Monday, January 11, 2010
Get Active: Winter in Lorain County
We’re all resolving to be more active in 2010, so why not have fun while getting fit? Here are a few winter activities in Lorain County, North Central Ohio to help you get out and get moving.
Sledding: not just for kids. You’d be surprised how many calories you burn sled riding! After polling the locals, we’ve determined these are some of the best Lorain County sledding hills:
Vermilion River Reservation,
Carlisle Reservation in LaGrange,
Cascade Park in Elyria, behind Philips Gym in Oberlin, behind Golden Acres Nursing Home in Amherst and South Central Park in
North Ridgeville. (If we missed your favorite spot, comment below & let us know.)
Cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing is another rewarding activity. Fresh air, beautiful scenery and toned legs, what more could you ask for? Cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing is allowed in all
Lorain County Metro Parks, even at Forest Hills Golf Club (when snow exceeds a 3” depth.)
The LCMP offers snow-shoe hikes throughout the winter season (they even provide the snow-shoes, so there’s no excuse!) Findley State Park in Wellington is another favorite winter locale for cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Findley may not provide the snow-shoes or skis, but it’s well worth the investment to experience this park in the wintertime. Try
Molnar Outdoor in Elyria to purchase snow-shoes; they carry a selection of Redfeather, a nice, lightweight version.
Both Findley State Park and the Lorain County Metro Parks offer a variety of
winter hiking programs for adults and children. How about a Winter Tree I.D. Hike, Mid-Winter’s Eve Hike, or a Hot Chocolate Hike? Here’s a list of the Metro Park’s
upcoming programs. The 30th Annual Winter Hike at Findley is Feb. 6th at 10 am; includes 10k, 5k and interpretive lead hikes. According to the folks at Findley, the best part of the hike is the bean soup afterwards!
Buckeye Winter Hike, photo courtesy of Findley State Park
Of course, there are plenty of indoor activities in Lorain County to get your blood flowing. Show off your figure 8s while ice skating at North Park Complex Ice Arena in Elyria or give the Wii a rest and experience real bowling at Rebman Recreation; they have electronic scoring (no thinking necessary) and bumper rails for the kiddies.
Splash Zone in Oberlin added to their already impressive facility, another pool and a Field House with a three-lane rubberized walking track and four volleyball/basketball courts. Sign up for league play or any of Splash Zone’s land and water fitness classes.
Send us your active Lorain County photo; we’d love to see you and your family out & about, enjoying Lorain County. Send photos along with a description and name of photographer to visitors@visitloraincounty.com. Who knows, you may see your photo featured in an upcoming blog entry!
For other ideas on staying active in Lorain County, check out http://www.backroadsandbeachesohio.com/ and http://www.visitloraincounty.com/.
Labels: bowling, cross country skiing, Findley State Park, gym, Lorain County Airport, Lorain County Metro Parks, Ohio, skating, sledding, winter
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
May Flowers in Lorain County
April showers bring May flowers! Thanks to the warm weather we've been having in north central Ohio, flowers and trees are blooming much faster and lasting longer. It's a beautiful time of year to visit Lorain County!
Lakeview Beach by Lynne Lisner, Visit Lorain County
May also brings many opportunities throughout Lorain County to get excited about flowers, gardening and Spring:
Tulip Garden at Lakeview Park, Lorain. As of May 6, the tulips are still in bloom. Click on the photo below to learn how this beautiful garden was recently discovered.
Lakeview Park Tulip Garden by Rona Proudfoot
Oberlin's Farmers Market, Saturdays, beginning in May, 9am-1pm. Fresh flowers and locally grown and prepared foods.
Oberlin Farmers Market by Barb Bickel, Visit Lorain County
Gazebo Garden Walk, Howk Memorial Park, Wellington, May 9, 10am-4pm. 
Stroll through displays of unique antiques and gardening items from some of the area’s finest crafters and vendors.
