October Archives

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks has officially become a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural (UNESCO) World Heritage Site! This is the first designation within Ohio and features eight sites in central and southern Ohio.

Five of the eight sites are in Chillicothe (Ross County) and managed by Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. National Park sites include Mound City Group, which offers a Ranger staffed visitor center, Hopeton Earthworks, Hopewell Mound Group, and Seip Earthworks. The fifth location, High Bank Works, is not open to the public as it is used for archaeological research. Ohio History Connection operates the other three sites. Two are in Licking County, the Great Circle Earthworks in Heath and the nearby Octagon Earthworks in Newark. The Great Circle Earthworks offers a visitor center, and the park is open to explore; however, the Great Circle Earthworks is not currently publicly accessible. There is an observation deck that will provide a bird’s eye view of the earthworks. The final site, located in Oregonia (Warren County), is called Fort Ancient. This site is unique as it is the largest and best-preserved hilltop enclosure.

Upon arrival at the sites, you may feel a sense of calm and peace settle over you as you stand before these prehistoric earthworks. Constructed more than 2,000 years ago, these earthworks reflect the intelligence of these early Native Americans and how advanced their skills were for their time. Take a moment to think about how these ancestors constructed these monumental structures. They used pointed sticks, clam shell hoes, and shoulder blades of deer and elk to create hoes for digging into the earth. They carried soil one basketful at a time to move the earth to create these magnificent earthworks. These individuals were expert engineers as they created precise geometrical shapes such as squares, circles, and octagons to enclose their sacred spaces and replicated these designs throughout the southern and central Ohio region to construct numerous complexes.

If that alone isn’t impressive, their exceptional knowledge of astronomy to build lunar and solar alignments into their construction is astounding. Many sites have special alignments throughout the year, with some locations aligning with the summer solstice, others with the winter solstice, and at least one site that aligns with the complex 18.6-year lunar cycle. Using modern technology to map and precisely integrate these alignments into a construction would be an astonishing feat. However, these ancestors created these points by utilizing only the tools of their time and their understanding of astronomical events.

Take a moment to reflect on your journey to each of the eight sites as you travel by vehicle. These early Native Americans traveled similar distances without using motorized vehicles, the modern-day highway system, and GPS navigation. It will give you a sense of the distances that these ancestors traveled to attend ceremonial gatherings. Much like today, they gathered for celebrations as we do today when traveling for weddings, funerals, and other life occurrences.

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthwork is truly an exemplary site that upholds the values of a World Heritage site with its universal value to humanity and its cultural significance. UNESCO made the inscription official for the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthwork on September 19, 2023. They are part of the prestigious list that includes iconic global sites such as the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, Stonehenge in England, and the Grand Canyon, to name a few. This inscription marks the twenty-fifth World Heritage site in the United States of America and the first in Ohio.

Learn more about this designation and these sites by visiting the Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau at VisitChillicotheOhio.com.

See Our Sponsors

October is an ‘a-maze-ing’ time to Visit Coshocton, Ohio! Just a short drive from Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, Coshocton is perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway.

Fall is a beautiful and busy time in Coshocton with plenty to do, including the Coshocton County Fair, McPeek’s Mighty Maze, Harvest Days at Schumaker Farms, Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival, Fall Foliage and Farm Tour, wine trail events, and more!

McPeek’s Mighty Maze is open October 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2023. The bee-themed maze offers family fun games, hayrides, pumpkins, campfires, flashlight nights, food, live music, and more. Learn more at www.McPeeksMightyMaze.com.

Harvest Days at Schumaker Farms begins September 30 – October 29, Saturdays & Sundays only. Activities include hayrides to the pumpkin patch, straw maze, corn maze, petting zoo, family fun games, and more. Learn more at www.SchumakerFarms.com.

Historic Roscoe Village’s Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival is October 20 – 22, 2023! This fall favorite festival hosts a wide variety of artisans and food vendors, with the sights, sounds and scents of autumn. Smell fresh apple butter simmering over an open fire and stroll to the sound of bluegrass music from days gone by. Visit historic buildings and interact with the village smithy, doctor, teacher and weaver. Events throughout the weekend include children’s activities, eerie Spirit of Roscoe tours, Monticello III horse-drawn canal boat rides, canal-era crafts and children’s activities.

Coshocton County Fall Foliage & Farm Tour is October 21 & 22, 2023. There are more than 1,000 farms in Coshocton County, and this tour allows special access to a few of them. This annual event is free and family-friendly, taking participants on a self-driven tour to learn about agriculture while enjoying the fall colors. Maps are distributed at the River View Community Park in Warsaw on Saturday, October 21 & Sunday, October 22. Past tours have included visits to century, livestock, horse and dairy farms, fish hatcheries, cheese houses, timber and furniture makers, vineyards and historic sites. A lunch stand is also part of the day. The local OSU Extension Office, Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Farm Service Agency sponsor this annual event.

Enjoy a drive through the beautiful Appalachian foothills covered with autumn leaves and savor sweet, distinct tastes on the Three Rivers Wine Trail, which includes eight wineries and a brewery, all within a scenic drive of one another. The Sip and Stay Thursday Package is a great way to experience local wine and beer in Coshocton County safely. Available only on Thursdays throughout October, this affordable package includes a standard room and free hot breakfast for two guests at Coshocton Village Inn & Suites, vouchers to four locations, and transportation provided by Cork & Tap Excursions. Guests will visit Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, Raven’s Glenn Winery & Restaurant, Baltic Mill Winery, and YOLO Winery. Reserve your package, call Coshocton Village Inn & Suites at (740) 622 – 9455. Availability is limited. Details may be found at VisitCoshocton.com.

Three Rivers Wine Trail includes seven wineries and a brewery, all within a scenic drive of one another. Get a friend to be your DD on this self-driven trail, or hire Cork & Tap Excursions to drive while you enjoy the Wine Trail! Be sure to pick up a free passport and have it signed at each location to earn your FREE exclusive Three Rivers Wine Trail T-shirt! Each location is individually owned, so that hours will vary. Follow the Three Rivers Wine Trail Ohio Facebook & Instagram to catch the Wine Trail Weekend Lineup that is posted every Thursday; all the live music, food trucks, and special events, such as Wooly Pig Farm Brewery’s Oktoberfest, will be listed there.

Coshocton County has plenty of activities to enjoy, including geocaching, disc golf, hunting, fishing, and a 105-mile motorcycle route.

For those looking ahead to the holidays, save these dates for upcoming events in Coshocton County:

• Christmas Open Houses: November 4
• Miracle on Main Christmas Parade: November 17
• Roscoe Christmas & Candlelighting Ceremony: December 2 & 9
• Roscoe Village Christmas Craft Show: December 9

VisitCoshocton.com has all the details about events, attractions, shopping, and dining. Call today to request your free information package at 800-338-4724.

See Our Sponsors

“Autumn leaves don’t fall; they fly. They take their time and wonder on this, their only chance to soar.” -Delia Owens.

Now is your time to take in these vibrant colors, breathe in that crisp fall air, and relax in the beauty of Mohican Country. Local farmers’ markets have pumpkins, mums, and more out and ready to sell. As the Camp & Canoe Capital of Ohio, canoeing is not over. Floating down the Mohican State Scenic River under an arbor of color is a treat. Some of the canoe liveries are open through October. It is a perfect time to grab a camera with family and friends and enjoy the serenity of the river.

Stay in a treehouse, castle, resort, inn, or historic bed and breakfast, or choose one of many private cabins. Several of the private cabins or cottages have hot tubs, spectacular views, and all the amenities of home, and some are even pet-friendly.

