4.1.11 – California Woods (Cincinnati, Ohio) and the Newport Aquarium (Newport, Kentucky)

With gas prices hovering around $3.74-$3.89 a gallon, it looks like I'll be doing far more staycations. Luckily, even after living here for far too long, there's still much I haven't seen.

On lucky April Fool's Day we celebrated my boyfriend's birthday. It was his day, so his choices. After enjoying the Graeter's carrot cake, we were off for nature. He thought it amusing for me to be able to tell people he took me to California for the day (I would have enjoyed the real one more). We trekked through the California Woods Nature Preserve, which is part of the Cincinnati Parks District and not far from Coney Island. Somehow after Clifton Gorge, it was a let down. It was a small trail, without falls, and after the rains we had, a bit muddy and slick. Plus this time of year it looked fairly bleak. I was overwhelmed by my city girl thoughts that this was the exact place something really bad could happen at. Luckily it didn't, except for my mild whining "are we almost at the end."

After a picnic lunch, and after seeing only a handfull of park staff, we were off to the Newport Aquarium, where thankfully I had purchased advance tickets. Unfortunately it did not occur to me that it was a spring break week. There were more children there then I think I have ever been around, and I used to work at a museum complex that had a children's museum. The parents/guardians were a far different breed than I've experienced, as they kept telling the kids to push their way in to see things rather than wait their turn. After dispensing with my own politeness, I was able to shoot way too many clips with my FLIP (sadly, last of its kind). I think I liked the jellyfish room the best with its comfy settees and psychedelic lights. I, of course, would have liked it better with a lot less people, but that's the way it goes.

3.20.11 – Clifton Gorge and Yellow Springs, Ohio (redux)

I’m trying to add some nature in my life, other than my typical admiring it from climate-controlled areas. A lecture I attended last Sunday, by Richard Louv, was on the subject of nature-deficit disorder, which he believes is plaguing modern society. I’m not sure if that’s what’s plaguing me, but it doesn’t hurt to add something new to your schedule. Of course the best way, I’ve discovered, is to start with pancakes and end with ice cream.

This occurred on a recent trip to Clifton Gorge, which is in the Yellow Springs area (not far from Dayton, Ohio). The first stop was to the Clifton Mill Millrace Restaurant for pancakes (definitely worth the trip, even if you’re not going to the Gorge). Then, after ample carbohydrates and bemused watching of the groundskeeper, rather lately, removing the holiday lights and taking in the local barn paintings (I love them!), we were off to the Gorge, which you can actually see from the restaurant’s windows.

I was a bit nervous of muddy trails and falling, but thankfully the bad weather Cincinnati received that day stayed away from Yellow Springs. I certainly didn’t make it all the way through the trail, but enjoyed viewing the falls. After stopping briefly in Yellow Springs, where I acquired a fabulous new pair of sunglasses, we were off for ice cream at Young’s Dairy Farm, where you can actually feed the animals. It was probably the best ice cream I can recall having (Black Walnut). I would gladly go on the trail again for more pancakes and Young’s ice cream.