88 Counties In Ohio = 88 Things To Do! (Alphabetical)

The 88 counties in Ohio carve out special parts of the state that are each unique in their own way. The state is incredibly diverse, with the lakeside counties spanning from Lucas to Ashtabula; the "great plains" of Northwest Ohio, including counties like Williams, Henry, and Wood; the hilly Appalachian region with Washington, Athens, and Belmont Counties (to name a few), and of course the heartland including the counties of Franklin, Delaware, Pickaway, and more. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

If it's your goal to visit all 88 counties in Ohio, then this list is for you! Many of these links take you straight to our very own OHventures experiences. But, truth be told, even we haven't made it to each county - yet! So, start your engines and check out this list of one cool thing to do in each of Ohio's 88 counties!

Adams – Sightsee at the Great Serpent Mound – the longest serpent effigy in the US

Allen – Pig out at Kewpee Burger – the oldest hamburger fast food chain in the world (Lima)

Ashland – Get cheesy at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn – the name says it all! (Ashland)

Ashtabula – Stay the night at The Lodge at Geneva-On-The-Lake – gorgeous views

Athens – Taste some local beers at Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery – a locavore’s delight (Athens)

Auglaize - Honor Ohio native Neil Armstrong at Wapakoneta's Summer Moon Festival

Belmont - Rock out at the "Superbowl of country music festivals - Jamboree In The Hills

Brown - Soak in the Ohio River at Eagle Creek Landings Marina (Georgetown)

Butler – Plan a trip to Jungle Jim's International Market - more than a grocery store (Fairfield)

Carroll – Saddle up for some Horseback Riding at Faith Ranch (Jewett)

Champaign – Explore the deep caves of Ohio Caverns (West Liberty)

Clark - Hike your way through Buck Creek State Park in Springfield

Clermont – Bike the trail corridor of Little Miami Scenic Trail along the Little Miami River

Clinton – Immerse yourself in Pioneer Village at Caesar Creek State Park

Columbiana – Spend the night at the haunted Spread Eagle Tavern (Hanoverton)

Coshocton – Depart on the Three Rivers Wine Trail, including Yellow Butterfly Winery

Crawford - Gorge on brats & take the "wurst" bike ride at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in August

Cuyahoga – See all of Cleveland from atop Terminal Tower (and take a Day Trip to Cleveland)

Darke - Watch the stock cars race by at the world famous Eldora Speedway (New Weston)

Defiance - See the reconstructed historic town of Auglaize Village, with a military museum 

Delaware – Take advantage of the state’s largest inland beach at Alum Creek State Park

Erie – Ride the world’s largest roller coasters at Cedar Point (Sandusky)

Fairfield – Zipline over 100 feet off the ground at Valley Zipline Tours (Lancaster)

Fayette - Shop the day away at the Tanger Outlets right off of I-71 (Jeffersonville)

Franklin – Visit the Ohio Statehouse (and see 100 more things to do in Columbus)

Fulton - Check out the arboretum & ATV, hiking, & horseback riding trails of Maumee State Forest

Gallia - Head "down on the farm" to the Bob Evans Farm Homestead Museum (Bidwell)

Geauga – Give yourself a sugar rush at the Geauga County Maple Festival

Greene - Trek along the Old Woods Trail located at Caesar Creek State Park

Guernsey – Embark on an Open Air Safari at The Wilds (Cumberland)

Hamilton –  Meet an elephant at Cincinnati Zoo (and take a Day Trip to Cincinnati)

Hancock - Go up, up, and away on a Findlay Hot Air Balloon Ride

Hardin - Build Your Own Tour of historic, architectural, and natural attractions in Hardin

Harrison - Paddle through Southeast Ohio thanks to Green Acres Canoe & Kayak Rental

Henry - Grab a photo op with the giant can of Campbell's Tomato Soup (Napoleon)

Highland - Mountain bike in Paint Creek Lake State Park (Hillsboro)

Hocking – Hike your heart out at Hocking Hills State Park, including Old Man’s Cave

Holmes – Embrace yourself in Amish culture with Der Dutchmann Restaurants

Huron - Gawk at the Christmas lights at the annual Light Up Norwalk Festival 

Jackson - Go apple picking and celebrate at the Jackson Apple Festival each year

Jefferson - Step back 200 years to the Ohio frontier at Fort Steuben (Steubenville)

Knox – Stay the night in the Mohican Tree House Cabins (Loudonville)

Lake - Have a night of luxury at Quail Hollow Resort (Painesville)

Lawrence - Spend a day at Lake Vesuvius

Licking – Say hello to the Longaberger Basket Building – the world’s largest basket

Logan – Ski the day away at Mad River Mountain (Zanesfield)

Lorain – Take your pups on a jaunt with the Dirty 5K, Walk & Wash (Avon Lake)

Lucas – Gorge on hot dogs at the famous Tony Packo’s (and take a Day Trip to Toledo)

Madison – Fish, hike, picnic, and more at Prairie Oaks Metro Park (West Jefferson)

Mahoning – Trek the trails of Mill Creek Park to Lanterman’s Mill (and take a Day Trip to Youngstown)

Marion – Visit the epic tomb found at the President Warren G. Harding Memorial

Medina - Celebrate Christmas all year 'round at Castle Noel (Medina)

Meigs - "Milk" your time in Meigs County by visiting the famous Snowville Creamery

Mercer - Tackle the Mad Run - a muddy obstacle run in Fort Recovery

Miami – Take a Day Trip to the quaint town of Piqua

Monroe - Drive along the Covered Bridge Byway on a self-guided scenic tour 

Montgomery – Eat at Olive, An Urban Dive (and take a Day Trip to Dayton)

Morgan – Camp at the Wayne National Forest (the only National Forest in Ohio)

Morrow – Shoot ‘em up at SplatterPark Paintball (Mount Gilead)

Muskingum – Pig out on pasta at Adornetto’s Selected Italian Foods (Zanesville)

Noble - Dine at the Dockside Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Seneca Lake Marina

Ottawa – Kayak the waters of Put-In-Bay (and explore the whole island while you’re at it)!

Paulding - Visit the Paulding County Carnegie Library, on the US National Registrar of Historic Places

Perry - Eat breakfast at Dodson's On Broadway (New Lexington)

Pickaway - Attend the Circleville Pumpkin Show and see the pumpkin water tower!

Pike - Travel Pike's Patches Quilt Barn Trail to see all of the quilt barns in the area!

Portage - Imbibe at Viking Vineyards & Winery (and take a Day Trip to Kent)

Preble - Go ghost hunting and on other spirited adventures

Putnam - Scuba dive at Gilboa Quarry - the Midwest's Premier Dive Site (Ottawa)

Richland - Tour the Mansfield Reformatory (where they filmed Shawshank Redemption)

Ross - Take a day trip to the Ross County seat, Chillicothe (Ohio's first capital)

Sandusky - Learn about one of our presidents at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

Scioto - Embark on a journey to Scioto County's Shawnee State Park

Seneca - See Ohio's Greatest Underground Adventure, Seneca Caverns

Shelby -  Do a nighttime zipline at VanDemark Farm (Sidney)

Stark  - Run the stairs of the McKinley Monument (and take a Day Trip to Canton)

Summit  - Zoom down the hill of the All American Soap Box Derby (and take a Day Trip to Akron)

Trumbull – Plunge into the waters of Mosquito Lake (and take a Day Trip to Hubbard)

Tuscawaras – Travel back in time by seeing the historic village of Zoar

Union - Scale the steep hiking trails of Clear Creek Metro Park

Van Wert - Hop aboard a plane for a flying tour at the Van Wert Airport

Vinton – Immerse yourself in Zaleski State Forest (second-largest state forest in the U.S)

Warren – Zipline at Ozone Zipline Adventures (Lebanon)!

Washington – Hop aboard the Sternwheeler and drink some Marietta beer!

Wayne - Engage in discussion while eating & drinking at First Amendment Public House (Wooster)

Williams - Check out the Bryan Theatre, local parks, and other fun things in the City of Bryan

Wood - Visit Bowling Green State University and the surrounding area!

Wyandot - Birdwatch at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, where you can see bald eagles!

Condado Tacos

Photos by OHventures

Condado Tacos Short North

1227 N. High Street

Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 928-3909

-and-

Condado Tacos Downtown

132 S. High Street

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 456-7444

Tacos bring the people together. Plain and simple. If you don't like tacos, I can't trust you and you can't be my friend. And if you don't like Condado Tacos in Short North and Downtown Columbus, then that is taco blasphemy! 

These tacos are works of art. You build them from the shell-up, with loads of delicious and fresh ingredients you won't find at any other Mexican joint. You start with the tortilla, which can be corn or flour, soft or crunchy. BUT you can also get a double tortilla, with cheese, beans, or guacamole slathered in between the shells (my favorite is the "Ju-Ju" shell if you were wondering). Then, you choose from a great selection of proteins: chorizo, shrimp ceviche, brisket, ghost pepper marinated steak, roasted portabellos, and BBQ pulled jackfruit, to name a few. Then, you continue the process choosing toppings, cheese, salsa, and sauces! The possibilities are seemingly endless.

