Party like it's 2014!

How are you ringing in the New Year? If you haven't quite decided, we have plenty of Lorain County options for you!

FORMAL

If you are looking for a lavish New Year's Eve package maybe one of these events will catch your eye!

• Cork's and Stubby's is offering a four-course prix fixe menu, music, dancing, and cash bar. This event is pre-sale only, so be sure to make your reservation soon! Cost is $85 per person or $160 per couple.

•  A night at the Oberlin Inn will bring in your year with elegance and style. Come on out for a four course candlelit dinner, open bar, and dancing. Spend the night in a  tastefully appointed guestroom and wake up to a sumptuous New Year’s Day brunch.

• Spend the night at the Ramada after enjoying their New Year's party complete with a grand dinner buffet including open bar and dancing! 

• Main Street Vermilion is hosting their third annual party at German's on the 31st. Doors open at 7:30. $145 a couple. Dinner, dancing, open bar and a chance to win $2014! Complimentary local ride home. Call Larry at 440-653-7097 or German's at 440-967-1770 or order online. Only 100 tickets will be sold!

CASUAL

If you would prefer to bring in 2014 rocking your best jeans at a more relaxed get together, there are going to be plenty of hopping spots!

• In addition to their more formal bash, Stubby's is hosting a separate party with a $20 entry fee that buys you an appetizer/breakfast buffet and music to dance into the new year. 

• Fort's Tavern has a special New Year's menu including a wide selection of premium cocktails. DJ Kit will also be there hosting the party!

• Both Matus Winery and D&D Smith Winery will have music and are hosting pot luck diners. 

UNIQUE

Don't think all we have to offer you is the traditional New Year's Party!

• Bad Boy Bait, Tackle, & More is hosting a New Year's Eve and Archery Fun Shoot! The archery shoot will cost $10 for adults and $5 for teens and youth. The Shoot will be a Lucky Dip Shoot, but you don't have to participate to attend.

• Noon Year's Eve celebrations will be at all Lorain Public Library System locations so the kids aren't left out of the fun. The whole family can come enjoy! Register today at LorainPublicLibrary.org or by calling your local library (list here).

• Ghostly Manor is also hosting from 8-12:30 on New Year's Eve. You can choose a $20 VIP Package that includes admission, skate, scooter or roller blade rental, party favors, arcade tokens, slice of pizza, small drink, and choice of mini golf, motion theater or haunted house. There is also the $10 Special Package that includes, admission, quad skate rental, and party favors. For more info call 419-626-4467. 

After you bring in the new year, stay with us at one of Lorain County's awesome hotels, lodges, or bed & breakfasts! 

'Tis the Season!

Isn't it hard to believe Christmas is only next week?! Don't get so caught up in the craziness of the holiday season that you forget to get out and enjoy time with your family. Here in Lorain County you can enjoy everything from beautiful light displays to nights in the theater. Maybe you'll even start up a new tradition!

LIGHTS

There are a ton of places to check out light displays in Lorain County that give even the Griswolds a run for their money!

• Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation (12882 Diagonal Road LaGrange,OH 44050) also runs until New Year's Eve, excluding Dec. 24  and 25, with a 1/2 mile paved loop with movie themed light displays along the way. The Holiday Express will also run every day through another decorated trail. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays 6-9pm and Fridays & Saturdays 6-10pm. Admission is free, but please bring a nonperishable food item that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

• Holiday Lights at Finwood Estate (799 North Abbe Road Elyria,OH 44035) will be on display every night until Jan. 5, and after you check out the awesome display you can head inside for hot chocolate and cookies! Guests are asked to bring nonperishable food items that will be donated to the Elyria Hospitality House.

• Miller Nature Preserve (2739 Center Road Avon,OH 44011) is decked out until Jan. 6, excluding Christmas and New Years Day, from 10 am to 6 pm. 

• Lights on the Lake is nightly at 6pm until Dec. 31 at Lakeview Park (1800 West Erie Avenue Lorain,OH 44052).

SHOWS

If you're a fan of the performing arts, maybe checking out one of these great shows in more your style.

