Exploring Three of Ohio’s Surviving National Road S Bridges
The National Road brought a more deliberate form of overland travel across eastern Ohio, carrying stagecoaches, wagons, livestock, and westbound settlers along the first highway built entirely with federal funds. As the road crossed the rolling streams of Muskingum and Guernsey counties, its builders used stone arch bridges that were practical, durable, and suited to the terrain. Among the most distinctive survivors are Ohio’s S bridges, whose curved approaches gave each crossing its name.
From Sturgeon Point to Forty Mile Point: Winter on the Lake Huron Coast
In early 2016, after a fresh snowfall had settled across Michigan’s lower peninsula, I set out to follow the Lake Huron shoreline north. The roads were quiet, fields and fence lines reduced to white planes, and each stop felt slightly removed from season and routine.
New Year’s in Hocking Hills: Winter Hiking at Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House, and Whispering Cave
A New Year’s winter visit to Hocking Hills State Park in southeast Ohio unfolded under an overnight snowfall that left roughly a half inch of fresh powder across the landscape. Cold temperatures and slick conditions thinned the crowds, lending the park a quieter, more deliberate character. We spent several days moving through the hills with my partner and Theo, our cattle dog, following a loose arc between some of the park’s most distinct sandstone formations.
What a Barn Mural Says Along a Winter Byway
On a quiet farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania, a wood-framed barn painted black rises from a block foundation, its edges softened by deep winter snow. Along one broad wall, a hand-painted American flag appears in vivid reds, whites, and blues, the colors striking against the muted landscape and the weathered boards beneath.
Snowshoeing West Virginia’s Coopers Rock State Forest
A winter visit to Coopers Rock State Forest featuring snowshoe hikes, the Henry Clay Furnace, CCC history, and views over the Cheat River Gorge.
The Covered Bridge and the Tamaracks of Mill Race Park
Mill Race Park in Columbus, Indiana, offers a mix of riverfront scenery and unexpected botanical surprises.
Golden Hour on the National Road: Shields Farm
Driving east on US Route 40 through Putnam County, Indiana, the evening light struck a farmstead in warm gold.
Through the Year: Cataract Falls in Every Season
Whatever the season, I’ve found Cataract Falls State Recreation Area near Cloverdale, Indiana, to be a quiet place to reflect and explore.
Preserving History: The Story of the Jackson County Bicentennial Barn
On an early autumn morning, the Jackson County Bicentennial Barn on the Pleasant View Farm stood bright against a clear blue sky, its red linseed-oil siding still carrying traces of the sun-faded Ohio Bicentennial logo. The bold blue script and white banner painted across its broad gable face recalled a time when these barns, one for each of Ohio’s eighty-eight counties, were symbols of statewide pride.
The Equine Sculptures at the Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington showcases a distinguished collection of equine sculptures that honor the profound bond between horses and humans. These artworks, placed throughout the park, celebrate the legacy of legendary racehorses and commemorate historical figures of the equine world.