Every July, the summer sun is a little hotter, neighborhood ice cream trucks ring a little louder and roadside stands that have survived for decades become the gathering places for locals who want refreshment from the heat. It is no wonder why July is National Ice Cream Month. Ice cream In honor of this summer tradition, I set out on a mission to get the scoop on the best scoops in Ohio. Almost every small town has its own version of a corner dairy hut and it seems the deeper the community roots, the bigger the scoops on the cone.... Continue reading

To continue celebrating Ohio Wine Month this June, consider stopping in to one – or all six – of the award winning wineries in Tuscawaras County. While you embark on your wine-tasting experience, be sure to check out the Ohio Grape Industries VIP incentive program, where you can register and win rewards for visiting different Ohio wineries. Island Palm Winery (Bolivar): Historic downtown Bolivar is the setting for this fun and laid back island-themed winery. When walking in, you immediately get a tiki bar vibe that sets the tone for a good time. Flip Flop Muscat, Seashell Chardonnay, and Shark... Continue reading

Celebrate America’s independence by watching as the night skies of Ohio illuminate with colorful, astonishing firework shows that will make you “ooh” and “ahh.” Listed below are just a few of Ohio’s grand displays for Independence Day. Central Granville Kiwanis July 4th Celebrations, July 1 –4 Four fun-packed days filled with a talent show, entertainment, a five mile race, parade, games and of course, a firework display on the July 2. Red, White and BOOM! July 3 The largest and most spectacular firework celebration in the Midwest will fire back up from its location along the downtown riverfront in Columbus... Continue reading

This past April, the Go Ape Treetop Adventure course opened to the public in the Cleveland Metroparks' Mill Stream Run Reservation. The Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course challenges participants with an outdoor obstacle course over 3,000 feet in length and is suspended up to 40 feet above ground. It takes between 2-3 hours to complete, depending on your ability and how busy it is. The course gives you the opportunity to see the world from a bird's eye view as you navigate the treetops like a monkey by traversing bridges, zooming on zip lines, and hanging on ropes. All obstacles... Continue reading

It's easy to hear someone talk about Ohio's Amish Country and picture rolling hills, country roads, a barn or two and the obligatory horses and buggies. And while, if you visit Amish Country, you're likely to come across most or all of those things, there's a lot more to the area than nice scenery. Take, for example, the vibrant town of Berlin. Now the oldest existing village in Holmes County — the heart of Ohio's Amish Country — Berlin began as an unassuming country town whose industry and shops propelled it into what it is today: A hub of craftsmanship... Continue reading

Cedar Point, one of America’s greatest amusement parks, has opened its gates for another season of family fun. Cedar Point’s collection of 71 rides including 17 roller coasters, towers over the crystal shores of Lake Erie. Often known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” the park is looking to expand its appeal to thrill seekers with the unveiling of its new floorless coaster, Rougarou. Rougarou’s track is that of Mantis – an older stand up coaster that called Cedar Point home for nearly 18 years. With new floorless cars and a freshly painted track, I couldn’t pass up... Continue reading

Ever seen one of Sandy Koufax’s Cy Young Awards? He won three with the Los Angeles Dodgers. How about the Triple Crown that Hank Greenberg won with the Detroit Tigers? Greenberg is one of only 17 men to lead the league in home runs, runs batted in and batting average. Both artifacts and a host of others can be found at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood, as part of the exhibit, “Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American,” on display through Sept. 7. The display debuted last year at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia,... Continue reading

The renovated aquarium at Toledo Zoo recently opened, and it is a great place to spend an hour during your zoo visit this year. Or two hours. Or three -- because there's plenty to see at the new aquarium, and unlike the old aquarium, there's plenty to do, as well. Aquariums, as a rule, have not historically been interactive, but that's not the case here. My children were able to touch a stingray as it gently glided by in a large, shallow pool designed just for such interactions. Touch Tank and Ocean Lab allows kids (and adults) to get up... Continue reading

