Bodhi Tree Guesthouse & Studio

Photos by OHventures

Bodhi Tree Guesthouse & Studio

8950 Lavelle Road

Athens, OH 45701

(740) 707-2050

The Bodhi Tree Guesthouse & Studio in Athens is approaching its one year anniversary of being in business, and is quickly becoming a premier Ohio destination for rest and relaxation. This Buddhist-inspired getaway can be found off the beaten path, hidden among the trees and on four acres of the Appalachian hillsides of Southeast Ohio. Travelers can choose to stay overnight in one of four beautifully furnished guest rooms, each with different sized beds and amenities.

In addition to being a cozy wooded bed and breakfast, Bodhi Tree also offers meditative and therapeutic services, such as Thai massages, private yoga classes, and a refreshing and revitalizing flotation tank (an extremely unique and rare experience in the area).

Booking a room (the one with the King Bed, naturally) earlier this summer allowed for me to retreat from the busyness of life, clear my mind, and treat both my body and soul. I opted for a Thai massage coupled with a 60-minute float, which began shortly after I checked myself in to the guesthouse via an access code given to me prior to my arrival.

I was anxious to try the float tank, so I made sure that it was first on my schedule during my visit to Bodhi Tree Guesthouse. The tank itself is located in one of the back rooms of the first floor. It is a giant white pod filled with a high-density saltwater solution, and illuminated with purple lighting. The tank is a sound-proof and light-proof chamber that allows for ultimate solitude and relaxation. There are 90-minute floats and couple floats available as well.

Entering the tank for the first time was a surreal sensation. It took a bit of time to get acclimated to the fact you are completely suspended, with just your face peeking above the water as you lay on your back. But once you trust the fact that you will indeed stay afloat, it becomes an incredibly peaceful experience, complete with light soothing music in the background.

After a quick shower to rinse off the saltwater, it was time for my Thai massage. One of the owners of the Bodhi Tree, Liz Chamberlain, performed this deep pressure massage that is done on mats rather than on a table. Thai massages help to strengthen you with full body stretches that adjust your joints and massage your muscle tissue. It was energizing and much needed!

The rest of the day allowed for me to explore a bit of downtown Athens, which is just 5-10 minutes away! I returned in time to watch the sunset out on the gorgeous back deck, and read a book in the candlelit living room. There are no televisions at Bodhi Tree Guesthouse, so I was accompanied by just the sound of crickets!

One final element of my stay was the complimentary breakfast offered the following morning. It was a hearty vegetarian spread featuring ingredients grown on the premises and sourced from area farms. This included yogurt from Snowville Creamery, and a roasted tomato & gruyere quiche cooked with local eggs. It was a tasty and perfect way to end the stay.

Thanks to the owners Liz and Russell Chamberlain, the Bodhi Tree Guesthouse & Studio is an excellent rendezvous for locals and out-of-towners that will leave you recharged and inspired!

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Black Diamond Bicycles

Black Diamond Bicycles

11325 Jackson Dr,

The Plains, OH 45780

(740) 797-0880

Established just last year in 2014, Black Diamond Bicycles is a family-friendly one-stop-shop for cyclists of all abilities. Located in The Plains (near the city of Athens) in the Eclipse Company Town (a historic coal heritage site) and less than 5 miles from Ohio University, it is perfect for those who are riding through on the nearby Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in need of a bike tune-up, or for anyone who is looking to for bike repairs or purchases.

Riding  the fat bike!

The shop offers new and used mountain, road, and cruiser bikes for children and adults alike. You can get snacks (such as ice cream or energy bars), or any bike parts or accessories (helmets, seat covers, water bottles, cases, gloves, etc.). Best yet - Black Diamond Bicycles also has an array of bikes for rent, in case you do not feel like hauling your bike to the path, or if you don't own your own bike. It's also great to give new bikes a spin.

They have some cool and unique offerings that I had the opportunity to personally try out on a recent visit! One of the owners, Vince, let me take a ride on a "fat bike" (also known as a wide tire bike) which is basically a bicycle with over-sized tires designed as such so that you can ride in unstable and rough terrain. Notably, the fat bikes are used in snowy conditions, on winter trails and tundras. They are extremely versatile and have been becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Riding the fat bike proved to be rather easy - the wide tires made for a smooth ride!

Next, Vince let me take a ride with him on a re-purposed tandem (meaning two seats) recumbent (meaning you are in a laid back reclining position) bike that he custom-built! Riding this contraption required you to be in sync with your cycling partner. It also required a bit of concentration, because the steering was done by a crank-handle on the left side of the bike. Unlike some tandem bikes, this one is a "social tandem" because our seats were side-by-side (as shown in the photos above). It was a really fun and different experience riding on the tandem recumbent, but I was ready to hit the trail on a regular bike!

The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a 21-mile bike path that stretches between Nelsonville and Athens in Athens County. It is named after the first inhabitants of Southeast Ohio (the Adena Indians), and the Shawnee name for the Hocking River (Hockhocking, which means "bottleneck"). It is a "rails to trails" bikeway, because it is located on the site of the old Columbus and Hocking Valley Railroad. It is a diverse trail, with both rural cornfields and urban campus streets along the way. You can see not only the aforementioned Eclipse Company Town, but other historical sites, such as the ruins of the Hocking Canal, and the burial mounds built by the Adena tribe.

We rented some hybrid road bikes and rode approximately 5 miles along the path near Black Diamond Bicycles. We were able to see some great scenery along the way, including lush forest and wide open fields. Signs were posted near on the trail leading bicyclists to Black Diamond in case they needed a tune-up or a quick repair (such as air in their tires, gear adjustments, or other fixes). Basic tune-up packages begin at $39. Rentals begin at just $12 an hour, which is quite a bargain! 

Stop in and find everything you need to hit the trails of Athens County (and all of Ohio)!

Devil's Kettle Brewing

Photos by OHventures

Devil's Kettle Brewing 

97 Columbus Road

Athens, OH 45701

(740) 589-7187

Having just opened its doors earlier this year, Devil's Kettle Brewing is the newest brewery in Athens, and also one of the newest in Ohio! Located in a modest setting right off of State Route 33, the craft beers found here and the high-tech machinery behind-thetscenes make this place anything but modest.

I was given a specialized private tour from the brewmaster and owner of Devil's Kettle, Cameron Fuller. First up was the tasting room, which is lined with ample high top seating alongside a sleek bar with a custom-made counter top built with old acoustic guitar pieces. Dozens of growlers line the wall beside the beer taps, all adorned with the flashy and stylish Devil's Kettle logo.

Sitting at the bar, it was time to taste the hellishly delicious booze that has been taking Southeast Ohio by storm. The 5 beers I sampled were all different in their own way, and all so good that it was tough to pick my favorite. Tastings are offered in small 4 oz. glasses, which are for sale to take home for just $4 a piece. Taste all 5 for just $8!

(Side Note: If you make a pit stop in the bathroom - which you should if you drink enough - you will find chalkboards lining the walls. If it's not erased by now, we were sure to leave a message saying "Ohio-fy Your Life With Devil's Kettle!")

The beers available on tap when I visited (in no particular order) were:

1. Eric The Red: If I was forced to pick my favorite, this would be it. This red ale has a funny back story for its name, so be sure to ask Cameron or your bartender to fill you in and fill you up!

2. Spider Silk Blonde: I was warned about this one. Some locals told me it was tasty, but had a very high alcohol volume. With 7% ABV, I have definitely had stronger, but this is the strongest of the bunch here, and has a great balance.

3. Justin IPA: Justin IPA is "just an IPA" but one taste of this will have you wanting more.

4. Freak The Mild: This low-alcohol (session beer) brown ale packs a heap of malt flavor into such a small beer, and an homage to one of England's pub classics.
5. Gallatea Dunkel: This dark lager has a coffee-like and chocolatey flavor to it that is smooth and sweet!

Beware the Spider!

