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IT'S ALWAYS RAINING IN CLEVELAND
Well, for nearly 20 years anyway!
Did you know Ohio has a Rainforest? It's in Cleveland and is nearing its 20th anniversary!
I know, the buzz about the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is its African Elephant Crossing opening this month. But as fate would have it, when we showed up to shoot our video feature, it was raining. And by raining, I mean a torrential downpour all day long! That was okay because OhioTraveler isn't about mainstream anyway. We're a little quirky. So we decided to feature the 20th anniversary of the opening of the RainForest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, even if we are a year early.
Separate from the main zoo, ironically, it is the ideal place to spend a rainy day.
Cleveland's RainForest is one of the largest tropical indoor environments in the world. Housed in a massive two-acre, two-story, glass and granite structure, it features more than 10,000 plants and 600 animals from the tropics in the Americas, Africa and Asia. Many are endangered species from threatened habitats.
When you meander through the trees outside and come to a clearing it makes me think of archaeologists stumbling on ancient ruins in a South American jungle. When you enter this temple, you are face-to-face with a pounding waterfall front and center among the wall of greenery and Mayan ruins. It’s an impressive beginning to a great journey. The panoramic view of a soaring jungle environment spanning two open stories met by a glass ceiling and real sky beyond gives you the impression of nature dwarfing man.
The lower level or lower forest winds through a vast array of tropical plants on what is called the Medicine Trail. Sometimes, as with real rainforest, the foliage is so dense, you can’t see beyond the canopy. It includes Lancepod, Balsam, Lipstick and Kapok Trees, many orchids and rare Titan Arum to name some. Then, there’s a break where light pours inward and illuminates the vines hanging from very high above. This is the time to stroll slowly and absorb the beauty all around. Stop to take a closer look and smell the flora.
The huge Kapok Tree connects the lower level to the upper level. You’ll have to climb it. No worries, there are stairs and elevator access.
The upper level or upper forest begins in the Scientists' Hut where anyone can play around with radio dials, pots, canisters, rain gear and other equipment set up to replicate the living conditions of researchers in the field, including stove, shelves of food and other essentials.
The design throughout the RainForest blends the jungle in and out of exhibits making you feel you are a part of it, not just on the outside looking in. Many exhibits have multiple vantage points where you can even see other people on the other side. Surrounded by fauna at every turn, some of the more popular attractions feature the two-toed sloth, orangutans – the youngest is sure to dazzle spectators, giant anteaters, macaws, fishing cats, clouded leopards and other animal names I can’t pronounce or spell.
And that’s not even the half of it!
Venture back to the lower level and experience an indoor tropical rainstorm. That’s right, it rains in the RainForest! Don’t worry, you won’t get wet, unless you reach in the central open air area where the water is sprayed every 12 minutes. The porcupine and mouse deer don’t seem to mind. Other features include the video theater, reptiles, bats, amphibians, spiders, insects and small primates. A neat discovery station has large, sliding, magnifying glasses allowing people to follow along with ants as they tunnel through tubes that make up their habitat.
The “wow” factor is the croc exhibit. The sunken access allows visitors an up-close and personal view as if you were under water with the large gharial croc swimming back and forth within arms’ reach. Perhaps an even bigger “WOW” factor is the rapidly changing counter showing how many acres of rainforest are disappearing every second and how many human beings are added to the world population every second as you exit.
Miscellaneous stops include the Amazon Café and Marketplace (gift shop).
Once you leave the gift shop area and head back to the entrance, you’ll be captivated by the waterfall again but look back and you’ll be glad you did. There is a picturesque stone totem with spirit faces that may make for a nice photo opp to commemorate your visit to Cleveland’s RainForest.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The RainForest, www.clemetzoo.com, are a true jewel of Ohio!
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
TURNS AMISH
The
Amish are leading America in a trendy new technology. Well, new to
corporate America but at Miller’s Bakery, Furniture and Bulk Foods in
Southwest Ohio, it’s been a way of life and business for more than three
decades.
“Thanks to the good Lord’s sun, wind and water, we have never paid an energy bill in over 30 years of being in business,” said Daniel Miller.
Corporate America has taken notice of Amish merchants like the Miller family in West Union, Ohio. Amish businesses in Ohio were even toured during a recent National Solar Energy Conference – which is the largest renewable energy conference in the U.S.
