Friday/Saturday

This post will have to suffice for both Friday and Saturday, so I suppose it should be doubly good. 

We are leaving this morning for Marblehead on Lake Erie to visit with my sister, so basically we are trading one small town for another.

Marblehead gets its name from the limestone quarries that are still operational there.  It's a jutting out of land that ends at its point with a beautiful white, trimmed-in-red lighthouse.  A must see for visitors.  The beautiful light tender's cottage is just darling.  And the crazy part is you turn down this driveway that takes you right by a church in a residential area, and there in front of you is the lighthouse.  It remains in operational but it is open now and again for tours.  Check first.

The "downtown" of Marblehead is about the same size as Canal Fulton, maybe a little smaller.  There are some unusual shops along the strip of land and no traffic lights.  Let's pretend to visit some of them.  Embellish is a little shop that sells women's clothing -- Fresh Produce brand for one.  There are gauzy little skirts and dresses for warm summer evenings, shorts, tops, and trendy things that come and go.  Some of their jewelry items are lovely.  The clothes are not cheap and they are for mature women.

Martha and Molly's is a really interesting shop.  The owner is an older gentleman who is an expert buyer.  He focuses on shoes and some clothing.  The place is packed with goods arranged on folding tables and you can always find something to like.  The shoes are excellent quality and many of them are Minnetonka brand which seem to hold up very well; in fact, he told us last year that he got an award from Minnetonka for selling more shoes than anyone in the region.  Not surprising.  This is obviously my favorite shop.  I have a number of nice zippered jackets for cooler weather, as well as some very individual tee shirts -- all purchased at Martha and Molly's.  And there is neither a Martha nor a Molly in case you were wondering. 

Across the street is an antiques store.  It's worth a visit too; if not to buy, then to appreciate some nostalgia. 

Another spot is an art gallery.  You might want to stop there, but I never do.  I find the atmosphere to be way too hoydy toydy, and always feel that I need to show evidence of wealth to look.  It just never seems to fit in the little town.

Down the road is an old school house, and it is a great place for tourists to look.  They have all kinds of things with the lighthouse on them, as well as other household items.  There is plenty of parking there too.  Not so much near Embellish and Martha and Molly's.  There is a private parking lot across the street for $2 I think it is, but that's ridiculous!! 

There is a place that serves great Cuban sandwiches along another little strip of stores.  There may be some other stores down there too, but I haven't checked in a while.

If you like to swim, there is a public beach not too far away.  The ferry is located along the main drag too.  There is a great coney dog place and an ice cream place.

There are a few nice spots to stay overnight as well. 

Marblehead is one of those not-to-be-forgotten spots in Ohio and it is not spoiled.  And don't forget Johnson's Island that was mentioned in an earlier blog about Memorial Day.  It is definitely worth a drive.

See you on Tuesday, friends!!!