Ohio

A cream puff big enough to need two hands has been coming out of one Ohio kitchen for more than 50 years. It’s stuffed with velvety vanilla cream and dusted…

Finding an old brick tunnel in the middle of an Ohio forest isn’t exactly what I expect during a peaceful afternoon hike. But once I spot something that clearly doesn’t…

Buying treats for the whole family sounds like a great idea until everyone starts picking something different and the total climbs higher than expected. I’ve had enough of those bakery…

Somewhere in Ohio, someone is probably arguing that their grandmother made the best pierogi in the world. I wouldn’t dare get involved in that debate, but November seems like a…

I have a bad habit when traveling through Ohio. I’ll spot a beautiful little town, convince myself to stop for just one photo, and somehow spend the next two hours…

I’ve learned that some of the most interesting shopping trips in Columbus begin with a storefront I’d normally walk right past. One glance through the window can change my plans,…

An Italian deli with its own piazza and fountain, where wedding parties stop for photos. That alone got my attention. Then I learned there’s a sandwich called the Reuben brick….

Getting everyone to agree on dinner can be surprisingly difficult. Someone wants pepperoni, someone insists on plain cheese, and I’m usually the one wondering how a simple pizza night became…

A brick hydroelectric plant that once powered a whole city now spends every fall trying to scare the daylights out of people. It started making electricity around 1910. These days…

I wouldn’t argue with a trip to Canton’s famous Pro Football Hall of Fame. I would, however, question the decision to leave town without finding out what the local food…

Thousands of live bats share this haunted attraction with the actors. That detail alone made me stop scrolling. Real bats, real rock, and a path that drops about 80 feet…

Ohio’s November weather doesn’t exactly encourage sightseeing, especially when the sky looks like it hasn’t seen sunshine in weeks. I used to take that as a good excuse to stay…

Several separate buildings full of furniture, rugs, china, and odd little treasures sit off a gravel drive, just waiting for someone to poke around. Different buildings and areas hold furniture,…

Some pizza places become part of a family’s weekly routine without anyone officially deciding it. One Friday turns into a tradition, and before long, everyone knows exactly which pie to…

Bananas Foster French Toast sits right there on the breakfast menu. That’s a bold opening move for any bakery in Ohio, and this one has plenty more tricks waiting behind…

Nearly doubling your population in just five years is quite an achievement for a small Ohio village. I had to look twice at that figure, and it wasn’t the only…

A glowing leg lamp stands in the front window, and you’re allowed to walk right up to it. Inside, you can crawl under the kitchen sink just like a famous…

A long hike through Ohio’s autumn woods can make almost any meal sound appealing. But I’d rather finish the day somewhere that gives me another reason to enjoy the scenery….

Every bunny adopted here goes home already spayed or neutered, litter-box trained, and wellness-checked. Adopters also receive guidance on preparing a safe living space before bringing their new rabbit home….

Finding an affordable house is one thing. Finding one that won’t surprise you with a hefty property tax bill every year is a different challenge, and I’ve learned that the…

To reach the tacos at this spot, you walk through the aisles of a working Mexican grocery store. That alone made me want to know more. A meal that starts…

Ranking barbecue restaurants in Columbus sounded like a delicious assignment until I realized how many places had a serious argument for first place. After several smoky lunches and more than…

Nearly 1,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns glow across one hillside for just two nights each fall. Then they’re gone until next year. The whole thing started with about 30 pumpkins carved for…

I never thought an Ohio road trip would have me questioning whether I really needed that European vacation. Then I started exploring the state’s historic churches, and suddenly, my travel…

Ever walk past a little neighborhood diner in Cincinnati and wonder if you’re missing out on something good? I’ve learned that some of the most satisfying breakfasts in the city…

More than 200 hand-carved nutcrackers, each about six feet tall, line the streets of one small downtown every holiday season. That alone made me sit up and pay attention. Each…

Cold November afternoons in Ohio don’t exactly encourage me to spend hours wandering outside. But after a few weekends at home, even the most comfortable couch starts losing its appeal….

Every customer gets a free piece of candy the moment they arrive. That’s the house rule at a chocolate shop that sells its sweets inside a 1926 train depot. The…

You know those chilly November days in Ohio when you just want a really good, filling dinner? I usually start thinking about meatloaf and mashed potatoes, preferably with enough gravy…

November in Ohio doesn’t always cooperate with my plans, especially when a promising afternoon turns gray before I’ve even left the house. I’ve learned that a good bookstore can make…

Twenty kinds of homemade pie. That’s the number waiting at the end of the meal, and one of them is a peanut butter pie the restaurant itself calls legendary. Before…

I have a small problem with Ohio weekend trips: I call them quick getaways, then find reasons to stay longer. A waterfall can derail my schedule before lunch, and an…

By November, Ohio’s gray skies and chilly afternoons can make even a grocery run feel painfully predictable. After another trip home with the usual ingredients, I started wondering what else…

Thirty thousand pounds of chocolate. That’s how much one factory can turn out in a single shift. And you can watch it happen from a glass walkway above the floor….

November in Ohio rarely gives you much time to prepare. One day I’m admiring the last colorful leaves, and the next I’m scraping frost off the windshield and wondering why…

A cuckoo clock nearly 24 feet tall pops out a band and a dancing couple every half hour in this town. That alone got my attention fast. The clock once…

Ohio isn’t exactly the first place that comes to mind when someone mentions fresh oysters. I used to associate a good oyster dinner with coastal restaurants, but this state has…

A hermit and his two dogs once picked a giant sandstone cave as their forever home. That alone made me curious. Who walks away from everything to live inside a…

Retirement sounds a lot more relaxing when you aren’t spending half your time worrying about housing costs. I’ve looked at enough real estate listings to know that finding an affordable…

Two draft horses still pull a boat along a real stretch of 1830s canal here. That alone made me sit up and take notes. The same village stirs fresh apple…

I can walk into a Cleveland antique shop looking for a small picture frame and leave seriously considering whether a vintage cabinet would fit in my car. Apparently, sticking to…

I have a bad habit of walking into Ohio bakeries for one doughnut and leaving with enough pastries to explain myself to everyone at home. The surprising part is that…

Seafood cravings always seem to show up when I’m trying to spend less on eating out. I used to assume that finding a good fish dinner in Ohio meant paying…

A cliff hangs 300 feet above a river valley here, and the view from the top spreads across a full 270 degrees. Getting there takes a 4.4-mile round trip through…

Looking at home prices can make retirement planning feel a lot less relaxing than it should. I’ve seen enough expensive listings to wonder whether finding a comfortable place to settle…

Your deli sandwich comes served on an upside-down Frisbee, and you get to keep it. That alone tells you this family business has a sense of humor. I like a…

Every October, I load up my car with a thermos of hot cider, a stack of reusable tote bags, and a very loose plan. The plan is simple. I chase…

Hiking trails sit just a few feet from the guest rooms at this lodge. That means waterfalls, caves, and towering cliffs are basically your backyard for the weekend. The building…

I have a confession to make about pumpkin season. I love picking the perfect orange pumpkin, but I mostly show up for the doughnuts. Every October, I map out my…

I always thought ordering a large pizza was pretty straightforward. Then I discovered that some Ohio pizzerias make pies so enormous that getting them home might be the biggest challenge….