the best way to go, because my fear wasn't able to set in, and I didn't have to wait around in the cold for an hour leading up to my jump.

After making a quick swim to the ladder, I ran to the men's heated changing tent and got myself dry and warm. I honestly was barely bothered by the cold (maybe I was in shock or had lots of adrenaline). I then worked backwards and hung out with the group, had a beer, took some photos, and watched other jumpers.

It was great seeing the hilarious costumes: superheroes, pirates, Vikings, chickens, and more. I even saw my friend Eric jump in while wearing a full business suit. The dedication was unreal. Over 700 people jumped this year, and collectively, we raised over $110,000 - more than any other year. Proud to say I contributed to that total, and that I am now an official member of the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club!

See the shenanigans of the event thanks to WKYC, including our team in the water around the 3:00-3:15 mark (I am shown climbing out of the water on the ladder).

Birthday Bash Dash 5K Photo Blog

Who: 400+ runners & walkers, 70 volunteers, and countless spectators
What: Birthday Bash Dash 5K
Where: City of Stow, Summit County
When: August 30, 2014
Why: To celebrate an active lifestyle, and to benefit Muffins for Mammograms & SEEF
How: Months of training, dedication, and planning.

Photos by OHventures, AGMC, and Compass Media