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When visiting Ohio’s great towns there are a number of accommodation options to choose from. It just depends on what you prefer. These can range from hotels you know, like the Hampton Inn, to campgrounds and motels, to timeshare rentals like Salt Fork Resort on the lake. Discover Ohio’s treasures yourself.   

The town’s merchants offer free tours of their unique and charming businesses where guests get a first-hand look at how jewelry is made from scratch, sausage links squirt through a machine by the hundreds, the only copper kettle manufacturers left in the country that do it all by hand, and berries and fruit are processed into jellies and apple butter. And that’s just for starters. The little town of tours comes complete with a rediscovered Speak Easy frequented by Al Capone and Carl’s Gas Station where the 1950s come back to life. 

Off the beaten path but conveniently located along State Route 30, Bucyrus, Ohio awaits with its Norman Rockwell charm and Mayberry friendliness and service. 

Ever have a BratWorks? You’ll know if you had because they “make the best wurst!” This family-owned and operated business treats its visitors to the tastiest brats this side of Germany. Not only do guests get the royal treatment, they get plenty of sausage to clot an artery on the spot. The folks at BratWorks allow guests to get up-close and personal to see the  meat mixed and squirted out of a huge machine hundreds of links at a time. Ann and Dean Fagan began the operation in 1987 by serving a special blend sausage seasoned to perfection at state fairs and festivals. Today, they are a manufacturer that distributes to many retail outlets. And for those in town, there’s a drive-thru window to get a sausage sandwich fix year-round. Visit the BratWorks in person or online at www.thebratworks.com.  

Some like their brat with jelly so be sure to hop over to Cooper’s Cider Mill and see apples and berries go from the vine to spread.

Cooper’s apple butter and jellies are sold far and wide. But David Cooper isn’t lying when he says, “it’s just like grandma used to make,” because it is. David learned to make apple butter at his grandma’s farm. Later, he bought a stirring pot and began making his own. Demand grew and a business was formed to handle the requests. For years the mixing was done by hand – David’s father-in-law’s hands – out in the yard. On a sad note, the day David went to buy an automatic mixer, his father-in-law died before he returned. Today, the Cooper’s offer a complete behind-the-scenes tour of the entire production process and visitors get to witness the freshness, quality and care that go into every jar. Afterward, David’s wife Miriam has plenty of tasting stations set up for sampling throughout the country store next to the production plant. Inside, a new generation of Cooper’s is introducing another treat – fudge. The Cooper’s son started experimenting with making fudge for the fair and now has his own fudge station inside the family store. Cooper’s Web site is at www.coopersmill.net.  

One of the lasting impressions at Cooper’s Mill is the 50-gallon copper kettle, which allows slow cooking over a wood-burning hearth. This leads us to Picking Copper Kettles. 

The D. Picking & Company is the last of the old copper shops in America that still makes its original products by hand. The tour of the craftsmen at work is fascinating, but the building is a visual treat from nook to cranny as it is more than 130 years old and has character unique unto itself.  The walls, furniture, floors, furnaces and workbenches all show more than a century of service. The place can easily double as a copper kettle museum of historic proportions. Many relics are on display including an antique rocking horse Mr. Picking got before his son was born. Venture into this old-world of American manufacturing and hear the harmony of tapping, pounding and other clamoring noises ringing from room to room. The tour begins the same place as the copper – by the double doors. The copper is worked into kettles, ladles, skillets and other custom forms as it progresses through the shops five rooms. Each craftsman takes his time to hammer out perfection, often striking up conversation as they work. D. Picking & Company, to no surprise, gets orders from around the world resulting in some cases, up to 1,874 patterns. Tours and catalogs are available by calling 419-562-6891. 

D. Picking is still a family-owned business but very unlike the kind of family Al Capone used to preside over as Godfather. 

Back in the Roaring Twenties, Al Capone used to stop off in Bucyrus for a night of sin at an underground Speak Easy while traveling to the East Coast from Chicago. Capone was originally a New Yorker. For decades, the Speak Easy in Bucyrus was a forgotten part of a tangled underground network of tunnels. The only company it kept was storage containers, boxes and the like. Recently, it was cleared out revealing thick brick dining booths and walls – made so that the spray of Tommy Gun bullets couldn’t penetrate and hurt the Mob Boss. Today, upon request, a group of Bucyrus’s locals provide a show in the authentic Speak Easy where Capone used to dine and drink away the night. The historical re-enactment showcases singing, dancing and laughter. The show, Roaring Twenties Live, lasts about an hour.  

And that brings us to a mobster’s favorite friend – jewels! 

At Romanoff Jewelers, small groups get an amazing tour of how jewelry is made from scratch. The tour begins with wax, which is used as a mold between rubber to create or replicate a certain design. The wax piece is added to a wax tree accompanying other pieces that will be cast from the same mix of gold. The tree is encased with a cement-type mixture and placed in a kiln where the wax melts to nothing leaving a cavern. The cavern is filled with heated liquefied gold, cooled and dismantled. Everything in the factory is recycled to recover gold dust, shavings and particles that over time add up to quiet a bit of money. There is even a special filter to catch gold that would have literally gone down the drain when employees wash their hands. The tour has many interesting tidbits that go into the entire jewelry making process and covers other intricate stages of the process including the polishing and setting of gemstones. 

Yes, Bucyrus is a jewel of a city. And many more unique and charming stops are there. These include Carl’s Garage where Carl has reenacted a 1950s ambiance in his service station with such an impressive collection of memorabilia it’s hard to believe it isn’t a museum charging admission. His latest project is a room dedicated to the King of Rock-N-Roll, Elvis Presley. Other unique tours of Bucyrus are the Baja Marine Boat Manufacturing tour where visitors are walked through the entire boat making process; a tour demonstrating the process of recycling; dairy farm operation; and others. For complete tour information, coordination and other attractions, visit the Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors Bureau online at www.bucyrus.org or call 1-866-562-0720. 

Oh, and we didn’t even cover the town's biggest attraction, its annual Bratwurst Festival in August. After all, Bucyrus is known as the Bratwurst capitol of the world. And maybe now as the little town of tours as well.

Printout: Bucyrus

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Cambridge, Ohio
Li'l Glass Houses for All to See
Excerpt from March 2009 OhioTraveler Magazine by Frank R. Satullo

Play Video

Ohio is filled with little towns known to be the capitals of this and that. Bucyrus is the bratwurst capital, in Zanesville its pottery and in Cambridge – elegant glass.

