Cross-Country Vacation 2023

We started today behind schedule! It was the scones fault. Turns out our host at Suite T Airbnb  is an instructor at a local culinary school and delivered scones just before 9AM and they were so good we wanted more! We waited for the tea shop downstairs to open at 10AM. By the time we got on the road it was 10:30AM, an hour and a half behind schedule, but it was SO worth it; Coconut Rum Scones with Lemon Curd, Devonshire Cream, and Strawberry  Jam for toppings.  (Click on any photo to enlarge) Scones and Clotted Cream History of Suite T B&B Breakfast with History Clara J's Tea Room Suite T B&B and Clara J's Tea Room Scones to Go Today's plan was to drive 6.5 hours, 332 miles, and visit two historic sites. Because of the late start we skipped Fallen Timbers Battlefield National Park and headed straight for Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site . It was a 2.5 hour drive through beautiful countryside following Rte 6  and Rte 66 (Yes, that R...

Day 51 - Today's plan is to drive 311 miles in 6.5 hours. (Click on any photo to enlarge) We started our day at Country Side Family Diner which was right across the street from the Big Horse Inn & Suites. It was a nice country style diner with the normal breakfast choices. After, we headed towards Funks Grove Nature Preserve. Along the way we found Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge on the Illinois River. This was an unplanned stop so we only spent 40 minutes here. This was a special place and a separate page will be created . To see more go to https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p/emiquon-national-wildlife-refuge.html The next stop turned into a joke. I was searching for an nature preserve on Rte 66 when we drove past Funks Grove Maple Sirup . I have a way of sniffing out maple, so the joke was that this was my original destination. It wasn't, but we did turn around at the nature preserve and head back. They had never heard of Maple Creemee's so I showed ...

Day 52 - Today's plan is to drive 246 miles in 6 hours. (Click on any photo to enlarge) We started our morning with a delicious breakfast at the Purviance House Inn. We drove about 2 hours, then stopped at the Litzenburg Memorial Woods in Findlay, OH. There was nobody here! We walked the trails and explored the grounds. Common Yellowthroat Northern Cardinal We stopped in Tiffin, OH to eat at Reino's Pizza & Pasta . This place was incredibly inexpensive and the food was delicious and the people friendly. From here we attempted to make it to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens before closing. Unfortunately, we just missed it. This 70 acre estate has gardens and one of the largest mansions in the United States. We ended our day at Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Kent, OH. Today's Route: