More than likely, if you've driven between historic Lebanon and Mason in Warren County, Ohio you've crossed the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (LM&M Railroad) on at least one occasion. Rich in history, this railroad offers scenic train rides throughout Warren County on about 16 miles of track. Today, you can experience glimpses of the past while enjoying new family fun adventures on the LM&M Railroad!

You're sure to find many family fun opportunities on LM&M's 2012 schedule that are sure to please the whole family. The schedule kicks off with a popular attraction, the Easter Bunny Express. On this ride children will have the opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny as well as take part in an Easter Egg Hunt and coloring contest at LM&M Junction. At just under two hours, this trip is the perfect ride for young children.

 The Easter Bunny Express will be held over two spring weekends: March 31-April 1 and April 6-7 and takes passengers on a fun-filled 4.4 mile ride. Departure times are 10:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. For ticket information, be sure to contact LM&M Railroad early, because space is limited.

Can't make it on this ride? Not to worry, the LM&M Railroad runs all year long and features regular 1-hour train rides, a popular ride that takes passengers from the Lebanon Station to the Southwest Golf Ranch and back with no layover as well as many special character rides like The Cat in the Hat and Curious George rides in June & July and a Train Ride with Clifford in August. Be sure to check out their website for up-to-date info or to purchase tickets.

Long before the LM&M played host to these whimsical rides for children, it served as a commuter train, transporting workers between Cincinnati and Dayton in the late 1800's. With the construction of Cincinnati Union Terminal in 1931 and later, interstate highways, the LM&M was used less and less for the daily commute. According to Angela Krisanda, Marketing Manager at LM&M Railroad, "Some of the train cars were actual cars used in New Jersey and New York for public transportation at one time." Today, you will see both freight and passenger trains along the LM&M tracks.

Alongside the LM&M tracks, you have the opportunity to take in not only the beautiful Warren County countryside and natural wonders but also many historical landmarks like the old Schoolhouse, built in the 1800's and operated as a school until the 1890's, The Crossing Watchman's Tower and the Lebanon Railroad Station, built as a replica of the original Lebanon Victorian-style passenger station. Warren County is rich with history, and you will experience a taste of that along the LM&M Railroad.


In more recent years, LM&M Railroad achieved notoriety as a backdrop for a famous car chase scene in Milk Money, a 1994 film starring Melanie Griffith and Ed Harris.

LM&M Railroad is the perfect vacation destination to mix historical education and good old-fashioned fun, and it's a Warren County spot you won't want to miss. If you're looking for more great family fun while you're in town check out some of the other world-class attractions you'll find in Ohio's Largest Playground here!

   The people have spoken, and on Wednesday, February 8th the winners of the Best of Warren County poll were honored in an awards ceremony at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center. Throughout the month of January the public sent nominations for their favorite local attractions to The Pulse-Journal. Thousands of votes were then cast for the finalist of 10 different categories including Best Hidden Gem, Best Festival, Best Burger and more.

   The awards were designed to highlight some of the brightest features of Warren County not only for residents of the area, but also for out-of-town visitors looking to get a taste of local flavor. So when you visit us let this list of local favorites act as your tour guide to the can't miss spots in Warren County. 

Best Burger: Quatman Cafe, Mason
   Quatman Cafe, originally founded in 1966 in the Norwood neighborhood of Cincinnati, has brought its huge, tasty burgers north to a new location in Mason. Matt Imm, owner of Quatman Cafe said "We get fresh deliveries of meat everyday and like all our food, the burger is hand-made." It's this care and detail put into every burger and a devoted fan base that has Quatman Cafe topping the charts of the "Best Burger" category.

Best Festival: The Ohio Renaissance Festival
    One of the largest festivals of its kind in the United States the Ohio Renaissance Festival gives visitors the unique opportunity to enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single weekend. Over 150 costumed characters welcome visitors to the 30-acre re-created 16th Century English Village and partake in nearly 100 daily shows from jousting matches to dueling sword shows. Visitors of all ages will be amused by the food, games and human-powered rides at the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

Best Place for Unique Shopping: Treasure Aisles, Monroe
   With over 500 shops and vendors stretched out over 64 acres of land you're sure to score some unique finds at Treasure Aisles. The market's extensive selection of bargains and treasure draws a multitude of eager shoppers to Ohio's largest outdoor weekend market. Not only will you find some great treasures, but great food, music and entertainment too! Shopping at Treasure Aisles is truly a unique experience. 

