Anytime is the perfect time for a little weekend getaway. And you don’t have to go far to satisfy your thirst for adventure. From a haunted reformatory to a field of human-sized corn stalks, a castle made of river rocks and a county full of scarecrows, the Buckeye State is full interesting destinations to explore. For those seeking the fun, the freaky, the natural or the quirky, here’s a few spots to include on your next roadtrip.

Feel like Royalty at the Historic Loveland Castle & Museum 12025 Shore Drive, Loveland World War I army medic and Boy Scout troop leader Harry Delos Andrews built Chateau Laroche over the course of 50 years with handmade bricks (formed with quart-sized paper milk cartons) and stones from the nearby Little Miami River. Modeled after European castles, it features towers, a dry moat, hand-tiled ceilings, murder holes and a collection of period weaponry. The castle grounds are available for picnics, overnights and parties and are rumored to be haunted by a variety of ghosts. The castle is open daily, seasonally, for self-guided tours. Tickets cost $5 for adults; children 5 and under are free. Photo by Brittany Thornton
See the Ancient Mounds at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe Though the Visitors Center of the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park is currently closed, the grounds are still open to tourists. The 2,000-year-old mounds featured at the park were built by Native Americans as sacred sites. Today, visitors can walk the grounds, appreciate its massive, ancient man-made structures, and learn what may have been used for. Photo via Hopewell Ohio NPS/Facebook
Take a Women in History Road Trip across Ohio Multiple Ohio Stops The 19th Amendment, which granted women’s suffrage (aka gave women the right to vote), was officially ratified on Aug. 18, 1920. And to celebrate its centennial, Ohio. Find It Here. has created a Women in History Road Trip with eight stops throughout Ohio. The eight stops take avid history and suffrage fans from Sauder Village’s 1920’s Main Street Experience in Archbold to the International Women’s Air and Space Museum in Cleveland and even makes a stop in Cincinnati at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. There’s no time like the present — right before a pivotal election — to remember how your ancestors fought for your right to vote. Photo by Greg Hume
Take a Tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House 1340 E. High St., Springfield This historic stop was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1906, and was later renovated into apartments in the 1940s. In 2005, the home was restored back to its original Prairie-style design and currently features a lily pond, lush gardens, and beautiful interior design. Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Sunday. Photo via Westcott House/Facebook
Go shopping at Waynesville’s “Antiques Capital of the Midwest” Waynesville, Ohio The quaint, rural town of Waynesville is home to over 60 shops and restaurants. But with two antique malls and over a dozen antique shops, it’s no surprise that they are considered the “Antiques Capital of the Midwest.” Photo via Waynesville Shops
Explore Warren County via Train on the LM&M Railroad 16 E. South St., Lebanon Perhaps the greatest way to soak in the stunning colors of fall is by train ride, and the LM&M Railroad, based out of Lebanon, is ready to share the sights of Southwest Ohio. The railroad operates over 5-15 miles, traveling through Lebanon, Turtle Creek Township and Union Township (and occasionally Mason or Monroe). LM&M Railroad hosts several special rides throughout the year, including the currently sold-out Pumpkin Express and the winter North Pole Express. Photo via Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad/Facebook
Visit Ulysses S. Grant’s boyhood home in Georgetown 219 E. Grant Ave., Georgetown 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, spent his youth in Georgetown, Ohio. And you can take a tour of his actual home where he grew up from the ages of 1 year old until he left to attend West Point. The home, a National Historic Landmark, has been restored back to its original 1839 appearance. Visitors can hear Grant speak about his rural Ohio upbringing and how it molded him into the general and president we remember. Photo via Ohiohistory.org
See the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock in Sugarcreek, Ohio’s “Little Switzerland” Sugarcreek, Ohio Quaint Sugarcreek, Ohio — known as the gateway to Amish Country — is historically home to a large population of German and Swiss immigrants, thus making this town a hub for Swiss cheese and Alpine-style architecture. Nicknamed “Little Switzerland,” it hosts an annual Ohio Swiss Festival, with Swiss food, dancing, music and games, and is home to the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock. Built in 1972, this clock, located in the main square, goes off every hour and features a slew of Swiss characters who come out and do a little dance. Photo via Sugar Creek Little Switzerland/Facebook
Stargaze at the John Glenn Astronomy Park in Hocking Hills 20298 OH-664, Logan Star-gazing programs have been suspended at the John Glenn Astronomy Park for now due to the pandemic. But the observatory still welcomes socially-distanced, individual star-gazing. A visit to the astronomy park is a perfect addition to a camping excursion at nearby Hocking Hills. Purchase a parking pass online. Photo via John Glenn Astronomy Park/Facebook
Go Fossil Hunting at the Trammel Fossil Park 10900 Reading Road, Sharonville Named after the Trammel Family, this undisturbed hillside draws newcomers and paleontology enthusiasts alike for Ordovician-age fossil hunting. The park offers a pavilion with a kiosk to help learn about and identify fossils, as well as a nearby geocaching site. Because the slope is exposed, be sure to bring sun protection for an undisturbed, all-day rock-hunting experience. Photo via Trammel Fossil Park/Facebook
Explore Fairfield County’s Trail of Scarecrows Various locations throughout Fairfield County, Ohio See some scarily creative scarecrows in Fairfield County this fall. During the month of October, more than a dozen communities in Fairfield County erect homemade scarecrows to get in the spirit of the season — they’re dubbed “the scarecrow capital.” Take a self-guided tour, snag some selfies and vote on your favorite one in each community. Photo via Belle Communication
Get a Taste of Fall at Hidden Valley Orchards 5474 North State Route 48, Lebanon This 60-year-old fruit farm (formerly Hidden Valley Fruit Farm) got a makeover as Hidden Valley Orchards, with a coffee bar, bakery and cider bar. Fill up on all things apple — cider, dumplings, cobbler, fritters, donuts and custard. They also have an actual bar — The Crate Room — with housemade hard cider, craft beer and farm fresh food. Photo via Hidden Valley Orchard/Facebook
Step back in time at Heritage Village Museum in Sharonville 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville Located in Sharonville, this living history museum provides an interactive way to experience the 19th century. Museum interpreters are present throughout to offer information and stories about life in Ohio in the 1800s. During special events, visitors can participate in weaving, candle dipping, soap making and more. Throughout the month of October, the museum is hosting six evenings of their family-friendly Haunted Village event, where guests can meet witches, ghosts, a mortician and more as they venture through the grounds. Admission for the Haunted Village costs $8. Photo via
See the giant “Field of Corn” in Dublin 4995 Rings Road, Dublin This quirky art installation greets viewers with 109 human-sized ears of corn, each weighing 1,500 pounds, built of white concrete, and arranged in rows to mimic an actual field of corn. Originally commissioned by the Dublin Arts Council, the project was designed by Malcolm Cochran, a sculpture professor at the Ohio State University. Whatever your reaction upon seeing the installment, this Ohio landmark is certainly worth a visit. Photo via Dublin, Ohio/Facebook
Pay a visit to the Early Television Museum 5396 Franklin St., Hilliard Take a journey through broadcast history with a visit to the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio. With TV sets dating between the 1920s and 1950s, this throwback to the era of live teleplays and variety shows will be a fond memory to older visitors and eye-opening to younger ones. The museum is open on the weekends or by appointment during the week. Photo via Early Television Museum/Facebook
Visit the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and take a walk through Yellow Springs 2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs A getaway to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is sure to stun visitors, no matter the season. Dolomite and limestone cliffs tower over 2 miles of the Little Miami River and trails traverse the vast, 268-acre forest. After a picture-perfect hike, take a stroll through the nearby town of Yellow Springs to visit a cafe, peruse a quirky bookstore or purchase products crafted by local artisans. Photo via GreenCounty.org
