Travel

The Taft Museum of Art

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October 14, 2024 By Jennifer Lambert 10 Comments

We were so excited to visit The Taft Museum of Art for a special photography exhibit.

Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs

We loved the photos and how they were displayed and explained.

There were some famous photographers exhibited, like Man Ray and Dorothea Lange. Portraits and artistic compositions.

Some of our favorites:

We took a fun mirror selfie.

The house is lovely with the architecture, decor, and art.

We loved this archway and the drapery is just gorgeous everywhere.

We got in trouble for leaning too far over and set off the alarm to view these little squirrel containers more closely.

There’s also a really adorable tea room and garden area. We’d love to go back and see other exhibits.

Plan your visit to The Taft Museum of Art.

10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday–Monday

Admission is free for Taft members, military, and youth (17 and under); $15 for adults; $12 for seniors. Non-members save by purchasing tickets online. Sundays and Mondays are free!

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American Sign Museum

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September 30, 2024 By Jennifer Lambert 12 Comments

We finally visited the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati.

It’s so much fun walking through history!

There are plaques throughout detailing the history of lights and fonts and advertising and signage. It was really quite amazing.

So many memories!

We always meet the neatest people and have such lovely chats about history!

We loved it because we love history and art and this was such a fun homeschool field trip for all ages.

OPEN Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Plan your visit to The American Sign Museum.

Neonworks of Cincinnati is Cincinnati’s only full-time neon sign shop.

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Panama City Beach Trip

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August 19, 2024 By Jennifer Lambert 11 Comments

We planned a family beach vacation around Alex’s baseball tournament in Panama City Beach, Florida.

It was absolutely glorious and the first time Alex has been to the beach in his memory! He was born in Hawaii, but we moved to Utah when he was just a few months old.

We left Ohio on 14 June, and stayed in Homewood Suites (super nice!) south of Birmingham. We got Zaxby’s for dinner and ate by the pool.

We arrived in Panama City Beach on Saturday evening, 15 June.

I chose Tidewater Resort for their two pools and other fun amenities like a cute bar and shop, its proximity to the beach, walking to restaurants and Pier Park, and near the baseball facilities.

It was a nice place. Lots of street construction going on, but no real concerns and they have a lovely parking garage and walk over bridge.

There are rules for where you can place beach tents and chairs. Security patrols the property and we felt safe and protected. There are kitties who live under the boardwalk!

Our condo was on the 18th floor.

Balcony beach view:

View from our front door of a lagoon and Pier Park:

I thought everything was just lovely and clean and beautiful. My only real complaint were no hooks to hang towels or wet swimwear which I thought was a sad oversight.

I had read the horrifying reviews about the elevators, and they did take a while, but we only had two or three times when we actually waited more than 10 minutes. We had to plan at checkin and checkout with the luggage trolleys which take up a lot of space and weight. Many people were irritable, but it is what it is. I thought all the staff was very friendly and helpful.

We were pretty exhausted after driving two days and unloading the cars. We just got Marco’s pizza that first night.

Sunday and Monday were fun beach days for us, and the only days the water, waves, currents weren’t that scary.

It was red and double red flags every day after that. Some people even died which was so tragic.

Sunday was Father’s Day and the evening was absolutely torrential rain! We just ended up at Whataburger for dinner. Some local bars and restaurants actually got flooded. It was a mess!

Monday, mostly the whole team ate at Sharky’s and it was just adorable.

Craig, our waiter, was outstanding! The food is great and fun drinks in cute souvenir cups! Playgrounds and sand volleyball for the kids. A lovely experience all around.

Tori and I chose to walk back to our condo and we stopped at Pier Park to walk around. We stopped in a few of the tourist shops. There are some restaurants and bars and boutiques in Pier Park, popular places like Margaritaville and Dick’s Last Resort. At the circle, there is Sky Wheel and amusements like IMAX and Dave and Buster’s and some other places. It connects to the nicer shopping mall with Target, Dillard’s and JCPenney off 98/30A.

Tuesday, 18 June, was the official beginning of the baseball tournament and the boys won both their pool play games. In the afternoon, there were very disorganized skills competitions with misinformation, but the boys had fun.

Some of the boys got a golf cart with older brothers to cruise around. Alex said that was his favorite part of the trip!

We ate dinner at Sandbar. Three generations veteran family-owned and lots of veteran memorabilia inside. It was great, with live music and delicious food.

Wednesday and Thursday was double elimination tournament play. We didn’t make it to Thursday.

Wednesday night, 19 June, was a coach dinner at Diego’s Burrito Factory & Margarita Bar, as a consolation. It’s a really cute little beach taco bar. Counter orders and then they bring the food. Order drinks at the bar. Very basic menu excellently executed.

