ohio travel

Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio

Published on September 4, 2023January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Along Lake Erie, just past Sandusky, you’ll find the charming quaint town of Lakeside. Lakeside is a special place for me, as my family used to visit regularly in the summertime when I was a child. I haven’t been back in years so Patrick and I decided to revisit during labor day weekend! I had such a great time reminiscing on childhood memories and relaxing in this timeless town, it truly has the same charm I remember from years ago. Lakeside is the perfect spot for a small town getaway! Here is some tips and things to keep in mind before visiting Lakeside.

Things to know about Lakeside

During the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day) Lakeside requires visitors to purchase day passes and auto passes. These gate fees can be purchased online before hand or when you first arrive at the gate. Lakeside is open all year and the gate fees are only during the summer season.
There are several hotels and bed and breakfasts and cottages available. This trip we booked our stay at Hotel Lakeside and loved it! All accommodations can be found on the website.
During the summer months we noticed most restaurants were open in the mornings until 3pm and closed and reopened at 5pm for the dinner crowds.
The town has a newspaper published with events happening each week, be sure to grab one when arriving to stay up to date.
Parking is limited and confusing. There aren’t many designated spots for those who aren’t staying in a cottage. You may have to do several loops around the area to find a parking spot.

We spent two days at Lakeside and this was the perfect amount of time for a short getaway. During our stay, we booked a room at the Hotel Lakeside which is an iconic landmark in the park. The hotel was built in 1875 and the charm is still alive today! If you visit for longer than a weekend, I’d recommend renting a cottage.

Things to do in Lakeside

Wake up early for donuts at The Patio. They have the best cake donuts! They still taste the same as they did when I was a kid.
Grab a cup of coffee at Coffee and Cream or Oh La La. Both cafe’s are nice options with a variety of coffee choices as well as breakfast and lunch bites.
Play mini golf. The course is unique and with 15 holes, it will make for a fun day or night activity!
Stop by the t-shirt shop under the dock awning! It’s a small little shop with some of the coolest apparel to take as souvenirs.
Have lunch at Blue Bird cafe. Located just near the dock in the center of town, Blue Bird has delicious sandwiches and salads with a great outdoor seating area right near the water.
Rent a bike or golf cart at Sypherd Cycle. One of my favorite parts about Lakeside is that almost everyone bikes or rides golf carts around the town. We rented bikes and it was so fun to feel like a local for the weekend.
Have dinner at Lakeside pizzeria, former known as Sloopy’s pizza. This is a town favorite for pizza!
Go for a swim in Lake Erie! There’s access from the “beach” area or from the dock.
See a concert or speaker at the Hoover Auditorium. Lakeside does a nice job finding entertainment for visitors and access to the auditorium is included in the gate fee.

Getaway House Review

Published on April 21, 2021August 6, 2023 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

I recently had the opportunity to stay in one of Getaway Houses for a few days! These tiny cabins are a dream hidden in a secluded area with plenty of wildlife to feel like you’re truly far away from home. I stayed at the Ohio location and it was perfectly hidden off the road and deep behind several pine trees. The Getaway house is enhanced camping which feels like a retreat and provided me with a chance to unplug from the world.

I was amazed with how much could fit in such a tiny space. The design of the getaway houses was impressive as there was plenty of storage, space, while at the same time extremely simplistic. The interior of the cabin creates a peaceful atmosphere that instantly makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. The Getaway provides a lot of little things to make packing a lot easier! There’s no need to bring basic cooking materials (salt, pepper, olive oil, aluminum foil) and they even provide a no-stick frying pan! The Getaway also provides, a mixing bowl, plates, bowls, mugs, cups, and all utensils. I’ve listed below a few things I’ll remember for my next trip. I can’t wait to visit again, I cannot recommend the Getaway House enough! Here is a reference link to receive $25 your first stay with the Getaway!

Things to keep in mind:

Plan out your meals to bring materials and snacks needed for your stay. The refrigerator in the cabin is small!
There is not an oven in the cabin, however, there is an outdoor grill available for cooking.
The tap water in the cabin is safe to drink so there’s no need to bring extra water along.
There is no wifi available, it truly is a screen free retreat if you want it to be! If you want to bring movies, be sure to have them downloaded beforehand.
If you’re a coffee lover, bring your own coffee and maker. I brought my french press and I was thankful to have it in the mornings! The cabin provides creamer and sugar. There is also coffee available for purchase if you forget!
If you want wine glasses be sure to bring your own.
We noticed the hot water didn’t last long so I suggest taking showers before washing dishes in the morning and at night.
There’s a cell phone ‘lock box” provided in the cabin, I would highly recommend using it!
The service was amazing while we stayed! If you need any extra amenities throughout your stay you can simply text the staff to drop more off.

Coffee Guide: Akron & Canton, Ohio

Published on November 15, 2019 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Out of all the wonderful places I’ve traveled to, Ohio will always be special. It’s home. I want to start an ‘Ohio Travel Series’ on my blog and to begin, I’m writing about the best places to get a cup of coffee in my hometown. North East Ohio may not be known for too much, but we do have some great coffee shops worth trying while visiting the area.

Here’s a round up of my favorite spaces, in alphabetical order, for where to get the best coffee in the Akron and Canton area!

Akron Coffee Roasters. Probably my favorite coffee shop in Akron. ACR now has two locations, one in downtown Akron and one in Cuyahoga Falls. I love stopping in for an americano and a slice of their best kept secret: avocado toast!

Angel Falls Coffee Company. A sweet authentic coffee shop located in highland square, Akron. There’s a variety of drinks served here as well as delicious foods, especially their homemade quiches!

Artisan Coffee. Home to some of the best pastries that pair well with a espresso drink. This is also a great stop for meetings or getting some work done, there’s plenty of space inside.

Asterisk Coffee Bar. This is Akron Coffee Roaster’s newest coffee shop, located close by to the original in Cuyahoga Falls. This location is nice because it’s spacious and now serves cocktails and small bites on the weekends!

Heartwood Coffee Roasters. A cozy coffee shop, with a couple locations but my favorite is located in Hudson, just a little north of Akron. Heartwood coffee is known for their irresistible treats and fun seasonal drinks.

The Human Bean. A franchise popular along the West coast has blessed Ohio with it’s amazing coffee! I love the human bean because it’s a drive up coffee place! There’s two drive up sides along the building and multiple cars can drive up and order. Makes it easy to grab a cup of coffee while running errands. The best americano in Canton!

Muggswigz Coffee & Tea Co. A long time Canton favorite located downtown. Muggswigz is a great spot to meet up with friends for coffee and listen to some live music on the weekend nights.

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar. Another great coffee shop with a cozy interior perfect for catching up on work or diving into a book. The Nervous Dog now has a few locations around Akron, my favorite is the original, located on Market street. For any ‘Friends’ fans, the original location resembles what a modern day “Central Perk” would be.

Walkie Talkie Espresso & Coffee. A new coffee shop located in downtown Canton. The interior is welcoming and bright, a great spot to take a break with a cup of joe. I recommend picking up some coffee beans to go here, so great to have at home!