Daniel Miller says they’ve always been a green business. Their power to run their shops come largely from solar and wind energy. They use wind generators that act like an automobile alternator and charges a battery to run fans, cash registers and even a credit card machine. However, he says more consistency is achieved with solar panels.
Green technology blends naturally with the Amish lifestyle. Known for harvesting fresh produce from the earth, baking delectable desserts, handcrafting gorgeous wood furniture, and creating beautiful quilts, Miller’s Bakery, Furniture and Bulk Foods stay true to their roots – withstanding the enormous pressures of the “plugged-in” world outside their paradise of horse and buggy living stretching down Wheat Ridge Road in Adams County, Ohio.
The old saying, they don’t make it like they used to, isn’t even in the lexicon of Miller’s Bakery & Furniture customers.
Out on Wheat Ridge Road the senses dance to the rhythmic spin of a buggy wheel, the harmony of a handcrafted armoire getting fine tuned, and a hypnotizing breeze carrying the oven-fresh-baked apple pie across the field. It’s a special place where time stands still and Sundays are still reserved for God.
Not much has changed in the 30 years since Harry and Lydia Miller settled here. In 1977, they started baking with their six children in the farmhouse. All it took was sharing their baked goods before people stopped by in droves to buy some bread, pies, cinnamon roll, you name it. Harry would often visit Holmes County, Ohio and bring back furniture, which sold, well, like hotcakes. More trips meant more furniture, resulting in more sales. And so the farming days for the Miller’s, raising cattle, hogs, sheep and such gave way to a thriving baking and woodworking business.
More than 30 years later, today, the 300-acre farm has 34,000 square feet of furniture under one roof, plus more outside, and a separate building for the bakery and another for the bulk food store. The cash registers are powered by wind-generated energy. Plus the Miller’s use a lot of solar energy and air compressors. In the parking lot, it’s not uncommon for a horse and buggy to be standing next to a BMW.
The Miller family is in its third generation in their Adams County, Ohio home. Most of Harry and Lydia’s children run things now. Daniel is at the Furniture Store, Larry at the Bakery, and Harry Jr. at the Bulk Food Store. Malinda helps too. The other two sons, Gerold and David come back often to visit. All together, the six children have provided Harry and Lydia 20 grandkids. With that, the family business and legacy looks like it will continue well into the foreseeable future, God willing.
Throughout the remainder of 2011, the Miller’s have special events planned. They say their special event discounts are their best way to show appreciation to all those that have kept them in business for over three decades.
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May 13, 2011: School Benefit Auction.
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May 27, 28 and 30, 2011 (note: closed the 29th): Storewide memorial weekend sale offering 10 percent off all items in stock (furniture store only). Excludes all outdoor buildings, gazebos and select bedroom sets.
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May 28, 2011: Miller's Art Fair.
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July 2, 2011: Miller's Art Fair.
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September 1, 2, 3 and 5, 2011 (note: closed the 4th): Labor day sale offers 10 percent off all items in stock (furniture store only). Excludes all outdoor buildings, gazebos and select bedroom sets. It is recommended to order order early for Christmas.
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September 3, 2011 is the 14th annual Amish School Benefit Cookout. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, fresh pie, homemade ice cream, coffee and soft drinks.
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September 3, 2011: Miller's Art Fair.
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October 1, 2011 is the 34th annual Miller's Anniversary Customer Appreciation Day offering the free 2012 Miller's calendar complete with special event dates. The menu includes BBQ chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, fresh pie, homemade ice cream, coffee and soft drinks.
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September 23, 2011: School Benefit Auction.
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November 25 & 26, 2011: Storewide Thanksgiving Sale offering 10 percent off all items in stock (furniture store only). Excludes all outdoor buildings, gazebos and select bedroom sets.
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December 26 – 31, 2011 features the End of Year Clearance Sale! This includes free coffee and cookies at the bakery, free cheese and candy samples at the Bulk Foods Store and 10 percent off all items in stock (furniture store only). Excludes all outdoor buildings, gazebos and select bedroom sets.
For a day in the country, Miller’s is a crossroads in time. The Amish offerings at Miller’s Bakery, Furniture and Bulk Foods are plentiful and diverse. You name it they have it. But if by chance they don’t, they’ll make it – just like they’ve been doing for 30 years.
For more information, visit www.ohiotraveler.com/ohio_amish_stores.htm.
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DUDE RANCH IN OHIO
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Ohio was known as the “Gateway State" to the Wild West more than a century ago because its trails, rivers, canals and railways connected the eastern states to the open plains of the west. So when people today look for an authentic experience living, working and vacationing all at the same time on a real dude ranch, they naturally think they must go west. That is until their search for the best dude ranches in the country uncovers a golden nugget known as KD Guest Ranch in Adamsville, Ohio where they are Bringin’ The West to the East!
From the get-go, Kari (K) and Dave (D) Burkey turn on the charm at KD Guest Ranch. It is nestled in rolling hills untouched by man as far as the eyes can see, spanning 550 acres of family land. There, they lasso up trail rides, team penning, dude rodeo, evening entertainment, BBQ, and a whole lot more! The first thing that takes hold of the psyche is the serenity of it all. The setting is better than the actual west. It is not dry, barren, brown and flat, oh no! It is vividly colorful with wood lines, green pastures and valleys with watering holes that provide some old-fashioned cowboy kicks. Take an afternoon swim, canoe ride or just fish.
Some guests find the lodge life their speed and get lost in a novel on a comfy sofa in the rustic library flush with natural light. It’s where Kari permanently sealed a chest of Dave’s old rodeo gear from his bull riding days. The three square meals Dave and his dad cook up for guests will be some of the best eatin’ you’ve ever done in your life. And you’ll never miss a meal because you can hear that metal triangle being rung near and far signaling, “Get it while it’s hot!”
The saloon has plenty of table space to spread out, billiards, fireplace and some evenings, a cowboy pluckin’ away at the guitar singing the night away while card games, conversation and laughter echo throughout the lodge. When it’s time to retire to your guest quarters, you hit the trail and land in your cozy cabin done up special to make sure you never leave “the west.”
Once everyone is settled in and strangers become friends, you are matched with your horse for your 4 – 6 day stay. During orientation you will observe a round pen demonstration and see how horses are trained. This lesson teaches horse psychology, how to ride and tack your horse. Pay attention because you will be responsible for getting, grooming, and saddling your horse.
When the dusty trails come a calling, you’ll enjoy nature’s vistas, riding the fence lines and driving cattle. Afterward, it’s time for some cowboy fun. Enter the arena for rodeo games where you can learn to pen calves by separating three at a time from the herd and heading them into a small pen. With experience you may partake in timed team penning and whoop up a whole lot of rootin’ and hollering. Try not to say, “Yee-Ha!” When you git’r done.
For those who like to rough it, there’s an optional overnight excursion that’ll allow you to cook over an open fire and sleep under the stars or in a primitive cabin. But if that’s keepin’ it too real, gather round the bon fire or poker table and listen to live music back at the lodge.
Even cowboys take a day off here and there and when they do, you can usually find them gathered at the nearest swimming hole. In this case, it’s a small lake complete with floating dock, water slide, pedal boats and canoe. Spend the afternoon swimming, reading or playing horseshoes and volleyball. And when you get hungry, no worries, food comes to you. While you’re having fun in the sun, the barbecue is on. A really long picnic table waits with all the fixings for a feast amidst the breezy shelter of shade trees.
Throughout the stay, food is a plenty. Whenever you find yourself parched, no matter where on the ranch that may be, there are pitchers of lemonade, iced tea and water served up. Fruit, ice cream bars and other snacks accompany it. The main meals are served in a variety of ways from family style to buffet style, and of course cowboy style. Bacon, eggs and grits may greet you in the morning, followed by a tasty lunch only to be topped by a lip smackin’ dinner with BBQ ribs or a thick juicy steak, not to mention fresh vegetables and mouth watering homemade desserts. Common words you’re bound to hear meal after meal are, “I need that recipe.” You may be surprised that Kari and Dave are more than happy to give it to you. If someone has special dietary needs, no worries, your menu will be prearranged.
Other amenities include a game room, hot tub, massage and exercise space and conference rooms.
KD Guest Ranch usually entertains smaller groups so that everyone feels like they’re part of the extended family. Just a stone’s throw from the lodge, there are four cabins that can accommodate up to 15 people. The cabins are spacious with a rustic ranch decor but also include modern amenities. Watch the sun rise or set from the sprawling porch sipping a drink or passing time in a rocking chair.
Dave takes special care in putting together his groups. When families, couples or individuals want to book 4 – 6 nights, they are matched to optimize camaraderie when possible. In addition, there are opportunities to book exclusive family reunions, corporate retreats and team building groups, as well as church, scout and other groups.