Over the years, sub-cultures and traditions are built along with whatever the factories are spitting out. So it’s no wonder Cambridge has a heart of glass.

We’re not talking Wal-Mart glass. We’re talking three-inch collectibles that fetch up to a thousand dollars on eBay. But to revel at the craftsmanship of a wide variety of signature period pieces, you’d have to visit one of the Cambridge glass museums. Some may argue these glass museums are art museums or historic museums but the truth is they’re all three.  

Original glass is still produced in Cambridge. You can witness it up close and personal. And what a treat it is to see molten globs of liquid glass hammered and shaped into delightful pieces that will be displayed with pride by its eventual owner.

Cambridge glass has been the toast of the town for more than 100 years.

Glassmaking dates back thousands of years and is one of America’s earliest industries. Manufacturing glass in the tri-state region of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania became a hotbed for the industry about 100 years ago.

Cambridge Glass Company in Cambridge, Ohio was chartered in 1873 and National Glass Company out of Pennsylvania organized it a few years later providing land and a building. The Cambridge Glass Company grew and thrived, peaking around the 1930’s. It had become one of the most revered glass companies in the world. After WWII, demand for fine handmade glassware waned and foreign machine-made competition grabbed much of the market share. In 1954, the Cambridge plant closed, ending a very prosperous run. In an unsuccessful attempt to reopen and stay open, the company finally melted down in 1958 selling many of its moulds and equipment to Imperial Glass Company in Bellaire, Ohio.

With the heart of the community shattered, National Cambridge Collectors was created in order to preserve the area’s glass heritage. They recovered many of the moulds and equipment previously sold-off.

No sooner did Cambridge Glass Company die, than new life was breathed into four off-shoots that would continue the legacy of Cambridge glass. These four cornerstones of today’s Cambridge are Mosser Glass, Boyd’s Crystal Art Glass, Degenhart Glass Museum and National Museum of Cambridge Glass. All are open for business and tours.

Mosser Glass started as soon as Cambridge Glass Company closed and Thomas Mosser turned his job loss into a start-up business of his own. By 1959 he had scraped enough resources together to open shop …in and abandoned chicken coop! Within two years he flew the coop and moved onward and upward building a successful glass manufacturing business which was eventually named Mosser Glass in 1971 with his production of signature products blending new designs with classics.

When you visit Mosser Glass today, you enter through the front door of a little red farmhouse. But the modesty ends there for as you continue deeper into the building a major manufacturing plant is revealed with gifted and proud glassworkers pounding out a living. Visitors can take a glassmaking tour of the factory Monday – Friday from 8am – 10am and 11:15am – 2:30pm and shop the old farmhouse turned showroom from 8am – 4pm Monday – Friday. Call to confirm. Mosser Glass is located at 9279 Cadiz Road in Cambridge, Ohio. Phone 866-439-1827 or visit www.mosserglass.com for more information.

Boyd’s Crystal Art Glass, Inc. opened in October 1978 by the father and son team of Bernard C. and Bernard F. Boyd. They represent the second and third generation of Boyd glassmakers. Bernard C. Boyd’s father, Zack Boyd began working for Cambridge Glass in 1901 at the age of 13. He honed his skills and style working for 26 different factories. His knowledge has since passed to his son, his son’s son and his son’s - son’s son. In their modest shop you find a man and mould handcrafting collectible glass pieces. In another room, there’s a lady hand painting pieces and in the third room, there’s plenty of glass art to browse or buy.

Boyd’s Crystal Art Glass is made Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The showroom is open until 4 p.m.  Boyd’s is located at 1203 Morton Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio. Phone 740-439-2077 or visit www.boydglass.com.

Degenhart Glass Museum unveils the history of the Crystal Art Glass Company founded by John and Elizabeth Degenhart. John started in the business when he was just nine-years-old. He retired from Cambridge Glass Company in 1947 and started making his signature glass paperweights, window weights, rose weights, personalized plate weights and other novelties like glass slippers. The husband and wife team often hawked their wares at fairs and festivals near and far before it was added to the product lines of dealers and collectors. When John passed in 1964, Elizabeth continued manufacturing glass introducing her own moulds and colors before her passing in 1978.

The Degenhart Glass Museum showcases not only the Degenhart legacy and more than 1,000 paper weights, but also the history of glassware produced in Ohio, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. It includes original moulds; pieces dating back to the 1800’s and has a gift shop. It is open 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday through April. From May through October, it is open daily, 9am – 5pm Monday – Saturday and 1pm – 5pm Sunday. Call to confirm. Degenhart Glass Museum is located on Highland Hills Road in Cambridge, Ohio. Call 740-432-2626 or visit www.degenhartglass.com for more information.

National Museum of Cambridge Glass is a fairly new museum and probably the crowned-jewel of offerings in Cambridge’s glass heritage. It is owned and operated by the National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. and seeks to encourage and support the collecting and study of Cambridge Glass. Its collection, displays and programs are superior. It features thousands of stunning Cambridge Glass pieces radiantly displayed in towering crystal clear glass cases spanning showcasing the collections’ plethora of colors and designs.

This museum offers much more than the opportunity to see a myriad of the fascinating glass pieces produced for over a century. It has authentic looking recreations of life-size glass workers exhibited. Some are blowing glass, stoking the furnace, or performing a number of important and interesting functions depicting the history of the glass industry in Cambridge. Hands-on learning opportunities are offered in workshops, presentations are delivered in the auditorium and research is conducted in the library. This glass house encompasses it all. It even has rotating exhibits from major private collections displayed and a gift shop offering genuine Cambridge Glass and limited-edition reproductions.

National Museum of Cambridge Glass is open April – October from 9am – 4pm Wednesday – Saturday and 12pm – 4pm on Sunday. It is located at 136 South 9^th Street in Cambridge, Ohio. Call 740-432-4245 or visit www.cambridgeglass.org for more information.

If the four corners of Cambridge glass leaves your heart yearning for more, there’s a Glass Pass that will continue your journey of elegant artistry and glass history to other places in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. To learn more about the Glass Pass, call 800-933-5480 or visit www.visitguernseycounty.com.