• "The Nutcracker" will be performed at LCCC's Stocker Arts Center by Ohio Dance Theatre, Northeast Ohio’s professional ballet company on Dec 20 at 10am, Dec 20 & 21 at 7:30pm, and Dec 22 at 2pm. For tickets call Stocker Arts Center Box Office at 440-366-4040 or visit their website.

• Songs for the Season will be performed by the Oberlin Choristers at Finney Chapel in Oberlin, Ohio at 7:30 pm on Dec. 21.  

• The TrueNorth Christmas Concert will be celebrating the season with their Chorale, Symphony and Big Band at Avon Lake United Church of Christ (32801 Electric Boulevard Avon Lake,OH 44012). Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for students.

•  The Lorain Palace Theater ( 617 Broadway Lorain,OH 44052) presents Charles Dickens’  ”A Christmas Carol”  December 20 & 21 at 7pm. Adults tickets are $10, children are $7. 

OUT AND ABOUT

We still have you covered even if a holiday show isn't your cup of cocoa! Check out these other great events going on in and around Lorain County!

• Christmas on the Farm with Bonnie Brae Elk Farm is on Dec. 21 and 22 is sure to be a great time for you and your family. Wagon rides to go out and feed the elk are $10 for all ages. Call (440) 647-3232 or (440) 647-4593 for your reservation. 

• The historian in your family will be excited about the Burrell Christmas program and tour on Dec. 21 from 12 pm-3 pm. The scheduled shuttle transport every 20 minutes beginning at the French Creek Nature Center. Drop-in activities at the Nature Center will be ongoing.  Preregister for tours at www.metroparks.cc or call 440-458-5121 by Dec 20.

• The Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is in the holiday spirit with their 3D Winter Wonderland Christmas Walk-Thru starting every day in December at noon. Enjoy the light show, XD Motion Theater Movie “Sleigh Ride”, Roller Skating Rink, 3D Blacklight Mini Golf, Bounce Houses, 3-level Play Area, Haunted House, and Arcade for a fun filled afternoon!

SANTA

You can't go the whole season without visiting the man in red himself! Here's where to find him this year. 

Miller Nature Preserve & Conservatory from LCMP

• Santa will be at Lakeview Park for brunch on Dec. 21 from 10 am-2 pm. Tickets are $15 per person ($5 or kids 5 & under) and include a carriage ride around Lakeview Park, breakfast buffet, one family photo with Santa, a craft, and a chance to shop at Santa’s gift shop.

• You can catch him at Finwood Estate while you're there for the holiday lights!

• On December 23 from 11:30 am- 1:30 pm Santa will be at Petitti Garden Center (33777 Chester Road Avon,OH 44011) hanging out with kids aged 5 and up. Tickets are $10 and will include a sack lunch (hotdog, chips, cookie, drink), a visit with Santa, story time, and a craft. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Bereavement Program at Stein Hospice.

Shop small and score big...

Don Mould's Plantation

Visit Lorain County is a great place to start when looking to shop small and score big this Saturday or any day of the year! Lorain County boasts unique and quality shops to suit anyone on your holiday list. From a walk about Main Street in one of our many eclectic villages and towns, to a country drive to a fantastic out of the way shop that you have yet to discover.

With a simple click of our shopping link you will discover great shopping options. Many having those great deals you are hunting for this weekend and as a bonus, many Main Street Organizations have holiday events kicking off this Saturday making it the perfect day to explore our city centers and enjoy the festivities and shops all a-glow.

While you are out and about you are sure to work up an appetite! You are in luck, you are another click away from a palate pleasing experience. With so many dining options from which to choose, you can plan breakfast, lunch and dinner with ease and maybe a wine tasting in between!

Cork's and Stubby's 

Discover too much for just one day? Thought so! No worries, we have a couple clicks for that too...hotels, bed & breakfasts and lodges throughout the county await.

Small Business Saturday is a great excuse to get out there and shop small in a big way!

Gobble up a local Thanksgiving feast!

Looking for a no muss no fuss scrumptious Thanksgiving Day feast...a few Lorain County restaurants will serve up a great meal with all of the trimmings this Thursday! 

