A "Glee" Fan's Primer to Lima, Ohio

Gleeks know that "Glee" is set at William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. As Kurt's friendship with Blaine blossomed and the Dalton Academy in Westerville, Ohio was brought into the mix, some "Glee" geography is in order. We all know that "Glee" is fiction, but there are a few truths about the Midwest city that should find their way into the script.

These are a few tips for any "Glee" fan wanting more information or planning a road trip to visit the "home" of their favorite show.

Long-distance friendship
Lima is located in Northwest Ohio along Interstate 75 between Dayton and Toledo. While 90 miles to Westerville's fictional Dalton Academy doesn't seem far, it is a long trip through rural Ohio via Ohio Route 117 to US Route 33. I've made the trip many times and even with light traffic, the best time I ever made was just under two hours. That's quite a round-trip drive.

No Breadsticks but great donuts
Just off of I-75 at Exit 125 (Harding Highway) is Pat's Donuts and Kreme. While hitting the road at 4:00 AM wasn't always enjoyable, I loved our inventory trips to Beaverdam because we traveled right through Lima. Pat's Donuts and Kreme are real donuts rather than the mass-produced Krispy Kreme that have invaded practically every convenience store in the United States. The service is always fast and usually with a smile.

I propose a campaign to the producers of "Glee" to feature this real Lima restaurant.

William McKinley was real, the high school is not
The 25th President of the United States was not born in or near Lima but rather in Northeast Ohio in Niles, near Youngstown. It would be impossible to get any pictures of a William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. Considering the state of school security these days, this is one stop that should left off of any road trip.

No Glee club but other entertainment
"Glee's" hometown has an active community arts program. The Lima Symphony Orchestra performs throughout the year and the Lima Area Concert Band plays through the warmer months. The Encore Theater presents at least 9 stage productions each year including a summer musical.

Lima, Ohio gets snow every year
Yes, "Glee" fans, it really does snow in Lima - sometimes before the end of football season. Instead of throwing slushies at each other, the cast should occasionally be tromping through slush in the parking lot. I spend my Ohio winters scraping snow off of the windshield and dodging snowplows. With more than three feet of snow annually, the cast of "Glee" should at least have a few snowball fights.

"Glee" airs on Tuesday at 8:00 pm ET on FOX.