Burr Oak Weekend

It was only the second state park weekend getaway in as many years, but the kids were looking forward to it as much as any vacation they had ever taken. After all, they get to spend 36 hours traipsing around with friends who are just footsteps away! But truthfully, that's why I enjoy the weekend, too.

Our trip two weekends ago to Burr Oak State Park in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio had been on our calendar for months. A good friend organizes the weekend, basically setting aside cabins that are available to rent from the lodge for a discount. Something like 14 families were there in our group, and I knew almost all of them. The weekend was filled with fires, food, pumpkin decorating and crafts for the kids and indoor swimming (mostly for the kids again!). Some people went on hikes, although lazy me did not. But I enjoyed the camaraderie.

It's not much of an exaggeration to say the kids were devastated when we returned home on Sunday morning. It's a fun way to spend a weekend, and only 90 minutes away.

Cabin Weekend

The leaves were changing, the weather was temperate -- what a beautiful weekend to spend in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio.

Except for the rain. Nonstop rain.

Nevertheless, our family along with about a dozen others each reserved a cabin this past weekend at Burr Oak State Park, about 90 minutes southeast of Columbus. It was raining when we arrived Friday evening, when we awoke on Saturday and when we went to bed that night. Nevertheless, we had a blast.

A friend organized the outing, and I knew most of the families there. We got together for breakfast, an indoor pool party Saturday afternoon at the lodge and a potluck supper. Paul and Edith took a hike through the rain with friends, and both kids did plenty of splashing in puddles. The group even managed a fire in the drizzling rain on our last evening there.

Of course, the sun arrived as we were preparing to leave for home on Sunday, so the four of us managed a quick walk to the lake (where I took my only photos for the weekend) before we headed home. Where, of course, it was raining.

12 Hours in Cleveland

How could I have been born and bred in Ohio and never have visited Cleveland? I'd been to an Indians baseball game, sure, but I'd never seen the city outside of the baseball field.

So when Paul had a couple of meetings in northeast Ohio on Friday, the kids and I decided to tag along. We briefly considered an overnight, but in the end decided to do it all in a day. We left our house in Columbus at 10:30 a.m. and walked back through the door a little less than 12 hours later.

We dropped Paul off at his first meeting and then drove to the Great Lakes Science Center. Right on Lake Erie, the small museum had great views and plenty of activities for the kids. They especially liked a temporary exhibit on tape and the giant climbing and slide structure constructed from it. The ball pit was also a hit.

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A friend recommended Edgewater Beach, which ended up being not far from where we picked up Paul after the museum. Paul took off his tie and rolled up his pants and waded with the kids. I ended up wishing we had brought swimsuits for the kids. The water was surprisingly warm.

Supper was at the Great Lakes Brewery. Instead of getting a pint each, we decided on the flight -- which we didn't realize included 14 beers (5 ounces apiece, I believe) until it arrived at our table! Seriously, the menu should have been a little more specific in that regard. So the bill was a tad more than we anticipated, but it's hard to be too irritated about it when the rest of our trip was almost free.

We walked around the Ohio City neighborhood taking photos until we were ready to leave. The kids fell asleep almost immediately. A 12-hour Cleveland road trip (including four hours in the car) in the books.

Weekend in Annapolis

It's been day in and day out with kids for almost five years. The only time I had spent a night away from Edith was when Atticus was born, and I had never spent a night away from Atticus.

Coincidentally, it had also been about five years since two of my old college roommates and I had gotten together. I had seen Allison and Sarah separately, but several weeks ago I asked if they were available for a get-together this summer. They were, and the winning location was Annapolis, where Allison lives. Bonus: I had never been there before.

The worst parts of the weekend were the 6.5 hour drives there and back, of course. The best part was, well, the entire rest of the trip.

Like Columbus, Annapolis is a capital city. Other than that, they couldn't be more different. Annapolis lives and breathes the water. It would have been impossible to count the sheer number of sailboats, yachts and other boats of all shapes and sizes that I saw. And I got to experience a bit of it myself when a friend of Allison's husband took us all out on his speedboat. Jumping the waves was almost as good as Cedar Point, and it seemed so funny to "parallel park" the boat along a restaurant and jump out to eat.

Downtown was active and lively, with lots of small stores, ice cream shops and restaurants. We met up with one of Allison's friends that evening to see a '90s tribute band -- not something I would have necessarily chosen, but a blast nonetheless.

I never would have considered myself a water person, let alone a boat person, but I really had a great time surrounded by both. Hopefully I won't let another five years go by before I see my old roommates ... or get away from the responsibilities of home.

3 Cities, 3 States, 36 Hours

This weekend was busy -- three cities in three states, nine hours in the car, a mini family reunion and a baseball game, all in less than 36 hours.

