Ode to Rapids that are Grand!

Are these rapids really grand? 

 
Perhaps I am a bit biased. I come from the mountainous region of the Pacific Northwest in British Columbia where rapids are considered dangerous and potentially lethal. Of course these do attract a certain population of folks I like to call adrenalin junkies who embark on crazy adventures such as whitewater rafting (http://interiorwhitewater.com/).

However, here in Ohio there are no mountains, not even any large hills. So I shouldn’t have been surprised when I saw several young people slide down the levy into the relatively calm Maumee River below out at the Grand Rapids Park!

Now all of that said, I would like to go the record as saying that spending the day out at Grand Rapids Ohio is a perfectly delightful way to spend an afternoon as long as you aren’t looking to find any actual grandly sort of rapids. Considered one of Ohio’s best historical villages Grand Rapids (http://www.grandrapidsohio.com/) is a beautiful and quaint little place just outside of Perrysburg located on the scenic River Road along the Maumee River.

I had the good fortune of spending the afternoon there on Sunday with the Murrays/McPhersons. We started with a short walk down the main street to see what the place was about, then quickly settled in to the back patio at La Roes restaurant for lunch (http://laroesrestaurant.com/). The food was amazing and plentiful. I had the signature snapping turtle soup while my travelling companions ate salad and yam fries, both of which were also delicious. The view of the river from the patio was splendid.

We then proceeded to meander our way through the boutiques and antique shops for the next couple of hours. The antique shops were packed to the point of clutter, like good antique shops should be, and filled with some amazing treasures.  One even sported a Salvador Dali print and a Berthold Bogner oil painting. There was also exquisitely hand crafted jewelry and local honey.

The buildings were beautiful with a complex mix of old architectures that reflect the multi-dimensional heritage of the United States. Finally, there was a beautiful park behind the main street and along the river complete with swinging park benches—perfect for a blanket and a bottle of wine.

So, if you are the low-key adventuresome type looking for a nice relaxing way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, I highly recommend the little village of Grand Rapids Ohio. But, if you are looking for something with a little more kick, you’ll need to venture north to find real rapids of a grandish nature.