Well of course whenever I travel, besides hiking, the other love I have is breweries. I enjoy finding local beers and trying them. So while visiting West Virginia, I made a point to check out the local spots near me.
As soon as I crossed the border, I decided to stop in their capital city of Charleston and see what their city was like. I was drawn to their capital building with its top of gold but was unable to get a photo. Roads were blocked off and security was in place to enter.
I stopped at their rest area welcome center to see if there were any pamphlets to be had. I thought of George and picked a few up to give to him when I return for his files.
I crossed over the bridge to Charleston.
I made my way to Court Street and wandered the city blocks which had a small town feel.
I found a brewery called Fife and it was adorable. Down a brick alleyway.
The folks working there were very friendly and welcoming.
I got a flight. I was only an hour from my destination for the night.
Right outside across the street were these gigantic sculptures. I asked one of the workers what this place was and it was explained that this is where the homeless once lived and they rehabbed it but the homeless still come and enjoy the space. She made a point that it should be a shared space and we were all to get along. It was so kind and sincere the way she explained it.
The police station was at the tip of this park which I believe helped keep it controlled.
This was the alleyway Fife Brewery was located in.
I noticed this metal art as I was walking back to my car. Looked perfect with the metro bus in the background.
I took the local non-toll route to Fayetteville.
I found a local brewery named Freefolk just up the street from where I was staying.
They still had their pumpkin out.
This place was beautifully painted. I later found out the guy who painted the walls also did the metal artwork, the ceramic mugs and designed the coasters. A true artist!
I tried a flight and then took a 4 pack home.
Cute play area complete with pinball, ping pong and corn hole.
Definitely a great find along my way.
Their coasters.
Can sculpt in ceramic and paint??? And graphically design- while doing metal work?????
The metal sculpture out front.
Perfect location to where I am staying. Just up the road.
After doing the Castle Rock Trail in the southern part of New River Gorge, I google mapped my way to this local brewery which was close by.
It was called Weathered Ground.
Always fun to see their tanks and ingredients. I wondered if local breweries were giving any sort of competition to the brand names. I hope so. Its great that there is more taste added to beer flavors.
This place had strange decor, artistically conflicting. From Jerry Garcia to random art and country feel.
Definitely a local vibe with good pizza options and plenty of space indoors and out. When I was pulling in there were two side-by-sides rolling out. Sometimes the country makes me uncomfortable. Then I remind myself I’m from Findlay.
My last stop was Bridge Brews. I loved their “Mountain Mama” American pale ale.
As I was sitting outdoors a small plane flew across the cloudy skies.
Such a beautiful weekend, I feel so lucky that the weather held out and there was zero chill in the air here.
I purchased a growler to go, to be responsible driving back. I stopped at the Stop n Go to get some water and chips to get me through the night and I saw Boonesfarm wine, proudly positioned right below the Glade. Wow brought back high school memories.
George invited me to a new event in Indianapolis and I thought it would be fun to go. With Hive & Barrel he is always setting up for tastings and I’ve worked a couple booths with him in Maysville and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Both were non stop busy but we thought this one, being its first year, may be a little light on traffic.
We were wrong! Zoe came later in the afternoon and we put her to work as well! A beautifully crazy day- working on my feet for 4 hours nonstop pouring cider and mead for the longest line at the event.
I snapped some photos when we first arrived. It was such a cool venue. I am sure next year will have an even bigger turn out. Free parking across the way and the pallet furniture/container venue was along a bike trail too. A little outside the city, people were travelling from all over to come.
The fake turf and colorfully painted palettes created a very cute outdoor weatherproof venue.
Notice the bikes hanging on the wire above. Pumpkins were everywhere setting the fall theme.
The buckets were for ball beer pong. Families seem to gather in this area letting their kids play.
They had a band playing later and once I escaped the booth, I danced with Zoe showing the crowd how to properly make a fool out of oneself.
Really great set up.
Inside they had plenty of TVs showing the games and also a big screen which was going to house a movie night. I was tempted to stay.
Zoe posing on the palette bleachers.
Adorable balloon art pieces.
Toasting to our success.
Zoe captured this photo showing the turn out as she went to fetch us food during the height of the event.
We were completely exhausted by the end. On our drive out, I asked to stop by a brewery to sit and detox for a bit before we headed home.
