Do
Columbus Washboard Company Still turning out washboards by hand, the Logan factory holds tours weaving history with fun tales of washboard use. columbuswashboard.com
Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve Waterfalls cascade over the sheer cliffs of this forested sandstone gorge near Hocking Hills State Park. Trails wind down the narrow valley floor as well as along the blufftop. ohiodnr.gov
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours Ziplines and sky bridges in Rockbridge create a route through the tree canopy for views of a river and limestone caves. hockinghillscanopytours.com
Hocking Hills State Park More than 30 miles of hiking trails and two mountain biking trails crisscross the 2,356 acres of hemlock-shaded gorges, sandstone caves and waterfalls, such as the weather-dependent one at 90-foot-tall Ash Cave. New at the park: a weekend shuttle among popular park destinations, the John Glenn Astronomy Park and a two-story visitors center that’s more than twice the size of the former center. parks.ohiodnr.gov
Hocking Hills State Park
Rockmill Brewery Sip Belgian-style beers—including an amber, fruity and smooth Dubbel—in a tasting room with a wood-and-stone bar at a family farm in Lancaster. rockmillbrewery.com
Shawnee Storytelling Hikes You won’t find a spa more relaxing than this walk through the woods with a Native American storyteller. During 60- to 90-minute tours with Hocking Hills Adventure Trek, a guide relates Shawnee folklore, such as how the wind created music, and then plays the drum. hockinghillsadventuretrek.com
Shawnee storytelling hike. Photo courtesy of Hocking Hills Adventure Trek.
Eat
M and M Family Diner Solid and standard describe the all-day breakfast fare but not the eclectic decor at this homey hangout in Logan. google.com/site/mmfamilydiner/
Millstone BBQ Starters of mini cornbread muffins with whipped honey butter transition to lunches of smoked meats at this roadhouse-style joint in Logan. We love the saucy bacon-wrapped burnt ends. millstonebbq.com
Rhapsody Seasonal, high-end comfort food made and served by students in the Hocking College culinary arts program makes the 30-minute drive to Nelsonville worth it. Live music accompanies meals most Fridays and Saturdays. rhapsody.hocking.edu
Stay
Buffalo Lodging Company Well-appointed vacation homes in Rockbridge handle large groups (many sleep 12 or more). Some include heated pools and grills. buffalolodgingcompany.com
Glenlaurel, A Scottish Inn and Cottages Scottish bagpipes might announce candlelightmeals in the manor set on 140 acres. Elegant rooms and secluded trails roundout a stay in the adults-only spot near Rockbridge. glenlaurel.com
Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls
Guest rooms and cottages nail the cozy retreat-in-the-woods aesthetic, down to the in-room fireplaces and forest views. Three new high-end yurts come with a dome for stargazing. The on-site restaurant, Kindred Spirits, dishes upscale American fare, and nearby trails lead into Hocking Hills State Park. innatcedarfalls.com
Kindred Spirits restaurant at Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls
For information: Hocking Hills Tourism explorehockinghills.com