And, if for nothing else, be sure to go to Condado Tacos to get your table an order of the queso dip (pictured above). Believe me when I say, this is the best queso around! Muy bien!

And what's a good Mexican restaurant without some tasty margs? On my recent visit, I was going to just get the traditional house margarita like always, but the waiter insisted I try something different. So, he suggested the blackberry marg (pictured above), which did not disappoint.

Another thing I like about Condado Tacos is the decor. They have a "Day of the Dead" (or Dia de los Muertos) theme going on, with Catrina-style skulls, skeletons, sombreros, designs, and artwork on the walls and tables. I am particularly fond of the "Holy Guacamole" painting, as shown above.

I have gone to Condado Tacos on each of the past 3 visits I made to Columbus. It's just that good. You can reserve the "party table" for groups of 12 or more - which is what we did when having a "friends reunion" back in June. And, yes, we had many, many bowls of queso to go around!

Ride A Camel At Columbus Zoo

Photos by OHventures

Well, mark that one off of the bucket list! I rode me a camel!

When my friends from Chicago and Colorado were coming in to Ohio for the weekend, we decided to go to the Columbus Zoo. And, from the moment we went, all I had my sights on was riding a camel!

That's right! For just $7, you can take a short ride on the back of a camel at the Columbus Zoo. My friend Faye and I hopped on a camel named Ghost after standing in a short line, and we took a ride around the African Safari with one of the zoo workers guiding the way.

It was a tame ride, with only a few bumps in the road (no pun intended). The only thing lacking was the vast Sahara desert. I think I prefer being in the comfort of Ohio instead of in the middle of the Sahara, though!

If you go to the Columbus Zoo, be sure to ride a camel. And, while you're at it, take some time to take part in some of the other interactive elements found at the zoo: feed the giraffes, walk alongside the kangaroos, pet the stingrays, and let lorikeets land on you while you feed them nectar!

SegAway Tours Of Columbus

Photos by OHventures

SegAway Tours of Columbus
400 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 222-3005

Having lived in Columbus for 10 years, I never thought that in just two hours on a Segway, I could learn so much more about the city, and see so many nooks and crannies that I had not yet seen. These two wheeled contraptions are extremely popular forms of recreational transportation, and many large cities offer tours via Segway.

SegAway Tours of Columbus offers a series of tours for anyone interested in uncovering hidden secrets about the city while leisurely gliding through the parkways, riversides, and sidewalks of downtown, Arena District, Short North, and Victorian Village.

There are several tours to choose from 7 days a week, on both mornings and afternoons. Evening tours are offered in summer months, when daylight allows. Each tour costs $59 per rider, and it is most definitely worth it, whether you are visiting from out of town, or if you've lived here all your life.

No experience is necessary to sign up for a tour. This was very important, since neither myself nor my friend Anna (from Colorado) had ever stepped foot on a Segway prior to our  tour this June. 

The instructors from SegAway Tours of Columbus provide 15-20 minute introductory lessons for the group. They were very helpful in getting our group of 8 riders comfortable and familiar with the Segway. The Segway is a self-balancing battery-powered electric vehicle, with computers, sensors, and electric motors in the base. This means there are no buttons, nobs, levers, or controls on the handles or "dashboard." Instead, riders command the Segway to go forward and backward by shifting their weight forward or backward on the platform. These means pushing down on your toes to move forward, and pushing back on your heels to go backward. 

The motions are very minor and sensitive, so it does take time to get used to it. Turning and steering is done with the handlebar, which shifts back and forth only to the left and right (it does not pivot like the handlebar of a bike). You go faster by pushing harder, and go slower by pushing lighter with your feet. The max speed is 12.5 mph, but the average speed we would be going on our tour was 8 mph.

After getting acclimated to the Segway, we were off and running. Our tour guide, Jim, had a headset on, and we all had earpieces so we could hear him as he described points of interest and landmarks along the way. He also would advise us of any pedestrians, obstacles, stop lights, and other instructions to be aware of while we rode.

Map from SegAway Tours of Columbus

We started at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (where the tour headquarters is located) and then made our way down to Nationwide Plaza. The route then led us down to the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus Dispatch building, Bricker & Eckler, the Ohio Theatre, the Columbus Commons, the Scioto Mile, COSI, North Bank Park, Huntington Park, Nationwide Arena, and then back to our starting point (we did not go to Goodale Park, as shown, due to ComFest taking place)!

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and added a good sense of humor and fun to the tour. He learned all of our names and interacted with us frequently. He would give us tips on how to improve our Segway techniques along the way. It was very helpful, because as time went on, I started to become more comfortable and natural on the Segway. He also stopped on a bridge and took photos of all of us.