Fall is full of activities that will keep everyone having fun while enjoying all there is to offer. Embrace the view at the Gorge overlook, climb the fire tower, or stroll across one of two covered bridges. The brand-new Spellacy Bridge on Wally Road is now open for your enjoyment! Begin your October with Ghost Hikes at Malabar Farm State Park. Or spend your day playing games, riding rides, or checking out the vendors and displays at the Loudonville Street Fair. Sharpen your investigative skills at the Big Foot Basecamp October 5th-8th at Pleasant Hill Lake Park with the famous Matt Moneymaker. Magnificent fall colors will be ablaze for a drive-it-yourself fall foliage tour in late fall. Come November, lace up your racing shoes for the Mohican 5K or the Fuzzy Fandango. Finish the year with a Candlelight tour of the Malabar Farm Big House. Spend your evening viewing the Kingdom of Lights at Landoll’s Mohican Castle or wake up to breakfast with Santa at Landoll’s Mohican Castle or the Mohican Lodge.

Events and adventures are in no shortage at Mohican throughout the rest of the year! Check out DiscoverMohican.com for a complete list of events!

See Our Sponsors

Let your trip to the heart of Ohio include visiting Marion County, where you’ll find the perfect location for a weekend getaway or a multi-day stay. Marion is conveniently situated just off State Route 23 and is a short drive north of Columbus. Marion offers excellent accommodations, engaging attractions, seasonal activities, and delicious dining opportunities if you’re looking for a location to meet up with family and friends this holiday season.

Select comfortable accommodations at one of Marion’s hotels near State Route 23 or enjoy your stay in a newly listed Downtown short-term rental option.

Discover history with Marion roots and encounter its impact on Ohio and this nation. Tour three Harding Presidential sites – the historic home, museum, and memorial. Stroll the Marion County Historical Society, home to the Buckeye Telephone Museum collection, international children’s author Shary Williamson’s book display, and US Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow’s career memorabilia. Experience unique popcorn carts under the big tent at the Wyandot Popcorn Museum and enjoy a complimentary box of popcorn. Explore the County, discover the locations of Marion’s seventeen Ohio Historical Markers, and stop by Marion Union Station, a unique experience for train enthusiasts.

While you’re here, experience the beauty of nature. The Marion County Park District Naturalist offers guided winter hikes at the Marion Tallgrass Trail, or explore the trail at your own pace. To warm up after your hike, shift gear for indoor activities like axe throwing, bowling, or arcade games.

Holiday shopping awaits you in a reimagined downtown landscape with unique locally owned retail spaces, a hands-on art studio, clothing boutiques, an art gallery, and a yarn shop. Experience delightful dishes served up along the Eaterarian Trail – Memphis-style BBQ, southern soul food, tasty seafood, Italian cuisine, woodfired pizza, ice cream, and more! Sip a cup of tea or coffee at locally owned shops or experience an English tea service at Marion’s tearoom.

Celebrate the holiday spirit with a drive through Christmas by Candlelight at the Marion County Fairgrounds or take in an evening of live, local theatre with Christmas at the Palace at Marion’s 1928 Eberson-built atmospheric theatre. Come for the annual Lighted Truck Parade and stay for the tree lighting and pictures with Santa in Founders Park.

When traveling this winter, encounter, experience, and explore Marion County, Ohio!

See Our Sponsors

Welcome Home to Tuscarawas County!
Adventures on the Other Side of Amish Country

The Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau likes to share with folks that the county is filled with small towns that tell big stories. A case in point is the beautiful village of Sugarcreek, where you can dance along with the Oompah-pah band of the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock, which performs at the top and bottom of each hour. Afterward, discover the roots of the community at the Alpine Hills Museum and marvel at the artistry of the Brick Wall Sculpture, which illustrates the tales of life in this scenic Swiss heritage village. When you are ready to eat, enjoy local flavors at Park Street Pizza, Dutch Valley Restaurant, or Amish Country Donuts, to name just a few local Sugarcreek favorites.

Bolivar stories go back to the construction of Fort Laurens- Ohio’s only Revolutionary War Fort. Learn the drastic measures the brave soldiers took to serve on the Ohio frontier at this volatile time. After taking in the history, enjoy browsing the antique shops in downtown Bolivar and feed your appetite at Canal Street Diner or Sublime Smoke. If you are ready for a cold brew, stop by Lockport Brewery and enjoy a handcrafted beer.

National Historic Landmark District, Historic Zoar Village, has a big story to share! Known as America’s most successful Communal Society, residents began to call Zoar home in 1817 as residents arrived seeking religious freedom. Enjoy the architecture of the original brick and timber structures, the museums, the bakery, and the large garden. With special events throughout the year, you may even want to visit during one of their special event ghost tours to hear from one of the original residents!

Dover has a downtown filled with friendly merchants and locally owned diners- not to mention a hand-crafted candy store, a cupcake shop, and several that provide offerings for your home! When you are ready to explore, stop by Riverfront Park to ride the artistically created swing or try your arm on their disc golf course! The museum offerings include an original Victorian Home, J. E. Reeves Victorian Home, and Carriage House Museum; a museum sharing the life story of a master carver, the Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens; a museum mentioned in Ripley’s Believe It or Not that tells of stories of those who have passed at the Famous Endings Museums. Do not leave without a sweet treat from Eiler’s candy shop or enjoy a meal at Pangrazio’s, Mindy’s Diner, or El Pueblito Mexican Bistro. Dover has more than enough to do for a day or more!

Travelers looking to add to their wardrobe will enjoy the shops in downtown New Philadelphia, whose merchants offer styles for the whole family. With cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and art galleries, you will enjoy this city and its many boldly colored murals. Enjoy a live performance at the Performing Art Center on the Kent State University campus at Tuscarawas. Their show season is filled with favorites, headline acts, and even those lesser known. Historic Schoenbrunn Village is located on the east end of the city and tells the stories of David Zeisberger and his efforts to share Christianity with Delaware Indians. Downtown New Philadelphia is a food paradise with numerous local dining stops set to please every craving- you will not be leaving hungry! From fine dining, cafes, and casual spots with outdoor seating, you will savor and long remember the delicious meals you enjoyed in downtown New Philadelphia!

The village of Gnadenhutten has a tragic story tied to Schoenbrunn Village. After you visit the museum, walk over to the local café, Tents of Grace, and browse the home accessory shop just down the block, too.

Have you traveled to Dreamsville lately? Discover Dennison and tour the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum to learn about this famous song’s tie to this Tuscarawas County community and the importance of this iconic American railroad depot. Families will want to celebrate the magic of the “Polar Express” train ride held annually on multiple early December dates. For more information and tickets, visit www.dennisondepot.org. Dennison will be opening a new ice-skating rink this holiday season, too! When ready to eat, enjoy a meal at Lucielle’s Lunch Stand, the Dennison Yard, Pangrazio’s, and a local brew at Holy Moly Brewing Company.

Visit Uhrichsville and learn the tales preserved in the Uhrichsville Clay Museum, which shares pieces of folk art and stories from American industrialization. When it is warm outside, does an afternoon at a water park sound like a cool idea? Do not miss the Uhrichsville Water Park for an enjoyable time with the whole family!

Newcomerstown is proud to share the stories of former residents Cy Young and Woody Hayes! Visit the Olde Main Street Museum while taking a step back in time to see the collections these favorite sons have on display. Summer season, take in their Second Saturday celebrations that fill the downtown with vendors, food, family fun, and live music!

Within the scenic Appalachian rolling hills of the county are grand arts adventures complete with theatres, murals, sculptures, and even quilts on barns! There are local growers, farm markets, trails, rock climbing, dog parks, ten wineries and four breweries, and plenty of homemade ice cream shops. Tuscarawas County is in the heart of Appalachian Ohio and is on the other side of Ohio’s Amish Country. You will be greeted with warm welcomes everywhere you go throughout your visit, and finally, exhausted from your adventures here, you will sleep comfortably in one of our many clean, comfortable lodging options!

