 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Amber Matheson
Bicycle-wheel chandeliers dot the soaring ceilings of the Greenhouse Tavern. Barn siding, courtesy of an Ohio farmer, covers one wall. Such deft nods to recycling and sustainability garnered the Cleveland hotspot a green certification from the Green Restaurant Association — the first of its kind in Ohio. As Cleveland works to become a “green city on a blue lake” (an unofficial city slogan) more local restaurants are embracing eco-friendly practices — and you can spend an entire weekend devouring their ef...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
A visit to Leeds Farm in Ostrander, Ohio, could cure your kids of jumping on their beds forever. Owners Rob and Christy Leeds created a 40-by-60-foot, pumpkin-orange, in-ground “trampoline” for kids and adults (ages 2 and older), and it’s one of the highlights of the farm. You can also play in the straw barn forts and slides (a chance to frolic in the hay), zip 400 feet into the valley and 30 feet into the air on the Big Zip Line (mini zip lines are available for the younger kids); slide down the 40-foot...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Oompah pah, oompah pah — and they’re off! A hundred dachshunds, costumed in faux hot dog buns with mustard squiggles, race across Cincinnati’s Fountain Square. The Running of the Wieners is the sentimental start to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, as 5,000 people roar their encouragement to the fleet little dogs. The dachshunds will run at noon Friday, September 17, and by Sunday evening the festival crowds will have grown a hundredfold — into the largest Oktoberfest in the U.S. Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest, begun as...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Chill out with the bears at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s newest attraction, Polar Frontier. “The colder it is, the more they like it,” says Jeremy Carpenter, assistant curator of the North American exhibits. “Bears and other Arctic animals love snowfall, and the spacious habitat areas allow the Arctic animals to really enjoy the cooler temperatures of fall and winter.” Human families, however, can enjoy climate-controlled warmth during those chilly months in both sheltered viewing areas and in Polar P...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Blessed with clear waters, a sheltered sand beach and more than 700 acres of natural habitat protected within state parks and preserves, Kelleys Island, Ohio, has long been a vital stop for birds and butterflies migrating across Lake Erie. The annual autumn Feather & Foliage Bird Festival, held this year on September 25, celebrates the island’s Important Birding Area designation with naturalist-led bird hikes, tree identification and bird-banding sessions. “The Audubon Club always helps out at the Hi...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Peter Chakerian
Logan County is located in an area referred to as “Ohio’s Historic West” — and not just because the first concrete street in America appeared there in 1891. The county features Ohio’s highest point (Campbell Hill, 1,549 feet above sea level), amazing underground spelunking, the remarkable 19th-century Piatt Castles and a bevy of other scenic and cultural attractions that make for an adventure-filled weekend. The Ohio Caverns Tour in West Liberty examines the largest of all the cave systems in Ohio. The ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
View a classic movie while partying with several hundred other filmgoers this summer. The Wexner Center for the Arts will host three big-screen movies under the stars on The Ohio State University campus in Columbus — June 17, July 15 and August 19. These free family-friendly movies begin at dusk, around 9 p.m., along with some vintage trailers that relate to the evening’s movie theme. Although this year’s titles have not yet been confirmed, last summer’s lineup featured such classics as “American Graffi...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Remember splashing in the creek bed on a hot summer day? Think bigger. “The exposed fossil beds here date from way before dinosaurs — more than 400 million years ago,” says Bett Etenohan, a naturalist at The Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana . “In the dry summer months more than 200 acres of fossil rock can be explored, but call ahead to check river levels.” High on a bluff above the Ohio River, Indiana State Parks built a large nature center as the focus for activities such as ...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
For many families, the air show is a summer tradition as important as lemonade or visits to the beach. And with good reason — air shows display fascinating feats of both scientific and human excellence that never lose their magic. Generations of vacationers have been mesmerized by the loud roar of a jet shooting through the clouds, and throughout the spring and summer, there are myriad opportunities to introduce your own family to the excitement. Here are some of the season’s highlights: The New York Ai...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Katie Morell
Visiting a water park is a favorite way for families to beat the summer heat and Sandusky, Ohio , located one hour west of Cleveland, has enough splash-centered parks to fill a weekend and beyond. Kids can cool themselves off at a variety of indoor water parks including Castaway Bay, Kalahari Waterpark Resort, Great Wolf Lodge and Rain Indoor Water Park. For those wanting to head outdoors, Cedar Point’s Soak City, an 18-acre outdoor park, provides hours of fun, zipping down more than a dozen slides and ...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Katie Morell
Want to go scuba diving this summer? If so, there’s no need to book a flight to Hawaii or an island in the Caribbean; just drive about 65 miles east of Charleston, to Sarge’s Dive Shop in Summersville, West Virginia , and strap on your goggles. The 2,700-acre, crystal-clear Summersville Lake attracts droves of eager water-sports fans each year to partake not only in scuba diving, but also snorkeling, boating and fishing. For those who prefer land-based adventures, Summersville is home to hundreds o...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Sherri Telenko
Nature has a way of rising above the human desire to control it. For example, Buckeye Lake in Licking County, Ohio , would be just another man-made waterway — built in 1826 as a reservoir for the Erie Canal — if it weren’t for a buoyant mass of plant life called Cranberry Bog. When the swamp was flooded in 1830, all marsh plant life was destroyed except for a 12-acre mat of young plants and sphagnum moss that swelled up and rose to the surface like a spongy island. Today, the Cranberry Bog State Nature ...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Wrrrrrrrrrrh! Catch the exhilarating whine of metal on metal as you fly through the treetops. You’ll soar from tree to tree to sky-bridge along the route of Ozone Zipline Adventures . All you need do is take a deep breath, step out into sheer air and you’re up among the birds. The new zipline zigzags through Camp Kern, a YMCA camp in Ohio’s Warren County , about 10 minutes from Kings Island. Five steel cables criss-cross the forest, and the camp is adding as many as six more lines. Ozone aims to become t...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Although it’s affiliated with the famous Smithsonian Institution, The Works never calls itself a museum. The directors know that kids are all antsy fingers and restless feet, and they want to do something every moment. That’s why The Works , in Newark, Ohio , is headquarters for hands-on fun. Pop in any day and you may find a mother and daughter jogging along to Wii Fit. Nearby, a medical student-to-be slots the liver and pancreas into a life-size fiberglass body. In the lab, a young engineer is bui...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
