2022 GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE
OHIOHASIT.COM
Winter
Spring
Gain a unique perspective during a Winter Tour at The Wilds.
Take in the beauty of Mission Oaks Gardens and Gale Garden.
Discover American and European paintings, sculpture and historic studio glass as well as art pottery at the Zanesville Museum of Art.
Drive over the world-famous Y-Bridge and view it from the Y-Bridge Overlook at Putnam Hill Park.
Explore over 100 storybook-themed attractions and businesses during "A Storybook Christmas" and enjoy the Muskingum County Courthouse Light Show during the month of December. Holiday Light Trail through Zanesville, New Concord and Dresden. Shop for special gifts and unique items at the Specialty Retailers, Antique Stores and Pottery Shops of Muskingum County.
Summer
Tee off at one of the area's picturesque golf course. Two courses are rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest including EagleSticks Golf Club and The Virtues Golf Club. Learn local history at Stone Academy Historic Site, Dr. Increase Mathews House Museum and Gant House. Tour Conn's Potato Chip Factory, locally made in Zanesville and enjoy a delicious chip freshy made. View a live performance at Renner Theatre, Zanesville Community Theatre or Secrest Auditorium.
Fall
Take an Open-Air Safari, Zipline Safari or Horseback Safari Tour at The Wilds.
Tackle the corn maze and enjoy fall activities at McDonald's Greenhouse and Corn Maze.
Get out on the water at Dillon Lake with a kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard or float the river through Pea Ohana Watersports.
Pick apples and enjoy cider at Yeary Orchards.
Sample award-winning wines at Terra Cotta Vineyards, Stone Crest Vineyard, and Killing Tree Winery.
Take a wagon ride and pick a pumpkin at PV's Pumpkin Patch.
Treat yourself to delicious ice cream at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl.
Enjoy a beautiful foliage while cruising along the Muskingum River aboard the Lorena Sternwheeler.
Experience history at the John and Annie Glenn Museum and National Road and Zane Grey Museum.
Explore the supernatural activity and history of downtown Zanesville with Ghost Tours.
Tour Hartstone Ohio Stoneware Factory Outlet which is filled with two stories of locally made Ohio Stoneware and Hartstone Pottery including crocks, pet feeders, bakeware, dinnerware and more.
Visit The Alpacas of Spring Acres, the largest Suri alpaca farm in Southeast Ohio.
Get frightened at one of the area's Haunted Trails.
205 N. Fifth Street Zanesville, Ohio 43701 740-455-8282 wwww.visitzanesville.com
Live to make memories as good as the company you keep! If you believe the more the merrier, Columbus is for you. This city has plenty of experiences for your group to share, whether you’re walking through a painting brought to life in Topiary Park or deep diving into history at Kelton House. Let your inner child fly free with the butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens or savor the city’s flavors on a food tour. Columbus is a playground for curiosity so start planning now at experiencecolumbus.com/groups.
CONTENTS PUBLISHED FOR
DY NA M I C D OW N T OW N S Ohio city centers charm and delight group travelers.
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2021-22 OHIO HAS IT BOARD OF TRUSTEES LORI KAPPES, PRESIDENT VISIT GAHANNA LEIANN STEWART, VICE PRESIDENT MIAMI COUNTY VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU
BRILLIANT BITES Food takes center stage at these Ohio attractions.
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DIXIE LACY CAMBRIDGE/GUERNSEY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU DENISE MCCONNELL, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT RAMADA BY WYNDHAM STRASBURG KELLY ASHBY ZANESVILLE-MUSKINGUM COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BRIAN CHEEK DESTINATION GRANDVIEW
H I S TO RY H E R E Travelers learn from the past in destinations around Ohio.
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KAREN EYLON UNION COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU DAN HOSTETLER MEDINA COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU A.J. KINNEY GREAT DAY! TOURS & CHARTER BUS SERVICE
CA R E F U L LY C R A F T E D Ohio is full of unique, handmade finds for travelers.
DENISE KRAUSS DESTINATION CLEVELAND
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EMILY SCHOFIELD OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION
PUBLISHED BY
FA R M F R E S H .
NICHE TRAVEL PUBLISHERS 301 EAST HIGH STREET LEXINGTON, KY 40507
Agritourism experiences abound in the Ohio countryside.
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888-253-0455 WWW.GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
DRIVING DISTANCES
90 80 80
TO CINCINNATI
71 80
90
76 75
Dayton
55 miles
Louisville
100 miles
Columbus
107 miles
TO CLEVELAND 77
40 miles
Pittsburgh
135 miles
Columbus
143 miles
TO COLUMBUS
270
70 70 71
Akron
77
75
Cincinnati Cleveland
107 miles 143 miles
Toledo
143 miles
TO DAYTON
275
B
Cincinnati Columbus
55 miles 71 miles
Indianapolis
117 miles
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 WWW.OHIOHASIT.COM
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
Courtesy Experience Columbus Courtesy Destination Mansfield
Courtesy Marion Area CVB
DOWNTOWN Courtesy Warren Co. CVB
OHIO
Courtesy Tuscarawas Co. CVB
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Courtesy Destination Mansfield
Courtesy Warren Co. CVB
LARGE OR SMALL, THESE CITY CENTERS ARE DELIGHTFUL B Y R A C H EL C R I C K
T
he heart of every city is its downtown; It’s the fullest display of a place’s history and character, brimming with opportunities for shopping, eating and enjoying cultural displays. Many downtowns boast similar attractions, like historic buildings and local eateries and boutiques, but the downtowns in each of these Ohio cities feature a little something extra that makes them a treat for lovers of art and culture. Whether historic and quaint, or bustling and innovative, these Ohio downtowns are sure to charm and entertain group travelers.
MANSFIELD
Film buffs may recognize Mansfield, Ohio, as the filming location for the hit movie “The Shawshank Redemption.” The penitentiary where the movie is set is just a few miles down the road from Mansfield and now functions as a popular tourist destination. However, downtown Mansfield is known for something else entirely: its Historic Carrousel District. As the name suggests, this area of downtown Mansfield surrounds a hand-carved, hand-painted carrousel that has been bringing joy — and carrousel music — to visitors since it opened in 1991. “It really became the centerpiece for redevelopment and restoration in downtown Mansfield,” said Jodie Snavely, group tour/media director at Destination Mansfield. “The Carrousel District will feed you, entertain you and bring culture and joy to your life.” The district offers plenty of charm and entertainment for visitors. Groups can go to the Richland Carrousel Park to take a ride on the picturesque carrousel or enjoy a picnic in the surrounding park. There are plenty of shops and boutiques selling everything from antiques to records. The district also features plenty of local restaurants, bars and wineries. For some live entertainment, groups can head to the Brickyard
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Courtesy Experience Columbus
Above: Painters work on an art project in downtown Columbus. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: downtown Mansfield; Columbus at dusk; Marion’s Palace Theatre; charming downtown Waynesville; Mansfield’s Richland Carrousel Park; a New Philadelphia mural; Waynesville shops
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for a local concert or to the Renaissance Theater or Mansfield Playhouse for a theater production. D E S T I N AT I O N M AN S F I E L D.C O M
MARION
Unlike most of Ohio’s cities, Marion doesn’t have a town square. Instead, it has what’s known as the Cultural Corridor, which refers to two streets — Center Street and Church Street — running parallel to each other to form the heart of Marion’s downtown. The corridor features nearly two miles of the town’s historic buildings, shops, restaurants and art galleries for travelers to explore.
