Anu Ramakrishnan, Guide

I moved to the U.S. from India 25 years ago, first to Maryland, and then to Ohio. This has been a wonderful place to raise our son who is now a senior at Colgate University. As a family, we’ve traveled all over the world and most of the U.S., but I still get a huge thrill from exploring the Cleveland area. You’ll find me most mornings in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, looking out for bald eagles, beavers, and wild turkey. The Fall Hiking Spree and running the blue line for the Akron Marathon relay are two of my favorite yearly events. In warmer months, I like to pick up produce from local farms (Greenfield Berry Farm or Crown Point) or the Countryside Farmers’ Market. There’s so much to savor at the wonderful area restaurants, wineries, and bakeries, too.  (Pro tip: get to Blue Door early before they run out of croissants!) When I’m not checking out libraries, theaters, or museums, you can usually find me on a yoga mat.

I have a background in advertising and marketing communications and am also a  freelance writer. The Cleveland area is host to a thriving group of artists and writers, and I belong to the  Richfield Writers and Skyline Writers groups. One of the best ways to connect with others has been through volunteering, whether it’s with DAWN (a group that helps Bhutanese refugees) or One of A Kind Pets with its Running Dogs program. It’s the perfect way to combine running with hanging out with dogs!