J-K-B10_85
Ashtabula County has the most covered bridges in Ohio at 18. Every year they have a Covered Bridge Festival the 2nd full weekend in October. This is a great time to visit. The leaves are changing and during the festival, almost all the bridges have food, drinks, souvenirs, and arts/crafts for purchase. You can request info on their website or look it up online. Their driving tour is very detailed. We had no trouble finding all the bridges. The problem is wanting to eat at all of them. Plus in Jefferson, Ohio, I believe it's the rotary who cooks ham soup over an open fire. You can smell that all over the town. At the fairgrounds in Jefferson, they have exhibits and arts/crafts, and souvenirs also. It's really a great time. Beautiful photo ops every where. This is a highly recommended thing to do.
WChesterResidence
Great, really enjoyed every one. Hope to come back next year for the annual Covered Bridge Festival.
545maryb
While I suppose you could find all the covered bridges of Ashtabula County Ohio in one day, I suggest making it a relaxed two day tour, stopping at a winery here and there, and lunch. It was great fun following the map (with help from our GPS system) and taking in the fields and farms in the vicinity. Each bridge has its own character and we loved coming around the bend to see each one. Each has a place to pull over so that you can get out and walk around a bit with your camera and mind's eye. Really a lovely, lovely experience. Makes me want to find more in other parts of the country. Enjoy!
D0c1990
Seeing these two landmarks in one trip, plus the other items such as the lake erie trail drive added more spice to our already pleasant trip.
CAT_AJM
Every October there is a promoted do it yourself tour. Yes, you can always get the Bridge Map and do the tour anytime , but in October there is more. At each stop there is an assortment of Non-profit groups and organizations that set set up food sales, bakery sales, informational/historical displays, and many other things depending on the group and the location. We have been on a horse drawn ride across a bridge, and sampled fresh cut fries cooked outside and served with cider. Each bridge will have it's own theme and arrangements. Be sure to get all published information from Ashtabula county or websites. This is done on the same weekend as the Covered Bridge Festival in Jefferson. We have been at the Festival and really don't think it is worth an admission charge. Skip the Festival and do the driving tour. On a lovely fall day, it is a great way to take in historical and local sites. There is a awful lot of local stops close to where the bridges are to explore also.
marbear10
We have done this for years. This year was a beautiful day and we enjoyed Route B. We hadn't seen these bridges before. We also stopped at a winery before going home.
mind-full
If you want a good day trip for yourself, a couple, a group of adults, or for a family of like-minded children, Ashtabula County's Covered Bridges Trail will give you beautiful scenery, lots of country roads, and gorgeous pictures to commemorate your travels.My husband and I took the A Loop of the tour, offering 12 covered bridges over a span of a 67-mile trek. We began at Jefferson, OH, locating the first bridge address by GPS. Easy. Anyone may obtain a map of the bridge tour by visiting the host website: http://www.coveredbridgefestival.orgThe bridges make the feature attractions every second weekend in October, with a Covered Bridge Festival, involving local communities, local government and scores of bridge-seeking folk who want to honor the long history of covered bridges in the United States with a visit to several in the span of a day or two.While we have not attended the festival, we would like to view the bridges in the autumn months for the foliage and atmosphere differences. Mid-July offered us high heat and humidity, but still, lovely settings. We can't complain ... and we can't change the weather!We had no trouble locating each of the 12 bridges on the first section of the tour, though the county bypassed #2 (South Denmark Road -- cars may drive over it, but the main road passes it on the left) and the Graham Road Bridge washed downstream in a flood and now stands on supports next to the roadway for viewing. Signs marked with logos and arrows stand along the roadway at intersections to help guide seekers to make appropriate turns, and even with detours for construction, the map of the tour route is very easy to follow.We did not take the second half of the tour, though we did see #13, which begins the B Loop of the tour. The 6 bridges on the second route stand great distances from each other. We would consider visiting those bridges if future travel took us nearer to them. Otherwise, the distance between them doesn't make as handy a schedule for a carload of kids ... or even two middle-aged adults, such as ourselves.Looking forward to a fall excursion along this route on a "perfect weather" kind of day!
InTheHollow
Plenty of covered bridges to find, it's almost like a driving scavenger hunt. Some roads are dirt only, best to go when weather is relatively dry. The dirt roads can be avoided, there are plenty of bridges easily accessible w/ pavement. The construction of a few of the bridges is quite unique. Benetka Road is one of my favorites, with its arch design. And with the wineries mixed in, it can be a completely full day of enjoying the countryside. Ashtabula County is pretty country.
miscmusings
My sister and I took a day to tour the covered bridges in Ashtabula. You can either buy a map for the Covered Bridge society or you can plan your own route via map quest by locating the bridges on line. This is the route my sister and I took. The tour takes almost a full day, so take a lunch with you. We ate at the Beneka covered bridge (it was very scenic). If you have time, you can take a side trip to the Holden Arboretum.
Nancy313
We have frequented Noni's twice on peoples suggestion.I don't care for any of their food. Not a great menu and just won't go again
OhioBuckeye
My husband and I visited Ashtabula, Ohio and surrounding towns Aug 2012. We have stayed in Geneva on the Lake several times and different seasons and really enjoy the area. The covered bridge tour and wineries make for a great trip. Our favorite winery is Ferrante Winery and favorite bridge is SMOLEN-GULF BRIDGE. This bridge is the longest covered bridge in the United States. It is pretty inpressive. No fee for the bridges, but of course there is a charge to sample the wines.
500DaveR
Get a map from the chamber, and go for a ride. This is only going to cost you some time and gas. Be advised, you will be driving on some dirt/gravel roads, so plan a day when you can keep the windows up if you have trouble breathing like I do. And it isn't something you can do in a few minutes, plan on spending some time. Have fun, and enjoy the ride.