KD Guest Ranch is only several years old so everything from the barn, lodge and cabins appears to be brand new! And it’s clean as a whistle anywhere you go on the grounds. Located in the Southeast Ohio foot hills of Appalachia country, KD Guest Ranch is ideally located for folks to mosey on over from any corner of Ohio, the surrounding states and across the Midwest.
Learn more about KD Guest Ranch by calling 740-796-0099 or visiting www.kdguestranch.com. Mention "OhioTraveler" and receive 10% off anytime during the month of July, 2011.
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
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Is An Extraordinary Experience!
Would you soon forget if you bounced to your heart’s content on a 40’ X 60’ jumping pillow inside a barn on stilts, blasted loved ones with paint pellets, had an old-fashioned hayride, rode a barrel train, ran through tunnels, rolled down a mountainous dirt pile or boarded a huge play ship?
Niederman Family Farm not only offers such fun year-round but also farm animals galore.
Don’t worry about details. That’s what farm-hands are for. No matter if it’s a party for 20 or 300 it will be an unusual and remarkable experience. Whether you preorder pizza, cake and soft drinks or bring your own, the Niedermans greet party goers with a friendly host, pavilion, playground, birthday tee shirt, and plenty of activities to fill at least a couple of hours with a rollicking good time.
Start with the 70’ X 120’ barn on stilts!
The innovative construction houses the newest addition to the Niederman stable of party thrills. It features a gigantic jumping pillow. The engineering of the building allows for a natural breeze to cool its jumpers and provides shelter so that the fun never ends. It even has lighting to allow people of all ages to be kids late into the night. One of the amenities includes a 24’ X 70’ observation deck complete with PA system throughout to efficiently host parties.
Next, shoot ‘em up fun!
Run around the woods and fields on Niederman Family Farm chasing friends, family, classmates, or even co-workers trying to pop a cap in their gluteus maximus.
You don’t need to bring a thing – they provide everything paintball for you. If you want smaller speedball courses with bunkers and barriers, there are six different varieties. If you prefer more strategy and want to cover vast areas of woods and streams, there are three woods fields.
Families come for the fun of seeing three generations laughing like they are all 12-years-old. Even scout and church groups use the activity for the sheer fun of it. Any skill level and any size group can reserve a field of play. Weather is never a factor because pavilions and barns to keep everyone dry for parties while not on the field of play and the games go on no matter what the weather conditions.
Niederman Family Farm is a working farm in the middle of Cincinnati and Dayton’s ever encroaching suburbs. In its fourth generation, the Niederman’s have diversified parts of their farm in order to survive and preserve their way of life.
Ongoing activities feature barn rentals, primitive cabins (with heat and air conditioning), bonfire pits and many seasonal events plus group tours. Group accommodations are routinely made for families, Mom’s clubs, school groups, day care centers and home school groups. The Niederman’s also accommodate large family reunions and corporate events in a restored 1890s barn with modern amenities.
Niederman Family Farm is located at 5110 LeSourdsville-West Chester Road in Liberty Township, Ohio between Cincinnati and Dayton. Reservations are required. Call 513-779-6184 or visit www.niedermanfamilyfarm.com if you want to run around and have fun outside. And if it’s going to be outside, it might as well be at Niederman Family Farm.
By Frank R. Satullo, the OhioTraveler
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The Scene You Should Make
“Indian Lake is the scene you should make in the summertime” crooned The Cowsills in 1968 and although it was not about Logan County’s lake, it has become its unofficial anthem. This year the annual Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Home and Garden Tour, Sunday, June 12, 12-6 pm, featuring homes and gardens in the historical Indian Lake area.
Two homes, a private gated community, and a spectacular garden are on the agenda this year. Both homes are located “on the lake” with scenic views and nautical décor. Visitors will be able to board a “pontoon taxi” that will run every fifteen minutes and ferry them to all the other sites on the tour. Captains on the pontoon boats will share the unique history of Indian Lake, including its formation and use in the early canal system.
Woodland Estates is a private gated community located on the northwest side of the lake in Lakeview. Each of the homes is as different as the owners who live there. Complete with pond, dog walk, playground and shelter house, visitors will have the opportunity to view a display by the Logan County Historical Society and partake of some picnic finger food and maybe even stroll along the paved walking paths. There will also be light refreshments and desserts, prepared by some of Logan County’s best caterers available at Woodland Park Estates the day of the tour.