Thursday night, 20 June, we went to Swampy Jack’s Wongo Adventure, which is built on the old site of The Miracle Strip.

They tried to keep the memory alive of the Miracle Strip fun games and rides and it was a rush down memory lane for me!

They have an absolutely beautiful putt-putt course.

Friday, 21 June, we met another baseball family at Runaway Island and I got some gorgeous flounder.

Saturday, 22 June, Aaron and Alex left early and stayed in Huntsville to see a Trash Pandas game, then home for a local baseball camp.

We went shopping at some local thrift stores.

The Best thrift store in PCB is Save the Closet that helps hurricane victims.

We found some fun and silly things, like artsy sunglasses and a vintage handmade polyester pantsuit.

The photos are from when Miracle Strip was destroyed in the hurricane Opal in 1995.

The best ice cream is at Bruster’s!

We had dinner at Salty Sue’s and the fish and shrimp were overcooked, but the okra and hush puppies were great!

Sunday, 23 June, we drove to the Destin outlet mall. There’s a Häagen-Dazs shop there! Vans and Converse!

We stopped at Donut Hole for a snack!

We stopped in Seaside on the way back and that is the most beautiful white sand beach!

We ate dinner on the boardwalk. It’s not much different than my memories!

Monday, 24 June, we found some other thrift stores and drove around. It was our last day.

We checked out Rosemary Beach for some photos. It’s a lovely little place.

We ate dinner on the Pier at Hook’d right at sunset. The food was so fresh and delicious. The staff is wonderful!

We walked the beach back to our condo.

We left Tuesday, 25 June, stayed a night in Athens, AL, then home. It was hot in Alabama – 105°!

We loved the beach and Alex can’t wait to go back. I have done a good job raising him right.

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Dayton Photo Walk

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November 13, 2023 By Jennifer Lambert 23 Comments

We often go downtown for Dragons baseball games and eating in nearby restaurants.

After living near Dayton for almost seven years, we still don’t feel familiar with the area and it was fun to explore a little bit.

My daughter is taking a photography class with CCP at a local university. One of her assignments is a roll of black and white film of downtown city buildings. We drove to Dayton and got some pretty neat photos and had a fun time walking around.

I snapped a few similar photos with my Google Pixel phone camera for reference.

It’s sad to see how desolate and empty the city is. Dayton is full of history, but it’s rundown and many businesses and industry have left to other states or countries in the past decade. The Arcade is getting rebuilt and it’s not open to the public every day so we didn’t get to see it.

Dayton experienced a dramatic rise in the early 20th century, but de facto racial segregation, a poorly educated labor force, and failed revitalization projects precipitated its decline through the turn of the 21st century.
Adam Millsap

We walked a little over three miles from Sinclair to Oregon district, in a rough square to get some interesting shaped buildings, reflections, and shadow/light combinations.

The weather was gorgeous: sunny, cloudless, 61.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unique architecture.

The Old Montgomery County Courthouse was built in 1847.

The Conover Building, also known as Wright Stop Plaza.

I love the contrast of colors and shapes with this Dayton RTA Wright Stop Station.

I love this view of the Conover Building with the other two buildings. They remind me of a child’s shapes puzzle.

Dayton Memorial Hall

There are fun murals on the sides of buildings.

Sir Winston Churchill Mural at the corner of Jefferson and 2nd.

I love the detail on this little cardinal!

Such a lovely painting and quotes on the side of the library.

We loved the Wagtown Dog Trail pawprints.

Liberty Tower was the tallest building in Dayton from 1931 to 1969.

My daughter easily filled up a 36 exposure roll of film on our walk and I can’t wait to see the results!

Dayton, Ohio, is known as the Birthplace of Aviation. Dayton is known as the home of many inventions. Some of most famous are aviation, the cash register, the hydraulic jump to prevent flooding, code-breaking machines that helped end World War II and the pop top. The Dayton Peace Accords signed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1995, ended the Bosnian War.

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Cleveland Trip

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August 21, 2023 By Jennifer Lambert 8 Comments

We haven’t had a family vacation in a long time!

We’d heard that Cleveland was a great place to visit and it’s far enough away that we needed to stay a few days. The kids were involved in planning what they wanted to see and do.

We drove from Dayton to Cleveland for a five-day trip to see some museums and Lake Erie.

The House

We direct-rented a little 3-bedroom house a block or so away from Headlands Beach State Park.

It smelled like wet dog when we arrived, even with an air purifier running.

I had to sprinkle essential oils on tissues and place them around the house and crack the bathroom window for a while to get rid of the smell. I developed an ear infection that I really don’t know if it had to do with any allergies in the house or not.

