So how have you all been?! I don’t need to remind you that it’s been an absolutely bizarre year. The travel bug was reaching fever pitch in February, but the itch was due to be scratched in early April with the first work trip of the year.

Welp.

Covid-19 had other ideas. Sort of. I did get to travel for work and even sooner than April, but it wasn’t the sort of travel I was expecting. My company is an essential business. Without all of the detail, I worked in two of our stores in two different States for a few weeks in the early days of the pandemic. It was a surprisingly great experience. Exhausting and scary, but great. Getting out of the cube farm to spend time working with our store associates and helping our customers was so rewarding.

After being home for a couple of weeks, I was getting extra itchy. Going into the office every day was a life saver. I know so many people think I’m crazy, but still interacting with my co-workers as normally as possible helped keep me from sliding down the dark hole of depression. That didn’t solely help though. Ordering groceries and essentials online, not getting together with our friends, and just lacking many day to day interactions, I had to do what I could to get out of the house, so I increased my hiking regiment. I still hit my local metro parks here and there, during the week when the daylight and weather held up, but started branching out to our Ohio State Parks. The third facet to my sanity, was seeing my immediate family regularly. My parents, brother, sister-in-law, and of course our pups. We celebrated birthdays, went hiking (shocking!), swimming at my parent’s house, and of course sharing meals.

Things seemed to be calming down enough by late May that we decided to go ahead and reschedule our annual Mother’s Day trip to Florida for early June. The timing worked out perfectly! Had we gone Mother’s Day weekend as planned, the Naples, FL beaches would have closed at midnight on the day we arrived. Talk about a massive bummer. All we do is sit on the beach and go out to dinner! The beach reopened and the city of Naples was slowly reopening by the time we went a month later. We practically had the beach and restaurants to ourselves. It was great!!! (We did stay in and cook a few times, too.) I was the only person going through TSA on my flight down and the flight back. Southwest was, and so far still is, leaving middle seats open. I feel horrible for the people who make their living off of tourism, but for me it was one of the least stressful, most comfortable travel experiences ever. I made sure to tip extra everywhere!

There were some other sanity savers sprinkled throughout the year thus far. We had a small, surprise backyard wedding in the family this year. Outside on a beautiful summer evening. I kept my gardening game up all summer. The amount of flowers and tomatoes that grew this year was nuts!

We went out to visit the “in-laws” in Pennsylvania whom we hadn’t seen since Thanksgiving. Way too long between visits. We mixed in a mini vacay with the family time by staying in very nearby Railroad, PA at a fantastic bed and breakfast. I highly recommend making a trip and staying at Jackson House Bed and Breakfast. The train tracks run right next to the BNB, but these days only run the occasional tourist train. Historical footnote: These same tracks were used by President Abraham Lincoln to get to Gettysburg to deliver the Gettysburg Address, and later his funeral train followed this same route.

Ohio State football is back (Go Bucks!). Despite the dry summer we’ve had a beautiful, if mildly less vibrant, autumn, and I’m almost actually looking forward to the first snowfall. Almost. The Second Summer this week also makes me wish it never drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit again. LOL

I am looking forward to what November and December bring to my bubble this year. A challenging year, but a year full of experiences I wouldn’t have otherwise had. I’m looking forward to sharing my State Park experiences with you, so hopefully this post isn’t just a fluke and instead is a sign I’m getting my head back in the writing game.

To that end, the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks were established in 1945. In the years following, the park system has grown to 19 parks covering approximately 27,000 acres with plans to add more parks and expand existing parks in the years to come.

I’ve been to 16.5 of the 19 so far. I add the .5 because I’ve only driven through Pickerington Ponds but haven’t spent time exploring on foot. I had Meli with me and being a State Nature Preserve, she was not allowed out of the car where we were. Somehow, I haven’t made it to Inniswood, though being on the other side of town and only a short half mile loop of four-legged friendly trail probably contributes. The farthest park, Clear Creek, is also a Nature Preserve. It is close to Hocking Hills though so I’m surprised on one of my trips down there we haven’t yet added a this to the list of stops.

