Spring Break 2021

 Sunday March 14, 2021

We woke this morning and were actually able to eat a breakfast in the dining room of the hotel.  The view over to Cincinnati was great as was the food.  

Then, around 9am (with Daylight Savings Time in effect) we headed towards Cuyahoga.  The drive was easy.  We drove through Columbus on our way to Cleveland and drove all through THE Ohio State University campus and it was beautiful.  It reminded Nick and me of A&M.  Ryan has no interest in going there but it was great just to see it. Our only stop was right outside of the park for gas and a quick lunch at Subway (because everything else was closed for dine-in) – the Chinese restaurant, the pizza restaurant, the McDonalds.  We arrived a little after 1, at the Boston Mills Visitor Center and damn it was cold – not so much cold but SO windy.  We quickly purchased hat pins and magnets and grabbed a map before jumping back into our minivan to warm up.  The parking lot seemed full but very few people were in the visitor center.

The park was strange – it seems like it was built within an existing community and I’d read online that when it was made into a national park in 1974, it was with some controversy as many in congress couldn’t understand what was so special about it – I agree with those members of congress.

We drove over to see Brandywine Falls – very pretty - 

then headed south to the Ledges area of the park and went on the 2.2 mile Ledges Trail – pretty but not spectacular – but fun.

After that we just weren’t all that interested in seeing more so we headed towards our hotel and say the Everett Covered Bridge along the way. 

We’re staying at a Holiday Inn Express on Brecksville Rd in Richland, OH.  It’s just so-so but there wasn’t much else around.

We stopped first at the Pilot gas station/Wendy’s next door to the hotel and attempted to order Frosties but the Frosty machine was broken.  After checking in we drove up to Cleveland (about 20 minutes north) and saw the Indians stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Browns stadium, Lake Erie and downtown Cleveland in general.  

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Cleveland Browns Stadium

The downtown was clean and deserted.  No one was there – everything seemed boarded up and it was another strange experience, much like Chicago was.  But we found a great pizza place and parking spot and had an enjoyable dinner at Pizza 216 on Euclid Avenue.  Then we went next door for expensive ice cream at Cathy’s inside a stunning-looking Hyatt. 

From there we drove back to the room.  The day was great.  The park was an expected disappointment but damn we’ve done Ohio.

We’re back at the room now, it’s about 8:15, and we’re all relaxing and looking forward to staying at the same place for the next three days!