Whether driving the tour on your own or taking the “pontoon taxi,” the scenic Indian Lake area will provide an afternoon of relaxation. Presale tickets are $15 and are available online at www.logancountyohio.com or at the Chamber office, 100 S. Main St., Bellefontaine. Tickets will also be available the day of the event at any stop for $20. See the website for more information. Come rain, come shine to beautiful Indian Lake in Logan County, Ohio.
Other great events and attractions are offered in Ohio’s Historic West. See a complete listing of events and attractions at www.OhiosHistoricWest.com. Ohio's Historic West" is a State Designated Heritage Area dedicated to the development of cultural and heritage tourism in an eight county area; Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Shelby and Van Wert.
Sponsored Content
Ohio’s Hocking Hills Region Offers
an Antidote to Technology Overload
and it’s FREE!
With the
summer travel seasons fast approaching, the Hocking Hills region is the
perfect antidote to technology. Best of all, you can experience the
wonders of nature for
FREE in Southeast
Ohio’s Hocking Hills!
The Great Outdoors
The Hocking Hills is all about outdoor adventures. The Hocking Hills State Park is the ultimate hiking destination with trails leading past sparkling waterfalls, through prehistoric caves and up cliffs with panoramic views of the Appalachian foothills, all for FREE. Canoe or kayak down the Hocking River. Explore by horseback – the Hocking State Forest bridle trails are rated among the top 10 in the WORLD! Take adventure to new heights with rock climbing and rappelling or get up close and personal with wildlife in a kayak. Affordable eco adventures galore are awaiting you in the Hocking Hills.
In addition to boasting the Midwest’s first zipline canopy tour, Hocking Hills Canopy Tours is adding a new Night Flight tour for visitors with nocturnal instincts. Beginning in May, this two-hour nighttime tour will be available on Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors brave enough to zip through the dark will join the nighttime creatures along six ziplines and four sky bridges. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours will continue to host its popular daytime canopy tours and SuperZip.
Hocking Hills Scenic Air Tours
Although pilot Harry Sowers has been flying for more than 40 years, the air tours he began offering a few years ago have continued to grow in popularity. Visitors to Hocking Hills can get a bird’s eye view of the landscape with a 20 to 60 minute pilot-guided tour of the region. Flights take off from the Vinton County airport and can carry up to three passengers.
Climb inside the OGO Ball, by yourself or with friends! Hocking Peaks offers single person, double person, and triple person OGO balls, as well as the H2OGO which can accommodate up to three people! With four different courses, including the longest OGO course in the U.S., everyone can have the time of their lives! Be one of the first to experience the hill ...err, thrill of a lifetime
One-of-a-Kind Museums
The Columbus Washboard Company Museum – Opens May 7
This May, the area will welcome a new Washboard Museum, thanks to the Columbus Washboard Company, the oldest remaining washboard manufacturer in the world. The museum will feature a 45 minute tour of the washboards, used for a variety of purposes, from music, to laundry and even household décor. The Columbus Washboard Company is also known for the annual Washboard Music Festival and for providing washboards to troops overseas.
Pencil Sharpener Museum – Opens May 11
Also in May, the Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum will reopen at the Hocking Hills Welcome Center in Logan. Created by Paul Johnson, the museum features an international collection of more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners, the largest collection in America. Previously operated by the Johnsons from their home, the new location will allow visitors to delight in the colorful, utilitarian objects daily.
Hocking Hills Events
Washboard Music Festival – June 16 – 18
Logan is home to the last remaining washboard manufacturer in the country. The Washboard Music Festival is a celebration of the local culture and Americana. The legendary Arnett Howard kicks off the Festival on Thursday evening followed by two days of music entertainment including Dixieland, Blues, Swing, Hot Jazz, Jugband, Bluegrass, Funky Creole, Old-Time Country, Ragtime and even Celtic. In addition to our toe-tappin' music the Festival presents arts and crafts from many of our area's Appalachian artisans; a beautiful quilt show featuring quilts from Brown County, Ohio; an exhibit from the Civil War era; great food; tours of the Columbus Washboard Company; antique tractors and hit 'n miss engines; Saturday Night's parade and much, much more. And, we can't forget the FREE kid's rides and entertainment by the world famous puppeteer Grandpa Cratchet, the Old Coot himself.
Lilyfest – July 8 – 10
A celebration of nature held in the Bishop Educational Gardens featuring 3 acres of artistically designed gardens, ponds and garden sculptures. The juried art show features over 70 area artists displaying, demonstrating and marketing their products. Professional horticulturists will have plants for sale and the OSU Master Gardeners will answer questions on plant growing and maintenance. Musical entertainment is provided by bagpipers, dulcimers, Country and Appalachian musicians. Special tours are available for persons with disabilities. Please, no pets at Lilyfest.
Rootwire Music & Art Festival – August 4 - 7
Rootwire 2011 will feature 50+ Musical Acts, 50+ Visual Artists, 3 Stages, a Massive Live Art Circus tent, a Silent Disco Stage with 2 mixes at a time, Massive Art Installations, Graffiti Walls, raised hooping and poi stands in front of all stages, Body Painting, Tipi Ceremonial Center, Workshops, Speakers, Morning Yoga/Meditation, Shower House with hot water, Fresh water taps all over the grounds, Forest Lighting, camp by your car or camp in the shaded woods – you choose.
Hocking Hills Indian Run – September 17
Beginning at the Hocking Hills State Park Dining Lodge, the Indian Run winds through vast wooded areas of the Hocking Hills State Park and Hocking State Forest, crossing streams, deep gorges, shimmering waterfalls and lush forests, leading uphill and down. The Indian Run is the ultimate challenge to the runner’s power of concentration. Choose between a 5k, 10k, 20k, 40k or 60k course.
Accommodations for All Budgets
Cozy cabins pepper the hills and offer accommodations for couples and families. Larger groups can enjoy a vacation lodge with private in-ground swimming pool, game room, state-of-the-art kitchen and plenty of bedrooms and baths for the whole gang. Indulge in romantic spa resorts. Experience aware winning camping or choose a comfortable hotel.
Complete traveler information on accommodations, festivals and the many sites in the Hocking Hills region is available at www.1800Hocking.com or toll-free at 1-800-Hocking (800-462-5464).
For more information about visiting the Hocking Hills, check out www.1800hocking.com, become a fan of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association on Facebook follow us on Twitter or join the conversation on the Hocking Hills blog.
Check out the winning homemade video from last winter's Hocking Hills video contest - www.1800hocking.com/videocontest/.
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SAVINGS ALERT!
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Ride and Roar Family Vacation. Your three-day Ride and Roar Getaway includes, 4 tickets to Kings Island, 4 tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo, 2-nights lodging with FREE Breakfast at one of four exclusive hotels, FREE money-saving coupons and discounts to local merchants and restaurants. Book now and Save at www.rideandroar.com.
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Want travel
deals and discounts at Ohio's Lake Erie Shores and Islands? Print and present
your Shore Savings card to take advantage of these great discounts and offers
at many local attractions, shops, restaurants, and even lodging accommodations!
http://www.shoresandislands.com/visitors/specials/
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Family fun is heating up in Preble County’s
Hueston Woods State Park Lodge. Package includes two nights of lodging, S'mores
fixings for four, marshmallow roasting sticks, box of firewood, a movie rental,
hiking kit (compass and hiking trail map), two-hour use of a global positioning
system (GPS) unit for guests who enjoy geocaching and value coupon book. Rates
start at $115.00 per night.
http://www.huestonwoodsstateparklodge.com/Packages-884.html#smore
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Bridges, Bikes & Blues, Saturday, June 18th. Register by June 1st, save $5 & get a free T-shirt! Preble County Historical Society’s 63 mile tour of 7 Covered Bridges, collect chances to win prizes at each bridge, arrive at Main St. party with live music, bike contest, beer & food.
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Mothers day sale! First 100 moms get a free gift.
Be sure to see the new outdoor furniture on display. Also, Free delivery of barns if within 100 miles
and free delivery and set-up of gazebos within 50 miles! http://www.ohiotraveler.com/keim_family_market.htm
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Don’t miss our 13th annual Country Garden Mother’s Day! We’ll give a FREE "Knock-Out Double Red" rose bush to the first 1200 mothers attending our three-day party! www.goodseedfarm.com
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May 27, 28 and 30, 2011 (note: closed the 29th): Storewide memorial weekend sale offering 10 percent off all items in stock (furniture store only). Excludes all outdoor buildings, gazebos and select bedroom sets. http://www.ohiotraveler.com/ohio_amish_stores.htm
OhioTraveler.com's focus is on admission-FREE tourism. Most sections of OhioTraveler.com feature places with FREE ADMISSION at the very top of menu options. Find your free fun now:
Museums and Halls of Fame
Planes, Trains, Autos & Maritime
Historic Homes, Villages & Farms
In addition to featuring freebies and places worth the price of admission, OhioTraveler.com seeks the more interesting and unique in Ohio tourism. Instead of endless listings of events, lodging, restaurants and stores, we veer away from mainstream and choose the road less traveled. Take a look:
Lodging & Getaways
Restaurants & Eateries
Unique Shops & Shopping
Interesting Ohio Towns
Performing Arts
Wineries & Vineyards
Festivals & Events
Or search all attractions by region:
Northeast Ohio
Southeast Ohio
Central Ohio
Northwest Ohio
Southwest Ohio
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Ohio travel and tourism guide to Ohio tourist attractions and Ohio vacation destinations in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and all Ohio featuring Ohio travel information on festivals and events, tours, museums, arts, restaurants, lodging, wineries, parks, historic sites, outdoor activities, recreation and leisure activities and entertainment coupons, discounts and other travel deals along Ohio's roads less traveled.