The decor was confusing: industrial shabby chic lake cottage vibes. We assume they bought a rundown house, gutted it, and remodeled as cheaply as possible for a rental income. I loathe open shelving.

The kitchen/dining room was nice and it was funny to have the same dining table that we own at home! We were excited to have a gas stove. The sofa was comfy. The beds were comfy.

I really do try not to be picky. We like renting houses or apartments for our larger family so we can eat breakfast and sometimes dinner instead of dining out every meal. It’s cheaper and more convenient than hotels for us.

The refrigerator had a water/ice dispenser, but the filter sensor was flashing red and we had no ice. There was a Brita pitcher inside the fridge. We bought ice.

All the drinkware was plastic except for tiny ceramic coffee mugs. There was not a serving platter at all. There was no foil, and only one dish tab for the dishwasher. We bought some.

There were only 1.5 bathroom tissue rolls in each of the two bathrooms for five people for five nights. We had to go buy more. It’s not a huge deal and maybe this is expected? But for the price of the rental, I would expect more.

Day 1

We stopped in Mt. Vernon to see the fountain!

Everyone seems to rave about this fountain in all my Ohio travel groups.

I mean, it’s super cute, but so much smaller than I expected, and not worth driving too far out of the way for. We snapped a few photos and drove on to our destination.

The little town didn’t have much and we moved on.

We stopped at Das Schnitzel Haus in Parma for a very late lunch/early dinner. Wow, is that a great place! Best German food we’ve had since leaving Europe. They brew their own beer across the street at Schnitz Ale Brewery and offer bar foods there. They were out of the Kölsch, but the Hefeweizen and Pilsner were lovely.

I don’t have a single picture of the food. It was amazing and we scarfed it all down!

We checked out our rental house and ran to Meijer to stock up on a few things, like actual drinking glasses and some food items we didn’t bring in our coolers.

We walked along the beach, looking for neat rocks and glass.

Day 2

We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This is where Tori really wanted to go. Honestly, the rest of us didn’t much care about it.

We parked in the garage at the Great Lakes Science Museum.

I think it’s pricey, loud and bright. It got very crowded about halfway through for us, and I’m glad we were able to quickly finish up our tour.

One of the escalators is very narrow and shallow and I had an anxiety attack going up to the 4th floor to see the Pink Floyd Wall.

There are some nice history exhibits and famous items.

Elvis and The Beatles have huge areas with info about how they changed the music industry.

One of the Cleveland signs is right behind the Rock Hall and it has a lovely city backdrop.

We walked downtown to see some sites.

It was so hot and sunny that day, more than any other day of our trip!

We ate a late lunch at Geraci’s Slice Shop.

This was the only thing my son really wanted to do.

I imagine the pizza is best fresh. There are pizzas in a window and they heat up a slice like at a mall from the 1980’s. We showed up about 2 PM, so it was ok.

They have two free table top video games!

We stopped at Heinen’s and bought some steaks to cook for dinner.

It’s a very nice local grocery chain. I wish Dayton had some better quality stores!

Cleveland Main Library has a very fun Floral Immersive Exhibition by British Artist Rebecca Louise Law. We surprised our artist Akantha with a stop and to enjoy the air conditioning.

We were exhausted after walking in the city in the heat. Everything took so much longer than I expected.

Day 3

We went to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

This was the main event for Akantha, but Tori and I love art museums too.

I looked up online lots of reviews and expectations for how long it would take and most said a couple hours. I don’t know what people do in art museums, but we were there for a looooong time. This place is huge!

Lots of Asian and African art, as well as some lovely Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern pieces.

We ate an early dinner at Guarino’s and they let us dine on their lovely patio – even though we didn’t have a reservation!

Free valet parking. It’s the oldest restaurant in Cleveland. Lovely service – they didn’t even rush us. It was delicious! The best Italian food I’ve had since leaving Europe.

Alex got chicken piccata. Tori and I got two veal dishes and shared. Akantha got lasagna. Aaron got ravioli.

Great cocktails. Great salad and soup.

The proscuitto wrapped shrimp appetizer is divine. We got emotional about it.

We got gelato at Rosso. It was ok. No cones, only cups.

We drove through Lake View Cemetery.

It’s very lovely and easy to navigate. Signs point to the main sites and they’re available on online maps.

We thought these deer were statues until one licked his nose. Wow.

It was along day and we did everything on my list!

Day 4

We drove to see the longest covered bridge. I guess we should’ve packed lunches and done a bridge tour.

It was hot and there were lots of wasps flying around.

We drove through the strip at Geneva-on-the-Lake. I’m sure I’m going to hurt some feelings, but that place was awful.

