Visit Mansfield, Ohio — The Haunted Capital of Ohio

Mansfield, Ohio offers one-of-a-kind experiences including Hollywood, Haunted, and High Speed! Mansfield showcases America at its Best! Whether you’re planning a visit with family and friends or planning a family reunion or corporate retreat, Mansfield offers memorable spots to create the perfect backdrop to your plans.

Travel the path of Hollywood on the Shawshank Trail, a self-guided driving tour of the 12 area filming sites of the blockbuster movie The Shawshank Redemption. Walk the halls of the Ohio State Reformatory (a.k.a. Shawshank State Prison) or visit the movie’s opening scene at Malabar Farm.

Travel the trail at your own pace and see overnight hotel packages to create a 2-day getaway at www.ShawshankTrail.com or 800-642-8282.

Mansfield also shines as the Haunted Capital of Ohio and you can see why at www.HauntedMansfield.com. Whether it’s a story of legend the employees tell or a documented paranormal investigation, you’ll find the right fit for your level of haunted interest at spots around town. Check out the current list of haunted sites including the Ohio State Reformatory and The Haunted Bissman Building, plus upcoming events and overnight packages and download the Haunted Guide. Also, see Haunted Mansfield, Ohio on Facebook.

Nothing beats the heart pounding action of sitting trackside watching live motorsports. This area offers world-class racing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, racing IndyCar to Supercycles and hosting the largest motorcycle swap meet in North America. Check out www.ExperienceMotorsports.com for schedules, hotel availability, and RACE DEALS to stretch your dollars.

Known for nationally recognized attractions like the Ohio State Reformatory, filming site of The Shawshank Redemption and other special spots, Mansfield has something for everyone. Visit Malabar Farm State Park, home of Pulitzer-Prize winning author Louis Bromfield and wedding site of Bogey & Bacall. Stroll the gardens and mansion at Kingwood Center or experience BibleWalk with life-sized biblical dioramas and 4 museums. Kids love the Richland Carrousel Park or Little Buckeye Children’s Museum and the arts are alive in Mansfield with the Mansfield Art Center, Renaissance Theatre, and Mansfield Playhouse.

Love the outdoors? Come visit during Mohican Wildlife Weekend in April, sign your kids up for an extreme sports camp during the summer at Ohio Dreams, and winter shines with 2 ski resorts, Snow Trails Resort and Clear Fork Resort, for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing!

And don’t forget some of the best-loved pastimes: shopping and dining. Eat in a train car at Buckeye Express Diner, let a car hop serve you at Slick’z Drive-in or taste the richness of local ingredients at a  restaurant that used to be a stage coach stop at Malabar Farm Restaurant. Need something to take home? Try a homemade Bundt cake at Eatmor Bundt, a special wine at Cypress Hill Winery or the Happy Grape, or the most unique shopping experience at Glen’s Surplus.

And did we mention pulling it all together with a package or overnight stay? Whether you prefer a bed and breakfast, chain hotel, or hillside cottages, they’re all here. Visit www.MansfieldTourism.com or call 800-642-8282 and order your free Visitor Guide.

Family reunions can be a lot of fun. You get to see family members you may not have seen for a couple of years. Perhaps, there are ‘new’ family members you haven’t met. The good news is there are plenty of family reunion locations throughout the U.S. The possibilities are endless!

It’s important to make arrangements early and find a place that works for everyone. This is a good way to prevent family feuds! If you wait too long to plan your family reunion, your favorite hotel or resort could be booked solid. Also, family members may not be able to attend due to previous travel plans.

How to Plan a Family Reunion, Cut Costs, and Have a Good Time

Book Your Family Reunion Locations Early! Photo credit: Stock exchange-Sign-Helen Bobis

Book early

Beach family reunion locations are popular. The most popular beach vacation destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you have your heart set on having your family reunion in SC then you better book your location early. Otherwise, the entire family will be left out in the cold.

Tie your family reunion to an important date

If grandma and grandpa are celebrating 65 years of marriage, celebrate their special day at the family reunion. Building your family reunion around a holiday could be tricky. Big holiday’s like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are during the travel ‘high season.’ You may not be able to find accommodations or someone may not be able to attend.

