2021 Ohio Has It! Travel Planner

2021 GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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CONTENTS

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OHIO CLASSICS

DENISE MCCONNELL, PRESIDENT RAMADA BY WYNDHAM STRASBURG

FA M O U S FAC E S

LORI KAPPES, VICE PRESIDENT VISIT GAHANNA

AMISH ENCOUNTERS

LEIANN STEWART, SECRETARY/TREASURER MIAMI COUNTY VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU

OHIO OUTDOORS

LINDA SMITH, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT WARREN COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU CHRISSY BLACKWELL, VIRTUAL ASSISTANT KELLY ASHBY ZANESVILLE-MUSKINGUM COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BRIAN CHEEK DESTINATION GRANDVIEW TIFFANY GERBER HOLMES COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM BUREAU DIXIE LACY CAMBRIDGE/GUERNSEY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ALYSCIA SBERNA LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS JANE TOUGOUMA

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WELCOME

irthplace of astronauts, inventors, writers and presidents, Ohio has a proud and rich heritage we invite you to discover on your next group tour. Whether you want a science-filled student trip or an experiential adventure for adults, Ohio can offer your group a warm welcome and a plethora of exciting attractions.

We created Ohio Has It! to help serve your group’s needs with travel planning ideas that illustrate the wide scope of quality destinations across the five regions of Ohio. Hopefully, you can use this magazine as a tool when you plan trips to the Buckeye State.

So what is the “it” that Ohio has? Ohio’s “it” factor reaches everything from sleek big city offerings to charming rural towns. It encompasses the state’s hands-on experiences, elegant historic homes, modern galleries and handmade crafts.

Ohio is known for both rock ’n’ roll and football; Amish communities and roller coasters; award-winning zoos and scenic parks. Each one of Ohio’s five regions showcases different aspects of these unique perspectives.

With this magazine, you can glimpse into the many faces of Ohio, which while they are different, stay unified in their welcoming citizenry and memorable attractions.

So give us a call and let us help plan your next Ohio adventure!

S I N C E R E LY,

THE OHI O H AS I T! TE AM

888-253-0455 WWW.GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Columbus is a city that’s made for sharing. Tour the stirring National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Explore Adventure Cove, the brand-new sea lion exhibit at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Live it up at Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus in iconic German Village. Our partners city-wide have taken the Live Forward Pledge to make health a priority so your group’s visit can be as safe as it is memorable. ExperienceColumbus.com/tours

Courtesy Pro Football HOF Courtesy Experience Columbus

RIGHT ON QUEUE Courtesy Experience Columbus

Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

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Courtesy Destination Mansfield

By Nathan Migal, courtesy Destination Cleveland

GROUPS GRAVITATE TO THESE OHIO ICONS B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

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hio refuses to stay in one lane. The Buckeye State doesn’t attract only one type of person. Instead, all kinds of people visit to discover everything from football to manatees.

Ohio’s top attractions are fueled by the passions of both staff and visitors. Because of this enthusiasm, the state’s signature attractions, such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Columbus Zoo and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, consistently draw visitors from all over the country.

Travel planners should plan plenty of time for groups to explore these rock star Ohio attractions.

COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM COLUMBUS

Groups can watch the bellyflops, spins and acrobatics of California sea lions and harbor seals at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s new Adventure Cove exhibit. Opened in 2020, the $40 million exhibit features a 60-foot-long tunnel where visitors can appear to walk underwater next to the playful swimmers. A 250-seat amphitheater will show off more of these mammals’ tricks this year.

A new indoor area called Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounter Village houses more than 60 species of animals, including sloths, African penguins and cheetahs. The exhibit was inspired by Jack Hanna, the zoo’s director emeritus and television personality.

“Right off the bat, you can hear harbor seals’ barking that welcomes the visitors to the park at Adventure Cove,” said Roger Dudley, director of tourism sales for Experience Columbus. “Then Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounter Village brings the animals closer to the people. The animals that used to travel with Jack Hanna now have a facility where the public can visit them and sometimes see them out and about in that exhibition.”

The new exhibit adds to the zoo’s already extensive displays that provide a home for more

www.ohiohasit.com

Courtesy Destination Cleveland

Above: Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is among the most popular attractions in Ohio.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; Pro Football Hall of Fame; animal encounter in Columbus; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Ohio State Reformatory; riding the Racer at Kings Island

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than 9,000 animals and 650 species from around the world. With an attached water park, golf club and other educational exhibits, visitors will rarely run out of new things to discover.

