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Updates to Kids Love Ohio - 4th Edition NE – Youngstown. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE VALLEY. (corner of East Boardman St. and Walnut St. across from the main Post Office in downtown). 330-744-5914 or www.valleykids.org. Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-4:30pm, Sunday 1:00-4:30pm. Admission: $5.00 adult, $4.00 senior, $3.00 child (age 3-18). The Children's Museum of the Valley provides regional educational opportunities for hands-on interaction. Activities and exhibits explore the culture, art, drama, construction, science, and natural history connected to the Mahoning Valley. Be a mad scientist and perform real science experiments yourself. Visit the Science Laboratory to assist and view science demonstrations. The Phenomenal Puzzle Place is where you test your puzzle prowess as your try to solve the wide variety of puzzles. Come and learn more about your world, region, and state with giant maps. Test your navigation and mapping skills about your community. Visit Culture Central and live the culture of one of the more than one hundred countries from which people came to our Valley. Or, be a television or stage star and play with art and writing displays. NC – Mansfield. RICHLAND ACADEMY (pg. 94) Discovery Center exhibit space is closing. Arts and performances still open. JOHNNY APPLESEED HERITAGE CENTER (pg. 97) summer performances are on hold for 2006. Their future offerings will be posted on their website, as they commit. NE – Cleveland, THE LEARNING CENTER AND MONEY MUSEUM. 1455 East 6th Street, on the corner of Superior Avenue and East 6th Street in downtown Cleveland. www.clevelandfed.org/LearningCenter/Index.cfm. Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00am-2:00pm, closed holidays. FREE admission. Does money grow on trees? Was paper money always used? The Museum and Learning Center includes exhibits of ancient currency such as tiny cowrie shells from Indian Ocean Islands and giant stones from the Pacific Island of Yap. Want to see what your face looks like on a dollar? Older kids may even learn a little about economics and money management. CE – Canton Area Day Trip Suggestion. Football and chocolates all day – what fun! Start at the PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME (pg. 39). Be sure to have the kids ask for their Investigative Reporter Scavenger Hunt. Kids pretend they are sports reporters looking for “the scoop” story about pro football history. This place is just full of shoes and jerseys galore from famous players old and new. What did the first helmet look like? Who’s your favorite team? What are their stats? Just a few exits north, arrange to be part of a tour of the HARRY LONDON CHOCOLATE FACTORY (pg. 40). New website: www.harrylondon.com. Oh, it smells so good here! Did you know cocao beans were once used as money and medicine? Learn this and more as you view a video and then walk near warm tanks full of chocolate (80,000 lbs. Of chocolate inside each tank). Upstairs, along the mezzanine, watch as fillings are enrobed in chocolate – all over. Workers here can’t wear jewelry or perfume but they get free samples all work day!
Updates to Kids Love Ohio - Bicentennial Edition Updates: GENERAL – Most Ohio Historical sites are now only open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Admission for museums is $7.00 adult, $3.00 student (all ages) for most of these same sites.
