101 Cool Places And Things In Ohio (Part IV 31-40)

Thank you to those who have returned to check out the fourth part of my very long list of Ohio attractions, you can skip the next paragraph! For those who missed the first few parts of my list,you should read the next paragraph. It explains what this list is all about. Thank you, to you as well!

If you have been following me on instagram @krisofohio, you have seen my posts from the first day of spring last year. I posted over a month's worth of cool places and things in Ohio using #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio. These posts have included Ohio attractions that have made World and National best lists, places off the beaten path and exceptional Ohio brands. I have two months of posts left to go. I have posted a good portion of my favorite places and things in Ohio and I will continue my list as I explore throughout the next few seasons. On this post you will find the fourth group of ten attractions from my list. Feel free to help me with suggestions to complete the list. Leave your favorite Ohio attractions in my comments and they may just make my list. To the Ohio tourist, whether you are visiting from out of state or a resident exploring your home state, there is so much to do in Ohio. Use my list to start your Ohio adventure. I have posted only places I have experienced and all photos are mine unless otherwise specified.

Happy Exploring!

Kris, 

31. The Crystal Cave at Heineman Winery

Below Heineman Winery,you will find a cave that houses the worlds largest geode. The Heineman family used the under ground discovery to stay a float when they could not sell wine during Prohibition. For a very reasonable fee, you can get a tour of both the cave and the winery. The fee also includes a cup of either wine or grape juice after the tours.

32. Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama

On June 10, the outdoor drama about the life of Tecumseh begins and shows continue until September 3. The drama is performed outside using the natural surrounding with real elements including a stream and live horses. Since the show is outside expect to see squirrels and birds in the scenes as well. You may also need to plan for some very real mosquitoes, unfortunately. Tours are given before the show and after the show you can meet the cast. If you get hungry, you can dine at the Terrace Buffet before the show or have snacks at the Snack Shack before the show and during intermission.

33. Marblehead Lighthouse

The oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes is found in Marblehead, Ohio. It's been lighting the way since 1821. The light house is the most photographed landmark on Lake Erie. You can tour the lighthouse from the day after Memorial Day until the September 2. You can view South Bass island, Kelley's Island and Cedar Point from from the tower and the viewing scopes around the park. Take part in activities like fishing, picnicking or just walking the park. You can also explore the Marblehead Historical Society Museum on site.

  

34. Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum

The largest railroad museum in Ohio is found in Bellevue, Ohio.It opened in 1976 as a community bicentennial project in honor of Bellevue's  history in the railroad industry. Climb aboard and walk through the railcars and engines starting from from the 1800s. Displays include a former troop sleeper car from WWII, a dining car and a refrigeration storage car. The museum is open daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

 35. Krema Nut Company

Did you know that the oldest peanut butter company in the world is in Ohio? They have been whipping up nut butter since 1898. You can stop in for lunch any day of the week but Sunday, for a gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwich off their menu or create your own. They also serve milkshakes and sundaes. You can choose from several kinds of nut butters including cashew and almond. The butters are all natural with no additives or preservatives. Tours are offered to adult groups with a reservation.

36. Vectren Dayton Air Show

We call Dayton, Ohio the Birthplace of Aviation, so it makes sense that it would be the host of one of the best air shows in the world. You can walk through aircraft, take helicopter rides and enjoy scheduled air performances like the Blue Angels. The show will take place in 2016 on June 18th through 19th.

37. Short North Columbus 

Columbus has a huge art scene and in the past was voted in the 25 big cities for art by American Style Magazine. The Short North is the best places to experience Columbus art culture. The area is lined with galleries and on the first Saturday of each month, you will find performance artists on the streets performing. Visual and performing arts aren't all the area is known for though. Culinary is also a big deal in the Short North. The area is blessed with an abundance of restaurants with different cuisine and price points. They share one commonality, delicious beautiful food.

38. The Motts Military Museum 

 You can find Warren Mott's collection of American War History in Groveport, Ohio. The museum covers all of the wars of America's past with artifacts and antiques from the time periods. They have one of the largest collections of Holocaust history and incredible items from 9/11 including a fire engine that was crushed by the second World Trade Center twin tower that belonged to Ladder 18 of the New York Fire Department. You can also walk through a replica of Eddie Rickenbacker's childhood home.