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Auglaize & Mercer County CVB
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GoodSeed Farm
Granny's Garden School
Great Mohican Pow Wow
Hocking Hills Tourism Association
KD
Guest Ranch
Keim
Family Market
Lake Erie Shores & Islands
Lake
Erie Marine Trades Assoc
Lima / Allen County CVB
Miami County Visitors
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Millers Furniture & Bakery
Niederman Family Farm
Ohio Caverns
Ohio's Historic West
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Put-In-Bay Chamber
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GET THE CARP
OUTTA HERE!
for Cash and Prizes
A family fun fishing tournament on Grand Lake St. Marys in early June promises to be a boat-load of fun. The 3-day weekend event will take place June 3 - 5, 2011.
The tournament has a guaranteed payout of over $3000 in cash and prizes. Participants can register at numerous locations around the lake; the cost is $5.00 per person for the entire weekend. Not only is this designed to be a fun for the whole family event, it also gives everyone a chance to help out and join the Lake Restoration Commission in their efforts to bring Grand Lake St. Marys back into ecological balance.
Carp are overly abundant in Grand Lake St Marys. So reducing the number of Carp is one small piece of the plan to improve the water quality in the lake. The carp population increases turbidity the water, making it difficult for native fish populations to breathe and find food. Bottom feeding carp uproot aquatic plants, reduce aquatic habitats and re-suspend phosphorus form the lake bottom. Carp also produce a great amount of phosphorus. All of which contribute to blue-green algae growth.
The tournament begins at 5pm on Friday, June 3rd and continues until 5pm on Sunday evening. You can fish for an hour or for the entire two days. The carp will be recorded at the weigh-in stations at the east & west bank boat launch areas Saturday June 4th from 9am to 5pm and Sunday June 5th from 10am to 5pm. The fish can be caught by any means legal in Ohio including hook & line, long bows, cross bows, spears, gigs and hand grabbing. Join in on all the fun and for your share of more than $3,000 in cash & prizes all while helping improve the water quality of Grand Lake St Marys!
Daily and total tournament prizes will be awarded for both the largest and the most fish caught. Tournament and door prize winners will be announced at 7pm on Sunday evening, June 5th at Big Bamboos Dockside Grill, 725 West Bank Road, Celina, Ohio. The official “Get the Carp Outta Here” celebration location, there will be food & drink specials and fun and games all day Sunday to help promote the tournament fun.
For the official rules, prizes and registration locations for the “Get the Carp Outta Here” fishing derby tournament, please contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties Convention & Visitors Bureau 1-800-860-4726 or visit www.SeeMore.org.
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BLOOD BATH AT
DARK WOODS
There’s gonna be a blood bath at Dark Woods Outdoor Theatre this Summer!
The Summer-based outdoor company will present the cult-hit Evil Dead The Musical, based on the 1980’s zombie flick of the same name from Producer/Director Sam Raimi (Spiderman, Drag Me To Hell, The Quick And The Dead). This hilarious stage show takes all the elements of the cult classic horror films, Evil Dead 1, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness then combines them to make one of the craziest theatrical experiences of all time.
“We’ve been preparing for this production since 2009,” says Matt Schmitter, Dark Woods General Manager, “we are in construction on a new stage to accommodate the elaborate special effects and to allow us to run our annual production of The Legend of Saran con-currently with Evil Dead.”
For the theatre fans that like a little blood with their musicals, Evil Dead The Musical tells the story of five college students who go to an abandoned cabin in the woods, and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them all into demons. It's all up to Ash (a housewares employee, turned demon killing hero), and his trusty chainsaw to save the day. Blood flies. Limbs are dismembered. Demons are telling bad jokes... and all to music.
