GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ohio — For West Virginia native Connie Phillips, ziplining has been a bucket list item for 65 years of her life.
“This is my first time and I’m getting a little nervous,” said Phillips. “I turned 65 so I thought there’s no better time than now to start some things I’ve never done before.”
Phillips joined her family at The Lodge at Geneva-On-the-Lake for their first family vacation since places have started to open back up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve got my whole family here,” said Phillips. “I’ve got my husband, two children and their children, and we’re all together for our family vacation.”
Connie Phillips and her grandson, Lincoln Crites.
Phillips said she has a new appreciation for living in the moment. She and her grandson, Lincoln, decided to become adrenaline junkies for a day and try a zipline course at Lake Erie Canopy Tours.
“I’m scared to death,” said Phillips.
Tour guides Tasmanian Tabby and Elevation Emma were right there every step of the way to cheer them on.
“You get all different kinds of people through here, you get the fun ones and really crazy people and especially the scared people like the guest that came down before you, she was very fun,” said Elevation Emma, who’s worked as a tour guide the past two years.
Lake Erie Canopy Tours is the newest aerial adventure park in northeast Ohio and is also the largest aerial attraction east of Cleveland. It was shut down during the pandemic, so the tour guides are thrilled it’s back open.
“I just wanted the day to come that we could be back out here, and start training and start having people and guests come back out,” said Tasmanian Tabby, who’s also worked as a tour guide the past two years. “It’s hanging out with friends and getting paid to do that. There’s no better job.”
As life continues to open back up, Philips plans to keep trying new things, pushing herself to get out of her comfort zone, one bucket list item at a time.
“I am so happy I made myself do this. It makes me proud of myself,” said Phillips. “It feels wonderful to be back on the ground. I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again, but I did it the first time. That’s all that matters. Cross one off the bucket list.”
Lake Erie Canopy Tours offers zipline tours, adventure courses, boat and golf cart rentals and more. For more information you can visit their website.