The Warren G. Harding Home in Marion Courtesy Marion Area CVB
Mansfield’s Historic Carrousel District
Courtesy Destination Mansfield
“We developed the concept of the Cultural Corridor to express how our downtown is a little different than others but still has the same great things,” said Mark Holbrook, executive director of the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lovers of theater and the performing arts will find plenty to see and do in Marion. One of its cornerstone attractions is the historic Marion Palace Theater, where local theater productions have been entertaining audiences since 1928. Groups can arrange an activity called The Stage Is Set Luncheon, where they dine on the stage overlooking the audience and take a tour of the theater. Another prominent attraction sure to impress history buffs is the home of Warren Harding, the 29th president of the United States, and its accompanying museum. Visitors can also take a stroll along the Corridor to check out Marion’s most recently completed public art project, 17 cardinal statues around town. These sixfoot-tall, uniquely decorated statues are a colorful way to represent Ohio’s state bird and its status as the 17th state in the U.S. V I SI T M ARI ON OH I O.C O M
“WE DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT OF THE CULTURAL CORRIDOR TO EXPRESS HOW OUR DOWNTOWN IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS BUT STILL HAS THE SAME GREAT THINGS.” — MARK HOLBROOK, MARION AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 10
2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
The First Hour Flies By
We were the first settlement in a new frontier over 225 years ago and our early pioneer spirit can still be felt throughout our community. Navigate our rivers, explore our shops, taste our cuisine and immerse yourself in our rich culture and history. Your group may enjoy trolley and carriage rides, historic home & church tours, sternwheel cruises and much more!
MariettaOhio.org | 800.288.2577
COLUMBUS
It should come as no surprise that the capital city of Ohio offers plenty of culture and entertainment for visitors to enjoy. Columbus, founded over 200 years ago, is the most populous city in the state. Downtown Columbus functions as the center of the city’s many signature neighborhoods and is host to a variety of lively activities for travelers to enjoy. The burgeoning art scene is giving Columbus a reputation as a trendy and innovative area with lots to do for tourists and locals alike. “You can find several difColumbus’ Short North district ferent meccas of arts and culture,” said Marie Kuess, destination experience program manager at the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. Groups can pay a visit to the Columbus Museum of Art, where a rotating collection of many types of fine art is displayed. At the Cultural Arts Center, a gallery specializing in emerging artists, travelers can take art classes and workshops. Visitors can check out the art galleries at Columbus College of Art and Design free of charge. There are also many theaters and performing arts venues downtown, such as the Columbus Commons Park, where visitors may catch a concert or special event. After a day of exploring the city’s art scene and shopping, travelers can unwind with a visit to one of the area’s many popular breweries and bars. Downtown is home to many restaurants and vendors, from food trucks and cafes to top-tier steakhouses.
Public art in Columbus
A Columbus art gallery
E XPERIENCECOLUMBUS.COM Photos courtesy Experience Columbus
“YOU CAN FIND SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECCAS OF ARTS AND CULTURE.” — MARIE KUESS, GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 12
2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
s r u o T r u O You’ ll Love
photo: Scott Lanz
Contact Us
for tour itineraries & planning assistance.
Ideal Northeast Ohio location midway between New York & Chicago, Cleveland & Pittsburgh
800.447.8201 youngstownlive.com
MAKE Courtesy Penn & Beach
N
TAKE
NEW PHILADELPHIA
New Philadelphia, one of several small towns in history-rich Tuscarawas County, was founded in 1804 and modeled after Philadelphia. New Philly, as it’s affectionately nicknamed, started out as a small village before the Ohio-Erie Canal allowed the agriculture, steel and coal industries to thrive. The small town is experiencing a resurgence, and that’s partially thanks to its charm and unique aesthetic. A collaboration between the city and local artists has resulted in an explosion of vibrant artwork on the streets in the form of murals. In New Philadelphia, all things mundane, from alleyways to the city’s trash cans, have been transformed to bring visually appealing pops of color to the streets. “We have this whole art scene that’s really coming alive,” said Julie Levengood, group tour manager at the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau. From its colorful aesthetic to its plentiful shopping and dining experiences, New Philly is a place worth checking out. Groups can take a mural walk around town to see its growing collection of murals and learn the city’s history. Or, to see some more traditional works of art, visitors can explore the city’s local art galleries. Those interested in theater and the performing arts can see a production at the city’s outdoor amphitheater or its performing arts center. They can enjoy live music on the street and pop into artisan shops or the farmers market for locally made food and souvenirs. The downtown area features local restaurants offering a broad range of atmospheres and foods, from bar food to fine dining.
PENN AND BEECH CANDLE CO. COLUMBUS
Although lighting a candle may be a calming and soothing experience, making your own candle is a process often filled with laughter, light and fun. At least that’s the case at Penn and Beech Candle Co., Grandview Height’s own boutique candle and fragrance bar on Grandview Avenue. Guests are presented with a variety of vessels and a menu of more than 120 fragrances that they can narrow down — with the help of a scent specialist — and select from to compose their own scent before blending and pouring their custom candles. Visitors can choose a mixture of scents like “old books,” “burnt sugar” and “eucalyptus” or select one of the company’s recommended blends. The candles take roughly two hours to cool after being poured, which provides just enough time to walk next door to catch a bite to eat or a movie at the Grandview Theater and Drafthouse.
PENNANDBEECH.COM
T R AV E LT U S C. C O M
WAYNESVILLE
The village of Waynesville, in Warren County, was founded in 1797 with hopes of being a major settlement in the region. Though the village never became heavily populated, today it’s known for hosting the annual Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees over the span of one weekend every fall. Waynesville is also recognized as the Antiques Capital of the Midwest. The village itself is older than Ohio, and it’s this rich history and its small size that contribute to its notoriety and charm. “There is such history there,” said Kelly Miller, executive director of the Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce. “There’s something for everybody there.” Groups can take a walking tour of the downtown area to learn about the village and the historic buildings that give it so much character. Travelers can peruse any of the dozens of boutiques, galleries and shops along Main Street. Many artisan stores offer visitors the opportunity to make their own crafts for a one-of-a-kind souvenir. During the warmer months, the town hosts street fairs, featuring plenty of local artists and merchants. Visitors to the village can grab a bite at one of downtown Waynesville’s local cafes and restaurants, like the restaurant at the historic Hammel House Inn.
Browsing a gallery in New Philadelphia
A New Philadelphia welcome Courtesy Tuscarawas Co. CVB
Courtesy Tuscarawas Co. CVB
Waynesville’s Hammel House Inn
WAY N E S V I L L E S H O P S. C O M Courtesy Warren Co. CVB
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
Play & Stay
Shores & Islands Ohio is more than just a place, it’s a feeling. Discover something new with each adventure. Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned regular, experiences here stay in your heart for a lifetime. Find your Lake Erie Love at groups.SHORESandISLANDS.com.
Courtesy Culinary Vegetable Institute Courtesy Gervasi Vineyard
CULINARY
OHIO
Courtesy Hofbrauhaus Columbus
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Courtesy Sunny Street Cafe
EVERY STOP OFFERS BUCKEYE FAVORITES B Y K R I S T Y A L P ER T
F
ood can tell the story of a destination through a single bite. Spices and cooking techniques are as native as the farmers who grow them and the cooks who use them. In Ohio, that story is often told through family recipes passed down through generations of immigrants or by the subtle sweetness of a ripe Ohio tomato that was grown in the warm, loamy soils of the state’s northwestern farmlands. Exploring Ohio’s history and culture is a delicious journey, and it’s rich with possibilities to dig in and go behind the scenes with culinary experiences throughout the state. From group cooking classes and bespoke wine-pairing dinners to learning the art of beekeeping on a local farm, visitors can uncover the flavors of Ohio with these delectable culinary experiences.
