aranpura
Pre-Flight
We found this little village on the Maumee River this afternoon, and it is a fantastic little place! I am thrilled that it's close to our house, and I wanted to let you all know about it.
This is a semi-PIREP, since we didn't fly to get there. It's only a 15 minute drive down the road from Toledo Express Airport (KTOL), but I'm based a bit further away at Metcalf Field (KTDZ). I don't have any information on general aviation at KTOL -- it's the field the airlines use. I have seen on AirNav that at least one of the FBOs there has a courtesy car, and fuel prices seem reasonable.
Grand Rapids is a little village on the river, and it would make a great aviation visit. The downtown consists of a few blocks of beautifully preserved old buildings, mostly occupied by antique shops, candy shops, and restaurants. It's pretty tourist-centered -- no grocery or hardware stores. We had a delicious, super-cheap meal at Fernando's (Mexican) and a beautiful walk along the old canal towpath. There is a place that rents canoes and kayaks, and there seems to be a lot of fishing activity. Across the river are two state parks, one of which has a beautiful historic mill and a general store. Canal boat rides are available there.
All in all, an absolutely charming place that I'm surprised to find on our doorstep. If you're near northwest Ohio, I'd think this would be a fun stop.
This is a semi-PIREP, since we didn't fly to get there. It's only a 15 minute drive down the road from Toledo Express Airport (KTOL), but I'm based a bit further away at Metcalf Field (KTDZ). I don't have any information on general aviation at KTOL -- it's the field the airlines use. I have seen on AirNav that at least one of the FBOs there has a courtesy car, and fuel prices seem reasonable.
Grand Rapids is a little village on the river, and it would make a great aviation visit. The downtown consists of a few blocks of beautifully preserved old buildings, mostly occupied by antique shops, candy shops, and restaurants. It's pretty tourist-centered -- no grocery or hardware stores. We had a delicious, super-cheap meal at Fernando's (Mexican) and a beautiful walk along the old canal towpath. There is a place that rents canoes and kayaks, and there seems to be a lot of fishing activity. Across the river are two state parks, one of which has a beautiful historic mill and a general store. Canal boat rides are available there.
All in all, an absolutely charming place that I'm surprised to find on our doorstep. If you're near northwest Ohio, I'd think this would be a fun stop.