The Oberlin Inn is dishing up their feast by buffet or a served dinner. Seating every half hour between 11 and 4.  The Buffet Feast includes: slow roasted turkey, pork tenderloin with cranberry, sliced roast beef with mushroom sauce, battered fried white fish, 15 traditional side dishes and salad favorites, dessert table. The served meal includes a tossed salad, marshmallow sweet potatoes, herb sage dressing, home-style green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie.

Oberlin Inn reservations required call 440.775.1111.

Or choose The Lube! Quaker Steak & Lube in Sheffield and Vermilion; both are serving a great menu of your holiday favorites buffet style: chef-carved oven roasted turkey, chef-carved slow roasted beef sirloin, honey glazed ham topped w/pineapple, sweet potatoes in butter rum sauce, homemade stuffing, whipped potatoes & gravy, award-winning wings, green bean casserole, shrimp pasta in golden garlic cream sauce,  penne pasta w/bolognese sauce, New England clam chowder, Italian wedding soup, full salad bar, harvest dessert patch featuring pumpkin and pecan pies, and sugar free selections. 

Call for reservations Sheffield: 440.934.9464 Vermilion:440.967.3724

Want to burn off some of that meal with a family activity? Head to Rebman's in Lorain for family bowling from 5 to midnight.

Or take in a movie before or after dinner at the Apollo in Oberlin. Catch Frozen between 1pm and 9:30pm and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire between 12:30pm and 10:15pm.

And at the Lorain Palace Theater, THOR The Dark World is in 3D at 7pm!

Lastly, if you would like to step out and toast your family.... Fort's Tavern in Wellington will be open at 8:30pm. They have a spiced apple martini and 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale on tap.

Click here for a cornucopia of fun! Plenty of events happening over the holiday weekend! 
And if your house is as stuffed as your turkey for the holidays...your problem is solved with nearby lodging! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This weather is for the birds! Literally!

The month of November has blown in with gusto!  Often times when the weather is not great for us, it can be a great opportunity for bird watching...the winds can drive birds inland and right into view.

Lorain County is a fabulous birding destination. With more than a dozen birding locations in the Huron & Lorain Loop of the Lake Erie Birding Trail you will find a plethora of options to see various species of birds. So bundle up and grab your binoculars and camera and step out into nature!

We visited a couple areas on the Lake Erie Birding Trail this week and, WOW, the color in our fall foliage is a tremendous backdrop for bird watching.

Inland at Lorain County Metro Park's Sandy Ridge Reservation in North Ridgeville birders marveled at the majestic Bald Eagles. The area attracts about 250 species through out the year. The wetlands at Sandy Ridge provide a safe haven for shorebirds in the fall and the beautiful wooded areas draw songbirds during fall migration.





Our fall foliage is peaking and our birding along Lake Erie is as well. November through early January, or whenever Lake Erie freezes, marks prime time for birds to flock to the Lorain Harbor. See flocks of gulls, from the common to the rare seeking shelter.                

Just east of the beautifully renovated Mile Long Pier overlooking the harbor is a perfect spot to enjoy songbirds in migration. A newly constructed platform extends out over the water for optimal viewing.



We have given you a glimpse at birding in north central Ohio, now it's up to you to get out there and step into nature. And when you need to warm up, stop in at Jackalope Lakeside for a bite to eat, located at the base of the Mile Long Pier. Or select from a number of dining options around Lorain County. And since you can't complete the birding loop and take in our picturesque fall foliage in just one day, you can cozy up in one of our B&B's or a nice hotel room. If you would like assistance in planning a bird watching adventure don't hesitate to call us at 1.800.334.1673.

Just down the road...

   Taking in the new fall season has definitely been easy...these past few days have been beautiful. As I drove along some of our back roads today I noticed some crimson leaves and realized autumn adventures for me and my family were "just down the road" - literally!

Dean Rd. along Back Roads and Beaches Route

   It seemed almost every country road I peered down was preparing its own taste of fall. Whether it was a store front with specials, a field transforming into an autumn festival or hay getting stacked and made ready for hayrides. Farmers markets with stands being stocked with fresh produce.

