Exploring the Local Brewery Scene in Columbus, Ohio

With over 40 breweries & microbreweries, Columbus, Ohio is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for craft beer enthusiasts...

This post was created in partnership with Experience Columbus. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When I moved back to my home state of West Virginia after living in the Columbus, Ohio area for 8 years, Columbus was just then starting to experience a growing craft beer movement. While local breweries were very few in number (think maybe Barley's, Columbus Brewing Company, & Elevator Brewing downtown), craft beer tap takeovers in local bars had started to become more & more popular. In fact, these tap takeovers is how I first experienced and fell in love with craft beers.

Fast forward 8 years later, and the craft beer scene in Columbus has totally evolved into a full-fledged local brewery movement. In fact, there are now over 40 breweries & counting in the Columbus area alone! I knew I had to get back to C-bus to explore the local brewery scene. I spent two days in the city- even embarking on a guided brewery tour- and I didn't even get to a fourth of the breweries in the city!

Even though I didn't get to experience everything Columbus's local brewery scene has to offer on this most recent visit, I did get a good taste of what the city has been brewing up since I moved away. Today I am sharing a few of my favorite craft beer gems from Ohio's state capital...

Sip Your Way Through Pittsburgh with City Brew Tours

Discover Pittsburgh's favorite neighborhoods by sipping your way through the city with City Brew Tours...

This post was created in partnership with TripAdvisor. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

One of my favorite ways to explore a new city (or as in this particular case, different & new to me parts of a city I already love) is to book a culinary tour with a local tour group. I have hopped on winery tours & the occasional local foods tour, but brewery tours just may be my personal favorite. 

Local breweries have just recently started making a comeback from the days of Prohibition in many cities & areas of the country, popping up in once was industrial neighborhoods of towns & cities. They bring with them not only some tasty & creative local brews, but also have restored a revitalized sense of community & pride in these once forgotten parts of the city. 

Recently, myself & one of my girlfriends booked a brewery tour through TripAdvisor & hopped on with City Brew Tours in Pittsburgh to explore & get a small taste of the local brewery & microbrewery scene in a city that was once the heart of the steel industry of America...

Booze & Brews with a View: 8 Must-Visit Wineries & Breweries in Loudoun County, Virginia

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary in Loudoun County, Virginia...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Loudoun. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

After almost a year of Covid-induced homebody-ness, I was finally ready to venture out on a girls' trip last month. A little road trip to one of my favorite areas of Virginia became the obvious choice for our first girls' getaway in over a year. Not only is Loudoun County home to some of the best wine country in the state of Virginia, but their local foodie scene has recently seen an explosion in growth when it comes to locally owned and operated breweries and distilleries as well. 

It doesn't matter if you are wine lover, a craft beer connoisseur, or if you happen to appreciate small batch spirits- you can craft the perfect booze-filled itinerary (responsibly, of course!) in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County boasts over 30 breweries, almost 40 wineries, and about 7 distilleries & cideries, but that number continues to grow every year.

While our two and a half day girls' getaway didn't allow us to try every winery, brewery, and distillery in the county, we did get to visit at least 8 on the list. All 8 of these wineries & breweries (plus 1 distillery!) had to meet certain discerning criteria to make it on our girls' trip list ;) :

• They had to have plenty of outdoor spaces and seating. I mean, what is seriously better than being able to sip on a glass of pink bubbles or enjoying a cold draft beer on a patio or deck?
• They had to be locally owned and operated.
• And being nestled in the rolling, green foothills of the Shenandoah, a beautiful view was definitely a must!

The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Delaware County, Ohio

From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in Delaware County, Ohio...

This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If someone would have asked me at the beginning of May what my recommendation would be for a good travel destination in Ohio for foodies, Delaware probably would have not been the first Ohio city that would have come to mind for me. Having lived in the Columbus area for over 8 years, I was familiar with the Delaware area but didn't venture that way much when I was resident of Franklin County. I knew Alum Creek State Park was up that way, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of Delaware County.

