Along the Bourbon Trail

On the road to Woodford Reserve Distillery

Day 2 : Cleveland, OH >> Bowling Green, KY

After our free continental breakfast and a stop at Starbucks for some (real) coffee, we were back on the road en route to Kentucky. Our hours spent passing by the vast farm lands of Ohio didn't provide much commentary for this blog, but after about 4 hours we hit Cincinnati (a really pretty city along the Ohio River) and, finally, Kentucky.

If you're able to see through the dirt and grime, you might see this


Based on my brother's recommendation, our plan was to set out on the Bourbon Trail and stop by the Woodford Reserve Distillery for a tour and tasting of this small-batch Bourbon. Unfortunately we missed the last tour by 20 minutes, but we were able to wander around the main room and have a taste. Remember ... Bourbon is only Bourbon when it's from Bourbon County, Kentucky!




The changing color due to the aging process

After our warming shot (sip) of Bourbon, we got back on the road in order to make it to Bowling Green by 7ish to check into the hotel. Along the way, I was interested in seeing Shaker Village ... instead, we saw Shakertown which was nothing like the Village I was expecting, and which I have renamed "Rural McRualville" or "Town of Broken Barns". Couldn't get more small town than this...





Distillery tours and the old Shaker Village aside, this part of the country is absolutely beautiful - rolling hills, miles-long wooden fences, barns that resemble mansions, and, as they are now in winter, boney skeletons of trees set against a backdrop of blue sky and brilliant sunsets. As Dad said, "there a photo opp every two seconds!"

We checked into our hotel around 7:30pm after our scenic tour of of the mid-South where we promptly poured a drink, changed into pajamas, and ordered a pizza. A long day of driving has taken it's toll, but we're both looking forward to getting into Tennessee tomorrow ... first stop Nashville and then it's on to Memphis to see our man Elvis.

Location: Bowling Green, KY at Candlewood Suites
Listening: Father of the Bride on TV
Drinking: Tuaca on the rocks

Decidedly NOT a Diner, Drive-in, or Dive...

...but a delicious dinner all the same! Highly recommend Lola in Downtown Cleveland. Great atmosphere, a nice menu with selections ranging from meat, to fish, to pasta plus daily charcuterie specials and interesting appetizers and sides.

Dad and I started with the charcuterie, Lola fries, and house bread & butter ... bread was warm, butter was rich. Fries were thin, bistro-like with nice herb flavors. And the charcuterie was well prepared and a bigger serving that I was used to. This was a first for Dad and I think he liked :)

For an entree, we split the roasted chicken with carrots and wild mushrooms ... YUM. Every bite was richer than the last and we both enjoyed every minute of that dish. With a side of roasted potatoes & caramelized onions, it was the perfect serving to share.

Add a glass of Chardonnay for Dad and a Cab Sauv for me, and dinner was a success! Oh, and did I mention the cocktails we started with next door at Wonder Bar? My dirty martini and his espresso-tini were the perfect way to start our night :)

Some more pictures from our night out...

Downtown View


4th Street


Ice Cube Light Displays


Our Hotel (built in the 1800's)


Smart Travelers!

Day 1 : Beverly Hills, MI >> Cleveland, OH

A little over 4 hours after we pulled out of the drive and set off into a snow storm that had been waiting for our departure all week, we arrived into Cleveland, OH ...



...and headed straight to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.



The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors the legendary performers, producers, songwriters, disc jockeys and others who have made rock and roll the force that it is in our culture. Its walls are covered with memorabilia ranging from costumes and guitars to sheet music and love letters from every influential era and music genre.

Unfortunately the "no photography" rule was enforced so I didn't get any shots inside the museum, but it was a great tour through the ages of rock. We passed on some of the exhibits and movies that could extend your stay here up to 5 or 6 hours and ended up spending just under 2 hours wandering inside before getting the urge to explore the city with the hopes of finding a locals diner or dive.


For lunch, we struck out with options from the books we have (based on location) and instead turned to Yelp! for a recommendation. It pointed us in the direction of Slyman's, a diner boasting the biggest and best corned beef. On our quest for all things Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives along the way, this place didn't disappoint! Kaiser rolls piled high with corned beef, roast beef, pastrami, etc. and served along side a giant pickle spear.

I had the pastrami, Dad had the famous corned beef and, for two people who claimed to not "care for corned beef" despite our Irish heritage, we both agreed it was flavorful and delicious - if not a bit on the salty side. Of course, The pastrami was good also, but Katz's in NYC is far better for that sandwich. Stick to what this place does best and you won't be disappointed!

We're now relaxing in our dance-hall sized room at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Cleveland, having an Absolut Citron, watching free HBO, and resting up for our next outing ... dinner at Lola, a Michael Symon restaurant.

Location: Holiday Inn Express, Downtown Cleveland
Drinking: Citron on the rocks
Listening: Ellen on the TV and Dad snoring

The Roadtrip Begins

After spending Christmas in Michigan with my brother and his family, my dad and I are setting out on our trip set to span 8 states in 8 days.

This is the preliminary route map which, on the first and second day, will take us through Cleveland, OH for a tour of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and dinner at Lola (Michael Symon's acclaimed restaurant); on to Versailles, KY for a stop at the Woodford Reserve Distillery, along the rolling hills and past Shakertown on Highway 68, down to Bowling Green, KY.

Days three and four will take us through Nashville to see the birth place of country music, then on to the namesake of this blog: Graceland in Memphis, TN for a tour of the mansion and, surely, an Elvis sighting.

We'll be celebrating New Year's Eve with Barb's sister and brother-in-law in Huntsville, AL, after which we'll cut down to Birmingham, AL and over to Atlanta, GA (HOTlanta!) before getting into Florida.

We'll stop along the way to see some family friends before settling into Naples, FL for a short time before I jump on a plane and head back to San Francisco.

We're fully equipped with a few books featuring Guy Fieri's picks for Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives across the country, as well as Jane & Michael Stern's Coast-to-Coast Guide of Roadfood. But, even with our iPhone apps, laptops, maps, and books, recommendations for places to stop along the way are welcome!

Buckle up and enjoy the ride into 2010 with us!