Now that I had the chance to taste the goodness produced at Devil's Kettle, it was time to get an up close and personal look at how it is made! Cameron opened a small door next to the bar, which led me to an enormous space filled with stainless steel contraptions - where all the magic happens! It reminded me of something you'd see on Willy Wonka - only better, since beer is involved.

I'll be honest - even though Cameron told me how it is done, and even though I took what I thought were pretty thorough notes, I really can't explain it very well. All I know is that this is some technical business! Beer making is definitely an art form, and the set-up at Devil's Kettle is state-of-the-art and a cut above most others in the area. Since I really am not good at letting you know the science and the trade secrets that went into the making of this fine brew, make sure to ask Cameron for the inside scoop when you make a visit on your next road trip!

Devil's Kettle's taproom is open at various times on Thursday-Sunday, some days featuring food trucks in the parking lot! Stop in and let them know OHventures sent ya!

Ultimate Beer Run Recap

Photos by OHventures

Peanut butter & jelly. Milk & cookies. Running & beer?!

It may not be a traditional pairing or a match made in heaven, but combining running with beer is definitely a recipe for a good (albeit interesting) time. These are two of my favorite things, so if you throw them together like in the Ultimate Beer Run on May 9 in Columbus, I certainly find it hard to resist.

Team OHventures (Me, Matt, Megan, Matt #2, Jess, Megan #2, & Jim) united in our green & gray OHventures t-shirts, party beads, and oversized neon sunglasses to tackle the challenge of the Ultimate Beer Run head on! The Ultimate Beer Run isn't about who is the fastest or the fittest. It's about good people, good fun, and tons of good costumes! 

Our "costumes" were extremely tame compared to the legions of participants clad in elaborate Avengers get-ups an other hilarious outfits like Wayne & Garth from "Wayne's World" (above) - or my absolute favorite, Indiana Jones being chased by the "boulder" (below)!

The concept was quite a doozy: run a total of 2 miles while stopping to drink a total of 40 ounces of craft beer from local Ohio breweries. Needless to say, this race was not a competitive timed event, but we did have the traditional running bibs to make it seem official. The Ultimate Beer Run Columbus took place at its home base of the Land Grant Brewing Company located in the up-and-coming revival neighborhood of Franklinton in West Columbus. 

Tents were situated outside for each of the breweries: Jackie O's Brewery from Athens, MadTree Brewing Company from Cincinnati, Fat Head's Brewery in North Olmstead, and of course our host, the Land Grant Brewing Company from Columbus! Each runner was given 3 beer tickets and a beer token.

All runners lined up on the street, and at the sound of the horn, we ran around a small loop course (approximately 2/3 mile by my estimations) that brought us right back to where we started. When we got back to Land Grant, we turned in our drink ticket to any one of the 4 brewery tents so we could receive a 10 ounce beer of our choice!

There was no need to chug the beer, so we took our times, enjoyed the brew, then went back around the loop to repeat the whole process. We did this - drinking a beer and running a lap - repeatedly until we were out of tickets! It was a gorgeous 85-degree May day in Columbus, and the race started at 12 noon (when it was the hottest temperature of the day). So, the heat combined with the beer and the running made it very important to also hydrate with water in between runs!

It was definitely a challenge bouncing up and down the roads of C-Bus with frothy brew sloshing around my stomach. But my mind was taken off of any discomfort thanks to all of the great scenery and hilarious costumes that kept me and my teammates cracking up and enjoying ourselves!

After our final lap, it was time to turn in our UBR chip to get our giant mugs of beer! By now, it was only 1PM, so the party was just getting started, with a costume contest, dance-off, and of course a ton of brew. If you want to take part in the Ultimate Beer Run, check out its website to see when it will be stumbling into your town! There are UBRs in Cleveland and Cincinnati, as well as many other cities outside of Ohio (Nashville, Indianapolis, and St. Louis to name a few!).

Coshocton Three Rivers Wine Trail

Photos by OHventures 

If you need one word to convince you to explore Coshocton County, that word would be: alpacas. I bet you didn't see that one coming!