We stopped at St. Joseph’s church/now brewery.
Cool decor.
Display cabinets filled with merch.
George got a tiny beer since he was driving home.
My ‘tangerine wit’ hit the spot. I ordered a growler to go and enjoyed several more once my feet were up for the night.
My ex- coworker and friend Jane, recommended this annual Halloween event knowing I spend a lot of time in Louisville, Kentucky. I convinced my daughter Zoe to come down and spend Friday night with me and we bought tickets for the 8:30 walk through.
I had no idea what to expect. But this was so much fun! I wish I knew about it sooner when my kids were younger. Would’ve been worth the 1 1/2 drive to see. Honestly it was equally appreciated at our age now. We noticed it attracted families, dates, older generations and younger. Quite an artform. Highly recommended.
On our way in, I noticed parents taking photos of their kids beside the giant pumpkin, so I made Zoe pose. Afterall she will always be my kid.
You walk through the Iroquois Amphitheater to the wooded trails of Iroquois Park.
As soon as you enter you are surrounded by hand carved lit pumpkins, everywhere you turn. Its so beautiful. There were different themes as you walk through.
There were little cottages and music playing throughout.
It was a great place to talk and spend time together. The weather this month has been gorgeous. No chill in the air. Perfect fall season.
Hocus Pocus.
A really cool Frankenstein.
Edgar Allen Poe- appropriate for Halloween. We saw a sign saying 5,000 pumpkins met their death for this display.
Alice in Wonderland.
There was so much to see. I am sure you could walk through twice and notice different things every time.
The Little Mermaid.
Each carved pumpkin was unique. Made me wonder how they organized it all. If they had different groups in charge of different themes. Or if they just had random people carve their own pumpkin and then displayed them throughout as background. None had the same expression.
They even stacked them up along the posts. It was really cool. Well worth the $20.00 fee.
This experience made me appreciate this American holiday.
Have you ever seen anything like this?
We managed a selfie and noticed how much we looked alike at times.
Humpty Dumpty- a classic.
I sent this photo to my friend Traci who loves Hamilton.
Zoe loved this one. I forget what it was but she knew immediately.
It took us an hour to walk through it all.
Snoopy! The perfect Halloween show- released in 1966. Still a must see.
Star Trek.
vs Star Wars.
Its Howdy Doody Time!
When I got back home I found the original puppet I inherited from 1947.
They even had a Day of the Dead section.
Then a Kentucky themed section complete with a pumpkin dedicated to Jack Harlow who is proudly from Louisville.
We had our own pumpkin painting party at home.
No kid is too old for this holiday.
We set our masterpieces on the porch for all to enjoy!
After our hike at Indian Falls we noticed this very cool building and wondered what it was. The architecture was amazing so we popped inside to take a look. It was a library.
Walking down the brick lane, even the parking lot was well designed.
Loved the grassy landscape, angles and mirrored reflective windows.
Walking inside was as gorgeous as the outside. If I lived nearby I most definitely would plug in here for a couple hours of work with a view.
Made me appreciate design and the time that goes into creating spaces for people to be inspired.
When humans aren’t restricted by budgets it is amazing what they can create.
I enjoyed the shadows from the angled window panes.
Art on the wall showing subtle color change effects.
Looking out the window, I wanted to check out the bridge that looked like a threaded needle.
I googled to get my bearings and noticed we were walking over the Scioto River.
Perfect weather making this photo look like a postcard. Dublin was quite the cool little town. Happy to have stumbled upon this suburb.
It was time to check in with KangKang again and she asked to go on a hike. It was the perfect opportunity for us to get some quality time together but also catch the fall leaves in transition. It was a gorgeous morning when I arrived and the day continued to bless us throughout.
We saw double numbers when we started. I thought of Virlane and her angel numbers. These double digits appeared several times throughout the day and made us feel we were meant to be together. Afterall, the Universe did connect us and we both know that it was not by chance. Rarely is the Universe so lazy as to allow for coincidences.
I found this small trail on the map that promised water and was in the right direction to the shopping mall we were going to hit later.
We got there early and there was only a handful of people out. I’d never been to this area of Columbus before.
Literally the minute we walked into the main trail the trees welcomed us with an enlightened calm of green and yellow.
I kept looking at the fallen leaves, admiring how large they were.
