Growing up in Michigan, the state made up of two distinct peninsulas, I’ve always heard the phrase (and our state motto): “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you”.
I’ve always thought of peninsulas, then, as large and mitten-shaped or maybe a wedge-shaped land mass surrounded by Great Lakes, including the chilly Lake Superior—so it was surprising to visit Ohio and find a Peninsula a considerable ways inland from Lake Erie and in the middle of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Peninsula is part of the larger Akron area and less than an hour from downtown Cleveland, but the charming little village retains much of its nostalgic appeal with many carefully preserved sites related to the historic Ohio & Erie Canal and its role in fostering development in a young nation during the early 1800s. The National Register of Historic Places includes the Peninsula Village Historic District, as well as over 20 other locations in town.
Peninsula takes its name from the fact that the crooked Cuyahoga River takes a sharp bend around the town to form a peninsula-like arm of land.
Celebrations of the 1827 opening of the Canal meant opening Peninsula to a wider world with an easier route to facilitate trade with the eastern states. The small town took advantage of its location and the geographic features that gave it more of a seaside feel by becoming a “seaport town”.
Little Peninsula soon took some of the characteristics of larger seaport towns with five hotels and 14 establishments a local Chamber of Commerce Web site characterizes as “honky tonk” bars.
Peninsula’s proximity to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and the presence of the red Peninsula Depot park visitor center in town, makes it a great place to rent a bike to ride along the Towpath Trail, catch a train for a scenic day trip though the park, shop a bit or, as we did, hit a “honky tonk” to catch a bite to eat.
I loved the retro look of the old Peninsula Nite Club sign in front of the Winking Lizard Tavern, so it became the place for us to stop for a burger and a beer.
This Peninsula bar and restaurant is part of a small chain of 13 locally owned and operated eateries, but its real claim to fame was as a 1940s hot spot where “Big Band” greats like Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller Bands entertained crowds. Today it’s a pretty typical sports bar and favorite stop for bicyclists and for people attending a concert at the nearby Blossom Music Center for a pre- or post-show meal.
Read more about our visit to the rest of the park in History and nature trace a path through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Read about our stay near the park’s Brandywine Falls in Cozy B&B and spectacular waterfalls draw visitors to Ohio’s Brandywine Falls.
© Dominique King 2009
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