Following our adventures on the farm, the weather was too nice to head home, so I decided to surprise my family with a trip over to Chagrin Falls to show the boys a waterfall, and possibly enjoy some ice cream. When I was in college, and even when I used to work out that direction, I would often find myself in the surrounding park districts as well as stop in the small town of Chagrin Falls. There was something just quite right about the intimate town of Chagrin Falls, and I knew it was something our boys would enjoy seeing.

The main goal was to let the boys see the waterfall along the Chagrin River, where an old flour mill used to be located. No matter how high or low the fall, seeing water cascade over the edge of a rock formation is beautiful and peaceful. I carefully transcended the staircase carrying Lan-Shark to get down close to the falls. Bug and Mrs. InACents slowly made their way down, but stayed a safe distance away due to Bug’s apprehension. Lan-Shark and I enjoyed the couple of moments together alone, as no one else was at the bottom of the walkway during our visit.

Lan-Shark was more than impressed I would say, as he stared and pointed in excitement. At least that is my interpretation after trying to read a one year old’s body language. Bug I think was more just happy to be outside and enjoying the weather.

After we climbed back up the stairway, we proceeded to walk over to the famous Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop. The historic little shop has been around since 1875, and has been visited by past President George Bush in September 2004. My wife and I have been in the shop several times in the past, and we even took Bug there once when he was one. As we were going in to try some ice cream, we just so happen to stumble upon our dream come true.

My wife and I had heard great things about a local ice cream shop located in Columbus, Ohio that served very unique flavors, called Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. We had been to one of the Columbus locations several years ago on a trip to a Jimmy Buffett concert, and I remember being very impressed despite the high prices. Then you can imagine our surprise to see Jeni’s located in small town Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Suddenly our plans for ice cream had become definite as there was no way we were going to pass up a trip to Jeni’s. Suddenly the flavors from our past had come screaming back into my mouth.

The store is located in a quaint little store front along North Main Street. In my experience, both Jeni’s locations we have been to maintain a small town feel inside. When we visited the Columbus location, the line was out the door, and as each person stood in front of the glass windows sampling all the flavors, people squeezed behind them trying to get back out the door. The flow of traffic was never much of a consideration in the design, and the same thing held true at the Chagrin Falls location.

Luckily the double doors could be both opened to get the stroller inside, and even if there had been a line, there was a little more room to get around than their Columbus counterparts. In addition, somehow even with the beautiful weather, and approximately 1:00 PM time frame, no one else was in the store. I again assume the time change had something to do with it, or otherwise everyone else has not experienced the finer things in Jeni’s ice cream.

We were greeted with two employees and were allowed to sample as many flavors as we chose. I was a sucker for the Riesling Poached Pear, as it was what I had last time and was one of the finest flavors I have ever experienced. My cone also allowed for a second scoop, so I also tried a Cherry Lambic Sorbet, which was sweet with a light Lambic beer flavor, but was nothing compared to the Riesling Poached Pear.

Bug had chosen a Tres Leches with Here-n-There Cherries, which was an interesting selection for a 2-year old. I think he may have been just excited to be eating ice cream though because as soon as he saw my cone, and tried the Cherry Lambic Sorbet, he made me swap my cone for his little kids cup. Guess who won?

I could swear I tasted some pleasant herbs strewn into the Tres Leches with Here-n-There Cherries, but looking at the ingredients, there does not appear to be any. That is one thing I exceptionally love about Jeni’s ice cream. The flavors somehow all mix and meld well together. There are often ingredients one would never predict for ice cream, but that is also what makes it unique and memorable.

My wife enjoyed the three scoop option, and had Mango Kiwi Special Cake, Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake (She was thinking of me the whole time!), and Riesling Poached Pear.

The ice cream was delectable! The price was not…over $15 and that was just for my wife and mine. They somehow forgot to charge us for Bug’s scoop, but I was so mesmerized by the price of two small items, that I did not even realize until later. It also might have been because no one wanted to take our money.

After we received all of our ice cream, they got hit with several other groups of people behind us, and never got around the charging us. We waited until everyone had been served, and then reminded them that we had yet to pay, and still after standing at the register, it took awhile for someone to pick up our tab.

So despite a minor hiccup, our family had a beautiful day out at the farmpark and in downtown Chagrin Falls. The scenery was quiet and quaint, and the boys enjoyed being outside of the house for the day in their natural setting.

Have you had the lucky experience of trying the Riesling Poached Pear ice cream at Jeni’s?

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