My holiday weekend (part 1).....
Jul. 7th, 2004 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poltr1My family and I spent the Fourth of July weekend in Sandusky, Ohio -- halfway between Cleveland and Toledo. My friends B and D (and their young son d) came down from Buffalo to spend time with us.
Due to the length and detail, I'm breaking this up into two parts.
Saturday, we left home around noon. But first, we had to stop at a local sporting goods store to get R some new pool shoes; the ones we already had didn't fit her. After a BK meal and restroom break, we were off. (Then the Whopper landed on my lap, mayonnaise side down. Argh! That's why I rarely eat Whoppers while driving.)
The route: We hopped on I-675 to I-70. The exit ramp to Route 4 was closed for construction, so we took US 68 north to pick up route 4 in Springfield. From there, it was a "straight" shot up route 4 -- through Mechanicsburg, Marion (had to stop for a train), Bucyrus (stopped at McD's for a potty break), to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90). A few miles (and fifty cents) later, we reached US 250, and soon, our hotel. B and D arrived about a minute before us. We checked in, unpacked our cars, and settled down. We also discussed what we'd see that weekend. Having two small children with us limited our opportunities.
Dinner was at a local hot dog stand. Then we drove west on US 6 to route 2, over the bridge across Sandusky Bay, to route 163 east, to the Marblehead Lighthouse. B and D hadn't been to this area before, and I wanted to show them some of the local sights. (This was my fourth time here; R's second time.) Although there have been a lot of improvements to the grounds since I was last there in '97 -- sidewalks, restrooms, and a paved parking lot. This was a result of the transfer of the lighthouse and the surronding area from the US Coast Guard to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Sunday, we woke up and had breakfast at the local Cracker Barrel. The Girl had a bit of a meltdown there, and R put me on Daddy Duty so she could finish her breakfast.
After we got back, D needed to go shopping for some forgotten items, and R offered to join her. When they arrived, we then went swimming in the hotel pool, which has a wading pool area attached to the main pool. M was a bit afraid of the water; she'd splash in it with her hands but she wouldn't step into the wading pool.
After a quick run to Tops for some needed groceries, we headed east on US 6 to Vermilion. We had reservations for a 4:00 trip on the Mystic Belle -- a paddlewheel boat tour of Vermilion. The boat goes up and down the Vermilion River, while the captain gave us a history of the area and some of the local sights. We were the only passengers on this run. It's a wonderful area to have a summer home; I just wish I could afford to do so. We then stopped at the Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve and Estuary Center, where I got to see my blue herons up close, and B and D got to see a bald eagle (from a distance). Dinner was at Friendly's. Again, I had to go on Daddy Duty to help calm The Girl down.
We wanted to go see fireworks at Cedar Point -- or as close as we could get without having to pay the entry fee -- but the kids conked out, so we didn't go. (I found a brochure which listed the admission prices -- For an adult, it's over $40.)
Next: Monday and Tuesday.
Due to the length and detail, I'm breaking this up into two parts.
Saturday, we left home around noon. But first, we had to stop at a local sporting goods store to get R some new pool shoes; the ones we already had didn't fit her. After a BK meal and restroom break, we were off. (Then the Whopper landed on my lap, mayonnaise side down. Argh! That's why I rarely eat Whoppers while driving.)
The route: We hopped on I-675 to I-70. The exit ramp to Route 4 was closed for construction, so we took US 68 north to pick up route 4 in Springfield. From there, it was a "straight" shot up route 4 -- through Mechanicsburg, Marion (had to stop for a train), Bucyrus (stopped at McD's for a potty break), to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90). A few miles (and fifty cents) later, we reached US 250, and soon, our hotel. B and D arrived about a minute before us. We checked in, unpacked our cars, and settled down. We also discussed what we'd see that weekend. Having two small children with us limited our opportunities.
Dinner was at a local hot dog stand. Then we drove west on US 6 to route 2, over the bridge across Sandusky Bay, to route 163 east, to the Marblehead Lighthouse. B and D hadn't been to this area before, and I wanted to show them some of the local sights. (This was my fourth time here; R's second time.) Although there have been a lot of improvements to the grounds since I was last there in '97 -- sidewalks, restrooms, and a paved parking lot. This was a result of the transfer of the lighthouse and the surronding area from the US Coast Guard to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Sunday, we woke up and had breakfast at the local Cracker Barrel. The Girl had a bit of a meltdown there, and R put me on Daddy Duty so she could finish her breakfast.
After we got back, D needed to go shopping for some forgotten items, and R offered to join her. When they arrived, we then went swimming in the hotel pool, which has a wading pool area attached to the main pool. M was a bit afraid of the water; she'd splash in it with her hands but she wouldn't step into the wading pool.
After a quick run to Tops for some needed groceries, we headed east on US 6 to Vermilion. We had reservations for a 4:00 trip on the Mystic Belle -- a paddlewheel boat tour of Vermilion. The boat goes up and down the Vermilion River, while the captain gave us a history of the area and some of the local sights. We were the only passengers on this run. It's a wonderful area to have a summer home; I just wish I could afford to do so. We then stopped at the Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve and Estuary Center, where I got to see my blue herons up close, and B and D got to see a bald eagle (from a distance). Dinner was at Friendly's. Again, I had to go on Daddy Duty to help calm The Girl down.
We wanted to go see fireworks at Cedar Point -- or as close as we could get without having to pay the entry fee -- but the kids conked out, so we didn't go. (I found a brochure which listed the admission prices -- For an adult, it's over $40.)
Next: Monday and Tuesday.
