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Ohio Caverns

Hi, I’m The OhioTraveler,
Your Tour Guide to Fun.

Let’s check out America’s most colorful caverns!

The Crystal King is one of the largest perfectly shaped stalactites found anywhere. It is nearly five feet after 200,000 years of growth.

Ohio Caverns also has rare stalactites called helictites or “soda straws.”
Somehow, they grow longer in a way that seems to defy gravity,
twisting in weird directions.

Other intriguing formations get their custom name,
like the “Old Town Pump.”
It looks like it sounds. It even drips water (sometimes)!

Then there’s the Palace of the Gods.
It’s a massive subterranean chamber with
a plethora of stalactites, stalagmites, and columns,
creating a visual wonderland.

These are just some of the highlights of this iconic
Ohio family destination,
which has dazzled the minds of visitors for generations.

Enjoy Your Travels 😉

A Fresh-Air Getaway of History, Art, Shopping, and Outdoor Fun

Spring is one of the best times to experience Marion, Ohio. As trees bud, trails come alive, and museums reopen for the season, visitors discover a community rich in history, creativity, and outdoor adventure — all anchored by a growing and thriving downtown filled with local shops and eateries.

Rather than a quick day trip, Marion invites travelers to turn their visit into a relaxed overnight getaway. With beautifully decorated modern and historic short-term rentals offering unique stays (alongside familiar national hotel brands), visitors can choose accommodations that fit every travel style and budget.

Unique to 2026, a great way to begin exploring is America 250 Marion’s Trails, Tales & Treasures app, a free mobile experience that turns sightseeing into a fun, interactive scavenger hunt. Each month features a new themed trail that guides participants to landmarks across Marion County, where users answer questions, uncover local stories, and earn entries for a chance to win prizes. It’s an easy way to build your itinerary while discovering the character and heritage that make Marion special.

Pair that experience with Marion’s expanding trail network, refreshed museums, vibrant public art, and presidential history, and you have the ingredients for a well-rounded itinerary.

Begin your Spring Itinerary Downtown.  Upon arrival, open the Trails, Tales & Treasures app and select the current trail. As you make your way around Marion, notifications will pop up to help you learn about Marion’s people, places, and stories.  Explore downtown and keep an eye out for the vibrant Cardinal Project sculptures — 17 hand-painted cardinal statues created by local artists and placed throughout the city. Each piece reflects Marion’s heritage, creativity, and community pride, offering a fun photo opportunity and a unique way to experience public art.  Shop and dine Downtown Marion, where continued development includes locally owned boutiques, specialty shops, and inviting eateries. Visitors can enjoy breakfast or coffee, browse unique gifts and artisan goods, and soak up the welcoming small-town atmosphere before heading to the next stop.

Move your day along with Marion Museums & Culture.  Spring marks the reopening of several beloved museums after winter exhibit resets.  Marion County Historical Society at Heritage Hall invites guests to explore the stories that shaped Marion County, from early settlement and industry to community milestones, and learn how Marion’s chapter fits into the state and national stories. Also at Heritage Hall, the Wyandot Popcorn Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of antique popcorn wagons and poppers, offering a fun and nostalgic family experience. A short drive across town brings you to the Huber Machinery Museum, showcasing historic tractors, steam engines, and heavy machinery that reflect Marion’s industrial and agricultural innovation.

After museum visits, return downtown to enjoy lunch at one of Marion’s locally owned restaurants, offering everything from casual comfort food to sit-down dining. And if the spring weather cooperates, enjoy patio dining or grab-and-go options to keep your itinerary moving.

Include fresh air and outdoor adventures with Marion Trails.  Choose an outdoor experience that fits your lifestyle.  Stay in the city and enjoy the Lincoln Park Walking Path.  Enjoy fresh air on the new leisure path at Lincoln Park, perfect for walking, biking, or skating. The path improves connectivity within the park and creates an easy, accessible option for families and fitness enthusiasts. Venture into the county for the Marion Tallgrass Trail – a paved rail trail ideal for biking, walking, birdwatching, and enjoying spring blooms and wildlife.  Or hit up Quarry Park & Wicked Walt’s Mountain Bike Trail – a more adventurous option featuring wooded scenery, quarry-lake views, and the popular Wicked Walt’s singletrack trail for intermediate riders.

