Treat yourself to a time-capsule ride back to the roarin' (18)90s and stay until the good Archduke…read moreFerdinand was felled in a faraway land. This is the period that is most pronounced in the four square blocks meeting at the Woosters & Mains. "Thar's oil in them thar wetlands" was the (paraphrased) cry that kicked off Bowling Green's ascendency into wealth and all its trappings - way back in 1886. Enough of the locution of the past. Fast forward to now - and enjoy the present on street level (and upwards) while appreciating the patina of yesteryear crowning the buildings themselves. See first-hand well preserved Italianate, Victorian, Queen Anne and Georgian architecture. I'm sure there are others but those I know for sure. Pictures a'comin'.

What beautiful place! This place delivers masterpieces and much needed message for people. My kids…read moreloved climbing and looking for bowling balls. A whimsical sanctuary in the middle of Wapakoneta.

This is a place I have been frequenting since my youth. It's a sanctuary for many kids who just…read moreneed a place to hang out and it's a great place for all ages to just check out. It costs you nothing to check it out and if you happen to stumble across the awesome owner, Jim, then you are in for an even bigger treat. Jim is such a great guy and such a good storyteller! If his yard doesn't tell you enough then he will. I've known Jim for a while and he's such an eccentric, animated, and all-around nice guy. My advice...don't just stop at the Temple of Tolerance once, make many visits, or heck become a regular here. It's hard to believe this is in Wapakoneta, Ohio but I'm glad it is. The Memorial to Ohio War Dead is a memorial he created to show how many Ohioans have been killed in battle since the War of 1812 and it was moving to me to see his dedication to such a memorial. If you ever get a chance to hear Jim speak (if you can't find him in the Temple you can sometimes find him giving speeches elsewhere) you must go. I've been to a couple of his talks at the library in his town and he just sucks you in with his words. He gives you a lot to think about and I wish more people were like Jim! There is a donation box on his front porch so be sure to leave a little if you stop by and have a look at the Temple. The money helps with upkeep and such for it all.

Adrian is home for me and I like living here, primarily for the fact that it is quiet and…read moreuncomplicated. But that means there is also not much to offer in the way of excitement for the visitor. Other than being a lodging town for the activities at nearby Michigan Speedway, we see very few visitors in town. But there are some subtle niceties about Adrian that would interest those hardcore explorers who like to peel back the layers to experience the variety of everyday life in the US. Adrian has little in the way of touristy attractions. The vintage downtown area is a starting point. A two-by-two block area is decently preserved and fun to stroll. In that downtown area you'll find the Croswell Opera House, Michigan's oldest theater. The historic interior is quite lovely and worth a look. For fans of small museums, the Lenawee Historical Museum is a nice stop to acclimate to the history of the area. After that, the festivals are of interest. Artalicious in the summer draws a good crowd from around the region. The four downtown blocks are closed to traffic while booths and artisans line the streets. First Fridays mimics this on a smaller scale but on a more frequent basis (first Friday of each month). Shops typically stay open later on these special days. There's also a Halloween celebration during which local businesses and organizations set up with tables on the downtown sidewalks to give out goodies to the kids. It's also worth mentioning the parks. The River Raisin runs through Trestle Park, which has a nice boardwalk that facilitates strolls through a wetland patch. Comstock Park is quite a sight around the Holidays with end-to-end Christmas Trees that are sponsored by different organizations, families or individuals. Heritage Park is also a nice spot and Riverside Park offers a public pool. In a town of 20,000 people, you'd expect there to be a few good restaurants...and there are. My favorite in town is Fiesta Ranchera which offers tasty Mexican and Tex-Mex fare. You can get some creative burgers and fries at Chomp Burger on the edge of downtown. For comfort food, Tip Top is the...wait for it...top choice. Brenda's is a great Tex-Mex "hole in the wall" downtown. And JRs deserves mention if you like steak. For a nightcap, try Mammoth downtown. For a touch of class, Chaloners cigar bar is a fun spot. While Adrian is not a scintillating place to visit, there are some hidden, low-key things to do that might make it fun to spend a day here. If you're so inclined, hopefully these suggestions are helpful.

