when small town life feels too small

I’ve been envious of the town of Ridgway lately.  They’ve got some amazing architecture featured in their “Lily of the Valley” Historic district (the Romanesque mansion of Mrs. William H. Hyde is my favorite. Those porches!), there’s cute new shops popping up all over their walk able downtown area, and they’re putting on cool community events that I want to attend (Their library held a Stouts & Scouts pairing night.  They combined Girl Scout Cookies with beer from the brewery in town! [I don’t like beer and I only actually like the coconut cookies in small doses, but still.] ). 

I think there’s a little something for everyone in Ridgway, so I recently spent an afternoon exploring. My first stop was Joey’s Bakery for some sustenance.  It turns out that they have a more extensive food menu than I expected, because it’s a restaurant too!  I’ll need to come back with a friend for a real meal very soon. I order a cinnamon roll, which I’ve had before.  The Elk Crossing 555 General Store used to carry them by the dozen, and I’ve also picked them up at the Save A Lot in St. Mary’s (sometimes with peanut butter icing!). But holy cow, fresh, in the bakery, I was sugared up and ready to roll (Ha!). 

My first stop is Dan Smith’s Candies & Gifts.  There are a few of these in the area, but I’ve never been visited one.  They have an amazing selection of handmade chocolates and cute little gifts.  I’ve never been into chocolate, which always incites a conversation (don’t all women love chocolate? I guess not.) about how odd I am (which, let me tell you, this isn’t even the half of it).  So luckily I make it out of here without any more sugar. 

Next up is The Elk County Council on the Arts.  I’ve wandered around in here quite a few times and tend to leave with something small from their large selection of local, regional and PA Wilds artists. They carry large and small prints (I saw a few that I could picture on the walls of the little cabins, but I was here to explore! Not shop!), locally made soaps and lotions, pottery, jewelry, crafting kits, stickers, and so much more.  They even carry the Paint The PA Wilds Wild Elk Watercolor Kit (and many other versions) that we offer to guests as an activity during their stay. 

From here I head into The Flower Bar where there are so.  Many.  Plants. (I love plants.  My cats also love plants.  Specifically, eating my plants.  So at home my plants live in the laundry room.  In the camper, they hang in the shower.) I will not buy plants for this reason, but I will look at plants longingly.  They’re running a special make-your-own shower eucalyptus bundle, which sounds super luxurious.  Evidently the scent can promote relaxation, relieve congestion, and reduce inflammation. Yep.  I can absolutely use some of that.  The florist helps me put together a bundle with some lavender sprigs and other posies that look pretty.  He says just tie it to the shower head so it sits behind the water and it should last for several months. 

Lastly I stop at The Creative Cup for warm beverage.  Its a little overcast and I think my sugar high is burning off.  I’m planning to order a dirty chai tea latte, when I see a ginger spice cake latte on the menu.  I tell the barista what I thought I wanted, versus what I now think I want and she says – they’re my two favorite drinks.  I’ll combine them for you.  (Yay!) And then she says – how much do you like ginger? (oh girl, lay it on me. But not sushi ginger. Shrug.)  It’s perfect.  Exactly what I would have made myself if I knew how to make fancy hot beverages (I do not.). 

There’s so much more to do, a brewery in a bank that was once run by Taylor Swift’s great grandfather (great-great, maybe), a winery, a golf simulator and more shops.  There’s also some cool hiking spots including the Clarion-Little Toby Trail which has a swinging bridge and follows the winding Clarion River on an old railroad bed, and Umbrella Rock, which is a neat rock (you guessed it) that sorta looks like an umbrella from years of wind and water.  I wish I was comfortable hiking alone (and that I was maybe better prepared for a hike).  I should get a little solo hiking kit together.  

For now, I’m off to enjoy my warm beverage and a hot shower with my fresh eucalyptus bundle.