Visit www.TravelTUSC.com, call 800-527-3387, or stop by the Welcome Center at 124 East High Ave, New Philadelphia, to learn more.

See Our Sponsors

The Autumn season in Shelby County, Ohio, is good for the soul. With an enviable variety of “naturescapes” to enjoy, a weekend getaway to Sidney is just what’s needed to rejuvenate your spirit.

Bicycling and hiking enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the fall colors of Lake Loramie State Park in Fort Loramie and Tawawa Civic Park in Sidney. Lake Loramie State Park features a 1600-acre lake with 30 miles of shoreline for outdoor adventurers looking to combine both on and off-the-water excursions. Here, visitors can pitch their camp on one of 167 sites offering both primitive and RV camping with all the amenities. Those who enjoy the experience of a cabin will find several from which to choose, situated just steps away from the picturesque Lake Loramie shoreline.

Anglers are sure to love the sport fishing at Lake Loramie. Crappie, blue gill, and bass are popular species in the lake. Lake Loramie is perfect for kayak fishing as well. Those needing extra assistance getting onto the water will find the adaptive boat launch incredibly easy to use and so convenient. In addition, Lake Loramie has rental kayaks available for those not traveling with one of their own.

Oh, and don’t forget your camera. Lake Loramie State Park is home to an incredible variety of birds and wildlife, including bald eagles, woodpeckers, ducks, blue herons, and hawks. While hiking, you’ll also likely cross paths with deer, fox, mink, raccoon, and squirrel.

Tawawa Civic Park is an incredible natural resource as well. With its 220 acres, Tawawa Park is a wooded reserve perfect for hiking, biking, and fishing, and is a wonderful outdoor location for family get-togethers, picnics, and cookouts.

Well beyond the allure of Lake Loramie and Tawawa parks, Sidney and Shelby County have an incredible lineup of fall activities not to be missed. Now through October 29th, guests to Crossway Farms will love their Fall on the Farm days. U-pick pumpkins, a sunflower field, and the Crossway Corral Play Zone are awesome family fun. The Crossway Farm Store is perfect for autumn shoppers, offering pumpkins, mums, fresh fruit and veggies, seasonal gourds, jams, jellies, donuts, and coffee cakes. And don’t forget the Apple Cider Explosion. This incredible, edible, drinkable creation you gotta try!

On October 5th, Sidney celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Big Four Bridge. This engineering marvel has dominated the landscape south of Sidney since the 1920s, and its importance to the area’s economic development cannot be underestimated. Beginning at 5pm. The celebration will kick off with complimentary cake and ice cream and top off with an incredible fireworks display at 8 p.m.

Other seasonal attractions of note include the Lost Land Corn Maze at Vandemark Farm, offering great family fun in the cooler Autumn weather. Here, you can zip line, explore the corn maze, pal around with farm animals at the petting zoo, challenge your group to a round of mini golf, take a hayride, defy gravity on the giant swing, and work on your game at the golfers driving range.

Attention Harry Potter fans. On October 6th, step into the enchanting world of wizards and witches at The Historic Sidney Theatre for an unforgettable evening of wizardry and wonder. “Potions and Plates” is your ticket to a fully immersive Harry Potter experience that will transport you straight to the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Prepare to be spellbound on this enchanting night filled with captivating activities and delights. Whether a die-hard Potterhead or just looking for a night of enchantment and fun, “Potions and Plates” promises an immersive experience like no other, so grab your wands and cloaks and get ready to step into a world of magic and mystery.

The Shelby County Historical Society’s annual Ghost Walk is also a lot of fun (and educational, too). Here, past Sidney and Shelby County residents share their stories with the living. The Ghost Walk is on October 11th and 12th in downtown Sidney.

For those who crave a bump in the night, another popular attraction is the Haunted Theatre in downtown Sidney, where you’ll venture out on a spine-tingling journey through the darkest corners of the Historic Sidney Theatre. Are you ready to face your deepest fears? The ghosts of yesteryear are stirring, and can’t wait to meet you. This tour, offered October 27th-29th, offers a unique and unforgettable Halloween experience this season.

Of course, with the Christmas holiday season quickly approaching, now is the ideal time to make your travel plans to Sidney. This online events calendar is perfect for planning your new holiday travel traditions.

Come see why Sidney is a spirit you won’t find anywhere else. For your next getaway, rejuvenate your spirit in Sidney. They’re waiting for you.

See Our Sponsors

Southeast Ohio Offers Variety of Autumn Hiking Options

Autumn doesn’t just signal the much-awaited return of football. It’s also a sort of unofficial preseason for Ohio’s unbeatable fall hiking. Before the temperatures drop and the leaf peepers come out to play in the fall foliage, here is some “trail mix” to enjoy that illustrates why Guernsey County, Ohio, is the perfect place to take a hike.

As Ohio’s largest state park, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of activities and amenities within Salt Fork’s more than 17,000 breathtaking acres to delight the whole family: fishing, swimming, golfing, horseback riding, and more. And, of course, there’s hiking – miles and miles of gorgeous Eastern Ohio flora and fauna. The park offers 15 official trails, ranging from easy trails and cave routes less than half a mile long to a 6.86-mile section of the Buckeye Trail (part of an ambling 1440-mile loop around the state). A new family-friendly Storybook Trail was added late last year near the campground, creating a unique opportunity to improve childhood literacy and develop an early love of the outdoors. The new trail, beloved by the young and young at heart, features the picture book “Wonder Walkers” by Micha Archer and follows two young explorers who venture outdoors.

The next stop on your outdoor adventure should be Seneca Lake Park. Seneca Lake Park offers several miles of natural surface hiking and biking trails throughout the woods surrounding the park’s large and beautiful lake. Seneca Lake Park’s website advises hikers, “Most trails are very challenging with unpredictable trail conditions, so please use caution and be prepared with proper footwear.” Popular routes include the Beech Tree Ridge Trail, Schoolhouse Trail, Cemetery Trail, and last but not least, the aptly named Lakeside Trail.

The Buckeye Trail also crosses Seneca Lake property and can be accessed from the Cemetery or Beech Tree Ridge Trails.

If you want a unique hike, visit The Butterfly Habitat at The Wilds. This walking trail winds through a 10-acre area of prairie, wetland, and woodland planted with flowering plants selected especially to encourage butterflies to flourish.

Located just across from The Wilds’ main parking lot along International Rd., the Butterfly Habitat is a great addition to your experience at The Wilds, either before or after your safari tour. The Butterfly Habitat is available to visitors during regular hours at no additional charge (a $7/vehicle parking fee still applies).

Finally, you can’t stop in Guernsey County without enjoying the Great Guernsey Trail. The trail offers a 14-mile round-trip biking, running, or walking trail along a paved, low-grade path. Coal Ridge Park and Trails, a new addition to the Great Guernsey Trail, consists of several walking trails that cross woods and open areas and include a lake that allows non-motorized boating, camping, and fishing.

There are two trailheads. One is at 35000 Corduroy Road in Cambridge, and the other is at 204 Main Street in Lore City. Both entrances offer restrooms and dog parks. Designated as a National Recreation Trail (NRT) in 2020, the Great Guernsey Trail is now part of the national database of NRT trails and is one of only 24 trails in Ohio with this distinction.

Make sure your next trail leads you to Guernsey County, Ohio. For local and seasonal happenings and highlights to round out your next hike, see VisitGuernseyCounty.com .

For more information, contact the Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB office at 627 Wheeling Avenue, Suite 200 in downtown Cambridge, call 740-432-2022, email info@visitguernseycounty.com, or visit VisitGuernseyCounty.com.