As the leaves fall leisurely to the ground and the heat of summer fades to a crisp breeze, the Hocking Hills region boasts a bountiful harvest of autumn-inspired adventures, not to mention the most beautiful foliage in the region. This fall, forget the drive-it-yourself tour and heed the call of “All Aboard!” Fall foliage train rides on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway provide one of the most picturesque panoramas of the area, taking riders past historic landmarks and canal locks and alongside the casca...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Nothing defines a Victorian Christmas like the aroma of roasting chestnuts and the beckoning strains of “Deck the Halls” sung by carolers in hoop skirts and top hats on the village square. And no person evokes a Victorian Christmas better than Charles Dickens. Ohio Village in Columbus , set in the 1860s, is the perfect backdrop for Dickens’ A Christmas Carol , and during Dickens of a Christmas , couples can step right into the spell. In the village December 11–12, 18–19 and 20, you might meet The Ghost o...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Marie Catanese
Take a panoramic ride from the earliest days of steam engine railroading through today’s modern diesel locomotives. With more than two miles of track and 1,200 train cars on display, EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester, Ohio, is fun for little conductors and nostalgic parents alike. Within the 25,000-square-foot Train Journey exhibit — the world’s largest indoor, interactive train display — trains travel through carefully hand-crafted cities, towns, forests, bridges, mountains, valleys, intricately ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
For kids who want to be astronauts, the Visitor Center at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland offers many exciting and fun ways to learn more about the program’s past, present and planned explorations of our solar system. And, from April through October, visitors can register in advance for special Saturday programs, some conducted by NASA research personnel. Home to an auditorium and 6,000 square feet of gallery space; the Center boasts an interactive experience where kids of all ages can take part...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Would you like to learn how to throw a tomahawk, create a bark basket, or welcome the sun at a Summer Solstice Sunrise? Families visiting the Fort Ancient site in southwest Ohio will find much more than museum displays. Programs developed to explain the Native American culture of the past also allow participation in activities that are fun for the whole family. “The children are so in awe of the dancers, the sounds of the drums. You can see the excitement in their faces as they mimic the steps,” says Ja...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Hey, barkeep, bring on the Nacho Mama’s Nachos and set up the Surly Temples — made with vodka and red pop, topped with a cherry — because the ladies are on the loose in Columbus, Ohio’s Short North . The Surly Girl Saloon, rollicking with a campy Wild West vibe in the Short North Arts District, is a natural for the girls. After shopping and dining, it’s a great place to drop the bags and the decorum and try a Surly Girl “Sass”parilla, a signature hit of root beer spiked with bourbon. The Short North, a ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
You’ve never seen Lake Erie waterfront accommodations quite like this. To add a touch of luxury to the quiet shores of Kelleys Island, Ohio , Beth and Tim Hermes chose to build A Water’s Edge Retreat , an upscale Victorian-style B&B that should be classified as a must-visit destination and not just a place to stay when you’re on the island. The truth is, once you get settled, you may venture no farther than the veranda or the beach deck. Choose from six, antiques-furnished suites, all with private b...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
As you’re staring out across the endless grasslands, watching a giraffe ramble slowly toward the setting sun, you’ll have to ask yourself if you’re really in southeast Ohio, and not some far-off land. In fact, a trip to the Wilds , the 10,000-acre conservation center located in Cumberland, Ohio , is anything but ordinary. The park allows guests to get a glimpse of another world entirely, a far cry from the suburbs and cities of midwestern America. A true living classroom, the Wilds offers families both ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Bob Beasley
The Longaberger Company may be best known for its basket business, but it has also woven quite a reputation for world-class golf at the Longaberger Golf Club . Located in the Licking County town of Nashport, Ohio , the Arthur Hills-designed course is strategically positioned right between the company’s basket-making operation in Newark and the Longaberger Homestead in Dresden, where you’ll find quaint shops and good eats. Very much by design, a trip here is mutually beneficial for both golfers and shopp...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
As one of the finest small art museums in the nation, the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati is accustomed to receiving accolades for its colorful and distinctive collections, displayed in one of the Queen City’s oldest and most elegant residences. That tradition continues this holiday season as rare, blown-glass ornaments, Victorian angels and Christmas trees made of wire and goose feathers adorn the building during “Antique Christmas at the Taft,” November 21 through January 4. Old-fashioned objects and...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Randy Edwards
In seeking to court the growing market in getaway vacations for women, many destinations tout their proximity to the traditional sisterhood pursuits of shopping, restaurant-hopping or lounging by the pool. At the Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Bainbridge, Ohio , the emphasis in a girlfriend getaway is on truly getting away — not just from jobs or children, but also from the hectic pace of modern life. For more than a decade, the 2,000-acre sanctuary in the south-central part of the state has offered refu...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Quakers, Shakers and the inspirational history of early settlers are the focus of driving tours through the Southwest Ohio Heritage Triangle . Located in Warren County, Ohio, the Triangle is anchored by the city of Franklin on the west and connected to Waynesville on the east by St. Rte. 73; Lebanon (at the southern point) links to Franklin via St. Rte. 123, and with Waynesville via U.S. Rte. 42. Additionally, the Quaker Heritage Tour can extend your travels farther eastward, from Waynesville to Wilming...