Printout: Cambridge

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Marion, Ohio
POPCORN ANYONE?
Excerpt from a previous edition of OhioTraveler Magazine

Marion has always had a rich history of industry and politics to claim their mark on the centuries. And history is created each day we wake up. Renowned mural artist, Eric Grohe, captured that history by putting paintbrush to wall to create Marion’s own fabulous mural. You can learn more about Eric Grohe and the other murals he has painted in Ohio and across the United States by visiting  www.ericgrohemurals.com. 

While you are in town to see Eric’s work, visit any number of our other attractions. A must see would be to start with the Harding Home located at 380 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Visit the home of the 29^th President of the United States, and his wife Florence. This was the site of his famous campaign speeches that launched his quest for presidency in 1920. The Hardings lived here until they moved to Washington D.C. before his inauguration. The original press corps building behind the home is now a museum, housing more Harding memorabilia. The home recently papered with period reproduction wallpaper in the library.  Harding Home hours are Memorial Day thru Labor Day, Thursday through Sunday from Noon to 5:00 pm.

The Harding Memorial is open till dusk daily. It is located on the corner of Delaware Ave. & Vernon Heights Blvd., Marion. It is the final resting place of President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding and is the largest and most beautiful presidential memorial outside of Washington D.C. Built in 1925, it contains 46 columns of timeless white Georgian marble and was paid for by the donation of pennies and dimes from the nation’s school children. To learn more about the Harding Home and the Memorial, go to www.ohiohistory.org/places/harding. 

Just a short distance up the street from the Memorial, in the Marion Cemetery, is the largest tribute to WWII veterans outside of Washington D.C. This is a must see if you are visiting Marion on a beautiful summer day where you can sit and feel the depth of the tribute meant for the local fallen. 

Just a short distance around the corner and down the street from the downtown mural you can find three museums in one at Heritage Hall. For just $3.00 for an adult, $2.00 a senior or $1.00 a student, you can find memorabilia from Marion’s productive history, Warren G. Harding history, and the Wyandot Popcorn Museum. The trip is well worth the money since the museums hold many treasures. And if you are interested in one-room school house treasures -- one’s that have been refurbished to their original look and feel, call Heritage Hall and ask for your family tour.  

The Wyandot Popcorn Museum located under a colorful circus tent in the back of Heritage Hall. It is the largest, most impressive collection of popcorn wagons in the United States. These priceless wagons date back as far as the turn of the century and have been restored to their original conditions. If you want to make an appointment for a group to see the three in one museum, call 740-387-HALL (4255). 

The Marion Union Station sees more than 100 trains pass by every day. The museum showcases an impressive collection of memorabilia and the AC Tower which was once the main switching facility for the Erie Railroad Marion Division. The unusual nature of the station is the fact that it is located between two diamond cross-overs. Open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday or by making an appointment at 740-383-3768. Admission is $1.

The Edward Huber Machinery Museum is located at the Marion County Fairgrounds at 220 E. Fairground Street. The museum contains examples of machinery built by the Huber Manufacturing Company and the Marion Steam Shovel Company including steam engines, farm and road equipment and a steam shovel. An inventor, industrialist and philanthropist, Huber was largely responsible for Marion’s industrialization and wealth in the mid-1800s. Open 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, or by appointment at 740-389-1098. 

The biggest event of the year is The Marion Popcorn Festival.  It is always held the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday after Labor Day.  The festival has been on the Food Network and the Travel Channel. Three days of free nationally know entertainers, food, a grand parade and fun. The family event is held in Downtown Marion and is free and open to all who love and eat popcorn. Last year’s event was taped by the Food Network and the Travel Channel and highlighted popcorn favorites. To learn more about this year’s entertainment and up to the minute details on contest, visit www.popcornfestival.com. 

Plan now to visit over the summer with your family. There are many other places to visit and see in Marion, so you can learn more by visiting the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s website at www.VisitMarionOhio.com to get all the details of the many attractions and things of interest. Or if you would like for us to send you a visitor guide, you can email us at info@VisitMarionOhio.com to request a free one.

Printout: Marion

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GERMAN VILLAGE
Excerpt from Aug 07 edition of OhioTraveler by Bram Fulk

A literal stone’s throw from the heart of Ohio’s capital, German Village is one of Columbus’s oldest and most beloved historic areas. German or not, both visitors to and residents of the Village are, through its shops, restaurants, and overall period feel, able to relax and enjoy a moment apart from the life outside. 

What is now known as German Village was in fact the far southern end of Columbus when the city became the capital in 1812. Settled in the early part of the 19^th century by wave after wave of German immigrants, the Village served as a sort of ‘home away from home’ through both the good times of economic prosperity and the not-so-good fears and prejudices that accompanied two World Wars.  

German Village as it exists today came about in the 1960s when a man by the name of Frank Fetch spearheaded a movement that established the German Village Society and eventually awarded the Village a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Restored entirely from private funding, German Village was granted by the city the ability to review and approve or deny all aesthetic amendments to the area’s exterior. This allowed the residents of German Village to preserve the traditional look and atmosphere that the area has become known. 

The main draw of German Village is its distinctive collection of shops, entertainment, and eateries. All throughout the Village, visitors can find stores like the Golden Hobby Lobby, Franklin Art Glass Studios, and The Red Stable that offer a vast array of skillfully-created arts and crafts unique to the German Village area. A landmark in and of itself, The Book Loft is a 32-room, block-long book store packed so full it would take days to see everything properly. 

In the summer, a group of players known as the Actors’ Theatre continuously presents a healthy dose of Shakespeare, free of charge at the outdoor amphitheatre located in beautiful Schiller Park. Local restaurants such as Juergen’s Bakery and Cafe, Katzinger’s Delicatessen, and the Old Mohawk are all known for serving up both time-honored treats and contemporary classics to placate your hunger. But, when it comes to traditional German food, there is really only one place to go. 

Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus began as a meat packing plant in 1886. Founded by a German immigrant, the J. Fred Schmidt Packing Company supplied all sorts of beef products and German sausages to customers and grocery stores alike as it was handed down, generation to generation, until the plant’s closing in 1966. In no way willing to give up the family business, the very next year third generation brothers Grover and George F. Schmidt decided to open a traditional German eatery in an old livery stable just off of Kossuth Street where customers could not only still purchase sausage made on premises from the Schmidt family’s classic recipes, but grab a bite to eat while their order was being prepared. The rest, as they say, is German Village history. 