That all changed when the kiddos & I visited the Delaware, Ohio area at the end of May earlier this summer. Over the past 10 years, the historic downtown area of Delaware has grown by leaps & bounds. And with this growth has also come the birth of a vibrant local restaurant & brewery scene. 

While we definitely didn't get to experience all of the deliciousness that Delaware County has to offer during our stay, we did get a good enough taste of the area. From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in the county... 

15 "Hop"pening Gift Ideas for Craft Beer Lovers (Updated for 2023)

Whether you have a craft beer lover, a home brewer, or a self-proclaimed beer snob on your gift list, they will be sure to appreciate these 15 "Hop"pening Gifts for Craft Beer Lovers...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

**Prices listed for each item listed may vary.

I don't know about you all, but I definitely have a few craft beer lovers on my gift list this holiday season. (I just may be a self-proclaimed beer snob myself. ;) ) 

Whether you have a home brewer you are shopping for or a friend that just has to check in every beer that they drink on the Untappd app, you are definitely going to appreciate the gift guide I have put together & am sharing with you all today.








I scoured Amazon to find the best gift ideas (with free 2-day Prime shipping!) for your brewery touring, hop seeking friend or loved one. Yep, I did all the hard work for you all. 

I only ask that you click on & use the links below to purchase that perfect "hop"pening gift (see what I did there?) that happens to catch your eye below. ;) Yes, they are affiliate links. And yes, I get a small kickback at no extra cost to you. It's a win-win.

5 Places to Visit in the Finger Lakes (That Are Not Wineries)

The Finger Lakes region of New York is so much more than just wine country! From quaint downtown areas with wonderful local shops to waterfall chasing to a growing craft brewery scene, here are 5 Places to Visit in the Finger Lakes That Are Not Wineries...

The Corning Glass Museum tour, Watkins Glen State Park hike, & Farm Sanctuary tour were all provided courtesy of TBEX North America 2018. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I obviously have nothing against wineries. In fact, I think most of you all know by now that I love myself a good winery tour & tasting while traveling. ;) 

But I do think that when most people consider planning a trip to the Finger Lakes that they assume that they have to be wine lovers in order to enjoy the area. Today's travel post is to show you all that the Finger Lakes region of New York has so much more to offer than just great local wineries.

From quaint downtown areas with wonderful local shops to waterfall chasing to a growing craft brewery scene, the Finger Lakes is so much more than just wine country.  Now that isn't to say that you couldn't pop into a winery or two (or four!) for a tasting while in the area, but you most certainly do not have to be a wine aficionado to truly appreciate the Finger Lakes of New York.

Although I only scraped the tip of the iceberg during the few days that I visited the area, I am sharing 5 of my favorite must-visit places in the Finger Lakes (sans the wineries) with you all below...

A Family Friendly Travel Guide to Butler County, Ohio

Spanning five different cities across the county, this is a family friendly travel guide of where to go, what to see, and where to eat while visiting Butler County, Ohio with your family...

This post was created in partnership with the Butler County Visitors Bureau. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If you have been searching for the perfect unexpected family destination in Ohio, your quest is over! Butler County, located just to the north of Cincinnati & about 2 hours southwest of Columbus, may just be the place you have been looking for. With a famed donut trail, a thriving hands-on art scene, and plenty of quirky & family friendly attractions, Butler County has a little something to satisfy and thrill every member of your family. 

If you and your family haven't visited the Butler County, Ohio area before, let this travel guide serve as a little taste of what all you have been missing. Spanning five different cities across the county, this is where to go, what to see, and where to eat while visiting Butler County with your family...

Where to Eat & Drink in Fort Wayne, Indiana

From ice cream stuffed donuts to pizza by the slice to locally brewed beer, here is Where to Eat & Drink in Fort Wayne, Indiana... 

This post was created in partnership with Visit Fort Wayne. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When my family & I visited Fort Wayne, Indiana this past summer, I wasn't sure what to expect from this Midwestern city. It hadn't necessarily been a destination that had been on our radar for a family getaway. After spending 3 days there exploring the sites & the local food scene, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Fort Wayne was a pleasant surprise- definitely a family friendly destination that far exceeded my expectations. 

