The Adventures of Sam and Grace!
Hi Everyone! 👋
Welcome to the Adventures of Sam and Grace! This summer we’re interning at Tour Lake County, and we wanted to share all of the cool adventures and experiences we get to have. But, before we get into all of that, we wanted to introduce ourselves.
Sam and Grace on the big screen at Fox 8
Sam Alexander
Hey! I’m Sam, and I’m from Painesville, Ohio. I'm a junior at Case Western Reserve University, where I’m pursuing a double major in Marketing and Business Management with a minor in Environmental Nutrition. I’m passionate about using marketing as a tool to bridge business objectives with sustainable thinking, and I’m excited to bring this perspective to my work with Tour Lake County. If you see the Tour Lake County tent at an event this summer, stop by and say hello! I’d love to chat about the best hiking trails and coffee shops in Lake County—two topics I know a lot about!
Grace York
Hi! My name is Grace and I’m from Willoughby, Ohio. I am a senior at the University of Dayton, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Photography. I chose to pursue marketing because it allows me to grow in my creativity, build meaningful relationships with people and businesses, and utilize my passion for storytelling. I’m always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and gain hands-on experience that will help me develop both professionally and personally. In my free time, I love to do crafts, play guitar, and take photos!
This Week’s Adventures Were…
Mentor Rocks Concert Series
Throughout the summer, we will be tabling at community events and handing out Lake County swag to highlight all the great events happening this summer. One event to catch us at are the Mentor Rocks concerts! Stop by the table and grab a pair of yellow sunglasses to listen to the concert in style.
Our Most Anticipated Concerts
Sam | Creep & Hollow | July 28, 2026
For over a decade, Creep and Hollow have been honoring two of the most iconic bands in rock history, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains.
Grace | Chase Matthew | August 11, 2026
Chase Matthew is a contemporary country artist who has amassed thousands of followers over the past few years after releasing his first single “County Line”.
Our little tip: Stop by Azteca Mexican Restaurant before the concert for some authentic Mexican cuisine and handmade margaritas. With a wide variety of scratch-made dishes, including vegetarian and gluten friendly, there’s something here for everyone!
2026 Lake Erie Sand Sculpture Tour
Back for its second year, the Lake Erie Sand Sculpture Tour features five sculptures celebrating the beauty and character of Lake County's Lake Erie shoreline. Created by local artists Carl Jara and Greg J. Grady, the tour takes place on Saturday, July 11.
We had the opportunity to speak with Jara and watch him in action at Lakefront Lodge, where he crafted a sculpture depicting children reenacting Washington’s crossing of the Delaware in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Check out the build dates to meet the artists and watch the sculptures take shape!
The Inside Scoop with Artist Carl Jara
Grace: “How did you get started building sand sculptures?”
Carl: “My high school art studio teacher introduced me to the school’s stage crew director. He had me cutting out T-shirt designs, and one of them featured a sand sculpture of a dragon. I said, ‘Hey this is cool. What’s this T-shirt for?’
It turned out he was the president of the International Association of Sand Castle Builders, and he helped me get started from there!”
Stay tuned for our next adventure!
Sam’s Spot of the Week
Lake County is home to 40 Lake Metroparks, and each one offers something unique and provides a great way to get outside and explore natures beauty. This summer, I’ll be highlighting a different Metropark every Monday. This week’s visit took me to Hidden Lake, a true hidden gem in Painesville. While I didn’t spend the afternoon fishing in the parks 9-acre pond, I enjoyed the peaceful views and even spotted a few fish in the water. Hidden Lake also has an archery range, which is something I may take a shot at next time I visit.
Grace’s Spot of the Week
Regal Winery and Adventure Farm
The Grand River Valley is truly one of the biggest spectacles of Lake County, with over 30 vineyards and wineries to discover. Part of my experience this summer has been to help promote these wineries, and my highlight this week is the utterly unique Regal Winery and Adventure Farm! Regal is also known as The Haunted Winery, showcasing some creepy cocktails, spooky meal selections, a corn maze, and their very own haunted house! Here’s a little preview of some content we grabbed for Spooky Season! 🎃
Are you interested in joining our list? Email elyse@tourlakecounty.com to learn more about how to partner with the Lake County Ohio Visitors Bureau!