Winter in Ohio is notoriously frigid and sometimes more than a bit gloomy. But, there is good news — There are plenty of winter activities to chase away the winter doldrums. No matter which part of the state that you explore, you can find some amazing winter day trips in Ohio to enjoy when the snow starts to fall. Loveland Castle Museum | photo via @aidencub13 Loveland Castle Museum | Loveland Did you know that there is a real castle in Ohio? If you’re looking for an exciting getaway, Loveland Castle Museum is one of the most fascinating sites in the state. Located in Symmes Township, the cast ..read more

If you’re looking for new things to discover, check out these scenic drives Ohio has to explore! Ohio is full of beautiful places — forested regions, rolling hills, ample farmland, lakes, rivers, caves, waterfalls, islands, and prairies — and even borders one of the Great Lakes: Lake Erie. The state is home to 75 state parks, a national park, and many nature preserves. Plus, it’s rich in history and culture. You can step back in time throughout the state via historic house museums, 1800s architecture, Victorian mansions, Gothic Revival churches, protected cemeteries, fine art and history museu ..read more

Looking for the best Ohio day trips from Toledo? We’ve got you covered! Toledo, Ohio is known for many things. First off, there’s its location. Situated in the northwestern corner of the state and at the western end of Lake Erie, it’s the last Ohio city before entering Michigan. Then there’s the matter of accessibility. Check out any map, and you will see that Toledo is ringed by major and minor highways and byways. Not only do three interstate highways, I-80, I-90, and I-75 intersect just outside the city, but two other interstates, I-475 and I-280 run right through the city. As if this were ..read more

If you’re in Cleveland and are looking for a quick getaway, this list will provide you with some of the best Ohio day trips from Cleveland — all less than a 4-hour-drive away, organized from closest to farthest.  Cleveland There are plenty of things to do in Cleveland Ohio with its great mix of both city and rural life. There’s always somewhere exciting to explore in town while being surrounded by the beauty and serenity of Lake Erie.  But… Cleveland just so happens to neighbor so many other fantastic Ohio cities with must-see destinations, like the Holden Arboretum, The Wilds, and e ..read more

Cincinnati Ohio offers countless places to explore, and it’s hard to imagine ever getting bored there! But, it’s also a fantastic jumping-off point to many other attractions. And, day trips from Cincinnati Ohio aren’t limited to exploring the Buckeye State. Within a 4-hour drive from Cincinnati, OH you can access so many great things to do in Ohio, plus Cincinnati’s location in the southwest corner of the state makes it easy to access some of the best things to do in Kentucky and Indiana, too.  Read on to learn about the best places to visit on a day trip from Cincinnati… Cincinnati ..read more

Experiencing the most fall has to offer in Ashtabula County can be found at Brant’s Apple Orchard on Dibble Road in Ashtabula Ohio. My most recent visit was during Brant’s Annual Donut Extravaganza kickoff on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Delighting in Donut Day As my friend and I pulled into Brant’s Apple Orchard, the place was already buzzing with activity. Walking down the drive to the main market entrance, the apple trees were sporting their full fall colors, and the beautiful weather was creating such a relaxing atmosphere. Entering the main building, the aroma of freshly picked apples ..read more

At long last, we’ve been interviewed in a podcast style!  The Phonic Scribe interviewed Jared and I about our travels through the years. We discussed everything from how to budget/save for a trip, what we’ve learned from traveling, how to book trips, and how traveling has changed us.  It was a lot of fun to discuss things we’re so passionate about in a conversation-style.  Very different than my typical blog post. I hope you give it a listen ..read more

Traveling during the holiday season can be stressful.  More crowds, more delays, and just overall more potential for frustration.  I have traveled many times during holiday weekends and here are a few of my tips. For all these tips, my biggest tip is be mentally prepared.  There is nothing worse than thinking “it will be fine,”  only to discover it is not fine, and you are in fact NOT prepared to deal with everyone driving to grandma’s at the same time.  Take a deep breath, have some realistic expectations, and don’t be ready to fly off the handle the second there’s a ..read more

Taking a road trip is a great way to cover a lot of ground, save money on airfare and give you flexibility to explore whenever and whatever you want.  Of course, there are also drawbacks; such as unhealthy on-the-road food choices, restless leg syndrome and sitting for way too long.  Since I recently just spent more than 30 hours in a van driving around California, here are some fresh tips for having a great road trip. 1. Listen to audio books.  This was one of the best things we could have done.  It made the time on the road go faster, kept my brain engaged and even contri ..read more

Toledo surprised me.  I wasn’t expecting to see so many cool buildings.  We weren’t there long, but it was impressionable enough for me to write up a day-trip recommendation for the city.  We stopped here overnight on the way to Michigan for a long weekend of fun, sun and Lake Michigan.  We stopped here because it was on the way, and I haven’t visited here as an adult.  The city is about 2.5 hours from Columbus, making this a great day-trip or overnight trip. After driving around downtown, my impression of the city was that it was once a hustling, bustling place, and e ..read more