See Our Sponsors

at Niederman Family Farm

It’s more than corn maze and pumpkin patch season. It’s the Niederman Family Farm harvest of fall fun!

Yeah, they have all the autumn fixings for fun, like a massive corn maze and pumpkin patch, but they’ve been in the family memory-making business for decades, and it shows. The 210 acres are like a fall amusement park filled with treats!

One of the hottest treats is the Niederman family’s fresh, hot, homemade cinnamon sugar donuts. But first, fill those tummies with all kinds of yummies at the Niederman picnic pavilion, which provides great sandwiches, drinks, and all your fall staples. Sip hot cider and enjoy fresh kettle corn, funnel cakes, caramel apples, apple butter, pumpkin butter, hot roasted nuts, and more.

Other Niederman signature offerings feature jams, jellies, honey, and a variety of coffees in the marketplace barn. On the weekends, many of these foods are also available at food tents and stands throughout the farm. Be sure to reserve a private bonfire area under the stars to pass around the marshmallows and S’mores.

Let the kids get tangled in fun racing around the Low Ropes Course to challenge. Navigate carefully along small floppy blue disc platforms suspended on hanging ropes. Dive into the side-by-side rope tunnels and try to crawl without falling through. Now, try walking a tightrope with no sides to help keep balance. Maneuver a rope net wall. These are just some obstacles to navigate along the way through laughter and a little competition.

The Niedermans have added all kinds of creative touches throughout the years. Bounce your way to side-splitting laughter under a barn on stilts sheltering a giant bouncy pillow. There’s also a spacious observation deck measuring 24 by 70 feet. Old-fashioned water pumps send racing rubber ducks back and forth. Families square off for tug-o-war contests. Race someone on adult-sized tricycles or bouncy balls. At every turn, there are activities and excitement for all ages.

Everyone enjoys the farm animal viewing areas featuring goats, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, and other livestock. This farm has it all: human foosball, climbing web, lil’ sprout route, climbing hill, ball zones, tetherball, pipe swings, and kids’ tractor play area and tiny houses. And sanitizing stations are plentiful.

No doubt daytime is only half the fun. Stick around because when the sun goes down, even more fall fun rises under the moonlight. Grab your flashlight and navigate the corn maze. Take a leisurely, starlit hayride. Gaze at the night sky and breathe the crisp autumn air. Again, reserve your bonfire pit and enjoy good old-fashioned storytelling with a weenie roast.

Niederman Family Farm is fall done right.

Of course, the corn maze and pumpkin patch are featured activities day and night, but plenty of other activities are also found throughout the farm, providing hours of bonding time between family and friends.

Niederman Family Farm is at 5110 LeSourdsville-West Chester Road in Liberty Township, Ohio, between Cincinnati and Dayton. Call 513-779-6184 or visit NiedermanFamilyFarm.com.

By Frank Rocco Satullo, The OhioTraveler, Your Tour Guide to Fun!

See Our Sponsors

The holiday season is just around the corner. From Halloween to the New Year, a lot of celebrating comes with these last three months of the year. And with it comes a lot of cooking and baking.

The secret to wowing your holiday guests with mouth-watering taste is definitely in the ingredients.

It’s no secret that many Amish recipes at Amish are scrumptious. But buyer beware; there are plenty of faux Amish labels that may be the difference between party success and party mess. Authenticity means a willingness to journey to a place where, as they say, the proof is in the pudding.

Welcome to the modest, rustic Amish shop renowned the country over for having superb ingredients to create wonders in your kitchen. Welcome to Yoders Bakery and Furniture, tucked off Ohio State Route 32 in Seaman at the edge of Appalachia.

The authentic Amish-owned and operated marketplace features a full bakery, deli, and grocery. Aside from their full line of ingredients for cooking and baking in the bulk foods section of the store, the bakery has a wide variety of freshness coming from the ovens to the shelves and gone by day’s end. Whether you crave pies, cinnamon rolls, or fresh-baked bread, the aroma floating in the air says it all.

Peanut butter pretzels will be lucky if they make it to the parking lot without being devoured. Next to the bakery is the full-line deli where you can pack a cooler with a wide variety of cheese and meat selections to bring back home or go out to the shade trees and have yourself an autumn picnic while the kids play on Amish-made playground sets.

Fill a grocery basket with bulk food selections for baking or cooking at home, including hard-to-find ingredients. The store also sells an enormous selection of canned foods, sugar-free foods, and old-fashioned candies.

That’s just the appetizer.

If you need to dress up your meal or dessert presentation, Yoder’s also specializes in Amish-made baskets, candles, quilts, and even dining tables, plus much more. This is not a quick trip to a big box store. This is a leisurely day spent tantalizing the senses.

Lots of jokes surround fruitcake gifts around the holiday season – but at Yoders, it’s serious business!

Yoder fruitcakes have created a legend of their own – in deliciousness. That’s why the modest Amish shop gets orders nationwide. That’s why it is best to order early in the fall season.

This is not a quick trip to a big box store. This is a place for leisure shopping to find that one-of-a-kind Christmas gift for even the most finicky person to shop for.

If, in the holiday hustle and bustle, you don’t find an afternoon to escape the stresses of “convenience” shopping, there’s always mail-order – albeit, it comes without the pleasantries of visiting an out-of-the-way Amish landmark.

Yoder’s Bakery and Furniture is at 2621 Burnt Cabin Road off SR 32 in Seaman, Ohio. They are open Monday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed on Sunday). Call 937-386-9995 or visit https://www.yodersbakeryandfurniture.com/.

See Our Sponsors

Are in West Central Ohio!

Long hailed as America’s Most Colorful Caverns, Ohio Caverns is colorful both above and below ground in fall.

Take a self-guided tour of the color pallet of trees and a guided tour of the color pallet of the caverns. It’s quite a vista either way. Enjoy a great old-fashioned picnic setting in the pavilion or under a tree between tours. It’s also a great time to sift the old miners’ sluice for precious gemstones. Get a bag of rough for the sluice inside the gift shop, which is one of the largest rock shops around and has a wide array of colors, too!

Nature carved a fairyland beneath the rolling, wooded hills of rural West Liberty, Ohio. Until its discovery in 1897, nobody knew a subterranean wonderland spanning over three miles was growing the most colorful caverns in America one drip at a time, undisturbed for ages.

During the year-round cave tours, visitors are treated to views of one-of-a-kind discoveries and rare finds. The “Crystal King” is the largest and most perfectly formed pure white crystal stalactite in any cave. According to current dating techniques, it is nearly five feet long after 200,000 years of growth. It is found apart from other formations, adding to its dramatic appearance in stark contrast to its surroundings. It is truly a king of stalactites.

Other rare stalactites found at Ohio Caverns are called helictites or “soda straws.” These resemble curly straws hanging from the ceiling. Somehow, they grow longer in a way that seems to defy gravity, twisting in weird directions up, down, sideways, and all around.

One of the more intriguing formations is the “Old Town Pump,” which looks just like it sounds down to the dripping water. It must have been fun coming up with such names. It’s reminiscent of lying on your back, staring at puffy white cloud formations, and with a little imagination poof, there’s an old town pump!

These are the only known caverns in the country where dual formations are found. This oddity consists of iron oxide tipped off with milky white calcium carbonate. It is a mystery why the two minerals remain distinctly separate, refusing to blend colors. But it creates a picturesque contrast.

The main reason people love to visit here time and again is the wide array of colors. In addition to black and white, the plentiful stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and other formations come in various colors, including yellow, orange, red, blue, and purple hues. The colorful climax is best seen in the “Palace of the Gods,” where there is an array of translucent crystals.

Over the years, various publications have dubbed Ohio Caverns as one of the best caves overall in the US.  Current tour times, rates, and other information to plan a visit are at OhioCaverns.com/.