CULINARY VEGETABLE INSTITUTE
Courtesy Gervasi Vineyard
MILAN
The inspiration behind the Culinary Vegetable Institute (CVI) was inspiration itself. Founders Bob Jones and Farmer Lee Jones had long dreamed of creating a space where chefs and farmers could come together to explore, create and inspire one another, and in 2001, their dreams became a reality as they opened their 1,500-square-foot kitchen and dining space. The CVI also includes accommodations for visitors, a culinary library, a root cellar, a wine cellar and access to the adjoining experimental vegetable, forest and herb gardens. CVI connects people with agriculture in unparalleled ways. Visitors are encouraged to dig in by experiencing a chef’s garden harvest before returning to the kitchen to experiment with
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Above: Groups can have meals and wine tastings in scenic surroundings at Cucina at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Milan’s Culinary Vegetable Institute; Gervasi Vineyard; a Sunny Irish Dinner in Dublin; Hofbrauhaus Columbus
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their prized ingredients. The institute curates bespoke events for groups that could include working the beehives, touring the chef’s garden, cooking in the impressive two-story kitchen, enjoying a multicourse tasting dinner, getting immersed with Dinner preparations at Culinary Vegetable Institute agricultural education opportunities and more. The most popular group experience is the Chef for a Day program, where guests can cook with the team at CVI from morning until night during an event of their choosing. The on-site Chef’s Suite offers the chance for small groups to stay overnight in this culinary wonderland, where campfire kits keep guests warm at night and lavish breakfast spreads keep them full and satisfied in the morning. C U L I N A R Y V E G E TA B L E INSTITUTE.COM
Courtesy Culinary Vegetable Institute
CUCINA AT GERVASI VINEYARD CANTON
Despite its Ohioan roots, the 55-acre Gervasi Vineyard traces its ancestry back to Italy, where Tuscan traditions and family values are served just the way Grandma Gervasi would have done it. This family-run vineyard opened in 2009 and now includes a winery, a distillery, three restaurants, a coffeehouse and a cocktail lounge, as well as multiple indoor and outdoor event venues, 48 luxury overnight suites and a boutique gift shop. Groups looking to taste any of the vineyard’s more than 30 varietals can book a private tour led by a member of the winemaking team. Groups are guided through the winery be-
A villa at Canton’s Gervasi Vineyard Courtesy Gervasi Vineyard
THE ON-SITE CHEF’S SUITE OFFERS THE CHANCE FOR SMALL GROUPS TO STAY OVERNIGHT AT THE CULINARY VEGETABLE INSTITUTE.
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
fore enjoying a selection of four wines paired with chefselected small bites and a logo stemmed wine glass to take home. Distillery tours are available for groups of 12 or fewer. A staff member guides groups through the distillery before a tasting of three spirits with a slaty sidecar snack and a logo shot glass to take home. The Cucina Demo Classes offer a fun and inspiring chance for groups to learn new recipes alongside chef Meg Feller, owner of Lemon Leaf Catering, while sharing a great meal and toasting to an evening spent bonding and indulging among Ohio’s own Tuscan-inspired village.
Lakeside dining at Gervasi Vineyard
G E R VA S I V I N E YA R D. C O M
TROYER’S COUNTRY MARKET BERLIN
Located in the heart of one of the largest Amish settlements in the world, the family-friendly Troyer’s Country Market welcomes visitors in with warm hospitality and delicious offerings. By Sabrina Hall, courtesy Gervasi Vineyard
www.ohiohasit.com
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The strong work ethic and unwavering values for both family and customer service that are prevalent throughout the entire Holmes County region are present before visitors even walk through the front door. Motorcoach groups and drivers are often greeted with a pickled jar of a local favorite food; once inside, they feast on the sight of freshly baked treats, homecured meats and farm-fresh produce. The market opened in 2006 and has become a favorite place for sampling local fare, stocking a pantry or grabbing a bite to eat in a relaxed and inviting setting. Shoppers grab a bag of complimentary popcorn from the sample station before tasting specialty cheeses and jerky, or place orders for custom sandwiches at the deli before strolling the aisles looking for local goods like the famous Troyer’s Genuine Trail Bologna. T R O Y E R S C O U N T R Y M A R K E T. C O M
A Hofbräuhaus beer flight Courtesy Great Lakes Popcorn
MAKE N
TAKE
Courtesy Hofbrauhaus Columbus
GREAT LAKES POPCORN PORT CLINTON
There’s no need to branch out from classic buttered flavor, but with the more than 30 flavors at Great Lakes Popcorn, it’s a shame not to try something new. Visitors select from popular flavors like nutty vanilla butternut, peach, and bacon and cheese, or go discover a flavor like creamy dill, island mix or even Wild Walleye to sample its signature blend of Cajun spices. Great Lakes Popcorn has been popping fresh flavors since 2000 and continues to treat visitors with creative flavors and friendly customer service. Visitors are welcomed by the scent of warm frosted almonds and can watch the popcorn being made behind the counter before sampling a few options. Groups can create their own custom souvenirs by picking from the menu of flavors to create mixes like Root Beer Float, which is root beer popcorn and vanilla butternut popcorn, or Apple Pie, which is green apple popcorn with cinnamon popcorn.
GRE ATL AK ESPOPCORN.COM
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Troyer’s Country Market Courtesy Troyer’s Country Market
HOFBRÄUHAUS COLUMBUS BREWERY AND RESTAURANT
GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS
Every day is Oktoberfest at Hofbräuhaus Columbus Brewery and Restaurant, where the waitresses don dirndls and giant pretzels are served with a hearty side of homemade bier cheese. Owners Nick Ellison, Eric Haas and Jay Lange worked with the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich to franchise this beloved bier hall and bring authentic Ger-
2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
man beer and brats to the streets of Grandview Heights in the Columbus area in 2014. The building is a replica of the original 400-year-old German location and features one of the finest biergartens in the Columbus area and is great for enjoying fresh air and good food with friends and family. The restaurant hosts a wide range of themed nights throughout the year, ranging from family nights to an authentic Oktoberfest keg-tapping celebration. But there’s always a chance for celebration with live music, dancing or just feasting on the best wurst around. The beer is brewed on-site every day, crafted under the direction of a head brewer who adheres to Germany’s strict purity laws, and the menu is filled with authentic German recipes. Groups looking for a more private gathering can book any of the three venues or take over the entire biergarten for a private Oktoberfest gathering with friends and family.
The hot shop at Mosser Glass
HOFBRAUHAUSCOLUMBUS.COM The beer garden at Hofbräuhaus Columbus Courtesy Hofbrauhaus Columbus
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SUNNY IRISH DINNER DUBLIN
It was 2007 when the Sunny Street Café cracked its first egg in Dublin and diners first feasted upon lavish breakfast spreads and hearty lunch entrees like stuffed biscuits and bistro burgers. The cafe now operates throughout America and Canada, but it’s only in Dublin that groups can gather for an Irish banquet fit for royalty. The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch and lunch and is open to the public only between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., leaving a wide window for
Irish folk musicians play for a group during a Sunny Irish Dinner experience.
group experiences after hours. Groups of up to 60 can enjoy the Sunny Irish Dinner, an hour-and-ahalf celebration of Irish heritage. The evening begins with a dinner of salad, Craggaunowen chicken or corned beef and cabbage, apple mash and a vegetable side dish. But anyone of Irish descent gravitates first to the freshly baked Irish soda bread and saves room for warm Irish apple cake with ice cream for dessert. Irish dancers, fiddlers and folk guitarists add a sense of entertainment to the evening, and it’s not unlikely that an Irish jig will break out once the plates have been cleared. An Irish dinner in Dublin
SUNNYSTREE TCAFE.COM
Photos courtesy Sunny Street Café
GROUPS OF UP TO 60 CAN ENJOY THE SUNNY IRISH DINNNER, AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF CELEBRATION OF IRISH HERITAGE.
