When I told people I was going to Ohio for a long weekend, a couple of them responded as if I’d said I was going to a party at Harvey Weinstein’s house.
“Why on earth are you going to Ohio?” they’d gasp, and Internet, it offended me. I have a great love of the Midwest – I was born in a tiny town in South Dakota, and still love to visit – and know from experience there are plenty of interesting things to do and see in the upper-middle section of the U.S.
It didn’t hurt that I’d be hanging out with one very special man (more about him later), as well as visiting a new-to-me National Park, seeing my favorite singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne play in a gorgeous old theater, and experiencing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in all its rebellious glory.
And if that wasn’t enough fun for one weekend, we also toured Amish Country (where I learned that there’s more than one way to make chicken and dumplings), ate kolache that were almost as good as my Grandma’s, and even happened upon the world-famous Pencil Sharpener Museum.
(Okay, maybe not world-famous, but definitely adorable.)
So take that, haters. It doesn’t pay to close your mind to something you know nothing about. Except maybe a party at Harvey Weinstein’s.
Columbus is the capital of Ohio, and we took a quick tour of the capital building.
Long live rock! (At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.)
Catching the fall colors at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
We hiked to Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga NP.
I was playing with shutter speed, and this was taken at 1/1500th of a second.
This was taken at 1/30th of a second. Which do you like better?
Gorgeous patterns in the rock walls at Cuyahoga.
Tenacious ferns lining those same rock walls.
And tenacious tree roots near Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park.
A stand of trees at Cuyahoga. Ahh.
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Once again – wonderful photos thanks.
Thanks, Ron!
Breathtaking! Because I often hear that the drive across the Plains is “so boring,” this post speaks to me. I consider the disregard of wide open spaces as a lack of perception on their part.
Barb, you are a woman after my own heart. A lack of perception is a nice way to put it, and thanks for the comment.
The Midwest is beautiful. I am from there also. I no longer want to live there because I absolutely must have mountains in my life. I plan to go back next fall and visit Indiana for several days. Many reasons including visiting my father’s childhood home we have never been.
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Emilie – I haven’t spent any time in Indiana, but one of these days I’d like to do a tour of all the Midwestern states and really take it in. I’m so glad you’ll go back next year and visit your father’s home! So much rich history there.
Where’s the part about the special man? You said “more about him later.” Forgive my skepticism, but … does “later” ever come with you? LOL
Also: I wish we had fall colors like this in California. Beautiful!
Deborah – I can’t say when later is happening, but I promise it will. 🙂 And I know what you mean about the colors! Spectacular.
You take such beautiful pictures, Deonne!
Thanks for the kind words, Maureen! It makes me happy that you like them. 🙂