See Our Sponsors

Fall is always a great time to visit the Hocking Hills.  As summer days transition into the colorful warm days and cool nights of fall, mother nature puts on her best show of the year. The Hills vibrate with all the jewel tones of autumn.  Ohio’s Hocking Hills just made CNN Travel’s “7 scenic drives across the United States for your fall foliage fix”.

This fall is even more exciting with the new Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center opening.  This new resort is in the heart of Ohio’s most visited state park.  The scenery is spectacular, but the experience goes far beyond the colorful trees.

In December of 2016, a devastating fire destroyed the Hocking Hills State Park Dining Lodge, a favorite restaurant of locals and visitors.  It was a great loss to the community as the facility had also been the site of many weddings, family reunions, and meetings.

Now, rising from the ashes comes the brand new Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center.  Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz will cut the ribbon on the new lodge on Saturday, October 8, at 1:30 pm.  Everyone is invited to the grand opening festivities.

The new Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center features eighty-one guest rooms, many with balconies overlooking the dense forest and hills behind the lodge.  Guests will enjoy the fitness center and pools, both indoor and outdoor.  There are even all-season hot tubs.

Fans of the former dining lodge restaurant will be happy to know Chef Matt Rapposelli is back.  Chef Matt will be serving up his delicious creations at the Rock House Restaurant and Pub.  The restaurant and pub are located in the opposite wing of the property from the guest rooms.  The conference facilities, gift shop, and Grab-and-go Café are also located in this wing.

Just as the Hocking Hills are the natural crown jewels of Ohio, the new Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center is sure to be the crown jewel of park lodges.  For more information and reservations, visit hockinghillsparklodge.com or call 800-282-7275.

October is one of the busiest months of the year in the Hocking Hills, and for good reason.  In addition to the delightful display of fall foliage, it’s also the last chance of the year to play outside in great weather.  The Hills are best known for hiking, but there is so much more to do while enjoying autumn’s awesome weather.

Get a bird’s eye view and a thrill as you fly through the tree canopy on ziplines.  Take a colorful float down the Hocking River or drop a line in Lake Logan.  Travel to a haunted tunnel on horseback.  Get up close and personal with baby critters.  Meet the park naturalist’s wild-winged friends.  The days may be getting shorter, but there’s nothing short about the list of extraordinary experiences in the Hocking Hills.

Begin your adventure at ExploreHockingHills.com.

See Our Sponsors

Click to Play Bear’s Mill Video

Looking for a mix of history, nature, and art? The nationally acclaimed Historic Bear’s Mill is happy to power the way. This historic water-driven, stone-grinding flour mill and its age-old American Black Walnut walls come framed by fall colors cast by the mature black walnut trees, highlighted by reflections along Greenville Creek.

The four-story mill was built in 1849. Its faded and rugged facade against the vibrant bark and leaves is an inspiration for many artists and photographers. Walking trails provide escapes and clever angles of the long-standing building along the millrace and amongst the woods. Sit still and listen to the chorus of rustling leaves. It’s nature’s symphony. Then, watch the leaves that just couldn’t hang on any longer and their hypnotic descent as the orange and red droppings float left and right, back and forth, slowly, until it hits the blanket of earthen hues below. Bear’s Mill has a relaxing patio deck and other vantage points to sip coffee and eat snacks as the seasonal show plays outside.

The beauty of the place is experienced inside as well as out. Within the weathered wood walls, emitting a character all its own is an art gallery with exhibits that rotate on a regular basis. From late March through December, the Artists Series provides opportunities to meet artists from the region and purchase their pieces. A mainstay of the gallery is handmade pottery such as stoneware and raku pottery by the Bear’s Mill potters.

Take a free self-guided tour to explore the artistry of history that is unveiled on each floor of this active mill. It’s one of the few historic water-operated mills operating in Ohio. Cornmeal, whole wheat flour, and rye flour are still ground with the French Buhr stones powered by water from Greenville Creek. Natural lighting casts perfect highlights and shadows through the rustic windows and onto the manufacturing relics of the 19^th Century. If reclaimed barn wood is all the rage today, the moody hand-hewed timber throughout the interior floors of Bear’s Mill is like a museum dedicated to it. Some of the beams measure 50 feet long without a splice. And when folks scale the age-old staircases, they may ponder the test of time. Bring a camera. The photos ops abound.

Eventually, visitors return to the first floor and The Mill Store. There’s a great selection of flour and meal that was stone ground at the mill. The store offers an eclectic array of products. There’s a variety of treats. Ask about the homemade buckeyes in the cooler. Handmade creations include gift boxes and custom baskets. And, of course, there are gourmet sundries and kitchen products. It’s where those personal gifts for any occasion may be bought without worrying about someone else giving the same thing.

Bear’s Mill is a treat every season. Community-oriented events, including educational tours, demonstrations, and nature walks, are offered throughout the year.

Plan a mix of fall fun at Bear’s Mill near Greenville, Ohio, at BearsMill.org.

Ride Ohio’s oldest restored steam engine
at Hocking Valley Scenic Railway on select dates.
The beloved Engine #3
is over 100 years old and running.

Play Video

A nostalgic steam engine returned to Hocking Valley Scenic Railway tracks in Nelsonville, Ohio.

Its curdling smoke through its stack to the delight of train enthusiasts.

Several years ago, a team of volunteers – “The Steam Boys” – led by Rob Baughman finished a grand restoration project that had many setbacks. But together, they ultimately succeeded in bringing back to life the 1920 Baldwin-built (former Ohio Power Company) 0-6-0 steam locomotive No. 3 for the first time in 60 years.

It has been used periodically for special runs posted at   www.hvsry.org and on Facebook. On those occasions, coal is shoveled into the boiler for folks to see railway nostalgia in action as the steamer chugs through the scenic Hocking Hills countryside to ride the rails of Yesteryear!

No. 3, as it is often referred to by the “Steam Boys,” was donated to the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in 1982, although serious restoration didn’t begin until 2004. It has since been a long-standing dream of many railroad men and women to restore it to its operational glory. Their dream is now a reality after years of volunteer hours in the making and at a cost of over $150,000.

The steamer isn’t the only unique offering at this old-time whistle-stop.

Tucked back in the rolling hills of Southeast Ohio Appalachia, there’s more than just nature’s beauty in the midst of this leisurely scenic railway. Nearby the Nelsonville depot, there’s an eatery where train enthusiasts like to grab a bite before boarding time. Sometimes the air is filled with lively railroading stories. Go ahead, interrupt, and ask your questions; they don’t mind. It’s all part of that Hocking Valley charm.

Before crossing the tracks to the nostalgic depot to purchase your boarding pass, take advantage of the photo ops that abound. Stroll among railroad history and see lines of coaches, cabooses, and engines depicting the eras of railroads past. But before time slips away or the train sells out, get your ticket. Sellouts are commonplace due to the demand.

Inside the old depot is a mini museum displaying railroad artifacts. In addition to specialty trains offered throughout the year, two diesel train excursions are offered regularly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Roundtrip to Haydenville spans 1 ½ hour, departing at Noon. Roundtrip to Logan spans two hours, departing at 2:30 pm. There are also pre-season and post-season weekend train ride opportunities aboard enclosed coaches with heat and open-air cars for unobstructed views.

The narrator will tell you when to look left or right for the points of interest while sharing the history of the railroad and the area. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the leisure ride through the woods, rolling hills, and lakes. You even get to go over rivers and streams on a couple of train bridges. Near the halfway point, the train will stop; it isn’t being robbed by bandits, but that treat is saved for the specialty robbery trains. Instead, it is to treat everyone to a sight not often seen. The train is about to reverse direction, but instead of traveling backward, the engine is detached, slowly riding alongside everyone on the adjacent track before it is reconnected at the other end.