Hold your family reunion in the off-season

It may be cost effective to hold your family reunion in the off-season. Family reunion locations such as Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and other popular destinations can be expensive during the ‘high season’ which is usually during the summer. Some family members may not be able to afford to attend. Take this into consideration when planning your family reunion. Holding in the off-season could work for everyone.

Meet at a family member’s home

Holding your family reunion at a family member’s home is another way to cut costs. Perhaps, a family member with five or more acres of land will be willing to host the family reunion. Everyone can bring something, a hot meal, desert, or soft drinks. Of course, cash would probably be accepted too!

Decide on the size of your family reunion

Your family reunion doesn’t have to be large. A small and intimate family reunion could be more inviting. First-time family reunion planners may want to plan a smaller affair. You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to plan reunion.

Raise money for your family reunion 

Send out an email blast and ask family members to have garage sales, silent auctions, raffles, car washes, rummage sales, etc. to raise money for your family reunion.

Plan cost-effective family activities

Ask family members what they like to do. Ask family members what their kids like to do. You can’t please everyone. But you can plan activities ahead of time to keep people entertained. Ideas are:

• Renting a karaoke machine.
• Set up a sound system outside (if you’re holding at your home).
• Booking golf outing.
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Going to the park.
• Renting a ‘bouncy castle’ or other inflatable rentals.

Now you know how to plan a family reunion, cut costs, and have a good time! Keep the lines of communication open. Correspond via email or Facebook. Keep in mind that everyone may not have a computer or Facebook page. Contact family members when you have the date, time, and location settled. Keep family up-to-date with the latest information. Happy planning!

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Mohican State Park Loudonville: The Camp & Canoe Capital of Ohio

Mohican State Park Loudonville is The Best in Ohio

For generations families have spent summers in Loudonville.  Since the first canoe livery opened in 1961, Loudonville has grown in visitor activities to become the “Camp & Canoe Capital of Ohio.” Don’t miss our newest attractions Tree Frog Canopy Tours zip line, Natural Fit Outdoor Adventures, tree climbing, and Triple M Riding Rescue Ranch, horseback riding!

Other outdoor gems include Mohican State Park’s 6,000 acres of rugged woodland offering 45 miles of hiking trails, nine miles of bridle trails and a highly rated 24.5 miles mountain bike trail. Don’t miss Clear Fork Gorge and Pleasant Hill Dam.  Nearby Malabar Farm State Park, tour their 32-room Big House, farm, and Visitors Center.

Browse the unique shops in Loudonville’s Victorian downtown and dine at area restaurants. Lodging includes cabins, hotels, cottages, bed-n-breakfast, houses, deluxe resort, even a castle plus more than 4,400 campsites. We have fairs and festival galore.

Mohican-Loudonville Visitors Bureau
877-2MOHICAN
www.DiscoverMohican.com

Streetsboro – Northeast Ohio’s Best Vacation Value

Streetsboro, Ohio - The Ideal Location for Your Next Vacation

Streetsboro offers something for everyone year round! We are the ideal location to launch a memorable vacation, reunion, get away or business trip. Streetsboro provides exceptional accommodations suitable for any preference or budget including nine hotels and two campgrounds.

Streetsboro is within driving distance to many of the area’s best attractions including Wildwater Kingdom, Boulder Creek Golf Club, Aurora Farms Premium Outlets, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad & National Park, Kent State University Museum, Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, fishing, water sports, outdoor leisure activities, zoos, sporting activities, wineries and more. From festivals to fairs to concerts, we put you near all the action.

Streetsboro is located in the heart of it all and offers a very affordable vacation.

Streetsboro Visitors & Convention Bureau
8929 State Route 14, Suite A
Streetsboro, OH 44241
330-422-1770 or 888-558-5580
www.StreetsboroVCB.com

Ohio’s Amish Country

In Ohio’s  Amish Country, it’s easy to find honest-to-goodness home cooking. Also abundant are cheese factories open for tours, gourmet chocolates, world-renowned quilts, working artist galleries, antiques and handcrafted furniture. It’s the authenticity of these goods that convinces visitors to return time after time.

