Northeast Ohio is ablaze with brilliant colors in the autumn. The air is crisp and the nights are cool. Although summer is just a memory, winter still feels far away in the midst of the colorful leaves and still-warm days. There are plenty of things to do and enjoy in Northeast Ohio during the autumn.
Here are some activities to help you make the most of a beautiful Northeast Ohio autumn.
Ohio's Fall Foliage at Its Best
Northeast Ohio rivals New England in its spectacularly colorful displays of autumn leaves. Leaves start turning in late September, with mid to late October being the peak of the colour. The best way to experience the brilliant colors of autumn is to take a hike through one of the many Cleveland Metroparks. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park, is also a great place to experience fall foliage. Alternatively, you can take a drive to Geauga and Ashtabula counties and take in the colorful scenery among the rolling hills and farmland of these picturesque rural counties.
Clambakes, a Northeast Ohio Tradition
Autumn clambakes are a Northeast Ohio tradition. The clambake originated with Native Americans, who steamed clams, corn and potatoes by digging a pit and filling it with stones. A fire was then lit and left to burn for a several hours until the rocks were very hot. Food was placed on the rocks wrapped in cloth and seaweed and left to cook for at least two hours. A typical clambake menu consists of potatoes, onions, corn and of course fresh clams, as well as plenty of melted butter.
Clambakes take place all over Northeast Ohio at restaurants and festivals. Most offer an expansive array of food which can include chicken, steak and bread as well as the traditional clambake menu. Some of the more popular clambakes in the Cleveland area take place at Don’s Lighthouse in Cleveland, Pickle Bills in Grand River and Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub in Independence. The Great Western Reserve Clambake takes place in late September in the lovely wooded surroundings of the Lake County Historical Society.
Autumn Festivals in Northeast Ohio
Many festivals take place in Northeast Ohio in the autumn. Here are some of the best ones to visit:
- Ashtabula Covered Bridge Festival – As well as being a great place to take in colorful fall foliage, Ashtabula County is also home to many authentic and restored covered bridges. The Covered Bridge Festival celebrates these charming historical bridges with crafts, a quilt show, a parade and many other activities. The festival takes place during the second weekend of October in Jefferson.
- The Yankee Peddler Festival – This festival celebrates the history of Northeast Ohio with traditional crafts, historical re-enactments, pioneer food and plenty of music and dancing. The festival takes place for three weekends in September in Canal Fulton, about an hour’s drive south from Cleveland.
- Geneva Grape Jamboree – Taking place in the heart of wine country in Northeast Ohio, the Grape Jamboree features two parades, a huge garage sale and lots of grapes and grape treats. There is also music, dancing and antique and craft shows. It takes place during the fourth weekend of September.
- Woolly Bear Festival – Ohio folklore says that if the stripe on the fuzzy caterpillar known as a woolly bear is wide, there will be lots of snow in the coming winter. The Woolly Bear Festival celebrates Northeast Ohio’s favorite caterpillar with rides, activities and plenty of entertainment. It takes place in mid-October in Vermillion.
- Johnny Appleseed Festival – As its name implies, the Johnny Appleseed Festival is all about apples. You can pick your own and enjoy apple fritters and pie, as well as enjoying a corn maze, pony rides and a crafts fair. The festival takes place in October at Mapleside Farms in Brunswick.
For more information on these activities and other great ideas on enjoying Northeast Ohio in the autumn, you can check the About Cleveland website as well as the official website of the Cleveland Metroparks.
Source
Cleveland.About.com (accessed 14 September 2010)
Beth MacMillan - Beth MacMillan fulfilled her dream of living and traveling in Europe when she, her husband and their two dogs moved to Denmark in 2001 for ...
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