The best part of the trip was all of the tidbits I learned, and all of the things that have changed in the city since I moved away 3 years ago. One of my favorite things to see was Coleman's Pointe, a scenic overlook named after Columbus' longest serving mayor, Michael Coleman. A quote by Mayor Coleman is shown on the promenade, which sums it up very nicely: "A city that stays the same falls behind."

Columbus is continuously changing, and seeing it from the vantage point of a Segway was incredibly exciting. Book your tour now because they fill up fast!

The Deer Of The Scioto

Photos by OHventures

Genoa Park
303 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Genoa Park is a beautiful park on the Western bank of the Scioto River, right behind COSI Columbus: The Center of Science & Industry in downtown Columbus, right off of Broad Street. At the center of the park, you'll find a set of large amphitheater steps, alternating with grass and concrete, which overlook the river, and provide for a great view of the iconic Columbus skyline (including the Riffe Center, Huntington Tower, and the Ohio Supreme Court Building). The park lies directly across the river from the Scioto Mile.

Plenty of people head to Genoa Park to have picnics, bike, run, and check out the fountains atop the amphitheater. But, now, as of late 2015, there is a new reason to come to Genoa Park: statues of giant bronze deer. Yes, you read that right. Giant bronze deer.

You can find two bronze sculptures of "humanized" deer at Genoa Park, one sitting upright on the stairs, and the other lounging nearby in the grass (a third deer can be found at the nearby Rich Street Bridge, leaning against the railing, looking out on the river). But why?! Well, apparently, the name of the Scioto River is derived from a Native American word that means "hairy water." Legend states that Shawnee tribe members found deer hair floating in the water when they migrated to the area. Hence, hairy water. Hence...deer statues?!

Artist Terry Allen came up with the concept and design, which is meant to represent how deer used to be prevalent in this area along the Scioto River, but now it is populated by humans, who often are running, biking, and lounging along the riverside. It is meant to be thought provoking and engaging to the public, to show a cross between when the deer once lived here and how humans currently do. Whatever it is, I think it's pretty cool - although a bit strange. 

Ariel-Foundation Park

Photos by OHventures

Ariel-Foundation Park

501 S. Main Street
Mount Vernon, OH 43050
(740) 393-9577

Mount Vernon is the county seat of  Knox County, located in North Central Ohio, and is home to the brand new Ariel-Foundation Park, a 250-acre public green space built on the site of the former Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) manufacturing plant (which closed in the 1970s).

This breathtaking park includes historic ruins of once-booming industrial buildings, with certain portions of the factory purposefully left standing. Crumbling brick walls, free-standing freight elevators, and other remnants are strewn across a large grassy field, with terraced landscaping and magnificent earthworks strategically placed throughout the park.

Intriguing art pieces are also found along the pathways of Ariel-Foundation Park, most of which pay homage to the glass industry. Large electric-blue-colored blown-glass and metal scaffolding create art that is incredible and thought-provoking.

The centerpiece of the park is the Rastin Observation Tower, a smokestack from the old factory that has been transformed into a must-see landmark. With a spiral metal staircase built around the 280-foot smokestack, park visitors can climb over 220 steps to reach the halfway point for a magnificent view of Mount Vernon.

Climbing to the top was a workout and a test of my bravery. You are totally safe and secure, but those who are wary of heights (like myself) might feel a bit uneasy. Scaling the stairs was definitely worth the sweat, as it provided a great photo op, and a unique experience unlike anything else in the area.

There's a lot more to do at the park as well: you can fish and boat (non-motorized boats) in the 3 lakes, take a spin on the biking trail, hike the wooded area on site, and visit the museum to learn more about the history of PPG and the relics that are left on display.

88 Counties In Ohio = 88 Things To Do (By Activity)

The 88 counties in Ohio carve out special parts of the state that are each unique in their own way. The state is incredibly diverse, with the lakeside counties spanning from Lucas to Ashtabula; the "great plains" of Northwest Ohio, including counties like Williams, Henry, and Wood; the hilly Appalachian region with Washington, Athens, and Belmont Counties (to name a few), and of course the heartland including the counties of Franklin, Delaware, Pickaway, and more. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

If it's your goal to visit all 88 counties in Ohio, then this list is for you! Many of these links take you straight to our very own OHventures experiences. But, truth be told, even we haven't made it to each county - yet! So, start your engines and check out this list of one cool thing to do in each of Ohio's 88 counties!