We counted two axe throwing bars, a gun range, several 21+ night clubs, and a Nazi biker bar. There was one little arcade with Eddie’s and a DQ. There were two gravel-covered paid parking lots. Lots of little slummy motels and tiny cabins. We didn’t think it was worth it to stop and eat at Eddie’s.

The beach was small and crowded. We didn’t check out the Lodge and I’ve never been able to make a reservation for our large family; they’re always booked and very expensive anyway.

We were very disappointed since everyone seems to rave about how cute Geneva is. We weren’t very impressed with any of the lake towns we saw. Maybe the ones between Cleveland and Toledo are better?

We stopped at Sam’s Club for burger patties and grilled those for dinner and later walked along Headlands Beach and found a ton of glass after a storm!

The water was receded more tonight and we could walk on soft sand barefooted. It was a lovely evening.

Day 5

It was pouring rain when we woke up.

Aaron didn’t want to go fishing and Alex was very disappointed.

We went to the Cleveland Aquarium.

It was actually delightful even though they’re all teens. We all still do love zoos and aquariums.

We got to have the most adorable little shrimp crawl all over our hands.

The aquarium was super cute, in the old Foundry building.

Just when we thought we were maybe halfway through, there were sharks, then the gift shop. It was small, but we had fun.

We drove to West Side Market and got some lovely pasties and pies at an Irish vendor for lunch. I bought some sausage, figs, and mangos to bring home.

We walked to see the Guardians at Hope Bridge.

The Guardians symbolize progress in transportation. Each Guardian holds a different vehicle in its hands: a hay wagon, a covered wagon, a stagecoach, and a 1930s-era automobile, as well as four types of motorized trucks used for construction.

They’re magnificent.

My husband and son drove to see some some other Cleveland signs, The Christmas Story house (and bought a leg lamp Xmas ornament), and went to the Guardians and Blue Jays baseball game.

Akantha didn’t want to do any of that and Tori decided to stay with us. We were a little disappointed we didn’t get to see the house or game.

I took my other two kids out to dinner at Brennan’s in Fairport Harbor. They don’t have to advertise. It was lovely.

Overall, this wasn’t our best or most memorable trip.

It’s getting difficult traveling with teens who have so many different preferences and interests – even when I make sure each one has a day and tour they prefer.

We are not all that impressed with Ohio, but we keep exploring.

Linking up: Randomosity, Eclectic Red Barn, Artsy Fartsy Mama, Gay NYC Dad, Life Tales Books, Perfectly Imperfect, Growing Garden, Joanne Viola, Fluster Buster, Ridge Haven, Try it Like it, InstaEncouragements, Grammy’s Grid, My Life Abundant, Slices of Life, Anita Ojeda, Silverado, Random Musings, Esme Salon, Mostly Blogging, Suburbia, Jenerally Informed, LouLou Girls, 2Chicks, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Lisa Notes, Modern Monticello, Katherine’s Corner, Pam’s Party, Pieced Pastimes, Shelbee on the Edge, CreatewJoy,

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Gulf Shores

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June 19, 2023 By Jennifer Lambert 10 Comments

I took a little beach trip with two of my kids to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The kids haven’t been to a real beach in so many years.

We lived in Hawaii for three years when they were toddlers.

When we lived in Germany, we traveled to Normandy, Netherlands, and Bruges, but those beaches were cold and windy.

We’ve been to lakes in Utah and Ohio, but there is nothing like the ocean.

We won’t travel to Florida for political and personal reasons, so Alabama is a great choice.

I have fond memories of beach vacations when I was growing up. My parents and I took a week every summer to visit Florida, the Gulf, or the Atlantic coast.

My daughter attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, so we picked her up and headed further south.

We left Huntsville right after Space Camp graduation and ate an early dinner at Whataburger.

We arrived at our condo at 9:30 at night.

We couldn’t get in.

The codes didn’t work.

I called the 800 number and after the agent did some research and called me back, they gave me a code that worked. The instructions for entry were all outdated and it should not have been complicated.

We were so exhausted and stressed out for our first evening. We unloaded our bags and rushed down to see the shore in the dark.

The condo building was right on the beach, at the end of the strip, right before the state park.

The beach was so beautiful!

We had an easy schedule:

We ate breakfast in our condo, then spent every morning at the beach, walking, looking for shells, playing in the sand and waves.

Early afternoon, we packed up our beach stuff, ate lunch in our condo, and went out for the afternoon, shopping and exploring, then ate a nice dinner out.

Tori and I walked the beach at dusk each night and saw little sand crabs and mole crabs and minnows. There is a protected area where a sea turtle laid her eggs!