Groups can opt for either a self-guided tour of the zoo or An immersive tour at the Columbus a curated tour experience such Zoo and Aquarium as the Wasafiri Adventure. Participants have breakfast at the Heart of Africa exhibit before the zoo opens to the public.

The private experience allows groups to take photos with select animals and feed giraffes.

KINGS ISLAND MASON

Groups with a mix of people — some who want to scream as they drop 300 feet and others who want to relax and watch a Courtesy Experience Columbus show — can find a range of entertainment at Kings Island in Mason.

“It is a well-rounded amusement park experience,” said Scott Hutchinson, director of marketing and communications for the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We hear that a lot when we speak to people who are followers of roller coasters throughout the nation. They view Ohio as a mecca for roller coasters. They feel Kings Island is best for people of all ages because it has little kids’ rides all the way up to rides for grandma and grandpa.”

The park’s new Orion giga coaster debuted in July 2020 as one of seven giga coasters in the world. The park’s tallest, fastest and longest steel roller coaster features a 300-foot drop and a maximum speed of 91 miles per hour.

Roller coaster enthusiasts can also enjoy the park’s other trademark roller coasters, such as the Beast and Mystic Timbers. Beyond these adrenaline-producing experiences, the park offers more than 100 rides and attractions. The park’s Planet

Kings Island’s Diamondback

Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

“THEY VIEW OHIO AS A MECCA FOR ROLLER COASTERS. THEY FEEL KINGS ISLAND IS BEST FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES BECAUSE IT HAS LITTLE KIDS’ RIDES ALL THE WAY UP TO RIDES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA.” — SCOTT HUTCHINSON 6

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Snoopy-themed area has been voted “Best Kids’ Area in the World” for 18 years by Amusement Today. The area features Peanuts-themed rides, shows and attractions.

Kings Island also connects to Soak City Water Park, with 50 aquatic activities such as water slides, tropical lagoons and kids’ play areas.

OHIO STATE REFORMATORY MANSFIELD

A prison with a marble floor seems like a contradiction. Yet at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, decorative architecture contrasts abruptly with crowded cellblocks.

The former prison’s Victorian Gothic and Romanesque architecture was intended to encourage inmates to repent. These lofty intentions were at the heart of the Ohio State Reformatory, built in 1896 to house young first-time offenders. The site transformed into a maximum-security prison in 1946 and closed in 1990; it later reopened for tours.

Kings Island Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

ADVENTURE fulfill your CURIOSITY find your ARTSYside embrace local CULTURE discover HISTORY fill your SHOPPING CART addFLAVORto your life find

Call today to schedule a

Customized Tour

www.ohiohasit.com

1-800-743-2303 • www.visitzanesville.com

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A “Shawshank Redemption” exhibit at the Ohio State Reformatory

“Visitors are not going to find this attraction anywhere else,” said Jodie Snavely, group tour and media director for Destination Mansfield. “We suggest groups factor in anywhere from two to three hours because there is so much to see. Every time I go through, I hear or see something different or hear a new story.”

Groups can learn about the site’s use as the main filming location for “The Shawshank Redemption” on the History Meets Hollywood Tour. Several rooms appear just as they did in the movie, such as the warden’s office, Brooks’ hotel room and Andy’s cell with a hole dug through the wall.

The Shawshank Bus Tour incorporates the Ohio State Reformatory into a larger tour of 11 filming locations in three hours. The tour ends with a walking tour of the prison using Andy’s entrance in the movie.

Courtesy Destination Mansfield

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

Young visitors at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

CLEVELAND

No one can walk by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without noticing it. Just like the bold, energetic music it honors, the building stands out.

Architect I.M. Pei designed it as a glass pyramid anchored by a 162-foot-high tower.

The inside proves just as inventive, with a mix of priceless memorabilia, videos that celebrate the music genre and interactive exhibits.

“One thing that gives you chills is the floor-toceiling video screens taking you through dramatic performances from the induction ceremonies,” said Gordon Taylor III, vice president of convention sales and services for Destination Cleveland.

“The last one I saw was Tom Petty and Prince. It is

By Cody York, courtesy Destination Cleveland a concert with two people who have passed away, but it’s like you are seeing them in person. You can feel the room vibrate. It is so impactful.”

Groups love to include the Garage exhibit. Participants can imagine themselves as real-life rock stars by playing, mixing and recording their own music. After seeing so many famous guitars off-limits to guests, visitors can grab a drum, guitar or other instrument to create a souvenir song.