Technically the Heritage Trail and Homestead Park are closest to us but we consider Prairie Oaks to be our “home” park. It is on the edge of the county, surrounded by lots of horse farms and pastures. Almost every trail is dog friendly and there is a horse trail too! There are plenty of options here which is a large part of the appeal. Trails wind around old quarry lakes and along the Big Darby State and National Scenic River. There are open prairies, as the name suggests, when you’re looking for open spaces and sunny skies. When you’re ready for some shade there are ample opportunities to wander down a trail under cover from Sycamore, Buckeye, Pawpaw (our State fruit), and Oak trees. If you don’t feel like checking out a trail, you can relax at one of the covered picnic areas, take your dog to the dog beach for a swim, cast a line for some fishing, or head out on the water in a canoe. The Sycamore Trail is our favorite. It is usually the least populated and it is dog friendly. It’s Meli’s favorite trail because there is a spot where we pop on her long leash and play fetch in the river for a while.

Battelle Darby is just a little bit farther away and is where we like to go for a change of pace. About half of the trails are dog friendly, though most lack shade so we don’t go there much in the heat of summer. The cool feature at Battelle Darby is the herd of bison! They have three large pastures to rotate through depending on the season and you can get fairly close to them most of the time. When you tire of watching the herd, there are sand volleyball courts, playgrounds for the kids, and plenty of picnic pavilions. The lesser known feature is tucked away at the northernmost end of the park. An old horse barn and race track that were part of the original Darby Dan Farms. The story behind the track and its creator, John Galbreath is worth Googling. If you’re a baseball fan, you might recognize him as the former owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Only one of our metro parks currently offers camping. The newest addition to the park system, Scioto Grove. Nothing fancy or strenuous about this park. Instead you’ll find an easy going, relaxing park with 5 tent sites you can backpack into for free and by reservation. There are canoe access points at the northern and southern ends if you want to float down the Scioto River, and every trail is pet friendly.

Highbanks on the northern end of town is by far the most popular park, but our favorite is to the southeast, Walnut Woods. There isn’t as much variety of activities but the trails are pet friendly and offer a variety of shade and sun. The Sweetgum Trail is awesome any time of year thanks to the mix of tall pines and sweetgum trees. Gorgeous fall colors, wonderful summer shade, and when the snow falls it is a winter wonderland. The added bonus for this park is the enormous dog park complete with mini agility course and a separate swimming hole for the big dogs to enjoy during the summer. Since it is one of Meli’s favorite places, we spent her first birthday here.

The beauty of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks is that they each offer something a little unique. A wonderfully wide variety of terrain, activities, and amenities. Last year was a bit of a traveling drought for me so I endeavored to travel more locally to quench my thirst for something new. Our parks did not disappoint and I still have more to explore!

For more information about Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, please visit their website: http://www.metroparks.net/

If you would like to read about my visit to historic Slate Run Living Historical Farm, please visit my earlier post: https://goo.gl/jtPGhe

***Previously posted by my friends at Campstake. Please check out their wonderfully compiled field guide and do a bit of shopping while you’re there.

****Exciting park update since originally drafting this post back in May! The Metro Parks are going to add another, bigger, badder park to the list and I can’t wait! https://keepitontheqt.com/home

I struggled to write my post and I still struggle to write now. I’m angry and I’m hurt. I’m stressed out that these monuments may be dramatically altered, if not worse, before I have had a chance to visit most of them. I’m terrified where this review could lead. Why stop with these 27? Does this open up ALL of our treasured public lands to scrutiny and peril?

Luckily, many of the thoughts and feelings that are jumbled around in my head and heart have been expressed more eloquently than I am currently capable of by my fellow public land loving bloggers. Please enjoy their perspectives by visiting their sites at the links below. Special Thank You to Scott of Just Get Out More for organizing this effort. We implore you all to make your voice heard. Monuments For All.

Recently you signed an executive order threatening the existence of several of our beloved public lands. My heart instantly broke. There is no place I love to be more than in our Parks. I don’t remember what my first National Parks site visit was but since I grew up in Ohio it was somewhere east of the Mississippi. Family vacations were not only a time to get away from daily life for a week, but they also frequently were educational experiences around parks, monuments, and other historical sites.

