Blooms and Bridges

Savor the sights of the rolling hills and vineyard landscape while you sip a naturally crafted lavender-infused lemonade at the Taphouse at Retreat 21. The fragrant and delicious culinary lavender grown and harvested on the Retreat 21 farm is used for lemonade and other specialty cocktails. During your visit, you will create your own dried lavender sachet while you learn more about the farm, cidery and winery.

When visitors see the nostalgic 1954 Chevy truck at the entrance of Mitchell’s Berries & Blooms, they are reminded of a simpler time when friends and neighbors shared the bounty of the growing season. It speaks to the spirit of hospitality and the endearing homey style of the Mitchell family that has been passed down for 200+ years. With more than 25,000 berry plants and countless floral seeds and bulbs, the harvests and memories are plentiful. Groups enjoy a variety of experiences from berry samplings and overviews to petals and pollinators, an agricultural education on the importance of bees set amongst the backdrop of a colorful meadow of flowers. 

Sit back, relax, and let a seasoned guide navigate the pastoral countryside on a tour of the seven covered bridges of Union County. Four of the bridges are historic (constructed in the 1800s) and were built by local resident Reuben Partridge, a prolific builder who built well over 100 bridges in Ohio. This scenic driving tour also includes expansive views of the Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway.

Participate in a truly unique opportunity to Dine on a Covered Bridge, complete with delicious cuisine, folk music, storytelling, lively conversation, and a setting sure to celebrate a slower era. Picturesque Pottersburg Bridge, built in 1873, has become the venue for our signature covered bridge lunches and dinners, which are always a delight for the senses.

There’s truth in the Hans Christian Anderson quote, “Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower,” - the only exception is that there is nothing little about the family-owned Leo Berbee Bulb Company and Dutch Mill Greenhouse. For more than 50 years, the Berbee family has been shipping millions of flower bulbs – more than 900 varieties - all over the U.S. from their Marysville, Ohio location. Among their esteemed customer list is the Columbus Zoo, U.S. Botanic Garden, The Pentagon, and the National Parks Service!  This Dutch family is proud to offer true Holland bulbs to their customers. Tour the facility, learn more about this family business, rich with history, see the hand-painted bulb that’s part of the Gildemeesters Bollenstreek Giant Tulip Bulb Project, and take home a pack of colorful inspiration for your own garden. 

It feels like a homecoming the moment you walk in the door, as Lisa and Jack and the friendly staff at Eda’s Italian Ice greet you. Their story is as lovely as their gelato and ice, which are both handmade in small batches. The location is cheery, sunny, and memorable. The most challenging part of a visit to Eda’s is the decision making, as it’s tough to choose from more than 15 ices and gelatos. If the choice is challenging, may we recommend their Chocolate Covered Cherry Bridge Strato, created specifically to celebrate the treasured covered bridges in Union County.