Some groups take the entire day to explore the seven-story museum. Planners can arrange a meal voucher for the All Access Cafe.

NO ONE CAN WALK BY THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME WITHOUT NOTICING IT. JUST LIKE THE BOLD, ENERGETIC MUSIC IT HONORS, THE BUILDING STANDS OUT.

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Start coasting.

Welcoming groups of all ages and sizes. Make planning a breeze with one phone call for customized itineraries and services. Explore Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands!

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PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CANTON

Where History & Adventure Await

Jewelry isn’t something guests expect to admire at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. However, at the “Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery” exhibit, visitors gawk at the Super Bowl championship rings, which started out modest and grew to the size of a small fist. The surprising exhibit illustrates how the winning team’s logo is crafted into the bejeweled design.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has been exceeding expectations since its simple beginnings in 1963. Canton was chosen as the site of the Hall of Fame partially because the American Professional Football Association, now known as the National Football League, was founded in the Ohio town in 1920.

“There is a misconception that you have to be a diehard football fan to come here,” said Lauren McRitchie, coordinator of the Pro Football Hall of Fame experiences. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. It is not just a museum with stats lying round. You learn the history of the game. It is interactive, and everyone can take something away from it.”

The Hall of Fame Gallery houses bronze busts of each of the more than 300 inductees. Visitors can learn about each member through touch-screen kiosks that include bios, photos and videos about the inductees.

The holographic theater “A Game for Life” uses multisensory theater techniques to relate football stories that illustrate how the game can teach life lessons as well as entertain. Groups can view these exhibits and more on a guided museum tour for an insider’s look at the museum’s diverse collection.

A championship ring on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Courtesy Pro Football HOF

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Courtesy Ohio History Connection Courtesy Ohio History Connection

BORN LEADERS Courtesy Ohio History Connection

Courtesy Ernest Warther Museum

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Courtesy Ohio History Connection

Courtesy Ohio History Connection

THESE OHIOANS HAVE MADE AMERICA PROUD B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

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he Buckeye State has raised more than its fair share of dreamers. Eight presidents lived in the state, among them Ulysses S. Grant, Warren G. Harding and William McKinley. Other Ohio natives aspired to reach for the stars, such as astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn.

The state also produced one of the country’s best-known abolitionists: Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Groups can learn how history forever changed because of some of Ohio’s most famous faces at these significant attractions.

OHIO’S PRESIDENTIAL SITES

F R E M O N T, P O I N T P L E A S A N T, GEORGETOWN, MARION AND CANTON

Ohio’s impressive list of former presidents makes for fascinating attractions throughout the state. The Ohio History Connection runs many of the presidential sites that welcome groups.

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum in Fremont remembers the 19th president with tours of his 31-room mansion, two-story Victorian home and burial site.

Groups can see original furniture and even the bed in which Hayes died. Abraham Lincoln’s slippers are among the interesting artifacts Hayes collected during his life. A typical tour includes stories about the president, accompanied by music, chocolate and toasts.

Two sites commemorate the Civil War hero and 18th president Ulysses S. Grant: The U.S. Grant Birthplace in Point Pleasant and the U.S. Grant Boyhood Home and Schoolhouse in Georgetown. Both sites are restored to their historic period for tours.

www.ohiohasit.com

Courtesy Ernest Warther Museum

Above: The Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens in Dover showcase the amazing railroad collection of master carver Ernest Warther.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Grant’s Birthplace State Memorial; Harding Presidential Library; Harriet Beecher Stowe House; Armstrong Air and Space Museum; John and Annie Glenn Museum; Ernest Warther

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“The boyhood home has some of the original furniture, which is really incredible because that was so long ago,” said Emily Schofield, marketing coordinator for the Ohio History Connection.

“The home has a high-quality animatronic Grant that talks Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta about his life growing up. The sites both give a lot of information on how Grant influenced the country. That’s the cool thing about our presidents. They are part of Ohio’s history, but they also fit into the larger American history.”

The Warren G. Harding Home in Marion is now closed for restoration. The site is adding a presidential museum and restoring the home to when it was best known as the site of Harding’s 1920 Front Porch Campaign. Hourlong guided tours will showcase Courtesy Ohio History Connection original furnishings and the final resting place of the 29th president.