You will also want to see the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, visit authentic Amish farms and take a sleigh ride. Throughout the region is wonderful rolling scenery with plenty of barns, one-room schoolhouses and buggies on the way to their next destination.

Ohio’s Amish Country is an ideal spot for an overnight getaway or long weekend away from life’s hustle and bustle. Affordable accommodations and restaurants make the region a reasonable destination for everyone. Call 877-643-7874 for free, customized information packets for couples, families and groups. Or see us on the web at www.visitamishcountry.com.

Experience Marion, Ohio’s Uniqueness!

Visit www.VisitMarionOhio.com for additional details or links associated with the attractions listed.

Marion is touted as the home of Warren G. Harding, the 29^th President of the United States. A visit to Marion would not be complete unless you included the Harding Home in your itinerary. The Harding Home was built for Warren G. Harding and Florence Kling Harding during their engagement, and they married there on July 8, 1891. The Hardings lived in the home until 1921. It was from this residence Harding conducted his famous front porch campaign. Harding was the enthusiastic editor of the Marion Daily Star and Weekly Star, an Ohio Senator, and Ohio’s lieutenant governor.

Next on the list would be The Marion County Historical Society housed in Heritage Hall, a restored U.S. Post Office. It presents permanent and temporary exhibitions focusing on historic collections from Marion County’s early settlements. The museum also archives two galleries of Warren G. Harding Presidential Collections. The Wyandot Popcorn Museum finds its home under a colorful circus tent inside Heritage Hall. It is the largest, most impressive collection of popcorn wagons in the United States. Many wagons date back as far as the turn of the century. Actor Paul Newman’s antique popcorn wagon, which sat in New York City’s Central Park, is a prized part of the collection.

The historic Palace Theatre located in downtown Marion was built in 1928 by renowned theatre architect John Eberson. One of 200 theatres built, it is now one of only 18 remaining. As a showpiece for the Marion community, each year, the Palace presents a wide variety of live performances that appeal to all age groups.

The Edward Huber’s Museum houses the finest steam and gasoline tractors, threshers and road-building equipment. Edward Huber created many of these during the Industrial Revolution. You will be amazed at the scope of the collections.

A vineyard in the heart of Ohio that produces about 10 varieties of fine wines is somewhat unique. Shamrock Vineyard is a family business that bottles nearly 2,500 gallons of wine each year. Enjoy a tasting session as a visitor during the day or make it a special date at a summer Twilight Dinner.

One of the most unique memorials to those who have fallen can be seen at the Marion Veterans Memorial Park. There is a monument established to each of the conflicts in which the U.S. has been involved. That includes the Global War on Terrorism. Just down the street is the majestic World War II memorial.

Family-fun establishments abound. Try putt putt golf, family arcade, roller skating, bowling and more, or choose the new Marion Tallgrass Trail on Holland Road and get out your bikes and ride.

And to complete your stay, you will want to take in the many quaint shops in downtown Marion that feature coffee, gifts, candy, yarn, stained glass, artisan’s wares and more. Hometown food and hospitality can fulfill your hunger when including one of the downtown restaurants after shopping.

Why not take a short drive to Ohio’s beautiful Hocking Hills? Think of it… impressive cliffs, caves, waterfalls, and more than 2,300 acres to explore and enjoy. Whether it¹s hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback riding, rock climbing or fishing, we can provide the perfect base for your escape. Getaway Cabins offers quaint and cozy cabins featuring hot tub and fireplace that accommodate 2-8 guests. Cabins feature satellite TV and wildlife feeding stations. Pets are accepted, and wireless internet access is available, in designated cabins. For unwinding, there is excellent fine dining, shopping and antiquing. And at the end of the day, you can even add a gourmet meal prepared in your cabin or enjoy a relaxing massage. 

Getaway Cabins is the perfect place to get away from it all! Now offering “WeddingMoons,” the perfect blend of an intimate exchange of vows and a romantic honeymoon…all rolled into one. 

740-385-3734     www.Getaway-Cabins.com