1. MARIETTA, OHIO

Marietta, Ohio

8/9/2008

Although we didn’t know it at the time, we began our “ultimate road trip” almost as soon as we said our vows. After a perfect wedding in Zanesville, Ohio we drove our rice-encrusted car to the historic Lafayette Hotel for our honeymoon. I chose this hotel because I had stayed there several times working for a murder mystery weekend company. It’s the kind of thing where you spend the weekend with actors who are constantly maiming and murdering each other. I was one of those actors. Since I was somewhat familiar with the town and the hotel I thought it would make a nice honeymoon spot. Thankfully, I was right. For one thing, the Lafayette is an absolute perfect throwback to the Ohio River’s riverboat days. We stayed in their swankiest honeymoon suite for about $150 a night. A similar suite in most hotels would be four or five times that amount. We spent four days exploring the town, although we spent most of our time in The Barking Dog Bookstore – a bibliophile’s dream come true. Laura and I love old books and visiting old bookstores of all shapes and sizes. Barking Dog is one of the best. We also visited a nice little antique shop called The Tin Rabbit. The proprietor is an ancient woman who seems to have earned the right to be kind of crabby to her customers. She doesn’t come off as rude, though – somehow her attitude comes off as a part of the ambience of the place. Mostly we just explored the riverbank and wandered through the town peeking in shop windows (and spending way too much money at the Barking Dog), but we did do a few organized activities – like taking a trip along the river on the authentic Valley Gem Sternwheeler. Laura and I both agree that the best part about Marietta was the food. To begin with, the Lafayette’s restaurant (The Gun Room) is top notch – you could spend a whole trip there and never leave the hotel. However, down the street is a place called Austyn’s. Trust us. You must go there. The prices are what you’d expect at an Applebee’s, but the food is out of this world. We ate there almost every day. I still wake up in the night dreaming about their wasabi mashed potatoes.

Introduction

This journal chronicles a married couple’s attempt to visit every place in Patricia Schultz’ book 1000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die. Oliver and Laura were married on August 9th 2008 and honeymooned in beautiful Marietta, Ohio – unbeknownst to them at the time one of the “places.” That same summer, Oliver took a job as a high school teacher in Columbus, Ohio. Knowing that he would have the summers off, the following year the newlyweds decided to take a little vacation. Unfortunately, they had difficulty planning it as the country is filled with so many attractions and it is impossible to tell in advance if a place is truly as great as the brochures promise. Frustrated, the couple bought a copy of 1000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die to help guide this little vacation. However, flipping through the book a larger quest started to form in the mind of the young couple. Would it be possible to visit them all in one lifetime? (Doing a little research they discovered that even Patricia Schultz admits she has not personally visited every location in her book.) Oliver and Laura made a promise to each other that they would attempt to visit all 1000 places by their 50th wedding anniversary. They are regular people with limited means – but trying to do this while juggling real life is all part of the challenge. They hope you enjoy reading about their “ultimate road trip.”