Now about those specialty trains. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway has rare opportunities for themed train rides throughout the year. These are all family-oriented and include Ohio’s Friendliest Train Robbery, All Caboose Train, Easter Bunny Train, Santa Train, New Year’s Eve Train & Fireworks, and Memorial and Labor Day excursions.

While you’re in town, you may want to also make time to see the Historic Dew Hotel, where President Roosevelt, President Taft, President McKinley, and President Harding all made campaign stops. Guess how they got there? There’s also Stuart’s Opera House, built in 1879, and the restored picturesque Nelsonville Public Square. Next to the depot is The Rocky® Outdoor Gear Store. And, of course, there’s plenty of lodging throughout the Hocking Hills Area State Parks – the hot-tub capital of the Midwest!

If you plan to ride the rails, CLICK HERE for the latest fares, specials, operating times, how to charter a private train, and other details, along with directions. Make your next whistle-stop, Nelsonville, Ohio, to board the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway!

By Frank Rocco Satullo, your Tour Guide to Fun! 

See Our Sponsors

This isn’t your ordinary county museum. It has rare birds riding a Ferris wheel, a full-body iron lung, a display showcasing the things locals choked on over the years, and the infamous gangster Dillinger behind bars. All that and more are at the Allen County Museum.

In the taxidermy gone wild exhibit, there are several mechanical dioramas that play out scenes starring preserved dead animals. They are fascinating pieces with an entertainment quality that has stood the test of time. The myriad of moving gears and other mechanical pieces bring imagination to life if nothing else. In one, a bunch of birds rides a Ferris Wheel. In another, the animals ride Noah’s Ark. The Ark is over a hundred years old. A local shoe store owner used to turn it on to amaze kids after they purchased a pair of new shoes. It’s fun to watch when it’s running, but it’s not turned on that often anymore.

One of the more bizarre collections may take your breath away. It displays objects removed from the esophagus, bronchial tree (lungs), and larynx of patients of doctors Estey C. Yingling and Walter E. Yingling. Yes, they collected these from their practice during the 1930s to the 1960s. Each item is marked with the date, the age of the patient, and the patient’s name. Looking at many of the items may make it difficult to swallow.

The “Iron Lung” or “Drinker Respirator” was invented in 1929 by Phillip Drinker.  The display says this was the first widely used mechanical device capable of artificial respiration. It was used to treat victims of respiratory paralysis, often caused by Polio. The patient’s body, excluding the head, was placed in the tank. A rubber collar was fitted tightly around the neck to avoid pressure on the windpipe and larynx and to prevent air leakage. As the pressure in the tank decreased the patient’s chest expanded, moving air into the lungs. When tank pressure returned to normal, the lungs released the air.

Lima had the distinction of holding captive the outlaw John Dillinger in 1933. He was jailed for robbing a bank in Bluffton, Ohio. But before he could be tried for his crime, Dillinger’s gang members busted him out of the Allen County Jail. In the process, they shot and killed Sheriff Jess Sarber. They even locked the sheriff’s wife and deputy in the jail cell. The scene is replicated in the museum with Sarber sitting at his desk and Dillinger peering through the cell block bars at him.

Oddities aside, The Allen County Museum in Lima, Ohio is serious about history. The museum itself has a 100+ year history.

While turning the street corner upon approach to the museum, a stunning two-story glass wall showcases an 1893 Shay Geared Locomotive engine. Inside, visitors may explore the exhibit up-close.

The main museum features 42,000 square feet of fascinating exhibits. It took an entire room to display the model built by a local couple depicting George Washington’s plantation – Mount Vernon.  The exhibition galleries feature the area’s history of geology, Native Americans, canals, Civil War, locomotives, and Lima’s oil fields, once the largest known in the world.

Many of the exhibits have that “cool factor” that prompts the inevitable, “Wow! Check this out.”

The museum is kid-friendly and features plenty of hands-on experiences in the Children’s Discovery Center and a Children’s Garden. Little visitors can sit around the fire (not a real fire) in the Indian mud huts. They may stare in wonder over the huge model train display illustrating and demonstrating railroad town culture. Stop in the one-room school for a quick lesson. If anyone “acts up,” there’s a tall, pointed Dunce Cap on a stool in the corner.

The Allen County Museum grounds have much more to explore than the many treasures inside the main complex. The MacDonell House is a Victorian mansion open for tours depicting the high life on what used to be known as Lima’s “Golden Block.” The nearby Log House interprets pioneer living in 1848.

Although this museum is in a historic small Ohio town, it is widely recognized to offer more than many of its “big-city” counterparts. Its diverse and extensive collection has more than 250,000 archival and material items putting it in the league of some of the finest museums around.

By Frank Rocco Satullo, The OhioTraveler, Your Tour Guide to Fun! 

See Our Sponsors

A destination for guests seeking a truly unique experience, whether passing through the area, visiting a local business or celebrating one of life’s memorable moments.

Hotel Versailles is rich in tradition and history while generously making room for innovation, inspiration and invention. This hotel was designed and developed to ensure all visitors to Versailles feel its hospitality. With Silas, the hotel’s spirited restaurant and lounge, and its event space, the 1819 Room, Hotel Versailles creates a modern, world-class experience perfect for any occasion.

The boutique hotel offers 30 rooms, including six suites, enhanced amenities, a fitness room as well as a courtyard and patio. Throughout the space, you will find locally sourced products, showcasing the wonderful artisans and purveyors the region has to offer. This even includes the pillows, sheets and towels in the guest rooms. Not only are they some of the finest quality, but they also come from Cincinnati-based Standard Textile Company, Inc.

“There are additional surprises from our region in our private bar program, extra amenities and retail offerings. Providing basic amenities and a comfortable night’s sleep is guest service but creating a true sense of place and a memorable experience—that’s true hospitality. Our guests will notice items they had no idea were from right here in our region, even if they’ve spent their entire lives here.” – Jack Olshan, Managing Director of Hotel Versailles.

Throughout your visit, make sure to gather in the hotel’s restaurant and lounge, named Silas Creative Kitchen + Cocktails, aptly named for the eclectic mix of cuisines, wines and cocktails inspired from across the world using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The Silas culinary team prides themselves on delivering the freshest dishes in unexpected ways—continuously updating the menu to reflect the latest local harvest. Featuring an array of indoor, outdoor, lounge and private dining, as well as a consistent rotation of live entertainment, each visit will be different than the last.

“Silas utilizes and sources the highest quality, sustainable produce and proteins from the surrounding area. By partnering with our local vendors, like Winner’s Quality Meats, King’s Poultry Farm, Weaver Eggs, local Ohio farms and our own farm at Sycamore Bridge, Silas creates a unique and memorable culinary experience unlike anything in Ohio.” – Aaron Allen, Executive Chef

Are you looking for an event space for a corporate meeting, family gathering or wedding? The 1819 Room at Hotel Versailles is served by Silas and is designed to host group sizes up to 200 with its own courtyard overlooking the historic town square. The space is equipped with its own bar, audio-visual technologies, private bathrooms, a coat room and an infant care room, making it ideal for any occasion.

During your stay at Hotel Versailles, experience the variety of shops and attractions Versailles and the surrounding communities have to offer. Book a round of golf at Stillwater Valley Golf Club, taste the local wine selection at the Winery at Versailles, order a craft brew at Endless Pint Brewing or peruse the countless boutique shops. There is something for everyone.

At Hotel Versailles, you will enjoy an experience that is both sophisticated and surprising. Friendly and fancy. Modern and memorable. You’ll find nooks and crannies for community and conversation. Warm and inviting like the people who live and work and love there.

To learn more about the hospitality and culinary experience, follow Hotel Versailles and Silas on Facebook and Instagram @hotelversaillesohio and @silascreativekitchen. Visit hotelversaillesohio.com to reserve your next experience.

