Last month I went on a much-needed girls weekend in Fairfield County Ohio with some of my local Cleveland blogger gal pals. Growing up in Ohio, I have always loved exploring my state, but Fairfield County is a place I had never been to before so I was pumped to check it out. On a beautiful spring day in May, we hopped in the car and drove about two hours to our destination in the heart of Ohio for the perfect little getaway girls weekend.
Fairfield County is the perfect getaway for a girls weekend getaway! Only 25 miles from Columbus, there is plenty to do all weekend long. There is something for everyone in Fairfield County – boasting an eclectic beer and wine scene, 12 museums spanning all interests, tons of outdoor adventures and 17 original covered bridges (the most in the state of Ohio!). For the most part, we chose to spend our time visiting wineries and enjoying delicious food at local restaurants. Y’all know I am a big foodie so I loved every bit of trying out the new places to dine. Honestly, our trip would make a perfect bachelorette party weekend for you fellow wine and dine lovers out there! Here is my newest travel guide to a girls weekend in Fairfield County.
I received complimentary food and services in exchange for writing this post. As always, all opinions are my own!
Where to Stay
The Arrow Ridge Lodge was the perfect place for our group of gals to stay. This cabin sleeps up to 18 people! Yes, EIGHTEEN! This newly constructed cabin (or should I say mansion?) is tucked away in the woods and sits at the top of an overlook with the most beautiful view. It is so spacious with the main floor featuring a living room, dining room, kitchen, and a few bedrooms. Upstairs, there was a loft and another bedroom and downstairs, a walk-out basement with a TV and foosball table and even more sleeping space. The outside is even great with a wrap-around deck including a hot tub and outdoor dining area.
Where to Eat and Drink
Buckeye Lake Winery
We started off our trip at Buckeye Lake Winery for a glass of wine. While we found a spot in some comfy Adirondack chairs along the lakefront, the winery also offers a full-service restaurant with both indoor and outdoor patio seating. After the two hour drive down (some of us drove almost three hours), we were ready to decompress and catch up with each other over a good glass of wine. The owners and employees at Buckeye Lake Winery work directly with growers in the Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, and Lodi regions for the ultimate wine experience and products – and it shows because the wine was delicious.
Rockside Winery
Next up, we went to Rockside Winery, where we relaxed on the covered patio and had a light lunch with delicious peach rosé slushies. The homemade pizza was SO GOOD. In a little slice of central Ohio’s wine country, Rockside Winery is the perfect wine tasting experience with a vineyard overlooking the rolling countryside of Fairfield County.
Obviously, for our girls weekend we had to get cute matching shirts! These tees were a MUST HAVE on this trip and is hands down the softest graphic tee I own. LULUSIMON STUDIO was kind enough to offer all of my readers 25% off your next purchase with the code GIRLSWEEKEND25. Whether you’re planning a group getaway or just want to snag a cute tee or sweatshirt for yourself, I cannot recommend these enough.
Ale House 1890
After a day of wine tasting, it was time to gussy up and head downtown for dinner at Ale House 1890. Right in the heart of downtown Lancaster, Ale House combines locally sourced produce and “made-from-scratch” recipes to create a menu that is both chic and eclectic — just like the space itself. I loved seeing all of the beautiful, original features of the building in the restaurant. I am all about old charm! And with over 18 local beers on tap, and a menu full of craft cocktails, you’ll be sure to find a little something you’ll love.
The Strawberry-Jalapeno Margarita is a MUST — it is delicious! I ordered the filet, but I highly suggest ordering the Smokey BBQ Mac n’ Cheese (some of the other girls ordered it and I got to try.. it was SO GOOD).
You can shop my outfit here.
J.B.’s Downtown Grill
Before we left to head back home on Sunday, we enjoyed the best brunch at JB’s Downtown Grill. JB’s is famous for their Sunday brunch featuring fresh and delicious creations by Chef Jamie. Jamie, the chef and owner, and his wife were amazing hosts while we were there. Seriously the sweetest people! We ordered the most delicious, out of this world cinnamon rolls and I ordered the veggie omelet. It was the best food I had all weekend.
Shopping in Lancaster
What is a girls weekend without a little retail therapy?! While we were in downtown Lancaster exploring, we checked out some of the local shops and boutiques. Here are a few of some of the retail stops we stopped by over the weekend:
- A Season In Time — upcycled and vintage-inspired home goods, clothing, and accessories
- Rustic Gals Boutique — contemporary women’s clothing and accessories
- Sparkle & Rust — refurbished antiques, furniture, and home accessories
- Keller Market House — fresh and local gourmet food market
You can shop my outfit here.
With the summer in full swing, there is no better time to pack your bags and go on an easy girls weekend in central Ohio. I hope you enjoyed my post! Be sure to check out my girl gang that went along on the trip 🙂
Stella Compiseno – The Heart’s Delight
Michelle Zavodny – My Versatile Style
Brooke Anders – Chic With a Side of Champagne
Samantha Curtis – The Samantha Show
Karen Morse – Glam Karen
Anna Grace – Anna Lee Grace Blog
Amanda Blakeman – Blissful Gal
This blog post was originally posted on my blog kasuallykatie.com.