Parks & Outdoor Adventure
Brown - Soak in the Ohio River at Eagle Creek Landings Marina (Georgetown)
Clark - Hike your way through Buck Creek State Park in Springfield
Clinton – Immerse yourself in Pioneer Village at Caesar Creek State Park
Delaware – Take advantage of the state’s largest inland beach at Alum Creek State Park
Fulton - Check out the arboretum & ATV, hiking, & horseback riding trails of Maumee State Forest
Greene - Trek along the Old Woods Trail located at Caesar Creek State Park
Champaign – Explore the deep caves of Ohio Caverns (West Liberty)
Hocking – Hike your heart out at Hocking Hills State Park, including Old Man’s Cave
Lawrence - Spend a day at Lake Vesuvius
Madison – Fish, hike, picnic, and more at Prairie Oaks Metro Park (West Jefferson)
Mahoning – Trek the trails of Mill Creek Park to Lanterman’s Mill (and take a Day Trip to Youngstown)
Morgan – Camp at the Wayne National Forest (the only National Forest in Ohio)
Scioto - Embark on a journey to Scioto County's Shawnee State Park
Seneca - See Ohio's Greatest Underground Adventure, Seneca Caverns
Trumbull – Plunge into the waters of Mosquito Lake (and take a Day Trip to Hubbard)
Union - Scale the steep hiking trails of Clear Creek Metro Park
Vinton – Immerse yourself in Zaleski State Forest (second-largest state forest in the U.S)
Wyandot - Birdwatch at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, where you can see bald eagles!

Active Lifestyle
Clermont – Bike the trail corridor of Little Miami Scenic Trail along the Little Miami River
Harrison - Paddle through Southeast Ohio thanks to Green Acres Canoe & Kayak Rental
Highland - Mountain bike in Paint Creek Lake State Park (Hillsboro)
Logan – Ski the day away at Mad River Mountain (Zanesfield)
Lorain – Take your pups on a jaunt with the Dirty 5K, Walk & Wash (Avon Lake)
Mercer - Tackle the Mad Run - a muddy obstacle run in Fort Recovery
Ottawa – Kayak the waters of Put-In-Bay (and explore the whole island while you’re at it)!
Stark - Run the stairs of the McKinley Monument (and take a Day Trip to Canton)

Extreme Thrills

Darke - Watch the stock cars race by at the world famous Eldora Speedway (New Weston)
Fairfield – Zipline over 100 feet off the ground at Valley Zipline Tours (Lancaster)
Erie – Ride the world’s largest roller coasters at Cedar Point (Sandusky)
Hancock - Go up, up, and away on a Findlay Hot Air Balloon Ride
Guernsey – Embark on an Open Air Safari at The Wilds (Cumberland)
Morrow – Shoot ‘em up at SplatterPark Paintball (Mount Gilead)
Shelby - Do a nighttime zipline at VanDemark Farm (Sidney)
Preble - Go ghost hunting and on other spirited adventures
Putnam - Scuba dive at Gilboa Quarry - the Midwest's Premier Dive Site (Ottawa)
Summit - Zoom down the hill of the All American Soap Box Derby (and take a Day Trip to Akron)
Warren – Zipline at Ozone Zipline Adventures (Lebanon)!

Dining Discoveries
Allen – Pig out at Kewpee Burger – the oldest hamburger fast food chain in the world (Lima)
Holmes – Embrace yourself in Amish culture with Der Dutchmann Restaurants
Lucas – Gorge on hot dogs at the famous Tony Packo’s (and take a Day Trip to Toledo)
Montgomery – Eat at Olive, An Urban Dive (and take a Day Trip to Dayton)
Muskingum – Pig out on pasta at Adornetto’s Selected Italian Foods (Zanesville)
Noble - Dine at the Dockside Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Seneca Lake Marina
Perry - Eat breakfast at Dodson's On Broadway (New Lexington)
Wayne - Engage in discussion while eating & drinking at First Amendment Public House (Wooster)

Beer & Wine
Athens – Taste some local beers at Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery – a locavore’s delight (Athens)
Coshocton – Depart on the Three Rivers Wine Trail, including Yellow Butterfly Winery
Portage - Imbibe at Viking Vineyards & Winery (and take a Day Trip to Kent)

Shops
Ashland – Get cheesy at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn – the name says it all! (Ashland)
Butler – Plan a trip to Jungle Jim's International Market - more than a grocery store (Fairfield)
Fayette - Shop the day away at the Tanger Outlets right off of I-71 (Jeffersonville)

Festivals & Events
Auglaize - Honor Ohio native Neil Armstrong at Wapakoneta's Summer Moon Festival
Belmont - Rock out at the "Superbowl of country music festivals - Jamboree In The Hills
Crawford - Gorge on brats & take the "wurst" bike ride at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in August
Geauga – Give yourself a sugar rush at the Geauga County Maple Festival
Huron - Gawk at the Christmas lights at the annual Light Up Norwalk Festival
Jackson - Go apple picking and celebrate at the Jackson Apple Festival each year
Pickaway - Attend the Circleville Pumpkin Show and see the pumpkin water tower!

