AUTHOR’S NOTE: This experience was thanks to the people of the Lakehouse Inn, where I was treated as a guest. All meals at the Crosswinds Grille and my stay at the Lakehouse Inn were complimentary.
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On a late April morning, I drove down Geneva-on the Lake’s summertime strip…
…where I followed my nose to Madsen’s Donuts…
…for a quick bite…
…before continuing further down the road to the Lakehouse Inn and Winery.
I was here with other bloggers and members of the media to be shown that summertime wasn’t the only time to experience Geneva-on-the-Lake or Ashtabula County on the whole.
After a nice breakfast at the inn’s Crosswinds Grille (the farm fresh eggs and sausage are fantastic!)…
…we were taken on a tour of the grounds…
…where we were shown various accommodations…
…the spa and event center…
…and the great patio out back…
…where Lake Erie’s waves splashed in to greet us.
After a nice selection of pizzas for lunch (at Crosswinds Grille)…
…we headed to Ashtabula Harbor to burn off the carbs…
…taking notice of Ashtabula’s bascule bridge…
…and some cool area businesses (Harbor Perk Coffeehouse/Marianne’s Chocolates).
Then it was wine time, stopping first at Kosicek Vineyards for a glass…
…continuing on to M Cellars for a few wine tastings…
…and then making a final stop for a taste of bourbon at Red Eagle Distillery…
…(where the bathroom was a cute little facility out back).
That evening, more wine came with the dishes of a special dinner…
…where we sat with the local farmers who supplied most of the food (Miller Livestock/Red Basket Farm).
Courses started with a vegetable salad topped with a poached egg…
…continued with shrimp and creamy grits with nduja (this was my favorite dish)…
…pork tenderloin with jasmine rice…
…beef navel with potatoes and Swiss chard…
…and then finished with a heaping tablespoon of homemade maple ice cream over a glass of local whiskey…
…which was just enough for easy night of restful sleep (photo courtesy of the Lakehouse Inn).