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Started 4 years ago by mightymighty
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mightymighty
North Side
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So I'm doing an ongoing mini project this summer that involves some travel, and hope you good folks here can assist in some recommendations.
I'm looking for interesting towns to visit in Ohio. (note, interesting doesn't have to = scenic) I'm especially looking for small town events of any kind (even if you hate them, tell me), interesting local pubs, or places to people watch. Any place I can go where I won't be completely harassed or killed, as I'll be traveling alone.
But also, I'd like to hear about good places to do a day trip -w- peoples. Weather is getting good, the price of gas is high, I'm sure I'm not the only person who'd like to get out of dodge but can't afford to, or doesn't want to drive across country.
So yeah! :D

Posted 4 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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I'm interested in this kind of travel but I don't have much input for you yet.
If I find anything interesting I'll let you know!

Posted 4 years ago #
LauraA
LaLaland
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my parents grew up in holmes county. it is known for its high amish population. it's always cool to go up and check out the local crafts and eat some of their delicious food and see a slower paced simpler life. they used to have the largest piece of swiss cheese on earth too, but the fridge broke.
also, my great uncle has a dairy farm near there and he'll show you how to milk cows.

Posted 4 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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We've had some lovely afternoons winding our way through the Hocking Hills and stopping at the various attractions there. They're maybe 45 minutes to an hour SE of Columbus, and I find for some reason that I get blank stares about a third of the time when I mention them. It's a region of Ohio that the glaciers missed, so it's actually not flat, and there are some interesting features there that don't exist elsewhere in the state (I think a species of dogwood, if memory serves, for example). The main features are things like waterfalls and caves; go at off times to avoid crowds. My wife took me to a place called Old Man's Haven to celebrate my birthday in a rented cabin -- she gave me aged Scotch, too; a message, I wonder? -- and it was an absolute delight. Two-sided fireplace, hot tub, aforementioned Scotch... and the owner's brother's dog, Annie, even wandered in and plunked down on the couch with us for a few hours. Bliss.
We'd also recommend a trip to Yellow Springs without hesitation. It's really a great little town, and The Winds Cafe is absolutely not to be missed.

Posted 4 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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There are plenty and there are a bunch of pictures to give you an idea. It's hard to go wrong with college towns. I'll just cut and paste from an earlier post:
You already know Yellow Springs and that one is definitely up there, just remember to include Glen Helen preserve, Clifton Mill, and a stop up north at Young's Jersey Dairy. Delaware is the most sizable college town and the campus is split by the main drag and the best buildings are of course in the older section. There's Bun's restaurant and a nice cafe (forget the name, but it's large) in a healthy, well-kept downtown (rare nowadays) and Delaware State Park is nearby, but nothing special. Gambier is home to Kenyon College (only $2,000 less than Harvard). Check out Peirce Hall's interior and some of the classrooms. They look like the set for a Harry Potter movie (almost). Gambier is smack in the middle of the campus, so it doesn't feel like a separate entity, but has a few restaurants and a cafe. There's a strip of land between the two roads that go through the village center and that's where they have an outdoor market on weekends (might be too cold now). If you only end up going to a couple I'd go with Yellow Springs and Granville which has the most scenic campus (Denison is built on a hill overlooking the town) in the state, especially at sunset. The downtown is also very nice and Whit's Custard is a must, but if I remember correctly they won't be open til February, bummer. Oh well, there's always Brew's for food.

Posted 4 years ago #
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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Some things I like around Ohio:
- The giant Campbell's Soup can at the factory near Napoleon, OH
- Dirt track racing in the Northwestern part of the state
- Cranberry's at Indian Lake is a strange bar where people can dock their boats and get their drink on, quite possibly some of the most interesting people watching I've encountered.
- Waldo, OH boasts a world-famous bologna sandwich at G&R Tavern
- The Hocking Adena Bikeway in Athens County is pretty cool
- The murals on the Ohio River flood wall in Portsmouth, and the BBQ at either The Scioto Ribber in Portsmouth or Rick's in Ashland, KY is quality. River Days festival is August 28 - 31, 2008.
- The Marion Popcorn Festival is always bizarre mainly because I don't understand a lot of the common folks in Marion- September 4 - 6, 2008
- more festivals here: http://www.ofea.org/events.php
- County fairs can range from really boring to amazingly awesome spectacles, the one in Lima gets high-quality musical acts and some really crazy people watching.
That's most of what I can think of right now, I'm always finding new things in and around the state.

Posted 4 years ago #
Ashland
In Ice Cube voice: WESTSIIIIIIIIDE
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Funny BrotherMarcus I recomend Ashland for a few other reasons. It is quite possibly one of the most polluted and dirty places in the entire nation. It is home to a large steel mill, a refinery, a plant that produces industrial gas, barges transporting coal and oil down the brown ohio river, and also full of trains and trucks carrying coal everywhere. Stay in Ashland a few years, and i Promise you will come out with cancer.

Posted 4 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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AIA ranks Columbus Indiana sixth in the nation for architectural innovation and design. The buildings, public art and public spaces, gardens and landscaping are supposed to be show-stopping. Small little town not too far away, friendly and very worthwhile I hear.
http://www.indiana.edu/~radiotv/wtiu/columbus/columbus.html
http://www.columbus.in.us/

Posted 4 years ago #
Big_Ben

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If you are up near Cleveland take a trip to Ashtabula which is just E/NE of there going towards Erie. I believe it is the second Ashtabula exit, if you take a right you head into a nice batch of vineyards with a covered bridge as well. I have no clue of the road names but I got lost there once and actually enjoyed it so I have went back a couple times to site see.

Posted 4 years ago #
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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Big_Ben wrote If you are up near Cleveland take a trip to Ashtabula which is just E/NE of there going towards Erie. I believe it is the second Ashtabula exit, if you take a right you head into a nice batch of vineyards with a covered bridge as well. I have no clue of the road names but I got lost there once and actually enjoyed it so I have went back a couple times to site see.
Ashtabula has a good number of covered bridges - http://www.coveredbridgefestival.org/bridges.htm

Posted 4 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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I like to go to small town festivals - you really get a good sense of the community that way, and everyone is in a good mood. Some coming up that I really like:
The Port Clinton Walleye Festival
The Troy Strawberry Festival
The Wilmington Banana Split Festival
Also, some other trips I want to take this year:
- Sea Kayaking on Lake Erie http://kayak41north.com/
- Zip Line Tours in the Hocking Hills http://www.hockinghillscanopytours.com/
- Winery Hopping in the Grand River Valley http://www.ohiowines.org
- Foodie trip to
Cleveland (Westside Market, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Dinner at Lola, Fahrenheit or One Walnut.

Posted 4 years ago #
Manatee
The eternal present
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Do NOT miss the Highlands Nature Sanctuary in the summertime. It's in the middle of a heavily Amish area, as well, and it's sort of like a mini- Hocking-Hills. Gorges, waterfalls, caves, rolling Appalachian foothills. Bikeable once you get there. The Sanctuary operates gorgeous bed-and-breakfasts which you can reserve ahead of time, and all of the proceeds from everything go to conserving more wildlife in Ohio. Can't be beat!! Plus, they love artists down there. If you'd like rougher or dog-friendly accomodations, also check out Lazy H Cabins right near the Sanctuary on Rte 50.
It's halfway between Columbus and Cinci, check out http://www.highlandssanctuary.org. I would recommend reserving/getting (free) wilderness permits about a month or two early.
That's where I lived last summer, it was one of the best experiences of my life!! So beautiful. Also, I have to agree w/BrotherMarcus, the Portsmouth floodwall murals are astounding, you would love them Mighty.
Happy trails to you.

Posted 4 years ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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If you're into small town festivals and plan your road trip for late August, close to Labor Day weekend, you could do worse than the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival; that has small-town festival written all over it.
Note that I'm taking you at your word when you said this: "I'm especially looking for small town events of any kind (even if you hate them, tell me)." I was never one to go out and throw a corn party. Nevertheless, it actually gets a decent draw considering how tiny Millersport itself is, as well as all other nearby towns. Means they've got at least some people willing to make long drives to go.

Posted 4 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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http://www.ofea.org/
great resource for Ohio Festivals of all shapes and sizes.

Posted 4 years ago #
Matthew
Hilltop
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I (partially) grew up in Troy. Those people aren't joking around when it comes to strawberries.

Posted 4 years ago #
drew

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MatthewJR30 wrote I (partially) grew up in Troy. Those people aren't joking around when it comes to strawberries.
Ha... no they aren't. I grew up just down the road in West Milton.
I'd like to recommend West Milton, but... hmmm, nothing doing there. Well, if you go to Troy, you should stop by Tipp City anyhow for a little sightseeing and a bite at Coldwater. Greenville might be vaguely interesting from the perspective of a regional agricultural hub, and they also happen to be the birthplace of Annie Oakley. I think there's a museum there about that.

Posted 4 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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We actually took a road trip to Greenville in high school because a buddy had cousins there and swore it would be a blast.
it really wasn't.

Posted 4 years ago #
Angel
Grandview
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i like this thread. not being from ohio i don't know any other towns except columbus really. keep them coming!

Posted 4 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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New Straitsville Moonshine Festival
http://www.ofea.org/

Posted 4 years ago #
KSquared
Literally Hell
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joev wrote
- Foodie trip to
Cleveland (Westside Market, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Dinner at Lola, Fahrenheit or One Walnut.
I have that exact same trip planned for this summer! Let me know which place you choose for dinner, I was thinking Lola but it is good to have options. I am so excited to check out that market.
Great thread, there are lots of great options!!

Posted 4 years ago #