Instantly, the restaurant side of the business took off for two simple reasons: the environment and the food. The building itself has a welcome feel of casualness and comfort. The inviting interior is filled with art from both well-known German painters and local talent (including several incredible pieces by the restaurants founder, George) as well as bits and pieces of decoration from the old packing plant and other keepsakes highlighting the history of the family business. 

As far as the food goes, for the German staples of bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut, hot potato salad, or a half-pound vanilla cream puff, Schmidt’s really can not be beaten. In fact, fourth generation Schmidt and current operator Geoff takes pride in the fact that there are not a ton of other German restaurants around.  

“There’s only one restaurant in Columbus that anybody considers German,” comments Schmidt on the lack of competition. “We’re sort of tickled to death that we’re the only kid on the block, at least in Columbus and central Ohio.” 

With both growing out of the area’s revitalization in the 1960’s, it is pretty safe to say that neither Schmidt’s nor German Village would be quite the same without one another. Geoff Schmidt acknowledges this important, almost-symbiotic relationship that they share. “Schmidt’s sort of compliments German Village [and] German Village compliments Schmidt’s,” states Schmidt. “It’s so important that we always try to package the village and Schmidt’s together. It is a full deal. German Village is truly one of the more interesting areas [of Columbus] because of two things: it’s beautiful and it’s done by the individuals. It’s not a government project and I know the people who live here take pride in that.” 

Even with the buildings of downtown Columbus just over your shoulder, when your tires (or your sneakers) hit the well-worn, brick-paved streets that mark the edge of the Village, you will realize you have found something special. From the look of the houses and the gardens to the experiences of food and fun, there really is no other place around that is so thoroughly infused with the feel of the Old Country’s culture than German Village.

By Bram Fulk

Printout: German Village - Columbus

Cleveland, Ohio
NORTH COAST HARBOR
Excerpt from a previous edition of OhioTraveler Magazine

(PLAY VIDEO)

Cleveland plus its neighboring communities are rich with entertainment. Much of its infrastructure was developed more than 100 years ago when its concentration of wealth on Euclid Avenue was unsurpassed even by New York’s 5^th Avenue.

The legacies of business tycoons such as John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil (think richer than Bill Gates), are seen in the arts, parks, museums, architecture and business today. The region boasts the top amusement park in the world, the most loyal sports fans, Rock –N– Roll Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and #1 heart program by one of the nation’s leading medical facilities – Cleveland Clinic. It also has the second largest performing arts center in the country, the third most visited national park in the U.S., and a top-5 orchestra in the world. Nearby is also the world’s largest concentration of Amish.

Since the 1980s, Cleveland has surged as America’s comeback city. The Flats and Warehouse District are kings of nighttime entertainment, Tower City is a shopping hub, and Gateway draws sports fanatics to see the Cavaliers and Indians play ball. In fact, the Indians have the all-time pro-baseball consecutive games’ sellout record – 455 – which may never be broken. Just a few miles away is University Circle featuring world-renowned cultural attractions visited by more than 2.5 million people annually.  It is no surprise that Euclid Avenue runs through it. After all, this was America’s playground for the rich and famous.

What makes Cleveland plus its neighboring communities and attractions such a pleasant visit is not just the plethora of things to do for nearly every age and interest, but the ease in which the urban landscape is navigated. The highway system is built to handle major traffic centers like Chicago, rather than a mid-size city’s. It has six major highways criss-crossing it plus plenty of  buses, taxis, parking and a light rail system, which is convenient to and from just about anywhere – including straight from the airport to the heart of downtown.

In the mid-1990s, the Rapid Transit light rail system added the Waterfront Line, delivering gobs of people effortlessly to the new heart for family entertainment
– North Coast Harbor.  

North Coast Harbor is a beautiful place mixing a panoramic urban skyline with trees and green space, and sunrise-to-sunset views of a Great Lake! Lake Erie has had a tremendous renewal of its own, again attracting fishermen, boaters, divers and water-enthusiasts by the millions. But the main attraction is the number of main attractions – all within walking distance from each other.

Once you board the Waterfront Line at Tower City and roll through The Flats and Warehouse District, you’ll arrive minutes later at the North Coast Station. The welcome is more than you’ll expect. The terminal is completely glass enclosed and has several expressions of art. Its style was intended to accent the Rock -N- Roll Hall of Fame. The welcome mat is a 49-foot porcelain tile rug.

Turn left and walk downhill toward the lake and Rock Hall and you’ll come to a crossroads of fun known as the North Coast Harbor. Now you choose where to begin the day, understanding it may take more than one to see it all. There’s the Great Lakes Science Center, International Women’s Air & Space Museum, tours aboard a World-War II Submarine and massive old iron ore ship, Cleveland Browns Stadium, a skate park, trolley tours, day and evening cruise ship, bikeway, and that’s just for starters.

Special events are held regularly but a couple of the biggies are the bi-annual Tall Sails (something for the eyes to behold) and a Grand Prix that features top race-names. Currently, the Science Center is hosting Baseball As America, the blockbuster exhibition marking the first time the treasures of the Hall of Fame have left their legendary home in Cooperstown, New York to tour the country. It will be displayed here until September 3, 2007.

The Great Lakes Science Center is at the water’s edge next to the Rock Hall. The museum has more than 400 interactive exhibits, including computers that talk and space shuttle landing simulator. There’s even a restaurant with outdoor dining overlooking the inner harbor. It also features an OmniMax Theater. Visit greatscience.com for more details.

The International Women’s Air & Space Museum is located inside the lobby at Burke Lakefront Airport just east of the Rock Hall. Admission is free. The exhibits illustrate the contributions women made to aerospace history and include Amelia Earhart’s flight suit and the tail of Ruth Nichol’s Lockheed Akita. For visitor information, call 216-623-1111.

The U.S.S. COD (SS 224) is the last fully intact WWII fleet submarine left in existence. It is docked between the Rock Hall and Burke. Tours are offered to the public inviting them to see what life inside a metal box deep under the sea must have been like. It is tight inside so beware if you are claustrophobic. The 312-foot submarine was a key weapon against the Japanese, sinking many ships and itself depth-charged, surviving major torpedo fire. For visitor information, see usscod.org.

Cleveland’s great shipping heritage is seen aboard the Steamship William G. Mather. This 618-foot vessel was built in 1925. It now serves as a floating museum and educational facility near the Coast Guard Station between the Rock Hall and Cleveland Browns Stadium behind the Science Center.  On and below deck, the public gets to tour one of the largest ships to sail the Great Lakes much like the infamous Edmond Fitzgerald. See the captains quarters, engine room, galley, and steer the captain’s wheel. To plan a visit, log onto wgmather.nhlink.net.  

