Include Lorain County, North Central Ohio, on your Winter Travel Itinerary

Whether you're traveling by car, bus, or RV this holiday season, give yourself some extra traveling time to explore Lorain County, Ohio. If you're trip takes you along the Ohio Turnpike, I-90, I-480, US Route 6 or 20, or State Route 2, 18, 58, or 83 through North Central Ohio, STOP, you are in Lorain County!
While you're here, visit the beautifully decorated downtowns of Amherst, Avon French Creek District, Oberlin, and Wellington to shop for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.

Downtown Oberlin

Olde Avon Village


Olde Avon Village

Drive through the grounds of historic Finwood Estate in Elyria to view the elaborate holiday light display. Lorain County Metro Parks' Carlisle Reservation in LaGrange also puts on a beautiful display of lights and decorations during their annual Holiday Lights Festival.

Finwood Estate, photo by Rona Proudfoot

Carlisle Reservation, photo by Rona Proudfoot

Warm up with a glass of Lake Erie region wine in one of our four wineries: John Christ Winery, Klingshirn Winery, Matus Winery, and Single Tree Winery. If you're looking for a place to stay during your visit, Lorain County has a great selection of lodging options from full service hotels like the Holiday Inn-Elyria to historic bed & breakfasts like the 1830 Hallauer House B&B.

Before continuing on your travels, be sure to document your Winter in Lorain County with a perfect photo op of the Lorain Lighthouse. Safe travels & come see us again soon!

Lorain Lighthouse by Rona Proudfoot

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

Lorain County's Farmers Markets

Lorain County is known for its agriculture; so naturally, we have some excellent farmer's markets. A recent trip to Spiegelberg Orchards in Lorain yielded fresh produce and a variety of apples including caramel apples.

For some reason, the apples always taste better from local orchards than from the grocery store. Maybe it’s because the apples are fresher and because you know it’s good for our local economy--buying directly from family farmers helps them stay in business.

In addition to apples, Spiegelberg Orchards features maple syrup, grapes and other fresh produce. They are located at 6161 Middle Ridge Road, Lorain, OH 44053.

For a listing of additional Lorain County farmers’ markets, gardens and orchards, visit the Lorain County Visitors Bureau website.

Congrats Lorain County Beautiful Winners!

The 2008 Lorain County Beautiful Award winners were announced at the banquet on October 29th. Congratulations to this year's finalists and winners!
New Russia Township Cemetery Service Shelter (New Building-up to $750,000), Morningside at Martin's Run - Oster Homes (Landscaping), Joe Skodny Family Project in Lorain (Community Service)



Interlocking Railroad Tower in Grafton (Historical Rehabilitation), Marsha L. Heinke, CPA, Inc. Property in Grafton (Renovation)

The Pipe Yard - City of Lorain Parks & Rec (Renovation), Lakeview Park Bathhouse - Lorain County Metro Parks (New Building over $750,000), Lorain County Transportation Building (Historical Rehabilitation)


Centennial Estates - Norris Builders (Green Building), Copper Creek of Amherst - R.J. Perritt Homes (Green Building)

Winners not pictured: Currant Village - Gamellia Homes (Landscaping), Elyria Veterans' Memorial (Community Service).

For more information about the Lorain County Beautiful Awards including a complete list of finalists and the finalists slideshow, visit www.visitloraincounty.com/lorain-county-beautiful.

Lorain County's Fall 'Must Do' List

The air is crisp, the leaves are changing colors, and the excitement of the new season is upon us! Take a break and enjoy the beautiful fall season in Lorain County.

Lorain County's Fall 'Must Do' List:

• Hike through Findley State Park in Wellington; it's a great place for a family adventure. Have you ever tried geocaching?
  
  Findley State Park, Wellington, OH
  
  

• Take in as much of the outdoors as possible and cycle the Back Roads & Beaches Bike Tour. It'll take you through the most scenic roads in Lorain County. When planning your cycling adventure, make sure to give yourself enough time to stop at the wineries along the way!
  
  

  

  Along the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route
  
  

• Take your kids to Pumpkinland to choose thier own pumpkin and run through the hay maze at Miller's Apple Hill in Amherst.

Pumpkinland at Miller's Apple Hill

• Get fresh cider straight from the orchard at Speigelberg Orchards in Lorain.


• Take a horse-drawn wagon ride at the Cascade Park Fall Festival in Elyria, October 11, 2008 11am-2pm.


• Get spooked during a haunted hike through Carlisle Reservation Oct 17-18, 24-25, 31 & Nov 1. during the annual Halloween Fair. This free event opens at 5pm where the trail is non-scary, but beware after 7pm...






Carlisle Reservation's hauted trail



• Listen to the amazining call of the elk during Bugle Days at Bonnie Brae Farm, October 17-19 & 24-26, 2008.
  
