NEW FRANKLIN: As a city, New Franklin is barely a decade old, so it’s understandable if you have some trouble pinpointing it geographically.
Old-timers might remember it better as “Franklin Township,” its name before becoming incorporated. Plenty of folks still call part of it “Manchester,” the name of the original 19th century village settled here. Others simply say “Portage Lakes” because the headquarters of the state park is located here and, let’s face it, you can’t ignore 2,000 acres of water.
But by any name, New Franklin is a fun place to explore, especially if you love the outdoors.
To help our readers take better advantage of the amenities in our region, the Beacon Journal is spotlighting a different community each week. We’ve made some obvious picks, but also enlisted local officials, residents, Facebook fans and our own expert staff writers to round out our list.
This week: 10 things to do in New Franklin.
• Mayor’s Choice, by Al Bollas: Boating on the Portage Lakes, of course! “I’ve been boating out here since I was 8 years old. In 1963 when I was 14/15, we were sailboat racing every Sunday and we were sailing by this house and it was for sale. My dad bought it and I’ve been here ever since.” If you don’t have your own boat, rent a pontoon at Dusty’s Landing II or Pier 619 for a few hours or all day. For Dusty’s, visit http://www.dustyslanding.com/rentals.html or call 330-644-3220. For Pier 619, visit http://www.pier619.com or call 330-644-9704.
• If you only want to get your toes wet or stay on the land altogether, check out Portage Lakes State Park. Use the entrance at 5031 Manchester Road to get to the beach, shelters, picnic tables, hiking trails, boat ramps, fishing sites and dog park. For something entirely different, check out the park’s 18-hole disc golf course (yes, that’s like playing golf but with Frisbees). Take your own discs for a free outing, or check out the Portage Lakes Disc Golf Association website (http://www.portagelakesdiscgolf.com) for some organized games. For more about the park, see http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/portagelakes.
• One of the best places in Summit County to stargaze is here, thanks to the Astronomy Club of Akron’s observatory, based inside the Portage Lakes State Park. Follow the signs after entering the park at 5031 Manchester Road. Club volunteers host public events from March through October, but they also plan a lot of unscheduled events when the skies are clear. You can sign up at http://www.acaoh.org to receive monthly newsletters, or view a schedule of public events. Weather permitting, the next one is a 9 p.m. July 9 moon party to view craters and other features of the lunar landscape.
• Social Media Shout-out: Our Facebook friends say there’s no need to sweat this summer if you love flea markets. Colby’s Flea Market and Antiques is an indoor, air-conditioned store at 5461 Manchester Road offering new and used items. It’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Visit their Facebook page to see photos and promotions. Then stroll across the street to the Manchester Garden Center, at 5490 Manchester Road, featuring the usual selection of growing things as well as a large assortment of yard ornaments. The family-owned center adjusts its hours depending on weather and seasonal interest. Call 330-882-4493 to make sure they’re open before you make the trip.
• Looking for lakeside dining? Check out neighbors Dietz’s Landing, 401 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, and Upper Deck Bar & Grill, 357 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road. Both have outdoor seating, open daily at 11 a.m., and serve up lunch and dinner. Dietz’s has a private party area. Upper Deck is located in a nearly 200-year-old building. Both are accessible by boat. For menus and more, check out http://www.dietzslanding.com and http://upperdecklakes.com.
• Another popular stop for boaters and lovers of waterfront dining is Howie’s On The Lake, a bit farther south at 4856 Coleman Drive and a fixture for 90 years. The restaurant has 50-cent wings on Tuesdays, $10 Steak-by-the Lake on Wednesdays and all-you-can-eat Fish Fridays. Find the menu, as well as learn about scheduled music or trivia nights, at http://www.howiesonthelake.com.
• Away from the lake, look for fine dining at Prime 93, 4315 Manchester Road. The elegant setting, which also offers banquet space, has a live music lounge and a wine room. See a photo gallery and menu at http://www.prime93.com.
• The city-owned Tudor House, at 655 Latham Lane, can be rented for weddings and banquets. The 20-room, 2 ½ story brick-and-stucco mansion built in 1929 sits on six acres next to Portage Lakes State Park, with 335 feet of frontage on the west shore of Turkeyfoot Lake. For rates and other details, visit http://www.newfranklin.org and click on the “Tudor House” link.
• Red Horse Winery, 5326 Fairland Road, joined the growing landscape of Summit County wineries in 2009. If it’s a Thursday, you can take your own food. Otherwise, they offer sandwiches, salads and snacks and feature local food trucks on weekends. No admission to anyone younger than 21. Open Thursdays 4-9 p.m., Fridays 4-11 p.m., Saturdays 1-11 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Visit http://www.redhorsewinery.com to learn more.
• The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail winds through here, with two trailheads (with restrooms) at 2445 Vanderhoof Road and 2328 Center Road. Find a map and other activity details at http://www.summitmetroparks.org.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.