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
Prepare for an away game this week.
America’s Playing Field.
Travel through Stark County along America’s first transcontinental highway and score big along the way with amazing museums, entertainment, shopping, wining and dining.
Courtesy Ohio History Center Courtesy Overfield Tavern Museum
Courtesy Ohio History Center
HISTORIC Courtesy AMHC
OHIO
Courtesy AMHC
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Courtesy Delphos Museum of Postal History
HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS THIS REMARKABLE STATE B Y P A U L A A V EN G L A D Y C H
O
hioans have a knack for making history. The first European settlers came to what is now Ohio in the late 1700s, after its discovery by French Canadian explorers in the 17th century. Ever since then, Ohio residents have been luminaries and leaders who have shaped the course of events in the state and around the world. Group travelers wanting to learn more about Ohio history should add these five historical attractions to their itineraries to learn more about the state’s early settlers, Ohio’s famous Amish community, slavery, the U.S. Postal Service and the inception of the Voice of America broadcast that continues its global news mission today.
OHIO HISTORY CENTER AND OHIO VILLAGE COLUMBUS
The Ohio History Center is the largest repository of Ohio history in the state, touching on wars, sports, nature and life in Ohio during different eras. One of its most popular exhibits touches on life in the 1950s through the eyes of one Ohio family. Visitors tour their fully furnished, ranch-style, all-steel Lustron home that was made in a Columbus factory after World War II. The homes could be ordered through a catalog and shipped to a customer’s property. Unfortunately, the company didn’t have a good business model and couldn’t keep up with production of the homes, said Roger Dudley, director of community and customer engagement at Experience Columbus, so only a few were made. Another exhibit deals with Civil War battle flags, most of which are from Ohio military companies. Groups can take a special docent-guided tour of the flag room and see some of the more delicate flags that are not on display. Visitors will
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Courtesy AMHC
Above: A mural at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin depicts key moments in Amish history. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Troy’s Overfield Tavern Museum; Ohio History Center interpreters; classic cars at the Ohio History Center; Delphos Museum of Postal History; Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center
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learn the stories behind the flag designs and why pieces of the flags are missing. Ohio Village is a collection of 1890s buildings from around the state that re-create a small town on the museum’s property. The Ohio Village Gossip Tour immerses group visitors in the workings of the town through the rumors and gossip spread by costumed docents who play the An Amish and Mennonite Heritage roles of shopkeepers and other town denizens. Center cultural mural O H I O H I S T O R Y. O R G
AMISH AND MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER BERLIN
Group visitors curious about the Amish and Mennonite communities in Ohio can learn about their history and culture in the Ohio town of Berlin through the Behalt, a 10-foot-high, 265-foot-long hand-painted muralin-the-round that tells of their Anabaptist beginnings in Switzerland in 1525 to the movement’s spread throughout the world, including to the U.S. The Behalt Cyclorama was painted by Heinz Gaugel, a self-taught artist from
GET LOST IN
DISCOVERY. Bring your group to Greater Lima.
visitgreaterlima.com
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Germany who became fascinated with the Amish on a visit to Holmes County in 1962. The mural was completed in 1992. There are seven different Amish orders that live in the surrounding area. Combined with the Mennonites, a conservative sect that follows the same principles as the Amish but has embraced some parts of modern culture, like electricity, Ohio has the largest population of Anabaptists in the U.S. Groups can take a tour of the museum, led by local Amish and Mennonite people who can answer questions and give interesting historical details about the people and how they live alongside modern society. In addition to learning about the history and culture of these people, visitors can see assorted styles of Amish carriages and wagons and visit a one-room schoolhouse on the property. If groups call ahead, the museum can organize longer tours, a question-and-answer session and even a meal with the Amish. The tour and full museum experience takes about an hour and a half. B E H A L T. C O M
OVERFIELD TAVERN MUSEUM TROY
The Overfield Tavern Museum is a two-story log tavern built in 1808. The building served as Troy’s first courthouse and as a frontier tavern and gathering place for the community. Today, the museum displays an extensive collection of 2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
Buggy country in Holmes County
Touring a historic building at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center Photos courtesy AMHC
Wayne County Ohio KIDRON • 800.438.5346 www.Lehmans.com
Unique events, dining, & shopping
330.262.6222 www.mainstreetwooster.org
DALTON • 866.922.0306 www.pgrahamdunn.com
Wooster Hotel & Conference Center
330.264.7750
bestwesternwooster@gmail.com
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 Co. Store and Café, The Ohio Light Opera, E & H Hardware Flagship Store, Secrest Arboretum and more! Call or email(info@wccvb.com) to receive your 2022 Visitors Guide!
WOOSTER 330.345.4424
www.wooster.hamptoninn.com
ORRVILLE • 330.684.1500 www.jmsmucker.com
www.ohiohasit.com
WOOSTER • 330.202.7701 www.wooster.hgi.com
Residential Professional Company of The College of Wooster 330.263.2345•www.ohiolightopera.com
www.wccvb.com • 1.800.362.6474 • # getawayne
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early 19th-century decorative arts, such as textiles, ceramics, glassware and furniture. The downstairs is set up as a typical house museum; the upstairs highlights various aspects of frontier life, including stories of Native Americans, medicine on the frontier, religion, schooling, industry and stories of three African Americans who lived in the area. Ohio was a free state, and the museum has documents showing that Black people lived in the area as early as 1809. The museum’s exhibit talks about the Ohio Black Laws, which restricted what free Black people could do, said Chris Manning, executive director of the museum. The laws prevented Black people from owning weapons or testifying against white Americans Courtesy Overfield Tavern Museum in court. Black people were required to show proof of their free status. If they were escaped slaves, they were in danger of being recaptured and sold back into slavery. Groups can tour the museum with a docent. Larger groups are split into two, with half visiting the Overfield Tavern Museum and half visiting the Museum of Troy History across the street that details life in the area from 1850 through the early 20th century.
The Overfield Tavern Museum in Troy
A Delphos Museum of Postal History display Courtesy Delphos Museum of Postal History
O V E R F I E L D TAV E R N M U S E U M. C O M
DELPHOS MUSEUM OF POSTAL HISTORY DELPHOS
The Delphos Museum of Postal History was started 30 years ago in the basement of the Delphos Post Office. It moved into its current 12,000-square-foot building on Main Street in 2007,
A historic mailroom at the Delphos Museum of Postal History Courtesy Delphos Museum of Postal History
OHIO WAS A FREE STATE, AND THE OVERFIELD TAVERN MUSEUM HAS DOCUMENTS SHOWING THAT BLACK PEOPLE LIVED IN THE AREA AS EARLY AS 1809.
