Welcome to My Home: the Quirky and Quaint Silver Lake, OH

One of the biggest appeals of coming to Boston College is its proximity to downtown Boston.  We all love going into the city and exploring the sights, like Newbury Street, Boston Common, and Faneuil Hall.  But guess what?  We collegiettes™ come from literally all over the world!  We grew up in one home our whole life or moved to dozens of new places.  We were raised in small towns and huge cities!  Just because we are in Boston doesn’t mean we can’t see the rest of the world.  This is a series to introduce us to the many unique and interesting places that we come from, better known as home.

It’s 7 am on the sunny third Saturday in July.  The entire village is not only awake, but half of the neighbors are in row boats being paddled out to the island in the middle of the historical Silver Lake, which in the 1920’s was a pretty awesome amusement park.  Rumor has it there are roller coaster tracks on the bottom of the lake…

When the horn blows, it’s the start of the annual Silver Lake Triathlon at 7:30 am, which has grown to be a popular right of passage.  Many families and friend groups complete it relay style, and as a fifth grader, I was all about doing that swim from island to shore.  As an “experienced” ten-year-old swimmer, I knew one thing was happening and one thing only: it was race time.  The word “pace” didn’t exist in my mind.  After all, the furthest I had swam in a race was all of 50 meters.  Five minutes later, I emerged from the water, legs jelly, as I tried my best to run to the curb to tag my friend who would begin the two laps around the lake on bike.  The youngest in the water, I came out fifth and subsequently couldn’t walk.  But I did it, and earned bragging rights for years (ten years of bragging rights, apparently).

This was only the start of the day, however, that was annually the highlight of my summer from the time I could walk.  The day continued with shorter races for the “little kids,” which I owned, obviously, and really kicked off with the “big” parade at 11.  Each year the Silver Lake Festival had a theme, and the neighborhood kids would create masterpiece floats and costumes to ride down the street and throw candy to all the neighbors. 

The minute the parade hit the beach area, which consists of a swimming dock, swings, a boathouse, sand volleyball courts, and numerous picnic table “pods,” it was time for four hours of games.  Carnival games lined the street, with the grooviest prize table in town.  Winning 200 tickets to go home with the gumball machine was always a respected accomplishment. 

Sail boat races, swim races, singing competitions (Silver Lake Idol, obviously), cake-walks, pontoon boat rides, and tons of great food (best hot dog of the year) top off the Festival. 

Welcome to my hometown: Silver Lake, Ohio.  It’s quaint, it’s quirky, and it’s the best place on Earth, I’m sure of it.

Besides the epic Festival, the Christmas Tree Lighting (with a special appearance form Santa Clause), talent show (which I performed in embarrassingly until age 12), and pretty intense sand volleyball games (which included the gambling of our own ‘souls’) defined the neighborhood.  It’s a place where everyone knows everyone… and their dogs.  It’s a village where the 3,000 person population has its own police force… that includes a golf cart cop.  It’s a neighborhood where everyone has one goal: a house on the lake; you don’t move out, you just move around.

Ah, yes, I love my Silver Lake (or the SL, as I often refer to it as).  No, Ohio may not seem like the most exciting place to live, but I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else. 

But you say you’re visiting, eh?  Good move.  But alas, you might miss the Festival and the Christmas Tree Lighting… and you probably aren’t good enough for one of our sand volleyball matches, but here are some staple places that are must-go’s in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio.

Swensons: Better than In-N-Out.  I swear.
If you’re ever in the Akron/Cleveland area, you better get your car to Swenson’s, where hot college boys (and girls) run to your car window, take your order, and deliver you the greatest greasy burger on the continent.  One of my L.A. friends even told me she liked it better than In-N-Out.

Islay’s: The greatest, cheapest breakfast in town.
While at Lower, an omelet costs upwards of $5, at Islay’s, a diner full of Midwestern charm, I can feast on two eggs, a fluffy biscuit, delicious sausage, and the most decadent milkshake for the same price.  When bringing friends, my motto is: order anything, at Islay’s everything is perfect.

Dave’s Cosmic Subs: Grooviest sub in town.
A sub like non-other with the staple Dave’s sauce is sure to impress, in an atmosphere that screams hippie-tastic.  With tie-dye walls and paintings of past rock-and-roll greats, Dave’s isn’t just a sub… it’s an experience that will rock your world.

The Metro Parks
Ohio has stunning parks, which you just can’t miss.  My favorite is in Brecksville, Ohio, where you can play in the Cuyahoga River’s “clay pits,” or at least, that’s what my friends and I always called them… Just don’t wear your favorite clothes!

Rockne’s: Best Salad
This All-American restaurant is one of my friend’s and my favorites.  They know us by name, and know to bring me out not one, but two diet Dr. Pepper’s to start.  Their salads are my favorite: massive, with delicious doughy pita bread.  Just five minutes from my high school (Walsh Jesuit!), it was a great place to go when practice after school wasn’t appealing. 

Rubber City Clothing
Let’s face it.  If you come and visit Akron, OH… you’re going to want to have some swag to show it off!  Sure, people often think about boasting vacas they made to ‘Italia,’ Brazil, or NYC, but let’s be real, my “I LOVE AKRON” shirt is the apple of my wardrobe.  With personality and crazy cool designs in the heart of downtown Akron, Rubber City Clothing is a must-go to any visitor!  Check them out on Facebook!

Sure, when you think of taking a trip, Akron or Cleveland, Ohio probably don’t come up on your list of destination hot spots, but if you find yourself wandering through the Midwest, stop by, say hi, and enjoy one of my many favorite places.

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