We crashed pretty early every night! I remember having more energy when I was younger, and we would do mini golf, or get ice cream, or walk around, but whew, not this week.

Day 1

The first morning, after looking at the beach and playing in the water a bit, we went to Walmart and Publix and stocked up on breakfast, lunch, and snack foods. We also got Publix subs because those are amazing.

We got sand toys and boogie boards. Just because they’re 16 and 17 doesn’t mean they can’t play!

Then the code to the condo stopped working the next afternoon. Seriously? One of the codes from my notes worked the rest of our stay, whew! I did not write a good review on their rental site.

We hit the tourist trap stores near our condo and got shirts and some fun pictures.

We got the best shaved ice. Very generous servings for only $3 cash only.

The first night, we ate at Caribbean Grill, right across the street from our condo. It was a fun place; food was ok. Tori got crawfish and shrimp pasta. Akantha got chicken strips. I got shrimp scampi and a festive fruity drink called What the Duck. It came with a little rubber duckie that the bartender squeaked before plopping in the glass.

Day 2

We went to the super cute town of Foley and shopped in the used DVD/CD/books stores. Got caught in a little thunderstorm.

Then we shopped in the Tanger outlet mall (kinda sparse compared to 20 years ago). We got Mellow Mushroom pizza for a “snack.” It’s not quite as good as I remember and very expensive.

The second night, we ate at Mikee’s. It was a little bit better, nice ambience.

My kids got red snapper and fried shrimp. I got the local redfish. Huge portions.

Day 3

We went to Alligator Alley, a rescue center for gators. There are about 700 gators in the park and a little zoo of other reptiles.

We got feed them nuggets; we paid for a bucket.

We got to hold a baby!

We got to see the big feeding time and hear about their preserve.

The kids said it was the highlight of the trip!

The third night, we ate at DeSoto’s and it was absolutely amazing!

They had adorable little mini loaves of bread and honey butter.

I got the flounder amandine with shrimp and scallops and I got very emotional because I haven’t had such fresh seafood in so many years. It was so beautiful.

My kids got the Caribbean triggerfish and fried fish and shrimp combo.

Day 4

We hit some thrift stores. Most are closed Sundays and Mondays. They all close pretty early – between 3 and 5 in the afternoon.

The last night, we ate at Lambert’s Cafe…because throwed rolls!

It was great fun and amazing food, generous portions, fun atmosphere. We got lots of souvenirs.

They serve some meals in a huge frying pan. I got country ham. My kids got catfish and chicken dumplings. They have the best fried okra I’ve ever eaten in my life.

Day 5

We headed towards home and hit a couple more thrift stores on our way out of town.

We stopped off again in Huntsville to rest a night on our way home to Ohio. There is just no way I can drive straight through for 12+ hours.

We got Zaxby’s for dinner and it’s so good. We only have Raising Cane’s in Ohio, and the kids agreed that Zaxby’s is very good, and certainly way better than CFA.

I love Gulf Shores so much that I could buy a beach house there. Maybe in 5-10 years when I have no more pressing responsibilities.

My kids were glad to be home and one said it is really not their thing; they prefer city trips. I love all the trips: beach, mountains, cities. There is always something fun to see and learn.

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Burr Oak Review

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September 5, 2022 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

We have been wanting to get out and explore some natural wonders of Ohio and I’m so glad we chose Burr Oak!

We haven’t gone on a real trip in so long.

There have been significant obstacles to our traveling these last few years: various unexpected expenses, sprained ankles and a broken leg!, COVID restrictions, my husband’s retirement and new job, extracurricular classes, my son’s elite baseball schedule, and my teen’s part-time job.

While waiting for a time of calm, I realized I just had to jump at a weekend that looked somewhat open and have my people ask off work for a few days.

We rented a cabin at Burr Oak National Park.

My husband actually called them to book the reservation after I had trouble with their online site. They have lots of deals for veterans and teachers and we got a free night for staying three nights. There are fun packages too.

We drove through Hocking Hills and hit three major sites on the way to our cabin.

The cabins are newly remodeled and worked fine for us.

One bedroom with a queen bed and another bedroom with two bunk sets. The one bathroom was small but it worked out. We never have enough towels and there was nowhere to really hang them.

There’s a lovely screened in back porch with a little cast iron bistro table and two chairs and I ate my breakfast our there every morning.

We brought some basics to make meals just like we eat at home. I brought my rice cooker, water cooker and teapot for tea, and my favorite frying pan and knives. My husband brought his pour-over for his coffee. We brought olive oil, an onion, minced garlic, butter, and salt, pepper, and Italian spice grinders. I now know to bring lemon juice next time. We missed it.