One presidential site owned and operated by the Stark County Historical Society is the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton. Artifacts from McKinley’s birth to his death by assassination reveal his interesting life. The museum also boasts a science center with wildlife, fossils and a planetarium.

ARMSTRONG AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM WAPA KONETA

Visitors love to sample astronaut ice cream at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta. The museum not only chronicles Armstrong’s 1969 moon walk but also explains the larger history of spaceflight.

Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home Courtesy Ohio History Connection

THE UNUSUAL EARTH MOUNDED DESIGN OF THE MUSEUM MAKES THE BUILDING APPEAR TO BE UNDERGROUND.

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

“The museum has simulators where you can practice landing a space shuttle,” said Schofield. “It is not a static museum. It is interactive. Groups can do a self-guided tour. Both experiences allow time for people to explore the museum themselves.”

Run by the Ohio History Connection, the museum chronicles events that led to Armstrong’s walk on the moon. Guests can see two full-size aircrafts flown by Armstrong, the Gemini VII space capsules, a moon rock and other artifacts from Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission.

The museum runs a short documentary on the Apollo 11 mission. Other exhibits detail other Ohio aviators, such as the Wright brothers and astronaut Glenn. The museum opened just three years after the historic moon landing as a monument to the achievements of not only Armstrong but also “all Ohioans who have attempted to defy gravity.”

The unusual earth mounded design of the museum makes the building appear to be underground. The museum’s striking multimedia dome theater presents documentaries and other multimedia programming.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library Courtesy Ohio History Connection

www.ohiohasit.com

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ERNEST WARTHER MUSEUM AND GARDENS DOVER

Earnest Warther Museum

Courtesy Ernest Warther Museum

Ernest Warther started adulthood with only a second-grade education. By the time his life ended, he was known as a genius, self-taught master carver. Groups can see his hand-carved Great Events in American Railroad History, which consists of solid ivory renditions of landmark trains, such as the first train that traversed the transcontinental railroad.

“One of our most famous pieces is Lincoln’s funeral train,” said Kristen Moreland, assistant director of the Ernest Warther Museum. “It is seven feet long. All the carvings are scaled to the actual engine, and all of them are done completely by hand. Despite no tools and no glue, the replica is perfect. The Smithsonian Institute has deemed our collection priceless.”

Though Warther continued work outside of his carving hobby, he spent an average of four hours a day working on his carvings. He created a “tree” of 511 pliers that could be folded back re-creating the block of wood from which they were fashioned.

“It is a great American story,” said Moreland. “He never sold any of his work but was offered money for it. One unique thing about our museum is that his entire artistic collection, his home and his studio are here. There are only a handful of museums that can say that.”

The museum offers several group amenities, such as a private space for hosted meals and group workshops.

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE HOUSE CINCINNATI

Harriet Beecher Stowe moved to Cincinnati in 1832 when the city was an abolitionist haven. Her 20 years in the home on the banks of the Ohio River inspired her to write the bestselling book of its time, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

The fictionalized account of slavery and the Underground Railroad made Stowe a household name.

“Stowe’s book was one of the earliest that discussed the problem of slavery,” said Schofield. “The home focuses on her and the Underground Railroad. Then it connects that history to the present. You can get a sense of what life was like back then and what influenced her to write the book.”

Groups can tour the Ohio History Connection home to learn about Stowe’s time in Cincinnati and her remarkable family, which included a leader of the women’s suffrage movement, a founder of colleges for women and the first Civil War general who commanded African American troops in the Union Army.

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

GROUPS OFTEN HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE TO CLEVELAND. They come back.

Join in at ThisisCLEveland.com | #This isCLE Contact Cleveland’s Group Tour Team:

Gordon Taylor III | Tel: 216.875.6615 | Email: gtaylor@destinationcle.org

The site also offers walking tours of the surrounding Walnut Hills neighborhood. The area has been home to Olympic gold medalists, women’s rights leaders and Underground Railroad conductors.

Because the Beecher family assisted freedom seekers while living at the Cincinnati home, the house is a recognized site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

JOHN AND ANNIE GLENN MUSEUM NEW CONCORD

Historic artifacts at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House Courtesy Ohio History Connection

Wayne County Ohio Kick back and relax in part of the world’s largest Amish community. We are home to Lehman’s, P. Graham Dunn, The J.M. Smucker Company Store and Café, The Ohio Light Opera, Everything Rubbermaid, Secrest Arboretum and more!

Visiting groups can receive a warm welcome from John Glenn’s mother, father, sister or son when they arrive at the John and Annie Glenn Museum in New Concord. Far from your typical space-themed museum, the site gives guests a living-history tour experience.

“The John and Annie Glenn Museum is a fun museum,” said Schofield. “They have costumed reenactors guide you through it while depicting people from John’s life. That really brings the house to life.”

Glenn moved to the home at age 2 and stayed there until he enlisted as a Marine in 1943.

In 1962, he rode into space and piloted the Friendship 7 spacecraft around the globe, making him the first American to orbit the earth. Glenn landed an American hero.

The museum displays exhibits John and Annie on this exciting time, his subseGlenn Museum quent years as a senator and his 1998 spaceflight as the oldest person to travel to space. While Courtesy Ohio History Connection learning these stories, guests can see a model of the Friendship 7 space capsule, Glenn’s jumpsuit and his military uniforms. A 20-minute award-winning movie about Glenn begins the tour.

Groups can incorporate lunch or dinner with their tour. The site is now offering boxed lunches for a quick meal at the site. Though closed for the season, the museum plans to reopen in May.

LEARN ABOUT STOWE’S REMARKABLE FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDED A LEADER OF THE 1.800.362.6474 • www.wccvb.com

#getawayne

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WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT AND A FOUNDER OF COLLEGES FOR WOMEN. 2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Courtesy Lehman’s Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

SIMPLE PLEASURES Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

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Courtesy Dutchman Hospitality

Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

ENJOY A DAY WITH OHIO’S AMISH B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

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n the midst of a constantly changing world, one culture remains constant: the Amish.

An Amish community today appears much as it did when the sect originally formed in 1693. The Amish hold onto traditional customs lost to many in the modern world, such as sewing clothes, constructing furniture and living without modern technology.

Ohio has one of the highest populations of Amish in the country. Their communities in the Buckeye State welcome visitors to learn about the Amish lifestyle and values.

Groups can taste Amish homemade meals, shop for handcrafted Amish goods and leave inspired after a tour of Ohio’s Amish communities.

EXPLORING HOLMES COUNTY

HOLMES COUNTY

Why do Amish men grow beards but not mustaches? Do Amish allow people to take their photographs?

The Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Holmes County has the answers to these and other questions. The museum introduces visitors to the Amish history and culture with interactive exhibits.

Typically, guides with Amish or Mennonite backgrounds lead the tours to offer an informative experience that includes videos, displays, a Conestoga wagon, a one-room schoolhouse and a gift shop. For a visual representation of Amish history, groups can admire “Behalt,” an imposing 265-foot circular mural that traces the history of the main Anabaptist groups: the Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite people.

Holmes County’s Amish immersion continues at Yoder’s Amish Home, an authentic Amish farm that invites guests to glimpse daily Amish life.

Started 20 years ago by a couple with an Amish background, the 116-acre farm offers guided tours of an 1866 Amish home and a barn full of

www.ohiohasit.com

Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

Above: Groups can dine on traditional fare in Amish homes during a visit to Holmes County.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: an Amish shop in Holmes County; Lehman’s marketplace; an Amish Country store; a Holmes County buggy; a show at Ohio Star Theater; an Amish farm visit in Holmes County

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livestock. Groups can ride across the farm in horse-drawn buggies for a way to slowly take in the pastoral scenery.

Beyond Yoder’s, groups can hire a local guide and explore Holmes County’s backroads.

“About 50% of our population are Amish,” said Tiffany Gerber, executive director of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. “While we have pockets of typical downtowns, we are mostly rural. In Holmes County, our Amish folks like to share their faith in general. In some cases, they like to work in tourism. I think that makes us an easy place to learn about Amish culture. Our folks are so willing to share their story.”

Landscapes straight out of a Laundry day at an Amish home Rockwell painting dot the hills interspersed with people workCourtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB ing in fields, clothes hanging out to dry and roadside stands selling baskets, chocolates and other handmade items.

“The Amish’s lifestyle is not about living an inconvenient life,” said Gerber. “It is about not letting other things come into the home and interfere with the three tenets of Amish life: faith, family and community.”

In recent months, groups have found safe ways to explore Holmes County, with many vendors coming up with innovative ways to follow health protocols and still offer authentic experiences.

AMISH MARKET MAHONING COUNTY

As soon as visitors walk into the Amish Market in Boardman, the heavenly smell of freshly fried doughnuts greets them. Other smells soon mingle in for a sensory experience.

Opened in 2013 as the Valley Marketplace, the attraction is Ohio’s first indoor Amish market. The market became fully Amish owned and

operated when various vendors purchased the attraction in 2017. Today, about 15 Amish vendors sell a range of goods from furniture to candy.

The Market Restaurant serves homestyle Amish cooking with original family recipes. Vendors offer additional meal options, for instance, pretzel wrap sandwiches like the Reuben wrap at Miller’s Soft Pretzels and Ice Cream.

Those just looking for a treat can try fresh doughnuts at Aunt Martha’s Donuts, homemade breads at Cora’s Cookies and Such, or Amish fudge at the Candy Corner.

Famously built to last, Amish furniture and home goods are in high demand at a couple of the market’s stands.

“The Amish vendors come from outside the area,” said Tara Mady, assistant director of the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There aren’t any stores

AS SOON AS VISITORS WALK INTO THE AMISH MARKET IN BOARDMAN, THE HEAVENLY SMELL OF FRESHLY FRIED DOUGHNUTS GREETS THEM.

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Buggy country in Holmes County

Mahoning County’s Amish Market Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

Courtesy Mahoning Co. CVB

like this around. It is a unique stop. Groups can get something to eat there. They have tables set out where people can spread out.”

The Amish Market is open Thursday through Saturday year-round.

LEHMAN’S WAY NE C OUN T Y

The staff at Lehman’s in Kidron never have to worry about mowing the store’s grass. The mowing is taken care of by intrigued customers who want to try out the store’s nonelectric push mower.

“With a modern lawnmower, when it’s not working you probably have to take it to the dealer,” said Glenda Lehman Ervin, vice president of marketing for Lehman’s. “With our mower, if it’s not working, you’re not walking. We make products that help you lead a simpler life.”

Lehman’s feels like the convergence of a shop and a museum. Museum-quality antiques cover the walls, and newly made nonelectric products line the shelves for purchase.

Jay Lehman started the store in 1955 with the intention of selling nonelectric products to the Amish community. The shop now primarily sells to non-Amish customers seeking products from another time. The store employs many Amish craftspeople to create the goods that would otherwise disappear, such as wood-heated stoves. www.ohiohasit.com

GET LOST IN

DISCOVERY. Bring your group to Greater Lima.

visitgreaterlima.com

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In the expansive store, guests can view old-fashioned products for cooking, gardening, heating and nonelectric lighting. Groups looking for souvenirs will enjoy the locally made snacks, desserts, meats and pantry items. Hundreds of American-made, nonelectric toys also take up an entire section of the store.

“Because of the pandemic, our products are hugely popular,” said Ervin. “If you are completely reliant on someone else for everything you need, it can be disconcerting. They are seeking what we are selling, which is a simpler way of life.”

IN AMISH COUNTRY

stands for

A SIMPLER LIFE Bring your guests to visit our rambling retail store to shop thousands of products and unique experiences including a tour of our Tiny House on a Tiny Homestead, and a rich history.

Here’s what we offer: Fantastic shopping Step-on tours Ample free parking Free catalogs and brochures A free meal for the driver & escort Great deals at the Outlet Store Enjoy lunch at the Cast Iron Café Free shipping on purchases over $100

Visit Lehmans.com/bus-tours for more information.

Please allow at least two hours for your visit.

Prior to visiting call 1-800-438-5346 or email info@lehmans.com LEHMANS.COM 800.438.5346

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OHIO STAR THEATER TUSCA R AWAS COUNT Y

Audience members can laugh and cry with Amish characters at the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek. Part of Dutchman Hospitality Group’s Amish-themed attractions, the theater features original musicals and plays with Amish characters.

“The musicals give a glimpse into Amish life but not in a gimmicky way that pokes fun of the Amish,” said Vicki VanNatta, interim marketing manager for the Dutchman Hospitality Group. “We want everything we offer at our restaurants, shops, inns and theater to be a celebration of the traditions, foods and rural charm of the Amish life.”

The Ohio Star Theater not only produces Amish-themed musicals but also welcomes touring concerts and comedy acts.

The production company selects family-friendly acts designed to entertain and enlighten.

The theater follows strict social distancing protocols, includOhio Star Theater ing masks, reduced capacity and sanitizing.

Courtesy Dutchman Hospitality Once guests leave the theater, the fun can continue. Within walking distance, the Dutchman Hospitality Group also oversees the Dutch Valley Market with its high-quality traditional Amish foods. For trendier offerings, Dutch Valley Gifts sells home decor and boutique clothing.