Best Dessert at a Local Restaurant: Ice Cream at Mr. Frosty
    This ice cream stand in downtown Franklin, Ohio has been enjoyed by members of the community for more than 30 years. Tasty treats such as the Wildcat Twist, named for the local high school football team, and the footlong coney with chili and cheese are a few of the hometown favorites. So if you're in town on a hot summer night and need a quick cool-down, stop in and try the best dessert in Warren County.

Favorite Dish at a Local Restaurant: Pulled Pork from Porky Capone's
    Having only been open for a year, Porky Capone's has quickly become a local favorite, due in large part to the fact that owner, Mark Groce, practically lives at the restaurant ensuring that his Southern style BBQ is always slow-cooked to perfection. Although he hates to choose favorites amongst his own culinary masterpieces, Groce admits that the pulled pork is one of his most popular dishes, evidenced by the number of votes it received from the public.  

Best Hidden Gem: Irons Fruit Farms
    This 4th generation farm is dedicated to providing farm fresh fruit including apples, cherries, pumpkins and peaches as well as delicious fresh-baked goods to the public. Throughout the year you can pick your own fruits and in the fall the farm offers many great seasonal activities including a corn maze, hayrides and a pumpkin patch. You can also find the Irons Fruit Farm folks at the annual Lebanon Country Applefest held every September. 

Best Historical Site: The Golden Lamb
    The Golden Lamb is recognized as the oldest continuously operating business in the State of Ohio, so it's fitting that it would win in this category. The Golden Lamb has also hosted many notables throughout history like 12 U.S. Presidents, including President Lincoln who stopped in town on his way from Illinois to the White House. You can also stop in the restaurant and have a drink where Charles Dickens once sat. 

A Not-to-miss with Teenagers on Vacation: Ozone Zipline Adventures
   This exhilarating ride through the canopy of the Little Miami River Valley will leave you breathless. Now offering 3 unique zipline tours, including one tour that crosses the Little Miami River at 250 feet in the air PLUS a Full Moon Night Zipping tour, Ozone Ziplines is the ultimate adventure for your teen. Not only will your teen test their nerves, but with a full staff of knowledgeable guides to accompany them they might even learn something about the 500 million year old fossils they're soaring over, the 2000 year old Native American Earthworks across the river at Fort Ancient or current environmental issues like water conservation and habitat loss.

Best Place for School-age Children to Have Fun: Great Wolf Lodge, Mason
   What better place to enjoy vacation with your children than a 78,000 square foot indoor waterpark that features 11 waterslides, 6 pools a one-of-a-kind water coaster and a four-story treehouse waterfort? Other amenities you'll find at the family-friendly resort include live-action games like MagiQuest and Compass Quest, a full service kids spa, the NEW Ten Paws Alley and an arcade with over 100 games. With all this and more Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect place you and your children.

 

Best Place to Create Winter Holiday Memories: The Christmas Ranch, Morrow
    A whimsical place with 350,000 dancing Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music, the Christmas Ranch is one of the best places in Warren County to make Holiday memories with your family. Get your picture with Santa, take a night time wagon ride through the village and mark that special someone off your list with a gift from the Christmas Shop. 

Congratulations to all of our 2011 Best of Warren County Winners! The competition was stiff and although these winners were voted the best this year, there are plenty of other great places to dine, shop and create lasting memories with your family in Warren County.  Surf through our site to find other priceless gems you won't want to miss.

Can't Wait for the hard hitting jousting action of the Ohio Renaissance Festival to return to Harveysburg in September? Well, the History Channel has heard your calls and plans to premiere "Full Metal Jousting," a new reality competition show that pits jousting knights against one another in February.

The show will be hosted by Shane Adams, otherwise known as Sir Shanton of Falcon's Hill to his brotherhood of knights in the Knights of Valour troupe. Shane, originally from Toronto, Ontario began his endeavor in the jousting business at Medieval Times, and eventually created his own travelling show. He now makes his home at the Ohio Renaissance Festival and can be seen year after year taking on other noble knights in front of throngs of shouting fans.

The show that he and his troupe put together feels like you're really in the 1600's watching knights battle for honor and the eye of the fair maidens. They use real chainmail, real barrel helmets and it only takes one viewing to realize the hits are real as well. It's this reality that viewers of the History Channel's series will see on a weekly basis beginning Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. As one competitor puts it, "This ain't no dinner show."

For a sneak peek of the show from the History Channel click here.
For more info regarding the Ohio Renaissance Festival be sure to visit: www.renfestival.com

Written by contributing blogger Vicky Van Harlingen of the Warren County Historical Society. 