I will never forget the trip we took to Gettysburg. My parents wanted to get on the road early. Early meant 4AM. I’m still not sure why so early! (I’m not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination) My room and my brother’s room were almost directly across the hall from each other, so my Dad opened both of our doors, turned on the hall light and began reciting the Gettysburg address. I can’t recall if he made it all the way through, pretty sure I put the pillow over my head and tried to go back to sleep. It certainly helped to cement the memory in my mind though! I do remember driving through the battlefield, imagining what it must have been like in those moments of North vs. South. There is speculation that the area is haunted by the many men who lost their lives. Whether or not that is true, I won’t debate here, but will say that there is a feeling that is inexplicably unsettling. In a time when the divide in our country seems to be growing again, I am glad we have places to remind us of the pain and hardships of civil war so that we hopefully can find amicable ways of coming back together.

We made several trips to Great Smoky Mountain National Park, including our most recent trip complete with a freak early season and unexpected snowstorm during peak fall leaf color! While most of the Park was closed for most of our visit, the unexpected lead to beautiful scenes and even more interesting hiking. We also went to Washington DC and since that first visit, I’ve returned countless times. The National Mall is one of my all-time favorite places to explore and reflect.

I remember the wonder and awe of walking into Mammoth Cave for the first time; amazement at the ceremonial creations of the Hopewell Culture; and hometown pride while visiting the William Howard Taft National Historic Site. Each vastly different from the other, and yet each plays a vital role in the fabric of our culture. These units of the National Park Service combine with the rest to show us where we have been as a country, creating a compass of where we need to go. Whether naturally made, manmade, or simply symbolic, each of the 417 units are vital to our health and happiness as a Nation.

As an adult, I am slowly churning my way through more and more National Park sites across the country. My boyfriend and I took our first vacation together as a road trip from Vegas. We ventured out first to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, spent a night exploring the southern rim of Grand Canyon National Park, drove through Kaibab National Forest, gawked at the Vermillion Cliffs, and fell in love with Zion National Park. Since then we’ve ventured to many more Parks, Monuments, and Historical Sites. We have no intention of stopping now.

I would love to elaborate on each of the National Park sites I have visited thus far, but that would turn into a book. That book would have blank pages for all the places I’ve yet to see. Maybe one day I will write that book. I know I’m not alone in my passion for our public lands, and hope you take the time to read what others have written about their experiences.

The addition of new monuments in the last 20 years has been thrilling. Witnessing the living history of the United States of America. I fear an action against the Antiquities Act of this nature will open the door to further pillage other beloved monuments in the future. If you truly want to “Make America Great Again” I implore you to halt any reduction of these sites. These are places that can bring us together no matter our upbringing and social standing. There are so many wonderful, unique places in this country of ours that deserve to be preserved for generations to come.

Respectfully,

Danielle

aka TheZestyTraveler

#MonumentsForAll

To those of you looking to have your voice heard, please write and call your Representatives. You can also head here to submit your comments for public review: http://monumentsforall.org/.

I also was so enamored by everything we ordered that I forgot to take pictures of most things and when I did remember, we were already half way through. Oops! There were six of us dining and we ordered about three different items each then shared the majority.

Chef Mike Kimura pays attention to absolutely every detail. As if amazing food wasn’t enough, he is also incredibly friendly and good natured when mingling with his guests. While in the kitchen, which is open by the way so you can see all the action, he is intense and focused.

There is plenty on the menu for even the most cautious eater. From free range grilled or tempura chicken, to assorted tempura veggies and braised duck. You will of course also find the most amazing sashimi I have ever had. I opted for the assorted platter which that evening included melt in your mouth tuna, red snapper, paper thin squid, octopus, and two other fish that I now forget the names of. We also tried matsutake mushrooms under the advice of our friends who are from Japan. They are fragrant and almost woody in flavor, but in the yummy way, not the gnawing on a tree way! We probably all drank our weight in green tea too. ?

As soon as I saw blowfish on the menu, I knew I had to give it a try. I was nervous given the potential outcome if not prepared correctly, but Chef Kimuras reputation convinced me to feel adventurous. When I have seen it on TV, it has always been prepared in razor thin slices and that is what I was anticipating. I also was told it would only be three pieces. It ended up being more like ten pieces and prepared almost steak-like. The texture reminded me a bit of steak, and I don’t recall that it had much of its own flavor. The ponzu sauce made the dish!