I packed coolers with marinated meats for the grill and zucchini from our garden. We had burgers and dogs with chips, Asian steak and rice, and chicken breasts with boiled potatoes.

We brought room temp farm eggs from our egg lady, bacon and sausage, and pancake mix for breakfasts.

The kitchen was ok. I don’t mind hand washing dishes. The stove and oven worked great. There weren’t any spatulas and we don’t like plastic cups. There was no bakeware so I had to buy some aluminum pans.

We went to the little Kroger in the nearby town of Glouster and bought sponges and cups and spatulas. We got fixings for sandwiches and salad and donuts.

We rented a pontoon and kayaks. Neither my kids nor my husband had ever been boating and they all loved it! They are first come, first served, so it’s best to get to the rental dock early. We got the last pontoon and kayaks our second day – whew!

The lake is lovely and easy to navigate for beginners. The lodge had a beautiful view from the deck and from the water.

We saw so many herons – blue and green! We saw ducks and turtles. The American lilies were in bloom. We even saw an osprey dive down for a fish!

Tori and I kayaked all over the lake, and then we met up with my husband and other two kids in the pontoon for lunch.

We were so tickled by this picnic table right in the lake by a tiny little sandy beach. It was a perfect spot to rest for a bit.

Akantha and Alex wanted to try the kayaks and they realized very quickly how much work it is!

We were all so excited to see the American water lilies in bloom. They smell heavenly and are a lovely source of food for their lotus pods with seeds, and their roots.

The lily pads are HUGE. Like humongous, some almost a yard across. They float but are attached to their tuber root down in the mud.

The white lilies have long stalks above the water.

The pink lilies have shorter stalks and there is another much smaller lily in among the big ones that might be a different species.

Tori caught the only fish from the pontoon, when we anchored near the lilies. She was proud of this catfish and I taught them how to remove it without getting stung – by wrapping him in a towel. He was a feisty bugger.

I used to fish from boats and shore at Lake Allatoona every summer with my Aunt Betty and she taught me everything she knew.

Our last evening, we fished off the little dock by the lodge and Alex caught fish after fish – all little ones but he was so happy!

While we ate our dinners in our cabin, I took the kids to the lodge restaurant for cake after dinner and we got to enjoy the view and sunset. There’s a full bar and the bartender is just lovely. The wait staff gets a little overwhelmed. The menu has pizza and barbecue and apparently a lovely breakfast bar on weekends.

We enjoyed our short time at Burr Oak and it was a lovely respite after COVID restrictions and isolation and a last hurrah before the hustle and bustle of autumn.

Linking up: Eclectic Red Barn, OMHG, Slices of Life Katherine’s Corner, Penny’s Passion, LouLou Girls, Jenerally Informed, Shelbee on the Edge, God’s Growing Garden, Simply Coffee, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, CWJ, Being a Wordsmith, Modern Monticello Homestead, Fluster Buster, Ducks in a Row, Pinch of Joy, Create with Joy, Mostly Blogging, Suburbia, Silverado, Grammy’s Grid, Ridge Haven, Pieced Pastimes, Pam’s Party, Random Musings,

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Hocking Hills

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September 5, 2022 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

I have wanted to see Hocking Hills since before we even moved to Ohio. So, about six or more years now.

It’s just far enough away that we didn’t think we could swing it in a day trip. Three hours there, hiking all day, then three hours home? Whew!

I have looked to no avail for a cabin to rent that didn’t break the bank and could house all of us. I prefer to have a kitchen and separate bedrooms instead of renting two hotel rooms and it’s usually cheaper. I’ve seen so many cabins for 4, but so few for 5 or more. And all the cabins book up really fast and I couldn’t figure out how to plan that far ahead with our busy schedules.

I will say that traveling with teens and older kids is so much fun and I love that they’re independent and don’t need me as constantly as when they were younger.

Luckily, I found a cabin for a long weekend at Burr Oak, and we planned to drive out early and hit some major Hocking Hills sites before checking in.

I recommend downloading or screenshotting maps since cell service is spotty in the area.

We parked at three trail heads to easily access the sites.

Ash Cave

The parking lot was very tight and full of deep pot holes full of water.

There were only permanent portapotties.

There is a very nice pavilion with grills.

The path to the cave is paved and signs say one-way, but if you have a stroller or accessibility issues, you have to return this way.

It was really exciting when we caught our first view of the magnitude of this rocky cave from the path.

We climbed up the stairs and returned on the treacherous high path through the woods.

Cedar Falls

The paved parking lot is nice at Cedar Falls trailhead.

There are real bathrooms that seem pretty well-kept.

