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Garden of the Gods- Colorado Springs, CO
Once privately owned by railroad magnate Charles Elliott Perkins, the magnificent Garden of the Gods has been open to the public since 1909. Featuring fabulous sedimentary rock formations formed millions of years ago, it is a showcase of geologic processes. Extremely accessible, it’s an almost overwhelmingly popular place; don’t expect solitude, serenity, or challenging hikes here. Regardless, the scenery is truly spectacular, and it is worth a short stop.
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The Shawshank Trail- Mansfield, OH
I would be remiss if I didn’t follow up my post about The Ohio State Reformatory with an entry regarding The Shawshank Trail. Even as someone who has seen The Shawshank Redemption an obscene number of times, I never knew it was filmed in Ohio. I suppose if I thought about it at all, I would have placed it in Maine. It was written by Stephen King after all. But no, it was filmed for the most part on location in Central Ohio, and you can still visit many of the filming locations. Although a few are far flung, most are an easy drive from the reformatory. After the prison…
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Sonnenberg Mansion- Canandaigua, NY
One of the last remaining grand country estates of the Gilded Age, Sonnenberg is a stunner. Although arguably overshadowed by its elaborate gardens, it is a fantastic Queen Anne mansion, chock full of elaborate, costly details. For those who love Victorian architecture, it is not to be missed. Built between 1885 and 1887 by Boston architect Francis Allen, Sonnenberg was the summer home of Frederick Ferris Thompson and Mary Clark Thompson, a wildly wealthy New York City couple. Frederick founded a series of banks with is father, including Chase National Bank in 1873, while Mary was the daughter of the governor of New York, Myron Holley Clark. As such, they…
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Sonnenberg Gardens- Canandaigua, NY
The gardens at Sonnenberg State Historic Park are without a doubt the most stunning and impressive I have ever visited. It is impossible not to be transfixed and awestruck by the sprawling property, which is home to a collection of breathtaking Gilded Age gardens. A work of true genius, you may never want to leave. Built in stages by various landscape architects working for Mary Clark Thompson, the gardens were a living memorial to her husband, Frederick, who died in 1899. Mrs. Thompson, herself an avid gardener, sought to recreate the famous gardens of the world at her New York Estate. Any one of these gardens would be spectacular on…
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Hocking Hills State Park- Logan, OH
Chances are, if you are not from Ohio, you have not heard of Hocking Hills State Park. Virtually unknown outside the Buckeye State, it is a mossy, lush wonderland, with dramatic rock formations and impressive waterfalls. Much like Ithaca, it is absolutely Gorges. Consisting of several discrete park areas, many of them connected by hiking trails, it is the perfect weekend destination. Start the day early at Ash Cave, where a short but scenic hemlock lined path leads directly to the eponymous rock formation, the state’s largest recess cave. Rising 90 feet above the valley floor, the horseshoe shaped cave is an impressive 700 feet long, and 100 feet deep; a…
