Back Roads and Beaches welcomes Adventure Cycling's Underground Railroad Riders

Six cyclists from Adventure Cycling's Underground Railroad route will be rolling into Oberlin for the weekend to experience Oberlin's rich Underground Railroad history. While here, they'll check out the BRaB route and hopefully get to meet some of our local cyclists. They are making their way to Canada. If you see them out on the route, make sure you give them a big welcome!

Weekend Fun Rolls On

Riding the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route from Oberlin—Vermilion—Lorain, we found lots of activity, cyclists and great weather. Here are a few scenes from the route:


The town of Oberlin is buzzing with visitors and cyclists. This is one of the busiest of the year as Oberlin College prepares for commencement on Monday. The weekend is jam packed with tours, events, performances and programs all over town. Click here for a schedule.


We stopped by the Weltzheimer-Johnson House which was hosting tours. The house is known as the “Frank Lloyd Wright House” in Oberlin. It was designed in 1948 and is the first Usonian house in Ohio and one of the few open to the public. The house is open again today for tours.


We spotted these two way up, enjoying the day with a bird's eye view.


At the Oberlin Heritage Center's Little Red Schoolhouse. Oberlin Heritage Center is hosting great weekend events, walking tours and children's activities.



Along the Lorain County Metro Parks' North Coast Inland Trail, right by Breuer Pottery we saw a lot of cycling activity including the dreaded mechanical problem!


Near Kipton Community Park


Further north, we hit the town of Vermilion where we found beach lovers enjoying a beautiful sunset at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum.


And in Lorain as well, families, children and cyclists were enjoying the sunset at Lakeview Park and the Rose Cafe, which has awesome views of Lake Erie.


Sailboats are back at local marinas. We found lots of boaters enjoying the beautiful sunset to cap off their day of sailing.


The Lorain Lighthouse was the sight of exciting tours yesterday. More tours are scheduled throughout the summer.

We found this guy looking for supper along the shores of Lake Erie in Lorain. What a beautiful day along the Back Roads and Beaches route! Today promises to be even better!

Bike-in Show Tonight in Oberlin

One Big Bike Movement is touring the country doing workshops on environmental sustainability and social justice. Details on tonight’s event can be found here.

Memorial Day weekend shaping up to be spectacular

Memorial Day weekend along the Back Roads and Beaches route is shaping up to be a spectacular weekend. Not only weather-wise but will be a real treat for cyclists looking for great arts events. Starting from south and moving north along the route these are a few things that will be going on.

In the Wellington area:
May 23 In Search of Nesting Birds, Wellington Reservation, Lorain County Metroparks, 9am–12pm. Assist with the Breeding Bird Atlas, research and walk the Wellington Reservation in search of nesting birds. Strenuous hike.

May 24–25 Farm Themed Student Art Festival, Bonnie Brae Elk Farm, Wellington, Sat 10am–4pm, Sun 11am–5pm. View art on display in our century old barn, sample venison, hand feed elk and visit our gift and venison shops. 440.647.3232 | www.bonniebraeelk.com

In the Oberlin Area:
Throughout the weekend, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 12–4pm, Collaborations with Silkworms, Ginko Gallery & Studio, Oberlin, Combining art and science through a live exhibition of silkworms growing, eating, spinning cocoons, then emerging as silk moths. 440.774.3117 | www.ginkogallery.net

Saturday morning, Oberlin Farmer’s Market, located next to City Hall in Oberlin. Locally grown and prepared foods

Commencement & Memorial Day Celebration, Oberlin Heritage, This weekend is a wonderful time to explore the Oberlin Heritage Center free of charge, either on a guided tour or at your own pace. We will offer walk through at your own pace mini-tours, lawn games, and craft activities on Saturday, May 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday May 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. Or, if you prefer a more in-depth visit, enjoy a guided tour of the Oberlin Heritage Center at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday or at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Weather permitting, we will also offer "A Walk Through Time: Tour the History of Oberlin Through the Landmarks Around Tappan Square" (guided walking tours) at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. All of this weekend's events are free. Begin your visit or your tour at the Monroe House, 73 1/2 South Professor Street, at the back of the Conservatory of Music parking lot. There you can also visit our museum store for Oberlin-themed souvenirs, books, and much free visitor information. 440.774.1700 | www.oberlinheritage.org





Tue–Sat 11am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm, closed Mon. Artist as Quiltmaker, FAVA Gallery, Juried exhibition of more than 40 contemporary quilts selected from entries from textile artists in 27 states. 440.774.7158 | www.favagallery.org


Breuer Pottery Memorial Day Hours: Saturday & Sunday: 11 – 5. Breuer Pottery is located just beyond the entrance of the Lorain County Metro Parks’ North Coast Inland Trail, about 100 feet beyond the Back Roads and Beaches signs. www.breuerpottery.com

Sunday, 9pm, Oberlin College Campus Illumination. Beautiful lantern illumination of Oberlin College’s Tappan Square with live band music and desserts. Memorial Day is commencement weekend in Oberlin with dozens of activities throughout the weekend for children, families, alumni and students. Click here for a list.

May 24 - 25 Laser District 18 Championships
A premier sailing event held at Vermilion Boat Club. John Shockey, a Vermilion youth sail camp graduate, now sailing for Old Dominion University (John is ranked 36th in US) has invited VBC to host the Laser District 18 Championships. The Laser is a one person one design boat that is the worlds most popular one-design class. As well it is an Olympic Class.

Sun. May 25 1pm–4pm, Bacon House Tours, Vermilion River Reservation, Lorain County Metroparks, Visit the Bacons and look at life everyday of the week in the 19th century.

In the Lorain Area:

Saturday, May 24 11am–4pm, Lorain Lighthouse Tours, Boats leave every half hour from Riverside Park (east side of Black River). $20 per person, call 440-245-2563 for reservations

Check out www.visitloraincounty.com for more information on events going on around the Back Roads and Beaches route. And for more information on dining, lodging and an actual map guiding you through, check out www.backroadsandbeachesohio.com

More Multi-Sport - Shipwreck Scuba Diving Program Launches

Photo courtesy of Russ MacNeal

Here's a new multi-sport activity for Lake Erie enthusiasts...

Ohio Sea Grant has launched a new interactive website, Shipwrecks and Maritime Tales of the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail, available to browse at www.ohioshipwrecks.org . The website was designed to help promote the protection of Lake Erie’s shipwrecks and increase awareness of its rich maritime history. With the help of Sea Grant Extension, divers now have the information necessary to discover shipwrecks in Lake Erie. “There was a pressing need for a website such as this,” says Joe Lucente, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educator. “Now an online database of Lake Erie shipwrecks exists for people to access and learn about Lake Erie’s maritime history or find a wreck to explore.” The site gives those who may be unfamiliar with Lake Erie shipwrecks access to details of the wrecks in a convenient location. The hope is that people will be inspired to go out and explore the shipwrecks and enjoy the history and opportunities Lake Erie has to offer.

The website features the locations of many of the 277 known wrecks and more detailed information on 28 specific wrecks, including GPS coordinates, location information, and the history of each ship, as well as photographs. The interactive map allows users to browse and discover the locations of every known wreck, including the Morning Star, whose remains lie 70 feet under water after a collision with another ship in 1868. Some of the shipwreck listings feature underwater videos, so a website visitor can get a glimpse at the sites beneath the surface. “Whether you are a seasoned scuba diver or a maritime history aficionado, we believe you will not only learn more about Lake Erie's maritime heritage but will also gain an increased respect for the need to preserve and protect Ohio's historic shipwrecks,” states Dave Kelch, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Specialist.

The project is linked to the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail, one of 126 national scenic byways designated by the Federal Highway Administration. This signed route travels from Conneaut to Toledo and celebrates the natural resources and historic treasures along Lake Erie. Lake Erie claims more shipwrecks than any other Great Lake with over 1,700. To date only 277 have been found, salvaged or located by divers. The remains of these wrecks lay scattered across the Lake’s floor and provide an exciting opportunity for outdoors people, tourists and scholars alike.

This project was jointly funded by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Coastal Management. Dave Kelch and Joe Lucente are two of 11 Ohio Sea Grant Extension agents located across Ohio’s Lake Erie counties. Ohio Sea Grant Extension is part of Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, one of 32 NOAA Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources.. For the shipwrecks website, visit www.ohioshipwrecks.org . For more information about Ohio Sea Grant, visit www.ohioseagrant.osu.edu For more information contact: Dave Kelch, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Specialist: 440-326-5851,kelch.3@osu.edu or Joe Lucente, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educator: 419-213-4254, lucente.6@osu.edu

Several of these shipwrecks lie just off the Lake Erie shore along the Back Roads and Beaches bike route. For a brochure, stop in at the Lorain County Visitors Bureau. Brochures are available 24 hours a day.

Just another day along the Back Roads and Beaches Route...

...Although some of the bicycles were a little different today, at Oberlin's Big Parade. Spirits weren't dampened by the rain.

Solaluna Yoga

"Wild Things"

The Living Machine

The Recycled Products Co-op

The George Jones Farm