Our epic road trip is well underway, with our first week in the Cuyahoga Valley area of Ohio already behind us.
Beyond being an area of outstanding natural beauty, there are loads of cute shops and towns to check out, too.
I've been visiting this area with John's family for the last 15+ years, so I thought I might share some of my favorites as well as some new finds from this trip.
First things first, we always find time to squeeze in a hike. This time we enjoyed a walk through a local quarry along the river.
We signed the girls up for an art camp in the mornings at the Richfield Art Studio. If you are local and don't know about this place, you seriously must check it out. Classes for kids, and adults too, covering everything from painting, to pottery, to tie dye, and everything in between. The studio itself is small and quaint, the staff couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating, and the projects turned out super cute! It's a framer!
With the big girls in camp during the mornings, the adults were free to check out the local towns (Hudson above - great farmers market and fun bandstand concert for the 4th of July) and pop into a couple of our favorite shops.
The Yellow Creek Trading Company, in Peninsula, has been a favorite for the last couple of years. Their Christmas displays are especially nice, but their curating and selection is always outstanding.
One thing I noticed while shopping around, was the huge amount of fairy related items. I had no idea fairy gardens were so popular! I loved the fairy houses pictured above from the Precocious Dandelion in Bath, but unfortunately they were a bit out of my range at $150. I also loved the cement leaf shaped bird baths, found at Somerville Antiques, and was so inspired that the girls and I might make our own fairy garden when we get home.
We had loads of good home cooked meals, but this one really stood out. Not only because it was a great idea, but it tasted great too. Chipotle inspired, make your own burrito bowl.
Burrito bowl recipe care of Melissa d'Arabian, plus cubed avocado, lightly dressed green salad, shredded cheese, warm flour tortillas, and lime wedges. Yummy! This is definitely happening again in our home.
One other notable highlight from this trip was our visit to the Akron Zoo. It's a smaller zoo, which makes it perfect for the kiddos, that is really well maintained and beautifully planted. Don't miss the snow leopard cubs on display every morning!
Thanks to John's family for a great week in the Cuyahoga Valley!
until next time,