Groups can dine Amish-style at Dutch Valley, which serves homestyle meats, noodles, apple pie and other hearty options. The Carlisle Inn combines modern comforts and Amish simplicity with handcrafted beds, jigsaw puzzles and a deluxe continental breakfast for those who wish to linger.

“A motorcoach could easily stay here for five nights,” said VanNatta. “We are still a very rural area. I think that is one of the differences between us and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which is more urban. Our area is still made of small towns.

Even though we now have hotels and restaurants, we don’t have chain restaurants. It is very authentic.”

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On the Square in Kidron, OH In the heart of Amish Country Open every day except Sunday

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Courtesy Carter Historic Farm Courtesy Lake MetroParks

BUCKEYE Courtesy Visit Guernesy County

VISTAS

Courtesy Great Ohio Lodges

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Courtesy Carter Historic Farm

Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands

THERE’S A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT OHIO’S OUTDOORS B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

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rom the smallest blossom to the vast Lake Erie vistas, Ohio’s nature amazes. The state’s outdoor attractions appeal to all kinds of outdoor lovers with both leisurely farm experiences and more challenging nature hikes.

The Ohio outdoors allows group travelers scenic views and plenty of personal space.

Whenever the time of year, these Ohio outdoor attractions ensure plenty of photo ops and unrestrained beauty.

BRUKNER NATURE CENTER TROY

Visitors can gaze into the bold eye of an eagle at the Brukner Nature Center in Troy. The 165acre nature preserve houses animals that cannot be released into the wild, such as a bald eagles and coyotes. Groups can see more than 50 of these “wildlife ambassadors” at the center’s indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Wildlife also roams the property unfettered in the park’s protected ravines and pine forests. To spy some of these creatures, guests can walk on some of the preserve’s six miles of hiking trails.

The Treetop Bird Vista provides an all-season bird-viewing room at eye level with the birds. Inside the interpretive center, the room looks out over feeders where migrating and local birds frequently appear.

Typically, groups can book one-hour tours with naturalists to get up-close with a wildlife ambassador or take a hike.

The nature center also features rotating wildlife art exhibits, a nature-themed gift shop and an 1804 log house, which is known as the county’s oldest structure on its original site.

Miami County’s outdoor abundance goes far beyond the Brukner Nature Center. Groups also enjoy floating on the Great Miami River on rented kayaks or canoes. The Great Miami River Recreational Trail is another preferred natural getaway, with a 75-mile trail that connects communities in

www.ohiohasit.com

Courtesy Miami Co. CVB

Above: Groups can bike, paddle or bird-watch at Brukner Nature Center in Troy.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Salt Fork State Park; exploring Carter Historic Farm; Lake MetroParks’ Chapin Forest; cruising Lake Erie; Carter Historic Farm in Bowling Green; Golf at Salt Fork State Park

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southwest Ohio. Groups can hike or bike the trail with pit stops for local shopping and dining along the route.

CARTER HISTORIC FARM BOWLING GREEN

Hard times live on at the Carter Historic Farm in Bowling Green.

Interactive programming, displays and special events allow visitors to relive the penny-pinching realities of a 1930s farm.

“We are a Depression-era living-history farm,” said Corinne Gordon, historic farm specialist for the Carter Historic Farm. “That time period was chosen because it is a really interesting time. Farming changed from needing large groups of men going to the farms each fall to using a threshing machine. That really changed how families interacted.”

The 80-acre farm depicts chores from the decade, such as washing clothes with an agitator and wringer, a difficult job that once took an entire day for many families. The farm’s programs also teach useful skills, such as cooking, canning, gardening, knitting and mending.

Farm implements from the ’30s often impress guests, since they were designed and built without the aid of computers. Animals, such as sheep, goats, chickens and friendly barn cats, also thrive on the farm.

The farm offers guided group tours through the farmhouse, a oneroom schoolhouse and a garden.

Goodtime I on Lake Erie

Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands

. t h g i l de Try a new take on outdoor dining.

Ohio restaurants are open and ready to safely serve you. Enjoy a well-deserved meal out while supporting local.

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2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

“We can handle multiple classes, so we are used to dealing with a fair number of people,” said Gordon. “If we get information on the group coming, we can tailor the tour to their interests.”