Landmarks & History
Adams – Sightsee at the Great Serpent Mound – the longest serpent effigy in the US
Cuyahoga – See all of Cleveland from atop Terminal Tower (and take a Day Trip to Cleveland)
Defiance - See the reconstructed historic town of Auglaize Village, with a military museum
Franklin – Visit the Ohio Statehouse (and see 100 more things to do in Columbus)
Henry - Grab a photo op with the giant can of Campbell's Tomato Soup (Napoleon)
Licking – Say hello to the Longaberger Basket Building – the world’s largest basket
Marion – Visit the epic tomb found at the President Warren G. Harding Memorial
Jefferson - Step back 200 years to the Ohio frontier at Fort Steuben (Steubenville)
Paulding - Visit the Paulding County Carnegie Library, on the US National Registrar of Historic Places
Sandusky - Learn about one of our presidents at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Richland - Tour the Mansfield Reformatory (where they filmed Shawshank Redemption)

Lodging & Getaways
Ashtabula – Stay the night at The Lodge at Geneva-On-The-Lake – gorgeous views
Carroll – Saddle up for some Horseback Riding at Faith Ranch (Jewett)
Columbiana – Spend the night at the haunted Spread Eagle Tavern (Hanoverton)
Knox – Stay the night in the Mohican Tree House Cabins (Loudonville)
Lake - Have a night of luxury at Quail Hollow Resort (Painesville)

Tours & Day Trips
Gallia - Head "down on the farm" to the Bob Evans Farm Homestead Museum (Bidwell)
Hamilton – Meet an elephant at Cincinnati Zoo (and take a Day Trip to Cincinnati)
Hardin - Build Your Own Tour of historic, architectural, and natural attractions in Hardin
Medina - Celebrate Christmas all year 'round at Castle Noel (Medina)
Meigs - "Milk" your time in Meigs County by visiting the famous Snowville Creamery
Miami – Take a Day Trip to the quaint town of Piqua
Monroe - Drive along the Covered Bridge Byway on a self-guided scenic tour
Pike - Travel Pike's Patches Quilt Barn Trail to see all of the quilt barns in the area!
Ross - Take a day trip to the Ross County seat, Chillicothe (Ohio's first capital)
Tuscawaras – Travel back in time by seeing the historic village of Zoar
Van Wert - Hop aboard a plane for a flying tour at the Van Wert Airport
Washington – Hop aboard the Sternwheeler and drink some Marietta beer!
Williams - Check out the Bryan Theatre, local parks, and other fun things in the City of Bryan
Wood - Visit Bowling Green State University and the surrounding area!

Ultimate Beer Run Recap

Photos by OHventures

Peanut butter & jelly. Milk & cookies. Running & beer?!

It may not be a traditional pairing or a match made in heaven, but combining running with beer is definitely a recipe for a good (albeit interesting) time. These are two of my favorite things, so if you throw them together like in the Ultimate Beer Run on May 9 in Columbus, I certainly find it hard to resist.

Team OHventures (Me, Matt, Megan, Matt #2, Jess, Megan #2, & Jim) united in our green & gray OHventures t-shirts, party beads, and oversized neon sunglasses to tackle the challenge of the Ultimate Beer Run head on! The Ultimate Beer Run isn't about who is the fastest or the fittest. It's about good people, good fun, and tons of good costumes! 

Our "costumes" were extremely tame compared to the legions of participants clad in elaborate Avengers get-ups an other hilarious outfits like Wayne & Garth from "Wayne's World" (above) - or my absolute favorite, Indiana Jones being chased by the "boulder" (below)!

The concept was quite a doozy: run a total of 2 miles while stopping to drink a total of 40 ounces of craft beer from local Ohio breweries. Needless to say, this race was not a competitive timed event, but we did have the traditional running bibs to make it seem official. The Ultimate Beer Run Columbus took place at its home base of the Land Grant Brewing Company located in the up-and-coming revival neighborhood of Franklinton in West Columbus. 

Tents were situated outside for each of the breweries: Jackie O's Brewery from Athens, MadTree Brewing Company from Cincinnati, Fat Head's Brewery in North Olmstead, and of course our host, the Land Grant Brewing Company from Columbus! Each runner was given 3 beer tickets and a beer token.

All runners lined up on the street, and at the sound of the horn, we ran around a small loop course (approximately 2/3 mile by my estimations) that brought us right back to where we started. When we got back to Land Grant, we turned in our drink ticket to any one of the 4 brewery tents so we could receive a 10 ounce beer of our choice!