Barb Cooper, founder of Cincinnati Food Tours, became a tour guide rather accidentally. As owners of Daisy Mae’s Market, a fresh produce store on the perimeter of Findlay Market, Barb and her husband Barry often found themselves answering questions and giving recommendations to shoppers. Sometimes the questions were basic inquiries, such as the location of the restrooms, but other times people wanted specific recommendations on where they could find a good bowl of soup or a cup of coffee. Barb recalled a culinary tour she had enjoyed with friends in another city and decided that Cincinnati needed something similar. And... Continue reading

Romantic views of Paris and summertime scenes of the surrounding French countryside during the late-nineteenth century remain hallmarks of many important Impressionist paintings. But visit the Dayton Art Institute (DAI) in May for a fresh look at Impressionism as the movement grew in America with the increasingly innovative artists of the twentieth century. Admiring Marine-Green & Gold by Henry Ward Ranger Beloved painters like John Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt followed the traditional route of studying the then-new Impressionist art style in France, but many expatriate artists returned home to the States to develop their own Impressionist traditions, techniques and... Continue reading

Do you have what it takes to break Esmeralda’s Curse, evade a hungry zombie or outwit a powerful mob? If so, you need to test your skills and puzzle prowess at two exciting new interactive attractions in Butler County. The Web Extreme Entertainment in West Chester, Ohio recently added a new action packed attraction, a Zombie Puzzle Room. Up to 12 people can take on this challenge. You feel the pressure and your time dwindling, as every five minutes the zombie’s chain is released another foot. Your group has 60 minutes to locate the clues, piece together the puzzle and... Continue reading

The Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton offers visitors something museums rarely do: Rides on exhibits! The growing museum is home to a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor AT-B. At the time they were manufactured in Detroit, the aluminum-clad aircraft were state-of-the-art. In fact, the plane purchased earlier this year by the Museum was one of two that serviced the nation’s first transcontinental airline route, flying from Columbus to California regularly. But don’t just look at the big shiny “Tin Goose,” climb aboard and fly back in time. Climbing in, an all-original interior, including leather seats, greets passengers. The plane is equipped... Continue reading

Spring has finally sprung and as Ohio starts to thaw from yet another harsh winter, people are once again beginning to venture outdoors. Aside from enjoying all of the natural spring beauty that our state has to offer, one of my favorite springtime activities is indulging my inner epicurean side and gathering with friends or family to enjoy some food and beverages at the numerous outdoor patios around Ohio. Below I share some of my personal favorites! Continue reading

Sure, halfway up the trail, I penned a few lines in my little brown book: “I fell to silence easily as stone’s voice opened up, a hundred greens whispering their verdant shades….” But then I just had to stop writing and move on, to see it all, as soon as possible. It’s great to visit a location where others are enjoying the gorgeous Ohio outdoors. There’s nothing like the sound of children laughing in the distance and the wonder in peoples’ voices as they discover all nature has to offer. But what if you wanted to do it on your... Continue reading

This blog post was submitted by the Butler County Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more fun ideas, visit www.gettothebc.com. Who doesn’t love a decadent meal of steak and seafood? Biting in to a juicy filet or cracking open a crab shell are two of the best things about fine dining. With a visit to Jag’s Steak & Seafood your taste buds will never be the same. Filets topped with onion straws and so tender you can cut them with a butter knife, how could you not go back? And, as voted by OpenTable Diners, Jag’s is one of the 2014... Continue reading

There is nothing better than comfort food. I have made it my mission to scout out some of the best must-have meals in small restaurants, in small Ohio towns. I found five more restaurants that are worth the drive. Today, I head to an Ohio diner inside a renovated locomotive resurrected from a scrap yard in Virginia. When I heard that they served 10-pound burgers; I had to go see it for myself. Buckeye Express Diner - photo: Anietra Hamper As I drive on I-71 North in Bellville, just shy of Mansfield, I see the Buckeye Express Diner from the... Continue reading

Ohio is known as the "Mother of Presidents," since 8 of our nation's leaders hailed from the Buckeye State. As such, there are several spots throughout the state where monuments and memorials dedicated to these presidents can be found. Canton (Stark County), Ohio, is the resting place of the 25th President, William McKinley. Canton was McKinley’s “adopted” home, having been born in Niles (near Youngstown), Ohio, and later practicing law in Canton. He lived here when he became Governor of Ohio until he later had to, of course, move to Washington, D.C., to serve as president. History is rich here... Continue reading