We had an unforgettable experience with wonderful company. Oh and the best green tea ice cream EVER. Sorry, I scarfed that down before thinking to take a picture or offering anyone a bite. ?

As long as I can remember, my Mom talked about wanting to one day see the Rose Parade in person and help to decorate a float. About two years before her 60th, the nugget of an idea started to form in my head to make her wish come true. Lots and lots and lots of planning, budgeting, and reservations later, we were off to LA to celebrate my Moms 60th birthday a little early (her bday is in February). Day 1 was float decorating!

The timing was extra perfect since my family loves our National Parks and the parade theme was honoring the National Park Service Centennial. Find Your Adventure.

It turns out that it is relatively easy to get onto a float to decorate. There are a couple of groups who open up to volunteers. If you don’t already have an in with someone decorating a specific float, you can volunteer with one of these groups by signing up online. They do fill up fast and you have to keep checking their website to sign up. We went through Petal Pushers for our float volunteering, and I recommend you check them out if you are interested.

We had no idea what we were walking into! The warehouse is HUGE and housed about 10 or so of the floats for the parade. There are jobs available for everyone’s ability. If you are confined to a wheel chair or cant stand for extended periods, there are jobs for you! If you are a daredevil and like to climb scaffolding, there are jobs for you! And everyone in between. We were assigned to work on the Sikhs float. Not only was it a stunning float, but as an added bonus, the family sponsoring the float fed everyone delicious Indian food for lunch. It was sooo good!

The level of detail that goes into each float is mind boggling. I had no idea and have an immense amount of newfound respect for anyone who has ever had any part in creating a Rose Parade float. My Mom and I were assigned to cut out random shapes from nori paper (seaweed, like what you use in a sushi roll) and glue them onto peacock wings. There were four peacocks on the float, and two wings per bird. Two birds were already finished, we just had to do the other two. It took us the almost entire 8 hour shift!

Towards the very end of our shift, they finally started putting flowers on the float. Somehow my Dad ended up the supervisors temporary assistant so he was able to ensure my Mom was able to apply a few of the actual flowers! My aunt and boyfriend were also with us doing an assortment of other equally detailed and painstaking tasks. ?

You have to be a contortionist to get to some parts of the float! It was completely worth every muscle pinch and strain, lol, to see how happy my Mom was and to see the fruits of our labor progress throughout the day. I can’t put into words how amazing the experience was. I hope to do it again at least once more in my lifetime.

If you would like to learn more about a day in the life of a Rose Parade float decorating volunteer, send me a note! I am happy to elaborate and provide more detail.

Our day started simply enough. We got up, took care of Meli, and headed out the door to pick up our final CSA share of the season. If you’re unfamiliar with what a CSA is, it stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In a nutshell, you pay a local farmer a number of months in advance for all of the produce they will provide you for the upcoming growing season. You are essentially investing in the farm and the return on your investment is fresh local food!

Back to our day:  Today was our CSAs customer appreciation day at their farm. We arrived to a warm welcome from the owners of Paige’s Produce, were provided a shopping list, and a wheelbarrow. Based on our list we were able to roam around and hand select our produce. Different CSAs provide different options. For the two of us, we pay for a half share of vegetables and as an add on, a half share of fruit. There was a great variety this year and the growing season rewarded all of us nicely! We have tons of butternut squash which is one of my favorite foods, particularly when Ed turns it into soup. Drool.

After working up a small appetite collecting our produce, roaming the farm, and checking out two impressive orb weavers on the side of a barn, we ventured over to their house for soup, mac & cheese, homemade cookies, and fresh apple cider. Such a great treat! Not every CSA holds an event at their farm for their customers, but in my opinion they should. CSAs encourage you to not only support local, but to really see where your food is coming from and get to know the people who make it possible.

As we were making our way back home, we passed one of our metro parks and made a u-turn. We haven’t been to this park before. Part of the reason we hadn’t made the journey is because there are only three short pet friendly trails and they aren’t allowed at the Living Historic Farm at all. I feel guilty having fun in nature while Meli sits at home. Today was serendipitous though as we were already in the area. I made it up to her by taking her for a walk at the park closer to home after dinner. ?