|
 |
Issue: Bonus Online Content Summer 2008
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
The southeast Ohio locale of Marietta has long held an allure for travelers, thanks to its picturesque placement on the Ohio River and a quaint blend of red-brick streets, historic buildings and old-fashioned riverboats. But for those of us shopaholics who’d happily cross hill and dale to buy cute clothes, that captivating landscape offers a great backdrop for retail therapy. The 220-year-old town is a perfect park-and-walk place: Many of its stores line scenic Front Street, with lanes sprigging o...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
One could be forgiven for assuming that you have to travel to Texas to see Texas Longhorn cattle. In the Appalachian foothills of Belmont County, Ohio, on a 5,000-acre ranch that looks right out of an old Western flick, resides one of the largest Texas Cattle producers in the world: the family-owned Dickinson Cattle Company. That may be impressive enough in the ranching world, but it is unique attractions like Shadow Jubilee — her horns measure more than 81 inches from tip to tip — that make the ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
Here’s the scoop: For more than 90 years, Ohioans have turned to the creamy product churned out by Velvet Ice Cream in Utica, Ohio , to satisfy their sweet tooth. And while we admit that eating is probably the verb of choice when it comes to this all-American dessert, learning about it can be a fun activity, too — especially at Ye Olde Mill on Velvet’s campus, where visitors get a multi-sensory history lesson about the company and its product. The property’s focal point is the 1817 gristmill, which once...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Busy as a beaver. Quiet as a mouse. Name your favorite animal analogy —they all dovetail during an adventurous Beaver Watch on Ohio’s Lake Hope. The body of water is the centerpiece of Lake Hope State Park in rural Vinton County , surrounded by the oak and hickory trees of Zaleski State Forest. Those towering trees prove awfully attractive to industrious beavers, who use their giant incisors to gnaw and drag them down the banks to a good spot for a dam and lodge. Earth-Wind-Rock: Outdoor Adventures of A...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): John Tidyman
Arguably the greatest golfer ever to nail a long iron, Jack Nicklaus began his remarkable career in Columbus, Ohio , where he grew up, and won the U.S. Amateur Championship while he was a student at The Ohio State University. What better place, then, to honor Nicklaus than a museum on the OSU campus. The Jack Nicklaus Museum should be a pilgrimage for every player, from trunk slammers to low handicappers. The Golden Bear’s remarkable career included 20 major championship victories, including six ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
It hardly looks like the Taj Mahal, but Lake Erie’s South Bass Island Lighthouse in Ottawa County, Ohio , was considered luxurious living for a lighthouse keeper at the turn of the last century. The 2-1/2 floors of living space, basement and attached tower — not to mention such conveniences as a laundry room and kitchen range — made the dwelling downright spacious compared to similar ones around the country. Today, The Ohio State University owns the unique property and hosts both South Bass Island Light...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Kate Bigam
Every room at Deer Creek Resort , in Mt. Sterling, Ohio , boasts a patio overlooking the great outdoors, so don't be surprised if you're greeted by more than sunshine when you awake. The resident wildlife is so used to visitors that it's not unusual to find a family of wide-eyed raccoons staring up at you from the other side of your sliding-glass door or to notice a curious skunk poking around in the bushes — kind of like a day at the zoo, only a lot more relaxing. That's the beauty of this quiet retrea...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
Wannabe cowboys and cowgirls get their chance to ride the trails at central Ohio's upscale dude ranch, the Heartland Country Resort . Riding on horseback through the 100 hilly acres surrounding the resort is delightful when the trees are covered with snow. Innkeeper Dorene Henschen designed and built the resort's secluded log cabin, a structure with three separate suites located on a wooded hillside. Each suite is equipped with Jacuzzi, fireplace, private porch, kitchen and charcoal grill, and the refri...