The fresh air and outdoor activities will have you ready to enjoy dinner at one of many locally owned restaurants across the city.  No matter what you’re hungry for – Mexican, Chinese, Italian, or American cuisine – you won’t be disappointed! Add an evening stroll to one of Marion’s drinkeries and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the walkable downtown district.

After a full day, settle in for the night at the accommodations of your choosing.

Begin your day 2 itinerary with a sweet breakfast of donuts from local favorite Andrew’s Pastries and a cup of your favorite morning beverage from a local coffee shop.

Then make your way to Marion’s nationally significant Harding Presidential Sites for day 2 discoveries.  Spend the morning exploring the beautifully restored Harding Home, where President Warren G. Harding lived and delivered his front porch campaign speech. Continue to the Presidential Library & Museum, where engaging exhibits bring his story and leadership to life. Browse the gift shop and enjoy a bonus walk-through of the Press House. A visit to the Harding Memorial offers a striking monument honoring President and First Lady Harding, the largest memorial to a president outside Washington, D.C.

Before heading home, do a little more shopping, grab some sandwiches and sweets for the road, and start planning your next trip to Marion.

From interactive heritage trails and colorful public art to scenic paths, refreshed museums, local shopping, and presidential landmarks, Marion delivers a spring getaway that blends discovery, relaxation, and community charm. Whether visitors follow this itinerary step by step or create their own adventure, Marion offers plenty of reasons to explore, linger, and return.

Click here for more information or to request a visitor guide.

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Atop Freedom Hill sits a small home with a big history.

The modest red brick house was built in 1825 and became one of the most active stops along the Underground Railroad for escaped slaves. After the dangerous crossing of the Ohio River, they lie in wait for the signal – a candle shining in the window.

Then came the strenuous ascent up the steep hillside. When feet finally hit the steps to the home, many collapsed in exhaustion and joy before rising one more time for the sprint to the door.

Abolitionist and Reverand John Rankin, his wife, and thirteen children never lost a “passenger” along their trek of the line. Over the years, the Underground Railroad’s dedicated “Rankin Conductors” cared for more than 2,000 “passengers” who secretly stayed at their house.

The novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe cites an incredible story of a lady pushing her child across the thin river ice. She was desperate to get to the Rankin’s little house on the big hill. Her treacherous journey met face-to-face with a slave hunter waiting for her on the Ohio side. But her determination so moved him that he let her pass.

Although Ohio was a free state, crossing the river didn’t make slaves suddenly free. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 meant runaway slaves could be apprehended in free states and returned to slavery. The Underground Railroad had to get its “passengers” into Canada.

The Rankin House has been restored to authentically reflect the time the family lived in it, helping to help folks find freedom. Yet, the original floorboards weren’t touched because they were in great shape. The tour is about 30 minutes, but the time spent on that historic hillside taking in the sprawling view or hiking down to the river is as long as you like.

Click here to plan your visit.

For an extraordinary adventure, explore the snowy trails at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park to discover a herd of bison roaming freely within two enclosed pastures that span 18-acres of the 7,000-acre park. The terrain includes rolling prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.

Herds of wild bison were last seen in Ohio more than 200 years ago. Bison are well insulated for the winter cold as their hide is very dense and the fur around their heads is so thick that they can face a blizzard. During a snowstorm, bison sometimes look like they are buried in snow because it does not melt on their backs.

“If they did not shake off the snow, you could build a snowman on their back,” said Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Nature Center Senior Naturalist Debbie Ruppersburg.

Since the trails around the bison pastures can range from easy to more difficult, visitors may want to stop at the nature center to locate the herd first. There are mounted binoculars on the elevated terrace that can be used to scan the horizon.

But to expedite a wintry trek to get closer to these massive animals, a tower camera may be accessed to project its view onto a large touch-screen. There’s a control to pan side-to-side or to zoom in or out to locate the herd. Still, there’s no guarantee that the herd will stand in one place long enough for the expedition party to arrive. People who choose not to hike can still help by staying at the indoor controls and relaying by phone the herd’s movement. It’s a unique experience that everyone can partake in.

A sunset bison walk is magical.

Hey, Ohio, get out to the great indoors of “The Buckeye State”
and beat the winter blahs!

Click the following for nearly 200 possibilities for winter daytrip fun.

Museums and Halls of Fame

Art Museums and Galleries

Historical Museums

Planes, Trains, Auto and Maritime Museums

Ohio has everything from the biggies such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Football Hall of Fame and a variety of art museums to the iconic tributes to The Wright Brothers and Annie Oakley to the oddities featuring trolls, pencil sharpeners and cardboard boats.

Now, go see something you never imagined before with Ohio’s great indoors!

Enjoy A Romantic Getaway in Medina County

February stands like a warm, love-filled beacon in the middle of an otherwise chilly, snow-covered landscape across Ohio. Shake off that cabin fever and plan a memorable (and affordable) couples’ getaway. One of the best places for couples to celebrate this lovely mid-winter gift is Medina County, where you can enjoy everything from an intimate dinner to trying your hand at axe throwing.

Start with a romantic dinner for two at one of the many local restaurants in Medina County. The Farmer’s Table in Medina offers everything from gourmet small plates and shareables to a 16-ounce Ohio strip steak. If you want something with a view, visit The Oaks in Chippewa Lake. This unique lakeside dining experience with a cozy fire will add to the romance. Or Get cozy at The Vue, a quaint local spot in historic downtown Wadsworth, with a selection of seasonal fare and craft cocktails to satisfy any craving.

You and your sweetie can also refine your Paul Bunyan chops at TimberBeast axe throwing in Medina. The indoor venue offers beer and wine and has leagues for throwing stars, knives, hatchets, and big axes. Or let your artistic abilities shine at Brush Tips art studio in Wadsworth. Choose one of their specialty craft nights or an adult paint-n-sip where you can bring snacks and adult beverages.

A visit to a winery or brewery can foster a warm glow. You’ll find distinctive wine and bourbons at Amy’s Arbors in Valley City and Unwined in Wadsworth. The High & Low Winery in Medina features tasting rooms, two cozy fireplaces, and a full-service bistro. Share a pint with your sweetie at Ignite Brewing Company in Brunswick. It’s a fun environment with a selection of delicious local craft brews.

And don’t forget Spa time – celebrate the day being pampered with your significant other; you owe it to yourself! Embrace Salon and Spa in Brunswick offers deep tissue and hot stone massages, facials, skincare treatments, and more. Nature’s Touch Massage and Wellness Center in Medina, OH, offers relaxation and therapeutic massages, deep tissue and hot stone massages, sports, and recovery massages.

Looking for a cozy spot to celebrate the holiday and recharge your batteries? Brookshore Cottage, a B&B at Chippewa Lake, features luxurious rooms and first-rate accommodations. Or choose one of the cozy rooms of Medina’s Spitzer House, a Victorian Bed and Breakfast in downtown Medina.

While in Medina County, check out the calendar of events – including the renowned 30th Annual Medina Ice Festival happening February 16 – 19, 2024, in the Historic Medina Square. Wonder at the expertly carved ice sculptures of your favorite winter characters and stick around for the live carving competition.

Medina County is perfect for spending a fun-filled or relaxing weekend with your significant other. Escape the everyday shuffle and plan your visit at VisitMedinaCounty.com.

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Where in the Ohio/World Are We?

While traveling around the world in Ohio, we discovered places like Athens, Berlin, and Dublin. That’s Athens, Berlin, and Dublin, Ohio, not Greece, Germany, and Ireland. But we’ll tell you about both anyway, as well as Lebanon, Ohio versus Lebanon; Milan, Ohio versus Milan, Italy; Moscow, Ohio versus Moscow, Russia; and Toledo, Ohio versus Toledo, Spain.

Athens, Ohio vs. Athens, Greece

Berlin, Ohio vs. Berlin, Germany

Dublin, Ohio vs. Dublin, Ireland

Lebanon, Ohio vs. Lebanon

Milan, Ohio Vs. Milan, Italy

Moscow, Ohio vs. Moscow, Russia

Toledo, Ohio vs Toledo, Spain

Where will our worldly Ohio travel take us next?

Stay tuned to OhioTraveler’s Social Media Channels.

This is your romantic Ohio getaway connection. If you’re looking to create sparks with someone, here are some romantic places to go for dining out, sipping wine, and getting a place to stay.

Getaways for an interesting stay

Dining options out of the ordinary

Wineries worth a toast

These links provide unique restaurants, wonderful wineries, and interesting lodging options to enjoy together with that special someone in your life.

At Romantic Adventure Getaways
You’ll discover the Best Date Night

The first overnight escape room combined with a luxury resort in the country is housed in a Scooby Doo Mansion full of mysteries and the largest bed in Ohio, among many other delights.

Romantic Adventure Getaways, a mini resort 54 miles Northeast of Columbus, Ohio, strives to become one of Ohio’s most romantic getaway locations for your date night fun.  This 1840s brick mansion is the first ever to combine the secret passages, trap doors, tunnels, and slides of a Scooby Doo Mansion with clues & riddles from an escape room with the luxury experiences found at resorts. The results are private Hollywood decor suites that have a choose-your-own-adventure feel, which leads couples on a night of amazing adventure.

Touted as one of the “Best Date Nights Ever!”, this action-packed experience has guests entering the lobby of a mansion that holds three private themed suites with a code they are sent.  The magic begins once they find their private suite and enter another code!  Following the clues and riddles presented, couples work together to find hidden entrances to numerous rooms inside their private suite that soon becomes their pampered oasis of pleasure.

There are three suites to choose from:  The King Louis XIV Suite, The Genie Romance Suite, and Paradise Lost.

Each suite is themed with music, lighting, and ambient décor, along with gadgets and gizmos that make furniture pieces come alive and open passageways and reveal secrets.  The King Louis Suite boasts the Versaille Bed, the largest bed in Ohio.  In the headboard is a James Bond briefcase containing riddles and clues that, when solved, make the bed interactive and present presents.   It also contains the Prom Night Room queued with a couple’s wedding or favorite song that they have to dance to reveal the next experience.

The Genie Romance Suite has a flying carpet bed that actually flies when guests release a magic lever.   This suite contains the Chocolate Fundue Room, The Cupping Therapy Room, The Karaoke Room, and The Flying Carpet Selfie Challenge.  Its tub is designed to make massive mounds of bubbles, allowing guests to get lost in “A Whole New World” of bubbly fun!

Paradise Lost, which opens in June, has guests going on an Indiana Jones quest full of challenges that lead to these rooms:  The Amazon Butterfly Massage Chair Forest, The Ionic Foot Detox Tiki Room, The Pottery Room (guests take home pottery they make), The Waterfall Love Vow Alter where couples write and read their admirations to each other and The Jungle Bed chalked full of surprises including the legendary Purring Tiger 2000 (it promises to make you laugh when you find it!).

The immersion provided by the themed suites allows guests to easily forget about the day-to-day routine and become focused on one another as the clues and riddles force them to connect to get to their next luxury experience.

Couples typically drive two to three hours for their stay and plan their trip in advance with reservations to one of the top steakhouses in the country, the Alcove. They arrive precisely at 5 pm and then experience a few rooms, get fancied up, walk to the restaurant, and then return to unravel the rest of the surprises in store for them.

Being the first overnight escape room combined with a luxury resort in the country, guests are booking well in advance.  Some suites are sold out on weekends.  Booking in advance is highly recommended.

To check dates and learn more about this epic overnight adventure of relaxation and fun, please visit https://romanticadventuregetaways.com/.

Walmart, Lowe’s, and other big box stores have squeezed out mom-and-pop shops nationwide for decades. But one last outpost of retail is making a stand – Amish merchants.

If you ever heard the line, “They don’t make it like they used to,” it certainly wasn’t muttered by Daniel Miller’s customers. Nor would you hear Mr. Miller say, “We don’t have that.” It’s because if they don’t have it, they’ll make it, and when they do, it will be every bit as good as it used to be.

For this reason, “Mom and Pop” Miller’s modest rural outpost in Adams County, Ohio, has grown to include a bakery, bulk food store, and bustling furniture store, all of which attract people from Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and beyond.

Not much has changed since Daniel’s parents, Harry and Lydia Miller, settled here and started baking with their six children in their modest farmhouse in the 1970s. Once they shared their goods with neighbors, a business was born. Harry often visited Holmes County, Ohio, to bring back furniture to sell, too. The more they provided, the more word spread, and the business grew. So, the Millers’ farming days—raising cattle, hogs, sheep, and such—were over.

For decades, the Miller family has provided friendly service, lively conversation, and quality goods. Nothing’s changed except the size of the family working behind the counters to help their patrons. No wonder their reputation has grown, floating across the land like the aroma of freshly baked pies cooked in the farmhouse kitchen.

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 solar and wind-generated energy. The Amish have excused themselves from modern conveniences, believing that a life of simplicity and hard work brings them closer to God.  Families and travelers come from miles around to visit their friendly shops and to get a glimpse of the Amish way of life as they travel Wheat Ridge Road and the Wheat Ridge Amish community, which even features a historic covered bridge.

Throughout the year, Miller’s will show customers appreciation with special events and discounts to reward their loyalty. They know in modern times, it’s easy to go to an “all-in-one” store around the corner to save time. However, they also know that many are tired of narrow selections and lack of customer service, so Miller’s is a destination shopping experience. People look forward to taking a pilgrimage to a place with a wide selection of unique offerings you won’t find anywhere else.

Visitors through the years come back, time and again because Miller’s helpful workers believe in honesty and humility, which are the bedrock of their small community. People across the counter often made the product they were selling, like Larry Miller at the bakery (Daniel’s brother). It’s the quality assurance that’s hard to find at a shopping mall.

They may be the last outpost of Mom & Pop shops, but they’re thriving on a business model built the old-fashioned way – they aim to please!

To plan a visit to Millers Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods and a genuine Amish community dotting the countryside of rural Adams County, call 937-544-8524.

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Our first glimpse of Ohio’s Medieval castle came quite unexpectedly. Our family was canoeing along the Little Miami River near Cincinnati. We pulled up on a sandbar to take a break and go for a quick walk along the wood line.

The kids yelled, “Look, a castle!”

After a few, Ya-ya, whatevers, the seriousness in their voices made my wife and I curious enough to go have a look-see for ourselves. And there it was – a Medieval castle … in Ohio!  …Click here for the rest of the story and many more photos.

CLICK HERE
For The Rest of The Story
and Lots of Photos

The Freedom Center’s eternal flame symbolizes candles burning in the windows along the Underground Railroad (above).

Click to see more

An authentic slave pen from 1830 brought from nearby Kentucky to be housed inside The Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio (Below).

As home to nearly two dozen unique, authentic Mexican restaurants, Lake County is the go-to place for taco lovers. The Lake County Taco Trail has been created to spread the word about the numerous remarkable Mexican restaurants throughout the area and showcase it as a destination for a unique culinary adventure.

Remarkable Lake County has created a digital Taco Trail passport that can be easily downloaded on a smartphone to earn points for visiting participating restaurants along the Taco Trail. One visit to a restaurant will earn diners 100 points, which can be accumulated and redeemed for Taco Trail swag. After 12 unique restaurant visits, passport holders will earn 1,200 points and will get an “It’s Tuesday Somewhere” T-shirt featuring the custom Lake County Taco Trail logo. With 450 points pass holder can get a Taco Trail shot glass and, for 250 points, a Taco Trail bottle opener keychain.

These restaurants feature authentic Mexican cuisine ranging from tortas to sopes to pozole and drinks such as horchata and flavorful margaritas. Still, the focus is on the amazing specialty tacos featured at each restaurant.

“Our goal is to encourage visitors to try at least one of these restaurants while they’re exploring Lake County,” Executive Director of Remarkable Lake County Neil Stein said. “We strongly believe that the quality and uniqueness of the authentic Mexican restaurants in our area, and the friendly, welcoming people who own and manage these small businesses, should be celebrated and shared with visitors and locals alike.”

To start your journey on the Lake County Taco Trail, visit ElCaminoDeTacos.com and download the passport to your mobile phone. Then, go to any one of the 23 restaurants on the Taco Trail and simply “Check In” on your passport to earn points.

We get it, Ohio is not your top destination in the winter season but hear me out. Where else can you enjoy the comforts of home with all the fun of a vacation. Winter blues can get anyone in a funk, so brush off that stink with a weekend away.

Rolling hills covered in snow with horses dashing in the snow sounds like the winter wonderland fantasy, that is what you can expect when you travel to Holmes County Ohio. Winter here is magical with the snow and imagination and innocence of those that live here. Winter is embraced for all that it brings to the area, comfort foods, spirits, quilts, and time to reflect on what matters most.

Lodging can be the most exciting part of planning your adventure in Amish Country, do you want a rustic cabin in the woods, a unique lodging experience, luxurious hotel, or quaint cottage escape. What other winter wonderland provides you with the wide variety of lodging options?

Let’s start with the rustic cabins and lodges in the area, not only do we have a variety of sizes and locations scattered across the region, but each exquisite location offers you the chance to rekindle or create romance. Amish Country Lodging offers guests small intimate cabins with rainfall showers, romantic fireplaces, and private outdoor hot tubs. Imagine toasting to the new year outside in the middle of a snow shower in the warm hot tub watching the snowflakes melt on your nose.  Donna’s Premier Lodging prides itself on being the area’s destination for romance. Jacuzzi tubs in the shape of a heart, bottles of champagne on ice and decadent chocolate covered strawberries can be waiting on you and your sweetie.

Wanting that cabin, but bringing the whole family? Sojourner’s Lodge and Log Cabin Suites and Ethan’s Retreat in the Woods both offer larger accommodations. Sojourner’s offers hiking trails, ponds, and astounding views in all seasons. Picture waking up to fresh snow and from the windows you can watch a herd of whitetail deer walking and grazing past you. Nature enthusiasts may want to head about five minutes down the road to visit The Wilderness Center, where kids and adults can learn more about our native plants and animals. This massive center has indoor PlayScape for the kiddos to burn off some energy and they also offer a variety of classes to give your explorers some insight to plants, dinosaurs, animals, and the solar system. Who says learning can not be part of vacations? Ethan’s Retreat is for those looking to tuck away in the hills, offering a fully furnished place to relax, unwind, and hit pause on life. Here the only care is what are you cooking. The hot tub and cozy cabin create an oasis and mountain-like retreat for those who may need to escape the world for a bit.

Have your own RV and want to park awhile, we have many locations here who offer hookups all year round. Evergreen RV Resort Park offers hookups and amenities to make all travelers happy. Having an indoor arcade, saltwater pool, hot tub, sauna, and laundry facility you can escape the tightness without unhooking from the truck. In the winter you may also run into the local Amish as Evergreen allows them to do wash in the facility and many locals take advantage of the opportunity.

Maybe you seek an experience when you travel, what could be more exciting than allowing the trees to rock you to sleep or see if Tiny living is really a new way to live. Pine Cove Treehouses give you the chance to explore Amish Country with a bird’s eye view. Don’t think of this like your childhood Treefort, this breathtaking accommodation has all the luxuries of a hotel room while creating an experience we know you will not forget.

If swinging from the trees is not on your bucket list, what about staying in a Tiny Home? Tiny Stays Berlin has two different places for you to kick back and enjoy the life. We can not get over how they were able to fit so much into each of these all while creating a creative oasis that would convince any critic on how tiny living is not a trend. From the full bathtub with rain shower head, projection screens and free-standing outdoor sauna and firepit, Amish Country Scandinavian vibes for the win.

Luxurious five-star accommodations are not just in the city, Holmes County Ohio is home to some amazing resorts who have that hometown hospitality we pride ourselves on. The Inn at Honey Run for instance is something you would not expect to be tucked away outside of Millersburg or Berlin. The Inn is a boutique adult-only resort, represents a truly private experience set within 56 acres of breathtaking landscape and complete tranquility. The intimate and peaceful atmosphere creates an environment of total relaxation and provides the ideal retreat from the stresses of everyday life. The property is also home to the Holmes County Open Air Art Museum and Tarragon. The Museum is an outdoor art exhibit that sits on trails carefully carved through the grounds. It connects art and nature in ways that you never expected, and if you are lucky sometimes you can find the owner walking around sharing the vision, he had for this. Tarragon is an experience for any food critic. The seasonal menu the Chef creates for you are sensational and often gathered within the grounds of the Inn.

Located within Berlin you will find The Berlin Grande, Berlin Resort, and The Berlin Encore. These lodging options allow you the freedom to step out on the town exploring our plethora of retail shops and attractions while being able to pop back into the hotel to freshen up before heading to dinner and an evening show. Did you know that we offer two different evening shows here in Amish Country? The Amish Country Theater offers family fun comedy, think Amish Heehaw and the Ohio Star Theater is more of a theatrical performance with Broadway productions and special musical appearances.

Maybe you want something that falls in between the closeness of town and tucked away, then Carlisle Inns (Walnut Creek and Sugarcreek) or The Amish Door are for you. The Carlisle Inns leave you in awe the moment you walk in with the lavish lobbies and common areas. Grab a good book and head to the study where the cozy leather chairs create a booklover’s paradise. The Amish Door located outside of town, but on the state, route offers guests that resort style experience with an onsite restaurant with comfort foods and spirits. Host to many events ranging from musical performances to princess teas, you can be sure to encounter some type of entertainment while staying with them.

Have I sparked an interest on where you can stay in Ohio Amish Country during the winter? I haven’t even scratched the surface of relaxation and comfort hidden here. Spend a day or two exploring our local wines and brewery. Taste the season through our culinary masterpieces leaving you wanting to get that to go box every time. Here we slow down, soak it all in, and pour ourselves into what makes us a great place to visit any time of the year. Plan your next adventure at https://www.visitamishcountry.com/.

By Shannon Carter

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Celebrates Seasonal Libations

Visit Gahanna’s popular Herbal Cocktail Trail returns with seasonal herb-infused libations to continue inspiring more happy hours, date nights, and gatherings with friends. 

Born from Gahanna’s official status as the Herb Capital of Ohio, the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau, also known as Visit Gahanna, originally launched the Herbal Cocktail Trail in 2017, making it the first themed cocktail trail in the state. For the winter season, Visit Gahanna has tapped the city’s herbal roots again and enlisted six of Gahanna’s signature restaurants, distilleries, and bars to create mouthwatering new seasonal cocktails that live up to the city’s Herb Capital title. 

Now through the end of March, six Gahanna establishments will feature a distinctly unique set of winter cocktails, all inspired by seasonal herbs and ingredients. Participants who complete the Herbal Cocktail Trail will score a new prize this year: a flask boasting their “Herbal Cocktail Trailblazer” status. Earn an Herbal Cocktail Trailblazer Flask simply by visiting all six partner restaurants and pubs and purchasing a signature herbal cocktail.  

Participation in the Herbal Cocktail Trail is easy. Pick up a passport, available at any partner business, the Gahanna Visitor Center, 167 Mill St., and the Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St., and start planning your unique Trail experience. Receive a passport sticker for each of the signature herbal cocktails purchased at the partner businesses. Once Herbal Cocktail Trail participants receive six stamps at any one or more of the libation stations, they can bring their passports to the Gahanna Visitor Center, Monday-Friday, call for hours, and redeem them for a branded flask. 

The featured partners and cocktails for the Winter Herbal Cocktail Trail are: 

101 Beer Kitchen | 397 Stoneridge Ln., Gahanna
Cocktail: Blackberry Thyme Burro
Ingredients: Blackberry and thyme muddled with El Jimador Gold and topped with Ginger Beer. Garnished with a fresh thyme sprig. 

 * * *

Barrel & Boar Creekside | 121 Mill St., Gahanna
Cocktail: Honey-Kissed Cosmo
Ingredients: Ruby Red Vodka, Honey Simple Syrup, and Cranberry Juice. Garnished with a fresh sprig of Rosemary.

* * * 

Arepazo | 93 North High St., Gahanna
Cocktail:  Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail
Ingredients: Gin, apple cider, lime juice, Honey Simple Syrup, and a dash of cinnamon. Garnished with a thyme sprig and apple slices.

* * * 

Wyandotte Winery | 101 Mill St., Gahanna
Cocktail: Mulled Apple Wine
Ingredients: 100% Apple Hill wine, infused with wonderful warm spices, and served warm in a mug.

 * * *

Nostalgia Brewing | 81 Mill St., Gahanna
Cocktail: Hot Toddy Ruxpin
Ingredients:  A blend of High Bank Whiskey War, Lemon, Honey, and a touch of cinnamon. This is sure to warm your soul and become your best friend.

Edison Brewing Company | 785 Science Blvd., Gahanna
Cocktail: Spiced Plum Old Fashioned
Ingredients: Bulleit Bourbon, Szechuan Peppercorn & Plum Simple Syrup, Angostura Bitters. 

*Signature cocktails are subject to change at the discretion of the partner business. Please drink responsibly. Don’t drink and drive. Learn more by visiting VisitGahanna.com or calling (614) 418-9114.

Eat, drink, and play pinball. The Pinball Garage has the vibe of a sports bar— offering food and a full bar— with the addition of 30 pinball machines that are among the 50 top-rated pinball games of all time… including Medieval Madness, the #1 rated machine. A successful journey that started on the popular show Shark Tank led the owner Brad Baker to Hamilton, Ohio to open his new business.