Slate Run Living Historical Farm is really cool. It must have been wonderful living there as an original home owner. The setting is idyllic. Lovely trees, wide open pastures, fields, a pond. I will say the lack of indoor plumbing would be the tough one for me. I could survive without electricity, I think, but am incredibly attached to a flushing toilet. The main barn is huge and beautifully maintained. The property is complete with the summer kitchen, root cellar, smoke house, outhouse, and a number of other out buildings. Around the farm we met the employees and volunteers who work the farm as if it were in a time capsule from the late 1800’s; as well as chickens, sheep, geese, ducks, cows, hogs, turkeys, guinea hens, and of course draft horses!

Having just come from a modern working farm, it was interesting to see the differences of small working farms then and now. The biggest difference, aside from indoor plumbing, is horse power. Literally. While some of the plows and other machinery are similar, now they are pulled by tractors instead of draft horses. Materials for many storage structures have shifted from wood to metal. If a part was needed, they needed to craft it themselves instead of going to the local hardware store or mechanic. Aside from that, it is remarkable how little has changed. I think that is a testament to how well the system works and the pride achieved in those who work the land.

I encourage you to learn more about the history where you live and anywhere you travel. If it doesn’t give you a deeper appreciation for the place you’re in and the people who live there, you’re doing it wrong.

I also would like to encourage you to look up your local farmers to see if they offer a CSA or similar program. If not, maybe reach out to ask if they would start one. Almost everyone used to raise at least some of their own produce. It is only in recent human history that we’ve begun to deviate farther away from our food sources. When we lose touch with our local farmers, we lose touch with ourselves.

The trip to DC was a whirl wind, but less than two weeks later we were back on the road again towards the east coast for Thanksgiving. Turns out my Dads family lives out that way in places called Pennsylvania and Maryland. Once again I slept almost the whole way there. Its pretty comfy actually. Though I would prefer hanging out up front with Mom and Dad! I certainly never miss a meal though so I had fast food.

So many people were so excited to meet me and that was just fine because I was equally as excited even if a tiny bit apprehensive. The sleeping arrangements were a little less desirable because they were afraid I might have an accident. The next day though, was Thanksgiving Day and we went over to my great grandparents for dinner #1 at 11am! I met my other grandparents and aunts, uncles, cousins. It was pretty tiresome so I took a nap by Auntie Paige’s feet while my human cousin, Emma, took a nap too.

After all that excitement we went back to our hostel (Dads cousin’s house) for the trip to have Thanksgiving dinner #2 with the other side of the family. They’re fun too! My Uncle Jeff wanted to sneak me turkey but my parents said no. Party poopers! It smelled delicious! I hear I may get a few bites when Thanksgiving rolls around next time though so Ill hold out hope.

I spent the next day with my Dads cousins. They played with me and snuggled and even took me for a walk in the park! It was so much fun! We had a bit more down time before we hit the road back home. I found a really cool ball that was almost as big as me. It was great fun to run around the yard with it!

We’ve made several trips back since my first visit. I get really excited to see everyone and cant wait to see what fun our next visit has in store. ?

Full disclosure:  we weren’t really on vacation last week. In fact, we were both really busy with our various pursuits, but we managed to fit in a lot of fun too!

Last week started with Labor Day and we were visiting my family in Cincinnati, so there was a pinch of travel involved. We’re so used to making the two hour trip though that it doesn’t feel like traveling. Sunday evening we went to one of my favorite events of the year, the WEBN fireworks. I went all the time as a kid and haven’t missed too many years even as an adult. We found an awesome new spot this year that I selfishly don’t want to give away, but if you ask nicely I might give a hint! I’ve watched them from the Serpentine Wall (I recommend you do that at least once but it gets insanely crowded), local office rooftops, and from the Embassy Suites in Covington, Kentucky. My absolute favorite part is the waterfall of fireworks that they do off of one of two bridges, sometimes both! It’s so pretty!