I walked out onto this rock ledge to peer at the stream below. We were determined to find our way down there.
Kang Kang kept saying how beautiful our country is and how her mom would love to hike here. I could tell she was a bit homesick. After the excitement and nervousness of coming to a new place settles, you are left with the reality of your choices and the loneliness that you are faced with.
The trail couldn’t have been better. Each portion showed a new combination of colors.
Looking down instead of up made me think about the beauty of the decent rather than the climb.
We found a way to get down to the flat rocks by the stream and sat for quite a bit talking about personality tests, loved ones and the challenges facing us.
Nothing beats listening to the water move.
Noticing how the leaves created a natural dam in spots, adding color to the grey rocks.
Was so nice to sit together before trying to hunt down some winter attire for the months ahead. When she was buying her Timberland boots, a kind lady next to us told her how much she was going to love the snow. She can’t wait. She’s never experienced it before in her life. Such a treat she has yet to savor.
Beauty in decay.
Noticing the reflection in the still water.
Looking up was such an experience that is only temporarily colored during this fascinating season. Always good to enjoy it through someone’s new eyes. Imagine never seeing this before. How cool it must feel to be surrounded by it live, instead of just on the pages of Instagram.
The yellow was vibrant in places.
But the mixture of colors was the best!
I haven’t been hiking much this fall and am about to miss the season. Hoping to finish up some projects to be able to get out again before it vanishes.
Heading back, we breathed it all in.
“Nothing gold can stay”- Robert Frost.
But friendship can and the way the sun rays broke through the trees capturing us in this selfie was validation of ours.
When I saw the FB notifications of this event coming back to Cincinnati, I was trying to figure out how to squeeze it into my travel filled weekend schedule. Determined to support Cincinnati and inspire myself, I decided, even if I had to walk downtown alone, or take a scooter, I was going to make it happen.
Luckily, Zoe volunteered to come with me on an early Sunday evening. We live walkable to downtown but on the top of a gigantic hill, which often times keeps us from travelling by foot. Zoe came up with the genius idea of driving down the steep Sycamore hill and parking there, then walking the rest. It was a perfect plan that my hips thanked me for later.
As we meandered down the hill, I saw signage for this exhibition. No clue what it was. Looked like a kids bouncy house from the outside. Having done zero research, we inquired and it was $15 each to get in. I paid, because I wondered what could it possibly be?
It was an air filled tunneled light extravaganza. They made you remove your shoes at the door and told us we could sit or lay anywhere for any amount of time. I thought it was going to be like a temple. Instead it was an experience!
You felt like you were in a spaceship on another planet. They were playing wonderfully calming mood music and the colored glow from the lights was simply fascinating. Genius.
As you walked the tunnels it was an illusion of space and distance and many times caused me to lose my balance due to the lack of perspective. I really loved it!
I’m so glad we went early and were able to beat the crazy families that filtered in later causing the peace to dissipate. I often wonder why people feel these art experiences are for toddlers.
We headed over to the Asian market where there was a wonderful variety of food. I went for the Thai chicken satay and Zoe ordered a fresh soup. Was affordable and excellent quality which was an unexpected bonus. They did a great job.
Nearby there was a light show playing against this classic toy mural that has been around for awhile now. The projected images made the toys come to life while a decent rock bank played live in the background.
At Washington Square Park they had quite a few fun lighting displays. This one reminded me of roasting marshmallows.
Then we walked under this florescent cobweb of yarn which you were encouraged to pull and manipulate.
Zoe climbed into this art display showing her flexibility and kid energy.
We saw many visual shows being played against historic buildings. A perfect conflict of old and new.
Music Hall had a disco light which we joked the ghosts must be enjoying.
This was a new mural to me. It was huge.
The lights created different effects which made her candle come to life as she transformed into a skeleton.
This view from across the street shows a better proportion of the mural.
Ezzard Charles is an icon in Cincinnati and his mural came to life with some home movies and quotes from the inspirational community boxer.
As we approached Findlay Market we saw several new murals.
Maps of the Blink venue and where to find the art pieces were wonderfully placed so you could frequently check what was nearby to see.
We stopped where the DJ was playing classic Gwen Stephanie and we purchased these glow in the dark light up drinks. Perfect to walk with.
