Seeing the Light in Marblehead
For the Redfern family, the peninsula is a labor of love — and a great place to live.
When Chris and Kim Redfern began dreaming of opening an inn, they knew they wanted a place in the middle of the action on Marblehead. “We sat in the parking lot of this old elementary school in the summer of 2014 and counted the number of people who walked by,” Chris says. The number was high enough to make them want the place, buy it and convert it into the four-room Red Fern Inn at Rocky Point Winery (419-967-5344, redferninn.com). Six months ago, they pounded another stake in the community by opening a boutique — The Pink Perch (facebook.com/thepinkperch). In other words, they love the area. Here are a few of their favorite things.
The No. 1 Attraction: The Marblehead Lighthouse. It’s the oldest operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, notes Chris, and attracts thousands of people to the area. It’s also where he heads to watch the sunrise. “It’s just you,” Chris says. “There’s no one else who takes advantage of the sunrise. It’s gorgeous in the morning.”
Best Breakfast: The blueberry pancakes at Avery’s Café, just a short walk from the Red Fern. 419-798-1700
For a Nice Dinner: The Redferns head to The Orchard Restaurant & Bar (419-797-7324) and order the fresh catch or to Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi (419-734-6400, nagoyaohio.com), which Chris says has the “best sushi anywhere.”
Za! “For the best pizza anywhere, go to Sloopy’s, inside the gates of Lakeside,” says Chris. “And the sound of that screen door slapping the frame as you walk is the sound of summer.” 419-798-4457, sloopyspizza.com
On Art: Kim raves about Desdemona’s Art Gallery, which represents 24 local artists. 419-341-3836, desdemonas.net
Music and More: Head to the Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Lounge, where Chris says “the bar is always hopping” and the regulars can tell you where the fish are biting.
Reese Recommends: The Redferns’ 8-year old daughter enjoys a twist from Brown’s Dairy Dock, just a few steps from James Park, where you can catch a local baseball game. 419-798-5067
Farm Fresh: Kim organizes a farmers market, in her inn’s parking lot, the second Saturday of every month May through October, from 9 a.m. to noon. Come in June for the strawberries. “Don’t even wash them,” Chris advises. “Just stand in the parking lot and eat them.” 419-967-5344
The No. 1 Attraction: The Marblehead Lighthouse. It’s the oldest operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, notes Chris, and attracts thousands of people to the area. It’s also where he heads to watch the sunrise. “It’s just you,” Chris says. “There’s no one else who takes advantage of the sunrise. It’s gorgeous in the morning.”
Best Breakfast: The blueberry pancakes at Avery’s Café, just a short walk from the Red Fern. 419-798-1700
For a Nice Dinner: The Redferns head to The Orchard Restaurant & Bar (419-797-7324) and order the fresh catch or to Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi (419-734-6400, nagoyaohio.com), which Chris says has the “best sushi anywhere.”
Za! “For the best pizza anywhere, go to Sloopy’s, inside the gates of Lakeside,” says Chris. “And the sound of that screen door slapping the frame as you walk is the sound of summer.” 419-798-4457, sloopyspizza.com
On Art: Kim raves about Desdemona’s Art Gallery, which represents 24 local artists. 419-341-3836, desdemonas.net
Music and More: Head to the Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Lounge, where Chris says “the bar is always hopping” and the regulars can tell you where the fish are biting.
Reese Recommends: The Redferns’ 8-year old daughter enjoys a twist from Brown’s Dairy Dock, just a few steps from James Park, where you can catch a local baseball game. 419-798-5067
Farm Fresh: Kim organizes a farmers market, in her inn’s parking lot, the second Saturday of every month May through October, from 9 a.m. to noon. Come in June for the strawberries. “Don’t even wash them,” Chris advises. “Just stand in the parking lot and eat them.” 419-967-5344