Back Roads and Beaches Blog

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Winter's not so bad

Yes, it's February and you're probably itchin' to get out there and get moving. It's been COLD here in north central Ohio! BUT, the good part is, there is still a lot to do outside. Take a hike in one of Lorain County's fine Metro Parks or Findley State Park. Findley is a great place to cross country ski, snowshoe or take a winter hike.

Or, attend one of the Lorain County Metro Parks great winter events. The French Creek Nature Center will be the site of a distance learning program, "Meet the Musher," on February 27, from 2–3pm. A real-life musher will describe what it's like to be part of a sled dog race and how to get the dogs ready for a race. For information, call 440.949.5200.

Got a long holiday weekend? Combine your outdoor experience with one of the following things to do along the Back Roads and Beaches Route:

Lorain

Lakeview Park Photo: ©Mark Teleha

Lakeview Beach: Lake Erie's beautiful winter landscape from here can be stunning. Frozen views of the Lorain Lighthouse are spectacular. The new Rose Cafe is now open. From here you can enjoy a meal or Sunday brunch from the warmth of this cozy new hot spot.

Jackalope Restaurant: Another great spot to get in out of the cold and warm up with awesome views of Lake Erie and the Lorain Lighthouse.

Oberlin
Back Roads and Beaches is all about combining outdoor adventure with the arts, history and culture. This weekend is an especially good time to experience all these in Oberlin.

February 5–March 23: Carroll Dunham Prints
Oberlin College Allen Art Museum, Ripin Gallery.
Carroll Dunham (b. 1949) is one of the most prolific printmakers of his generation. This survey exhibition of Dunham's graphic work is drawn entirely from the holdings at the Addison Gallery of American Art and documents the artist's engagement with printmaking from the mid-1980s to the present. A prolific and inventive draftsman and painter, Dunham combines abstraction, biomorphism, and cartooning in a lively and playful way to explore a wide range of images that he adapts to the special demands of the printmaking medium. Dunham's graphic vocabulary is broad and the present exhibition includes lithographs, etchings, wood engravings, screenprints and recent monotypes. Dunham will be on campus during February to lecture and work with Oberlin College students.

Saturday, February 16, 8pm: Evening of Song, Oberlin College. Mezzo-soprano Keri Alkema will present a program of songs by Mozart, Rossini, Turina, Ravel and others. Warner Concert Hall, 77 W. College St., Oberlin. Tickets are $5 and available by calling Oberlin's Ticket Service at 440.775.8169

February 17–March 28: Six-State Photography show. This Sunday, join the staff of FAVA at the opening reception at the FAVA Gallery. For more information call, 440.774.7158

Sunday, Feb 17, 12pm–5pm: Conversational Tour of the Weltzheimer-Johnson House (Morgan St., Oberlin). The Weltzheimer/Johnson House at Oberlin College is a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian House that sits on a 3 acre lot several blocks from campus. Designed in 1948 and completed in 1950, it is the first Usonian house in Ohio and one of the few in the nation open to the public.

For more information, visit http://www.oberlin.edu/amam/flwright.html

Check out the following wineries which have a variety of special events such as Lenten fish frys, live entertainment and Valentine dinners:
Matus Winery,
Single Tree Winery

While in town, check out fine galleries, shops and restaurants.

If that's still not enough to keep you moving this month, keep in mind, in a few short months, you'll want to be in great shape for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure in June and the Vermilion Harbor Triathlon in August. Both will be utilizing portions of the Back Road and Beaches Route. So keep checking back for more information and updates. As the weather warms up, so too will the activity along BRaB!

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posted by Back Roads & Beaches Bike Tour at 10:16 AM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy New Year! Time to get outdoors!

What a perfect way to ring in the New Year...outdoors! The conditions are perfect for cross country skiing. We found Findley State Park as well as several of the Lorain County Metro Parks in perfect condition!

















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posted by Back Roads & Beaches Bike Tour at 2:31 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Winter Wonderland

So, it's snowing and chilly here in North Central Ohio today. Not the best weather for cycling. But that doesn't mean foregoing the outdoors. For the time being, best to put away the bike and grab the cross country skis or snow shoes and explore our scenic winter wonderland.

Here are some great spots for cross country skiing along the Back Roads and Beaches Multi sport route.

Findley State Park. Great scenic trails through the forest and around Findley Lake.

Lorain County Metro Parks. Lorain County's system of parks has many spots great for cross country skiing or snow shoeing. And don't forget the sledding hill at Vermilion River reservation . The new Lakeview Park bath house facility in Lorain offers spectacular views of Lake Erie's winter landscape.

Winter is a great time to get breathtaking views of Lake Erie. So bundle up and get out there! There's so much to see and do! And when you're done outside, warm up inside at one of our local wineries, shops or art galleries.




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posted by Back Roads & Beaches Bike Tour at 12:32 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post