Even though there is much to do in and around the city (think baseball games, art museums, science centers, zoos, kayaking, & more), I was most excited to discover & dig into the some of the best local food & booze that the city had to offer. And Fort Wayne certainly did not disappoint, folks! ;) 

We got to experience a true taste of Fort Wayne during our 3 day stay in the city. From kid friendly to pizza by the slice to decadent sweet treats, Fort Wayne's local food scene ended up being way more diverse & delicious than I could have ever possibly imagined prior to our a little family road trip to the Midwest.

Homemade Peanut Butter Beer Bread

If you have been following me on any of my social media outlets during the past few months (especially maybe Instagram), you have probably noticed my rather intervention-worthy addiction to Julie's Eats & Treats Homemade Beer Bread.

This beer bread is just so simple & turns out absolutely soft and delicious every single time that I bake it.  Plus, beer bread is one of those very rare homemade breads that does not require any rising time.  

Not even one minute.

You can thank the yeast and the carbonation in the beer for that, folks. ;)

Charlottesville, Virginia: The Perfect Couples Getaway for Foodies

Breweries, wineries, & a growing local food scene in the picturesque foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes the historical city of Charlottesville, VA the perfect destination for a foodie couples getaway... 

This post was created in partnership with Visit Charlottesville. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Even though my husband & I love to take trips with the kiddos to explore new destinations, every once in a while we like to get away- just the two of us. We try to sneak in a couple's getaway at least 2-3 times a year. These one-on-one trips don't have to be far away or even lengthy. Sometimes, a 3-4 hour road trip with a few days to explore a new (or long-time favorite) city on our own is all that we need. 

When Visit Charlottesville reached out to me about coming to visit their city & the surrounding Albemarle County for a few days with just my husband, we jumped at the chance. The Charlottesville area of Virginia had been on our travel list for well over a year now. We were drawn to the history of the area (hello, Thomas Jefferson's breathtaking estate is located there!) as well as to the city's culinary scene & the growing number of wineries & breweries popping up all throughout the 700-acre county.

During our 3-day visit to Charlottesville, we discovered that the local food & drink scene permeates just about every area & place that you visit in the city and in the surrounding Albemarle County. Even the two historical sites we visited had a foodie focus to them...

Exploring Shenandoah Valley's Culinary Trail

From breweries & wineries to wood fired pizzas & a creamery, this is how you Explore Shenandoah Valley's Culinary Trail in Virginia...

I traveled to Harrisonburg, Virginia as part of a Trekaroo campaign with Go Blue Ridge Travel. While I was provided compensation for this post, all opinions are my very own.

My family and I recently spent two fabulous fun and food packed days in the lovely Harrisonburg area of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Other than driving through Harrisonburg on our way down south, this was our first time really spending time in the area and I can say one thing for sure, folks- we fell in love with it! Like it has made our short list of possible places we would like to move to in around two years from now when my son graduates high school. Yep, Harrisonburg and its surrounding beauty made that much of an impression on us. ;)

As you all are about to find out, I wasn't kidding when I say that our weekend exploring the culinary trail of Shenandoah Valley was packed with fun and food... lots of delicious local foods. To break it down and make it easier to share everything with you all, I am breaking our whole trip down into categories- Hands-On Local Food Experiences, Local Eats & Restaurants, Family Friendly Fun, and lastly I will gush about the lovely Massanutten Resort that we had the pleasure of staying at for 3 nights...

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 57- Wind Brewed Beer

Yep, that is right.  Beer brewed from wind power! ;) 

Today's Summer Blog Challenge prompt is to write up a little something about an alternative energy source.  So, I am telling you about the first ever wind powered brewery located in the Outer Banks, the Outer Banks Brewing Station.

We visited the Outer Banks Brewing Station when we vacationed in the Outer Banks last summer.  Since I am a craft beer lover and somewhat of a tree hugger, this was on my must-do list while visiting there.  Even though I only got to enjoy a few sips of my husband's beer since I was 12 weeks pregnant with baby girl at the time. ;)

To learn more about the Outer Banks Brewing Station and their wind-powered brews, click here.