The Great Dougherty Road Trip

🗓️ Day 11 – July 15, 2025 Toronto, OH → Barboursville, WV 🌦️ Weather: Overcast, occasional showers 📍 States traveled: Ohio, West Virginia 🛏️ Lodging: Delta Hotels by Marriott, Barboursville, WV (Arrived around 8:00 PM) 📸 Daily Highlight Arriving in Barboursville after a long but scenic drive along the Ohio River https://photos.app.goo.gl/R1nUt2Z1LUcW3Xnu5 📝 Highlights Today marked the end of our visit to Sow’s Ear Farm, and though it was hard to say goodbye, we were ready for a new adventure. 🚙 Instead of staying the full day, we left in the early afternoon to get a 4-hour head start on tomorrow’s longer drive. 🛣️ Our route followed the Ohio River, giving us a beautiful, winding drive through southern Ohio and into West Virginia. 🌆 We pulled into the Delta Hotel in Barboursville around 8:00 PM, giving everyone a comfortable place to rest — and letting us check off a visit to West Virginia! 🤪 Daily Fun Prompt If you could visit any of the ...

📍 Where We Went We started the day with a drive-through tour of Franciscan University , taking in the campus from the comfort of our cars. After revisiting Old Fort Steuben for souvenirs, we made an inspiring visit to St. Joseph the Worker College , where we were sent by  Mr. Sullivan , the school’s director and a new friend. In the early afternoon, we said farewell to the Sow’s Ear Farm and made an impromptu decision to get a head start on tomorrow’s long drive. Our new destination: Barboursville, West Virginia — giving us a chance to experience a new state and follow much of the scenic Ohio River route. We arrived around 8:00 PM and settled in at the Delta Hotel for the night. Weather: Warm and clear — great for a scenic road trip Drive Time: ~4 hours (Toronto, OH to Barboursville, WV) 📸 Daily Highlight 📷 Click here to view the full album for Ohio Day 10 🙏 Highlights of the Day Touring Franciscan University from our cars — scenic and meaningful Going to...

📍 Where We Went Sunday started early with a beautiful Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Steubenville — celebrated ad orientem , which was a reverent and memorable experience for many. Afterward, we enjoyed a hearty lunch and performances by the kids at Shawn and Beth’s house . The day ended in full summer style with a “ pavilion party ” — volleyball, good food, and swimming in a cool creek rounded out the evening perfectly. Weather: Warm and sunny Drive Time: Minimal local travel 📸 Daily Highlight 📷 Click here to view the full album for Ohio Day 9 🙏 Highlights of the Day Early morning Mass at St. Peter’s, celebrated ad orientem Lunch with Shawn and Beth — and kids’ skits that brought lots of laughs The epic pavilion party with volleyball, a delicious spread, and refreshing creek swimming ✏️ Reflections What was your favorite skit or moment from the kids' performances? Did today feel more like a Sunday of rest or adventure? Would you swim ...

📍 Where We Went We spent the day exploring nearby Steubenville, Ohio — a mix of history, local charm, and hidden treasures. The morning was filled with antiquing downtown , while the afternoon brought a fun and educational stop at Old Fort Steuben , a fully reconstructed 18th-century frontier fort. Weather: Warm and partly cloudy – great for walking around town Drive Time: ~20 minutes round trip 📸 Daily Highlight 📷 Click here to view the full album for Ohio Day 8 🙏 Highlights of the Day Treasure hunting and browsing in Steubenville’s antique shops Touring Old Fort Steuben and learning about frontier life Seeing artifacts, blockhouses, and even a jail from the late 1700s ✏️ Reflections What was the most interesting or unusual thing you saw today? How did the fort compare to what you expected? Did anyone find a great deal or quirky item in the antique stores? 🎉 Today’s Kid Prompt If you had to live in a frontier fort like Fort Steuben, what jo...

📍 Where We Went Our first full day at Sow’s Ear Farm gave us a chance to breathe, explore the land, and enjoy a slower rhythm. The kids discovered fields, trails, and animals, while the adults got a feel for our new home base. Some light organizing and outdoor fun rounded out the day. Weather: Overcast with a cool breeze – perfect for exploring No driving today! 📸 Daily Highlight 📷 Click here to view the full album for Ohio Day 7 🙏 Highlights of the Day Walking the property and meeting the animals Getting settled into rooms and routines at the guesthouse Relaxed day with games, chats, and a bit of local flavor ✏️ Reflections What’s your favorite part of the farm so far? Did you spot any animals or nature that surprised you? How does life here compare to the cities we’ve driven through? 🎉 Today’s Kid Prompt If you could live on a farm for a whole year, what would you want to do or take care of? 🫵 Challenge to the Reader Have you ever stayed...

📍 Where We Went We kicked off the day with an incredible visit to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton — a giant collection of aircraft and aviation history that amazed kids and adults alike. After a chaotic but memorable lunch stop, we finished our drive to Toronto and settled into Sow’s Ear Farm , our home base for the next several days. Weather: Light morning showers, then overcast skies Estimated Drive Time: 4 hrs 15 min 📸 Daily Highlight 📷 Click here to view the full album for Ohio Day 6 🙏 Highlights of the Day Exploring massive hangars and rare aircraft at the U.S. Air Force Museum Lunch at McDonald’s — a bit of organized chaos as we overwhelmed the staff with our group size! Departed for  Sow’s Ear Farm around 3:00 PM and a quiet evening settling in ✏️ Reflections What was the most surprising thing you saw at the museum? Did you enjoy seeing the planes up close? How did it feel to finally reach the farm after several tra...