<p>So I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here, but thinking about auditions and playing with Orbitz to look at flights. It seems that flying from Detroit to anywhere is very expensive, for some reason. Google maps says that driving from one city to another would take only 2-1/2 hours. </p>
<p>Is it crazy to consider driving from Ann Arbor to Oberlin in February?</p>
<p>Not at all! even if you are not used to snow - highways will be clear unless it is the middle of a huge storm. Just make sure you plan to arrive the day before your audition in Oberlin just in case the 2 1/2 hours takes longer due to weather.</p>
<p>Thanks, Rosie! I appreciate your help.</p>
<p>BTW: Oberlin is a hike from Cleveland, so you are going to be driving a long time anyway. Also, factor in arriving at the airport early, being tied to the airline schedule, etc.</p>
<p>BTW2: If a snowstorm is going to delay your drive, just think about what it is going to do to your airline flight. It is not like you are flying between two cities with clear skies and a storm in-between. If there is a storm affecting your drive, it will be affecting one or both cities.</p>
<p>I would look into lodging in Oberlin as soon as you have an audition date. (IF not sooner… Last year, for my son’s auditions, I booked rooms on potential audition dates and then cancelled the ones I didn’t need.) The Oberlin Inn is old, dark, and underwhelming, yet always seems to be booked to capacity. Shurtleff Cottage is supposed to be very nice. </p>
<p>When our D was at Oberlin, we almost always stayed at the La Quinta in North Olmsted. It was newly refurbed and less than 30 min drive to campus. But for an audition, my philosophy is to stay as close to the site as possible.</p>
<p>We stayed in a new B&B in Oberlin called “The Buckeye and the Frog” and it was charming.
In town and just down the street from the music school. It’s a probably a little more expensive than the Oberlin Inn, but it is very nice and you get a nice breakfast in the morning. The owners are super nice and have a done a great job refurbishing an older home into a B&B.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is about 130 miles from Cleveland and then add on 45 minutes to get to Oberlin. February is “iffy” at best for weather conditions, as you know. Last winter, you would have had no trouble at all, but others would have been dangerous or impossible on certain days. Keep an eye on the forcast and be sure to let the school know as early as you can if you’re not going to be able to get there-they may be able to reschedule you. You’d be wise to make the trip the day before and staying in the Cleveland area is a viable option since it can be less expensive and the hotels a lot nicer.</p>
<p>You don’t have to go all the way to Cleveland if you drive from Ann Arbor. Oberlin is a good bit west/southwest of Cleveland. It’s 2 1/2 hours in normal conditions and interstate almost all the way.</p>
<p>Lastbird, to put this in perspective, we live in the U.P., and we are planning on driving to all of our auditions that are in Lower Michigan (U of M, MSU, WMU) - all of which are 7-8 hours away…and that’s in the same state! If Ann Arbor to Oberlin is interstate most of the way, it should be a piece of cake! Now, if WE were going to Oberlin, we’d probably fly. But Oberlin doesn’t have Music Ed, which my D is interested in, so that ruled Oberlin out.</p>
<p>The La Quinta in North Olmsted in nice and Oberlin has a special rate which about 80 bucks. It’s easy to get to Oberlin from there. The airport is between Oberlin and Cleveland. The Oberlin website has a link to B&B’s as well as hotels and motels in the Oberlin area.</p>
<p>We have stayed at the holiday inn in Vermilion and liked it. We stayed at the Oberlin Inn once and would go back… but only for the convenience of its location. This fall, we have three upcoming visits -parents’ weekend, and then two shows. We are trying out the Hallauer (sp?) House B&B for one of those visits. The Oberlin Inn needs a visit from Hotel Impossible…</p>
<p>We stayed at Hallauer House on an early visit, the owners are very kind and the place is comfortable. </p>
<p>When we went for S’s audition, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Olmsted, which was a fine example of a mid-level corporate hotel. Which is to say nothing special. It was, however only about a 25 minute drive from campus, on some very nice dry highways.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for the tips! We stayed at a B&B once (not mentioned here) but would prefer a new place, so this is a great list! And I’m glad to hear that the highways are very drive-able except in severe weather. We are not from a severe weather part of the country…</p>