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
OHIO HISTORY CENTER & OHIO VILLAGE 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH 43211
ZOAR VILLAGE 198 Main St. Zoar, OH 44697
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUMS Spiegel Grove Fremont, OH 43420
Learn more about our sites and offerings by visiting ohiohistory.org/grouptours
ARMSTRONG AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 500 Apollo Dr. Wapakoneta, OH 45895
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE HOUSE 2950 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45206
National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting By Gaylon Wampler, courtesy NVAMB
with exhibits about the history of the U.S. Postal Service from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War; the many types of vehicles used by postal workers dating back to 1906; and the Hall of Stamps, which tells the history of stamps from their inception in 1849 through current mint sets. There are about 250,000 stamps on display. A new exhibit deals with the philatelic aspects of the Holocaust and World War II. When visitors exit a re-creation of a German railroad car, they come face-to-face with a large mural of the Dachau concentration camp. The exhibit is based on a book, “And the World Closed its Doors: The Story of One Family Abandoned to the Holocaust,” which relays the story of a decorated Jewish WWI veteran in Florsheim, Germany, in 1937 who began corresponding with a cousin he had never met in Charles Town, West Virginia, in an attempt to get his family safely out of Germany. He perished in a concentration camp, but a surviving daughter made it to America thanks to the West Virginia cousin who corresponded with her father. Groups can tour the museum by appointment. Curator Gary Levitt leads them through the exhibits, highlighting some of the more interesting pieces and explaining how stamps and written letters have played a role in some of the world’s most historic events. At the end of the tour, groups participate in a question-and-answer session. P O S TA L H I S T O R Y M U S E U M.O R G
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Courtesy Boardroom 46
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BOARDROOM 46 GALLIPOLIS
A veteran-owned business, Boardroom 46 adds a twist of color and creativity to “boardroom” workshops, which are actually held within the halls of a historic hotel ballroom. It’s among a crew of crafters that guests learn how to create a custom wood sign by using stencils, brushes and a bit of creativity. Boardroom 46 is a DIY paradise, where small groups can book instructor-led themed workshops or drop in and paint on Fridays and Saturdays; they can select from more than 50 designs. For a more intimate experience, private parties, where groups can sip and paint in an interactive and fun environment, are also an option. Tall porch signs are a favorite for Boardroom 46 regulars, but their on-site lasers give guests the option to create custom cutting boards, insulated tumblers or even ornaments for heirloom-worthy souvenirs or personalized gifts.
NATIONAL VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING WEST CHESTER
Concerned about Adolf Hitler’s use of movies and radio to spread Nazism across Europe, president Franklin Roosevelt created the Voice of America (VOA) broadcast to counteract Hitler’s fascist ideas with stories about the United States, its culture and dedication to freedom and democracy. The first VOA transmission was from the Bethany Relay Station in West Chester, Ohio, north of Cincinnati, in 1942. The station, which now houses the museum, used six powerful short wave transmitters to send programs in 20 different languages to Europe, Africa and North America. VOA ended up in Ohio because Powel Crosley Jr., an American inventor, entrepreneur and industrialist, lived there. He created the most powerful AM radio station ever to broadcast in the United States at 500,000 watts. Today, radio stations are only allowed to broadcast at a maximum of 50,000 watts. The museum exhibits the largest collection of Crosley inventions in the country, as well as exhibits on radio and wireless technology. Visitors can listen to about 40 of the most important VOA broadcasts of all time, in English and other languages, including programs about the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., World War II and the 1969 moon landing. Groups can take a guided tour of the museum, including a walk through one of the transmitters, which is the size of three city buses. A visit to the museum usually takes between 90 minutes and two and a half hours. VOAMUSEUM.ORG
BOARDROOM46.COM
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Shopping, Food & Brews, Entertainment, Farms, and more.
Living life simply. Holmes County & beyond. Plan your group adventure and discover places to eat, shop, and stay. Visit www.ohioamishcountry.com/groups or call 330-674-3975
Courtesy 78th Street Studios
Courtesy 78th Street Studios
CREATIVE
OHIO
Courtesy Mosser Glass
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Courtesy Zeber-Martell Gallery
Courtesy Root Candles
TAKE SOME BUCKEYE BEAUTY HOME B Y P A U L A A V EN G L A D Y C H
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hio attracts artisans and entrepreneurs of all kinds, from glassmakers and potters to painters and snack food makers. Many of the businesses that call the state home got their start decades ago, producing everything from aromatherapy and church candles to paintings, clay pots, glassware and potato chips. The one thing these products have in common is that they are proudly made in Ohio, and groups are welcome to tour their facilities, meet the artists, watch craft demonstrations or see the manufacturing process close-up. Include visits to some of these distinctive manufacturing facilities on your next group tour of Ohio.
ZEBER-MARTELL GALLERY AND CLAY STUDIO AKRON
Claudia Zeber-Martell and Michael Martell have been making homemade clay objects in Akron since 1976. Zeber-Martell Gallery and Clay Studio is where the couple produces and displays their wares, everything from decorative vases, pots, lamps and Christmas ornaments to wineglasses, jewelry, cups, wall art and custom installations. Two assistants help the artists with the raw materials, but Claudia and Michael do all the finish work, coming up with numerous designs every year. The artists are always working on 10 to 20 pieces at a time. Groups that come for a tour will be able to see how the clay items are made, from working the clay to get the air out of it to throwing pots on a pottery wheel, baking them in the kiln, decorating them and baking them again. The studio has five kilns, a slab roller, six pottery wheels and a spray booth.
www.ohiohasit.com
Courtesy 78th Street Studios
Above: Groups visiting Cleveland can browse work by more than 60 artists and makers at 78th Street Studios. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Artwork at 78th Street Studios; browsing a 78th Street Studios gallery; Root Candles in Medina; Akron’s Zeber-Martell Gallery; Mosser Glass in Cambridge
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Because of the pandemic, the artists have not been giving tours, so group leaders should call before they come. Their team will give artist talks in the gallery to educate visitors about how their products are made if studio tours are not yet available. The holidays are a great time to visit the studio and gallery. The couple is famous in Ohio for their one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments. They have produced 12 to 18 new designs every year for the past 30 years, which is “a highlight of our Christmas season,” said Zeber-Martell. “People come from a great distance to buy numerous ornaments.” The gallery is open Monday through Saturday year-round and is open later and on Sundays during the holidays. ZEBER-MARTELL.COM
78TH STREET STUDIOS CLEVELAND
78th Street Studios in Cleveland houses 60 creative businesses under one roof. These range from furniture and housewaremakers to working artist studios and 15 commercial art galleries. It also is home to ARTneo: The Museum of Northeast Ohio Art. Groups might want to come for the facility’s free Third Friday event, when visitors can view the arts and crafts products of up to 60 artists; guest artisans and musical performances are also featured. The event attracts 2,000 to 3,000 visitors over a four-hour span, from 5 to 9 p.m. on the third Friday of each month. The building spans two city blocks and is four stories tall. Built in 1905 for a mix of industrial businesses, it was consolidated into the world headquarters of American Greetings Corp. in 1960. The headquarters moved in the mid-’70s but its creative studios remained until 1989. The current owners of the building purchased it in 2001 and just “celebrated 20 years of this craziness,” said Daniel Bush, owner and developer of 78th Street Studios. Along with artist studios, the building has five individual event venues of various sizes that are used for guest artisans during the Third Friday events. The Hedge Art Gallery will set up private tours of the studios and will even add catered food and drinks if so desired. The gallery works with many of the building’s tenants to offer artist talks and demonstrations and give visitors a chance to shop for Ohio-made products. 78THS TREE TS TUDIOS.COM
Finished vases at Zeber-Martell Gallery
A behind-the-scenes look at Zeber-Martell’s clay studio Photos Courtesy Zeber-Martell Gallery
THE HEDGE ART GALLERY AT 76TH STREET STUDIOS OFFERS ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS AND GIVES VISITORS A CHANCE TO SHOP FOR OHIO-MADE PRODUCTS.