"Christmas in Lebanon" is almost upon us. Anyone who loves Christmas is making plans to be part of the crowd on December 3rd when over one-hundred carriages and more than three-hundred horses thrill men, women and children as they parade down Broadway in one of the most spectacular parades in the country. Decked out in their best harnesses, the beautiful carriage horses make you dream of by-gone days.

In the weeks leading up to the parade the horses and their owners are arriving in Lebanon and getting ready for the big day. The horses are bathed and brushed and brushed some more so that their winter coats shine. The wagons and carriages are washed and buffed and their decorations are planned and assembled. It's as much fun for the carriage families to be part of the parade as it is for the on-lookers lining the parade route.

It's usually cold that first Saturday in December, as it should be, its December after all, sometimes it even snows. But that hasn't seemed to stop the crowds who begin setting out folding chairs to mark their spots along the sidewalks at 10:00 am. The first parade doesn't start until 1:00 pm, but there's plenty to do. Mulberry Street transforms itself into a holiday bazaar with vendors selling food and hot drinks, and the shops on Broadway doing a brisk business in specialty Christmas gifts. The LM&M Railroad runs "The Polar Express" non-stop, the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory is packed full with customers and the Golden Lamb Inn is busy serving diners eager to immerse themselves in its historic ambiance. With a little imagination you could believe it is 1845 and Charles Dickens appears on the street to complain that there was no decent drink to be had in this town - his stage coach made a pit stop at the Golden Lamb which at the time was a temperance hotel and sold no alcoholic beverages.

When you come to the Lebanon Christmas Festival and Horse Drawn Carriage Parade on December 3, be sure to look for Charlie Poppe and his antique Victoria carriage pulled by a matched pair of Hackney carriage horses. The carriage will be decorated with poinsettias and greenery and the horses will have flowers and bells braided into their manes. The antique Victoria carriage was made for the 1876 Centennial Exposition and is in demand for display all over the country. It's a most elegant carriage designed for wealthy Victorian ladies who wanted to be seen to best advantage.

The Poppes live on the east side of Cincinnati and have brought their horses and carriages to the parade in Lebanon every year since it began. "My wife and I travel all over the country participating in parades and carriage events and this is still the best parade around. It's the best organized, the hospitality and camaraderie are super and the Lebanon Chamber's volunteers are the greatest".

After the 1 p.m. parade many folks walk up the hill to Glendower Historic Mansion where costumed interpreters share the old house for a small fee, all decorated for Christmas in a grand style. Others will visit the Christmas Craftsman and Artisan Fair next door to the Museum on Broadway where you can shop for gifts, buy wonderful baked good and holiday foods, learn to make a beautiful holiday wreath and hear Zachariah Johnson, 1898 Christmas Story Teller share tales of long ago.

At 7:00 pm the "Candle Light" parade begins. It is dark and the carriages stream down Broadway covered in battery powered Christmas lights, the horses blowing steam and stepping briskly. It's a breath taking site and many folks have come just for this fairy tale extravaganza. As the last horse and carriage passes by the crowd there is an audible sigh of satisfaction and expectation. Now the Christmas season has truly begun.

Click here for more information about the Lebanon Christmas Festival including video and festival details.
Also see the Carriage Association of America's website at www.caaonline.com.

The holiday's are here in Warren County, Ohio! The stockings, ornaments and Christmas recipes may still be in the box, but the streets and storefronts of the cozy small towns are in full holiday swing.

Meet Santa, watch majestic Clydesdales stride down Main Street and be a kid again with the Top 5 FREE Holiday festivities you don't want to miss this season.

5) Holiday Open House

Historic Downtown Lebanon, just named "Best Hometown 2012" by Ohio Magazine, invites you to a Holiday Open House Nov. 25-26. More than 25 downtown merchants will participate in this annual event. Enjoy later hours, in-store refreshments and just the right gift you were looking for in downtown Lebanon. For more info visit Historic Downtown Lebanon online.

4) Santa's Silver Celebration

The 25th Annual Christmas in Historic Springboro themed "Santa's Silver Celebration" will be held Nov. 18, 19, and 20. Each year the annual festival is recognized as the largest 3-day holiday festival in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana by attracting over 50,000 visitors. Get more info at Springboro Festivals online.

3) Christmas in the Village

Experience an old-fashioned Christmas with 1300 luminaries lighting your way. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, a heated entertainment tent and decorated store fronts as you stroll the charming streets during Waynesville's annual Christmas in the Village Dec. 2-4. Find more information at Waynesville online.