|
 |
Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
The only thing as predictable as birds flying south for winter are the flocks of birding buffs who migrate from city to city this time of year, spotting scopes in tow, turning their favorite pastime into a rather unconventional way to take in fall's colors. Touch the Earth Adventures , a nature-based travel adventure company in Athens, Ohio , helps birders appreciate the season and keep an eye out for hard-to-find species with guided birding-by-kayak trips on the tranquil lakes surrounding southeastern ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
Is it us, or has children's entertainment gotten incredibly sophisticated? It doesn't seem all that long ago that a red plastic pail and a shovel were all a kid needed to have a day at the beach, so to speak. Not anymore. Most kids' spots nowadays are so over-the-top fun that the adults are asking if they can tag along. Take, for example, the new CoCo Key Water Resort at Newark's Cherry Valley Lodge . It's a 50,000-square-foot tropically themed indoor waterpark with cool island digs where you feel as if...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
Richland County in north central Ohio gets its name from its superior soil. Not surprisingly, its towns have a lot to offer in the way of edible entertainment. Downtown Mansfield's newest dining destination is the Twisted Fig Tea Room, a stylish locale that will do more to change the way you think about tea than the Sons of Liberty. "We actually get men in here," jokes owner Joyce Wells, who added the tea room to her existing bundt cake bakery, Eatmor Bundt Co., last fall. Twisted Fig serves loose-leaf ...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Julie Chmiel pops upstairs to the master bedroom, arranges the champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries, and fluffs the pillows one last time. All that's left is for the couple to light the candles in their Rookwood fireplace, toast each other, share a strawberry and snuggle into the four-poster bed. Catering to lovers is second nature to Julie, a hotel manager for more than 25 years, and her husband, Larry, a wine distributor who knows his champagne. They're glad to make recommendations for day trip...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
"I want the goat!" "I want the rabbit!" "I want the zebra!" Does anyone ever get too old for a carousel ride? Mansfield, Ohio , doesn't think so. Every year, hundreds of families hop onboard the Richland Carrousel and let the world spin by. Children pause for a bit of popcorn before trying another beautifully carved wooden creature. How about the lion, giraffe or ostrich? Or maybe even the mythical hippocampus, as the Stinson band organ pumps out "Bicycle Built for Two." Younger children may want to hop...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Bob Beasley
With 12 presidential visits to its credit, the Golden Lamb is easily Lebanon's signature landmark. That said, this city located between Dayton and Cincinnati boasts much more than the venerable 19th-century inn, where the house specialty is — you guessed it — leg of lamb. The Golden Lamb, which still offers rooms for overnight stays, is located at the city's core, right where Main and Broadway intersect. Just steps beyond its front entrance, you'll find a host of quaint shops and attractions to tempt yo...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Bob Beasley
You won't feel the least bit guilty about the calories you consume slurping down one of Young's Jersey Dairy's famous milk shakes to cap off your trip to Yellow Springs, Ohio . After all the hiking, pedaling and playing you'll do, consider it a just reward. While Yellow Springs certainly lives up to its funky reputation with a mix of downtown shops offering a wide range of wares from hard-to-find toys at Mr. Fub's to handmade jewelry at Ohio Silver, it's also a haven for those in search of an outdoor re...
|
 |
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
In Lake Erie and in quarries around the state, Ohio's waters are teeming with interesting inhabitants. Sure, you'll find plenty of native species, but more surprising things dwell below the surface as well. At Gilboa Quarry , a school bus, a Volkswagen van, a Grumman Gulfstream IV airplane and more are waiting to be found. June 1–3 is the DUI Dry Suit Demo at the quarry. Fishing is strictly prohibited. Open daily, April 1–Nov. 30 with winter hours, Gilboa also has equipment rentals and camping. At...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
At A World A'Fair, families can travel the globe in a day and collect the passport stamps to prove it. New this year at the 34th annual Dayton International Festiv al , every child visiting the festival will receive a special passport, to be stamped at each booth's cultural exhibit. Junior globetrotters will be able to visit nearly 30 countries in the Dayton Convention Center, including festival newcomer Kenya. In another innovation, groups from Lebanon, Korea, India, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, the Czech R...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
Consider taking to the outdoors next time you visit Akron. At Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens , the home of F.A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, you can stroll through the walled English Garden and along walkways that are a blend of manicured plants and natural wonder. A tour of the mansion highlights the belongings of Seiberling and his wife Gertrude (714 N. Portage Path, 330/836-5533). Another tribute to the industrialist is the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Cen...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Central Ohio If the capital city of Columbus is the heart of Ohio, then the surrounding towns and rich countryside are its soul. Uniquely quirky and truly one of a kind, the central region of the Buckeye state features the excitement and diversity of a rapidly growing city, hugged by historic villages, lush farm-land, proud culture and history. Columbus, with its friendly neighborhoods, inviting shops, galleries and museums, top-notch parks and a lively recreation scene, is truly a people’s city. Driv...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