We drove from Columbus to Fort Wayne, Ind. (3 hours) to visit my aunt and uncle, my cousins and their kids. The oldest kid will be in eighth grade, and I think the last time I saw her she was around 5 years old. It had been a while. It was great to catch up, and Edith especially had a blast with her newfound relatives.

Then it was off to Defiance (1 hour) for the night. After breakfast the next morning, we drove to Detroit (2 hours) to watch the Tigers take on the Astros. Paul's work sponsored the get-together, so he watched baseball while catching up with co-workers who don't work in Columbus. I spent much of the game keeping the kids out of the sun, riding the carousel, Ferris wheel and generally exploring.

The drive back to Columbus (3 hours) wasn't bad. Luckily the kids sleep well in the car, and the exciting weekend wore them out. It was fun, but I was worn out, too.

A Pause on Weekend Trips

It wasn't too many Presidents Day weekends ago when Paul and I drove from Brooklyn to Burlington, Vt., stopping to snow tube along the way. Compare that to this past holiday weekend, when the only things I could think of that I really wanted to do was sleep and eat.

That doesn't mean I don't like taking trips. See: Our first cruise. But quick getaways aren't so quick anymore -- with three, they take longer to prepare, plan and pack. And I suspect they aren't as relaxing as they used to be either.

Paul and I keep a mental list of weekend and day trips we'd like to take in the next several years. Some of those cities one or both of us have been to. Some will be completely new. Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis and St. Louis aren't really that far away. But the weather will be warmer and I'll be less (read: not at all) pregnant when they happen.

A Day in Yellow Springs

Yellow Springs is a small village close to where I used to work in Springfield, Ohio, and not far from Dayton. It is best known for being home to Antioch University and comedian Dave Chappelle, but it attracts tourists from all over the area for its one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, too.

We hadn't been there for at least seven years, so this past Sunday we decided to make the hour trip. We walked along Yellow Springs' streets for a while in the morning, but we were really visiting for the food and for the nature.

We had planned to go to lunch at Ha Ha Pizza, thinking that it would be kid-friendly. But its 1 p.m. Sunday opening time was not kid-friendly, so that was out.

Instead, we went to the Winds. I'd been wanted to try that place for years, but I was under the impression that it was too fancy for the kiddo. Maybe it is in the evening, but she wasn't the only toddler at brunch (and they even gave her toys and crayons to play with during the wait). I got a fancy croque monsieur, and Paul and Edith both enjoyed his spicy chickpea stew topped with a fried egg and breadcrumbs.

Not far away was Glen Helen, a park I had heard raves about. It was beautiful, but hot -- and even hotter when you're toting a kid in a carrier. Add several mosquito bites and an ever-nearing naptime, and we didn't stay too long.

Edith fell asleep about as soon as she hit the car seat. Luckily our stroller reclines nearly flat. So we spent an hour at the Yellow Springs Brewery with her asleep in the stroller, shades down. Perfect.

Next up: Young's Jersey Dairy. This farm and ice cream shop is just outside of Yellow Springs, in Clark County. Of course I had to get a cone, and Edith had to get up close to the goats.

This was the first day trip we've taken since we moved back to Ohio, and it went very well. Can't wait for the next!

A Day on the Hudson River: Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow & Nyack

For someone who's lived in New York for nearly six years, I've seen surprisingly little of the Hudson River.

I see it lap against Manhattan's western shore a few times a year, but usually at some distance. Maybe from the High Line. Or the Cloisters. Most likely from the car.

This past Memorial Day weekend we decided to fix that by taking a day trip to three Hudson River towns just north of the city: Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow and Nyack. The towns are just minutes from one another and about an hour away by car from Bay Ridge.

First stop: Tarrytown. Specifically, Lyndhurst. We skipped the tour of this Gothic Revival mansion, designed in 1838, instead opting for a ticket that granted us access only to the extensive grounds. We walked along the trails, shielding ourselves as best we could from the smiting wind whipping along the Hudson. One path followed the river, but the other was more inland and secluded. Both were pleasant.

Lyndhurst

After a bite to eat and a short walk through the center of Tarrytown, we drove to the neighboring village of Sleepy Hollow. Yep, that Sleepy Hollow. I had one goal and one goal only: to see the grave of the author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Luckily, the entrance to the cemetery had a good map with Washington Irving's grave marked. A nice drive then a few snapshots and we were on our way.

The Irving plot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Washington Irving's grave

On our way to Nyack, that is. Nyack is connected to Tarrytown by the Tappan Zee Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River. We arrived just before the Edward Hopper House closed, so I made myself content with just a few photos of the exterior. Most of our time in Nyack was spent perusing the many small shops in the downtown area, and then finding a spot along the river to admire the view.

Edward Hopper House

Paul in a Nyack bookstore

Boats on the Hudson River

We were back in Brooklyn before the sun had set, perfectly happy with our Hudson River day.