We also had some down time to swim in my parents pool Sunday afternoon and Monday. Sorry that can’t be on your personal itinerary, but you could swim in the hotel pool or find a home rental with a pool. Maybe a place with a built in view of the Labor Day fireworks while you’re at it! Meli got in what will likely, sadly be her last swim of the summer. She absolutely loves to swim and doesn’t know when to stop, lol! It tires her out and is great exercise for all of us. We also celebrated one of my favorite people’s birthday’s, my Uncle.

Work kicked back in on Tuesday and I chilled out with a yoga class that evening. Class is especially appreciated when the first day back after a long weekend feels just like a Monday! Fast forward to Wednesday evening when our favorite local distillery FINALLY re-opened after an extensive expansion and remodel, Middle West Spirits. Worth the wait though as the work they’ve done is absolutely stunning! Wednesday evening was the friends and family party with yummy food from their soon to open restaurant, courtesy of Chef Avishar Barua. He also was one of the chef’s who participated in the recent James Beard Celebrity Chef tour event here in Columbus, Ohio. Great, now I’m drooling on myself while reminiscing…

Thursday and Friday were filled with work, work, and more work. We have to keep a roof over our heads somehow, right? Saturday we ventured out to The Alley, Vintage and Costumes to find accessories for our evening festivities. They REALLY know their stuff when it comes to period attire and accessories. We had only learned a few days earlier that this event existed and I can’t wait to go back next year with lots of our friends. A Gatsby themed party!!! Held at Green Lawn Abbey, a historic mausoleum in need of renovation and repair, the event is a fundraiser. Cocktails, finger foods, and jazz music for all to enjoy. Each year is slightly different we hear. This year we were able to sample absinthe from a new local distillery, 451 Spirits, that we’re anxious to get to know better. A very generous man also brought his historic car as a center piece and allowed everyone to climb in for pictures. The 20s fascinate me and I’m a car junky so I was in heaven!

Sunday was a complete chill day and we went to our favorite trail in Prairie Oaks Metro Park where Meli can play in Big Darby Creek. Along the trail we found pawpaw fruits growing, a difficult task, and Buckeye trees propagating their poisonous nuts. A good day for indigenous flora. A wonderful week full of awesome memories. Ohio is pretty great.

My old toiletry bag was really a boxy thing that came as a gift with purchase from something my boyfriend bought years ago. It holds a ton of random stuff but trying to find anything in it is equivalent to trying to find keys in a purse. Frustrating and time consuming.

No matter where I’m going I try to pack as minimally as possible. I don’t claim to always succeed. When I first opened the package though I admittedly had a moment of panic. I knew it was compact but it looks so small! A little concerned, I set it aside until I was ready to start packing for the Labor Day weekend visit to my parents.

Despite it’s petite appearance, the NeatPack compact toiletry bag holds a surprising amount! I’m happy to say it met my needs perfectly, and I still had a little room to add some things that I didn’t need for this trip but might want to pack in the future. Here is what I fit into the bag: travel size shampoo & conditioner, travel size body wash & lotion, travel size face scrub, full size deodorant, full size tube of toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, headache medicine, anti-bacterial ointment (we always have a first aid kit around but keep the perishables with our toiletries), full size itch relief gel (because mosquitoes can’t get enough of me!), comb, q-tips, and a couple disposable make-up wipes.

I love that they hang! I hated leaving my old bag sitting on the counter taking up valuable real estate. Also, I have a weird affinity for bags with lots of pockets and zippers. This bag delivers. It was so easy to get organized and stay that way for the duration of a trip. The bag also packs relatively flat and fit really well in my travel bag, unlike my old one!

There is a larger size that comes with a detachable TSA approved clear pouch for your liquids, and obviously more space overall. I might pick one up as an alternative for a long trip. For a weekend or week long trip though the compact is more than adequate for me, but I’m ultra low maintenance and don’t have many daily products. Knowing what the compact holds for me will hopefully help you decide if you should go small or large.

If you would like to get a NeatPack of your very own, and get 10% off of your purchase, use my code: Zestyt10. They also have great backpacks, duffles, and packing cubes (which I think are next on my list!). You can find them all on Amazon.com and they are Prime eligible! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any issues using the code or have any other questions. If I don’t have the answer personally, I will make sure someone from NeatPack contacts you directly.

Happy Organized Travels!

Save