The wide walkway was really beautiful and full of ferns and mushrooms. There was one big muddy stretch and we had to climb up and over to the side by some rocks and tree roots or risk getting completely muddy and stuck.

The views were really beautiful and we took a long time here looking at all the plants and bugs.

Old Man’s Cave

This site is right off the huge paved parking area for the Hocking Hills visitor center.

The shop wasn’t great. There are fun activities inside for little kids. There are great bathrooms. There are park rangers with maps and info at a desk. It’s a pretty center.

The trailheads weren’t well-marked and we wanted the quickest option since we were tired and this was our last stop.

To be honest, this was disappointing after seeing Ash Cave and Cedar Falls.

We could almost view it from the parking lot. We walked the short way in to get some pictures and went right back to our car. I mean, it’s pretty, but we were glad it was our last stop and we loved the other sites so much more.

Hocking Hills is a beautiful region and I would love to see the leaves in autumn. We hope to return to see some other sites now that we are more familiar with the area.

We stayed at a Burr Oak cabin and that was cost effective and easy for us this time around.

Linking up: Eclectic Red Barn, God’s Growing Garden, Shelbee on the Edge, OMHG, LouLou Girls, Jenerally Informed, Pinch of Joy, Create with Joy, Mostly Blogging, Suburbia, Silverado, Grammy’s Grid, Ridge Haven, Simply Coffee, Pieced Pastimes, Pam’s Party, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, CWJ, Being a Wordsmith, Modern Monticello, Slices of Life Katherine’s Corner, Penny’s Passion, Homestead, Fluster Buster, Ducks in a Row, Random Musings,

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Jurassic Quest at Coney Island Amusement Park

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August 17, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Our dinosaurs are ready and raring to return from extinction. After sold out weekends in San Antonio, Dallas, OKC, and Detroit, we will now be migrating to Cincinnati, OH, August 21 – August 30, with our FIRST EVER JURASSIC DRIVE-THRU!

The nation’s best touring dinosaur exhibit has been transformed into an interactive drive-thru experience, featuring over 70 moving and life-like dinosaurs, as well as our 50 foot-long Megalodon! The drive-thru experience has seen over 100,000 cars and 400,000 people in attendance since launching the national tour in mid-July. Although the drive-thru experience means guests will stay safe inside their vehicle, you’ll still need to watch out for the swinging tail of our 80 foot-long Spinosaurus!

The Jurassic Quest Drive Thru is the only place to encounter some of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth, and some of the eeriest marine creatures to ever lurk the ocean’s depths, from the safety of your family vehicle. Cincinnati guests will be among the first in the nation to go on a quest with our online audio tour that will lead them throughout the thrilling dinosaur safari.

Currently touring as a Drive-Thru only. The largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibition in North America. Now with new animatronic water dwellers, Jurassic Quest is the only dinosaur event that has up to 100, true to life-sized dinosaur replicas from the very small, to the gigantic, to those found under the sea. Guests will witness their favorite dinosaurs move, roar and roam and have the chance to interact with baby dinosaurs and adolescent dinosaurs, including the T. Rex, Spinosaurus, Triceratops and many others. With the addition of Ancient Oceans, guests will also be able to “swim” with our 50 foot long, prehistoric Megalodon!

For $49 per vehicle (9 people or fewer), your dino crew can time-travel and enjoy about an hour-long ride back in time.

Happening at the spacious Coney Island Amusement Park, Jurassic Quest worked in collaboration with leading paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur was painstakingly replicated in every detail. Guests will have the chance to drive through realistic scenes, without leaving their own vehicles, depicting how we understand dinosaurs looked and moved!

In addition to the life-like dinosaur exhibits, there will be opportunities to visit with our one-of-a-kind baby dinosaurs and our team of dino trainers as well as the chance to capture the moment with a safari-style photo of your vehicle and family transported back in time via a Jurassic setting complete with a dinosaur backdrop.

All attendees will leave with the same bragging rights, “We Survived Jurassic Quest 2020!” One photo per family is FREE and included in ticket purchase.

We will continue to take extra precautionary measures to provide a clean and safe event. Guests are to remain in vehicles and to wear masks in the event they exit the vehicle in allowed areas, including complimentary restrooms and the Dino Store.

Social distancing rules will be requested of all guests and maintained by Jurassic Quest crew. We will be sanitizing equipment, dinosaurs, and workstations more frequently and thoroughly throughout the entirety of the event. Our employees will be applying hand sanitizer and washing their hands regularly throughout each day, in addition to wearing masks. Guest safety and enjoyment is our top priority.

