Did you have a good New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? We hope your 2017 is better than 2016. For Wendi’s Weekend Trips & Whatnot, 2016 was a time of growth and a time of challenge. Last year marked the first full year of the blog. Wendi started it in late July 2015, so from January-August 2015, there is not much to compare. However, where we can compare 2016 was better than 2015, except for December 2015, which was an anomaly for this blog (more on that later). Where we faced challenges was in trying to get more people to subscribe through email, so each new blog could be sent to them on their desktop computers, laptops, tablets or mobile phones. That will be our push in 2017 (and to build revenue).
As we head into 2017, we wanted to share with you the most popular blog posts of 2016, as determined by our readers. As you work through the list, you will notice one thing that will stand out: The posts about local establishments and places fared better than the rest. Also, food appears to be popular with our readers. As an Italian, I can appreciate that. You will notice that every movie featuring Italians has to involve a big dinner with family and friends surrounding the table.
10. Spending Time with Boardman, Ohio’s Own Willy Wonka
Wendi and I traveled to Boardman to visit Gorant Chocolates. While the chocolate factory was the farthest from our Wayne County base, it has a local connection: Joe Miller. His family started the Amish Door restaurant and inn. The chocolate is so good, and we got to try it right off the conveyor belt. Revisit the factory here.
9. Wing-ing it in Wooster at C.W. Burgerstein’s
C.W. Burgerstein’s, part of the T.J.’s Trio of Restaurants, is our favorite place to get wings in Wooster. We appreciate Dan Starcher introducing us to the restaurant. They have a flavor of the month where they try new sauces. If you like wings, then you really need to check out this restaurant. You can read the blog here.
8. I Found Great New York Bagels in Wooster, Ohio, at This Place
I love bagels. Real bagels. New York-style bagels. Not steamed bagels in the frozen food section at a grocery store. Boiled and baked bagels. My wife, Wendi, used to make me bagels, and, ironically, she had a really good recipe from a Lender’s Bagels cookbook. However, after watching an episode of America’s Test Kitchen on PBS, Wendi learned to make really good New York-style bagels. They were the real deal. Check it out, here.
7. In a Word, Rox Gastropub in Wooster Rocks
We really enjoyed our meal at Rox Gastropub. We went with Wendi’s sister and her husband, Randi and Shaun Vahl. We enjoyed it so much, we took my brother and his wife, Carmine and Lynnette Warren, when they visited us. The restaurant was started by the owners of Broken Rocks Cafe & Bakery (cafe is a misnomer, it is a very good restaurant). We love the atmosphere and the food of Rox Gastropub. See for yourself here.
6. Lehman’s: Everything Including the Kitchen Sink
Anyone who visits Lehman’s in Kidron will likely see founder Jay Lehman walking around. He’s usually tinkering with something or fixing something. Wendi finally had a chance to meet him on a trip to the store with just about everything you can think of to live off the grid. It is a fascinating place. If you haven’t been to the place, you need to get there. It is definitely worth the trip. Read about Lehman’s here.
5. Cowhaus Creamery Flavors Know No Boundaries
Wendi and I headed to Oberlin, Ohio, in May 2016 because we heard Cowhaus Creamery was opening a new ice cream place in Wooster in what we thought would be “a couple weeks.” Turns out the Wooster opening kept getting delayed. When it finally opened in Wooster in late September, it didn’t last long. It is tough opening an ice cream shop as winter is approaching. While it did not last in Wooster, the place has good ice cream and interesting flavors. The post is here.
4. I Found New York-style Pizza in the Unlikeliest of Places
Medina. That’s right, Medina. Courthouse Pizza has a nice Neapolitan-style pizza, the kind I grew up eating in Revere, Mass. The restaurant really does a good job. If you love New York-style pizza, you owe it to yourself to visit the place. Really. See for yourself here.
3. Honor is Evident at Pallotta Ford Lincoln in Wooster
Our niece, Ashley, a single mom raising two boys, really needed a new car. Mike Pallotta and his staff at Pallotta Ford Lincoln helped put Ashley in a car. The care and service they provided was above and beyond the call of duty. Read the heartwarming post here.
2. Jerry’s Cafe: Are These the Best Burgers in Orrville?
Our friend, Jessica, told us about Jerry’s and then we saw on their sign that they have the best burgers in town. We figured it would be a great place for us. After tasting the burgers, we would agree that they are pretty darn good. The staff was friendly and it was a nice way to end our day on that part of the county. Read about Jerry’s here.
1. Getting the Scoop(s) about New Pittsburg Ice Cream Shop
Owney shared about his experience at Scoops in the original blog post. We, Wendi and I, really enjoyed it as well. The ice cream was smooth and creamy and they had plenty of variety so we could try some before making our final choices. Get the scoop here.
As for why December 2015 was an anomaly, Wendi’s post about Minerva shot through the roof. It has had thousands of views, notching 400 percent more views than the next most popular post, which is this year’s No. 1. If you want to revisit Minerva, the post is here.
We hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. If there was a post you liked more than the 10 above, let us know in the comments section. We’re looking forward to what 2017 has on its plate!