See Our Sponsors

Dayton-area visitors now have a new option for spending a night beneath the stars: trailside camping.

These sites join MetroParks’ 23 existing camping options, which include front-country campsites, accessible by motor vehicles, and backcountry campsites, accessible on foot. The trailside campsites support travelers without a motor vehicle who are passing through the region and need a place to stop before continuing their journey.

“Trailside camping fills a niche to support hikers, cyclists, and paddlers who are traveling through Montgomery County on the paved trail network, water trails, and long-distance hiking and bicycle touring routes,” said Brent Anslinger, MetroParks’ outdoor recreation program manager. “These travelers may be out for a few days or on a multi-month adventure that covers thousands of miles. Trailside camping is one more critical amenity that welcomes adventure seekers to the area.”

The new trailside campsites are located along seven long-distance touring routes that run through Montgomery County:

• Buckeye Trail
• North Country National Scenic Trail
• Great American Rail-Trail
• Chicago to New York City Bicycle Route
• Great Miami Riverway Alternate to the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
• U.S. Bicycle Route 50
• Great Miami River Watershed National Water Trail

The sites also support Dayton’s designation as a Trail Town of two long-distance trails, the Buckeye Trail and North Country National Scenic Trail, and build the region’s growing reputation as The Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest. Trailside camping also supports MetroParks’ 10-year comprehensive master plan and park master plans.

“Dayton is The Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest in part because of all the regional and national trails and routes that pass through the area, including Ohio’s only National Scenic Trail and only National Water Trail, among others,” Anslinger said. “It’s exciting to invite people traveling these routes — as well as anyone seeking multi-day experiences on Miami Valley Trails, the nation’s largest paved trail network with more than 350 miles to explore — to experience Montgomery County and the Great Miami Riverway in a new way.”

Trailside campsites are open year-round. Each can accommodate two small tents and up to six people, with a two-night maximum at the same site. Camping is by permit only but can be booked in advance or on the spot by visiting metroparks.org/reservations.

These primitive trailside camping sites are located in shaded areas with a restroom nearby in three MetroParks:

• Island MetroPark, 101 E. Helena St. — located near the Great Miami River Trail and along the Great Miami River Water Trail on the northern edge of the park near a new prairie.
• Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Rd. — located between the Mad River Trail and Buckeye Trail
• Taylorsville MetroPark, 2000 U.S. 40 — located on the south side of the dam along the Great Miami River Trail

To develop its trailside camping options, Five Rivers MetroParks worked with local, regional, and national partners that share the strategic goal of enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities that allow people to connect with nature. Partners include Bike Miami Valley, the Great Miami Riverway, Buckeye Trail Association, North Country Trail Association, National Park Service, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and Adventure Cycling Association. Sources from these organizations can be provided upon request.

Celebrating nearly 60 years of preserving green space and natural areas, Five Rivers MetroParks is a nationally renowned park system accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. Five Rivers MetroParks protects the region’s natural heritage and provides outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature. Educational programs and recreational opportunities are offered year-round for all ages. To learn more about Five Rivers MetroParks, log onto www.metroparks.org or call 937-275-PARK (7275).

Plan a fall road trip to Youngstown & Mahoning County and enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage, top-quality golf courses, award-winning wineries, world-renowned art museum, and family fun events.

Fall Color in Mill Creek MetroParks
Enjoy the beautiful fall color in Mill Creek MetroParks. With forty-five miles of scenic trails to explore, boardwalks, paved walkways, and unpaved trails take visitors through the diverse lands and scenery of this breathtaking park. At Lanterman’s Mill & Covered Bridge, one of Mahoning County’s most historic landmarks, enjoy the scenic overlook of Lanterman’s Falls, the covered bridge, and hiking trails. Stroll through Fellows Riverside Gardens and enjoy seasonal displays and scenic vistas.

An Outdoor Recreation Guide gives more information about trails and other outdoor activities to help you plan your adventure in Youngstown.

Play a Round!
Fall is the perfect time for golf in Youngstown and Mahoning County. The Youngstown area has been ranked #4 in the country for top-quality, affordable public courses. Whether you want to tackle a Donald Ross-designed course or a links-style course, there are plenty of challenges awaiting you.

New golf simulators will be open this fall in the Waypoint 4180 Center, adjacent to Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, and will allow you the virtual experience of playing courses from around the world.

Stay-and-Play Packages are available at area hotels, so grab your clubs and get ready to tee-off. The  Youngstown Golf Guide includes information on all 12 local courses.

Enjoy Award-Winning Wineries
The Youngstown area is home to five beautiful wineries, each with their own unique ambiance. Enjoy scenic outdoor patios, glistening lake views, stunning fall sunsets, and sprawling vineyards. Food options range from snacks and flatbreads to full-menu restaurants. Learn more about the local wineries in the Wineries & Breweries Guide.

Visit The Butler Institute of American Art
The world-renowned Butler Institute of American Art is a must-see on any visit to Youngstown. Known as “America’s Museum”, The Butler is the country’s first museum dedicated to works created solely by American artists. Its ever-expanding collection now exceeds 22,000 pieces in all media types, dating back to 1710.

On display until November 22 is America’s Everglades: Through the Lens of Clyde Butcher. This traveling exhibition showcases a body of work that represents a quarter of a century of Clyde Butcher’s photographic expeditions into the American Everglades. Through the breathtaking images, the viewer is beckoned into the image and becomes part of this mysterious and primeval place rarely seen by humans.

Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm.

Fall Family Fun
White House Fruit Farm welcomes guests throughout the fall season to enjoy their orchard-fresh apples, seasonal produce, homemade donuts, and apple cider. The Budgie Bird Barn is open Friday-Sunday for an up-close experience of feeding multiple parakeet (budgie) birds right out of your hand. Their Fall Gift Barn & Pumpkin Pavilion are open through October 31. Find fall décor and mums, and a variety of pumpkins and gourds. Hours are Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. Visit throughout the week and enjoy fall on the farm.

Get lost in over 21 acres of corn at Maze Craze in New Springfield. The best corn maze in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Maze Craze was featured as one of the top ten corn mazes in the country in 2018 in the USA Today poll. This year’s design is A Christmas Carol, and it has four separate mazes that will fascinate and entertain all ages. Open weekends through November 1.

Plan Your Fall Road Trip!
Download the Travel Guide and other information at youngstownlive.com.

Road Trip Worthy
Giant Roadside Mural in West Central Ohio

It’s meant to surprise, delight, and spark conversation, and the new Giant Roadside Mural: Tribute to Apollo 11, in west-central Ohio, certainly does all that and MORE!

Each year famous roadside muralist, artist John Cerney chooses a topic or theme and donates one of his works of art to a community or organization. Last year’s 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing got him thinking about that feat and the man who took those first steps onto the moon.  Cerney of Salinas, California, contacted the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce early in 2020 and offered to donate one of his murals if the right location could be found.  The local group, First on the Moon, took on the project and the rest, as they say, is history.

Cerney painted the various components in his studio in California and then traveled cross-country to deliver and construct it on site.  The mural is located about three miles east of Wapakoneta on US 33.  It is viewable from the westbound lane.  Creney’s giant works of art can be found in 28 states and Canada, this is Ohio’s first Cerney mural and it is a great excuse for a fun road trip.

After checking out the giant roadside mural, you will want to continue into Wapakoneta and visit the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.  Fall and winter hours are Wednesday through Sunday 10am to 4pm.  They abide by strict cleaning protocols and offer a safe museum experience.  While there, be sure to take a selfie with the two bronze statues of Neil Armstrong.   One depicts him as a youth dreaming of someday becoming a pilot and the other as an adult in flight gear, having accomplished that long-held dream.

