A North Central Ohio Autumn Adventure for Three Generations

 Picture a beautiful, sunny, north central Ohio Saturday with a clear calendar (meaning—no soccer games, meetings, volunteer commitments etc) and full tank of gas. For our full day itinerary I brought along my 12 year old daughter and 70+ year old mother. What a blast we had! I am going to share our map and itinerary, some photos and add in some suggestions for adults that might not have younger ones in tow. There are still a few of these weekends left — great weather, brimming produce stands, outdoor entertainment and harvest season happenings— to savor. So give some of these suggestions a try. We focused primarily on the eastern part of Lorain County in Avon and North Ridgeville. You can definitely add more to the itinerary.

Our map: First stop:

Miller Nature Preserve and Conservatory
2739 Center Road, Avon, OH 44011
800/526-7275
78 acres of wooded land in the heart of Avon. A Visitor Center is nestled between trees and the winding French Creek and includes a café, the Orchid Room, a gift shop and a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes. The Orchid Room has floor to ceiling windows that look onto the outside patio and gardens. You can have lunch or an early dinner. Open daily 11am - 6pm. The menu includes an array of salads, soups, sandwiches and other delicious dishes made from fresh ingredients. The highlight of this preserve is the 5,000 square foot conservatory, the first in Lorain County. Highlights include the bonsai and orchid collections. There are also desert and carnivorous plants that capture the imagination. While we visited there were seasonal displays of mums and other traditional autumn displays.

Fitch’s Farm Market 
4413 Center Road
Avon, OH 44011
(440) 934-6125
Just down the road from the Miller Nature Preserve is the Fitch's Farm Market. This place was bustling when we arrived! Lots of fresh produce, pumpkins, peppers, broccoli, potatoes and much, much more. The fall season is just kicking off and they will be doing pumpkin wagon rides in October. I bought a big bag of peaches and have been packing them in the kids' lunches and I'm told the other kids are scarfing them down! Everyone loves them... me too!

Sandy Ridge Reservation
North Ridgeville
The marsh area of Sand Ridge Reservation is a favorite for bird watchers. Click here for the latest birding reports from Sandy Ridge. The fields were just awash in beautiful yellow flowers while we were there. Great walking opportunity.

Here are additional great wining and dining opportunities in this general area you can add to your itinerary (also indicated on above map)

Klingshirn Winery, 33050 Webber Rd., Avon Lake, OH 44012 (440) 933-6666

Klingshirn is a third generation family farm winery. Established in 1935, Concord vineyards were the mainstay for the first fifty years. The first wines included Concord, Niagara and Pink Catawba. 

John Christ Winery, 32421 Walker Rd., Avon Lake, OH 44012 (440) 933-9672
John Christ Winery has been dedicated to the production of fine quality wine since 1946. Wines are produced and bottled on premises. Visit the wine bar to sample many varieties of fine quality, award winning wines. Retail sales hours: M–W: 10am–6pm; Th: 10am–11pm; Fri: 10am–12am; Sat: 12pm–12am.

Nemo Grille, 36976 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-0061

Globally influenced American cuisine in the historic 1850 Alten House. A hip place to enjoy a chocolate artine at the bar or an exquisite dinner in the renovated historic dining rooms. Creative menu with seasonal, fresh ingredients. Outdoor porch seating.

Strip, A Steakhouse, 36840 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-9900
Locally owned and operated Strip is located in Olde Avon Village on Detroit Rd. in the historic Ewers Barn. Innovative menu and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating.

The Tree House Gallery and Tea Room, 36840 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH 44011, (440) 934-1636
Also located in the Olde Avon Village, the gallery features an eclectic blend of antiques and collectibles, quality-crafted woodworking, and fold art. Have lunch in the Tea Room which features an array of fine salads and sandwiches, unique soups and scrumptious desserts.

Wood and Wine, 38790 Chester Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (440) 964-9463
Wood-fired pizzas, pasta, steak and seafood along with a great selection of wine.

Want to spend a whole weekend? You can stay at the Fairfield Inn and Suites or the Value Place Hotel, both located in Avon.  

Allen Memorial Art Museum Reopens

The Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College has reopened after a twenty-month renovation. Admission to the Museum is free. According to Museum officials, the galleries are newly installed to “showcase the breadth and importance of the AMAM's permanent collection, which ranges from ancient art from the Near East and Egypt to works made by today’s contemporary artists.”

The Museum will hold a “First Thursday” event on Sept. 8 which will feature evening hours from 6–9pm. Handheld audio tours will be available to visitors.

A full calendar of public programs returns this month, including Tuesday Tea lectures (beginning on Sept. 13 at 2:30pm) and Sunday Object talks (beginning on Sept. 18 at 2pm).

While in Oberlin visiting the Allen, you can extend your itinerary to visit Oberlin’s many other cultural gems, great eateries and unique shops. Check out the Visit Lorain County website for lodging, dining and shopping information.