MEDINA, Ohio — The quaint little downtown of Medina is full of hidden gems, as our Jason Frazer found out on his fourth stop exploring his new home of Northeast Ohio. From year-round Christmas to a behemoth burger that would make Ron Swanson proud, Jason had his fill of all Medina has to offer. Tour guide Dan Hostetler from the Medina County Visitor's Bureau shows Jason the best of the best.
First stop: Castle Noel
You've seen it before. The museum decorated head-to-toe in Christmas decorations straight from your favorite movies and childhood memories. As Jason Frazer found out, more is coming to Castle Noel. Make way for a tiki bar in the summer and a "Polar Bear club" in the winter. It's a March miracle.
Side note: the slide at Castle Noel is super cool and everyone should try it.
Second stop: Exchange Market
Owner Jon Stahl and his wife call it something similar to Cleveland's West Side Market. The Exchange Marketplace is a brand-new concept just opened in Medina. Local food from places like Keller Meats and Pierogies of Cleveland fill one side of the marketplace in vendor kitchens, where people can stroll and shop. The other side is a restaurant complete with several beer taps.
Stahl and his wife also own P.J. Marley's, a staple restaurant in the Medina square. Their most prized mouthful: the Ron Swanson burger. Jason tackles this burger complete with a solid foundation of House Made Bacon Aioli on the bottom bun, a 1/2 pound P.J. Marley Burger, 2 slices of American cheese, a sausage patty, and 8 slices of bacon. It's complete with an over easy fried egg and lightly drizzled with maple syrup on the top bun. Whew!
Third Stop: Medina Toy and Train Museum
There are hundreds of model toys and train in this little corner of Medina. The Toy and Train Museum is a model-train-lover's dream (Jason is one of them.) The star of the museum is a picture-window train track, that used to be on display in Cleveland.
Fourth Stop: High Voltage Go-Karting
For the dare devil in him, Jason stops at this indoor go-karting track. The facility was started by two Ohio men who missed the thrill of karting during snowy Ohio winter. No good trip around the track is complete without a good meal, though. You can now check out their new restaurant, The Foundry Social. It boasts an extensive menu of food and drink, with even more games on the side. Enjoy competitive table games like billiards and ping pong, or go retro on the bocce courts.
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