There was no need to chug the beer, so we took our times, enjoyed the brew, then went back around the loop to repeat the whole process. We did this - drinking a beer and running a lap - repeatedly until we were out of tickets! It was a gorgeous 85-degree May day in Columbus, and the race started at 12 noon (when it was the hottest temperature of the day). So, the heat combined with the beer and the running made it very important to also hydrate with water in between runs!

It was definitely a challenge bouncing up and down the roads of C-Bus with frothy brew sloshing around my stomach. But my mind was taken off of any discomfort thanks to all of the great scenery and hilarious costumes that kept me and my teammates cracking up and enjoying ourselves!

After our final lap, it was time to turn in our UBR chip to get our giant mugs of beer! By now, it was only 1PM, so the party was just getting started, with a costume contest, dance-off, and of course a ton of brew. If you want to take part in the Ultimate Beer Run, check out its website to see when it will be stumbling into your town! There are UBRs in Cleveland and Cincinnati, as well as many other cities outside of Ohio (Nashville, Indianapolis, and St. Louis to name a few!).

88 Counties In Ohio = 88 Things To Do! (Regional)

The 88 counties in Ohio carve out special parts of the state that are each unique in their own way. The state is incredibly diverse, with the lakeside counties spanning from Lucas to Ashtabula; the "great plains" of Northwest Ohio, including counties like Williams, Henry, and Wood; the hilly Appalachian region with Washington, Athens, and Belmont Counties (to name a few), and of course the heartland including the counties of Franklin, Delaware, Pickaway, and more. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

If it's your goal to visit all 88 counties in Ohio, then this list is for you! Many of these links take you straight to our very own OHventures experiences. But, truth be told, even we haven't made it to each county - yet! So, start your engines and check out this list of one cool thing to do in each of Ohio's 88 counties!

NORTHEAST
Ashland – Get cheesy at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn – the name says it all! (Ashland)
Ashtabula – Stay the night at The Lodge at Geneva-On-The-Lake – gorgeous views
Carroll – Saddle up for some Horseback Riding at Faith Ranch (Jewett)

Columbiana – Spend the night at the haunted Spread Eagle Tavern (Hanoverton)

Coshocton – Depart on the Three Rivers Wine Trail, including Yellow Butterfly Winery

Cuyahoga – See all of Cleveland from atop Terminal Tower (and take a Day Trip to Cleveland)

Geauga – Give yourself a sugar rush at the Geauga County Maple Festival

Harrison - Paddle through Southeast Ohio thanks to Green Acres Canoe & Kayak Rental

Holmes – Embrace yourself in Amish culture with Der Dutchmann Restaurants

Jefferson - Step back 200 years to the Ohio frontier at Fort Steuben (Steubenville)

Lake - Have a night of luxury at Quail Hollow Resort (Painesville)

Lorain – Take your pups on a jaunt with the Dirty 5K, Walk & Wash (Avon Lake)

Mahoning – Trek the trails of Mill Creek Park to Lanterman’s Mill (and take a Day Trip to Youngstown)
Medina - Celebrate Christmas all year 'round at Castle Noel (Medina)

Portage - Imbibe at Viking Vineyards & Winery (and take a Day Trip to Kent)

Stark  - Run the stairs of the McKinley Monument (and take a Day Trip to Canton)
Summit  - Zoom down the hill of the All American Soap Box Derby (and take a Day Trip to Akron)

Trumbull – Plunge into the waters of Mosquito Lake (and take a Day Trip to Hubbard)

Tuscawaras – Travel back in time by seeing the historic village of Zoar

Richland - Tour the Mansfield Reformatory (where they filmed Shawshank Redemption)

Wayne - Engage in discussion while eating & drinking at First Amendment Public House (Wooster)

NORTHWEST

Allen – Pig out at Kewpee Burger – the oldest hamburger fast food chain in the world (Lima)

Auglaize - Honor Ohio native Neil Armstrong at Wapakoneta's Summer Moon Festival

Crawford - Gorge on brats & take the "wurst" bike ride at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in August
Defiance - See the reconstructed historic town of Auglaize Village, with a military museum 

Erie – Ride the world’s largest roller coasters at Cedar Point (Sandusky)

Fulton - Check out the arboretum & ATV, hiking, & horseback riding trails of Maumee State Forest

Hancock - Go up, up, and away on a Findlay Hot Air Balloon Ride

Hardin - Build Your Own Tour of historic, architectural, and natural attractions in Hardin

Henry - Grab a photo op with the giant can of Campbell's Tomato Soup (Napoleon)

Huron - Gawk at the Christmas lights at the annual Light Up Norwalk Festival 

Lucas – Gorge on hot dogs at the famous Tony Packo’s (and take a Day Trip to Toledo)

Mercer - Tackle the Mad Run - a muddy obstacle run in Fort Recovery

Ottawa – Kayak the waters of Put-In-Bay (and explore the whole island while you’re at it)!

