Celebrating winter!

This little arctic blast may take you off two wheels for a few days, but it definitely doesn't take you off the Back Roads and Beaches Multi-Sport Route. Discover something exciting along the BRaB this winter.

Winter Days Festival photo by Mark Teleha

With our temps in the twenties this weekend, it’s fitting for the Lorain County Metro Parks annual Winter Days festival to be held Saturday (Jan 26th) from 10 to 4 at the Vermilion River Reservation. We don’t sit back and endure winter in north central Ohio, we celebrate it! And why not? It’s one of our four most beautiful seasons! So bundle up and enjoy the crisp winter air while taking in dog sled presentations, ice carving demonstrations, sleigh (carriage) rides, live music, a chili cook-off and be sure to BYOS – “bring your own sled” to cruise down their great sledding hill! You can warm up throughout the day in the Carriage Barn and purchase refreshments before you head back out for more.

Not seeing a big thaw in our future, we gear up for another cool event…the 5^th Annual Ice-A-Fair to Remember on Saturday February 2^nd from 11 to 4 in Downtown Vermilion. Cycle down Liberty and Main Streets, stroll or catch Lolly the Trolley and marvel at the sight of over 50 ice carvings, some carved on site!! Stop in the quaint shops and restaurants downtown to warm up and grab a bite to eat.

Excitement along the BRaB is waiting for you...don't forget your camera!

For dining, shopping and lodging listings go to www.visitloraincounty.com or call us at 800.334.1673

Snow Sports

Snow doesn't always mean putting the bike away!

The cold and snowy winter season is thoroughly upon us Ohioans, and with that comes the opportunity for winter sports! Of course, snow is by no means needed for all winter sports. Any day this winter you can head out for a hike somewhere like the Vermillion River Reservation, Findley State Park (check out their annual winter hike in February), or Indian Hollow Reservation. And you can always hit the North Park Ice Arena for an afternoon of skating.

Hiking in the Lorain County Metro Parks

For now, we do have plenty of snow so take the opportunity to go snowshoeing at one of the Lorain County Metro Parks. You'll have the choice at becoming part of a program, or just renting the shoes on an hourly basis. People of any age can get energized by heading out on a snowshoeing adventure. And what a unique twist on your usual day of hiking!

Keep in mind you can find plenty of great cross country skiing. Parks like the Black River Reservation and the North Cost Inland Trail allow you to ski right here in Lorain County. Grab  pair of skis and head out at your own pace for a great afternoon.

Sandy is Gone-Sun Returns for Weekend Events

Just in time for the weekend....we are all set for the sun to resurface and stick around awhile! Now that Sandy has rumbled out of here, it looks like a great weather weekend is in store.

Which is great news for everyone planning to ride the Red Flannel or run the North Coast Inland Trail Marathon. Two annual events that bring hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts each year. The Red Flannel offers a 37-mile and 67-mile option for riders and is hosted each year by the Lorain Wheelmen Bicycle Club. The ride will begin and end at the Oberlin Community Services Center beginning at 9am. Registration is $20 and includes snack stops, maps and sag service. The ride has become a statewide favorite. Some riders look at it as their last ride of the year while others view it as the start of a new season and a good way to get their cold-weather gear out. Any way you look at it, it’s a blast!

The 7th Annual Inland Trail Marathon/Half Marathon and 5k is a USAT-certified Boston qualifier. The race benefits the Murray Ridge Center. 43 degrees and sunny looks like some pretty good running weather!

If you’re planning to make a weekend of it, there are plenty of events, exhibits, performances and winery activities going on. Not to mention dozens of great restaurants offering up plenty of delicious fuel for your adventure! Click here to plan the rest of your weekend and optimize all the great weather in store. If you are in need of some warm gear when you get here, Swerve Bike Shop and Molnar Outdoor are both close to the starting line of both events.

Paddling the Black River

Kayakers are a common sight on the Black River near the Lorain Lighthouse. Yes, that's definitely a great trip as we've chronicled here before. For many, the Lorain Lighthouse is an obvious pull, along with the sometimes challenging open waters of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Black River.

Henderson Bridge, Lorain

This time we're going in the opposite direction. We needed a day to remind ourselves just how awesome the Black River gets, east of the Henderson Bridge in Lorain, Ohio. The spectacular scenery, top-notch birding and in this case, brilliant fall foliage. There is a launch right at the Black River Wharf just off 14th St. in Lorain. You can rent single or double kayaks there through November from Grumpy's Bait Bucket. Grumpy is actually not so grumpy. He's one of the nicest guys on the river! Make sure you visit with him before and after your trip. He and his dog Rudy love to sit and visit with paddlers, boaters and fishermen. At the time of this entry, Grumpy's website isn't working but you can reach them at 440.244.5370 or 440.787.8720. This is a great paddle for kids too. The calm waters and endless wildlife are a treat for kids. I took my 12 year old son along and he had a blast checking out the herons, turtles, deer and all the amazing natural formations along the shoreline.

Grumpy and Rudy

Once you push off, just paddle to the right and keep going! Views include a mixture of stunning natural views intermixed with and industrial landscape in some spots. Views not seen from the road! On the beautiful, sunny Saturday we went, we were almost the only ones on the river. We did encounter a group of men tooling along slowly in their motor boat, stopping to exclaim "Have you ever been back here?! It's amazing! We had NO idea!" "Yep" I thought.

As you paddle further along, you will see large expanses of wooded, undeveloped land. This is the proposed Riverbend development owned by the City of Lorain. The City and Port Authority have been working hard on a lower Black River Habitat Restoration Project that includes constructing fish habitat shelves, restoration of eroding river banks, invasive species removal and native plantings.

If you're biking the Back Roads and Beaches and want to add this trip to your itinerary, here are a few suggestions:

• Directions: From SR 6, turn south onto Broadway Ave. 14th St. is less than a mile. Turn left to the wharf. 
• Check out local lodging options and make a long weekend of it. Options closest to this trip are Arbor Lights Bed and Breakfast, Lake Breeze Inn and the Fairfield Inn and Suites. 
• Great dining options (with spectacular sunsets and Lake views) are the Rose Cafe at Lakeview Park and Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant. 

Cap the day off with a spectacular Lake Erie sunset-
this is the view from the Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant.