Living in Michigan, I often hear people complaining about Ohio and how the whole state sucks and there’s nothing to do. I’m here to tell you that’s not fair and that’s not true! Sure, Ohio has a lot of farmland and factories, just like any other Midwest state. It’s also home to a few really cool spots that we have taken road trips to over the years. I’m going to keep this super short and let you do more research if you need it or let me know in the comments what I can help clarify!
Recommend for: Couples or the whole fam!
Located a little over an hour east of Columbus, The Wilds is a safari park that holds over 10,000 acres of land containing all sorts of wildlife! The land actually came from a previous coal company. It’s good to know that hopefully this land is now contributing to protect the environment instead of destroying 🙂 Anyways, The Wilds is a perfect weekend or day trip! Once you arrive, it truly feels like you’ve left Ohio. There are different “safari” options you can pick from: The Open air safari or the Wildside tour. The open-air safari is a large bus tour that will take you around to view all the animals and beautiful scenery. We chose the the wildside tour because it’s much smaller and gives you the chance to touch and feed the animals! You can also spend the night here on the property, which we did. We stayed in a yurt, and we could see some of the animals from our room!
While I would encourage you to visit during the spring and summer months, they are still open in the winter. The experience would be quite different as they won’t take you around the land but rather into the barns where the animals are staying. This is a chance to learn more about the animals and get more up close and personal with them. Still a nice winter activity, perfect for the whole family 🙂
2. Landoll's Mohican Castle
Recommend for: couples
If you’re looking for a unique stay, this is definitely the place. Located between Cleveland and Columbus in Mohican county, is this luxury castle. It’s actually featured in Hotel Hell and Ghost Hunters because of the properties long and unique history Basically, a long time ago (1850’s), a church was built here which also held a graveyard. For whatever reason, some of the bodies had to be exhumed and relocated another burial site. Then, the church burned down. So…. who knows.. :). It’s said to be haunted and there is documented paranormal activity here..which we actually did experience. Let me know in the comments if you want to hear that story!
Naturally, they offer ghost tours. If that’s not your thing, there’s a nice restaurant onsite, they host weddings and a bunch of other events! You can stay onsite in the castle, or there are cottages on the grounds here as well. Beyond all the paranormal stuff, it truly is a gorgeous property and located in a beautiful, hilly part of Ohio. If you’re too scared to stay here, check out any other places nearby in Loudonville!
3. Hocking Hills
Recommend for: outdoor lovers
Just one hour south of Columbus is the Hocking Hills area, which is home to 9 state parks and forests. It’s a perfect place to explore for the outdoor lovers! I was actually very impressed with this area – again. Another surprise in Ohio and an easy weekend trip from the midwest when you really want to hike! We stayed at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls and it was truly perfect! Rent a yurt, lodge, cabin or geodome. We stayed in a cabin, and I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a relaxing stay to connect with nature. I would imagine this would be a really nice getaway even in the winter. It was so cozy and peaceful! The spa did a great job and is a nice way to end the day after hiking around the parks! The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls also has a really nice cozy restaurant and I am very happy all around with this experience and stay.
Very entertaining and a fun read.