A new mural discussing the history of Cincinnati and its significance in the US history of beer making.
We spotted some displays from a distance and found our way to Northern Row Brewery where they had hay bales in their parking lot for us to sit and watch. The weather was absolutely perfect.
You couldn’t see enough. The creativity, the colors, nonstop stimuli.
I posed in front with my shadow mocking me.
This was another new mural I hadn’t seen before.
They had a nitrogen bubble machine across the street which they cast lights onto to create the movement in this colorful spiral. Was fun to watch the bubbles fall to the ground and mist away.
We decided to head back and then saw this movie playing at the end of an alley. It was one of my favorites! Primary colored mural with the projector displaying contrasting black geometric imagery.
Last before we turned the corner home was James Brown coming to life.
In typical Tonya style, I booked Reds tickets for the wrong game on the wrong date. I called around trying to cancel the minute I hit the purchase button, but as everyone in America experiences there is no true customer service- everything is computerized and automated and nobody is truly willing to help if it means refunding your purchase.
I was upset. Mostly at myself and my quick impulsive trigger- pulling purchase. But in the end, it was perfect! After meeting George’s daughter, I wanted to spend some quality time with my own and that’s exactly what I did!
Zoe and Sedona outfitted themselves in red and black and even gave me a hat and some red lipstick to fit right in. It was great. A day at the ballpark was just what we needed.
I made them pose by Pete Rose, a favorite that I used to watch as a kid growing up.
We opted for local craft beer and a brat to start with.
Then found our amazing seats in the warm sun. We had a great view of the Brewers dugout and third base. The stadium was quite empty and people were seat jumping expectedly. There were quite a few foul balls coming our way which was fun. Seeing the kids with their mitts ready is the best.
We walked around the stadium to see what other vendors there were.
Zoe was trying to get the attention of number 22 who admittedly was cute! Even made an impressive sliding catch. Zoe is too shy to taunt him but we bet her to go down to the edge to see if she could.
Check out these colors! Green, red, blue- with the skyline in the background. We are so fortunate here in Cincinnati- it was closing season for the Reds but the Bengals are just beginning and everyone was out in either red or orange to show their spirit.
Enjoy these days while the blue skies are still showing up.
You have to love a good fall day. The cool breeze against the warmth of the sun, the contrast. The seasons are definitely changing. Symbolically in my life there is definitely change happening too.
I met George’s 8 year old daughter this weekend. It was something I have been totally looking forward to and was so glad the moment finally arrived. Out of respect I will not post any photos but couldn’t wait to share!
We went to a pumpkin patch which was such a great way to begin to know each other, have space and create memories!
For 5$ you got to go on a tractor ride over to the neighboring fields.
The farmer dropped us off in a maze of corn. It was perfectly sized for kids, not a get- lost and panic sort of place, but rather a nice trail experience with a different terrain and several options.
Reminded me of my childhood. Playing in the cornfields pretending to be hunted down by the sound of any nearby tractor.
Not sure why but I love this photo of my muse.
When we came out the opposite end there was a huge field of still attached pumpkin and squash. I honestly can’t recall literally picking my own pumpkin off the vine before. It was a new experience for me.
I captured this tiny spider basking in the sun.
We wandered around finding the perfect one that we felt we wanted to take home. I found a few unique shaped gourds that I couldn’t resist. I didn’t realize you had to take them inside to get weighed in order to pay for them. I stupidly thought it was part of the 5$ fee 🙂 Good thing George was buying.
When we arrived back to the shop, we each ordered some Jericho ice cream which was apparently made from the milk of their own cows. It had a totally different texture and flavor to it, very creamy! We later went out to meet the cows out back in the pasture.
Never underestimate the simple things in life. Cows out in the pasture. Pumpkin and corn fields. Vanilla ice cream. Enjoying the moment where you begin again’.
I never considered myself knowledgeable in any way. I always lost at board, card, and any sort of trivia games. I don’t read. Most of my understanding of the world comes from story telling and my own curiosity and exploration. Not any sort of report or actual data.
Nonetheless, I joined a trivia group and we are named the Trash Pandas. We never fret about coming in last and feel victorious when we get any answer right. I discovered that trivia is not about knowing the most, but having fun guessing and realizing there is so much in the world we still don’t know. (Apparently, a lot I don’t know about Africa which is always a topic that we lose out on.)