Fitch's Farm Market

 Wagons being hitched to take families and friends out in the orchards and patches to pick their own apples and pumpkins. There are corn mazes and haunted places for all ages and levels of ghoulishness!Cyclists out on the Back Roads and Beaches route and families scattered through the Lorain County Metro Parks many Reservations.

5 Corners Bed & Breakfast  (photo by David Nicely)

 Clambakes and crisp nights by a fire with a glass of wine at a local winery. Open houses at our charming B&B's! So much to see and do in north central Ohio, no matter which way you turn!


Celebrating fall just down the road sounds pretty good to me... I think I will settle right in!

For help planning your fall adventure go to www.visitloraincounty.com

Click here for an electronic version of our printed Calendar of Events guide.

Sights from a day at the Lorain County Fair

It's Fair Week here in Lorain County. Here are a few scenes from Tuesday. 

Food

Wood-fired pizza by Lorenzo's "The Beautiful Flame"

Animals

Midway

Displays and Attractions

Hauntville/Spooky Ranch display

Come out and see us in building 23 at the Fairgrounds. We'll be here all week!

Farewell to the Lorain County Funductors!

Melody (left) and Kaitlin

This summer has flown by! We got to experience so many fun local things while trying to show others how great our county is. Together Melody and I explored Lorain County this summer. We documented our travels here for you, now it is time for us to say goodbye...

Kaitlin

I think that we definitely got the best internship! This summer has been a blast! I think by far my favorite thing was our paddle boarding experience and the blog. I went along on a location scouting session which was awesome! It was great to get to see the kids so excited about paddle boarding and I love the photographs I got from that session. The photo opportunities I've gotten for the blogs really helped me stay in practice! I was so happy to be able to incorporate it into the blogs. I've learned so much about Lorain County in the past three months. It's amazing how much my own hometown has to offer that I didn't know about. The two coolest events that I had no idea we had are the Lorain Lighthouse tours and the Wellington Hot Air Balloon Festival. I regret to say I haven't gotten a chance to experience either of these events but they're both definitely on my bucket list now! I'm sad that the summer is over already and I have to say goodbye to all of the great ladies at Visit Lorain County but I'm so grateful for this awesome opportunity.

Melody

I honestly could not have asked for a better internship. I got the opportunity to do so much! I've sat in on meetings, represented Lorain County at the Ohio State Fair, and done some really fun stuff to write all about in this blog! As excited as I am to go back to The Ohio State University, I'll really miss everyone in this office and all the fun I've had through VLC this summer. It's crazy to me that so much stuff amazing stuff was right under my nose. I hope we've inspired you to get out and see it all for yourself!

To wrap things up, Lorain County is a great place to explore. It doesn't matter if you're a local looking for some new adventure, or seeking a vacation spot. We've got plenty to offer to anyone!

Follow the Fish!

This week Kaitlin and I were out and about in Lorain County, just running a few errands for the office, and it ended up being a really exciting day thanks to Follow the Fish Art and Adventure Trails! This was the first fish we ran across as we were walking in downtown Oberlin. It's right in front of the Oberlin Business Partnership.

Driving through Lorain we came across another fish. This one was quite a bit bigger than the first one of the day, and a lot more colorful! It's right by a stoplight, so when I saw it I excitedly scrambled for a camera from the passenger seat to get a quick picture while we were stopped. Check it and other great Lorain County sights on out Instagram page!

Later as we were making our way down Broadway we were lucky enough to spot the Follow the Fish store front, and a few of their neighbors have fish on display as well! It's such a unique experience to be driving through a city and see a piece of one of a kind locally made artwork directing you towards an awesome local business you may not have otherwise seen!

Our next stop was back to the VLC office where we were greeted by our own fishy friend. He's been hanging out here all summer!

You really never know where you'll come across one of these fish, whether you seek them out or just happen to bump into one like Kaitlin and I did this week or when we were out writing this blog post. We've only shown you a handful of the fish, so you'd better get out there and find some for yourself! You can find the locations online, or stop in to our tourist information center at 8025 Leavitt Road, Amherst OH to pick up a copy of the Follow the Fish Art and Adventure Trail guide.

Where have you been seeing fish around the county? Let us know in the comment section!

~Melody

Spotlight on Amherst, Ohio

Melody, Allie, and I spent a day exploring Amherst during the last week of July. Amherst is a great place to spend time in for a day or a week! There are so many things to do from shopping, to dining, to things for the kids.

Who can resist Kiedrowski's baked goods!

We started our day out right, with doughnuts! I love doughnuts and baked goods so I was very excited about this first stop. We stopped at Kiedrowski's Bakery to hear polka music and check out their freshly baked goods. Melody and I got doughnuts and Allie got one of their famous Snoogles. Kiedrowski's specializes in Polish baked goods and their patented Snoogle.

Allie loves these flipflops!

 After spending some time in the bakery we were re-energized and ready for shopping! We made our way to downtown Amherst to check out some local shopping. Our first stop was The Mermaid's Tale, an adorable boutique that offers unique jewelry and gifts and a great Vera Bradley selection. We had our sights set on the purse selection the boutique has, one can never have too many! We browsed around while I snapped pictures of our finds. Another great place to stop is Ridgehill Collectibles. There you will find unique collectibles and products made in America.

Melody celebrating national hotdog day.

It happened to be national hotdog day, so we had to stop at Hot Dog Heaven to celebrate! Hot Dog Heaven is a great spot in town to grab your very own made-to-order hot dog and fries and a delicious dessert! Located near downtown, it's an easy walk or drive after shopping around. They have dollar dog hours daily and their fries are delicious with a little chili powder on them. I would also recommend trying their funnel cake fries, they're a great way to end any meal!

The chalk wall at the new Mercy playground.

After our delicious lunch we went to check out the new playground at the Mercy Health and Recreation Center. This new playground was specially built for children with handicaps that would not normally be able to play on a playground. There is an awesome tree house and a swing that are wheel chair accessible. The playground includes slides, a giant sandbox, a pond for fishing, and a group of teepees that offer fun educational activities inside. I thought the new playground was really cool, being at the age to play in it again would be awesome!

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Amherst.

 On our way to the Sandstone Village we stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Amherst. It remembers the 98 people from Lorain County who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. This beautiful monument is located within walking distance of a local park. It's a great place to stop at on your daily walk.

Cheap gas at the Sandstone Village.

 The Sandstone Village is part of the Amherst Historical Society. This site has 10 historical buildings. We wandered around the grounds. The historic buildings are beautiful and have quirky details that were often amusing. When looking at the gas station we noticed the price of gas was 44 cents per gallon, I wish gas was still that price! We peeked in the windows of the Harris/Dute House, one of the oldest buildings in that location. There were so many old appliances in the kitchen! The caboose was closed up but while looking through the windows I was surprised to see how roomy it was. It reminded Allie and I of the Boxcar Children series. We also went to see the Blacksmith shop which is sometimes open to the public to see an actual blacksmith at work, and the Octagonal Barn which was used as a carriage house.

Amherst has many things to do any time of year from food to entertainment! The city of Amherst boasts so many great restaurants, I wish we had time to sample them all. Check out Visit Lorain County's dining listings for culinary options.

The Interns Learn What's "SUP"

We Visit Lorain County interns (or "funductors") had another exciting adventure! We hit the water on Lakeview Beach in Lorain to check out stand up paddling (SUP) with Lake Erie Paddler.

Jim teaching on the beach

When Kaitlin and I first arrived on the beach, we watched Jim Lawhead, the founder of Lake Erie Paddler, teach his last class of the day to kids of the Outdoor Adventure Camp through the Lorain County Metroparks. The kids got a lesson on where to be on the board, how to paddle, and how to stand up once they got on the water. After the kids came in from their little trip around the cove, we got to chat with them for a while. One boy excitedly told us about how he loved paddle boarding so much he was asking for a board for his next birthday. Other kids talked about how they were nervous at first, but once they actually did it they realized it was much easier than they thought, and a lot of fun! We also asked the group what their favorite parts were and some of the answers were bouncing on the waves, the challenge when waves rocked their board a bit, or just everything about it!

Jim helping the kids get  settled on their boards

After watching the kids have a blast on the water, we decided to try it for ourselves! Read on for our reactions from our day on the water!

