Buckeye State Bound
by JOSH WHITMAN
Being married to an avid Ohio State fan who��s been thousand of miles from her family and her precious Buckeyes since we tied the knot is not an enviable position to be in. Yeah, I��m a sports fan �C but believe me �C I��ve got nothing on my wife when it comes to her passion for the Buckeyes. But between our jobs and the birth of our son, time just slipped away. So we decided (for my sanity and hers) that it was time to take a trip back to Columbus.
We thought about driving, but with a four-year-old in tote, we opted to take the easy way out and fly there. This would be my son��s and my first time visiting the Buckeye State, so her parents agreed to let us borrow their new Buick crossover SUV so my wife could show us the sights around Central Ohio. In between the tailgating madness, she promised there was a lot of great stuff to see.
After a not-so-smooth flight with our 4-year-old and a day��s rest, it was time to see the city. My in-law��s Buick Enclave was so much more than the run-of-the-mill SUV I was expecting. This Buick crossover was luxurious. With Bose ten-speaker surround sound, plush seats, a mahogany trimmed steering wheel, and the quietest engine I��ve ever heard �C I knew it would be hard to give it up at the end of the week.
After a day touring my wife��s old Alma Mater, it was time for the highlight of my trip �C a tour of the Budweiser factory in Columbus. We got to watch the brewing, bottling, and packaging processes, from the perspective of the engineers who make it all work. This Central Ohio brewery supplies beer primarily to Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. That��s a lot of beer.
The next day, I promised our son a trip to the zoo made famous by Jungle Jack Hanna. So while my wife was catching up with friends and family, I decided we��d hop into the Buick Enclave and spend the day at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He loved all the rides, not to mention the free-flying raptors show. I couldn��t believe how huge this zoo was �C home to some 650 wildlife species. The next few days would be spent paying homage to all things ��Buckeye��, and the week was quickly coming to a close. We decided to spend the day in Dayton, about a 60-mile drive from Columbus (any excuse to get behind the wheel of that Buick.) Thanks to the three row seating, the entire family fit with room to spare. First stop was the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, which commemorates the lives and achievements of Dayton natives Orville and Wilbur Wright. We spent the day wandering through the flight exhibits, touring the flying field and, my son��s favorite, checking out 1905 Wright Flyer II (the world��s first practical airplane built by the Wright brothers in 1905.)
We loaded back into the Buick and headed to what would be our next stop �C the Motor Car District along Ludlow Street. This area was once home to several post-World War I Dealerships. We toured America's Packard Museum, the only museum in the nation dedicated to the Packard. The museum features over 50 cars on display in the restored 1917 showroom. After picking up some goodies at the gift shop, it was time to grab a quick lunch in Oakwood before heading back to Columbus.
While the week went quickly, my wife was able to get the Buckeyes out of her system (for a little while anyway), and my son and I got a little taste of what Central Ohio has to offer. As for turning over the keys to the Buick Enclave, it was a painful experience. But I��m pretty sure we��ll be making a trip to the Buick dealership after we get home.
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Author Bio: Josh Whitman is a freelance travel writer, and self-proclaimed Buick enthusiast who contributes to several car club websites. For more information on the Buick Enclave, visit centralohiobuick.com
