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Day 2 · Saturday May 9

The Full Day

Hike → Watches → Beer → Gin. The anchor day.

8:30 Brandywine Falls
11:00 Teddy Baldassarre
1:00 Masthead Brewing
7:00 Griffin Gin Bar
8:30 AM
Hiking · CVNP
Brandywine Falls
1.7
Miles
~90
Minutes
Easy
Difficulty
Mostly shaded Boardwalk to falls Restrooms at trailhead
Most popular waterfall in Ohio — a 65-foot cascade through a sandstone gorge. The boardwalk gives you a straight shot to the falls overlook, then the loop takes you through the gorge. Almost entirely tree-covered, beautiful in May.

🕗 Start at 8:30am sharp. This is the most crowded trail in the park — arriving early is the difference between a peaceful morning and a traffic jam.

  • Park in the main lot — large, free, restrooms available
  • Take the boardwalk first to the main falls viewpoint
  • Continue the full loop for gorge views — adds 30 min, worth it
  • Stairs going down to the lower overlook — manageable, great photo spot
🚗 Drive to Westlake ~35 min. Grab coffee en route — hit a drive-through or gas station on the way. Teddy opens at 11.
11:00 AM
Watch Boutique
Teddy Baldassarre
Appointment required Open Sat 11am–5pm
One of the most respected independent watch retailers in the US — known for curating a selection that larger dealers won't carry. Knowledgeable staff, no pressure. The kind of place where you can spend two hours just looking.

📅 Book your appointment at teddybaldassarre.com before the trip. Saturday 11am slots are the first to go.

  • Carries Grand Seiko, Tudor, Longines, Christopher Ward, and independent brands
  • The staff are enthusiasts — feel free to go deep on any piece
  • No obligation to buy — it's a legitimate browsing experience
  • Westlake is a quiet suburb — easy parking right on Market St
1:00 PM
Lunch + Beer
Masthead Brewing Co.
Open from 11:30am Sat Order at bar $
A converted warehouse taproom with some of the best pizza in Cleveland. Order at the bar, get a buzzer, grab a table. The kind of place you settle into for a couple of hours without realising. Beer flights are the move.
  • Beer flight — ask what's seasonal, always something interesting on tap
  • The pizza — personal-sized, wood-fired, some of the best in the city
  • Soft pretzel — absurdly good, get it
🛋️ Afternoon free — head back to the Airbnb, rest up, get ready. Griffin is a late-evening spot. Leave around 6:30–7pm.
7:00 PM
Gin Bar · Saturday Night
Griffin Cider House & Gin Bar
Craft cocktails Gin flights ~15 min from Masthead
Lakewood neighbourhood pub with a serious gin program and equally good cider. The back room has a lounge feel — couches, dim lighting, the kind of place you close out. Bartenders will tailor a flight to your taste profile without hesitation.
  • Tell the bartender what gins you know — they'll go from there
  • Ask about the cider flight too — worth doing alongside the gin
  • Sit at the bar first, move to the back lounge later if there's space
  • Plan a rideshare home — Lakewood to Westlake is 10 min