The Goodtime III is the largest quadruple-deck 1,000 passenger luxury ship on the Great Lakes. It is docked across the harbor from the Mather north of the Rock Hall. Daytime and evening cruises feature river and lake tours, live entertainment, dancing, full bar and meals. They sail rain or shine and allow people to enjoy the entire ship, whether you choose the spacious top sun decks, the large semi-opened second deck or the main glass enclosed lower deck, which is air conditioned or heated. For types of cruises and schedules, sail over to goodtimeiii.com.

Every Wednesday in August 2007 from 6-9pm, there are free concerts in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Each concert features multiple acts playing many versions of rock music, including punk. People come from around the globe to journey through the past, present and future of rock and roll. To plan your journey, start at rockhall.com.

The new Cleveland Browns Stadium offers fans an inside look at the press box, luxury suites, locker room, and other areas fans typically would not see when attending games. These tours are available from 10 am - 3 pm Monday – Friday, April – November. For more information, call 440- 824-3361 or e-mail Tours@clevelandbrowns.com.

In addition, Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor has a skate park, bike trail and Voinovich Park where you may throw Frisbee, jog, fish, people-watch, feed birds, sunbathe, or attend the many festivals that become available.

Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor development is beginning to shine but it is far from the grand vision that is coming into focus. In the coming years, aquaria, apartments, restaurants, shopping, and hotels are all expected to dot the landscape. If visiting Cleveland for pleasure or business, take a quick trip from the airport, suburbs or downtown on the Rapid Transit and explore North Coast Harbor, Cleveland’s newest family-funapolis. Stay and spread your fun across The Flats and Warehouse Entertainment District, Gateway sports complex, Tower City or the cultural Mecca that is University Circle. Or take in Cleveland plus Cedar Point Amusement Park and Lake Erie Islands, Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame and Akron’s Inventors Hall of Fame, Amish country and other northern Ohio attractions.

Cleveland plus the surrounding area is the most fun place to visit, not just in Ohio, but anywhere in the Midwest.  

Printout: Cleveland North Coast Harbor

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Waynesville, Ohio
Best Town in Ohio to Get Out And Walk
Excerpt from a previous edition of OhioTraveler Magazine

Dubbed one of the most walkable communities in America and the Antique Capitol of the Midwest, the historic village of Waynesville, Ohio awaits your footsteps no matter if it's summer, fall, winter or spring.

This quaint small town is like none other. It's like an endless outdoor shopping mall set in the 1800s with character galore. Each little building or shop has a history, rich in Quaker heritage and Victorian architecture. The five-block “Old Main Street” is lined with more than 70 Mom & Pop shops featuring a wide-array of antiques, crafts, custom woodworking, collectibles, eateries, coffee houses and specialty shops. Whether it's the middle of winter or a hot summer day, it is always buzzing with pedestrians on a shopping binge.

Waynesville offers visitors a nostalgic experience as they meander by and through the charming buildings from the 1800s, past copper street lamps on brick sidewalks gazing at the seemingly endless restored Victorian homes turned shops with colorful window boxes and street-side benches. 

Merchants are often seen unloading their trucks with their newest (or oldest) additions to their inventory coming from estate sales nation- sometimes world-wide or far off or nearby places that they travel too in order to obtain the lore that someone will undoubtedly find and say, "this piece completes…" Whether shopping with purpose, merely browsing or just looking for a nice place to take a stroll, Waynesville is the place to do it - in style.

The old-time village is a perfect place to explore year-round. And throughout the year, the calendar of events is littered with fantastic attractions such as Old Main Street Antique Show in May and September, The Ohio Renaissance Festival from August to October, the Ohio Sauerkraut festival in October, and Christmas in the Village in December to name some. Nearby attractions include Caesar’s Creek State Park featuring an 18^th Century Pioneer Village with more than 20 restored buildings of that period.  

Information about Waynesville is available online at www.waynesvilleohio.com, www.waynesvilleshops.com, and www.ohio4fun.org. Visitors can pick up a self-guided walking tour brochure at The Museum at the Friends Home or make an appointment with a local historian and official Towne Crier to undertake an in-depth historical tour of Main Street and the Quaker Historical District by calling 513-897-1607. On the tour, visitors will also learn why this small town has also become widely known as the Most Haunted Town in Ohio.

Printout: Waynesville

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MARIETTA
River Town Preserves Past
Excerpt from Aug 07 edition of OhioTraveler by Jackie Sheckler Finch

The folks at Marietta had a great idea for preserving the historic home of Gen. Rufus Putnam. They built a museum around it. 

"If Rufus Putnam came up out of Mound Cemetery today, he would recognize a lot in this house," said Andy Verhoff, museum manager. 

Among the belongings once used by Putnam are a dining room chair, a settee and a large parlor chair. "General Putnam was very important in the history of our area," Verhoff said. “He and George Washington were friends. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington told General Putnam about the beauty he had seen in his travels through the Ohio Valley.” 

In case people cruising down the river don't know where they are, Marietta has its name spelled out in large letters on the riverbank. A gazebo, fountain, benches and old-fashioned streetlights make it a pleasant place to sit and watch the water. 

"Back in the day of the steamboats, every boat's whistle had a unique tone," Verhoff said. "You knew which boat was landing in Marietta just by its whistle." 

Founded in 1788, Marietta is alive with history and culture. Along with Putnam, the area was settled by a group of Revolutionary War veterans.  

"It was the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory," Verhoff said. "It was named for Marie Antoinette of France who helped so much in the struggle for American independence." 

In April 1788, Rufus Putnam, who served as a general under George Washington during the Revolution, led 48 men into today’s location of Marietta. They built a walled fortification with four blockhouses to discourage Indian attacks. Putnam coined the name Campus Martius, which means “field of wars.” The Treaty of Greene Ville in 1795, however, virtually ended hostilities in the region. 

Along with Putnam family memorabilia, the museum exhibits hundreds of items from Marietta’s early days, including antique musical instruments and surgical equipment from Dr. John Cotton. The doc practiced medicine in Marietta from 1815 to 1847. 

