Mary Anne Krejci is hard-pressed to name one reason she loves her hometown of Bath: There are, she says, just too many to count.
“The lure of Bath is irresistible,” explains Krejci, who has lived there for more than 50 years. “It’s a wonderful blend of the rural and sophisticated — from hiking our green spaces to sipping a glass of wine in an intimate bistro to stepping back in time.”
Time has indeed stood still at Hale Farm & Village, an outdoor living-history museum devoted to replicating the way life was lived in the 19th century. Artisans skilled in blacksmithing, pottery-making, spinning, weaving and candle-making create period crafts on the premises, and costumed interpreters bring history to life as they recount stories about the area’s early settlers and the impact the Civil War has made on this fictitious village of Wheatfield.
On July 11 and 12, enjoy Music in the Valley, a program of folk tunes performed by regional artists. Abraham Lincoln will visit Hale Farm during the Civil War Encampment, which takes place Aug. 8–9, and 80 years’ worth of classy chassis will be showcased during the Antique and Classic Car Show on Aug. 23. (2686 Oak Hill Rd., 330-666-3711.
http://www.wrhs.org)
The history lessons continue at the Bath Township Museum. Located in Bath’s former town hall, which dates to 1905, it contains a treasure trove of artifacts relating to the history of the area and its early Western Reserve settlers. On exhibit through September, “Connecting to the Past: Bath Township Schools” features a re-creation of four classrooms, including those symbolic of the log schoolhouse days of the 1820s, and the one-room schoolhouse, circa 1890. From Oct. 11 through February 2010, “The Busy Life of the Farmer’s Wife” will be showcased through a century’s worth of refrigerators, irons and washing machines. The museum’s impressive collection of quilts and aprons will be on exhibit in December and January, respectively. (1241 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., 330/666-4007.
www.bathtownship.org)
’Tis the season for hiking, and The Bath Nature Preserve is the ideal place to embrace summer. This 410-acre green space features a 2.8-mile equestrian and hiking trail and four others designed for outdoor enthusiasts of every skill level. Each meanders past wetland meadows and forests. (4160 Ira Rd., 330/666-4007.
www.bathtownship.org)
Conservationists will want to pay a visit to Crown Point Ecology Center, a 130-acre biologically diverse living laboratory that helps visitors connect spirituality with environmental education. Points of interest include a children’s herb garden filled with chives, sage, thyme and oregano; a working beehive; an orchard replete with apples, pears, plums and apricot trees; and a labyrinth, which encourages serenity and meditation.
Crown Point’s annual Summer Farm and Science Camp, geared toward children ages 6–11, takes place through July 31. Participants enjoy a variety of activities and games based on ecology, art, math, music and language arts. On Aug. 22, enjoy a Taste of Earth, Crown Point’s 11th annual fundraiser that includes a silent auction, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a catered dinner featuring organic produce grown on the center’s 12-acre organic farm. (3220 Ira Rd., 330/668-8992.
www.crownpt.org)
For the past 52 seasons, The Western Reserve Playhouse has filled its stage with stellar productions. This year, the troupe presents “The Andrews Brothers,” a love story that’s also a musical salute to World War II, featuring such memorable tunes as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” July 17 through Aug. 8. The Ira Levin thriller, “Deathtrap,” takes center stage Sept. 11–26. (3326 Everett Rd., 330/620-7314.
www.westernreserveplayhouse.org)
Shoppers will find just what they’re looking for in Bath’s eclectic emporiums. Art with Heart features photography, jewelry, blown glass, quilts and fiber and paper art by 70 local artists. A minimum of 10 percent of the net
proceeds from each sale benefits the Akron Children’s Hospital. (843 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., 330/666-5511.
www.artwheart.com)
Discover the perfect gift for your favorite four-legged friend at The Pet Loft, including toys, grooming aids and food made with all-natural ingredients. (1947 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., 330/668-1919. www.thepetloft.com) The Precocious Dandelion is the place to find gifts for home and garden, including solar-powered indoor chimes, metal boxes and hand-painted stemware. (835 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. 330/666-7797)
Housed in a historic home dating to 1830,The Bake Shop in Ghent offers a tempting assortment to please every sweet tooth. Summer favorites include the chocolate fudgy cake and a white cake filled with strawberries. Patrons often stop by for a spot of lunch on the shop’s front porch, where the menu features the establishment’s signature tuna or egg salad sandwich (the secret ingredient: real mayonnaise) and cup of potato soup. (800 Wye Rd., 330/666-3347.
www.bakeshopinghent.com)
When it’s time to relax, a visit toThe Spa at Yellow Creek is guaranteed to release the stresses of the day. Committed to mind, body and spirit rejuvenation, the spa offers a variety of treatments, including shiatsu massage, reflexology and meditation. Book a 60-minute session with a personal trainer who will chart a fitness course tailored to your needs, or opt for a group exercise class. (3636 Yellow Creek Rd., 330/665-2555.
www.yellowcreekspa.com)
No visit to Bath is complete without a bite to eat. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find something to please your palate. True to its former gas-station roots, Gasoline Alley has the ambiance of a magical, mystical road trip — its walls are adorned with antique bicycles and road signs. The menu has an impressive assortment of burgers, pizza and fish, headlined with the eatery’s signature penne with vodka cream sauce. Top off your repast with a slice of carrot cake or key lime cheesecake. (870 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., 330/666-2670)
For a contemporary spin on classic Italian food, a visit to the Bistro at Hammonds Corners fills the bill with entrees ranging from crab ravioli with asparagus, roasted red pepper and backfin crab in a goat cheese cream sauce to eggplant Florentine, layered with ricotta, spinach and marinara. (1925 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., 330-666-8150.
www.bistroathammonds.com)
From filet mignon to walleye and rack of lamb, Lanning’s Restaurant is sure to please with its traditional cuisine. The epitome of intimate elegance, the restaurant also features an extensive wine list of domestic and imported varieties. (826 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., 330/666-1159.
www.lannings-restaurant.com)
As the day winds down, Ken Stewart’s Lodge is the perfect spot to unwind. Enjoy stuffed lobster tail, sea scallops served with mango salsa, cashew chicken or pan-seared Chilean sea bass in an atmosphere that’s reminiscent of a Catskills hideaway. (1911 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. 330/666-8881,
www.kenstewartslodge.net)
So stop by for a day — or even a weekend — of shopping, hiking, sightseeing and dining. As Krejci says, “There’s something for everyone here.”