Central Ohio Not far from Columbus’ urban scene, caves, wetlands, and an up-close look at the night sky give visitors to the area a taste of the country life, and small towns show off their history and charm. The Olentangy Indian Caverns near downtown Delaware were once home to American Indians and pioneer explorers (1779 Home Rd., Delaware, 740/548-7917). After an underground jaunt into the caves, head to Perkins Observatory for an evening of stargazing educational talks. Reservations are required; cal...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Central Ohio Garden lovers rejoice! Spring has arrived, and with it a host of great Columbus gardens. Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 E. Broad St., 614/645-8733) is Columbus’ best-known garden retreat. The Victorian-era glass palace and its grounds house more than 400 plant species in wide-ranging collections: Lowland Forest, Pacific Island Water Garden and the Tropical Cloud Forest. Franklin Park is also home to a collection of colorful Dale Chihuly glass. The conservatory features several special exh...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
Spend a few days in Cincinnati and you’ll see why Winston Churchill pronounced it the most beautiful of America’s inland cities. Winding drives, a picturesque fountain and plenty of culture can be found in Eden Park . The Cincinnati Art Museum , a top attraction here, is currently showing Carl Steckelmann’s vast collection of African art (953 Eden Park Dr., 513/721-2787). Nearby, Krohn Conservatory’s varied climates range from desert to tropical, featuring more than 3,500 plant species (1501 Eden Park D...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Miriam Carey
Cleveland’s music, culture and recreation scenes are thriving. Visitors flock to East 4th Street , just four blocks east of Public Square at Euclid Avenue, to visit venues such as Pickwick and Frolic (2035 E. 4th St., Cleveland, 216/241-7425). The town’s original opera house, Pickwick and Frolic is now a multipurpose entertainment complex featuring a comedy club, dining, a martini bar and nightly cabarets. Just across the street, the House of Blues , (308 Euclid Ave., 216/523-2583) offers Southern-style...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
At SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park , the newly expanded interpretive center, museum and reconstructed village tell the story of the Fort Ancient Indian culture that existed here 800 years ago. (2301 West River Rd., 937/268-8199, www.sunwatch.org ). Trace the Wright Brothers’ history at the Wright Brothers’ Bicycle Shop , where the twosome first thought of flight while cranking out newspapers and making bikes (22 South Williams St., 937/225-7705). Then head to Carillon Historical Park , where...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
A century ago, freight trains churned far into the night along the tracks of southeast Ohio. Five counties rich in coal, iron ore, clay and oil enjoyed an economic boom. But as quickly as small-town fortunes rose in the 1870s, they fell in the 1920s. Rather than fade into myth, some of the towns banded together in a nonprofit group, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, now offering tours throughout this swath of the Wayne National Forest. “You can see unique boomtown architecture in the midst of&n...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Mansfield’s rolling terrain makes the area an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Set at the northern gateway to the Appalachians, the city’s hills and lakes offer ample opportunities for boating, fishing, cycling, horseback riding, hiking and much more. Charles Mill Lake Park (1271 St. Rte. 430, 419/368-6885) and adjoining Charles Mill Marina (1277 St. Rte. 430, 419/884-0166) are home to the area’s finest water sports: fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish, beach and pool swimmin...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Northeast Ohio Between the shores of Lake Erie and the bisecting line of Interstate 70, you’ll find the largest Amish population in the world, the covered bridge capital of Ohio, the birthplace of rock and roll and the town where electricity was discovered. Whether you see it by car, by boat, by train or by carriage, northeast Ohio promises landscapes, restaurants and attractions that you’ll never forget. Attractions/Museums Carousel Dinner Theatre 1275 E. Waterloo Rd. Akron, 330/724-9855, www.carou...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Lake Erie Coast Take a trip to northwestern Ohio’s Lake Erie coast between late-April and mid-May and you’ll be part of one of the nation’s prime bird-watching assemblies. Hundreds of avid birders outfit themselves with binoculars and cameras and survey one of the largest stops along the Atlantic Flyway, a migration route followed by thousands of songbirds and waterfowl headed north from the Gulf of Mexico to summer nesting grounds. Weary from weeks of flight, the birds rest up and feed before con...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Northwest Ohio The Great Black Swamp once covered these lands, rife with wildlife and boasting some of the richest soil in the world. These days, northwest Ohio is blanketed in fertile farmland and rich history – plus some of the prettiest parks and waterways in the state. Years ago canal channels helped pioneers make their way through this lush and mysterious land. Historic forts and proud museums show off the region’s dramatic history – and the swamplands come alive once again. Visit...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Travelers have long loved to wander the skinny, twisting roads of the Appalachian foothills in southeast Ohio, discovering little shops, rustic diners and log cabins to bunk down in for the night. Now, the 2006 Rand McNally Road Atlas will be proclaiming some of these down-home wonders to the rest of North America. Two quirky stops in the Hocking Hills have joined the prestigious list of the editors’ “Best of the Road” picks: The Columbus Washboard Factory and Etta’s Lunchbox Café and General St...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
SoutheastOhio Southeast Ohio is the Buckeye state’s greenbelt. With Ohio’s only national forest, hundreds of miles of hiking trails and scores of wildlife within its borders, this area is truly the edge of Appalachia. Hocking Hills State Park and Wayne National Forest are two of the state’s most traveled-to places by sports lovers and scenery buffs alike. But it’s the little finds hidden away among the hills that produce the most thrills for visitors. Lodging Burr Oak Resort 10660 Burr Oak Lodge...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