Traditionally, wherever the show is performed, usually includes a “splatter zone.” Normally the first few rows of seats closest to the stage. Dark Woods, in their traditional extreme style, are calling the entire area a splatter zone.
“We are planning on using over 100 gallons of blood per performance,” Rusty Lowry, Special Effects Designer, “so everyone in the audience will get some sort of blood on them.”
For those concerned, the Dark Woods blood recipe is based on a laundry detergent formula which washes right out.
Dark Woods Theatre Company produced their first production in 2006 and features an annual production of The Legend of Saran which is based on an incident that happened on the Dark Woods grounds.
Tickets to Dark Woods Outdoor Theatre’s production of Evil Dead The Musical are already on sale at their website or at holdmyseats.com.
Performances begin at 9:15pm on June 24, June 25, July 1, July 2, July 3, July 8, July 9, July 15, July 16, July 22, July 23, July 29, July 30, August 5, August 6, August 12 and August 13, 2011.
Dark Woods Outdoor Theatre is located at 4484 Stover Rd, Ostrander Ohio 43061.
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in Columbus
Controversy: Pieces You Don’t Normally See is at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus.
It features the electric chair from the old Ohio Penitentiary, a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, a sheepskin condom, a crib-bed cage that restrained patients at a state mental institution and a thumb mitt once used to prevent children from sucking their thumbs.
The exhibit is an innovative departure from previous exhibits in that it focuses on a limited collection of objects and provides limited interpretation of the objects for the visitor.
Controversy will feature objects from the permanent collection of the Ohio Historical Society. For most visitors, this will be the first opportunity to see these objects in a museum setting.
“Objects are not controversial—they are neutral,” said Sharon E. Dean, Ph.D., director of Museum and Library Services, and one of the senior staff at Ohio Historical Society who helped envision the exhibit. “We give objects meaning by projecting our own memories, emotions or prejudices onto them. And those meanings change over time. Each object represents a part of Ohio’s history and we encourage visitors to this exhibit to find their own ways to connect to the objects.”
Traditionally, history museums have used objects to explain a great deal about historical subjects from a scholarly point of view. For this exhibit, rather than explain their significance, the Ohio Historical Society felt it was important to allow these objects to stand on their own, according to Dean.
Burt Logan, executive director of the Ohio Historical Society said, “It’s important to find a safe space to explore controversial subjects. We think this is one of the attributes of this exhibit, to generate conversations about complex issues in Ohio’s history. Ohio, as a pivotal center of history, has been involved in many challenging issues. When viewing these pieces, we suggest that you consider their places in their original context and think about how they may relate to basic beliefs in a democratic society.”
Studies show that layers of content serve to desensitize the visitor and don’t allow the objects to stand on their own. The Ohio Historical Society is using this innovative approach so that an institutional voice would not interfere with a visitor’s honest reaction.
“It’s risky, but we respect the citizens and guests of Ohio and are looking forward to learning their reactions,” Dean said. “It’s a curious phenomenon about objects. They are neutral in and of themselves, yet their presence in a space can evoke very powerful reactions. That’s why one really has to experience the exhibit to explore personal reactions to the objects. I promise you, after you experience the exhibits, you will have reactions you want to share.”
The Ohio Historical Society is working with a design team from Howard and Revis located in Washington, D.C. They have worked on sensitive and highly attended exhibits, including the September 11th Memorial, the National Museum of the American Indian and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
To encourage dialogue and facilitate the exchange of ideas on different topics related to the exhibition, the Ohio Historical Society is planning a program series where discussions take place. All events will take place at the Ohio Historical Center.
Controversy: Pieces You Don’t Normally See is the first installation in a series of exhibits bringing objects to light that may be whispered about or generally held back from public view. Dean explained that a goal of the exhibit was to “shed light on lesser seen pieces in the permanent collection and to underscore that all pieces which have played a part in Ohio history warrant a forum for discussion and a place for viewing.”
The exhibit is limited to visitors age 18 or over or those accompanied by an adult. A special exhibit admission charge of $5 will be in addition to the regular admission charge. The exhibit will be on view until November 20, 2011.
The Ohio Historical Center is open Thursdays from 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and, beginning April 3, Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Admission is $8/adults, $7/seniors, $4/youths (6-12) and free for children age 5 and under and Ohio Historical Society members. For more information, call 800.686.6124 or visit at ohiohistory.org/controversy.
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