Lavish gowns and dresses from the 19th century and weapons also are highlighted at the Campus Martius Museum. The sword used by General Putnam during the Revolutionary War is displayed along with old rifles, muskets, uniforms and dress swords. Putnam later gave his sword to George Washington. A Civil War exhibit includes a Confederate flag captured at the Battle of Chancellorsville, along with uniforms, saddlebags and a drum and fife. 

Once a thriving port, Marietta honors its river history at the Ohio River Museum. Just down the street from the Campus Martius, the museum is located on the banks of the Muskingum River. The museum is actually four separate buildings connected with covered outdoor walkways. The origins of the Ohio River, the role of glaciers in its development and the natural history of the region are presented at the museum. 

One museum building features dozens of detailed models of stern-wheeled paddleboats along with other riverboat memorabilia. Outside of the museum is one of the last steam-powered stern-wheeled towboats to operate in America. The 175-foot, 342-ton W.P. Snyder Jr. is now permanently docked on the Muskingum River behind the museum. Walk the gangplank to explore the vessel that once plied the rivers from 1918 to 1955. 

If all this river memorabilia has you yearning for a cruise, the Valley Gem is happy to oblige. Docked adjacent to the Ohio River Museum, the 300-passenger excursion vessel travels down the Muskingum and Ohio rivers on 50-minute cruises, fall foliage tours and dinner cruises. Every year on the weekend after Labor Day, the landing is the site of the Ohio River Stern Wheel Festival. Stern-wheelers from all parts of the inland waterway system compete in races and show visitors what made them famous. 

Downtown Marietta is filled with great shops and boutiques including Mad Hen, Needful Things, Two Peas in a Pod, Turquoise Spirit and Twisted Sisters with its unusual women's clothing and gifts. A striking sight from the river, the Lafayette Hotel is one of the last riverboat-era hotels. Opened in 1918, the hotel was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, who visited the city in 1825. With its distinctive triangular shape, the hotel offers guest rooms with views of either the Ohio or Muskingum rivers. 

The hotel is said to be haunted, manager Jennifer Auville said. “There is supposed to be a ghost and we’ve heard stories from guests about it,” she said. “One husband and wife who stayed here said that every time the husband got in the Jacuzzi tub, the water would go cold. He would get out and the water would warm up again.” 

The hotel dining room has a nice collection of long rifles, including one made by J.J. Henry that accompanied the Benedict Arnold expedition to Quebec in 1775. An 11-foot pilot wheel from the steamboat A.D. Ayres is suspended from the lobby ceiling. The hotel has a Marengo Institute Spa and some interesting guest rooms, including one that resembles a riverboat stateroom. 

In the lobby beside the elevator are two benchmarks that show the raging power of the river. The 1936 flood put 4 1/2 feet of water in the dining room. The 1937 flood brought 10 1/2 feet into the lobby of the hotel. A plaque located just below the balcony of the second floor on the outside corner of the Lafayette shows the watermark of the 1913 flood. 

Marietta is an excellent town for walking and offers a walking guide for visitors. You'll really get your exercise trying to enjoy it all – museums, the Ohio Company Land Office (oldest existing building in the five states of the original Northwest Territory), and historical homes and churches galore. 

Along with all this, Marietta's hallmark attraction is the prehistoric Hopewell and Adena Indian mounds. Covering 95 acres, the carefully preserved mounds have been studied since the 1780s. The mounds were the first in Ohio to be accurately surveyed, mapped and described. The Conus Mound was built by the Adena Indians (800 B.C. to 100 A.D.). The square enclosure and other structures were built by the Hopewell Indians (100 B.C. to 500 A.D.) 

The mounds have long been considered to be among the most perfect works of the early mound builders, says Marietta Mayor Michael Mullen.

“Thousands of these mounds once covered the Midwest but many of them were destroyed,” he said. “These were protected and preserved which is why we have them today.” 

The mounds are among the many reasons to visit Marietta, Mullen said. “We’re one of the friendliest places you’d ever want to see,” he said. “Once people come here, they have such a good time that they want to visit again.” 

If you go, more information is available by calling the Marietta/Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-288-2577. 

By Jackie Sheckler Finch

Printout: Marietta

Wooster, Ohio
Shop A Great American Main Street
Excerpt from a previous edition of OhioTraveler Magazine

[PLAY VIDEO]

Experience shopping is where you can still see, hear, touch, smell and taste the local culture. And in downtown Wooster, Ohio all five senses are filled with delight. 

Everywhere there are signs of a vibrant downtown. It is seen in shopkeepers’ faces along the eclectic storefronts. It is seen in the downtown residents looking out their windows from their second story lofts. It is even seen in the faces of  construction workers building new lofts to meet the surging demand of people eager to move downtown.

The downtown scene is filled with a diverse selection of stores and services. Many people come for the shopping, exercise, restaurants, and entertainment. There is new construction at the library, historic churches around the corner, nearby College of Wooster and county fairgrounds all adding to the ambiance of Wooster, Ohio, past winner of The Great American Main Street Award. 

A day in town may start by meeting up at the gazebo in the square. From there, you can grab a cup-o-joe at Muddy Waters Café, Seattle’s Coffee House or Tulipan Hungarian Pastry & Coffee Shop.  

Although plenty of ATM machines are around town, many mistakenly walk into Gallery in the Vault looking for money and walk out with artwork. The former bank turned art store features the grand old vault and stashes of Ohioan artwork flowing out of it. Over at Moorefield Pottery, a local potterist and her mother display their creations along with other Ohio pottery collections. And if handcrafted jewelry is appealing, and I’m sure it is, be sure to visit MacKenzie’s Silver & Gold for something made-to-order. Gifts galore beckon you to A Sentimental Journey and The Wooster Gift Corner. But if you are truly seeking to walk away with that one-of-a-kind shopping experience, take a look at Artfind Tile where the artist in residence has rare tile from around the world.  

Antiquing is considered an art form by many. For those that do, pay a visit to Uptown/Downtown Antique Emporium where there are more than 100 consignment booths to browse or for unique high-end consignments of furniture and more, be sure to see Frientique.  

Around midday, before or after a meal at a fine local eatery, you may stop in a local spa for some spoil-me time or sit and read at Wooster Book Company or Books In Stock featuring more than 80,000 rare reads.  

Now about that meal! Whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, the town is filled with traditional family-owned and operated restaurants and unique eateries. Here is the menu: 

• A top-20 Northeast Ohio restaurant with two great young chefs making a name for themselves at The South Market Bistro.