Just to put this little place on the map; I dropped through here on a recent trip into southern…read moreMichigan. There are a lot of little places like this along U.S. 12. Little local hobby farms and food shops selling local products and Amish butter. What set this one apart was the U-Pick strawberry field. Now, I'm a big fan of sustainability and advanced horticulture. This little place had it in spades, from their little poultry pen to their biomass pellet furnace. But the real show-stopper was the hydroponic vertical strawberry field. Stacked six pots high and irrigated from the top, this place had it together. NIce modular planting towers and an incredible thing to see. I remember grubbing along the rows of densely crowded strawberries in a conventional field as a kid, dragging along my flat to be filled. This place was a far cry from that back-breaking experience, more like shopping than picking. The place had a great welcoming ambience, with one of the better prices on local apples I'd seen, an inviting little pumpkin stand (a young couple with three small boys were picking theirs out. Definitely an "awwww" moment) and a nice selection of local produce and Amish products like roll butter and bread. Things are a little pricey here, admittedly. It's a tourist kind of place and the prices are indicative of the quality of the produce offered. But sometimes, it's not about the bottom line or finding a simple "bargain." It's about making sure that those who produce excellence can earn a living doing so. Excellence is to be found in abundance here, and its more about acknowledging that effort than anything else.

It was a frigid February 7th... at least for this Florida guy. 20 degrees... I was freezing! And I…read morewas walking around on my own in my new home town on Van Vert, OH. I found out about this really cool chocolate walk going on in town thru the website of the originator: Main Street Van Wert. I decided to go to this event because: 1) I am new to the area and this is a good way to explore my new home and discover places to eat/shop 2) I love chocolate! I am obsessed with it! Any of my friends can attest to that 3) If you attended you could take a ride on a horse drawn carriage. I have ridden horses before but never been in a carriage. I am always up for new experiences! 4) Total cost for the event was $20. That is nothing! Event started at 4 pm and I went into the offices of Main Street Van Wert. After giving my ticket, I got my bag to take around with me. People in this town are super friendly and a group of people hearing I just moved into the area welcomed me to hang out with them. I was super happy to, and grateful that they allowed me to explore and enjoy this event with them. We then eagerly started our epic epicurean expedition! We did hours of walking, having fun and eating tons of chocolate! I don't even remember how much chocolate I consumed and I still took a bag full back to the hotel I was temporarily living in! I also took a ride in that horse drawn carriage! That was super fun! Moreover I discovered businesses I plan to or have already gone to because of the chocolate walk. Firstly, I discovered Brewed Expressions! It's become my go to coffee shop since moving in and where I have coffee if I am too lazy to make my own. I also discovered Elite Interiors. It's a beautiful home decor and interior design store. I met Joanne, who is an amazing interior designer and who I ultimately hired to help me decorate my house. It's coming along beautifully! When it's done I will write a separate review! I am very glad that I was part of such a wonderful event! I look forward to other town events in my new home!

If you are a flea market/ yard sale lover you gotta take a drive up 33 and check this place out…read more If time had been more on my side I could have stayed indefinitely but as it is I'm always in a rush (some might say that I don't adequately plan for these spur of the moment outings, but...). Anyway, this is SO cool and I cannot tell you how many fun things I've found here. My most current find was a 3 foot tall/wide big metal rustic looking star that now hangs above my mantel and cost a whopping $12. Don't hate me because I'm a brilliant bargain finder. ;) Seriously- you have to go here.

Not a bad flea market at all. Very clean. I'll be back. 4 pole barns all paved with about 40…read morevendors in each one. I purchased some corn hole bags while we were there 8 bags for $20.00.

I hate making bad reviews. But this place was terrible! We couldn't get in certain places. So we…read morechose to shoot for here! I'm someone who feeds off a good bartender. A similar smile or a good joke will make me tip upwards of 30% The staff was so rude! We were 4 of ten people there all day! They made us feel like it was a inconvenience for us to be there. Atmosphere of them made me not go back the following day!

This pool is pretty cool…read more It features "The World's Longest Swim-up Bar!" Minus the fact that the water is green from wasted people pissing in it -- and it smells a lot like Sea World -- it was decent and fun. It was loud and very party oriented. I was rritatated that pool towels were not offered -- as I was a guest of the Grand Islander (the hotel this is attached to). I was very foolish and didn't remember what Towelie, of South Park fame, told me. I didn't bring one. "Always bring a towel!"

