Sweet Spots

Ihave driven by the frozen custard stand on the cover of this month’s magazine thousands of times. I lived down the street from it for 17 years and often witnessed the scene depicted: the pink glow of the cone against the evening sky, the fluorescent pool of light just outside the service window and the line of people always patiently waiting for their turn to order.

It’s likely due to our rich agricultural heritage, but our love for frozen treats made with milk, cream and sugar runs deep here. (Or milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks if custard is your thing — and, yes, we’re counting it under the umbrella of “ice cream” for the purposes of this issue.)

Are any of us surprised that our state has a variety of legacy ice cream brands that have been here for generations, or that a relatively newer national powerhouse like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is based here? One only need look as far as our state’s robust dairy industry to see that ice cream is part of who we are.

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Yet the shops and stands where we consume these frozen treats are equally part of why ice cream holds such a special place in our lives and memories. These spots are where we take the team after a win (or a loss). They are the welcome detours we make on lazy summer afternoons. Whether our tastes skew toward thick chocolate malts or simple soft-serve cones, there is truly never a bad decision to be had listed on the delightfully simple menu boards. Plus, no matter your budget, there is almost always a spot nearby where you can grab a cone on a hot day.

This month, we focused on 25 classic shops and roadside spots scattered across Ohio. One is Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, which offers a variety of fun flavors at its on-site store. Another is Toft Dairy in Sandusky, which draws scores of travelers as they visit the shore town each summer. Other selections are tiny roadside stands that have been quietly doing business year after year, becoming part of the fabric of summer in Ohio.

We realize that any list of this type is bound to leave off a few spots beloved by the locals they serve year after year. We welcome your feedback about classic parlors or roadside stands that are not included here but you think should be. We’ll be on the road all summer and would love your suggestions for new places to explore — one cone at a time.

Ohio Magazine is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited photographs, illustrations, manuscripts, books or any other material submitted for possible publication. All photographs are courtesy of the event or organization listed, unless otherwise credited. Cleveland Magazine | Ohio Magazine Lake Erie Living | Custom Media Quest Digital 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730, Cleveland, OH 44115 216/771-2833 | fax 216/781-6318 | glpublishing.com

Wineries Gone to the Dogs

By Maggie Foight

Many Ohio wineries are family-focused — welcoming children as well as adults. Some even welcome even the furriest, four-legged members of the family!

Laleure Vineyards in Parkman invites your pooches to explore its backyard trails as well as its outdoor tasting areas where you can sip on Three Dog White or Paradox, a red blend. Roam the grounds to meet Laleure’s very own winery dog, Max!

Cherry Road Winery in Massillon also has a winery dog, Sophie, who welcomes pups to her place. Taste your way through the vineyard with a glass of white wine like Towpath Trail and The Rezzie.

The Winery at Wolf Creek in Barberton hosts Yappy Hour on Tuesday evenings, where your canine companion can join you on their patio. Bring a picnic to enjoy at a picnic table or the green space around the winery. Sip on their Vignoles, a white wine with tropical fruit aromas, or Exodus, a red dry blend from French varieties.

Pets are invited to outdoor picnics in the vineyard at American Winery and Brewery in Wauseon, where you can enjoy reds like Angry Eagle, whites like Liberty or fruit wines like George Washington. Sometimes there are even new furry friends to make; occasionally, goats are brought to the property for special yoga sessions! Stop at Seven Mile Winery in Middletown with your dogs for trail walks. Circle the pond and fountain or tour the winery grounds with a glass of the red Irresistible or white Apple Crisp!

Get away with your dog to Kelleys Island where you can bask in the sun with your dog and admire the butterflies at Monarch Winery & Butterfly Box. Listen to live music with a glass of their Swallowtail Sweet Apple or Painted Lady Peach fruit wine.

Finally, visit Terra Cotta Vineyards in New Concord for a vast outdoor seating area, complete with an open-air pavilion for pups to relax under with their families. The landscaped garden provides an aromatic experience.

Make a Splash

Whether you’re in the rolling hills of the countryside or enjoying the bustle of city life, you’re never too far from water in Ohio. From our Great Lake to our inland ones, there are plenty of places to take a swim, cast a line or get paddling. As the long days of summer stretch on, find ways to stay cool at places like the beach at Huntington Reservation in Bay Village, where these swimmers are taking an evening dip in Lake Erie. 28728 Wolf Picnic Area Dr., Bay Village 44140, clevelandmetroparks.com

Happy Place: Columbus’ funky vintage shop The Little Light Collective assembles items from more than 45 vendors in a bright and uplifting space

If you’re a vintage fanatic, the interior of Columbus’ The Little Light Collective is a visual treat. Owner April Rhodes opened her two-story shop in the city’s Clintonville neighborhood in 2020, after finding the location within walking distance of her home. She had plans to run a solo shop, but quickly came to the realization she wanted the space to be a collective and invited several women vendors she knew to populate it. All of them said yes.