The Trash Pandas try to get out about once a month and we jump from venue to venue. Never the same place twice. This Tuesday eve we ended up at a hidden bar in OTR named Mecca.
You walk in from a side street without any signage. The outdoor area is adorable! Picnic tables are a tad unstable from what seems to be plenty of use, the decor is eclectic and charming.
Love the growth in Cincinnati OTR area. The historic buildings are such a beautiful backdrop to my selfie.
Sedona and her boyfriend Key joined in the fun and were good sports about posing for this picture.
The outdoor bar wasn’t open but I imagine during the summer weekends it would be. I so love all the new outdoor spaces created during Covid. Another positive to take in from the pandemic.
Inside was equally creative. Love the plant life, am always wondering who’s keeping them alive.
Kevin is our fearless leader at trivia holding a PhD and tons of travel experience. This man makes my adventurous soul look weak in comparison.
After coming in 4th place, Zoe arrived so she and I adventured out for one last margarita to close down this weeknight outing.
My sister was going to be at the Bourbon & Beyond Festival camping in Louisville for the weekend, so I decided to take off work and join her for a day of music. Wasn’t sure what to expect, I really didn’t care who was playing, honestly just wanted to spend some time with her.
Music festivals are always fun people watching if nothing else. Walking in I snatched a photo of this couple who was doing their best not to lose each other in a crowd.
Upon arrival I walked around to get the lay of the land. Taking in the artwork, bourbon booths and Instagram opps.
An easy place to meet up. This venue did not offer much shade and these September skies did not have a cloud to help. The heat was brutal.
Drinks offered were $16.00 for a cocktail. Making it ungodly expensive to get a buzz on. And people wonder why edibles are a new trend. So much more fun, affordable and able to bring into any venue.
Was so excited to see Alanis Morissette. I know every word to her songs from the 1990s Jagged Little Pill album and she did not disappoint by wailing them out in her amazingly clear robust voice. It’s my first time seeing her live. Her mannerisms and energy were beyond my expectations. I felt sorry for the 6 ft 7″ giant that stood in front of me as I sang along at the top of my lungs.
I left right as Jack White was coming out screaming. I had my fill of music for the day. Alanis was enough for me to say it was worth it.
George had an event in Bowling Green, Kentucky that weekend and I tagged along. It was called “Brews and Tunes”, outdoors at the Mellow Mushroom. They had Hive & Barrel’s mead on tap and he wanted to check it out and participate in the festivities.
I took a photo of his tap proudly joining the other craft favorites. It’s fun to see his meadery’s name getting out there for others to experience.
We are quite the dorks with our Mead and Cider hats 🙂 Proudly advertising along with our matching tees.
They have a district in this city where if you are carrying the right plastic cup, which costs 1$, you can walk with your drinks throughout the town in the restricted areas. I love this idea, allowing you to wander and drink so you don’t feel stuck in one location. We wandered to the square.
It was as quaint as you could imagine. A typical small town charm.
There was a beautiful park in the middle of the main streets filled with with shaded areas and sculpture.
Catching the flowers still in bloom before fall encroaches.
It felt like we dropped back in time.
A beautiful fountain in the center. There was a church group walking around laying hands and praying for people. I welcomed them and felt their power of sincerity calling God to caste out the evil surrounding my situation.
Was told that by the evening this place would be jumping with college students bar hopping and enjoying the last of the summer eves.
I asked permission to take this beautiful girl’s photo as she pulled up in a limo celebrating her quinceanera.
When we got back to the Mellow Mushroom the crown had filtered in and the bands started playing.
It was a fun venue that sadly wore me out quickly. Unable to handle day-drinking in the sun like I used to 🙂 A” for effort, but we ended up getting a hotel room and I was left behind as George went back to close the night.
The next morning we drove around the campus for a bit, checking out the architecture.
We stumbled across the city’s ballpark which inspired me to buy some last minute Reds tickets to take my daughters to. It’s been a few years since we have been to a game together!
One thing leads to another if we just keep moving along and pulling from the beauty and experience in life. The older I get the more I appreciate these steps. I find myself trying less to control my journey and instead eager to see what’s next, more out of curiosity than anxiousness of proving anything to this world.
Tonya Takes Thailand 