PENINSULA: One of Ohio’s most scenic small villages, it’s no wonder this town’s population of under 600 people can swell to several thousand on any given sunny day.
Surrounded by bucolic Boston Township and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, nature lovers find their way here from throughout the region and beyond.
There’s a good chance you’ve already explored this gem, but with so many treasures tucked into every nook and cranny, you’ve probably missed something.
To help our readers take better advantage of the amenities our region has to offer, the Beacon Journal is spotlighting different communities in a series of articles. We’ve made some obvious picks, but also enlisted local officials, residents, Facebook fans and some of our own expert staff writers to round out our list.
This week: 10 things to do in Peninsula and Boston Township.
• The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. You can catch the train right in the center of town off Main Street (state Route 303) for $3 and ride it out of town, then hop off and hike the CVNP trails back in. The train will even take your bike if you’re on wheels. Or check out the special schedule and plan an organized event aboard the train. It runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, north to Independence or south into Akron. Visit http://www.cvsr.com.
• Check out the schedule of the historic Grand Army of the Republic Hall (better known as G.A.R. Hall) to see if any events are coinciding with your visit. Located at Riverview Road and Main Street, weekend fare typically includes live music, food and a full bar. See http://www.peninsulahistory.org/voices-in-the-valley to learn what’s coming up.
• Fisher’s Cafe & Pub is a third generation, family-owned eatery founded in 1958 on the former site of a Model T Ford dealership. Centrally located at 1607 Main St., lots of park visitors take their break here. Check out the menu: http://www.fisherscafe.com.
• Shop Hop, by our home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge: “Peninsula is brimming with fun shops, but Yellow Creek Trading Co. is one I make a point of visiting every few months to check out its home décor items, gifts, jewelry and folk art. It also carries reproduction antique furniture and has even started stocking a small selection of clothing. Don’t miss the Brown Rabbit, the cozy antiques shop that shares the building.” Located at 1685 Main St., it’s open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www.yellowcreektrading.com.
• The Peninsula Art Academy offers a variety of classes, from calligraphy to jewelry making, and many days will spotlight artists at work blowing glass, weaving textiles or playing with one of many other mediums. As a cooperative gallery, most of the staff are artists themselves. Stop in at 1600 W. Mill St., or pre-plan an activity at http://peninsulaartacademy.publishpath.com.
• Social Media Shout-out: Facebook fans rallied around the Winking Lizard, a favorite watering hole of hikers and bikers for decades now, long before the Bedford Heights chain grew to include a couple of dozen restaurants. The one here was one of the first, opened in 1991. http://www.winkinglizard.com.
• Date Night, by residents Lois and Doug Unger: This pair of Peninsula artists say “travels on the Towpath Trail offer insights of nature and inspiration as well as important exercise.” Sometimes they take carryout meals from Fisher’s Cafe (pulled pork with onion straws and cole slaw) or the Winking Lizard (ribs and salads) and dine on a bench at the beaver pond while watching the wildlife. “All leftovers and trash go back home for recycle,” Lois added emphatically. Visit http://www.summitmetroparks.org/ParksAndTrails/TowpathTrail.aspx for a map of the trail. That beaver marsh is off Riverview Road, just north of the Ira Road Trailhead. It’s one of the reasons Outdoor Photographer magazine named the surrounding national park one of the Top 25 places in the world for nature photography.
• Food Fix, by our food columnist Katie Byard: Before you leave town, take something home from the Yum Yum Sweet Shop at 1593 Main St. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the store carries over 500 types of candy, 80 flavors of soda, Pav’s ice cream, Honadle’s fine candies, salt water taffy and retro treats from your youth.
• For many outdoor enthusiasts, Peninsula is synonymous with cycling. If that’s your thing, check out the biking opportunities and accessories at Century Cycles, 1621 Main St. Century rents hybrid/comfort bicycles by the hour, in addition to traditional road wheels and even snow bikes. Visit http://centurycycles.com and click on the Peninsula location for details.
• The Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Sandwiched between the urban landscapes of Akron and Cleveland, the CVNP is one of the most-visited parks in the country, luring millions each year to its thick forests, rolling hills, open farmlands and the crooked Cuyahoga River. Find all you need to know at https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm.
• It’s not currently in season for these two attractions, but the Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort keeps the visitors coming here long after the leaves have fallen. The pair of partner ski resorts, owned by Peak Resorts, were developed independently in the 1960s. Bookmark http://bmbw.com for next winter, and imagine what Peninsula and Boston Township look like covered in snow.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.