  
  

Bull elk at Bonnie Brae Elk Farm in Wellington

• Enjoy a Halloween scavenger hunt at Jamie's Flea Market in Amherst. With prizes and trick-or-treating for the kids, it's yet another reason to get dressed up for Halloween, Oct 25, 8am-4pm.
  
  These are just a few of the many ways to enjoy fall in Lorain County. For more ideas, visit us at http://www.visitloraincounty.com/ or call 1-800-334-1673 for a free visitors guide.

September in Lorain County

Just because it's past Labor Day doesn't mean the fun has to end (it just means you probably shouldn't wear white!) September in Lorain County means the Elyria Apple Festival, Harvest of the Arts in Wellington, Pumpkinland at Miller's Apple Hill, the Great Black Backed Gull Watch in Vermilion, Firewalking at Common Ground, the LaGrange Engine Club Show, Matus Winery Mush Crush Festival, I could go on and on. Check out the Lorain County Visitors Bureau Calendar of Events page for more details.

Two unique performances in September that you may not want to miss:

The New Christy Minstrels, under the direction of Randy Sparks. Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Stocker Arts Center in Elyria.
It has been more than 46 years since 8 young men and 2 young women made their national television debut on The Andy Williams Show in the fall of 1962. That group, The New Christy Minstrels®, went on to win a Grammy for their debut recording, "Presenting The New Christy Minstrels," earn many gold records and entertain at The White House. While Randy Sparks' original intent was to field an armada of solo singers and players who would be a team and never suffer changes in the roster, evolution intervened and the group has seen many members come and go, including some who went on to greater fame: Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, and actress Karen Black. Barry McGuire had a huge solo hit, “Eve of Destruction,” after leaving the group, and Larry Ramos became a member of The Association. In February 2007, The New Christy Minstrels® re-recorded all of their old hits: “Green Green,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Today,” and many others, in a collection titled “The NCM's Greatest Hits Revisited.” Now this classic ensemble has embarked on a mission to let everyone know they’re back, singing, playing, and bringing their unique brand of onstage excitement to concert halls and coffeehouses everywhere.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Sept. 19-21, Hall Auditorium, Oberlin College.
Death of a Salesman, the story of Willy Loman, an aging salesman trying to make sense of his unraveling life, has become a classic American tragedy. Arthur Miller’s story explores the struggle to define one’s own identity in a world where a man’s worth is defined by his ability to make money. In this groundbreaking new production, directed by Justin Emeka and starring Oberlin alumnus and acclaimed actor Avery Brooks (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Man Called Hawk, American History X, Paul Robeson [on Broadway]), the play gets a fresh interpretation. Through the use of nontraditional casting and a company of both professional actors and students, the production incorporates African American and Jewish cultural perspectives in reimagining the Lomans as a black family living in a multi-ethnic New York neighborhood in the 1940s, thus revealing new social issues in Miller’s classic text. Death of a Salesman promises to be a highlight of the theater season, in Oberlin and beyond. For ticket information, visit the Oberlin Arts Guide website.

Graphic: Marley Zeno ’11 from Oberlin College Arts Guide

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!

PSA's World Youth Soccer Tournament

There’s still time left to attend the World Youth Tournament at Premier Soccer Academies in Lorain! Not only will you get to watch youth soccer at its best, but you’ll get an up-close look at the Premier Soccer Academies’ world-class facilities.

Spectators at the World Youth Soccer Tournament's Opening Ceremonies on Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at Brad Friedel's Premier Soccer Academies.

Team Rush Select from Colorado line up for opening ceremony introductions.

Our local Team PSA after the opening ceremonies.

Team Chivas gets ready to play their first match of the tournament.

First match of the tournament: Chivas vs Rush Select

The Kneaded Touch helps the PSA team loosen up.

Team Chile took in a match to check out their competition.

Eight different teams from around the world will compete for a spot in the championship match taking place Sunday, August 17th at 1:30pm. Here’s the rest of the tournament schedule: Tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Thursday, August 14th 4:30pm: Match #9
6:30pm: Match #10

Friday, August 15th 4:30pm: Match #11
6:30pm: Match #12

Saturday, August 16th 11:30am: Match #13
1:30pm: Match #14

Sunday, August 17th 11:30am: Match #15
1:30pm: Match #16

Closing Ceremonies follow the championship match.

While you're at the soccer tournament, stop by the Lorain County Visitors Bureau booth to pick up our Visitors Guide, Events Calendar and other brochures! See you at the tournament!!

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!

Visit Lorain County Blog

Welcome to the Lorain County Visitors Bureau Blog. My name is Lynne Lisner, Marketing and Communications Manager. I want to show you how exciting Lorain County can be! From attractions and events to unique and interesting people, I’ll talk about what’s coming to town, what’s already here and maybe even what you missed. Each month I will introduce to you a different Lorain County Visitors Bureau Member. You’ll get to know the people behind the business or organization and learn why they’re so important to Lorain County’s culture. I always welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions (as long as they’re nice.) Thanks for reading!