Take her breath away with romantic Ohio views you'll both remember forever. Whether you want to surprise your loved one on Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year, here are the top 5 romantic sites provided by our Instagram followers @Ohiogram. Sandusky River This scenic picture brought to us by @jessieardner shows how beautiful the river can be in Crawford County as it flows westward into Lake Erie. Hocking Hills Cabin The @olenagaras show off the beautiful cabins of Hocking Hills. Perfect for cuddling up by a fire! Lakeside This photo, courtesy of @lakesideohio, displays how serene and... Continue reading

Winter in Ohio means finding creative ways to plug through the cold snap until we see the light of spring. Here are some great indoor activities around the state that are fun for the family and burn off some of that extra energy. Imagination Station - photo: Anietra Hamper Indoor Science The cold air outside has given me a great excuse to check out the new planetarium now open at COSI Columbus and some of the new movies showing on the Giant Screen. COSI offers endless ways to stay warm and have fun with hands-on exhibits that explore everything from... Continue reading

When I was younger, my dad used to have ice fishing parties on the small pond in front of our house. He would go out in the morning with an ice auger and drill fishing holes while my sister and I slid across the ice on our bellies. While he and his friends fished later, we would build snow ramps on the hill in our front yard and launch ourselves over them on snow tubes. Nobody complained about the cold or the wet – because this was what a real winter weekend was supposed to be like: dressed up in... Continue reading

A polar plunge (also known as a polar bear jump) is for the bravest of brave! In fact, I believe I have been called "brave" more times for doing a polar plunge than for when I went skydiving! Basically, this event consists of jumping into an extremely cold body of water for a short amount of time and then hopping back out! Many of these events take place to raise money for the Special Olympics or other charities. I recently participated in the Polar Plunge at Mosquito Lake State Park in Cortland, Trumbull County. I raised money for the event... Continue reading

The Columbus Pedal Wagon and the Cincinnati Pedal Wagon is a contraption that requires you and a group of able-bodied buddies to hop on board and use your man-power to wheel the wagon from bar to bar to bar! And just because we are smack dab in the middle of winter does not mean that the pedal wagon goes into hibernation. You can book a ride on the Polar Bear Express NOW throughout winter! I recently went on a Columbus Pedal Wagon excursion on an Ohio State Buckeyes game day with friends and family. The Columbus Pedal Wagon offers various... Continue reading

Southwest Ohio’s latest winter fun offering is Beach Mountain Snow Tubing Park, newly constructed at The Beach Waterpark in Mason. My whole family bundled up and headed to The Beach during my kids’ holiday break. While most of Ohio didn’t have a White Christmas, Beach Mountain makes their own snow, and so their hill was covered with more than enough white stuff for a fun day of tubing. I loved that this was an activity that my entire family—from my 5-year-old nephew to my 83-year-old father—could experience together. No skill or athleticism is needed; just a spirit of adventure. It... Continue reading

Open-face roast beef sandwich at Pioneer Restaurant, Utica - photo: Anietra Hamper When I walk into the Pioneer Restaurant in Utica, Ohio I feel like I am visiting an old friend –only, I have never been here before. Perhaps it is because the atmosphere is filled with regulars who find comfort among the food and the company. A steady stream of people come here for coffee and breakfast sausage in the mornings, or stop in for meatloaf on Thursdays and homemade seasonal pies at other times of the week. I took a day-trip to satisfy my hunger for comfort food,... Continue reading

From outdoor adventures and comfort food to quirky sites that are not to be missed – Ohio has something for everyone to enjoy. Check out the most viewed blogs of 2014. Which spots do you want to add to your travel list next year? 5. Paddle Ohio: The Top 5 Places to Kayak and Canoe Ohio has an abundance of rivers, creeks and lakes perfect for paddling the day away – whether you’re searching for somewhere to leisurely float along or some rapids, Ohio has it all! Check out some of the best places to paddle. 4. Give the Gift... Continue reading