There are a lot of hidden hotspots - including alpacas - tucked away in the rolling Appalachian foothills of Southeast-Central Ohio. One of the best ways in which you can experience this area is by taking a day-trip on the Three Rivers Wine Trail. Make sure you have a designated driver in tow, because there is a lot of wine to be had on the trail! There are 4 major wineries that can be found within a 15-minute drive of one another: Raven's Glenn Winery, Rainbow Hills Winery, the Yellow Butterfly Winery (home of the alpacas, which we will get to later), and Heritage Vineyards.

It being my birth-month (when you turn 30, you're allowed to celebrate all month), I wanted to whet my whistle with some new Ohio wines. The Three Rivers Wine Trail is located just over an hour south of where I live (straight down 77S from Canton). It was a clear blue Saturday afternoon, and we were set to cram in all of the wineries in just a few hours. You can easily spend a couple of days on the winery tour in Coshocton County, especially with great lodging.

Our first stop was Raven's Glenn, a Tuscan-style winery and Italian restaurant where every meal can be paired with the perfect wine. In fact, a great wine-buddy of mine, Rick, told me we needed to stop here for food (which is why we made it our first stop, to make sure we had a good base of good food in our bellies). There are usually private wine tours available (you must call ahead for reservations), but since that was not offered on the day we went, we went straight to the tasting room to order some flights!

When I am at an Ohio winery, I tend to try the wines that are made with Ohio grapes, if possible. An entire flight - "Vintner's Reserve" - was available with exactly that! I tried the White October (honey-citrus taste), Autumn Interlude (pineapple/grapefruit undertones), Vino Della Casa (an off dry red that can be served chilled or warm), R2 (a dry red with licorice tones), Moon Dreams (a very jammy finish with high alcohol content and fantastic bottle art), Sonata Evening (wine port), Scarlet Raven (red port), and Vidal Blanc (ice wine). I took home a bottle of Moon Dreams!

The dining experience was just as tasty as the wine. In fact, there was red zinfandel marinara sauce on my lasagna order. The red zin marinara also accompanied the yummy fried oysters appetizers I scarfed down (pictured above). 

The restaurant had large open windows facing the Tuscawaras River. It was pretty darn gorgeous, I must say. We spent a LOT of time at Raven's Glenn, which shows how much of a fan we are.

Before heading to the next winery, we stopped at the Unusual Junction located right across the street. It caught our eye because of the old train cars outside. The best way to describe this place is that it is, for lack of better terms, an "unusual junction"! It's a gift shop that you just have to see for yourself!

Moving on, we headed to Rainbow Hills, which is way off the beaten path in a gorgeous wooded area. Here, you can stay overnight at the Inn at Rainbow Hills Bed & Breakfast. Or, you can just stop in for a few samples of wine accompanied by cheese plates while sitting on spacious wooden decks. In summer, they have barbecue nights where you can grill your own steak and chicken! American grape and French hybrid varieties are grown and used for producing high quality wine. I took home a bottle of Drumming Grouse, my favorite of the bunch we tried.

Time was flying by and our stay at Rainbow Hills had to be cut short so we could make it to The Yellow Butterfly Winery. There was no mistaking the big bright yellow barn plastered against the lush green countryside. It was cheerful, inviting, and enchanting. The barn is almost 100 years old, with a deck overlooking the Blue Ridge foothills. Adjacent to the barn is the Yellow Butterfly BNB, which was also another lodging option if we were to have chosen to stay the night. 

We were rather "wined out" by this time, but I couldn't pass up sampling at least a few of their top sellers. They have a lot of fruity varieties, such as Apple Delight, Blackberry Butterfly, Golden Apricot, and Passionate Peach. After all of that sweetness, I needed to taste a dry red - so I ordered their Grande Red to enjoy on the patio.

In the back is where you can normally find their alpacas grazing on the hillsides. It was too early in the season for us to see them for ourselves, but my fascination with these weird looking creatures will surely bring me back soon. In lieu of seeing alpacas firsthand, I bought a rug made out of 100% Ohio alpaca fur! It was too hard to pass up!

