Halle & I were on the road this week and gosh did it feel good! Dare I even say… it felt a bit normal? We visited with friends & colleagues in Akron, Copley, Medina, Lorain, Sandusky & Bellevue. The majority of our time was spent in Lorain visiting and learning about all of the great things happening in the area with the Ariel at Broadway Hotel at the pinnacle.
Built in 1925, the historic Broadway Building has been a mainstay for downtown Lorain, located where the Black River meets Lake Erie and reopened as a hotel in 2022 as part of Historic Hotels of America. This 55-room hotel is conveniently located near everything that Lorain has to offer including fishing, boating, hiking, kayaking and more, and provides easy access for traveling to and from the The Lorain Palace Theatre, Lakeview Park, and the Vermilion River Reservation. Located between Cleveland and Sandusky, the hotel can serve as your home away from home while exploring the North Coast.
We had the pleasure of spending the evening with the property’s owner who gave us an all-inclusive tour of the property, the city, and the sites. She and her team have done an excellent job bringing this historic building back to life.
The lobby sparkles with chandeliers among dark wood pillars and wall accents. Charming accents of the building’s past such as the original US Mail chutes and hallway architecture lead to the elevators. The rooms are simple, modern & contemporary with navy & blues that embrace the water view of Lake Erie.
What really sets this property apart are the amenities and spaces. The 300-person event space is located on the 4th floor and features an historic 100-year-old stunning bar with views over Lake Erie and the Black River. The rooftop space offers 360-degree views and is ideal for a rooftop ceremony.
On the 1st floor adjacent to the lobby is Dodie’s Dockside, an Italian & Seafood restaurant and bar. If you enjoy a well curated menu, unique design, and a true dining experience; try Dodie’s! We started our dining experience with the meatballs and bruschetta which were a homerun. The bruschetta was not your traditional version but a savory delight with whipped goat cheese, bacon jam, caramelized onion, and apples. YUM! We had quite the array of entrees from lobster rolls to burgers to pizza – I don’t think you can go wrong. I appreciated the cozy feel with dim lights, sparking twigs and custom lighting. It is contemporary yet pays homage to the original architecture while giving way to the nautical spirit of the coast.
Continuing on the first floor off of the lobby are three additional outlets. Lolipops is a Lorain-centric gift shop featuring unique finds and Lorain-related clothing & home goods. This shop was just reopening this month and I know everyone is excited! Cakes by the Lake is a lovely bakery owned by a mother and her sons. We left with (too many) treats but enjoyed each one of them. This is the perfect place for a decadent brownie, a quick cookie to enjoy with your afternoon tea or an elaborate themed cake for your next event. They also feature seasonal treats such as their Irish Potato Candy (No, there are no potatoes in the candy. Don’t worry, we asked!) This is a sweet confection that was explained to us as a ball of cream cheese icing with coconut covered in cinnamon… I know what you are making this weekend! Broadway Boutique and Treats is the home of Faroh’s Finest Chocolates and features many items made by students of the Spectrum Resource Center & School.
The lower level, where the event space once was, is now a lively and exciting sports bar, Game On Lorain. Game On is a local chain featuring good times, drinks, and food paired with your favorite sports matchups! This location features 5 pool tables among other games like pinball.
I am excited to see what is next for Lorain and look forward to returning in peak season to rent a jet ski, have dinner at the lighthouse, walk the Mile-Long Pier, or enjoy a concert as part of the Rockin’ on the River concert series.
Until next time,
Lauren
An all-white structure with sparkling silver lettering would capture any passerby’s attention and the interiors welcome much of the same aesthetic with a beautiful blue color palette. The entire property feels very European and something, well, you just might find in Greece.
Maybe you should plan a little staycation and take the short drive to Athens… perhaps to see the Fall foilage, OU’s infamous Green Beer Day, or to enjoy all that Uptown has to offer.
When I think of Cedar Point, I have nostalgia of childhood memories… being terrified of going on the Millennium once I was tall enough, puking after riding the Raptor (some things you’ll never forget!), or riding my favorite water log ride with my parents.
Castaway Bay is an indoor waterpark oasis (OVER 38,000 sq. ft.!!) The entire property is tropically themed. Some things that I appreciate most is that the rooms offer suites with a mini fridge and microwave! Always great to have when you have your kiddos in tow. The hotel features a Quaker Steak & Lube (I grew up just a few minutes away from the original in Sharon, PA!) restaurant along with a deli serving Starbucks coffee, breakfast buffet and snack shack.
Cedar Point’s Express Hotel also features the family friendly mini-fridge & microwave combo and is all about guest convenience. Easy parking within close proximity of the property and a convenience shop inside! My favorite part of this property is the courtyard and outdoor pool area. It is plush and a great way to spend an afternoon. Perfect to gather and soak up the sun!
Hotel Breakers is exactly what you’d imagine a waterfront resort to be. A variety of rooms and suites, balconies and breathtaking views of Lake Erie. This hotel serves as a great stay-cation, with three restaurants and two bars on site! Spend your days by the pools, water playground, engage in fun games and activities on the beach or my personal favorite, relax under the stars by the fire pits.
Looking for an alternative to hotel accommodations? Hook up your RV, rent a cottage or a variety of cabins. What a great place to relax! Enjoy great amenities, outdoor seating and a charcoal grill. If you are staying in a cabin, you have to have a grill! On the grounds, you can also find an outdoor pool, on-site laundry and fun activities.
This past Wednesday, OHLA had the privilege of presenting a proclamation to honor the 21 million dollar renovation of the former Cherry Valley Lodge & Waterpark now known as Cherry Valley Hotel & Ohio Event Center located in Newark. Many community members gathered to recognize this moment. I enjoyed hearing stories and memories of the lodge and waterpark. Many enjoyed family trips, meetings and the team that once operated the property. Others shared their excitement for this redevelopment as it stood as a marker for growth and economic development.
The Lafayette has quite the history and I’d love to share it with you! One of the more fascinating things about this building is that it has always been hotel! Where The Lafayette stands today was originally The Bellevue Hotel which was built in 1892. In 1916 a devastating fire swept through the hotel and it was destroyed. Luckily, after the fire, a local Marietta businessman vowed to rebuild the hotel and July 1, 1918 it opened as The Lafayette Hotel. This hotel has been in operation for over 100 years!
I appreciated the set-up of the property with a great natural flow and its manageable size. As I continued down a lit hallway I came across a boardroom with one side featuring windows and the other an all glass wall which led out to another public work space and business center.
