Eastern Ohio is packed from top to bottom with with relaxing weekend getaway spots. From Lake Erie in the north to the Appalachian hills in the state's southeast corner, the land carries the imprint of glaciers that moved through here thousands of years ago. The receding ice sculpted deep lakes, low rolling hills of dark fertile soil and quick dropping waterfalls that now make a perfect backdrop for year- round relaxation.
Northeast Ohio's Punderson State Park, situated around one of the state's few natural lakes, is a year-round playground. The park offers fishing, swimming, hiking, camping and golf in the summer and sledding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and ice fishing in the winter. Punderson is a glacial lake born of the melted Wisconsin Glacier. It sprawls over 100 acres and drops to more than 60 feet at its deepest points. It's been a popular weekend getaway for Clevelanders since the 1920s. A 1930s English Tudor mansion in the park has more than 30 guest rooms, outdoor and indoor swimming pools and a restaurant. Cabins and campsites are also available.
Punderson State Park
11755 Kinsman Rd.
Newburry, OH 44065
(440) 564-2279
pundersonmanorstateparklodge.com
Life moves at a buggy's pace in central Ohio's Amish Country. Classic red barns dot the low rolling hills, horse-drawn buggies frequent the back roads and horse-drawn plows still till the fields every spring. The area claims the world's largest Amish and Mennonite populations, with more than 40,000 people spread over five counties. Towns such as Berlin and Millersburg give visitors a taste of Amish life. Cheese, pies, hand-crafted furniture and quilts fill Berlin's 60 plus shops. Several companies, such as Amish Culture Tours, offer a peek at daily Amish life, complete with buggy rides and in-home meals.
Ohio Amish Country Visitor Center
87 W Jackson St.
Millersburg, OH 44654
(330) 674-2497
ohioamishcountry.com
Inn & Spa at Honey Run
6920 Count Rd. 203
Millersburg, OH 44654-9018
(800)708-0011
Forested cliffs and deep gorges, sandstone caves, waterfalls, and rock outcroppings aren't the first images Ohio conjures, but the Southeast corner of the state is loaded with rugged beauty. The Hocking Hills region is home to nine state parks and forests with trails that pass through hardwood forests and include spectacular scenery such as Ash Cave. Named for large piles of ashes found by early settlers, the horseshoe-shaped cave is 700 feet wide, 100 feet deep, and 90 feet tall. Local outfitters offer canoeing, horseback riding and even canopy tours where visitors travel the treetops through a network of zip lines. Campgrounds, cabins, hotels, and Bed-and-Breakfasts are plentiful throughout the region.
Hocking Hills State Park
19852 SR 664 S
Logan, OH 43138
(740) 385-6842
hockinghills.com