SouthWestOhio Big-city style counters sleepy river-town charm in the southwest corner of Ohio. While architectural gems dominate the skyline of Cincinnati, the mighty Ohio River is the real star here, along with the charming hamlets that dot its banks for miles. This is where the concept of flight was born from the drawing boards of the world-famous Wright brothers. Natural beauty is also plentiful, marked with miles of bike and hiking trails so everyone can appreciate the scenery. Whether you take a ri...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Discover Ohio Ohio:historic, scenic, natural, unexpected. Ohio is a true melting pot of the best of America. With the energy and drive of the East Coast, the down-to-earth practicality of the Midwest and the warm hospitality of the South, this unique combination fosters the best of human potential. Ohioans have every right to be proud: proud of the families and communities that have made the state great, proud of the richly textured and unparalleled history, proud of the ideal environment in which r...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Attractions/Museums Arts in Ohio ArtsinOhio.com is bringing artists and art lovers together. ArtsinOhio.com is the fast, easy-to-use guide to events in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and throughout Ohio. It is the only place you need for arts and cultural events online. On ArtsinOhio.com you can search for events by city, date, organization, accessibility, price, special discounts and more. JC Penney Catalog Outlet Store 2361 Park Crescent Dr. Columbus, 614/868-0250. It’s all inside! We’re a t...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Ron Rollins
As the rest of the world starts to slow down as cold weather approaches, Cincinnati comes alive during autumn. For one thing, it means Oktoberfest time — all that German heritage, you know. They’ve been counting down to it since, oh, this time in 2004. The 2005 Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati (downtown Cincinnati, 513/579-3124) takes place Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.–midnight, and Sunday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. It all happens on a very lively area around Fifth Street. Admission is free, and the beer wil...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
Steeped in history, industrialism and pockets of ethnic neighborhoods, Cleveland and the Lake Erie waterfront are filled with diversity and entertainment. University Circle , developed by wealthy industrialists, is famous for cultural institutions including the Cleveland Museum of Art (11150 East Blvd., 216/421-7350 or 888/262-0033), Cleveland Botanical Garden (11030 East Blvd. 216/721-1600) and Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra (216/231-1111). Gracing the Lake Erie shoreline, in a row of ...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Ron Rollins
In the fall, Ohio State University football dominates the landscape here, carpeting the town with the scarlet and gray. While football dominates, sports throughout the college wow fans of all stripes (visit ohiostatebuckeyes.collegesports.com for schedules and ticket information for everything from fencing to field hockey). There’s much, much more to do in Columbus during the cool months. Say you want something for the kids? The Columbus Zoo (9990 Riverside Dr., Powell, 614/645-3550) is hopping wi...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
This fall, visit ancient Egypt just by heading to Dayton. The Dayton Art Institute (456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton, 937/223-5277) is running one of the biggest shows of its history through Jan. 3, 2006 – "The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt," which features more than 100 burial relics from the vast collection of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. From gold jewelry to monstrous stone sculptures, these objects, which rarely leave Egypt, were made to accompany pharaohs into the afterlife some...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Kalahari Resort and Water Park, 7000 Kalahari Dr. at St. Rte. 250, Sandusky, Ohio, 877/525-2427 or 419/433-7200. www.kalahariresort.com Inn at Amish Acres, 1234 W. Market St., Nappanee, Ind., 800/800-4942 or 574/773-2011. www.amishacres.com Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Dr., Champion, Pa., 800/452-2223 or 814/352-7777. www.7springs.com Great Wolf Lodge, 3575 N. U.S. Rte. 31 S., Traverse City, Mich., 231/941-3600, 866-GR8-WOLF for reservations. www.greatwolflodge.com The Hotel Hershey, 1 ...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
It seems so counter-intuitive. If you were an ex-con finally released by the Giant Parole Board in the Sky, would you return to prison? But dozens of ghost hunters swear they’ve seen, heard, sensed and even smelled cellblock spirits during all-night vigils at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio . The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, which leads fundraising tours of the 1886 building, also conducts the overnight Ghost Hunts. The evening begins at 9:30 "with a crash course in basic gh...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
In 2001, Mansfield received the Great American Main Street award, which recognizes towns for revitalizing historic and commercial districts. Visual treats abound at Richland Carrousel Park (75 N. Main St., 419/522-4223), where 52 different animals including a hippocampus (half hippo, half horse) circle the first hand-carved wooden carousel built since the 1930s. At Carousel Magic (44 West Fourth St., 419/526-4009; 888/213-2829) watch artisans make carousel figures in the revitalized downtown. For a Mans...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Attractions/Museums Amish Door Village 1210 Winesburg St., U.S. Rte. 62, Wilmot, 888-AMISH-DOOR. www.amishdoor.com . Experience the finest in Amish kitchen cooking. Enjoy famous "broasted" chicken, roast beef, real mashed potatoes, large salad bar and delicious homemade pies. After your meal relax on the porch in a hickory rocker and enjoy the gorgeous countryside. Remember to explore the large bakery, four unique shops and our luxurious 52-room inn with indoor pool. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad P.O....