Paulding - Visit the Paulding County Carnegie Library, on the US National Registrar of Historic Places

Putnam - Scuba dive at Gilboa Quarry - the Midwest's Premier Dive Site (Ottawa)

Sandusky - Learn about one of our presidents at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Seneca - See Ohio's Greatest Underground Adventure, Seneca Caverns

Shelby -  Do a nighttime zipline at VanDemark Farm (Sidney)

Van Wert - Hop aboard a plane for a flying tour at the Van Wert Airport

Williams - Check out the Bryan Theatre, local parks, and other fun things in the City of Bryan

Wood - Visit Bowling Green State University and the surrounding area!

Wyandot - Birdwatch at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, where you can see bald eagles!

CENTRAL

Delaware – Take advantage of the state’s largest inland beach at Alum Creek State Park

Fairfield – Zipline over 100 feet off the ground at Valley Zipline Tours (Lancaster)

Franklin – Visit the Ohio Statehouse (and see 100 more things to do in Columbus)
Knox – Stay the night in the Mohican Tree House Cabins (Loudonville)

Licking – Say hello to the Longaberger Basket Building – the world’s largest basket

Logan – Ski the day away at Mad River Mountain (Zanesfield)

Madison – Fish, hike, picnic, and more at Prairie Oaks Metro Park (West Jefferson)

Marion – Visit the epic tomb found at the President Warren G. Harding Memorial

Morrow – Shoot ‘em up at SplatterPark Paintball (Mount Gilead)

Pickaway - Attend the Circleville Pumpkin Show and see the pumpkin water tower!

Union - Scale the steep hiking trails of Clear Creek Metro Park

SOUTHEAST

Athens – Taste some local beers at Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery – a locavore’s delight (Athens)

Gallia - Head "down on the farm" to the Bob Evans Farm Homestead Museum (Bidwell)

Guernsey – Embark on an Open Air Safari at The Wilds (Cumberland)

Hocking – Hike your heart out at Hocking Hills State Park, including Old Man’s Cave
Jackson - Go apple picking and celebrate at the Jackson Apple Festival each year

Lawrence - Spend a day at Lake Vesuvius

Meigs - "Milk" your time in Meigs County by visiting the famous Snowville Creamery
Monroe - Drive along the Covered Bridge Byway on a self-guided scenic tour 
Morgan – Camp at the Wayne National Forest (the only National Forest in Ohio)

Muskingum – Pig out on pasta at Adornetto’s Selected Italian Foods (Zanesville)
Noble - Dine at the Dockside Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Seneca Lake Marina
Perry - Eat breakfast at Dodson's On Broadway (New Lexington)

Scioto - Embark on a journey to Scioto County's Shawnee State Park
Vinton – Immerse yourself in Zaleski State Forest (second-largest state forest in the U.S)

Washington – Hop aboard the Sternwheeler and drink some Marietta beer!

SOUTHWEST

Adams – Sightsee at the Great Serpent Mound – the longest serpent effigy in the US

Belmont - Rock out at the "Superbowl of country music festivals - Jamboree In The Hills

Brown - Soak in the Ohio River at Eagle Creek Landings Marina (Georgetown)

Butler – Plan a trip to Jungle Jim's International Market - more than a grocery store (Fairfield)

Champaign – Explore the deep caves of Ohio Caverns (West Liberty)

Clark - Hike your way through Buck Creek State Park in Springfield

Clermont – Bike the trail corridor of Little Miami Scenic Trail along the Little Miami River

Clinton – Immerse yourself in Pioneer Village at Caesar Creek State Park

Darke - Watch the stock cars race by at the world famous Eldora Speedway (New Weston)
Fayette - Shop the day away at the Tanger Outlets right off of I-71 (Jeffersonville)

Greene - Trek along the Old Woods Trail located at Caesar Creek State Park

Hamilton –  Meet an elephant at Cincinnati Zoo (and take a Day Trip to Cincinnati)

Highland - Mountain bike in Paint Creek Lake State Park (Hillsboro)

Miami – Take a Day Trip to the quaint town of Piqua

Montgomery – Eat at Olive, An Urban Dive (and take a Day Trip to Dayton)

Pike - Travel Pike's Patches Quilt Barn Trail to see all of the quilt barns in the area!

Preble - Go ghost hunting and on other spirited adventures

Ross - Take a day trip to the Ross County seat, Chillicothe (Ohio's first capital)
Warren – Zipline at Ozone Zipline Adventures (Lebanon)!