Unfortunately, it became too late in the evening to head to the Heritage Vineyards, however, this just gives us one more excuse to come back in the summer for another round of the Three Rivers Wine Trail in Coshocton County!

Make It To Marietta

Photo by D. Rose for OHventures

Whenever I think of Southeast Ohio, Marietta is the first city that pops into my head. It is the county seat of Washington County and is located right at the confluence of the Ohio River and Muskingum River. Its neighbor to the east and south is West Virginia, with a population of just over 14,000 Ohioans.

Marietta is in the heart of Appalachian Ohio, with rolling hills full of lush green forest and twisting roads (such as Interstate 77, which runs right through it). It has a rich history, as it served as a station on the Underground Railroad, and was a site of Hopewell Native American mounds.

The city continues to make history with truly one-of-a-kind spots perfect for a casual and low-key Ohio day trip that is still unique and memorable! Below is a list of 8 Things To Do on a Day Trip to Marietta!

1. Marietta Brewing Company (167 Front Street): When traveling to Marietta for work, I asked locals where the best place would be to grab some lunch. I was given a hearty response of "The Marietta Brewing Company." I made my way through the old quaint roadways of this river town to the brewpub, which was easy to spot with the copper plated brew kettles lining the storefront. I had an amazing loaded mac and grilled cheese sandwich, and drooled over the beer selections (some with fun southern-Ohio themed names like Mount Builder's Brown Ale, Front Street Pale Ale, and Marietta Barleywine). 

2. Ohio Riverfront Park: Located right alongside the shores of the Ohio River, where the 3rd Street bridge crosses into West Virginia, the Ohio Riverfront Park is perfect for picnics and outdoor recreation. Great for birding!

3. East Muskingum Park (302 Front Street): A city owned park featuring a gazebo, performance pavilion, and the "Start Westward" monument, a statue dedicated to pioneers who journeyed to Marietta in 1788 and established it as the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. See, I told you there was a lot of history in Marietta! There is also a portion of The River Trail (see below)

4. Marietta River Trail: The Marietta River Trail runs along the Muskingum River for 3.4 miles through the city and is located just across the Ohio River from West Virginia. So, you can imagine how great the scenery is here! The trail is asphalt and is perfect for running, biking or strolling. There is a trail entrance at East Muskingum Park, and also at Indian Acres Park. A cool feature is that part of the trail is an old railroad trestle that was converted for pedestrian use!

5. Valley Gem Sternwheeler: Marietta is the site of the annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival the weekend after Labor Day (2015 will be the 40th anniversary of the event). Seasonally, you can hitch a ride on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler (pictured on the river in the photo above), which is docked at the Washington Street landing. A ride on this awesome paddle-wheel boat will give you a glimpse of what river life is like. You can take a narrated sightseeing tour for just $14 on most days from 12-1:30 PM, or take part in a number of dinner cruises (including a murder mystery dinner). There are also special day-long or multi-day-long trips planned to Pittsburgh (PA), Zanesville (OH), Wheeling (WV), and Blennerhasset Island.

Photo by D. Rose for OHventures

6. Marietta Adventure Company (219-B Second Street): A full-service bike and kayak shop with specialized bikes plus Perception, Dagger, and Wilderness Systems kayaks. They also offer bicycle service and kayak rentals & shuttle service, meaning they can get you out there for anything from multi-day river and trail adventures to a fun afternoon with the family. They will haul you up stream and pick you up at the finish! Rock climbing gear also available!

7. Marietta Soda Fountain Museum (109 Maple Street): Even though most people in Ohio refer to it as "pop" rather than "soda," the Marietta Soda Museum is dedicated 100% to the fizzy bubbly drink. Most prominently featured is Coca Cola - everything from old advertisements to old vending machines, vintage posters, and other collectibles. Definitely a sight to see.

8. Levee House (127 Ohio Street): If you haven't caught on, it's all about the river in Marietta. So what better place to get dinner than at the fine dining establishment Levee House that overlooks the Ohio River?