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
MOSSER GLASS CAMBRIDGE
Mosser Glass was founded by Thomas Mosser 50 years ago. He originally worked at Cambridge Glass, which was a huge factory in Cambridge until it went out of business in 1954. He founded his own company in 1959 by buying up used equipment and glass molds from other glass companies. He began by making glassware for the pharmaceutical industry but, in 1971, established Mosser Glass, which blends new designs with classic pieces, like coffee mugs, glasses, tableware, cake stands, pitchers, tumblers, mixing bowls and collectible items. Today, the company is run by Tom; his wife, Georgianna; and three of their four children: Tim, Sally and Mindy. The company employs more than 30 people. Visitors to the factory can take a tour and see the glassmaking process from start to finish. There will be anywhere from four to 12 artists working in the factory, depending on what type of glassware is being made. Groups will watch them gather glass out of the furnace by hand, cut it off into a mold and press the glass into it by hand. Once it is turned
The hot shop at Mosser Glass
Courtesy Mosser Glass
Warren G. Harding Presidential Center Now Open in Marion, Ohio
visitmarionohio.com 800-371-6688
www.ohiohasit.com
Historic Palace Theatre Lawrence Orchards Popcorn Museum Shamrock Winery Union Railroad Station Early Machinery Museum
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out of the mold, it may be fire polished, depending on the type of piece it is, and then placed into a slow cooling process of about 3.5 hours. After it is done cooling, it is checked by hand, packed up for shipment or put into the company’s warehouse. Mosser Glass makes 1,000 to 3,000 pieces a day. Its entire line of products is available for sale in the small store. It also makes custom pieces. MOSSERGL ASS.COM
ROOT CANDLES
MEDINA
Root Candles has been in Medina for more than 150 years. The founder, Amos Ives Root, started his career as a medicine man in a traveling show. After he got married and settled down, he became fascinated with bees, starting his own honey company and founding Gleanings Magazine, the first-ever publication about beekeeping. Eventually he began A cider-scented candle from Root Candles
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Courtesy Hot Pots Pottery
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HOT POTS POTTERY ALLIANCE
Just 20 minutes from Canton near the Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve in Alliance, Hot Pots Pottery offers inspiration and space to create for up to 50 people at a time. Groups can book private sessions with any of the resident artists or reserve spaces for 10 or more people in any of the regular do-it-yourself classes to join in on the interactive group lessons. Participants can try candlemaking, piece together intricate mosaics, learn to cut wood decor with a 3D laser or paint pottery for a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Reservations are recommended for larger groups, and guests are encouraged to bring something to eat or drink — the studio is right next to Grinders Above and Beyond restaurant, which offers dine-in or take-out options — while they create their masterpieces.
using beeswax from his hives to make church candles that burn cleaner and longer. And though the company still makes religious candles, Root has branched out into decorative candles, candles in jars and tins, pillars, votives and tapers. Many of the candles are infused with natural, floral and aromatherapy fragrances. Other candlemakers dip their candles in fragrance, but Root Candles’ fragrances are mixed into the wax ensuring that customers will enjoy their scent as long as they are burning. Groups that tour the factory will be split into smaller groups and then watch a slide presentation about the company’s colorful history before being taken through the production process. They also will see the lab where the company tests all its candles to see how long and how well they burn. At the end of the tour, guests can take home a free votive candle. ROOTCANDLE S.COM
ROOT CANDLES HAS BEEN IN MEDINA FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.
H O T P O T S P O T T E R Y. C O M
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
The Root Candles’ 150-year-old factory in Medina
Browsing Root Candle varieties Photos courtesy Root Candles
SOAR INTO
Miami County
Miami County is a foundation for transportation enthusiasts. Visit WACO Air Museum to view their biplanes, tour Johnston Farm & Indian Agency to learn about early settlers while riding on a canal boat, or visit the Bradford Railroad Museum and browse artifacts from life on the railroad.
Plan your group tour at homegrowngreat.com. | 800-348-8993
www.ohiohasit.com
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VOTED
BEST
DESTINATION
CONN’S POTATO CHIPS
IN AMISH COUNTRY
ZANESVILLE
IF YOU HAVEN’ T BEEN TO LATELY,
you simply haven’t been! Visit Lehmans.com/bus-tours for all the group tour offerings and information. Please allow at least two hours for your visit.
Conn’s Potato Chips are an Ohio staple. The family-owned snackmaker has been in business in Zanesville since 1935, making regular and wavy potato chips that come in original, barbecue, sweet mesquite barbecue, salt and vinegar, green onion, no salt, and cinnamon and sugar varieties. Sweet onion is a new flavor coming soon. The factory, which employs 90 people, cooks about a 250,000 potatoes a week and sells its chips strictly in Ohio or online. Tours of the factory take about 30 minutes and can accommodate groups of any size. Visitors can see potatoes being unloaded, washed, peeled, sliced and poured into the fryer. When they come out of the fryer, they are salted, seasoned, bagged and placed on pallets. The factory itself is 95,000 square feet and produces 40,000 to 80,000 bags of chips per day. Different types of chips are made on different days. Some days the factory produces only regular chips. Other days it produces only wavy chips, but the company runs flavors all the time. After the tour, groups can purchase fresh potato chips hot off the line. Conn’s only manufactures potato chips but sells other products branded under the Conn’s name, like cheese puffs, pretzels and popcorn. CONNSCHIPS.COM
The Conn’s Potato Chips production line
Finished bags of Conn’s Potato Chips in Zanesville
Photos courtesy Conn’s Potato Chips
SHOP ANYTIME AT LEHMANS.COM 800.438.5346 On the Square in Kidron, OH Open every day except Sunday 38
CONN’S POTATO CHIPS HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1935
2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
Courtesy Daugherty Farms Courtesy Ramseyer Farms
Courtesy White House Fruit Farm
BOUNTIFUL Courtesy Ramseyer Farms
OHIO
Courtesy Buckin’ Ohio
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Courtesy White House Fruit Farm
Courtesy New Richmond Alpaca Farm
ENJOY THESE BUCKEYE FARMS B Y R A C H EL C R I C K
O
hio may not strike you as the place to see a rodeo or meet alpacas. But thanks to the broad range of farms and agricultural attractions in the Buckeye State, visitors can do both. The state features dozens of destinations fantastic for group travelers, whether they’re looking for down-to-earth fun, an educational excursion or an exhilarating spectacle. From giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at farming’s most recent innovations to allowing them to explore the world of unique livestock and local produce, these agritourism destinations in Ohio showcase the most exciting and diverse features of modern agriculture.
DAUGHERTY FARMS FRESNO
The farming industry and modern farming techniques have undergone enormous transformations in the past century. No one knows this better than the Daugherty family, owners of a sixth-generation family farm in Coshocton County. Daugherty Farms milks over 200 cows and farms about 1,600 acres; it’s been producing corn, soybeans and dairy for years, but the family operation has recently been making headlines with technological upgrades that showcase the future of farming. These upgrades focus on keeping their farming practices sustainable and their livestock comfortable. The farm now milks cows robotically, a more efficient practice than traditional methods. The new barn, built a year ago, is also equipped with cow comfort features that keep the cows happy and keep milk production up, such as a special cooling system and back scratchers for the animals. “People are getting further and further away from agriculture, and we’re just trying to continue to do our part to educate the public on what is going on in agriculture,” said Bill Daugherty, who works alongside his father, Martin, and his son, Kyle, to run the farm.
www.ohiohasit.com
Courtesy Ramseyer Farms
Above: Intricately designed corn mazes are a hallmark of the visitor experience at Ramseyer Farms in Wooster. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: A play area at Ramseyer Farms; the Daugherty Farms dairy barn; Canfield’s White House Fruit Farm; New Richmond Alpaca Farm; the doughnut shop at White House Fruit Farm; mutton busting at Buckin’ Ohio; a Ramseyer Farms jump pad
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Witnessing how dairy cows are cared for and how this modern farm operates provides visitors with an understanding and appreciation of today’s farming practices. Groups can learn all about the ways in which the worlds of technology and agriculture are combining by arranging to tour the farm. FAC E B O O K.C O M / DAU G H E R T Y FA R M S L L C
BUCKIN’ OHIO BURBANK
If you think you have to make the trek to Texas to see a real rodeo, you’re wrong. Buckin’ Ohio, a ranch in the northeastern part of the state, has been giving visitors a little taste of life in the West for nearly 20 years. Here, visitors can experience the excitement of professional bull riding without leaving the Midwest. Every year, events on the ranch draw thousands of spectators to see barrel racing and bull riding. Before each of the shows, visitors can enjoy Western food, live music and plenty of other Westernthemed activities to get them ready for the rodeo. “I don’t know anybody that’s doing what we’re doing,” said Eileen Thorsell, co-founder and president of Buckin’ Ohio. “We’re bringing the West to the Midwest.” Another feature that sets Buckin’ Ohio apart is it’s a working ranch that breeds and cares for the bucking bulls on-site. Part of the ranch’s mission is to debunk the many misconceptions surrounding bull riding and agriculture in general. Before the ranch’s
A rodeo demonstration at Buckin’ Ohio in Burbank
Courtesy Buckin’ Ohio
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2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
events, a short behind-the-scenes tour is offered for those who want to learn more about the world of bull riding. Group tours can include a variety of activities, from meeting the cowboys who compete and work with the bulls to seeing the bulls themselves close-up. “We’re really educating the public to the sport of bull riding,” said Thorsell.