2) Christmas in Mason

Celebrate Christmas in Mason. Festivities include a parade, horse-drawn carriage rides, caricature artists, ice carvers, stage entertainment, pictures with Santa and much more! Friday Dec. 2. 6:00 -9:00 p.m. More info at Festivals of Mason.

1) Lebanon Christmas Festival and Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade

Named as the "Best Place to Feel the Christmas Spirit" by Over the Back Fence Magazine, the Historic Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade & Christmas Festival's two parades have delighted thousands throughout the years. Historic buildings provide the perfect backdrop for this ever-popular festival, featuring more than 100 horse-drawn antique carriages. Throughout the day enjoy carriage rides, live entertainment and street vendors. The parade is on Saturday, Dec. 3 in downtown Lebanon. Parade times are 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. More Info.

These time-honored traditions are the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. So, grab your earmuffs, mittens and a cup of hot cocoa and we'll look forward to giving you a hearty "Season's Greetings".

It's that time of year again, the time when the smell of fires burning rises through chimneys, the trees turn vibrant colors and of course jack-o-laterns line front porches welcoming visitors. This year, we've compiled a few helpful tips to make your pumpkin carving experience as simple and enjoyable as possible.

1). Choosing a Pumpkin

Choose a large pumpkin. The larger the pumpkin, the easier it is going to be for you to carve, and the easier it is to carve the more creative you can get with your designs. When selecting a pumpkin be sure to avoid any pumpkins with bruises or moldy stems as they will spoil much faster. Pumpkins with a lighter color tend to be softer and easier to carve. You can find a perfect pumpkin as well as many other fun fall activities here.

2). Make a Lid

When cutting out the top of your jack-o-lantern, place the knife at an angle so that the lid will have a place to rest when you replace it. If you don't cut at an angle the lid will slide through to the hollow interior.

3). Cleaning Out the Guts

To clean out the "guts" it's best if you use a pumpkin carving set, but if you don't have one handy you can use a large, heavy metal serving spoon or ice cream scoop to scrape the insides. If you will be lighting the pumpkin, the back wall should be scraped as smooth as possible for optimal light reflection.

4). Preserve Your Pumpkin

To keep your pumpkin looking tip-top until it's big night on October 31st try soaking the cleaned pumpkin for a couple of hours in a bleach water solution of 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 gallon of water. Dry thoroughly, then rub inside and out, including all cut edges, with vegetable oil or petroleum jelly to prevent shriveling.

5). Picking a Pattern

Beginners should select a simple, bold pattern and once you master these, you can move on to something more difficult. There are many sites online that will allow you to print off designs, and often times the the patch where you pick your pumpkin will have designs you can use.

6).Stenciling the Pumpkin

Once your desired pattern is selected, print out or draw the pattern on a piece of paper. Cutting slits in the side of the paper will help it to conform to the round surface. Use small sharp scissors or a razor knife to cut out the areas you will be carving into the pumpkin. Tape the template onto the pumpkin and use a marker to trace the carving lines.

7). Carving

Again, tools from a pumpkin carving set are best, but if not available, a long serrated knife will also work. Use a sawing motion and take your time cutting along the outside edge of the marker lines leaving no markings showing.

8). Make Lighting Your Pumpkin Easier

Instead of reaching down inside to turn on the light or light the candle, consider cutting off the bottom of the pumpkin, as well as the top. You can then easily lift the jack-o'-lantern up and light the candle inside.

9). A Safer Choice

A small battery-operated flameless candle is a safer choice than traditional candles for lighting your jack-o'-lantern, but if you will be using a real candle, be sure to leave the lid off to avoid any fire hazard.

10). Add Some Spice

Sprinkle the bottom side of the pumpkin lid with ground cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves to give your porch and home a seasonal scent.

We hope you found this post helpful. If you have any tips of your own please feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below.

If you're looking for other great fall activities in Warren County check out our Fall Festival Guide: Here.

Looking for something a little more spooky? Check out our list of Halloween events not to be missed.

Where can you can you find 4,764 apple fritters, 550 gallons of apple cider and of course the freshest apple pies in the state this weekend? The longest running craft festival in the city of Lebanon, Country Applefest, returns for its 29th year and artisans of both crafts and apple confections will gather on Main Street to celebrate the coming of the fall season.

This festival has long maintained its pure small-town feel by not accepting corporate donations. The volunteers who organize Applefest take pride in the fact that this event is limited to arts, crafts and food only, and all must be homemade. You won't find any informational booths with peddling vendors here, just talented craftsmen with meticulously built pieces and master confectioners whose pies you may elsewhere find cooling on a windowsill. 