• Outdoor or indoor dining at The Olde Jaol and Tavern.

• Or maybe you are one that could eat breakfast all day. In that case, or for lunch, go to the local spot to be – The Parlor.

• Pizza lovers need Tomassetti’s pizza experience.

• There’s TJ’s serving up three restaurants in one, including CW Burgerstein’s and Melvins.

• For daily specialty soup and sandwiches, Thomas’ Deli and Market is a must.

• Don’t forget to stop at the Downtown Grill and Café in the Wooster Plaza full service hotel.

And on that last note, after a tasty dish and day of walking, you may need a room. If so, try The Best Western Wooster Plaza or Barrister’s End bed and breakfast.  

Once your battery recharges, there is more to see and do.  

For the traditionalist that remembers yesteryear and the old-town department stores that served as a community’s retail anchor, stop in and say “hi” to the friendly people at the 120-year-old Freelander Department Store. Alterations are provided on the spot. Nearby, furniture like no other and gorgeous home accessories can be had at Roomscapes, Timbuktu and Jerry’s Home Furnishings.  

As you can see, Wooster is full-service experience shopping right down to the uncommon Sam & Stan’s Army Navy Store, which is gigantic, to the third-generation downtown Buehler’s Grocery Store, Wooster Natural Foods, Pierce’s Sport Shop and more.  

But what makes this a true experience shopping destination is at the corner of Market and Liberty Street where they have been organizing America for years at Everything Rubbermaid. The historic four-story building has the traditional product line’s signature items plus Irwin Tools, Little Tikes Toys, and a spacious indoor playground.  

Wooster. It is not just a great place to visit, it is a great place to live. You do not have to ask the locals, their faces will tell you. 

When planning your own Wooster shopapalooza, be sure to print a day full of savings and freebies at http://www.ohiotraveler.com/wooster.htm. For more information about Wooster, including directions, visit http://mainstreetwooster.org/.

Printout: Wooster

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The Victorian Era created many lasting traditions that are still appreciated today and vacationing at Geneva-on-the-Lake is no exception. Post Civil War days coupled with the height of the Victorian years provided travelers with a renewed interest in fulfilling their lives. 

During those early years, the summer resort of the Geneva-on-the Lake played host to families seeking a respite from the summer heat and a place for relaxation and entertainment. Cool breezes, an abundance of lodging and new kinds of music made Geneva-on-the-Lake the center of excitement for Lake Erie and Ashtabula County. This important era set the stage for Geneva-on-the-Lake’s next century of growth, diversity and identity. 

Over the past 136 years, names and faces have changed, but the spirit of the family visitor has not.  Individual and events that have impacted the history of this small lakefront village is still deeply rooted in today’s everyday life. The Jenny Munger museum at the west end of the village has preserved many mementos of this time since passed. 

The “Strip” or mile long street along Route 531 has always been a draw of this resort village. Picture postcard days brought smiles to children as they frolicked in the Lake Erie waves or walked along the sidewalks of the strip delighting in cotton candy and ice cream. 

Dancing, singing and other live entertainment brought working class citizens from Youngstown and Pittsburgh to enjoy a bit of the high life. Arcades, shooting galleries and other try your luck games offered a chance to throw a little caution to the wind.   

During the 1940’s and 50’s big bands didn’t miss a booking at one of the many entertainment hot spots.  The famous bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller put Geneva-on-the-Lake on the map and were the talk of Monday’s lunch conversation.  Restaurants and rooming houses continued to provide additional amenities to round out one’s stay. 

Today music on the strip is more modern, cars find their way to Lake Erie in less than 3 hours versus a day and the dress is more casual.  No more bustles, overcoats and tight leather tie shoes. But some things never change. 

Tourists now and then still come for the same reasons. Geneva-on-the-Lake has transcended through time, for one simple reason. It has never tried to become something it wasn’t. It's an eclectic mix of fun and entertainment in which all walks of life can appreciate. If you want an authentic, interesting and enjoyable day trip, overnight or week long getaway, Geneva-on-the Lake is just the spot.

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Horizons, the Lodge's glass-enclosed octagonal restaurant overlooking Lake Erie, offers one of the finest dining experiences along the Lake Erie shore.  Chef de Cuisine Christopher Packer, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has created a menu featuring refined American cuisine, using fresh ingredients that showcase the natural, subtle flavors of the food.  Dinner entrees offer wine pairing suggestions, featuring the region’s top wineries.  

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Lima, Ohio
Excerpt from a previous edition of OhioTraveler Magazine

This month, while traveling around the world in Ohio, we discovered Lima.  That’s Lima, Ohio not the capital of Peru. But we’ll tell you about both anyway.   

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DREAMSVILLE

As a child I never liked Dennison.  It seemed a dull, grimy uninviting place.  It reminded me of an unwanted cast-off relic left out in the weather to deteriorate of its own accord.  My puerile perception that placed a shroud of gloom over the town was distorted by childish idealism, but not totally imagined.  

My home community, only a few miles away was bright, cheery and full of life, but Dennison, by contrast seemed to linger somewhere in the past—unkempt and futureless.  There was a lamination of coal dust and soot on the houses, the streets—even the trees and grass appeared tarnished by the ever-present veil.  

Dennison was a railroad town, and not by chance.  It stood at the maximum traveling distance for a steam locomotive, and centered on a major route between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio.  After one hundred miles it was necessary to refuel a steam engine with coal and water—both of which Dennison had in abundance.  

At its peak in the early part of the 20th century, Dennison boasted a roundhouse and related railroad shops covering forty acres. Originally the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad, it became the Pennsylvania Railroad with Dennison as the terminal and headquarters for their Panhandle Division. There were three thousand men employed to handle more than forty freight and passenger trains, spewing smoke, cinders and spent steam, each day—swapping adulterated habitat for a better future. 

However, by the end of the Depression, railroads were in serious decline. The Dennison yards presented a dismal landscape of rusted track appearing randomly laid this way and that with weeds flourishing between the rails. Dennison, no longer a boomtown, was on the edge of economic bust. 

It was paradoxical then, that Dennison became one of the truly bright spots in the memories of countless servicemen.  With the beginning of WWII the fading yards were resurrected, providing a crucial link in the Strategic Corridor for National Defense. Troop trains carried men west for training and back east for deployment overseas. The Dennison Depot was a stop on every run.  Beginning in March of 1942 it housed the Salvation Army Servicemen’s Canteen that operated twenty-four hours, every day of the week, for more than four years. 

