I'm an adventurous soul on a mission to explore all 63 national parks. My passion lies in crafting short stories and sharing personal photographs that capture the essence of these remarkable journeys. Through my words and images, I strive to convey...
Setting off on this unexpected road journey kicked off with a gift from Thunderbunny Labs – a frame that maps out all 50 states, letting you shape it with your own pictures. The hiccup? The picture I had for Ohio didn't quite fit, sparking the idea for this out-of-the-blue adventure.
I did some research and found out that Cuyahoga Valley National Park was just a bit over six hours from our home in New Jersey. I turned to my mom and said, "Let's go!" So, we quickly packed our bags and hit the road straight to The Inn at Brandywine Falls.
This inn is in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, noted as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Homestead, and it's been standing tall since 1848. With six rooms available, we picked the Simon Perkins room. We were warmly greeted by a lovely couple, Katie and George, who've been running the place for over 30 years.
Feeling a bit tired when we arrived, but with the eagerness to stretch our legs, we took a walk to the adjacent waterfalls. The 65-foot Brandywine Falls stole the spotlight, with a charming boardwalk trail leading the way.
The next day, we dived further into the park, this time by train ride. Our exploration of the Canal Exploration Center unraveled the history of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Lock 38 offered a hands-on lesson in canal mechanics, shedding light on life from 1825 to 1876. Cuyahoga, or the "crooked river," played a vital role in Northeast Ohio's transportation and the 20th-century Industrial Revolution.
Thinking about my next visit, I've got my eye on the 87-mile Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail, tracing the historical mule routes. Biking this trail promises to be a fun adventure.
Rather than driving straight home, we opted for an overnight stay in Pittsburgh. Our foodie stops were at Butcher and the Rye for dinner – the Dirty Pasta was a hit, and for dessert, Prantl's burnt almond torte was a culinary delight.
If you've never been to Pittsburgh, take a stroll through the park to witness the three-river landscape, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers converge to form the Ohio River at Point State Park – a cool sight to see.
Additional stops on this trip included exploring Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, an architectural masterpiece perched over a waterfall since 1935. It's a captivating blend of nature and design, showcasing Wright's genius.
We also took a moment to pay our respects at the Flight 93 National Memorial. This memorial honors the heroic passengers of Flight 93 who made a courageous stand during the events of 9/11. It's a solemn reminder of their bravery and sacrifice.
It was a quick roadtrip filled with so much history, memories with my mom, and a picture that fit perfectly in my frame.
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