The Country Coaster at Ramseyer Farms
B U C KI N OH I O.C O M
RAMSEYER FARMS
WOOSTER
A shifting agriculture industry has spurred changes in small family farms across the country. Ramseyer Farms, in Wayne County, Ohio, is one of these farms; it started out as a horse farm in 1880. Later, it shifted to dairy and then again to potatoes. Most recently, the fifth-generation family farm adapted by investing in agritourism after their potato crop became difficult to sustain. That’s a good thing for travelers, who now have access to an abundance of fun and engag-
Courtesy Ramseyer Farms
“WE’RE BRINGING THE WEST TO THE MIDWEST.” — EILEEN THORSELL, BUCKIN’ OHIO
DISCOVER GREAT TOURS IN CLERMONT COUNTY
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FOOD AND FARM TOUR The Food and Farm Tour gives you a chance to eat and drink your way through some of our smallest and most historic villages. From chocolate and wine pairing to roasting your own coffee, you will experience something fun for everyone. On this tour you will learn from the owners themselves about what makes their location unique and experience a variety of personalized activities.
Hancock
Putnam
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TOUR Van Wert
LAND OF GRANT TOUR Ulysses S. Grant, commanding general of the Union Armies and 18th President of the United States, was born in Clermont County on April 27, 1822. To celebrate Grant’s 200th birthday discover the Land of Grant tour including his birthplace, boyhood home and schoolhouse. Explore Clermont County’s rich history and museums full of artifacts. See how the Grant family established themselves in southern Ohio in the early 19th century and hear their fascinating stories.
The Underground Railroad was a network of people, secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African-Americans to escape into free states and Canada. Local citizens were major contributors to the Underground Railroad movement. On this tour, visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, some of the areas 42 Underground Railroad sites and enjoy local food and drinks in historic towns of Springfield Clermont County along the way. 75
Allen
Auglaize
Union
Logan
Shelby
Darke
Champaign
Miami
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Kettering
Montgomery
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Clinton
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www.ohiohasit.com
Marion
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Hamilton
E: sales@discoverclermont.com P: 513-732-3600 DISCOVERCLERMONT.COM
Wyandot
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OHIO Ohio R.
Highland
Adams
ing farm-themed activities for people of all ages and mobility levels. “Because of the next generation we’ve done a much better job,” said Karen Ramseyer, the farm’s owner. “It gives a really good guest experience because of that.” There are many ways to have fun on the farm year-round. Educational activities such as simulated cow milking and meeting farm animals allow visitors to get a close-up look at life on a working farm. Groups can take a scenic hayride around the farm and rent a tent or a private campfire site. Those visiting in the fall can make their way through one of the farm’s famous multiacre, intricately designed corn mazes. They can pick seasonal produce from the fields or the country store, where they can also find plenty of other locally made gifts and food items. After a long day of exploring the farm, hungry visitors can stop by one of the farm’s many food stands, which offer fresh kettle corn, doughnuts, barbecue, and other Fall produce for sale at concessions and treats.
ry it o t s Hi e Awa e r Wheventur d &A
White House Fruit Farms
R A M S E Y E R FA R M S.C O M
Photos courtesy White House Fruit Farms
The farm store at White House Fruit Farms
“BECAUSE OF THE NEXT GENERATION WE’VE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB. IT GIVES A REALLY GOOD GUEST
visitguernseycounty.com 800.933.5480 44
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THAT.” — KAREN RAMSEYER, RAMSEYER FARMS 2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
WHITE HOUSE FRUIT FARM CANFIELD
Family-owned and -operated since 1815, the White House Fruit Farm has been in the fruit and vegetable business for nearly 100 years. The farm grows about 75 acres of produce, but it’s best known for the farm market, which offers visitors access to a wide variety of fresh, local fruits and vegetables both in and out of season. Apples are its signature crop, but some of its other popular produce includes squash, tomatoes, asparagus, pumpkins, peaches and berries. The farm’s famous homemade apple cider and doughnuts are available all year. The market also includes a deli stocked with over 40 meats and 40 cheeses for visitors to choose from. Groups can take a stroll around the market and browse the farm’s vast selection of fresh produce, baked goods and deli items. They can enjoy their food with a picnic on the farm’s beautifully landscaped and maintained grounds. A trip to the farm’s “budgie barn” lets visitors interact with and feed the farm’s parakeets.
White House Fruit Farms
Journey through the Bible One of the world’s leading Christian attractions and wax museums showcases six tours, eight exhibits, over 300 figures, and the NEW Museum of Woodcarving.
wPlan w w . oyour h i o h avisit s i t . cto o mMansfield,
Ohio
• DestinationMansfield.com • 800-642-8282 45
Courtesy Mission Oaks Garden
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TAKE Those who stop by in the later summer months can explore the farm’s sunflower fields and pick their own flowers to take home. Beginning in the fall, visitors can enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides and the farm’s gift shop full of gifts and fall-themed items. W H I T E H O U S E F R U I T FA R M.C O M
NEW RICHMOND ALPACA FARM
NEW RICHMOND
Alpacas, members of the camel family native to South America, are raised for their valuable fleece, which is warmer and less itchy than sheep’s wool while also being hypoallergenic. It’s relatively uncommon to find alpacas in the U.S., but at the New Richmond Alpaca Farm, visitors have a chance to meet these exotic animals. The family-owned and -operated farm has been home to alpacas for nearly 15 years, after owners Greg and Lori Wahl decided to purchase their first herd in 2006. The venture was a decision to shift the farm’s investment from beef cattle to the more economical and lower-maintenance alpacas. Since then, the farm has turned into a hub of all things alpaca in the Midwest. “The animals are still unique enough in the agricultural community that a lot of people don’t know a lot about the alpaca, much less having the experience of being in the pasture with them,” said Greg Wahl. Groups can tour the farm’s pastures and barns to learn about the history and daily care of alpacas, as well as the processing of the animal’s fleece. Then they have the opportunity to pet, feed and take selfies with these personable animals. Visitors can round out the tour with a visit to the farm’s shop, where they can purchase a variety of clothing and accessories made from the fleece of the farm’s alpacas.
MISSION OAKS GARDEN ZANESVILLE
Walking the more than seven acres of manicured grounds at the Mission Oaks Garden is a memorable experience any day of the year, whether it’s a stroll through Conifer Grove or an exploration of the handmade hamlets of the Fairy Garden. Visitors are welcomed in from dusk to dawn every day throughout the year to bask in the beauty of the garden’s rare and unusual plants alongside stunning azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias and more. Group tours of the garden are available upon request, but groups looking to roll up their sleeves and dig into a memorable experience are invited to take part in plant-themed workshops at the garden. Whether learning to make a personal fairy garden — complete with container, plants and fairies — or following a guided instruction on crafting an individualized holiday wreath, groups walk home with a oneof-a-kind keepsake to remember their time in this special place.