 39. Dublin Irish Festival

Dublin, Ohio hosts the largest Irish Festival in the United States. It brings people from all over the U.S and other parts of the world. Musicians come from Dublin, Ireland to perform at the festival. The festival includes Irish fare and vendors selling Celtic art, leather goods and clothing. There is plenty of beer drinking happening as well. This year's festival takes place August 5-7th.

 

40. Loveland Castle 

The Loveland Castle aka Castle Laroche, was the home of Harry Andrews, who built the castle with his own hands stone by stone. He worked on the castle with a group of young men called the Knights Of The Golden Trail. They are the same men who Andrews left the castle to after he died. The castle is located in Loveland, Ohio, not far from the Cincinnati.

Look for my next ten cool Ohio features, coming soon. Thank you again for checking out my list! Follow me on instagram to get daily Ohio posts about restaurants, wineries and breweries. You can also get the next features from my list before I post them to the blog. Look for me @krisofohio  or search the hashtag #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous! 

Kris,

Motts Military Museum

(photo credit)

Saturday it rained just about the entire day, which made it a great day to visit a museum. Motts Military Museum is in Groveport, Ohio, an area I don't visit much. I am a super fan of Groupon and the one I bought for the museum was about to expire after Saturday. I am really bad about cashing in the deals at the last possible minute. However, I am glad I waited so long because I managed to catch the founder of the museum. Warren Motts was giving tours personally. I am not sure how rare and special this is but it felt like I was a VIP. The museum covers The American Revolution, The Civil War and both World Wars into more recent wars. They have the second largest collection of Holocaust memorabilia as well as the second largest collection of memorabilia from 9/11. The Holocaust and  9/11 items are in storage until the museum can raise enough money for  proper displays but if you ask and there is enough staff present, you can get a quick look at some of these items. Unfortunately, my photos did not come out the greatest from my phone because of lighting issues; so a portion of my images are borrowed. Photos that aren't mine have credits attached.

 Mr. Motts personally took us out to a hanger size building where he opened the doors revealing a caved in fire truck from 9/11. The truck belonged to Ladder 18 and was crushed under the second tower of the World Trade Center. He explained that he was raising money to create a 9/11 display that would also include the marble floors from the World Trade Center, so that you can stand on the floors of the World Trade Center while looking at the truck and other 9/11 memorabilia. This was the highlight of my experience. I took photos in front of the truck but couldn't allow myself to smile because of the seriousness of the display. Though no one died in the fire truck; the two firemen who were manning the truck survived after diving underneath it before the tower fell. Somehow, the tires held up and gave the men shelter from the falling building.

As someone who studied fashion, I found myself paying extra special attention to uniforms and clothing items. There is a wedding dress displayed made from a parachute from WWII. There was also a section of the personal Presidential plates used in the White House from the terms of Presidents like Grant, Monroe, Jackson and Lincoln.

Those who love the big toys and war machines, there are the normal things that you'd expect to see at a military museum. There are guns from just about all the wars represented. There are vehicles like tanks and jeeps. There are planes,  helicopters and a boat. 

Other displays of interest are the NASA Exhibit, a Medals Exhibit, POW Exhibit and a  life size replica of the childhood home of Eddie Rickenbacker. The replica home has some original items and is set up as it was during his childhood, with help from family members.

Replica of Eddie Rickenbaker's Childhood Home (photo credit)

 A rainy day doesn't have to to be a bust or a day shut inside. I love being outside but the rain gave me a reason to check out another great museum that I almost postponed visiting. The Motts Military Museum has something for everyone. If you aren't into military memorabilia or history, there are presidential items, uniforms that both men and women wore during those historic times and machines you barely ever see close up. Check it out this summer or when you get the chance!

 Until next time,
Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!
Kris,

My Summer In Columbus/ 20 Places You Should Check Out If You Haven't

 When I was a child, my sister and I spent summers in Fort Lauderdale. For those who don't know me well, my sister and I were born in Broward County hospital in Fort Lauderdale, many moons ago.  We moved to Columbus when were in elementary school. Our parents were separating so we lived with mom and visited our dad and relatives during summer break. Though we were normal kids, wanting to keep our parents together, we were okay with the extra attention. Going to Florida was going home again but it was also vacation. We went to Disney World and Epcot every year. We spent days at the beach. Family and friends scheduled time with us to shop, go to cookouts and do other fun activities. Those were great summers.

As an adult things change. Summers become just another season. You have to work and pay bills. You can't completely equate the season with fun. You have to fit the fun in, scheduling it around the day to day activities that have to be taken care of first.  For me, it is a little different because I am an artist. I don't have a 9 to 5, so I am a lot freer than most people. I had not had a summer like those I spent in Florida for many years until this one. There were no trips to Disney World or Epcot. No playing in the ocean or sand. It was me and my nephew two days a week all summer, exploring the places in our own backyard. We made a huge dent in the movies that came out this Summer including the newest Transformer movie. We bowled and battled it out in laser tag. We tried new foods and checked out places that offered revamped oldies like gourmet grilled cheese at Melt and Peanut butter sandwiches at the oldest peanut butter company in the world, Krema Nut Co.  I have posted some of our adventures this summer but I wanted to create a guide for entertaining kids, out of town guests or just for a day of exploring the city yourself.  The summer is coming to an end and my nephew has been back to school almost a month. I love sharing so I had to create a list. This is a guide that can be used for next summer or for weekend activity ideas. I am hoping it will be a great source for out of town tourists or for inspiration to those in other cities. Most important, I am only listing places that I have personally visited.  This is a list of places and things I stand behind because I enjoyed them with my nephew or other loved ones this summer.

History, Science & Nature

These are places most of us already know about so I will quickly get them out the way. Most of these places are also full day adventures. There are plenty of things to see and do at most of these places and when it's time to eat, you can purchase prepared meals at decent prices. I will specify when there are any exceptions.

1.COSI (Center of Science & Industry)- Not just for the kids and family, they have adult only nights once a month.  I am also excited that the planetarium is returning in just weeks. My tip for optimum enjoyment, arrive early to see and participate in as much as possible! There is a café on premises with lots of options. 

2.The Ohio History Center & The Ohio Village- Ohio history at it's finest!  However, the summer is the best time to go because the Ohio Village is open and you can see what things were like in the 1800s including people dressed in period clothing. There are picnic tables in the village. Pack a lunch.

3.Franklin Park Conservatory- I love the Blooms and Butterflies! The botanical gardens are beautiful! Other smaller exhibits change!  I am looking forward to 'Scary Plants', a fall exhibit coming in a couple weeks. Great Café on premises! Menu items change and food is often made with fresh items grown on the premises.

4.The State House- Not an all day experience. 45 minute tour + time to explore the small museum and gardens. The tour is free! Café on premises. 

5.The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium  - We happen to have one of the best Zoos in the world which includes a great relationship with our own Jack Hanna. Check out the new Africa Exhibit! There are many food options available but packed lunch can be brought in to save money.

6.Slate Run Living Historical Farm-Technically this is located in the Canal Winchester area.  You can get a feel of what it was like to live and run a farm in 1880. There is no electricity and everyone is in period clothing. There is also no running water so that means out houses. Hand sanitizer is a must! It is part of a metro park system so pack a picnic style lunch. Check online for scheduled activities for kids. My nephew got to do farm chores, play games and even helped prepare cookies that were part of his snack during a program called "Cheers and Chores". You can just show up but to participate in programs you must register.  Registered or not, it's free.
 

Off The Beaten Path

These are places that even the locals didn't know about or know about but have yet to visit. You pass by these places every day and say," I will stop in one day and the next thing you know", it's been years and years of "one day".

7.Early Television Museum- This place is located in Hilliard, Ohio. It is well worth 45 minutes to an hour of you time. It shows you how far television has come. We went from watching television screens the size of the screens on our smart phones to watching television on our smart phones. Check out the first television sets in black and white and color.

8.Central Ohio Fire Museum-Need some fire safety information or a refresher course? You will get that along with plenty of Ohio fire and general fire history. Take photos of the beautiful antique engines and make sure to ask about the resident spirits.

Visual Art

Art has always been a big deal to me, so my list would not be complete without some of the best places to view some of the greatest examples of visual art we have to offer in the city. There is the normal city art museum but there is also great places to see crafts and cartoons.

9.The Columbus Museum of Art- Permanent and Changing Exhibits. To feel like more of an experience, bring a drawing pad to sketch things you see. There are lots of interactive activities through out the museum. There is a cafe on the premises.

10.The Wexner Arts Center- A great place to see some wonderful pieces. When I went over the summer with my nephew, we checked out the Modern Cartoonist exhibit that included some modern cartoons with lots of really edgy topics, another exhibit with some familiar comic strips of the past, and a comic future exhibit with some 3d concepts that were amazing. Exhibits change. Cafe on the premises.

11.The Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum-  If you are a fan of comic strips, you will love this place. See classics like Calvin & Hobbes. It takes about an hour, more if you choose to read everything. The museum is free!

 12.The Ohio Craft Museum- One floor of beautiful handmade pieces and a gift shop. This only takes about 20 minutes or less to check out. Visit if you are in the area. It's free!

 

Foodie Adventures

Let's start with interesting takes on oldies but goodies!

These places are great for kids and adults because it is familiarity with a twist. You can get the old school versions or be adventurous and try something interesting and fun.

13.Melt  Bar & Grilled - gourmet grilled cheese (Try the Cleveland Cheese Steak or the Cuban War Pig featured below)

14.Dirty Franks- hot dogs with fancy toppings ( My favorites are the Ohioana and the Seoul Dog. Get some tater tots and a slushie drink)

15.Kerma Nut Company- gourmet peanut butter sandwiches ( The oldest peanut butter company in America is in Columbus. Sit down for a sandwich and a milkshake. Try the Classic Old Timer with a PB & J shake. Browse the shop for nuts, candy or a jar of peanut butter to go.)

  Foodie Wonderlands & Tours

16.Anthony Thomas Factory-The tour takes about 45 minutes. The very small fee can be applied to a purchase at the end of your visit. No photos are allotted because they do work for other companies. The smell is intoxicating, it even takes over the elevator you take to the catwalk where the tour mostly takes place. You get a free chocolate buckeye at the end of your tour.

17.The North Market-This is one of my favorite places in the city. I just recently picked up some burrata, olive oil and some great pepper corns from there last week. The market is a place to find things you cant find anywhere else. It is a great place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is also a great place to take a guest or child. Most vendors offer unlimited samples. Literally, you can sample just about every item a vendor carries in most cases. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is one of the best places to sample everything. There are also popcorn samples at Pam's, and salsas and hot sauces at CaJohs's Flavor & Fire. The prepared food vendors let you sample also before you make a purchase. 

18.German Village-This area of town has so much history. I learned what I learned about it during a Columbus Food Adventure tour a couple years ago. It is a great place to visit, take a guest or child because there is so much culture there along with good food. Not to mention The Loft, the best book store in Columbus. For food, you have to check out Schmidt's for authentic German dining. Don't forget your cream puff for dessert!

19.Columbus Food Adventures- This I know plenty about because I have done four of their nine tours. I love this company because they offer an opportunity to get a taste of the best restaurants and food trucks the city has to offer. They also offer a free tour after your fourth tour. I am trying to decide between the Food Truck Tour and a the newest walking tour in Grandview. I have done tours in the Short North and German Village. I have also done the Taco Truck and Dessert tours. I have never left hungry or disappointed. I recommend these tours for out of towners and locals. For locals it gives you a chance to try restaurants with no risk. The taste you are offered during a tour may send you back to a restaurant that you would never have stopped in, that could become a new favorite.

Update! They added another new tour in September! They partnered with breakfast blogger and book author, Nick Dekker from Breakfast with Nick, to create a Breakfast Tour. It starts running October 11th.

Sports & Family Fun Bonus!

20.Huntington Park-A Clippers game was on my to do list for the summer and I finally made it. It is a great family night or date night. It may not be the best tourist attraction for someone visiting from a big city who has a big league team but it is definitely something all locals and small town folk should check out. I hope not to offend anyone. I found it to be a blast. I actually watched the game and participated in mascot activities. The hotdogs aren't too bad either. 

21.Zoombezi Bay-I can't swim so I loved this place because there was plenty I could still enjoy with shallow water. I went for the first time this summer but didn't get to enjoy it as much as I'd planned because of rain. However, it is lots of fun for both kids and adults. The food is a little expensive but you can bring your own and picnic in the zoo/water-park picnic area. There are a lot of food options available if you choose to eat at the park.

photo courtesy of blooloop.com

I hope you enjoyed my list! If there are places you feel I need to visit on your must see list, let me know. I will make it my next adventure.

Be Blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

BE ADVENTUROUS!

Kris,