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Nat’l McKinley Birthplace Memorial- Niles, OH
The McKinley Birthplace Memorial is a stunning example of the grand tributes once erected in the United States. Authorized by President Taft, McKim Mead and White designed a Beaux Arts beauty that still impresses over a century later.
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The Peter Allen Inn- Kinsman, OH
The Peter Allen Inn successfully provides an intimate lodging experience, without it ever feeling oppressive. With just three rooms, it could have gone either way.
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Twigg Winery- Mechanicstown, OH
Twigg Winery is the kind of place that makes you fantasize about moving to the country…and eating a lot of peaches. Really- they have been in the fruit business since 1838. Grapes were introduced in 1998, making it perfectly logical to open a tasting room featuring cider and wine on one of the family farms. Impossibly scenic, with stunning sunsets, it’s the idyllic picture of country life- the part the doesn’t include backbreaking labor. Their dry barrel-fermented blend of Chambourcin, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, Elevation 1256′ (named for the farm’s elevation), is a fabulously delicious wine, a sharp departure from some of their sweeter offerings. At this time,…
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Casella Winery- Dennison, OH
Casella Winery may not grow their own grapes, but its scenic location, set amidst rolling farmland, makes it seem like they could. Boasting several varietals across the residual sugar spectrum, the wines here are made from grapes grown in California, Chili and Italy. The purchased juice is fermented and bulk aged, then bottled unfiltered. They do also offer a barrel aged Cabernet; although one of their pricier wines, it’s also one of their best. Located in a restored 1918 one room schoolhouse, with fabulous sweeping views, the cozy tasting room is a relaxing rural retreat.
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Squire’s Castle- Willoughby Hills, OH
From a distance, Squire’s Castle looks straight out of a Fairy Tale. As you get closer, the reality is a bit darker, a bit more Blair Witch. While still undeniably beautiful, it’s clear the building is long abandoned- a sad stone shell, open to the elements. What remains is a haunting glimpse of the past, a melancholy reminder of a grand Gilded Age estate that never materialized. In 1890, Feargus B. Squire, vice president of Standard Oil, purchased 525 acres in Chagrin Valley, Ohio for the purpose of constructing a grand English style estate. He immediately started to improve the area, building roads and bridges, followed in 1895 by a…