MISSIONOAKSGARDENS.ORG
N R AL PAC AFA R M.C O M
“THE ANIMALS ARE STILL UNIQUE
New Richmond Alpaca Farm owners Greg and Lori Wahl
ENOUGH IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE ALPACA, MUCH LESS HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE PASTURE WITH THEM.”
Courtesy New Richmond Alpaca Farm
— GREG WAHL, NEW RICHMOND ALPACA FARM 46
2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
GAHANNA, OHIO’S HERB CAPITAL
Just minutes from Downtown Columbus, Gahanna is the perfect addition to your Central Ohio tour.
MAKE
TAKE
www.visitgahanna.com | 614.418.9114
LEARN
OHIO HAS IT! MEMBERS
DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS
LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS 419-625-2984 shoresandislands.com
VISIT GREATER LIMA 419-222-6075 visitgreaterlima.com
AKRON/SUMMIT CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 800-245-4254 akron.travel
MARIETTA - WASHINGTON COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 740-373-5178 mariettaohio.org
WARREN COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 513-204-7040 ohioslargestplayground.com
CAMBRIDGE/GUERNSEY COUNTY VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU 740-432-2022 visitguernseycounty.com
MARION AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 740-389-9770 visitmarionohio.com
WAYNE COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 330-264-1800 wccvb.com
CLERMONT COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 513-732-3600 discoverclermont.com
MEDINA COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 800-860-2943 visitmedinacounty.com
YOUNGSTOWN LIVE - MAHONING COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 800-447-8201 youngstownlive.com
COSHOCTON COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 740-622-4877 visitcoshocton.com
MIAMI COUNTY VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU 937-339-1044 homegrowngreat.com
ZANESVILLE-MUSKINGUM COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 740-455-8282 visitzanesville.com
DESTINATION CLEVELAND 216-875-6648 thisiscleveland.com
TRAVEL BUTLER COUNTY 513-860-4194 travelbutlercounty.com
DESTINATION GRANDVIEW 614-453-4295 destinationgrandview.org
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 330-602-2420 traveltusc.com
DESTINATION MANSFIELD - RICHLAND COUNTY 800-642-8282 destinationmansfield.com EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS 614-222-6136 experiencecolumbus.com/tours GALLIA COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 740-446-6882 visitgallia.com HOLMES COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM BUREAU 330-674-3975 visitamishcountry.com www.ohiohasit.com
UNION COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 937-642-6279 visitunioncountyohio.org VISIT CANTON 800-552-6051 visitcanton.com VISIT DUBLIN OHIO 614-792-7666 visitdublinohio.com VISIT GAHANNA 614-418-9114 visitgahanna.com
A tasty greeting for groups at Schmidt’s in Columbus Courtesy Experience Columbus
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OHIO HAS IT! MEMBERS
RECEPTIVE OPERATOR/ TOUR COMPANY
CEDAR BOG NATURE PRESERVE 800-860-0147 ohiohistory.org
HARTVILLE MARKETPLACE & FLEA MARKET 330-877-9860 hartvillemarketplace.com
GREAT DAY! TOURS & CHARTER BUS SERVICE 800-362-4905 greatdaytours.com
CELTIC FEST OHIO 513-897-7000 celticfestohio.com
HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES & MUSEUM 800-998-7737 ohiohistory.org
COOKE-DORN HOUSE 877-734-1386 ohiohistory.org
JOHN & ANNIE GLENN MUSEUM 866-473-0417 ohiohistory.org
FLINT RIDGE ANCIENT QUARRIES & NATURE PRESERVE 800-283-8707 ohiohistory.org
JOHN RANKIN HOUSE 800-752-2705 ohiohistory.org
FORT ANCIENT EARTHWORKS & NATURE PRESERVE 800-283-8904 ohiohistory.org
A traditional dance at Ohio History Center and Village Courtesy Ohio History Center and Ohio Village
ATTRACTIONS ADENA MANSION & GARDENS 800-319-7248 ohiohistory.org ARMSTRONG AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 800-860-0142 ohiohistory.org BRIMSTONE HAUNT 513-897-7000 brimstonehaunt.com CAMPUS MARTIUS MUSEUM 800-860-0145 ohiohistory.org
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FORT MEIGS 800-283-8916 ohiohistory.org FORT RECOVERY MUSEUM & MONUMENT 800-283-8920 ohiohistory.org GREAT WOLF LODGE 513-458-8885 greatwolf.com/mason GREATER CLEVELAND AQUARIUM 216-862-8803 greaterclevelandaquarium.com HARRIET BEECHER STOWE HOUSE 800-847-6507 ohiohistory.org HARTVILLE HARDWARE 330-877-3631 hartvillehardware.com
JOHNSTON FARM & INDIAN AGENCY 800-752-2619 ohiohistory.org LEHMANS 800-438-5346 lehmans.com MCKINLEY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM 330-455-7043 mckinleymuseum.org MUSEUM OF CERAMICS 800-600-7180 ohiohistory.org NATIONAL AFRO-AMERICAN MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER 800-752-2603 ohiohistory.org NATIONAL ROAD & ZANE GREY MUSEUM 800-752-2602 ohiohistory.org NAUTICA QUEEN CRUISE DINING SHIP 216-696-8888 nauticaqueen.com NEWARK EARTHWORKS 800-589-8224 ohiohistory.org
2022 ohio has it! group travel guide
OHIO HAS IT! MEMBERS
OHIO HISTORY CENTER & OHIO VILLAGE 800-686-6124 ohiohistory.org
YULETIDE VILLAGE 513-897-7000 yuletidevillage.com
OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION 614-297-2319 ohiohistory.org
ZOAR VILLAGE 800-262-6195 ohiohistory.org
OHIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 513-897-7000 renfestival.com
RAMADA BY WYNDHAM 330-878-1400 strasburgohioramada.com
SCHOENBRUNN VILLAGE 800-752-2711 ohiohistory.org
WINGATE BY WYNDHAM ST CLAIRSVILLE 740-695-3961 stclairsvillehotel.com
SERPENT MOUND 800-752-2757 ohiohistory.org Group dining in Ohio
U.S. GRANT BOYHOOD HOME & SCHOOLHOUSE 877-372-8177 ohiohistory.org
DINING/RESTAURANTS
US GRANT BIRTHPLACE 800-283-8932 ohiohistory.org
1572 ROADHOUSE BAR-B-Q 513-897-1572 1572roadhousebarbq.com
WARREN G. HARDING HOME & MEMORIAL 800-600-6894 ohiohistory.org
HARTVILLE KITCHEN RESTAURANT, BAKERY & SHOPS 330-877-9353 hartvillekitchen.com
www.ohiohasit.com
HAMPTON INN YOUNGSTOWN WEST I-80 330-544-0660 youngstownwest.hamptoninn.com
HOME2 SUITES CANTON 330-491-9714 canton.home2suites.com
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR HOUSE 800-860-0148 ohiohistory.org
YOUNGSTOWN HISTORICAL CENTER OF INDUSTRY & LABOR 800-262-6137 ohiohistory.org
HAMPTON INN & SUITES 330-491-4335 cantonohsuites.hamptoninn.com
HOME2 SUITES BY HILTON YOUNGSTOWN WEST 330-505-9935 youngstownwestaustintown.home2suitesbyhilton.com
OHIO RIVER MUSEUM 800-860-0145 ohiohistory.org
SHAKER HISTORICAL MUSEUM 800-860-6078 ohiohistory.org
HOTELS
HOFBRAUHAUS COLUMBUS 614-294-2437 hofbrauhauscolumbus.com
Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland
By Cody York for ThisisCleveland.com
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