Just east of Columbus, Ohio, lies the city of Newark in Licking County. The area has a rich history dating back 2,000 years when a large population of mound builders inhabited the area. The first European settlers arrived in 1802, and the area prospered in the 1830s and 1840s when construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal began south of the city. With a mix of parks, historical sites and museums, visitors can find a variety of activities that can fill an entire day in Newark.
Family fun is available just west of Newark at the Coco Key Water Resort, located at the Cherry Valley Lodge along State Route 16. The 50,000 square-foot water park includes three raft and body waterslides, water cannons and a large bucket that pours water every few minutes.
Newark is home to a variety of museums. The Works features traveling exhibits through an affiliation with the Smithsonian, hands-on learning opportunities and the Burning Tree Mastodon, a complete skeleton of an American mastodon. The Sherwood-Davidson House features historical items from Licking County. You can find a family collection of antiques and art at the Webb House Museum.
For the history lover in you, go south on State Route 79 for less than 10 minutes to the Newark Earthworks, the largest set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world. According to the Ohio Historical Society, the site was built by the prehistoric Hopewell people between 100 BC and 500 AD. There are three remaining major segments of the site: The Great Circle Earthworks, the Octagon Earthworks, and the Wright Earthworks. Together, they are recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
The Dawes Arboretum, a premier public garden, is a few minutes south of Newark along State Route 13. Founded in 1929, the park includes eight miles of walking trail and a four-mile auto tour. Nature lovers can find 15,000 species of plants in the 1,700 acres that make up the arboretum.
If you have a sweet tooth, take a short drive up State Route 13 to the Ye Olde Mill, the location of the Velvet Ice Cream factory. You can take a tour and can see ice cream being made, taste your favorite flavor in a 19th century style ice cream parlor, or visit Ohio's Ice Cream Museum. Nearby Utica is the location of the annual Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Festival.
Fans of handcrafted baskets should take a drive to the east side of Newark to see the home office of the Longaberger Company, which is located in a replica of the company's Medium Market Basket, only 160 times bigger. Then take State Route 16 east to Frazeysburg and visit the Longaberger Homestead, a park that includes the original Longaberger home and shops that sell Longaberger products. Check the company's hours before you go, as the park is closed during the winter months. (See the link in the Resources section for details.)