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Visitor Information Findlay-Hancock County CVB 123 East Main Cross St., Findlay, 800/424-3315. www.visitfindlay.com . Findlay offers more than 25 lodging facilities, 180 restaurants, dozens of campgrounds, eight public golf courses, hundreds of specialty and antique shopping locations and more than 3,000 acres of parks and recreation. Findlay, also known as "Flag City USA," boasts several hometown originals in the historic downtown district. Greater Toledo Convention & Visitors Bureau 401 Jefferson Ave....
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Attractions/Museums The Paul Bunyan Show Hocking College, Nelsonville, 740/753-7123. The Paul Bunyan Show, Oct. 7–9, is the largest live forestry exposition in the east and is a popular tourist attraction. Enjoy lumberjacks and forestry equipment demos and displays, buy chainsaw wood carvings and other wood-crafted items, feast on a Bunyan Burger or Blue OX BBQ and ride a caboose shuttle to visit Robbins Crossing. Visitor Information Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau 667 East State St., Ath...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Ron Rollins
Color’s the thing this time of year in Southern Ohio – fall color, that is.They’ll be celebrating it in October all through the spectacular Hocking Hills region, a place worth visiting and hiking any time of year, but especially gorgeous once the leaves begin to change. With quaint small towns, nine state parks and mile upon colorful mile of hiking trails, there’s plenty to see and do. Visit www.hockinghills.com for more ideas. If you’d rather break out your hiking boots to go tromping around ...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Visitor Information Greater Hamilton Convention & Visitors Bureau One High Street, Hamilton, 800/311-5353. www.hamilton-cvb.com . Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture. See more than 30 sculptures in public spaces along with more than 50 in Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park. Visit Butler County Museum, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, several historic districts, octagonal Lane-Hooven House, and Soldier’s Monument. Call for a FREE Visitors Packet. Located between Cincinnati and Dayton, I-75/Exit 24. Greene Count...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center, St. Rtes. 178 & 71, Utica, Ill., 800/868-7625. www.starvedrocklodge.com The Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State Park, 4888 North Broadway, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, 419/836-1466. www.thelodgeatgeneva.com Stonewall Resort, Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, Walkersville, W. Va., 304/269-7400. www.stonewallresort.com The Otesaga Resort Hotel, 60 Lake St., Cooperstown, N.Y., 800/348-6222. www.otesaga.com Longhouse Lodge, 3625 St. Rte. 14, Watkins Glen, N.Y., 60...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Adventures Await When you take your family on a long weekend in Ohio, what are you expecting to get out of it? A chance to unwind? A golden opportunity to get closer to your kids, spouse or partner again? How about an occasion to learn something? Learning while you’re in a new location, like on a long weekend, means the experience may be more impressive. Maybe it’s just learning that you are fun, and that your sense of imagination hasn’t vanished. Whether you are exploring the paths taken by escap...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Cherry Valley Lodge, 2299 Cherry Valley Rd., Newark, Ohio, 800/788-8008 or 740/788-1200. www.cherryvalleylodge.com Double JJ Ranch & Golf Resort, 5900 Water Rd., Rothbury, Mich., 231/894-4444. www.doublejj.com Peek'n Peak Resort and Conference Center, 1405 Olde Rd., Findley Lake, N.Y., 716/355-4141. www.pknpk.com The Dearborn Inn, 20301 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, Mich., 313/271-2700. marriott.com/ More and more grandparents are taking to the road with their grandchildren for weekend getaways, giving pa...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
After $40,000 and three years of construction, entrepreneur William Henry Collier Goode proudly christened his hilltop mansion Whitby Place, for his family's ancestral home in Yorkshire, England. But now, 110 years later, the home is known by the name that generations of folk in Sidney, Ohio , have always called it: the GreatStone Castle . The massive limestone castle is now a three-tiered attraction on two lofty acres: pampering spa, historic home tour, and bed and breakfast inn. And while the spirit o...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
The heavy metal doors clang back and one by one people toting flashlights climb down into the darkness. Are they miners? Spelunkers? No, just subway enthusiasts, eager to see one of Cincinnati's great urban legends. Legendary, yes, but the Cincinnati subway is no urban myth. It's as real as $6 million and three years of construction could make it. Cincinnatians voted for the project in 1916; in 1920 workers dug down to the old Miami and Erie Canal under what is now Central Parkway. They worked until the...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Peter D.A. Warwick
The MV Pelee Islander and MV Jiimaan carry motorists, cyclists and pedestrians across Lake Erie between Sandusky, Ohio, and Leamington or Kingsville, Ontario. Leamington and Kingsville are the gateways to destinations such as Point Pelee National Park and Windsor and Chatham. The daily trip across Lake Erie takes an hour and 45 minutes between Sandusky and Pelee Island, where a stop is made, and an hour and a half between Pelee Island and either Leamington or Kingsville. Reservations are required. A nic...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Author(s): Randall Edwards