Those willing to take the challenge and join our Cincinnati Drive Thru Quest will need to buy tickets in advance online at www.jurassicquest.com. Tickets are $49 per vehicle. Guests must travel through the drive-thru in the comfort of their own vehicle – no rentals or golf carts will be provided and walkers are not allowed. To ensure participant safety, all guests must ride inside their vehicles (yes, pets inside vehicles are allowed), no riders in truck beds, however. Trailers are also not allowed – we’re worried they might tempt the hungry dinos too much! Oversized vehicles and vehicles with more than 9 riders are allowed but will need to contact Customer Service, customerservice@jurassicquest.com, for pricing and scheduling. A full list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found online, https://www.jurassicquest.com/drive-thru-faqs. For more information and to buy tickets visit www.JurassicQuest.com. Whether they are big or small, young or old, guests of Jurassic Quest have a dino-mite time!

Event: Jurassic Quest

Place: Coney Island Amusement Park

Date: August 21 – August 30, 2020, Timeslots and hours will vary by day (Closed Monday & Tuesday, August 24 -25)

Hours: 11 am – 8 pm opening day, August 21; 9 am – 8 pm daily

Admission: Tickets available online: https://www.jurassicquest.com/events/drive-thru-cincinnati

Cost for entry: $49 per vehicle.

Our Review

We attended Jurassic Quest as a family on the morning of Friday, August 21, 2020.

I will say I was a little apprehensive going with my kids who are older – ages 10, 13, and 14. I was concerned they would be too old and find it silly, but I needn’t have worried! We all loved it!

We found the entrance easily with our GPS app.

We thought the audio tour was wonderful. Great information, storytelling, and fun asides about William Shakespeare and Pluto. We laughed so hard we almost had to rewind it.

I do recommend best viewing out the driver’s side but the path zig zags through so everyone gets a good look.

We were impressed with the animatronic dinosaurs in their displays. We drove through and never felt rushed. I don’t think there was anyone behind us at all.

There were sounds for many dinosaurs, even though we can only speculate what they could have sounded like based on current animals that may have similar features.

We loved seeing all the different dinosaurs sorted into their various geological periods.

There are carnivores and herbivores, feathered, furred, flying, and swimming dinosaurs.

We were thrilled to see a life-size megalodon.

Oh no! This T Rex got hungry for Triceratops!

Thankfully, the companion Triceratops is ready to defend!

Watch out for the runaway T Rex!

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Why Now Is a Great Time To Travel by RV

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June 30, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Summer’s arrival rings in the travel season, but this year, things are a little different. The coronavirus pandemic has many rethinking their plans. Even as economies across the U.S. and around the world are beginning to open, for a lot of people, there is a great deal of uncertainty about how safe it is to take a vacation.

While airlines, trains and cruise lines are still in operation, most are functioning on drastically reduced schedules. Car travel is an option, but it does require frequent stops to use public facilities, potentially in virus hotspots. These modes of transportation might make the idea of a vacation a little less appealing. Never fear, there is another choice.

RV Travels

If you are still itching to get out of town, now is a great time to hit the road in an RV. Sales for recreational vehicles have skyrocketed during the pandemic, as many realize the benefits of owning one at a time when other options feel riskier. Before you buy, however, you might want to consult a financial planner, like Robert Ryerson, who can help you determine if the investment in an RV is right for you.

Safety First

When you travel in a motorhome or haul a trailer, you carry virtually everything you need with you, including the restroom, your food, and a place to lay your head at night. Traveling across the country in an RV reduces your risks of exposure during your journey. Between home and your destination, the only time you really need to get out is to fuel up.

Staying at a campground is safer than a hotel, especially when you are in a self-contained unit. Unless you opt for a camper van, popup or truck camper, chances are your RV will include a shower and toilet. This means that you and your family will not have to worry about accessing the facilities at the campground. As an added bonus, meeting new people is safer when you are outside and can easily stand six feet apart!

So Many Choices

During the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic, stay-at-home orders left many feeling confined and isolated. If you are ready to burst out of the four walls of your home, an RV offers freedom. While many states saw different levels of campground closures, most are now re-opening, though there still might be restrictions involved. For instance, you can expect pool closures in a majority of locations.

The type of trip you want will help you decide where to park your rig. Whether its the mountains, high plains, desert or coasts calling your name, an RV can take you there. From private resorts to State and National Parks, your options for places to stay are virtually endless. Just be sure to call ahead and reserve your spot, especially at the more popular locations.

The pandemic is changing the way many people live and travel. If you want a vacation but are hesitant to embark on a traditional car trip or cruise, and you are reluctant to fly, an RV is a great choice. For those who aren’t prepared to buy, renting is always an option. Beware, though, you might just get hooked on the freedom you experience when you travel in a house on wheels.

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