This Underrated Midwest Destination Has Beautiful Walking Trails and a Surprisingly Large Wine Scene

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When it comes to stateside pure attractiveness, Ohio does not specifically dominate the conversation — but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Buckeye State has absolutely nothing to give. Just a person hour southeast of Columbus, the Hocking Hills in Ohio are property to large swathes of black hand sandstone that have blessed this area with a wealth of geological options, from towering waterfalls to gaping canyons.

Stunning vistas abound throughout the Hocking Hills, but there is a single specific place that is entrance-loaded with gorgeous purely natural surroundings — the aptly named Hocking Hills State Park, a beloved fixture of southern Ohio considering the fact that 1924. There are more than 10,000 acres of pristine wilderness to explore about in this article, but for any newcomers to the area, there are two will have to-stop by trails to continue to keep in intellect. In the northern reaches of the park, the Outdated Man’s Cave offers beautiful waterfall sights surrounded by lush cliffs, while Rock House provides an option to verify out the only legitimate cave in the Hocking Hills.

Matthew Lovette/Courtesy of the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls

There is certainly no shortage of cozy cottages scattered throughout the Hocking Hills, possibly, but for people wishing to actually immerse themselves in the untouched Ohio wilderness, it’s hard to conquer the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls. Perched ideal on the eastern perimeter of Hocking Hills State Park, this idyllic getaway offers uncomplicated accessibility to the maintain. As well as, there are rejuvenating on-web page spa treatments and snug yurts, producing Cedar Falls just one of the region’s top spots for kicking back again, calming, and basking in the natural beauty of rural Ohio.

Courtesy of Hocking Hills Cover Tours

A leisurely stroll as a result of Hocking Hills State Park is undoubtedly truly worth the work, however there are other functions obtainable. If you happen to be hoping to soak in amazing vistas of the bordering woodlands from a bird’s-eye check out, there is no much better desired destination than Hocking Hills Cover Tours. There are 7 distinctive tours to choose from here, with each a person offering ample opportunities to location indigenous Ohio fauna, like the white-tailed deer and bald eagles, as you pace throughout the canopy.

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Courtesy of Substantial Rock Adventures

When soaring together the tree line will get the coronary heart racing, those people hoping to gain some insight into the region’s indigenous flora and fauna must book a tour with Higher Rock Adventures. The Natural Large Tour supplies facts on the geology and wildlife discovered across the Hocking Hills, while the Edible and Medicinal Plant Tour focuses on the indigenous Appalachian plant lifestyle identified in the area, highlighting their part in the contemporary-day health care industry.

Courtesy of Hocking Hills Sauna Pods

A couple of times invested traversing the hills of rural Ohio might depart you experience fatigued, but the region is thankfully residence to a incredibly produced wellness market with rejuvenating solutions. The Hocking Hills Sauna Pods, for instance, give a significantly-needed respite from the blistering cold, and even occur equipped with Bluetooth connectivity so you can realize peak rest with meditation audio — or belt out your favored tunes — in total look at of the Hocking Hills landscape. Right after a prolonged sauna session, these wanting a very little excess treatment method can head to the Himalayan lamp-loaded Serenity Salt Cave for a halotherapy session in an extremely-stress-free surroundings.

Kevin Kopanski/Courtesy of Serenity Salt Cave

Not substantially of a spa individual? No will need to be concerned — the region is rife with all sorts of fascinating actions to take pleasure in concerning hikes. For the artistically inclined customer, Jack Pine Studio is the best place to attempt your hand at glassblowing, with paperweight and glass pumpkin-earning workshops open up to the public. For a deep dive into some of the region’s quirkier attractions, the city of Logan is a treasure trove of off-the-wall establishments like the Pencil Sharpener Museum and Columbus Washboard Enterprise — an 1890s-era manufacturing facility that is property to a person of the biggest washboards in the country.

Courtesy of Glenlaurel

And when it arrives to dining, you should not enable the destination’s lower inhabitants density idiot you — its food stuff scene is nearly anything but undeveloped. From freshly made donuts at The Ridge Inn to crisp apple cider at Laurelville Fruit Farm to additional than 1,600 apple types at Hocking Hills Orchard, the region is a paradise for homegrown Ohio cuisine served in a cozy placing.

But a person of the area’s most outstanding venues is equipped with a markedly European flair. Situated on a sprawling 160-acre estate, the palatial Glenlaurel is household to extensive mountaineering trails, plush suites, and an opulent 7-study course tasting meal that would not experience out of position in the remote reaches of Cairngorms Nationwide Park.

Courtesy of Le Petit Chevalier Vineyards

In addition to a formulated eating scene and lots of natural splendor, the Hocking Hills area is also residence to a astonishingly big wine scene, providing the possibility to kick back again with a refreshing riesling following a extended working day of mountaineering. If you are in the temper to bask in some charming pastoral landscapes when sipping your vino, Le Petit Chevalier Vineyards is an vital stop. In addition to rolling pastures and a full host of lovable farm animals, this location is packed with top rated-high-quality wines ranging from the semi-dry 2021 Catawba to fragrant strawberry wine.

Courtesy of Hocking Hills Vineyard

If you happen to be seeking to retain the wine practice rolling soon after your 1st tasting, the moscato, Hocking River Red, and honeysuckle wine at Hocking Hills Winery are worth sampling, and blessed site visitors may possibly be capable to capture a glimpse of the property’s cute cats strolling close to the outdoor patio. If you might be wanting for a minor assortment on your ingesting agenda, downtown Logan presents beautifully crafted grain spirits in raspberry, blackberry, and peach tea kind at Hocking Hills Moonshine.

Even though not as closely touristed as some of the nation’s other common rural places, the Hocking Hills area is certainly 1 of the most idyllic in Ohio. Regardless of whether you happen to be hoping to examine sprawling sandstone formations, test your hand at glassblowing, or merely sample some strawberry wine paired with a best sunset, this location will leave you with a glowing impression of southern Ohio and all the pure beauty that it has to present.