If you ever find yourself in the Hocking Hills and have a thing for vintage signage, be sure to look up the Inn Towner Motel in Logan, Ohio. I was driving by last night and circled back to grab this photo because it looked so pretty all lit up in its midcentury glory.
Remember friends, never be afraid to circle back for a closer look at something when you have a chance. That’s what exploring this world is all about!
The fall foliage in Ohio has been disappointing so far this year. Experts say our peak will be a little later than normal but I suspect it won’t be grand. It has been hot and dry this fall and the leaves seem to be turning brown and dropping before they have a chance to turn pretty.
The best color I have seen in Ohio so far is at this lovely country church in the Hocking Hills.
I’ll swing by again next week to see how the colors progress. Meanwhile I keep thinking back on the foliage I saw in the mountains in West Virginia earlier this month. It wasn’t nearly as vibrant as it was last year but still quite pretty.
In fact, it was so pretty I hated to leave.
Let’s talk about sunflowers.
To be completely transparent, I had never paid that much attention to sunflowers until a couple of weeks ago when I wandered through a sunflower field near Urbana, Ohio.
I was immediately transfixed by the textures, shapes, colors and variety of these large, sunny flowers. It was great fun to lose myself among endless rows of the different varieties they had.
It was an unexpectedly joyful morning.
Imagine my glee when I learned that a sunflower field had opened close to home this weekend. Walker Farm is on St Rt. 180 near Logan, Ohio and they now have a patch for locals and Hocking Hills region visitors to enjoy.
They have a handful of varieties as well as props for photos and there’s plenty of room to roam away from other people.
Sunflowers have significance in some cultures. It’s the national flower of both Russia and Ukraine. In Chinese culture, sunflowers represent good luck and lasting happiness. In other cultures, these magnificent flowers represent positivity, admiration and strength.
With over eighty worldwide varieties, there are a ton of different colors and sizes. Regardless of the variety, the bees love them and that’s good for the environment. I also saw some hummingbirds in the field on Saturday.
At $5 per person or $20 for a family of four or more, this one is a bargain compared to most I have read about. Your admission includes one cut flower to take home and you can buy additional flowers for a buck apiece. Five and under get in free. You can visit on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 8 p.m. through Labor Day weekend. This same farm offers a pick your own pumpkin patch and corn maze starting mid September.
It’s well worth your time and a memorable experience. Like the other sunflower fields I have seen advertised in Ohio, it’s locally owned by a farm family and I’m sure your support means the world during these challenging economic times.
Check out my story from the Urbana field here and follow Walker Farm by searching them on Facebook.
Some call it the Witch Rock while others just call it Leaning Rock. Whatever name you use, it’s pretty cool to drive past.
It’s probably a little unnerving the first time you approach it but I look forward to this small joy whenever I’m in the area with a few extra minutes.
The road is Clear Creek Road which leads to Clear Creek Metro Park just off of Route 33 near Rockbridge.
The legend goes that witches gather nearby to perform their rituals. Supposedly, they leave sticks propped up against the rock to warn passersby to move on and to alert other witches that they are there. I don’t know anything about any of that but I can tell you it feels like a special moment driving under this enormous boulder.
Clear Creek is a metro park but the bulk of the more than 5,000 acres here is actually a state nature preserve. There are several trails, picnic areas and a stream for fishing, among other things.
It’s home to Ohio’s last remaining colony of rhododendron which I am determined to see in bloom this year. Plus, there are more than 2,200 species of plants and animals. I imagine that it’s Heaven on earth for birding enthusiasts as there’s a nice mix of deep forest, prairie and a significant water source.
They do have some strict rules about pets so be sure to look into that before planning an outing with Fido.
If you go looking for the Witch Rock, it’s just a few miles off the highway. Beware, there is no parking lot here so pulling over to investigate isn’t easy. There’s a wide spot down the road a ways (I’m from Ohio where we don’t measure in miles so much as in descriptions like “a ways” and “not too far”) but I wasn’t wearing walking shoes and wasn’t that committed on the day I snapped these pictures. I just made sure there was no one behind me, turned on my hazards and held my phone out the window.
Get the details on Clear Creek at the Metro Parks’ website.
Glass artist Jack Pine is hosting an event at his studio near Laurelville this weekend. Jack is a prolific artist known for his stunning glass pumpkins that are created in every color of the rainbow.
I attended late yesterday afternoon and had a ball. They arranged his art on wood slabs and straw outside, so the sun could lend new life to those gorgeous pieces of artwork.
He calls it a pumpkin patch.
There were other artisans, food and demonstrations including wood carvers and a pumpkin carver. The event was meant to fill the void left by the cancellation of Circleville’s Pumpkin Show, one of Ohio’s biggest festivals.
The event was well organized and felt safe, while I was there at least. They limited the amount of people who could come in and required masks. Sheriff’s deputies provided traffic control and security.
Everything was spread out enough that it didn’t seem too crowded, proving that planning and space allow us to enjoy a slice of normal life while doing something special.
I sincerely hope this becomes an annual event! Want to go? Get the info here.
Have you signed up to follow Make The Journey Fun on Facebook? Click here to do that and to find some supplementary pictures from the Jack Pine event later today!
I checked off one of my Post Covid Bucket List items with a trail ride at Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable.
Once upon a time, I was the marketing director for my community and often sent visitors to Uncle Buck’s but somehow never made it out for a ride.
This was my first time on a horse and I’m sure it wasn’t very pretty but our guides were patient and super to give clear, helpful guidance.
We took a trail through the beautiful Zaleski State Forest to the infamous and possibly haunted Moonville Tunnel. The trail weaves through peaceful forest and is simply lovely.
I’m a hiker but it was fun to see the woods from a different perspective.
My horse was gentle and so familiar with the trail I’m sure she wished I would just relax and let her do her job.
That’s hard for a control freak like myself.
It’s hard for me to be a passenger in a car or to watch while someone else does something I know how to do. I fight those tendencies but it’s hard to squelch those control issues.
It was unfamiliar territory being on an animal that I didn’t really know how to control or communicate with. Adding in my timidness about handling her because I didn’t want to hurt her created a sort of bad combination but things worked out anyway. It’s probably a kind of personal growth that I’m able to acknowledge not doing something well and being ok with it.
I would absolutely go back to Uncle Buck’s and maybe next time feel better equipped. At this point, I’m just grateful that I didn’t fall off given that I’m neither graceful nor coordinated!
I do almost everything by myself but was glad to be there with friendly company. I was with a friend, her niece and another friend. None of us cared about being uncoordinated and silly in front of each other and that made it easier.
Want to take a trail ride at Uncle Buck’s? I hope you will! They’re great folks who provide a fun service for all ages.
They’re a seasonal business that has lost a couple of months worth of income. Let’s help them catch up! Visit them online for details. You can also find them on Facebook.
If not this small business, look around your community for small businesses that you can support. Remember that those big box stores and many online retailers have been making money hand over fist during the pandemic. They’re doing great. The chain restaurants will survive. The conglomerates will be fine.
The mom and pop stores, restaurants and service providers need you. They need all of us. Let’s give ’em some business! Have a favorite small business you want to support? Tell me about it!