Kaitlin

The interns out on the water

Paddle boarding was so much easier than I thought it would be! I was a little nervous on the drive over, not knowing what to expect. When we first got there I took some photographs of the kids getting ready and actually paddling out on the water. It was fun to see their excitement to try something new! Seeing all of the kids falling into the water made me a bit apprehensive, but after we watched a little closer, it seemed that most of the kids who fell in were being pushed. I'm glad that Melody and I weren't into rough housing on the water! Our instructor, Julie, showed us the basics and had us go out pretty quickly. After our lesson, it seemed that the best way to get better was to practice! I had so much fun! It was great to just relax and float around out on the water. The great thing about SUP is that anyone can do it, which I found out on first hand on our trip! Out of everything to do at Lakeview beach, Melody and I definitely had the best time with Lake Erie Paddler!

Melody

Melody, Kaitlin, and instructor Julie enjoying the lake

Ok, I officially have the best summer internship there is. Going paddle boarding was one of the most fun things I've gotten to do all summer. I was a little hesitant when we first got to the beach (mostly because I had a meeting pretty soon after, and didn't particularly want to get my hair wet) but it looked so fun I couldn't justify hanging out on the beach and just watching. And, as it turned out, I managed to stay dry above my knees, so don't even try that excuse ladies! We were off after a quick lesson from Jim's right hand girl Julie, who is not only a SUP instructor but also really talented in other water sports like kite boarding and surfing! When I first pushed off I had a hard time finding my balance, but once I relaxed and settled into it, it was great! I had so much fun out on the water, and I'd love to get out there and try it again sometime. I have to admit- it's a little addicting.

There you have it! It's a pretty clear consensus; stand up paddling is an awesome way to spend a day. We officially give Lake Erie Paddler the funductor seal of approval! Check 'em out next time you're planning a family day, birthday party, or maybe even date! When you're ready to plan your day with them, make your reservation by calling 440.935.9291 or emailing lakeeriepaddler@gmail.com. 

Lakecation!

No matter where you live or what your ideal vacation consists of, north central Lake Erie is a great vacation spot! For those looking for a vacation filled with adventure at every turn, Lake Erie won't disappoint. Here are a few suggestions for a two or three day getaway.

Staying at Village Inn and Efficiencies in Vermilion puts you as close to the water as you can get. Start your morning out by exploring the Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail or stop at West River Kayak to rent a canoe, kayak, paddle board, or bike.

Vermilion River

You're just minutes away from Mill Hollow, a Lorain County Metro Park, where you'll find hiking trails and great fishing. Stop by Bad Boy Bait and Tackle to stock up for your trip out.  If hiking isn't your thing check out one of our many local charters for a day of fishing.

Mile-Long Pier in Lorain

Looking for lakeside dining? Stop by Jackalope Lakeside and enjoy a delicious meal and a cocktail while watching a beautiful Lake Erie sunset! Walk "The Mile-Long Pier" after dinner to do some evening pier fishing or to enjoy the view of the lighthouse or catch a sunset cruise.

Lake Erie is also a great place to relax. Here are several great places to kick back and rest your head...Sunset Shores B&B, Arbor Lights B&B, Lake Breeze Inn, and The Beacon B&B.

Sunset Shores Bed and Breakfast

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at one of these B&Bs and then check out the Historic Rose Garden at Lakeview Park. The shape of the garden, a wheel with 8 spokes, is the Rotary Club emblem. It has approximately 2,500 roses that are planted in 48 beds with connecting walkways, completing the wheel and spokes. Stop and smell the roses while admiring the view of the lake and get a glimpse of the Lorain Lighthouse!

Rose Cafe

While you're in Lorain stop at the Black River Historical Society to learn local Lake Erie lore! Head back over to the Rose Cafe for lunch. From there travel to Olde Avon Village for some shopping at Sassy's, The Treehouse Gallery and Tea Room and dinner at Strip Steakhouse! Wind down after dinner with a summer concert on Friday evenings in July at Lakeview Park.

For more shopping, food, and historical sites near Lake Erie check out Friends of Harbour Town 1837 in Vermilion, Papermoon Vineyards, K-Cream Korner in Lorain, Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria, and Peter Miller House Museum.