Complete your road trip with a visit to historic downtown Wapakoneta.  It is filled with wonderful, unique shops and great places to grab a snack or a meal. If your sweet tooth needs a fix, stop by Winan’s Chocolate + Coffee for their decadent candies or Cloud 9 Café for their scrumptious homemade fudge.  There is a third bronze statue of Neil Armstrong, downtown. This one depicts him waving to the crowds as he did during a huge Homecoming Parade following his trip to the moon.

For more information on these and other fun things to see and do in west-central Ohio check out Seemore.org.

See Our Sponsors

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 that comes with $60 worth of tokens for $50.

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, one of which is a 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.

Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

Labyrinth Provides A Path For Quiet Reflection

The paths to success at Ohio Wesleyan University now include 86 majors, 57 minors, and one stone labyrinth.

Thanks to generous donors, the university completed the installation of a 47-foot-diameter labyrinth inspired by one of the world’s oldest walkable labyrinths – an 800-year-old path at Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France. Both labyrinths feature rosette-style centers, resembling the intricate rose windows found in the gothic cathedrals of Northern France.

Ohio Wesleyan’s labyrinth includes 17,600 stone pavers, with about 30 percent of the stones being cut by hand. The labyrinth, located in a grove of trees between the newly renovated Merrick Hall and the Delaware Run, is open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.

OWU’s labyrinth was designed by well-known labyrinth architect Robert Ferré and installed by Debi and Marty Kermeen of Illinois-based Labyrinths in Stone. The labyrinth is slightly larger than its inspiration and is unique in that its pavers rest on a concrete base rather than being set directly into the ground.

The goal of her California-based nonprofit organization is to “pepper the planet with labyrinths,” including a new initiative to create a series of interconnected “Veriditas Legacy Labyrinths.” Ohio Wesleyan’s labyrinth will be only the third such legacy labyrinth in world. The others are located in La Falda, Argentina, and Jacksonville Beach, Florida – and each contains a piece from the other two in support of an interconnected global community and peace.

The labyrinth is a gift to the university from the family of OWU Life Trustee Kathleen “Kathe” Law Rhinesmith, Class of 1964.

“I’d like to believe it’s a place where each person who comes here will find something,” Rhinesmith said, “whether that be a casual and peaceful walk or a deeper moment of self-discovery and self-reflection. … My wish is everyone who comes here will come away with some quiet new perspective on their life or the world around them.”

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. It is located in Delaware, Ohio. Learn more at www.owu.edu.

Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

The City of Murals has a new mural…and one with national and local significance.

Long known as a steel and coal city, Steubenville, Ohio began transitioning into a community that encouraged art and history in 1986. Over the years since, 25 larger-than-life depictions of significant people and places in the community were painted on buildings throughout the downtown. The last two murals – one of Steubenville native son, Dean Martin with his Rat Pack buddies and another of a frontier pioneer – were painted in 1997 at a nearby shopping complex.

“The murals drew many visitors,” explained Judy Bratten, Director of the Historic Fort Steuben Visitor Center. “But due to budgetary constraints, the murals and some of the buildings they were on were not maintained. We have lost three, and another will soon be gone as its host building is being demolished. That’s why we have worked to renew the project with this Civil War mural.”

The newest mural as of 2015, located on the west side of N. 3^rd Street in downtown Steubenville, is a 35-foot tall by the 70-foot wide portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in the telegraph office of the War Department in Washington, DC. With him are two men who had called Steubenville home: Edwin McMasters Stanton, Secretary of War, and David Homer Bates, telegrapher. The painting captures the strain of office as the men communicated with troops at various battles, directing their movements and sending supplies. Artist Ruston Baker of Millersburg, Ohio became engrossed with the project, reading and studying, and seeking information to make it as accurate as possible while making it accessible to the general public. Even as he was painting, people who worked in the area came by to talk, make suggestions and ask questions.

“Local residents will probably get used to this mural over time. But visitors to Steubenville will see it and take in the history of this small town,” noted Baker.

Bratten noted that several current murals are being “refreshed” and there are plans to have more new ones as soon as other accessible sites are chosen.

“The murals are just one of the projects in the city that enhance the quality of life and draw tourists to the area. The other endeavor that began almost 30 years ago was the reconstruction of Historic Fort Steuben on its original site overlooking the Ohio River,” Bratten explained. “The Fort is now fully rebuilt with exhibits and artifacts in every building. In addition, there is now a beautiful Visitor Center, Fort Steuben Park, and the Berkman Amphitheater offering live music throughout the summer.”

A free map of the murals is available in the Visitor Center, but additional booklets are for sale and give detailed information about the murals. A step-on guide provides entertaining stories of the murals and the city for group bus tours. For more information contact the Visitor Center at 740-283-1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

German Heritage Celebrated at Oktoberfest in Minster, Ohio

We can thank them for introducing us to beer, sausage, sauerkraut and the Christmas tree. German immigrants have made great contributions to this country. Have you ever wondered why so many Germans came to America? Crop failures, inheritance laws, high rents, high prices, and the effects of the industrial revolution led to widespread poverty and suffering in Germany. Relatives and friends who had already immigrated to America wrote back, encouraging others to follow. These circumstances led to “chain migrations” and group settlements, like those in west Ohio’s Auglaize County. The immigrants included well-to-do farmers who saw a bleak future, poor ones with no future and paupers whom the authorities often paid to leave the country.

German immigrants began arriving in west central Ohio in 1832 and found an untamed wilderness. Within a generation, they had turned it into successful farming communities. In 1848 the completion of the Miami & Erie Canal between Cincinnati and Toledo connected the region with the world.    Since the arrival of the first German immigrants in the 1830s, Auglaize County has grown and prospered. The legacy of those German pioneers- strong faith, hard work, and a dedication to excellence- continues today.

The Auglaize County Village of Minster celebrates this heritage by hosting an annual Oktoberfest. As the region’s largest German heritage festival, the Oktoberfest attracts more than 60,000 people each year for an enjoyable weekend of wonderful German food, music, and dancing. It is rated as one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the nation. However, for the people of Minster, the festival is just not an event; it’s a feeling, a spirit, a happy mood that conveys the warmth and friendliness of the community.

The annual Minster Oktoberfest takes place in early October. From singing and dancing to the taste of hearty German foods, this event provides a fun filled time for all. Topping the list of free entertainment this year includes popular bands such as Sorgenbrecher, The Klaberheads, Autobahn and Cincinnati Schnapps.

Mark your calendar, come out to the festival and watch the spectacular gala parade featuring colorful floats and marching bands. Take part in the beer tray relay, the 10K run, and a number of other games and contests. Whether or not you share the German heritage, we’re sure you’ll find yourself doing the Chicken Dance before the evening is over. For more information, check out the Minster Oktoberfest website for a complete schedule of events.   We’re sure you’ll agree: When it comes to having a great time the Minster Oktoberfest ist wunderbar!

Rainbow Hills Vineyards: So many things standout at this winery. It is everything a winery should be. It takes you on a journey into a woodland paradise and down a winding non-paved road into a rolling meadow on one side and grape vines on the other. The winery dog gives a friendly hello. The setting is tranquil, with panoramic views a plenty. Inside, it is rustic with private nooks, warm wood and lovely rough-stone walls and fireplace. Subtle touches make you feel like you aren’t going anywhere for a while. Back outside is a soothing fountain in a pool-like pond with plenty of sheltered seating cascading down the hillside. From star gazing to sun splashed days, it is a true getaway surrounded by wildlife and complete with meals and inn. Oh, and the wines have won international awards. Their name says it all. Click here for more information.

This award recognizes Ohio’s standouts in tourism. More details about the award and all award recipients are at ohiotraveler.com/standouts-in-ohio-tourism/.