Women from the surrounding eight counties in eastern Ohio volunteered their time, and often provisions as well.  I was seven years old when I accompanied my mother and a group of neighborhood women preparing for their contribution. 

Afterwards they talked passionately of the appreciation shown by the uniformed men.  “Soldier boys,” they called them.  Some of the women were motherly while others were reminiscent of girls left behind. They spoke of how the boy’s faces lit up with just a touch, a smile, or a kind word. 

I observed soldiers debarking from the first train of the morning.  In my eyes they were men, but in fact they were only boys. I didn’t have the words to describe what I saw in their faces, but doubtless many were homesick, confused, and frightened of what lay ahead.  

My mother only gave of her time twice. She had gone when needed, but there were so many volunteers that it was unnecessary for anyone to often repeat.  They didn’t consider serving the boys a duty or an obligation. It was a privilege—one held by nearly four thousand women who converged on the Dennison Depot over the war years.  

During that time a million and a half servicemen passed through those yards. Sometimes the stops were so brief that it was necessary for the women to board the trains and hand off the provisions for the boys to distribute, but they saw to it that every last one was served at least coffee and a sandwich.   

It is not surprising that some anonymous conscript on his way to the unknown, and uncertain of return, named Dennison “Dreamsville.”  It provided a memorable vision of comfort and optimism, with a futuristic picture of glorious homecomings. For many it was the last pleasant experience to cling to before activation. 

Today Dennison is a different place. Steam locomotives and coal furnaces are things of the past.  The smudges of an earlier period have long since been washed away and painted over.  The town never returned to the glory days, but the people of Dennison have gone to great effort to preserve its historical significance.  Tourist trains still operate, and the Depot, now in the National Register of Historic Places, houses a museum, restaurant and gift shop. 

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Excerpt from August 09 edition of OhioTraveler by Frank R. Satullo

Printout: Piqua

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In a shrinking world filled with gadgets like GPS devices, destinations are found after satellites triangulate the position. So if you are looking for the ideal place to meet in Southwest Ohio, your position may triangulate from Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus resulting in Wilmington.

Not only is it a retreat from the big cities, it is close enough to take advantage of their hot-spots too. Conveniently intersected by I-71 and close to three International airports and its own county airport for small aircraft, Wilmington is a day’s drive from 60 percent of the U.S. population.

You need six things when selecting the perfect meeting site. Location, location, location are the first three followed by quality, variety and quantity of meeting facilities, restaurants and entertainment.

Business or pleasure, it doesn’t matter, Wilmington and the surrounding Clinton County, can host your group or event. Bookings are frequented by conventions, road shows and executive retreats to weddings, reunions and clubs. Special events feature scrapbooking, antiques, fashion, pottery and dog shows to name several.

The bottom line is that you still have access to the big cities but your meetings are more affordable without sacrificing service or quality.

The Clinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau provides meeting planners with personalized and custom service to ensure every event will be successful. This includes site inspections of hotels and attractions, assistance in securing the accommodations needed, pre-event mailings, welcome packets for guests, and itineraries for group or spousal programs.

It’s no wonder the tag line for Clinton County is “An Open Invitation.”

The Roberts Conference Centre is the region’s largest and most diverse conference facility with 80,000 square feet and 24-foot ceilings. It features large, sweeping exhibition space, a grand ballroom, an executive boardroom, and numerous breakouts perfect for board retreats, strategy meetings, or workshop sessions.  

Other choices for locating meetings that need high tech assistance and modern ambience are the state-of-the-art teleconferencing center at Wilmington College and The Hampton Inn. The teleconferencing center is ideal for smaller groups that require a high tech advantage while the Hampton offers a convenient and resourceful meeting room for up to 100 people, as well as a private board room. Laurel Oaks, another high tech choice, is the perfect location for bringing people together regionally or nationally through video conferencing.  

Aside from the traditional meeting facilities, Clinton County also offers a wide variety of non-traditional meeting space.

The historic and ornate Murphy Theatre is a 750 seat venue available for meetings when not in use for theatrical productions. Another unique place is The Loft. It provides an intimate setting in a 9,000 square-foot ballroom that has two access doors to an elevated outdoor terrace, plus there are private meeting rooms. It is a favorite in historic downtown Wilmington for wedding ceremonies, receptions and rehearsal dinners, plus private and corporate parties, fundraising events, and more. Across the street is The General Denver Hotel known as the epitome of grace and service. Their private meeting space is perfect for groups who want to be treated extra special. And for history buffs, there’s no place to meet like the conference room at The Clinton County History Center.  

Not only is Wilmington and surrounding Clinton County ideal for meeting accommodations, it offers “An Open Invitation” to those desiring a destination that includes fantastic shopping, a relaxing pace, natural beauty, roads less traveled, behind the scene tours, great towns at a great value and one-of-a-kind special events. 

But what really sets Clinton County apart is their world-class hospitality. You’ll arrive as a visitor, but leave as a friend. 

While the three nearby, large metro areas are often an attractive destination point for travelers based on their ability to offer many attractions in a concentrated geographical area, what is often overlooked is an alternative destination. Clinton County is primarily a rural community slightly off the beaten path that has treasures of its own to offer. The ambiance of rural America is not a myth, it is as real as the people who reside there, who cherish old fashioned values, who are neighborly, and who know what it is to be hospitable.

Those who travel rural America are looking for something special. They want to "experience" something. The sight of a sign advertising merchandise that is homegrown and homemade excites them. They know that heritage shapes a community and that if a community preserves its heritage, it has integrity. They find worth in historic relics, architecture, and art. They prefer not to fight the masses when they tour museums, shop for antiques, or decide to end their day with a quiet dinner.

Clinton County and Wilmington are rich in history of bygone days with deep pride for their Quaker heritage. It's a place where unique shopping opportunities prevail, and local artisans display their wares. In Clinton County fresh produce can still be found at roadside stands. Nature is a strong force there, and two area state parks provide every opportunity to enjoy nature at its best. Clinton County is also home to the nation’s only Banana Split Festival. Another favorite event is the Wilmington Art & Pottery Festival. Paying tribute to the areas' deep agricultural roots is the Corn Festival, and for the holiday season, enjoy the thrilling Holidazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival. A video showcasing a variety of Clinton County attractions is available at ClintonCountyOhio.com.