Explore Ancient Earthworks at Serpent Mound 3850 State Route 73, Peebles History buffs will love a visit to Serpent Mound, the largest ancient earthworks site in the world. At over 1,300 feet long and dating between 1,000-2,000 years old, this mound was built by people of the Adena culture and has been carefully studied, yet still baffles some scientists. With a shelter area for picnicking, several additional archeological sites, and beautiful wooded grounds, a trip to Serpent Mound promises a full-day getaway. Photo via ArcOfAppalachia.org
Explore the Simpler Side of Life in the Amish town of Millersburg Millersburg, Ohio Just over 1.5 hours from Cleveland, the quaint town of Millersburg offers a glimpse into traditional Amish culture. Take a trip down its historic downtown strip built along the Amish County Byway and find the Victorian House Museum, shops with handmade furniture and quilts, as well as artisan cheese-makers, bakeries and refreshments at Millersburg Brewing. Stables, farms, and the nearby Black Diamond Golf Course are just a short drive from the town center. Photo via Historic Downtown Millersburg
Take a Breezy Cruise on the Ohio River with BB Riverboats 101 Riverboat Row, Newport Cincinnati was once a hub for steamboat-powered trade and travel, a legacy that lives on in the BB Riverboat fleet. A dinner or sightseeing cruise on one of their ships will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Mark Twain novel. Photo via BB Riverboats/Facebook
Take a self-guided tour of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield 100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield Originally constructed in 1886, this sprawling 250,000-square-foot prison was once the set of the 1994 classic film The Shawshank Redemption, along with several other big-budget movie productions. Explore the grounds and interior through a self-guided audio tour to learn about Mansfield’s troubled past, book a paranormal activity tour or experience the prison while guided by a former inmate. Photo via Ohio State Reformatory/Facebook
See Giant Outdoor Works of Art at the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum in Hamilton 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton Once the grounds of Harry T. Wilks’ Pyramid House, the sculpture park was opened to the public in 2007 as both an outdoor and indoor art experience. Visitors are welcome to walk among 300 acres of greenery and admire more than 80 sculptures and art installments. The interior of the home serves as a museum, mimicking the style of an ancient Roman residence, and exhibits contemporary works by artists both local and international. Pyramid Hill is open daily; adult admission costs $8. Photo Provided by Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
Get lost in the Book Loft of German Village 1631 South Third St., Columbus Wind and weave your way through 32 rooms full of books at this German Village bookstore. The shop opened its doors in 1977 and expanded eight times before becoming the eclectic literature maze it is today. Photo via BookLoft.com
Visit the National Museum of the United States Airforce 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton Pay a visit to the National Museum of the United States Airforce at the Wright-Paterson Air Force Base in Dayton and explore military aviation history. The museum features over 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles, plus historical and interactive exhibits that show the impact of Dayton’s Wright brothers on today’s aircrafts. Admission is free and guests can visit daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Photo via Air Force MuseumFacebook
Travel through Ohio’s self-guided Black History Driving Tour Multiple Oxford, Ohio stops The Enjoy Oxford visitors bureau has launched a new self-guided Black History Tour. The map, with accompanying historical info, aims “to keep alive the memories of the brave Oxford citizens who fought for their right to occupy public spaces and who flourished in their passions despite systemic racism.” You can download a PDF of the tour online or pick up a physical copy at 14 W. Park Place, Suite C. It includes 16 stops — a mix of public buildings, private residences and businesses — with stories and information. Photo via Enjoy Oxford
Go Underground at the Ohio Caverns in West Liberty 2210 East State Route 245, West Liberty The Ohio Caverns, the largest in the state, are a privately owned, two-mile stretch of stalactites, stalagmites, unusual rock formations and fossils. Rain and cold temperatures can’t reach the cave, so the weather won’t spoil your visit. Guided tours are offered every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the fall season. Photo via Ohio Caverns/Facebook

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