I have had the best 3 days! As I write this, I am sitting under the awning of Hers, in a lovely Ohio campground, happy as a clam, thinking I would be perfectly content right here for weeks.

It was hot and humid where we have been parked in the motor coach, so when planning for this van trip, I wanted to head somewhere cooler. – Time to head north again.

Since my last two van trips have been to Michigan and Minnesota, I thought it was high time to give northern Ohio its proper due. Bill and I both have family in southern Ohio, and visit there often, but I have never been to the Cleveland area.

Also, I had just finished a book on John Hay – All the Great Prizes – and since he is buried in Cleveland, I liked the idea of paying him my respects.

Which then got me thinking … what other history does upper-Ohio have to offer?

I am a sucker for touring presidential homes, so when I saw that James Garfield’s home outside of Cleveland is a national historic site, that was of course added to my Must-See List.

Also, you cannot head to the Cleveland area without going to the one and only national park in all of Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

So I had a national park, a presidential home, and a historic cemetery to visit. And while my itinerary for a 4-day road trip (along with ZuZu, the Puppy RV Venturer) was filling up nicely, I felt it needed one more Must-See to perfect it.

That’s how Maumee Bay (outside of Toledo) on Lake Erie got added.

And let me know just say, this has been my kind of trip – the perfect balance between touring and relaxing, remote and urban, quiet and not-so-quiet. Perfection!

Come join me on this trip via some pics…

Day One…

Maumee Bay State Park, just outside of Toledo. Gorgeous!

 

Don’t you love it when your campground says “Beach” this way!

 

I had a pretty perfect spot at the campground!

 

Day Two…

Drove east a bit to the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio.

 

The library, which some consider the first presidential library.

 

Over 80% of the items in the home are original to the family!

 

After touring his home, I drove to Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland to see his Memorial, his final resting place.

 

If you visit the Memorial, be sure to go inside. — This main level is beautiful!

 

Just a short walk away from President Garfield’s memorial is John Hay’s gravesite.

 

My “parking spot” for two nights at the KOA about 10 miles outside of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

 

Day Three…

The Towpath Trail at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

 

This is the only National Park in all of Ohio!

This really has been a great trip! Heading back home to the motor coach tomorrow, and while I am eager to get back to the cats, I really wish I had more time up in upper Ohio!