Leaves are falling.
Road trips calling!
Fall is here!
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In September, I spent a weekend with 5 girls in Geneva on the Lake in Northeastern Ohio. It was truly one of the best road trips I have ever taken. We were there to celebrate my college roommate Kara who will be getting married in just two months year. We decided to take a September trip to celebrate her and explore the area full of wineries, beaches, and local shopping.
I had the honor of planning this weekend for the small bridal party. We ranged in ages from 23-30 and each had about a three hour drive to arrive at our destination. My goal for the weekend was an affordable and fun trip for everyone in attendance! I think we each probably spent about $350 on this trip including travel, lodging, food, and activities. Here is some information on what we did and where we went!
Friday
I booked housing through Airbnb in Ashtabula, OH, which was about a 25 minute drive from downtown Geneva on the Lake and most of the wineries we planned to visit. I had trouble finding rentals in the town of Geneva on the Lake because of a weekend festival; however, I would 10/10 stay in Ashtabula again! The Airbnb was right down the street from Ashtabula Historic Harbor, downtown Bridge Street shopping, and the Bascule Lift Bridge. The Airbnb was so spacious and clean for the six of us. The kitchen was huge, and the living area was comfortably and cozy. We were also able to park 4 cars at the house without any trouble. The link to the "Retreat on Bridge Street" is here.
We could check into the Airbnb at 4PM. Some of the guests took half days from work and drove up early, others drove up after their workday was completely finished. We all trickled into the apartment by 10PM. We decided to just have a quiet evening with comfortable clothes since many of us had just been driving and finishing up the work week.
One of Kara's favorite dishes of all time is Eggplant Parmesan. My Nonna was so generous to make us a tray of this Italian specialty in addition to some fresh focaccia bread. I made my Kale Caesar Salad with Crispy Roasted Chickpeas to go with the meal. We all ate this on Friday evening at the house. It really hit the spot, as Eggplant Parmesan is one of my favorite Italian dishes as well.
After dinner, we curled up on the couch to watch "Where the Crawdad's Sing" on Amazon Prime. We brought our own blankets and fresh chocolate chip cookies. It was a relaxing evening for a fun-filled day ahead.
Saturday
In the morning, I set some time aside for each guest to adventure as they pleased. The coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping were just a five minute walk from our Airbnb. There were trails and sidewalks to run/walk as well as tennis and pickle-ball courts to play a game. Our group decided on breakfast and coffee at Harbor Perk Coffeehouse & Roasting Co. which had a spacious inside for seating as well as a small patio outside. After coffee we walked to Walnut Beach. The beach was beautiful for the 60 degree morning!
In the afternoon we headed back to the Airbnb to freshen up and head out to a few wineries in the area. I tried my best to get a good variety of wineries with good food, scenery, and entertainment. We loved each of them! We were fortunate that one of the girls in our group did offer to be the driver using one of our cars. However, if you do not have a driver, I suggest a limo or bus rental service in the area! I did not try, but I heard that Uber and Lyft drivers are hard to come by. Additionally, cell service at many of the wineries was spotty. So I would definitely recommend having a plan in mind for your weekend itinerary.
Here are the 3 wineries we visited:
Laurello Vineyards - If I could pick a winery in the area to both cater and host a huge event in Geneva on the Lake, I would pick Laurello! I definitely would recommend trying a bottle of their Peach Riesling. I am not a huge sweet wine fan, but this drink was so refreshing and light! 10/10. The food here was also great. Flatbreads, sandwiches, and dips are their most popular items. The atmosphere was quiet with picnic tables and umbrellas on the lawn.
South River Vineyards - The scenery here was unbeatable. I wish we would have stayed for the sunset, as I can imagine it being spectacular. The vineyards are overlooked by a beautiful patio and a remodeled Methodist Episcopal Church which serves the food and drinks. The wine flights are a very popular menu item. You can also bring your own food here and eat at the picnic grounds. We spent some extra time taking some nice pictures here of the group.
DeBonne Vineyards - This is Ohio's largest estate winery. When you arrive, you will understand why! There is a grill, a restaurant, an entertainment stage, a tasting room for wine, a tasting room for beer, a gift shop, a huge picnic area, private areas for outdoor dining, and probably more that I did not explore. We absolutely loved the atmosphere here! The sangria was also delicious. The guests were exceptional, the food was great, and the entertainment made our night. There were people of all ages on the dance floor!
At the end of our day, I must comment on the hospitality and the friendliness of the staff and guests at every winery we went to in Geneva on the Lake. Everyone was so excited to congratulate Kara on her upcoming wedding - as we did make her wear a sparkly "Bride to Be" sash all weekend. Many of them came on charter buses from hours of way, and many of them return annually to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays! All in all, it was so sweet to meet such fun and friendly people. There are over 20 wineries to choose from in the region. I absolutely loved the ones we visited and would 100% return to any of them again!
Sunday
This was our last day in Ashtabula, so it consisted of tidying up the Airbnb for checkout at 11AM and then brunch on Bridge Street. I made a reservation at Rennick Meat Market which was a cute local restaurant previously utilized as a butcher shop. The restaurant had a farmhouse aesthetic to it with lime green wallpaper covered in cows. I enjoyed the classic Eggs Benedict dish while others enjoyed omelets and french toast. I would love to go back again for dinner!
It was a group consensus that we had the absolute best weekend celebrating Kara in Geneva on the Lake, OH. I was so honored to plan the weekend and channel my inner travel agent self. We all agreed during Sunday brunch that there was nothing we would have changed for the weekend. It was the perfect balance of relaxation, food, wine, and good times. Our lodging was spacious and private. And the weather was cool yet comfortable for us in September. Sweater weather, as some may say!
I cannot wait to return to Geneva on the Lake, again! I would definitely recommend the destination for any group of any age. There is a little something for everyone - from food to wine, beaches to hiking, and shopping to entertainment. Hope to see you there!
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