For more places to visit in Ohio, click to our Listings Section. A century ago, Ohio's nascent tourism industry wouldn't have spent a nickel promoting autumn foliage. Visitors were flocking to Cedar Point and the Ohio State Fair, but it wouldn't have occurred to anyone to take the Ford for a leisurely jaunt through the countryside to see the fall colors. It's not just that the roads were bad – there weren't even enough leaves for leaf-peeping. "We see more fall color than our grandparents did, because...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Each year, Lake Farmpark – a working farm and science and cultural center in Kirtland, Ohio – comes alive with quilts. This year from February 11 to March 23, professionals and novices will display their works in the biggest show of its kind in northeast Ohio. More than 200 quilts, representing an amazing range of techniques and styles, are entered in a variety of competitions such as best bed quilt, best large and small wallhanging and best crib quilt. Entries from local quilters are exhibited next...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Author(s): Betsa Clark
If You Go ... Harmony Farm, 5578 St. Rte. 202, Tipp City, Ohio, 937/667-8311. Massages start at $65 and herbal wraps at $80, while a lavish Hawaiian lomi-lomi massage, at the hands of two therapists, is $190. A half-day retreat includes a massage, a hot tub or steam-room session, catered lunch and use of the grounds for $120; an overnight retreat is $230. Prices do not include sales tax. Harmony Farm can accommodate up to 10 overnight guests. No credit cards. Spring Hill Nurseries, 110 W. Elm St., Tipp ...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2004
Author(s): Sue Gorisek
Sweet Justice Boat & Breakfast, 970 Bridge St., Sutherland Marine (just east of the Bascule Bridge) Ashtabula Harbor, 440/998-6858. www.sweetjusticebb.com . Romance package $385; lodgings only (boat stays at the dock) $200, plus tax. Hil Mak Restaurant, 449 Lake Ave., Ashtabula Harbor, 440/964-3222, Lunch Tues.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; dinner 5 p.m.-10 p.m. $3.50-$14.95. Charlma Bed & Breakfast, 6739 Lake Rd. West, Geneva-on-the-Lake, 440/466-3646. www.charlma.com . Daily Memorial Day-Labor Da...
|
|
Issue: Spring/Summer 2004
Author(s): Tom Reed
Just outside Wapakoneta, Ohio, where hometown hero Neil Armstrong is recognized with an air and space museum, the town of New Bremen celebrates a much older form of transportation. The Bicycle Museum of America , about 10 miles west of I-75 on St. Rte. 274, got its start in 1997, when the founders acquired most of the Schwinn family collection. It now has more than 250 bicycles displayed on three floors of a former furniture store. The earliest example is the German-made 1816 Draissine, a crude wooden f...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Sue Gorisek
For snow lovers, the last few winters have been disappointing: too warm, too dry, with way too little of the white stuff. We suffered from ski deprivation, and our snowmobiles languished, barely used. We can't change the weather, of course, but we can better our odds of finding the snow we crave. This winter, we can plan to go where the snow goes — to those peculiar lake-effect regions where geography practically guarantees a white Christmas, and a snow cover that lasts all winter long. Northeast Ohio L...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Geoff Williams
Sometimes country inns are too remote, leaving visitors with beautiful country views, but not much to do. But the Hearthstone Inn & Suites in southwest Ohio, located at the confluence of biking trails, outdoor attractions and beautiful countryside, offers both quiet ambience and a choice of activities. Owners Stuart and Ruth Zaharek built the inn to reflect modern-day tastes while capturing the spirit of local history and country lore. The Zahareks made sure that the rooms have ample space and ameni...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Kathryn Lemmon
Autumn is the best time to visit the University of Notre Dame , amid the heady atmosphere of football season and the anticipation of a new school year. Walking tours of campus are available, led by earnest young students who are happy to share their knowledge of the university. Wear your walking shoes — the tour takes about an hour and a half and covers the more interesting spots throughout the 1,250-acre campus. Along the way, you'll see “The Rock,” built as a tribute to coach Knute Rockne, after his u...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Perched on the banks of the Ohio River, just across from Marietta, Ohio, the small town of Williamstown, West Virginia, hosts a giant in glass manufacturing: Fenton Art Glass Factory. This 80-year-old family business is currently run by the third generation of Fentons. Here, old-fashioned glass-making techniques and modern technology are used to create a wide variety of glassware, including carnival, milk, cranberry, hobnail and Burmese glass. A visit to Fenton Art Glass begins with a fascinating 45-min...
|
|
Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Joe Frey
Carved into the spine of the Allegheny Mountains in eastern West Virginia is one of the most challenging and picturesque golf courses not located in Florida or California. The Raven at Snowshoe Mountain Resort is a Gary Player-designed course that tests a golfer's nerve, patience, threshold of mental anguish and ability to sniff out a golf ball snared in two-foot-high elephant grass. It's one helluva welcome to West Virginia. The Raven snakes around and through the hillocks and hollows at the foot of Sn...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|