101 Cool Places And Things In Ohio (Part I 1-10)

If you have been following me on instagram @krisofohio, you have seen my daily posts since the first day of spring. I have posted 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 71 days of posts left to go. This is where I plan to slow it down. I have posted a good portion of my favorite places and things in Ohio, but now I need to do some more exploring. On this post you will find the first ten attractions from my list and I will be updating it throughout the rest of the year. I am asking that you help me with suggestions to complete the list. Feel free to 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. My list includes only places I have experienced. All photos on this post are my own.

Happy Exploring!

Kris, 

1. The National Museum of the U.S. Airforce
1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433
 937.255.3286


This is a great place to learn about aviation history! Over 300 planes! The museum includes exhibits for World War II,the Korean War and a Presidential Gallery. Free Admission! 

2. The Golden Lamb
27 S. Broadway
Lebanon, Ohio 45036
513.932.5065 

Operating since 1803, this is the oldest continuously operating business in Ohio. The Golden Lamb is a hotel and restaurant that has been a stop for many well known people including twelve United States presidents such as both Harrisons, John Quincy Adams, Grant, Garfield, Regan and George W. Bush. Other famous guests included literary greats Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. Stop in for a fabulous brunch or stay the night in a room where a president once rested. The place is pretty much a functioning museum, so take a look around. The rooms that aren't occupied are open for viewing.

3. Hocking Hills State Park
19852 State Route 664 S
Logan, Ohio 43138

This is no doubt one of the most beautiful places to hike in the U.S. Some people believe it should be added to the Wonders of the World. The park is filled with caves, gorges and waterfalls. There is no shortage of recreational activities to try.If you want to do more than hike, you can participate in ziplining, canoeing, horse back riding and so much more. Stay the night in a cabin, lodge, B&B or camp out on the grounds in the area.

4. The Longaberger Company

Longaberger Home Office
1500 E. Main Street
Newark, Ohio 43055
740.322.5000 
&
 Longaberger Homestead
5563 Raiders Road
Frazeysburg, OH 43822
740.322.5588

Most people have no idea that The Longaberger Company is located in Central Ohio. The Corporate Office building is a giant version of their classic basket located in Newark, Ohio. They welcome visitors inside the building to look around. Less than twenty minutes away, is the Longaberger Homestead. The Homestead is a great place to find deals on merchandise. You can also create your own basket, eat at one of three restaurants and explore the beautiful grounds.

5.Piatt Castles

Mac-O-Chee
2319 State Route 287. 
West Liberty, OH 43357

Mac-O-Cheek
  10051 Township Road 47,
 West Liberty, OH 43357 

These two castles were built by brothers Donn and Abram for their families in the 1800s. The second castle built was Mac-O-Cheek; it was lived in as late as the 1980s. Both castles are beautiful and filled with cool antiques. The history of this family is interesting. You can find their story throughout the homes with descriptions and photos. See my 'West Liberty Travel Guide' for details and tips for this attraction.

6.Ohio Caverns
2210 East State Route 245 
West Liberty, Ohio 43357 
937.465.4017

Under a thirty-five acre park is the largest stretch of caverns in Ohio. There are two miles of passageways. The oldest crystal is 250,000 years old. The caverns also house one of the largest stalactites in any cave. For more details and tips about this attraction, check out my previous post 'West Liberty Travel Guide'.

7. Ohio Amish Country
Holmes,Tuscarawas & Wayne Counties 

Of all fifty states, Ohio has the largest community of Amish residents. When you visit the area, you are stepping into a different way of living. Experience the culture through their food at their restaurants, cheese houses and bakeries. For couples their are plenty of B&Bs and wineries in the area. For families there are petting zoos, horse and buggy rides and Amish farms where you can spend the entire day learning about the culture with Amish families. For a few of my favorite places check out 'Home of the Original Green Lifestyle'.

8. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45203
800.733.2077 

The Art Deco train station houses three museums: The Cincinnati History Museum, The Ohio Museum of Natural History and The Duke Energy Children's Museum. There is an Omnimax theater that has three movie options playing daily. There are also free guided tours of the Union Terminal.

9. Early Television Museum 
 5396 Franklin Street
 Hilliard, OH 43026  
614.771.0510

The museum was founded by Steve McVoy, whose interest in televisions started when he worked at a television repair shop as a teen. Later in his life he began collecting early television receivers. As a result of a lack of storage for his collection, the museum was founded. The museum covers television from the 1920s through the first color television of the 1950s. 

10. Columbus Food Adventures

There are food tours all over the United States but I have yet to come across a company that offers as many options as Columbus Food Adventures(CFA). Part of it has to do with the culinary diversity of Columbus and part of it is the creative thinking of Bethia Woolf.  They offer eleven different tours and a sister company that offers brew tours. Take your pick of  tours in trendy areas like: Short North, Grandview and German Village. There are also specialty tours for people who love dessert, coffee, breakfast, brunch or meat.

Thank you for checking out my first 10 places of my list! To see more of my list and get daily updates, follow me on instagram @krisofohio . You can also stay tuned for part two of my list here on the blog.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!
Kris,

An Ohio Day Trip! West Liberty Travel Guide

When people say "there is nothing to do in Ohio," I am immediately annoyed. That translates to "I have not attempted to explore Ohio."  With it being officially spring, I started posting some of my favorite places in Ohio on instagram using '#101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio'. Follow me @krisofohio for those posts. I have been seeing a lot of Ohio tourism posts on my social media feeds lately. It is exciting that people are interested in traveling in their own back yards. Ohio is beautiful and if you live here, it is a good thing to know what it has to offer. A post about Ohio Castles that I saw last week gave me the idea for this post. It is a 2012 'Flash Back Road Trip' for me but it will be a great place for those who want to explore lesser known Ohio.

A DAY IN WEST LIBERTY

If you are wanting to explore Ohio, West Liberty is a great place to start. It is rich with interesting historical places. I have been a couple times in the last three years and I think I have created a great itinerary that would satisfy the history buffs, castle lovers, foodies and avid road trippers. There is really something everyone can appreciate.  It can all be done in a day depending on your starting point, how early you start and how committed you are to doing it. It is kind of a long day, but so worth it.

Tips before you start: Pack breakfast for the road or pick something up on the way.

 Stop 1: Ohio Caverns

2210 East State Route 245 West Liberty, Ohio 43357 

937.465.4017

Ohio Caverns taken by Kristin R 2012

9:30am-10:45am

 The Ohio Caverns open to the public at 9AM. So if you get there sometime within that first hour, you will have a great start on your day. You will need time to figure out what kind of tour you want to take. I really enjoyed the 'Natural Wonder Tour'. It is a guided 1 mile tour 100 feet underground, so sneakers are very necessary. I would also suggest a hoodie or some kind of rain jacket to protect yourself from dripping water. It is 54 degrees inside and with the moisture in the air it seems a little cooler. The caves house crystals as old as 250,000 years, so no touching is permitted. Touching the crystals leaves them discolored from the natural oils that we carry on our skin. The tour will take about an hour.

April 1 - October 31 (Summer Hours): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 1 - March 31 (Winter Hours): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

2015 Rates range from $12-$29 for adults 
 $9-$15 for children ages 5-12 

The Ohio Cavern's Entrance taken by Kristin R

Stop 2: Piatt Castles 
Mac-O-Chee
2319 State Route 287. West Liberty, OH 43357
937-465-2821 

Tips before you start: If you plan to see both castles; buy the combination castle ticket which allows you to visit both castles at a bundled discounted price.

Piatt Castles/ Mac-O-Chee Castle taken by Kristin R 2012

11:15-12:45

I suggest seeing Mac-O-Chee first because it is the oldest castle of the two. Seeing the castles in order gives you the Piatt's story in chronological order. The tour is self guided, so you have to read the information that is present and look at the photos. There are a couple of rooms where there are interactive activities. This takes some time depending on how fast or how much you chose to read.

Mac-O-Chee Piatt Castles Library taken by Kristin R 2012

Stop 3:Piatt Castles
Mac-O-Cheek 
   10051 Township Road 47, West Liberty, OH 43357

Piatt Castles Mac-O-Cheek Castle photo courtesy of yurko.net/blog

 1:00-1:45

 Mac-O-Cheek takes less time to walk through. The castle is smaller and less of the property is open to the public for touring. The inside seems more modern in comparison to Mac-O-Chee. The family lived in the castle as late as the 80's. The library is absolutely beautiful. It is my favorite area of the home. Don't forget to check out the small gift shop at the entrance. 

Library at Mac-O-Cheek Piatt Castles taken by Kristin R 2012

 

April 18 - May 24:  Weekends, 11am - 4pm

May 25 - September 7:  Daily, 11am - 5pm

September 12 - October 25:  Weekends, 11am - 4pm

Single Castle:

    Adult:  $15

    Youth (age 5-15):  $9

    Senior (age 65+) / AAA:  $13

Both Castles (Combination Ticket):

    Adult:  $25

    Youth (age 5-15):  $15

    Senior (age 65+) / AAA:  $20

 Stop 4:Liberty Gathering Place
111 N. Detroit St., West Liberty, OH

photo courtesy of Liberty Gathering Place Facebook page

 2:00-3:00

Enjoy a late lunch at Liberty Gathering Place. It is a country style restaurant with a menu covered with comfort foods like smoked pork chops, a pork tenderloin sandwich, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cream pies. You know it's good when the locals are regulars. Those who love prime rib are in for a real treat. I have had a lot of prime rib and this place is in my top three in taste. I also fell in love with the beets at their salad bar. The staff is friendly and the food is delicious.  There is something on the menu for everyone. 

Prime Rib at Liberty Gathering Place taken by Kristin R 2014

Hours: Monday-Friday 5:30 am to 7:30pm
Saturday 6:00am to 7:30pm
Sunday 8:00am to 2:30pm 


Stop 5: Marie's Candies, The Depot
 311 Zanesfield Rd. (also US St. Rt. 68)
West Liberty, Ohio 43357

 

photo courtesy of flicker.com

3:15-3:45

The last stop is a sweet one, literally. If you saved room for dessert, make sure to sample some of Marie's chocolates. Every time I have been there, they have had someone circulating samples through the store. You can also request samples of candy that you are interested in before you make a purchase. For most items there is a selection of dark, milk or white chocolate if you have a particular preference. My favorite treat from Marie's is the dark chocolate covered potato chips. Once you start tasting, you will not leave empty handed.


Hours: 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday

West Liberty is absolutely one of my favorite places in Ohio. Though you can see most of it in a day, the gems of this city make quite the impression. If you are traveling Ohio, make sure you add West Liberty to your to do list.

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