BURN IN HELL Or at…read moreleast while attached to a hearse. The man that designed this custom built bar and grill does just that at least once a year when he treks with the trailer to Hell, Michigan with his "open casket" grill. The grill, which was built over the course of 80 to 100 hours at The TechShop of Allen Park, is made out of a modified casket. The shell of the casket is mounted to a portable tow-behind trailer, so it draws onlookers when being transported behind a hearse, but with no visible tie-downs. (Video of the creator talking about the grill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0RXI8DHWgo) It contains a four-burner stainless steel grill that boasts 48,000 Btu of power. It boasts 496 square inches of cooking space, with electronic ignition and porcelain-coated, heavy-gauge wire cooking grates and a 20-pound propane tank. The other half of the casket includes a marine style waterproof radio and a 27-gallon cooler with built-in drainage features. Of course, the grill wouldn't be complete without tools that all have "Open Casket Bar and Grill" laser etched into their handles, and custom-made salt and pepper shakers. Why a hearse? Because the creator, Steven Frye, is also the founder of the Nightmare Cruisers Hearse Club for car enthusiasts. The club boasts more than 120 members, mostly from around Michigan, though some join from across the country. "We like to get together and do the cruises," Frey said. "When we do these cruises, we like to hang out with our friends, old friends and new friends. Anyone that has a hearse is welcome to join us, even if you are just a hearse enthusiast." Frey first bought his hearse to promote a product, "Dr. Frybrain's Pumpkin Embalmer," though most people thought it was just a name for his hearse, rather than an actual product. After a couple of years of explaining the product on the car, Frey grew tired of answering questions and instead just painted over the advertising. For a time, the club also held the record for most hearses assembled in a parade in 2011. Frey said the rule for any gathering of cars is that is has to be a parade; otherwise, the record would be held by the manufacturer. "We held the record for about 11 months," he said. "Then a group in the Netherlands broke the record. Almost all of them were 'in the business,' though. Only three of our hearses were owned by funeral homes.

This is awesome! I…read morehave seen this set up at the different car cruises around town, and I also saw it out at Hell Creek Ranch last year. The attention to detail is very professional. I've seen other casket grills, and none of them even compare. This one looks like it came direct from the factory. No other casket grill has a built in cooler, or on-board tunes! They normally only cook for club members, but you can generally get a casket-grilled hot dog for a donation to charity! Well done!

My daughters absolutely loved seeking out the fairy doors in Ann Arbor. I discovered a similar door…read moreat the Whitmore Lake post office. And at last count, there are three in the park next door to the post office. :-) Enjoy the magic!

This is my daughter's favorite pastime in Ann Arbor. She loves fairies, mythical creatures,…read morefantasy, and the entire magic of the experience. We love to seek out the tiny treasures around the streets and buildings. You can never be too old for fairies and fun. Over the years we have taken so many pictures of the kids next to the different doors. We were very inspired to purchase our own doors and fairy gardens. It really adds a bit of charm to this city and we are never tired of looking for that bit of joy hidden around the corners or tucked in the stores.

The naked mile hasn't been the same since about 1999…read more That was the biggest year ever, when hundreds of students ran naked down South University Street, across the Diag and into Regents Plaza, (some of them celebrated by wading through the fountain near the student union, or by giving the cube a spin), and tens of thousands turned out to watch them run. I was new to U of M in 1998, and I had no idea that there was any such event, so I was a little surprised to leave Angell Hall one evening and find naked students streaming across the diag and up the steps of the art museum. Among other things, I learned that evening that people without clothes really need to be carefully posed to look good. Running doesn't help, and I imagine stop motion photography is worse. The tradition of running naked on the last day of classes started in 1986 when a group of athletes did it on a whim. The event got bigger every year until University President Lee Bollinger, a very dour man, made a fuss about it, and the police started threatening to arrest naked people, something they still haven't done, as far as I know. The American Pie sequel is based on the real Naked Mile at U of M. Personally, I think a lot of presidential hopes will be dashed by the photos that were taken that night in 1999, but I never saw any harm in letting the students have their little romp. I'm sure there is still some surreptitious streaking going on around the end of the semester, even now.

Wow! I wasn't even born when this event first started happening. My roomate had an old videotape…read moreof it she always showed us. Crazzzzy!!! I wish *I* could have run in it ... haha