GOODTIME LAKE ERIE ISLAND CRUISES

Playful animals at Carter Historic Farm

ERIE COUNTY

Groups can sail on the Earth’s 10th-largest lake aboard Goodtime Lake Erie Island Cruises in Sandusky. The family-owned company offers groups daylong island-hopping cruises for sightseeing or a meal.

Cruises run from May through October. The company’s primary vessel, Goodtime I, can accommodate 315 passengers. The Daytime Island Hopping Cruise features narration pointing out the history and landmarks of the local area.

The all-day excursion visits Kelleys Island and Put-In-Bay, with time built in for passengers to explore both islands.

For some picturesque relaxation, the two-hour Sunset Bay Cruise includes live music, pizza and specials from the cash bar.

Courtesy Carter Historic Farm

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Chapin Forest in Lake County Courtesy Lake Co. VB

Groups wanting to explore the area by boat can also opt for the Jet Express, Miller Boatline and Kelleys Island Ferry. Once on the islands, groups can arrange golf carts or train transportation to visit the attractions or dine out. The Put-In-Bay Tour Train shuttles riders to some of the island’s inland attractions, including Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave, the Aquatic Visitors Center and Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie that took place near the site. The American victory was one of the most significant naval battles in the War of 1812.

On Kelleys Island, the Glacial Grooves attract the most visitors. The National Natural Landmark shows off one of the largest and most accessible examples of this geological phenomenon in the world.

SALT FORK STATE PARK GUERNSEY COUNTY

Visitors keep their eyes open for giant, hairy creatures at Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County. The park has recently received a lot of attention as a Bigfoot hot spot.

“There are a ton of sightings out there,” said Brenynn Mowery, regional marketing and sales coordinator for Great Ohio Lodges. “On a typical year, our naturalists will do Bigfoot night hikes. We have a sightings map that visitors can look at. That’s a cool opportunity for guests to experience.”

Though Bigfoot isn’t likely to make an appearance, groups can count on seeing forested hills, open meadows and a 3,000-acre lake at Ohio’s largest state park. The Sugar Tree Marina provides convenient access to the expansive Salt Lake with kayak, jet boat and pontoon boat rentals.

Guided boat tours can also be arranged.

Groups can explore the park from the Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center. The lodge boasts a 450-person meeting venue, a 148-room lodge and 53 cabins. Guests can take advantage of the lodge’s indoor and outdoor pool, as well as the Timbers Restaurant.

“We can cater a group’s meal, or they can visit our restaurant for typical American food,” said Mowery. “One of the most famous things on our menu is the Salt Fork pretzel. It is a pretzel with cream cheese. It is delicious. Everyone who has it is blown away.”

Though expansive, the park offers many ways to access nature, such as a 2,500-foot beach, one of the biggest inland beaches in Ohio. Other activities include a golf course, horseback riding, fishing, 14 hiking trails and the Kennedy Stone House Museum, a sandstone farmhouse restored to its 1840s appearance.

LAKE METROPARKS

LAKE COUNTY

Visitors can watch the sky light up during a Lake Erie sunset in Lake County. East of Cleveland, the county manages Lake Metroparks, an impressive park system that ranges from lakeside beaches to forested retreats.

“Our county is by physical size the smallest county in Ohio,” said Neil Stein, executive director of the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau. “Our Lake Metroparks system has 35 parks. That is an amazing amount for the size of the county. We have 60 miles of trails through the different parks.”

Lake Erie Bluffs is one of the most popular of these parks because of its sunset views, lakeside trails and 50-foot coastal observation tower.

The tower’s 360-degree views allow visitors to regularly spot bald eagles flying over the wetland, wood and lake habitats below.

Groups also enjoy the Fairport Harbor Lakefront, which was featured in Coastal Living as the best beach in Ohio. Guests can walk along a Tshaped wooden platform that provides an accessible path to the beach.

Youth groups can learn about farming and country life at Farmpark.

The family-oriented science and cultural center educates visitors with live horses, cows, goats and other animals.

Travel planners can contact the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau to see which park would work best for their group.

Lake County also boasts one of the country’s largest arboretums and botanical gardens: the Holden Arboretum. The arboretum protects 3,000 acres of natural habitat and 600 acres of gardens.

Groups can climb the 120-foot-tall Emergent Tower for panoramic views. Standout gardens include the Display Garden, the Holden Wildflower Garden, the Layer Rhododendron Garden and the Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden.

“OUR NATURALISTS WILL DO BIGFOOT NIGHT HIKES.” — BRENYNN MOWERY 30

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

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