A Day Trip to Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the closest of the cities that Paul and I have wanted to visit since moving to New York six years ago, so of course it's one of the last to get marked off the list.

At less than two hours away, Philadelphia is an easy distance from Brooklyn. That's why we kept putting it off -- we can go anytime, we thought. We just didn't.

Actually, I did. I visited Philadelphia for a weekend last summer in a reunion with two of my college roommates. But not only was it about a million degrees, but I was 4 1/2 months pregnant. We didn't do much wandering around or sightseeing, instead blessedly sticking to air-conditioned buildings and buses. I had also been to the city 13 years ago with my family, but only for a single afternoon.

I was barely in Philadelphia longer this time around -- 13 hours, including the car ride there and back. And since this past Sunday was Paul's first visit there, we concentrated on his interests. Namely, history.

One of the top spots on Paul's list was a trip to Independence Hall. According to the National Park Service:

It was in the Assembly Room of this building that George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. In the same room the design of the American flag was agreed upon in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781, and the U. S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. 

Visitors need free timed tickets to visit, and my friend Sarah who lives in Philadelphia (and the same friend I visited there last year), was kind enough to pick them up for us that morning. The tour was both thorough and interesting ... according to Paul. As one of the rangers joked to me as I took a fussy Edith out of the Assembly Room, Edith just doesn't care for history yet.

Independence Hall

Copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are in an adjacent building. we walked right in-- no wait. The stop was worth it if only for this anecdote told by the ranger on duty:

Only about two dozen copies of the Declaration of Independence are known to exist. One of the most recent to be found was actually at a Pennsylvania flea market. A buyer there didn't care for a portrait he saw but liked the frame. He purchased it for $4. He removed the portrait, and I'm sure you can guess what was underneath. He later sold his copy of the Declaration for $2.5 million.

I should go to more flea markets.

The next stop was half a block away: the Liberty Bell. Then, a few blocks away, the Betsy Ross House, where Sarah took a nice family portrait, though we didn't go inside.

Liberty Bell, with Independence Hall in the background

After lunch at Reading Terminal Market (more about the food of Philadelphia on Friday), we said goodbye to Sarah. Paul, Edith and I then walked to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We didn't want to go inside -- it was late in the afternoon and besides, I had already visited last summer -- but Paul wanted to see the Rocky statue.

Edith and me outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art

And besides, it was a pleasant stroll. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Just warm enough for long sleeves or a light jacket, but not both. Nary a cloud in the sky. I had seen Philadelphia's weather forecast early the week before, and that's when Paul and I decided to visit. We planned the trip in about four days.

We parked midway between the art museum and the historic district, underneath JFK Plaza, probably better known as the home of the Love sculpture. Or as I think of it, the Love thingy that used to be on a stamp. I had taken photos of it that morning before meeting Sarah.

The trip was certainly a whirlwind, but we had a great time seeing the sights, visiting with Sarah and proving to ourselves that maybe it's not too difficult taking a baby on a vacation -- or at least a mini one. And if I know Paul at all, I know it won't be too long before he tries his hardest to interest Edith in all of those historic sites, too.

48 Hours in Philadelphia

This past weekend in Philadelphia was hot. Very, very hot. So hot as to be almost unbearable. But it wasn't unbearable, because Allison, Sarah and I stayed mostly inside.

That doesn't mean we hung out in Sarah's apartment the whole weekend, although we did a fair share of that, too. We saw a few sites, had some good food and generally enjoyed any place that was air conditioned.

On Saturday, we stayed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art until it closed at 5 p.m. We dawdled among the Asian and contemporary art inside, although I have a feeling that many tourists don't make it that far. Although it was about 100 degrees outside, there was still a line to take a photo next to the Rocky statue, and people still ran up the famous stairs like he did in the movie. Or so I hear -- I've actually never seen the film.

Had it been a pleasant spring day, it would have been a lovely walk to and from the museum, but instead we took a bus, a trolley and the subway. But no matter -- Sarah still introduced us to some good food along the public transportation routes, or within walking distance of her apartment. I had Thai food (yum), gelato (double yum) and even some delectable blueberry cornmeal pancakes for brunch. But the best stop foodwise was probably a stop for drinks and desserts at The Continental.

Drinks, of course, were out for me, but the tapas-style desserts tamped down any disappointment I might have felt at having to forego such brightly colored martinis! My favorite dessert was one we got after the photo below was taken -- a warm blondie brownie topped with ice cream and whipped cream. Amazing.

But the highlight of the trip wasn't what we saw or ate, but simply hanging out with friends I haven't seen for months separately, and years together. So much talking in 48 hours! When baby's born I think we need a repeat reunion -- after all, father and daughter need to bond, and mama needs her own neon martini!