Growers, Gardens, and Homes Tour, North Ridgeville, May 16. Visit North Ridgeville's finest home builders, home related retailers, and horticultural growers during this free, self guided 18th annual tour.
Growing Arts Tour/Spring Open House, Don Mould's Plantation, Amherst & North Ridgeville, May 16, 9am-5pm. Fun, informative day with sales reps and industry specialists, special sales, and drawings.
Music, Flowers & a Sunset, downtown Vermilion, beginning May 21, every third Thursday, 5:30-9pm. Free musical entertainment with over 12 bands scattered throughout Harbour Town. Lots of flowers to enjoy, artwork to browse, and a stunning sunset over Lake Erie.
Third Thursdays, photo courtesy of Main Street Vermilion.
For additional event listings from Visit Lorain County, visit
http://www.visitloraincounty.com/ or call 1.800.334.1673 to request a printed events calendar.
Labels: flowers, gardening, Lorain County Airport, Lorain County Visitors Bureau, May, Ohio, roses, spring, Visit Lorain County
Monday, December 8, 2008
RV it to Lorain County!
It is a fact that recreational vehicle rentals are up, way up this season, at least in Lorain County. According to
Neff Brothers RV Rental, "This is the first-ever Thanksgiving holiday that we are just about booked out for the long weekend. In the past handful of years
we were lucky to put three or four rentals out for the holiday and as of today, I have a dozen hitting the road by Wednesday. What’s the difference: airlines are not so much the friendly skies these days, gas prices dipped and families are pulling their resources to travel together to destinations and are saving money by taking an RV." How refreshing to hear that people are still traveling despite the woes of the economy. Thanks for the great news Neff Brothers RV!
Photo:The hepful staff of NEFF Brothers RV
Now, if the same news is true in other
parts of the region, we welcome you to
RV it to Lorain County, North Central Ohio! Stop in our Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Rd. in Amherst for the
Adventure & Visitor Info Guide to Lorain County and other useful brochures for your visit to Lorain County.
Photo:Visit Lorain County by Rona Proudfoot Labels: Ohio, Visit Lorain County
Thursday, August 21, 2008
It's Lorain County Fair Week!
Yummy, Yummy Fair Week...elephant ears, cotton candy, caramel apples! In addition to the fair staples, the
Lorain County Fair is actually a great way to sample some of Lorain County's restaurants.
Bread N Brew, Mama Jo's Pies, Midway Oh-Boy, and others are on hand to show you their specialties.
Photos by Barb Bickel
The Fair goes through August 24th, 2008. Here is the remaining schedule of activities:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008
7:30 a.m. Gates Open--Veterans & Seniors Free Admission
8:30 a.m. Jr. Fair – Rabbit ShowmanshipShow Barn #15
9:00 a.m. Jr. Fair Judging – Beef Showmanship – Show Barn #15
9:00 a.m. Pony Pull
9:00 a.m. 4-H Open Mini Horse Fun Show – RingA
9 – 11 a.m. County Fair Kids Fun ShowRing # 9
12:00 noon Open to the World Draft Horse & Pony Hitch – Grandstand
1:00 p.m. Jr. Fair Auction:Meat Chickens, Mkt. Goats, Turkeys, Mkt. Lambs, Meat Rabbits 3:00 p.m. Open Class Pygmy Goat Show
6:30 p.m. Jr. Fair NightParade & ProgramShow Barn #4
7:00 p.m. Horse Pull
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2008
7:30 a.m. Gates Open
9:00 a.m. Jr. Fair Dairy Judging – Jr. Fair Show Barn#4
9:00 a.m. Horse Pull
9:00 a.m. Open Class – Goats
9:00 a.m. Open Class Judging – Miniature Horses
12:00 p.m. Rooster Crowing, Turkey Calling and Fowl Race Contest
2:30 p.m. Jr. Fair Small Animal Sweepstakes Showmanship
4:30 p.m. Jr. Fair Large Animal Sweepstakes Showmanship
5:00 p.m. Cookie Baking Contest – Home Ec Bldg. #14
6:00 p.m. NTPA Tractor Pull
9:00 p.m. FBY Square DanceShow Barn #4
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23,2008
7:30 a.m. Gates Open
8:30 a.m. Jr. Fair Livestock Auction – Market Beef#9
9:00 a.m. Tractor Pull Lorain County Residents Only
9:00 a.m. Open Class Judging – Beef Cattle
10:00 a.m. Pony Fun Show
12:30 p.m. Jr. Fair Auction:Market Hogs#9
2:00 p.m. Kiddie Pedal Pull
3:00 p.m. Draft Horse/Draft Pony Fun Pull (stabled entries only)
4:00 p.m. Fiddle Contest – Pavilion 2
6:00 p.m. 4-H Band Concert in Bldg #11
7:00 p.m. Combine Derby
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008
7:30 a.m. Gates Open
7:30 a.m. Mass – Church ServicePav 1
8:30 a.m. Church ServicesBldg. #14
9:00 a.m. Motocross Races
10:00 – 3:00 p.m. Spinners & WeaversPav 2
2:00 & 4:00 p.m. 4-H Band & Alumni Concert – Bldg. #11
4:30 p.m. Style Show4-H State Fair Participants - #14
6:00 p.m. Demolition Derby
8:30 p.m. Demolition Derby
While you're at the fair, stop by the
Lorain County Visitors Bureau booth in building 23 to pick up an Events Calendars and Visitors Guide, we'll be there all week!
Labels: Lorain County Fair, Lorain County Visitors Bureau, Ohio, Wellington
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Meet the Commemorative Air Force - Cleveland Wing
The Commemorative Air Force - Cleveland Wing graciously donated to the Lorain County Visitors Bureau an opportunity to ride in their World War II SNJ-4 trainer aircraft, known as the “Texan”. They wanted us to experience the thrill and excitement for ourselves so we could better promote them as a LCVB member. Well, we are definitely doing what we can to promote the Commemorative Air Force - Cleveland Wing and their flight experience package, but we thought our hardworking friends at the Lorain Coast Guard Station deserved the free ride instead. (OK, truth is, I get queasy just riding in a car!) But I did go to the Lorain County Airport to watch in person. 
Pilot Richard Whelan of the Commemorative Air Force-Cleveland Wing, Mike Yokubaitus from USCG Station Lorain, and Lynne Lisner of the Lorain County Visitors Bureau. Not only did I get to see the Texan aircraft up close, but they had quite a few unique items in their gallery. 
Commemorative Air Force - Cleveland Wing hangar at the Lorain County Airport.
I would like to introduce to you a few gentlemen I had a chance to meet while visiting the hangar.
CAF members Tom Muller, Pilot Richard Whelan, and Robert Koran, CAF Finance Officer/Photographer.
They are all part of this organization that preserves and presents the heritage of World War II aviation. Membership to the CAF is open to anyone with a sincere interest in the preservation of World War II aircraft; you don’t have to be a pilot or military veteran. The CAF- Cleveland Wing meets once a month at the Lorain County Airport in Elyria and they appear at many regional air shows and events.
You can even schedule them to appear at your own event!
For a tax deductable donation, you can experience a 30 minute flight in this beautifully preserved and well maintained historic military aircraft. If flying is not your thing, what a unique gift this would be! 
Jason Fouse and his family traveled from PA for the Flight Experience. Photo by Bob Koran.
Thanks again to the Commemorative Air Force - Cleveland Wing for showing us one of Lorain County's most exciting and unique attractions!
Labels: Cleveland Wing, Commemorative Air Force, Lorain County Airport, Lorain County Visitors Bureau, Ohio, WWII Airplane
Sledding in Amherst, photo by Holly Miller