Before his Shark Tank tale, Brad and his company VPCabs helped pioneer the technology behind digital pinball machines. Virtual Pinball allows people to play any pinball game ever made, all on one machine.. Brad applied to be on Shark Tank twice and he was accepted the second time; he appeared on Episode 28 of Season Seven. He ended up making a deal with Daymond John.

As a native of the Hamilton and Fairfield area, Brad began manufacturing his virtual pinball machines in Fairfield four years ago and then realized his growing company was in need of a larger space. When he decided to move his warehouse to Hamilton, the building he bought had a large storefront to the warehouse. Brad’s friends and the City of Hamilton urged him to consider opening a pinball arcade, bar, or restaurant in the front of the building. Brad combined all three ideas to open Pinball Garage.

The Pinball Garage features all mechanical pinball machines; some of which were newly made by VPCabs, while others date back to the 90s. Among the 30 different games offered, they are all rated in the Top 50 in the world. Each machine is different, offering popular titles from Batman, Iron Maiden, Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Simpsons, Star Wars, Stranger Things, and many more.

The Pinball Garage also features rarities like the Rick and Morty Pinball Machine, which is one of about 50 such machines in the world and only 3 are available for the public to play, as well as the Legends of Valhalla Pinball Machine, which only has six prototypes throughout the world and the other five are privately-owned.

Each machine requires anywhere from 2-4 tokens to play, so Pinball Garage offers a few different token packages for customers to purchase. They also sell a custom, retro fanny pack for tokens.

Of course, a great game of pinball wouldn’t be complete without perfectly themed drinks. Brad’s daughter-in-law, a former mixologist at The Roosevelt Room, helped to create a full menu of creative craft cocktails. Pinball Garage is also partnered up with the owners at All8Up Pizza & Hoagies to deliver food to customers while they play. Along with food and a full bar, they also offer 24 draft beers, including one non-alcoholic draft root beer.

“It’s great for families, and I say it’s for kids, but adults drink it like crazy,” Brad says. “It’s really similar to the old-school, handmade root beer from Jolly’s.”

There are big plans for the future as well, as Brad has Phase 2 of Pinball Garage in the works. This will include additional seating, expanding the bar, installing more big-screen TVs, and offering a larger variety of both new and old pinball machines.

“We want to attract the hardcore gamers, as well as just regular people who want to come in and have a great time,” Brad says.

Little Free Libraries Popping Up In Ohio

Traveling around Ohio, I run into the darndest things sometimes.

On a trip along the North Coast, I cruised old familiar streets and saw something I had never seen before. I pulled to the side of Lakewood Drive at the corner of Overlook Road in Avon Lake, Ohio and walked up to a little wooden box with glass front standing on a post. The sign said, “Little Free Library.” Inside was a collection of books urging anyone to “take a book, return a book.”

Anyone can share a book or checkout a book to read. The concept is to promote literacy, especially in neighborhoods where people cannot easily get to the public library. Let’s face it, in today’s day and age, many people are now reading books digitally. Affluent communities are likely to have digital libraries of their own and shelves of printed books they plan to donate while other communities wish they had better access to more books.

The first Little Free Library was created in 2009 by Todd Bol. He built a miniature schoolhouse for his mom – a former teacher and avid reader – living in Wisconsin. He placed it atop a post in her front yard and packed it with books. It advertised, “Free Books.”

And a movement was born.

Since then, “little free libraries” have taken the world by storm. They are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australia and elsewhere. The artwork and craftsmanship that goes into each unique little library is worthy of its own picture book.

This novel idea is opening the world of literacy in hard-to-reach places and therefore opens incredible opportunities for kids that may have not otherwise come to love the stories so many of us cherish. However, as you may imagine, these beautiful boxes sometimes become targets of vandals. Fortunately, the heart behind the construction of each Free Little Library has the love and determination to outlast and perhaps even win over such ill-guided kids.

Nancy and Richard Kamps built and rebuilt the Little Free Library that caught my attention in Avon Lake. After there’s was vandalized the first time, the policeman that came to take the report ended up coming back and donating books to get it going again.

It’s easy to get started if you want to create a Little Free Library legally and safely. Visitwww.LittleFreeLibrary.org to learn how you may open horizons for those who may be less fortunate than you.

By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler