614 Magazine - Columbus, Ohio

Hot Summer Getaways

By Abigail Hartung & David Lewis

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The weather is gorgeous, you've been working way too damn hard, and you need a break. Get out of town! With so many awesome (and affordable) spots within just a couple hours' drive, there's no excuse to spend your weekend stuffing your face with chips on your couch. Instead, stuff it with chips in the car on your way to one of these nearby summer getaways.

Kelly's Island

Hop on a golf cart and take a tour of the surprising variety to be found at the local pub scene. We got our cart from The Casino, an awesome party bar with plenty of dockage and cart rentals. Before (or after) you have too many drinks, take in some pre-historic scenery and tour the island's treasured glacial grooves (hundreds of feet long, these grooves are the best preserved example of glacial erosion around) and Indian rock carvings. Time your trip so that, upon returning, you can take in a show at the Casino, which has concerts throughout the weekend, and then pub crawl around. Every spot has a unique charm and a different vibe.

The island also has a sandy beach perfect for an after-dinner stroll.

Editor's note: golf-carting under the influence of alcohol is dangerous and just as illegal as driving any vehicle intoxicated. Not an activity for the plowed.

Perry's Monument

The third tallest monument in the country, this granite tower offers a breathtaking view (seen here) of the lake and surrounding islands. Officially the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, the monument was built from 1912-1915 to commemorate Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's heroic victory in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. His battle flag was proudly emblazoned with the famed phrase, "Don't give up the ship." Perry survived the battle only to die of yellow fever in Venezuela three years later, but his memory lives on in the hearts of all those who visit the monument. The monument is open daily through the season and living history demonstrations are given periodically by rangers in historic uniforms at the base of the monument. Faint of heart, don't worry - there is an elevator

The Village Pump

Most any day of the week, one can find owner Gary Finger serving drinks and giving high fives to patrons around the bar. Since he bought the establishment in 1982, Finger has proudly served up family recipes, including homemade tartar sauce served with the Pump's famous perch, and his grandmother's special recipe for Brandy Alexander. Grandma started blending the drink with ice cream back in the '40s, and it's been a hit ever since. The building itself offers a bit of history, dating back to the 1890s.

"My parents dropped me off here in 1972, and I am still waiting for them to pick me up," jokes Finger.

Dockers Bar at the Portside Marina

Live music and a spacious outdoor bar and patio make this a great afternoon retreat. Despite the casual atmosphere, Dockers serves up some definitively gourmet grub, including crab cakes, veal meatball sliders, and the house favorite, lobster martini. The lobster martini features an exquisite trio of petite cold-water lobster tails with lemon wedges, drenched in a garlic butter sauce. The presentation makes the dish almost too lovely to consume, but none can resist those tender tails for long.

Owner Doug Bolden keeps the bar open seasonally as long as the ferry runs; Dockers has even been a destination spot for New Year's Eve parties. If you're staying on the island over a weekend, don't miss the breakfast buffet.

Put-In-Bay

On South Bass Island, Put-In-Bay offers as much golf-cart accessible nightlife as you
can handle. Here are some of our top picks from our visit to the Lake Erie hotspot.

Round House Bar

This island staple lives up to its name, with a round exterior and round bar inside. The interior is unique, featuring a red, white, and blue canopy draped from the ceiling, mural paintings adorning the plaster walls, and the stage situated in the center behind the bar counter. Patrons can enjoy live music here most every day during the season, where every day's a holiday. With all the energy of a circus but real alcohol, this is a must-see.

The Islander

A popular hotel with fancy colored doors on every room, the interiors of which are decorated like a Jimmy Buffett nightmare. While the rooms are comfortable, the main attraction here is Splash!, the magnificent 150-seat swim up bar. Billed the world's largest, it is situated under the full-size pirate ship bar, The Flaming Skull, where replicas of rough-hewn stools allow partiers to hang out next to rough-hewn pirate replicas. Ladies, be prepared to repel boarders: buccaneer-types are generally rum-soaked, ugly, and murderous.

