Sledding in Oxford!

With our second snow of the season (where did our road go?), I felt inspired to blog some great sledding locations. If you have any additions of little known sledding hills, please leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll add it on!

The very best unofficial sledding hill I have ever seen is next to the horseman's area of Hueston woods. In fact, I hesitate to post it because we love it when it's not crowded:) The hill is close to parking, well monitored on clear, busy days, and REALLY big and fun. 3-4 year olds would be okay (if you maybe didn't go to top), but older kids (including parents) would especially have a blast.

Directions: From Brown Rd. Take Brown road out of Oxford to the end. Turn left at the "T." Drive past the Nature area turn, over a small creek bridge, and turn left at the bike rental booth. We always get this turn mixed up with the camping ground turn, but I think it's the left turn after the camp grounds (before the sign in the picture that says "Tours Rentals"). You'll curve to the right, and there is the horse area on your right almost immediately. Turn into that area, and it will "U" around back to the road. Follow the U past the horse area, before it rejoins the road, and you're there. There is parking, and you'll see the sledding hill off the driveway onto your right.

From Todd Rd. (the road next to Walmart). Follow Todd Rd. to Hueston Woods. It joins another road (there may be a stop there) and curves around a bit. When it "T"'s (there are boats parked on your right), turn left. Turn left at the bike rental booth (2nd turn), then follow it around and turn into the horseman area on your right (as mentioned above).

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I heard from a mom at playgroup a few weeks ago that the Miami University Art Museum has a great sledding hill behind the museum. That's the other side of Oxford for us, but when the roads are clear I'd like to check it out.

Directions: Take 27 South (east) past the clock tower, and the museum is on your left before you get out of town. You can't miss the big, weird, red, metal sculpture thing in front.

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Another sledding area near the Art Museum is Peffer Park. I heard from another mom that it's a popular sledding location!

Directions: Continue on 27 South past the Art Museum, and Peffer Park is on your right (I actually looked those directions up on google maps, so hopefully that's right...it might be left).

Jungle Jim's

So you've just moved to Oxford from someplace bigger, and immediately, you lament the lack of an Indian restaurant here. Or maybe you've got a craving for some pho, or some really fresh sushi. Perhaps your problem is that you need baklava, and lots of it. Head to Jungle Jim's, my foodie friends.
I won't go on and on about what a food-lover's paradise it is. You probably already know it carries a huge selection of international groceries. Need tea from Africa? check. Want to try a so-called 10,000-year-old egg from China? check. Looking for candied grasshoppers, or maybe a turducken? You can find it at Jungle Jim's.
I thought I'd highlight two products from the Asian section that I've recommended to several people. One is the frozen dumplings. The kind we love is made by a Taiwanese company called Wei-Chuan. It almost doesn't matter what flavor you get. Look for a logo that says "New and Improved!"
Granted, they're not quite like homemade dumplings, but they're really, really close, and they're WAY better than the doughy versions you find at most Chinese restaurants. Making Chinese dumplings at home is something like a 12-step process that can take all day. With the frozen kind, all you have to do is boil water. If you prefer potstickers, you can pan fry/steam them. Look for directions on the back.
While you're having dumplings, you might as well get the most delicious soy sauce I've ever tasted. It's also made by Wei-Chuan and is available at Jungle Jim's in a tall bottle in the Taiwanese aisle. It's called Prime China soy sauce. It's much thicker than Kikkoman and is rather sweet, with a wonderful soy-saucy flavor. I'm addicted.
Finally, because this is not a commercial for Jungle Jim's, I should mention that you can find slightly better prices (on the dumplings, at least) at a small Oriental market just up Dixie Rd. As you're headed home from Jungle Jim's, look for a rather forlorn little shopping center a few blocks ahead on the right, with one or perhaps two shops in it. The market carries a larger selection of Chinese groceries than JJ's. You can also buy cookware, chopsticks, incense, tiger balm and other cool stuff.
What: Jungle Jim's
Where: 5440 Dixie Highway. Take 27 N. out of Oxford. Turn left onto 130 as if headed to Hamilton. Turn right onto Main St. (177) in Hamilton, and go through the shopping district there. Turn right onto OH 4 South, which turns into Dixie Highway. Look on your left for the Jungle Jim's complex, which looks a bit like Disney World, complete with its own monorail. Takes about 35-40 minutes to get there.
Contact: (513) 674-6000
Hours: Opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 10 pm, which is good if you or your spouse wants to make a late-night trip after the kids have gone to bed. Note that it closes early on the major holidays.