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YouTubeAs a relative newcomer I have been making an effort to see more of Ohio. The first couple of years I was here I was mostly focused on work and exploring Columbus but recently I have been trying to venture further afield. So far I have been to:
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Yellow Springs, Hocking Hills, Athens, Granville & Longaberger. Dawes Arboretum is next on the list to visit.
I know that there are a lot of people on CU who hail from other parts of the state, so I thought this would be a good place to ask for ideas.
I'm looking for suggestions for day trips (or weekend trips) in Ohio and places that are worth exploring. Food destinations are (not surprisingly) of particular interest.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Travel
Places to visit in Ohio
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hungrywoolf
Victorian Village
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Posted 2 years ago # -
chaptal
West Side
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alexs wrote >>
buy this atlas
http://www.amazon.com/Ohio-Atlas-Gazetteer-Delorme/dp/0899332811#reader+1
There's one of these in my car right now. Great for exploring off the highways.
Posted 2 years ago # -
laChewla
Victorian Village, The Heart Of It All
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+1 on the atlas. I have had two myself.
Cedar Point is perhaps one of Ohio's biggest international draw. Its world famous for both its longevity and history as being continually in operation since the time of the Civil War and it largest collection of roller coasters at 16 (I think)
Cleveland Museum of Art and the whole Case Western Reserve U area is a good day trip.
The Ohio River towns are interesting with their linear chain like development. Many are very old, not much changed since the decline of the steel industry and other industries in those towns. Plus there are lots of Coal power plants too with very tall chimmenies [sic]. You could make a fun 3 day trip out of visiting every town along the river. East Liverpool to North Bend or vise versa.
I have never been to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but it looks like a great place to visit, and the state's only and nations most recently designated NP.
Rising Park in Lancaster is a nice city park with a huge high rock outcrop that you can see the whole town and even the Columbus skyline on a clear day. Makes for a nice bike trip.
Whatever you do, never visit Pataskala.
ZachPosted 2 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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+1 on the Atlas. I have one and it's just about fallen apart..
also +1 on Cedar Point.. Love it and hope I get a chance to visit this year.. Add to that Kelly's Island, some Winery Tours (Firelands!) and you have a wonderful late/indian summer long weekend...
Cleveland is a good option and has been well covered elsewhere.
Mohican State Park and it's nearby rivers up near Mansfield, provided me with plenty of hiking, canoeing and other recreation during high school and beyond, and when I was in college, I spent a lot of time biking the trails at Blackhand Gorge over near Zanesville..
I'm sure Manatee has some excellent suggestions..
Posted 2 years ago # -
L.I. to Buckeye
West side/Galloway
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I'm kinda, sorta, a little bit of a newcomer here, too (I'm going to cling to that as long as I can!!), but I've heard that Lebannon, OH, is charming and has a relatively well-known and historic restaurant (The Golden Lamb or something like that).
The Circleville Pumpkin Festival is on my list this year, too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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lazyfish
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Must sees: Serpent Mound, the Great circle and Octogon sites in Newark...don't worry about the golfers at the Octogaon site, just walk it at leisure, act like you belong there, but do pay attention for the golf balls whizzing by. Miamisburg Mound outside Dayton is also cool.
Clifton Gorge in Clifton, close to Yellow Springs, great hikes, geology and wildflowers...
Lake Erie: ie Sandusky, Catawba areas after labor day, or before memorial day...otherwise it is a zoo...
Dillion State Park, east of town, great hikes
Amish countrty, Holmes County
Hocking Hills, Highland's Nature Sanctuary
Posted 2 years ago # -
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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Put in Bay is a good time, and now most of the crowds will have gone. Something cool about a place you have to take a boat to get to in my book.
Circle S Farms fall days is a good time also and gets you in the mood for the season. Very close to columbus.
Posted 2 years ago # -
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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Columbusite wrote >>
I want to check out the mining towns in Appalachian Ohio. Pomeroy, Jackson, and the ghost town of Shawnee look promising. Serpent Mound is also of interest and there's nearby Great Seal State Park with the toughest trail in the state.wow.. that ghost town looks awesome. Anyone ever been?
Posted 2 years ago # -
joev
Merion Village
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You've got to do the Grand River Valley wine region, and late Sept/early Oct. is the perfect time to do it. You could stay at Geneva State Park Lodge, right on Lake Erie, or if you're a B&B person, the Polly Harper Inn is right in the middle of the vineyard area. A new brewery just opened in the village of Madison, and it's really good! Cornerstone Brewery.
Kelleys Island is also beautiful. Great for kayaking.
If you've been to Yellow Springs but missed Clifton Mill, nearby - go back for the pancakes. They're like layer cakes - great in the fall time before a hike at the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, John Bryan State Park or Glen Helen.
Toledo might also surprise you as a food town. Tony Packo's is an experience everyone should have at least once.
Posted 2 years ago # -
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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the cabins at this place look bad ass http://www.murphinridgeinn.com/
Posted 2 years ago # -
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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hungrywoolf
Victorian Village
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Thanks for all the great suggestions. I am inspired to get out hiking.
I went to the Circleville pumpkin festival last year. It is really crowded and feels like being at the state fair. I'm not sure if I would go again. Amazing how many food festivals Ohio has. This weekend we are going to the paw paw festival in Athens.
Tony Packo's is on the list. What else is there cool/interesting to do/see in Toledo?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Nitsud Regnifloh
Valerio Heights
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Mercurius
First Avenue
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I agree with much of the sentiment above and will try not to repeat anything.
South Bass Island- while Put in Bay is fun for drink, I personally prefer Stone Lab, the Ford Family Mansion, sailing and perch fishing. Of course you would have to go to the Perry Monument to learn about how Oliver Hazard Perry kicked the hiney of those British ;)
Glass House Works- A Greenhouse that has just about taken over the town of Stewart, Ohio that specializes in the exotic. Unfortnately, Big Chimney Baking Company isn't there anymore as he took the executive chef job at Ohio University.
Lake Katharine Nature Preserve- In the spring, you descend down a hill covered with a canopy of Big Leaf and Umbrella Magnolias and a floor of wildflowers until you get to a secluded lake. The outlet of the lake is a cascading waterfall that empties into a sandstone canyon; similar to the Hocking Hills. At the end of the canyon is a flooded Sweet Gum Ball Forest; really magical.
Malabar Farm would be something I think you, Hungrywolf, would especially dig. I've heard great things about the Malabar Farms Restaurant at the Malabar Farm Inn.
I really dig Staurt's Opera House and the The Fur Peace Ranch. While your there, downtown Nelsonville is a square chocked full of great galleries. Might as well go ahead and check it all out during the Nelsonville Folk Festival.
The strangest place in our great state has to be New Straitsville and in particular, The Moonshine Festival. Never have I seen something so bizarre. Confederate Flags, Little Miss Moonshine, Burning Mines... need I say more.
Scuba Diving- ...what! but no really. Two things worth seeking out, Gilboa Quarry has trout, paddlefish, a big Gulf Stream Twin Turbo Prop Airplane, Sikorsky helicopter and one of the greatest zip lines in the state.
Lake Erie, because of the zebra mussels, now has some great diving too! Many ship wrecks and this! Those salt mines look pretty cool too.
Not sure if you've made it to The Columbus Zoo yet but if you like cages, it has some of the best. If you don't, there is The Wilds. Over at The Wilds, it's worth checking out the old Earth Mover. I believe there are some coal mines that you can enter in that direction too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
patient_zero
Falafel District
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If you are heading to Cleveland, I'd recommend a diversion to Olmsted Falls - 12 minutes or so West from the I-71 Bagley Road exit.
In the heart of town is a quaint area that's been reutilized and called Grand Pacific Junction with restaurants and shops. Quince has really good American fare, and Clemintines is a favored spot for the ladies offering tea and scones. There are also handycraft shops, an ice cream shop and a wine shop down the road.
http://grandpacificjunction.com/index.shtml
If you head a little further into town, you'll see a covered bridge that sits next to the local Fortier Park, and a reminder of how the city got it's name.
Also worth visiting is the East River Park, offering a great aerial view of Rocky River. http://www.olmstedfalls.org/2008/parks.php
Old Turkey Foot Cemetery is readily close if you like delving into town history.
Posted 2 years ago #
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