Heineman's Winery

This quaint establishment serves up island-grown wines in an unassuming atmosphere. Heineman's boasts the distinction of being the oldest family owned winery in the state, in operation since 1888. Another unique feature is the Crystal Cave below the winery. The world's largest geode, this cave was discovered by workers digging a well in 1897. The walls are covered with bluish crystals composed of the mineral celestite. Enjoy a glass of the Pink Catawba, their most popular wine, as you tour the cave and wine gardens.

Glen Helen Preserve

One of the most breathtaking and natural parks in the state isn't funded or maintained by the state at all. The Glen Helen Preserve, near Yellow Springs, is funded and managed by the Glen Helen Ecology Institute. The Preserve spans nearly 1000 acres, situated close to the progressive college town. Since Antioch College closed its doors last year, many have feared for the future of the Glen, which is home to many kinds of flora and fauna, and features pristine primary forest and well-maintained walking trails, which take hikers through and over ravines, bubbling creeks, and even a gorgeous waterfall. While camping is not allowed in the Glen, there is cheap camping nearby, as well as regular hotel lodging. After your hike, hit up Yellow Springs for some Ha Ha Pizza, the legendary hippie-dive and some of the best pizza around. A walk through Yellow Springs, with its unique artisan shops and great coffee houses, is also in order.

Hocking Hills

In the Southeastern part of Ohio, along Route 33, beautiful ancient forest rolls atop the expansive hills. Deer, wild turkey, and other creatures, even bear, are prevalent enough to be a nuisance to the locals. (In the Editor's opinion, those pesky wild turkeys are best dealt with by drinking lots of Wild Turkey, shooting them, and eating them. Done out of season, this is known as "poaching.")

While there are many rental cabins in the area, ranging in price from $90 - $300+ for a night's stay, be sure to make your reservations in advance: during the summer, the cabins fill up fast. While you are there, hit up the other attractions in the area, like Old Man's Cave, one of the most interesting rock formations in the state. While the Wayne National Forest is one of the best known parks in the area, more secluded camping is available in Tar Hollow State Park, which settlers named because of the pitch pines that grow all over the ridges.

For easy trip planning, visit hockinghills.com, where you will find everything from GPS trail guides to information on lodging, dining, and local attractions.

Mon Ami

The immaculate grounds and spacious interiors of this gorgeous winery and restaurant are almost deceptive. The absolutely perfect food, unbelievably tasty wine (grown from local grapes), and attractive bar and stage areas are undeniably cool, but the real treat is in the basement. Banquets and other events are held in the cavernous cellar area, which spans two levels and was built more than one hundred years ago. Lined with enormous and restored wine barrels, the stone chambers were constructed by builders placing stones on hills of dirt, which they then removed; medieval and beautiful, the winery is rumored to be haunted, as well, so keep your eye out for the odd spectre.

Firelands Winery

One of the premier wineries in Ohio since 1880, and by far the largest in terms of output and sales, Firelands has a rich history. Tastings and tours are offered year round. Known for their superb Ice Wine, the winery offers a full spectrum of reds, whites, blushes, and even authentically vinted Champagne. Be sure to visit them at the North Market's Food and Ohio Wine Festival, July 10-12, to get a taste of their finest selections.

Cedar Point

The premier theme park in the Midwest, Cedar Point is situated in Sandusky alongside Lake Erie, making for a scenic adventure experience that's still close enough to home for a day trip. The Top Fuel Dragster is one of the park's newer coasters, shooting riders straight up along the track, only to round a curve and fall back to the ground, nearly too fast to even get a lungful of air.

New this season, the park features a world of splendor after dark with a walk-through light exhibit. A colorful array of one million lights, the walk makes for a romantic nightcap after a long day spent screaming your lungs out on the park's thrilling roller coasters.

Hollywood Casino (Lawrenceburg, IN).

Formerly known as the Argosy, it is one of many cool riverboat casino/resort destinations, and is only a couple hours away (For a long getaway, try Wheeling Island, West Va., or Windsor, in upstate New York. These make for great weekend getaways, because the lodging and food is usually relatively affordable). The Hollywood Casino advertises rooms starting at $39. Check online for shows that you might actually want to see, and pick that weekend for your getaway. Going to a show keeps your nickels out of the slots, and lessens the chances of a surprise encounter with your parents at the blackjack table.

Originally Published: July 1, 2009

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