Don't feel constrained to just walking Main Street while you're in Lebanon for Applefest. Hop aboard the LM&M Railroad which will be running special 1 hour roundtrip train rides that are perfect for childern & adults. Grab a bite at the historic Golden Lamb, the oldest continuously operated business in the state of Ohio and host to notables like Mark Twain and 12 U.S. presidents. And stop by the Civil War Encampment at the Glendower historic house to relive the history of a war that nearly tore our country apart.

So if you're looking to escape the hustle of city life this weekend for a lifestyle that moves a little more slowly then grab your red and white checkered table cloth and your appetite and get to Downtown Lebanon on Saturday September 24th from 10a-7p for Country Applefest and more. 

For more information on this and our other upcoming Fall Festivals please click here.

Hear Ye, Hear ye, with the Ohio Renaissance Festival (Sept. 3-Oct. 16th) set to begin this weekend we've put together a list of 16th century terms that you'll want to add to your vocabulary before the games begin.

1) "Good Morrow" : "Hello" -- E.g. "Good Morrow neighbor, might you be in a merry mood this E'en?"

2) "The Blood of John Barleycorn" : "Ale" or "Beer" -- E.g. "Fetch me a pint of the blood of John Barleycorn."

3) "Privy" : "Bathroom" -- E.g. "Beg your pardon, kind sir, but I have had too much of the blood of John Barleycorn and need to find the privy post-haste."

4) "Yonder" : "Over there" -- E.g. "The privy is located yonder."

5) "Grammercy" : "Thank You" -- E.g. "Grammercy, fair maiden, for the dance, thou art verily light on your feet."

6) "Aye" or "Yay" : "Yes" AND  "Nay" or "Indeed Not" : "No" -- E.g. "Yay, I am having a merry good time at the Ohio Renaissance Festival and nay, I do not wish to leave"

7) "Prithee" : "Please" -- E.g. "Mother, may I prithee have an oversized turkey leg for dinner this e'en?"

8) "Hawker" : "A salesperson yelling to get you to come to their booth" -- E.g. "That hawker is proclaiming he has the finest gold jewelry in town."

9) "Carouse" : "To Party" -- E.g. "After the jousting championship, the winning knight shall carouse with all the nobility to rejoice in his victory."

10) "Fie" : "A Curse" -- E.g. "If you do not attend the 2011 Ohio Renaissance Festival, then from this moment on, I fie on you."

Keep these terms in mind as you make your way out to the Ohio Renaissance Festival this fall. There will be plenty of games, rides and entertainment for both young and old.

To get your tickets be sure to visit: www.renfestival.com
Or book your Ren Fest Vacation Package here: Ohio Vacation Packages

From "Roses are red, violets are blue" to something slightly more heartfelt, valentine cards are the yardstick of self worth every February.

The appeal is not a recent phenomenon, as showcased in "Be Mine Valentine," a profile of 150 years worth of valentines on display at the Warren County Historical Society Museum in Lebanon. The exhibit features more than 500 valentines from the WCHS's collection, from 1850s to present day.

"In the late 1800s, collecting valentine post cards became a passion," said museum director Victoria Tappy.

The popularization of the color lithograph, which allowed for bright hues and intricate pictures to be printed on the love letters, made the first valentines possible and started a furor over them, Tappy said.

Many early valentines were particularly ornate, and some in the collection are even hand-crafted.

The early 20th century saw manufacturers discover the merchandising possibilities inherent in valentine cards, and the museum's collection includes tie-ins for Buster Brown shoes and a Toledo-based spice company.

"Be Mine Valentine" runs through Feb. 19 at the WCHS, 105 S. Broadway.

This story was originally posted on Journal-News.com.

Wes Cowan, owner of Cowan's Auctions in Cincinnati will be at the Lebanon Antique Show on Saturday morning, January 15, 2011 beginning at 10:00 am.

Mr. Cowan who holds a PHD in Anthropology is well known across the country for his knowledge of American antiques, collectibles and Americana. For the last several years he has lent his expertise to television shows "Antiques Roadshow" and "History Detectives". Mr. Cowan will be happy to visit with show patrons and sign autographs. He will NOT be providing appraisals.

The Lebanon Antiques Show takes place Saturday and Sunday, January 15 and 16 at Bowman Primary School, 825 Hart Road, Lebanon, OH. Hours are Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00pm. Admission is $8.00 and is good for both days. Parking is free. Call 513-932-1817 for more information.