You can’t deny it, Ohio is pretty cool. When we are out of town and people find out we are from Ohio, their first question (after asking if we are Buckeye Fans) is, “What is there to do in Ohio!?” Five minutes later, I bet they never wished they asked me that question. I can go on and on about what there is do in Ohio. We don’t fall short in many categories.
While I think we do our fair share of exploring, there is so much more to explore. Here are just ten things I recently added to my Ohio bucket list!
Visit the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock in Sugar Creek
“The Alpine Alpa restaurant in Wilmot, Ohio, commissioned clockmaker Karl Schleutermann to build the world’s largest cuckoo clock in 1963. Twelve years and $50,000 later, the enormous outdoor clock was finished. It was featured on the cover of the Guinness Book of World Records in 1978. After exposure to Ohio’s weather for 30 years, Hampton Hotels’ “Save-A-Landmark” program helped to restore the cuckoo clock to operating condition in 2007. The restaurant closed two years later, and the owner of the local store Walnut Creek Cheese purchased the clock and donated it to the Village of Sugarcreek. The clock was moved to its new home in May 2012. Village leaders and community members returned the clock to working condition and placed it on display for all to enjoy.”
The clock is 23-feet, 6-inches tall, 24-feet wide and 13-feet, 6-inches deep. There is a five-piece band playing music, a couple dancing the polka, and a hand-carved cuckoo bird that sounds every 30 minutes and on the hour. The band figures are 38-inches tall.
Attend the World’s Largest Popcorn Festival in Marion
The Marion Popcorn Festival is one of Ohio’s premier festival events, named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. Located in downtown Marion, Ohio, it is the largest popcorn festival in the world annually attracting crowds in excess of 250,000.
“The First Marion Popcorn Festival was held in September of 1981. The Popcorn Festival was the idea of a number of local business men that worked with local city officials to organize the festival. It was the intent of the organizers to create a 3-day festival that would promote Marion and offer free, nationally-known headline entertainment. Popcorn was picked because Marion County in Ohio is one of the top growers of popcorn in the United States and Wyandot, Inc. is one of the largest exporters of popcorn in the World.”
Camp On The Water in a Floating Tent in Troy
“70% of the earth is covered with water, now you camp on it! Introducing the Shoal Tent, a first of its kind inflatable floating raft with a tent topper that allows you to sleep out on the water, and Troy Ohio is the only place you can do this in the world! Sleep under the stars, on the water, and feel the river flow as it lulls you to sleep.Make this a true outdoor adventure.”
Location: Troy, Ohio’s Treasure Island Park, 409 N. Elm Street, 45373
For additional information, to reserve a tent, and pricing information, please call 419-204-6044 or email clemenjt@gmail.com
Take a Safari through The Wilds in Muskingum County
“The Wilds is a private, non-profit safari park and conservation center that combines cutting-edge conservation science and education programs with hands-on experiences and one-of-a-kind adventures that include ziplining, horseback riding, fishing and more. Located in Cumberland, Ohio, the Wilds is home to rare and endangered species from the globe living in natural, open-range habitats. The property encompasses 9,154 acres of reclaimed coal mine land and includes 2,000 acres of pastures and a 27-acre Carnivore Conservation Center. The Wilds is designated an Audubon Important Bird Area so the property includes a birding station with covered lookout as well as a butterfly habitat with hiking trails, more than 15 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails and approximately 150 lakes.”
Wikipedia
Learn more about the animals that all The Wilds home, the different tours they offer (zipline and open-air safari are at the top of my list) and more about their mission over on their website.
Explore Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead
Built in 1821, the Marblehead Lighthouse is still standing strong as the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on all of the Great Lakes. Gracefully set on the rocky limestone shore of Lake Erie, this beacon and its adjacent Keeper’s House became an Ohio State Park in 1998.
“Marblehead Lighthouse is one of Lake Erie’s best known and most-photographed landmarks.Marblehead Lighthouse rests on the Marblehead Peninsula, a rocky headland of Columbus Limestone that juts into Lake Erie. (“Marblehead” means “marble headland,” because limestone is sometimes incorrectly called marble.) The grounds surrounding the lighthouse offer excellent picnicking and views of Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay, Kelleys Island and South Bass Island.”
See an aerial video of Marblehead Lighthouse
Address: 10 Lighthouse Drive, Marblehead, Ohio 43440
Head over to the website to learn more about tours, admission and more.
Take a train ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
“Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is a tourist excursion railway and private sector, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization operating in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park located in Northeast, Ohio. CVSR is dedicated and committed to preserving and renovating historic railcars so that they may be enjoyed by future generations. In addition to providing event excursions year-round, we also offer a membership program and have a volunteer base of over 1,000.”
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has a diverse range of excursions so there’s sure to be something perfect for you! Climb aboard the train for our regular National Park Scenic excursion, Hale Farm Explorer, beer and wine tastings, Royalty on the Rails and much more. Click here to view our events.
cvsr.org
Learn more about the great work they do, the different train rides they offer and how to book your tickets on their website.
Get adventurous and brave the Ohio State Reformatory
“Walk the same halls as history’s most infamous prisoners. Immerse yourself into the foundation that formed The Shawshank Redemption. Whether you’re hunting for the paranormal or simply looking to tour the beautiful architecture, you can find it here at The Ohio State Reformatory.”
Self-guided tours allow guests to independently tour the entire facility at their own pace. Saturday’s and Sunday’s are designed to allow patrons to learn about the Reformatory from a knowledgeable Tour Guide. You get to see about 85% of the facility. The tour route is about 1.2 miles long and takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to complete. Please take into account that the facility undergoes restoration and maintenance on a regular basis. Some parts of the tour route might be closed due to these factors.
Paranormal Programs
Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society (MRPS) sponsored Ghost Hunts® are serious, but informal attempts to document paranormal activity at a castle-like former prison.
Address: 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905
Check out Frequently Asked Questions and more on their website by clicking here. You can also keep up with them on Facebook.
Jump in the bluest water in Ohio at a Quarry in Garrettsville
The only spot in Ohio for hiking, biking, camping, swimming, cliff diving, snorkeling, scuba diving, sunbathing, fishing, food vending, full-court basketball, sand volleyball, MUSIC FESTIVALS, arts and crafts, and more!
“In the late 1940’s & 50’s, what’s now Nelson Ledges Quarry Park was an operating rock quarry. It employed many people in the surrounding area, mining both quartz & sand. As the story goes, one day in the late 1950’s the machinery hit one of the many springs, & the 30-acre quarry filled within days leaving diving cliffs, peninsulas, rock shelves & an island in the middle. The location has since become a hot spot for camping, hiking, swimming, cliff diving, sunbathing & more.”
Address: 12001 Route 282, Nelson Ledge Rd. Garrettsville, Ohio
Check out their website for more information and keep up with special events on their Facebook.
Take a trip to Put-In-Bay
Yep, I haven’t ever been to Put-in-Bay! Am I really an Ohioan if I haven’t been?
“Put-in-Bay Ohio is a quaint village located on South Bass Island in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. There are numerous islands in Lake Erie with Put-in-Bay Ohio being the most popular for tourism. Many people believe that the name originates from some early maps of South Bass Island that showed the main harbor being named Pudding Bay, probably because it was shaped like a pudding sack used by sailors.”
Put-in-Bay is a popular summer resort and recreational destination. Two Ferry services connect the community with Catawba Island, Kelleys Island, Port Clinton, Lorain, and Sandusky, Ohio. The Jet Express Ferryarrives in the downtown area and offers the only late night service to Put-in-Bay. The Miller Ferry to Put-in-Bay is our primary fright service to the island and the only way to transport a vehicle which is not recommended or needed on your vacation. Hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to Put-in-Bay Each year with a season that runs from early April until Haloween weekend, typically the last big weekend at Put-in-Bay. Special events occur almost every weekend and a schedule is available at Put-in-Bay Events
Address: 470 Loraine Ave #267Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456
Check out their Vistors Bureau Website or Facebook for more information.
Take a Trolly Tour of the Dum-Dums Factory in Bryan
It’s hard to beat a visit to a candy factory, right?
“All of our delicious candy brands are for sale in the Store, along with tees, hoodies, candles, pens, mugs, and more, all with a Dum-Dums logo or design. We also sell packages of single flavor Dum-Dums – a whole bag of just your favorite flavor! Spangler Candy Company has been in business for more than 110 years, and is still family-owned. Our Museum highlights the history of our company’s products, achievements, and leadership since 1906. Learn details of our history on the big screen in our video room. Hands-on activity stations are available for the children. Take a tour on our Dum-Dums Trolley! Purchase your tickets when you get to the Museum, and we’ll schedule you on our next available tour. Tours last 30 minutes, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For school groups or groups of 20 or more, call in advance to schedule. Trolley tours start and end at the Store/Museum.”
Dum-Dums Trolley passengers enjoy a live guided tour through the receiving warehouse, past the lollipop wrapping room, in and around the candy packing area, and out into the finished goods warehouse. Video presentations shown during short trolley stops provide a close-up view of our candy kitchens, comfortably and safely removed from the heat and equipment. (Food safety regulations do not allow public tours in the kitchens.)
Address: 400 N. Portland St, Bryan, Ohio
For more information, including pricing/hours click here.
Here are a few things we’ve already marked off of our Ohio Bucket List: Wine Getaway at Vineyard Woods, Eating our way through The 30 Mile Meal in Athens and The Butler County Donut Trail, Exploring an outdoor Sculpture Park, Learning to Wakeboard with a cable system and exploring a house built by Frank Lloyd Wright to name a few!
What is on your Ohio Bucket List?
