One of the best decisions I have made this summer is to spend every Monday with my eight year old daughter, Tabitha. Please understand that because I lead church services on both Saturday and Sunday, Monday is the “weekend” for my family.
To begin, I went to Borders and purchased the book, “Fun With The Family In Ohio,” by Khristi S. Zimmeth. Having spent most of my life in Ohio, I was pleasantly surprised by all the new “fun things” the book suggested we do. Between Khristi’s ideas and some creativity of our own, we’re having quite the summer.
Here are some of our favorites so far. We spent the entire day at Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom water park in Aurora. It was one of those ninety degree Ohio days that was perfect to spend soaking in the pool while we soaked up the sun.
One day was spent at the McKinley Monument in downtown Canton. Not only did our daughter learn some valuable local and American history, but she had a great time as well. Her favorite part of the monument experience was the adjacent science center, Discover World. It’s a hands-on adventure for kids of all ages.
Another day we simply started by having breakfast at our local IHOP (International House of Pancakes). Of course Tabitha ordered the Funny Face pancake as her breakfast. There’s nothing better than a chocolate chip pancake with a whipped-cream face painted on it for an eight year old’s healthy beginning to her day! After breakfast we spent the next couple of hours in Border’s book store. We looked at books, we read books on the floor together and we purchased a couple of story books to read in the afternoon at home together.
One of our favorite “Monday activities” actually began on Sunday night. We allowed Tabs to invite one friend over to spend the night. At 8:30 we picked her little friend up and then we all headed over to the Magic City Drive-In located in Barberton, Ohio. (I have wonderful memories of my parents taking me to Magic City when I was just a boy.) We backed our SUV into the parking spot, opened the tailgate where Tabs and her friend had made a bed in the back, broke out the snack food and enjoyed a great family film—Ratatouille.
Already the summer is passing far too quickly . . . let alone our daughter’s childhood. God has entrusted many of us with children for a brief number of years. What are you doing with such a minimal and valuable commodity of time? I, for one, don’t want to look back on these years and regretfully say, “I wish I would have spent more time with my kids.”
You guys might like the Algonquin Mill Festival in Carrolton in October. I won their fiddle contest last year, but my mom and I had a really good time there. Everything is “old timey” like during the pioneer days. I sounds corny at first, but it’s actually really cool! There’s a lot of educational things to see and do, and they have activities for the kids, too, and the food is outstanding!
(http://www.carrollcountyohio.com/history/Algonquin_Mill_Fall_Festival/algonquin_mill_fall_festival.htm)
And if you’re off the weekend of October 19-20, head down to the Circleville Pumpkin Show. Saturday is the best day to go, but it starts on Wednesday and runs until Sunday. They have the world’s largest pumpkin pie, the world’s largest pumpkins, and all kinds of goodies like that. And most of the food is pumpkin flavored…don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. =D I’ve eaten it all, and it’s delicious, even the pumpkin burgers and the pumpkin coffee…and I highly recommend the pumpkin fudge. (www.pumpkinshow.com)
And if you’ve never been down to the Ohio State Fair, you’ll definitely want to do that. It’s not all just rides and 4-H exhibits. There’s a lot of things that are hands-on for the kids (and free)..go see the butter cow in the Reiter Dairy building, watch the horse shows (stunning!), take a walk around the Ohio Dept. Natural Resources mini park, go to the exotic petting zoo.
There are so many days as a working mom that I think about the plan that God has for my life. Thank you for reminding me that these days pass so quickly and that my biggest responsibility is to my husband and kids. Tonight I am making cookies with my daughter.
Circleville Pumpkin Festival is outstanding including all the food. The State Fair is the Bomb! It is worth two days but we have always had just one. Malvern has a neat festival around labor day simular to the one in Carrolton. Zoar Village is a good one day trip. Drive-in movies are great as well. The Fish sponsored a Dive-in movie years ago at a swimming pool. You could watch the movie from an inner-tube in the pool.
Strasburg also has a drive-in theater, located right near the 21/250 intersection http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/ohtlynn , Tuscora Park in New Philly is a wonderful place also http://www.tuscora.park.net/ Yes Ohio has many interesting places to go.
My mother and Grandmother always told me A Family that prays/plays together stays together, I agree it is a ver important part of a growing relationship.
Thanks for the time you put into your blogging makes for an interesting site to follow.
Here’s an idea of a forgotten summer past time, picnics. You know, the kind where mom packs a picnic lunch with a check board table cloth? We had a picnic lunch today with my husband and son at sippo lake. We ate at a quiet picnic table and watched people fish and attend family gatherings in the pavillion. You can buy bate and also rent different types of boats for $5.
Amen brother – it sure does go WAY too fast. We’re doing the same thing you are – exploring Ohio. We picked up Neil Zurchers latest Ohio Travel book. It was decent but I’ll pick up the one you referenced too. We’re water lovers so some of the most fun we’ve had has been at Geauga Lake & WW Kingdom (season passes are a bargain if you’re going to go 3 times or more). If you like the beach but don’twant to drive 10+ hours to get to the Atlantic – you MUST try Headlands Beach in Mentor. It’s huge! You’ll feel like you’re at the ocean. I haven’t tried Geneva on the Lake yet, but it sounds like a great spot too. Kelly’s Island is great. We’re also planning to try the Island just north of Erie PA – internet pics of it are awesome.
Keep the ideas coming folks!