S – BUCKEYE FURNACE MUSEUM – pg. 169. Museum closed except for group
tours. Park open daylight hours. C – PERKINS OBSERVATORY (pg. 20). Changes: www.perkins-observatory.org. You must order tickets ($6.00 adult, $4.00 senior/child – new) IN ADVANCE by phone or mail order form. No longer send a self-addressed stamped envelope. They never promise clear telescope observation but do promise to fill each night (or special group or mid-summer daytime solar tour) with activity and exploration. No refunds or rain checks. There’s also Mind & Space games in the Kids Zone room. NW – Findlay – Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Live Steam Train Rides. (419) 423-2995 or www.nworrp.org. Located at the northeast corner of I-75 Exit #161 and County Rd. 99, at the north end of Findlay. When you exit I-75, turn east on County Rd. 99, then turn north (left) into the first driveway, just past a tan metal building (our future museum). Tickets: $1.00 per person. Experience the thrill of a coal-burning steam train ride on our nearly 1/2 mile of 15" gauge track layout. 2005 SCHEDULE - April 3: 10:00am-4:00pm, during our Flag City Train Show (see Special Programs) April 3 - May 29: 1:00-4:00pm Saturdays & 1:00-4:00pm Sundays June, July, August: 5:00-8:00pm Saturdays & 1:00-4:00pm Sundays Sept. 3 - Nov. 20: 1:00-4:00pm Saturdays & 1:00-4:00pm Sundays Nov. 25 - Dec. 30: 6:00-9:00pm Fridays, 5:00-9:00pm Saturdays, & 5:00-8:00pm Sundays (closed Dec. 24th) See also Special Programs for additional hours and special events held throughout the year, such as Tracks To The Past in September, the Pumpkin Train in October, Halloween in October, & Christmas' North Pole Express in December. Tours of our B&O caboose are the first Sunday of each month, April-September. CE – Steubenville Area Day Trip UPDATES - Creegan Company Animation Factory - p. 54 - open on Saturdays only during the Christmas season Steubenville City of Murals - p. 55 - The Steubenville CVB moved to the new Visitors Center located at Fort Steuben Park. New address is: 120 South Third Street, Steubenville, Ohio 43952 - They are able to make arrangements for a step-on tour guide for group tours (such as motorcoach tours), but they do not have regularly scheduled guided tours of the murals for individuals. You can use the free murals map for a self-guided tour (found at the CVB). Fort Steuben Festival - p. 213 - phone number direct to fort offices: 740-283-1787 - now takes place during the third weekend in June (Sat. and Sun.) NC – STONE LABORATORY. Field Station, Box 119, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456. (614) 247-6500 or (419) 285-2341 or www.stonelab.ohio-state.edu. Workshops: $20.00-$40.00 per student (4th grade and up). Meals and lodging extra. Field Station Tours: $10.00 per person. All workshops and tours are prearranged and require transport to the Island from Put-in-Bay or privately. Stone Lab’s science workshop program offers a variety of activities ranging from water sampling on a research vessel in the lake, to identifying microscopic aquatic organisms you’ve collected or dissecting fish in a lab. You can specialize island activities by adding an invertebrate walk, bird walk, edible plant walk, exotic species slide show, or seining. Groups may arrange a one-hour historical/scientific tour of the Gibraltar Island facilities. Cooke Castle, Perry’s Lookout, glacial grooves, and brief classroom activities will provide participants with a well-rounded program overview. (open mid-April thru October). Wednesdays in the summer, they co-host Put-in-Bay Eco-History (a.k.a.Passport) tours open to everyone. Visitors could visit 4 or 5 locations for one fee. (See examples of 2004 below, groups were limited to 48 people each Wednesday). The cost may change for summer 2005. Four-Site Passport Package (includes only South Bass Island Lighthouse, O.D.N.R. Aquatic Visitors Center, Lake Erie Islands Historical Society, and Perry's Victory & International Peace Monument) $10 Adults $5 Children (ages 12 and under) Five-Site Passport Package (includes admission to the all of the sites above, including Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island) $25 Adults $10 Children (ages 12 and under) price includes cost of water taxi to and from Gibraltar Island. NC – GREAT WOLF LODGE (pg. 103), Sandusky. Great Bear Lodge is now GREAT WOLF LODGE. Your favorite treehouse, Fort Mackenzie, is now home to two NEW body slides. Play as you may in the 4-story interactive fun center featuring 12 levels of water based antics or get “dunked” by the giant bucket. Hop on one of the new Otter Run Body Slides and cascade down 300 linear feet of twists and turns to the bottom of Fort Mackenzie. One of the Otter slides is dark purple and completely enclosed the whole way down. Smaller guests will delight in the redesigned Soak'n Oak Springs, a water playfort, just for toddlers, complete with slides and water spouting bear cubs. Teens and Tweeners can take on the challenge of climbing an Aqua Rock Wall (additional fee required). The wall, Ohio's first hydrophobia rock wall, is 25 feet tall and features unique waterfall effects. As we’ve recommended many times before, don’t overdo it in the waterpark. Take breaks. Two areas for the 10 and under crowd are the nightly Storytime by the lobby fireplace (come in your pajamas) or the craft room, Cubs Cabin. Each month they change the seasonal theme of the crafts offered and most are free. Look at samples of project choices, then open your baggie of parts or box of markers and create! The staff and quality of craft received high ratings from our crew! Bargain Shoppers! Check out the Kroger or Tops discounts online at www.greatwolflodge.com for $75.00 plus off room rates. NC – CASTAWAY BAY. Sandusky. (419) 627-2106 or www.cedarpoint.com. The newly opened waterpark is the state’s largest and occupies residence at the entrance to Cedar Point Causeway. In the elaborate enclosed natural setting of palm trees, huts, inland lagoons and plenty of water lies numerous water attractions. Highlights include a tall water roller coaster that propels riders uphill, then downhill; a dozen water slides; a large wave pool w/ 3 foot waves; an action pool with water basketball and floating logs; concessions and the center attraction: a gigantic multi-story interactive play are including a 1,000 gallon tipping bucket that downpours every few minutes. The waterpark is only open to overnight guests at the resort featuring rooms starting at $200 per night. Each overnight stay includes park admission for three to six, depending on the size of room. All rooms feature extras such as microwave and mini-frig. The resort has two mid-priced restaurants, an indoor pool, whirlpool, exercise room, arcade and adjacent marina within the property. NE – PUNDERSON MANOR STATE PARK RESORT (pg. 137). www.atapark.com. Become a royal guest in an English Tudor-style mansion. The charming rooms (not stuffy), modernized indoor and outdoor pools and cozy cabins combine enchantment with relaxation (Rooms run ~$100+ and Cabins run ~$120.00+). They have board games and videos to check out at the front desk. There are sport courts (including horseshoes and volleyball) and a playground or two. The restaurant is upscale English/American for dinner, but lunch offers a more casual, moderately-priced fare (ever tried Welsh Rarebit?). Weekly summer activities for kids include: playing tag, Storytime, sand art, chalk art, nature walks, and a variety show. Combine that with 15 miles of natural hiking trails (some are nature walks with signs) that wind past deer, squirrel, beaver, giant maples, and scented pine trees. When winter comes, you can snowmobile, cross-country ski, ice fish or race downhill on a giant grooved sled hill. And when it’s time for sleep, you can hideaway in your room, the tower library or lounge by a fire. Lots of seasonal getaway packages are available. NE - WEST WOODS PARK (440) 286-9516 or www.geaugparkdistrict.org. Geauga County Park is nearby. Right now, they have an excellent Ice Age exhibit that is interactive. You even get to help build a Lego glacier and meet life-size, moving mastadon and mountain lions. Take home a souvenir glacier rock. After this exhibit leaves, other exhibits will highlight the geology, hydrology, and diverse ecology of the county’s lands. More than 5 miles of trails traverse through woodlands, across streams and past outcroppings of Sharon conglomerate sandstone. Other trails lead past “black swamp” pools, past Sunset Overlook, or to Ansel’s Cave. CW – MARMON VALLEY FARM (pg. 82). A place we already frequent and praise is always trying to cater to both guys and girls. This year, George and Daniel spent an overnight with a group of friends (all guys) and had a hoot! Activities like archery, a challenge course, indoor arena sports, and the new indoor barn rock climbing wall filled the guy’s day. An evening hayride followed by silly barn line dancing and s’mores by the fire pit are a great way to end the day. Overnighters ride the wagon each morning over to the cowboy chuckwagon camp for yummy, open-air cooked, big breakfasts followed by a nature hike with Wrangler Matt. Look to attend their seasonal events if you can’t arrange a group visit. (See Seasonal & Special Events) C- OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY GROUP TOURS (pg. 5). WEBSITE NO LONGER CURRENT. They no longer offer a Scavenger Hunt. It is now a self-guided walking tour for kids. The Student Visitors Center (Room 132 Enarson Hall) provides the packet to chaperones and then you walk students around campus on your own, guided by the tour brochure. The self-guided tour for kids includes information about ten specific locations on campus, is interactive and suggests activities that the kids can do as they move through campus. It asks questions at each stop geared towards kids in order to get them more acquainted with the university. A completed tour should take about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Also: Athletic Facility Tours are for groups of students ages 12+. SW – NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER, Cincinnati waterfront. (513) 412-6900 or www.freedomcenter.org. Admission: $12.00 adult, $10.00 senior (60+), $8.00 child (6-12). Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm. The Center brings to life the importance - and relevance - of struggles for freedom around the world and throughout history, including today. Made up of three buildings that symbolize the cornerstones of freedom - courage, cooperation, and perseverance. In the 1800's the city served as a major hub of activity on the Underground Railroad and its banks offered refuge to thousands seeking hope and a new way of life. A dynamic presentation, the 'Suite for Freedom' will take visitors on an emotional journey from freedom to un-freedom. Next, move on to the Slave Pen - Recovered from a farm in Mason County, Kentucky, less than 50 miles from the site, the slave pen was used to "warehouse" slaves being moved further south for sale. ESCAPE! This exhibit provides families and students with an age-appropriate summary of the history of the Underground Railroad. Concentrating on the period 1830-1865, this exhibit describes how things worked and who was involved, summarizing the facts and dispelling the myths. This child-friendly gallery uses storytelling, role-playing and hands-on interaction. From Slavery to Freedom takes the visitor on an emotional journey from the slaves' arrival in the New World through the Colonial period of the Civil War. The Concluding Experience area is designed to help each visitor put into personal perspective all that he or she has just experienced. What does freedom mean today? To you? To all of us? Visitors can participate in individual polling based on "what would you do" scenarios. CE – Seasonal & Special Events. TrainFestival. Dennison Railroad Museum. www.trainfestival2004.com or (740) 922-6776. Visitors can ride on a mini live-steam train, take a trip in the little red caboose behind a freight train or relax on a sleek air-conditioned car. Hour long or day-long excursions for additional fee. Behind the scenes tours of locomotive repair shop, model trains, toy trains, music, games, and food also. Admission. (last weekend in July) NE – Children’s Museum of Cleveland (pg. 119). General admission (age 1yr +) is $5.00. New website is: www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org. CE – HARTZLER FAMILY DAIRY, 5454 Cleveland Road, Wooster, OH 44691. Phone: (330) 345-8190 or www.hartzlerfamilydairy.com. A true “family affair” with oodles of generations of kids working all about. Get the “scoops” from Mom Hartzler at the Ice Cream Shoppe. Tour the processing plant that is adjacent to the ice cream shoppe. Learn The History of Hartzler Farms, Their Family, and Their Dairy Business. Guided by a Hartzler Family Member. All tours are by appointment only. Please call Janis at (330) 345-8190 to schedule a date for your group. Mostly weekdays, some Saturdays. Group/Bus Tours (30 or more) $2.50 per person. Small Tours (15-29 people) $3.00 per person. [Both include single dip ice cream cone] C – American Whistle Company (pg. 14) – the new fee is $4.00 per person (15 person minimum) and $5.00 per person for whistle and lanyard included. A great, unique tour! C – EASTON TOWN CENTER, Columbus. (614) 337-2200. A leisure center of indoor/outdoor complex housing stores, restaurants, the AMC 30 movie theater, and a hotel. Outdoor shops border a brick-lines square and courtyards filled with street performers and pop-up water play fountains (seasonal). Favorites include a huge Barnes & Noble bookstore, a giant play area McDonalds, Gameworks and a Teddy Bear Workshop. The Hilton/Columbus-Easton (3900 Chagrin Drive, 614-414-5000) is right across the street from Barnes & Noble for convenient, walking access to the Center. The hotel has plenty of spacious rooms plus a large indoor pool (a little on the cool side) with great lounge chairs and hot tub surrounding the perimeter. A gameroom is near the pool. Suggested Day Trip: NC – Mansfield. Maybe overnight at Spruce Hill Inn & Cottages. 3230 O’Possum Run Road (I-71 exit 169, Rte. 13 turn up the hill beside Cracker Barrel). (419) 756-2200 or www.sprucehillinn.com. Right next to Snow Trails Ski Resort are sets of cottages (rent for $125 peak) and a lodge or house (for groups or extended families) to rent overnight while in the area. Nestled on the hill overlooking the ski trails, you’ll have easy access to the slopes. The cottages include a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom, a queen bed and some have a tower room w/ futon bed or an outside deck. Walking around the sloped property and pond is an activity. They serve a light continental breakfast at the carriage house/office each morning. If you go during non-skiing season to romp around Mansfield (see listings on pg. 89-94), there is easy-access from I-71 (just 15-20 minutes from the attractions either towards downtown, or nearby Mohican Country - canoeing, hiking and other outdoor sports). In Mansfield, we’d highly suggest visiting with the folks at Jones Potato Chip Factory (pg. 91 – yummy warm chips at the end of 15 minute tour) or Carousel Magic! Factory (pg. 89 – see them start with a hollow box and create a magical colorful animal). Call first to arrange a small, quick factory tour, please. Now, take a fast ride on the Richland Carousel and then grab a bite to eat at the Coney Island Diner on Main Street. Plan to spend an hour or two after lunch at the Living Bible Museum/ BibleWalk (pg. 91 – the only wax museum in Ohio and full of several choices of themed-walkways to explore - very emotional, too). The next day you can be inspired at Malabar Farm (pg. 94) or choose from a bird sanctuary, garden walk, or small museum…depending on the weather. If you really want an upscale, enchanted getaway in the Mohican Area (Loudonville)…. Landoll’s Mohican Castle complex (pg. 88) is the place! Although the listing is small in our 2003 book (we squeezed it in after the book was being published), we certainly don’t want to take away from its magic. The royal suites are great for small families, but the newly remodeled royal cottages are the best for large families extended family and friends. The patio, two-floor, two-bedroom cottages connect in the middle and each unit sleeps 6+. We loved visiting with friends in the connecting great rooms and were up til late playing Yahtzee and Life and watching DVD’s (one player in most every room, by the way). Both floors have a large deck to sit and watch the leaves change or the flowers bloom. In colder weather (mid-November thru March), the Landoll’s have nearly one million lights outside the castle and all the “kingdom structures”. Basically, every season has its own natural enchantment set around the intriguing castle. Along with the indoor pool/fitness/gameroom complex, there is also a wonderful restaurant/gift shop serving lunch and dinner. You must try the blueberry piefin (made with fresh organic blueberries grown on the property) for dessert and our table especially loved the pork loin, walleye and the pecan chicken (lunch $8-$10, dinner $15-$25, kids menu $4.95) entrees. Overnight stays begin around $200 up to around $400 per night. www.landollsmohicancastle.com NC – Ottawa County, Lake Erie Islands Area DAY TRIP IDEAS:
C - Wyandot Popcorn Museum – pg. 24 – The last sentence should read: “It includes a Cretors 1927 Model T Concession Truck and Paul Newman’s 1911 Dunbar Concession Wagon, which he used to promote “Newman’s Own” popcorn in New York City. NW – Fort Meigs (pg. 151). This newly re-opened and remodeled museum with authentically restored fort is a child’s dream. The museum has many unique artifacts, easily displayed with a large gift shop attached. But, the fort’s blockhouses and earthen mounds and cannon holes are major “role-playing” spaces! Each blockhouse exhibits a “theme” and the re-enactors add flare to the scene. March like a soldier or try the Wheel of Disease. Presidents Day at The James A. Garfield National Historic Site Join us for our annual Presidents' Day program and take part in a new game, Presidential Squares. Join Presidents Lincoln and Garfield, along with several other presidents and their first ladies, in an interactive game of trivia tic-tac-toe for all ages. Crafts and activities are from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. in the Visitor Center. Participate in the Presidential Squares game at 1:30 p.m. Visitors will also have a chance to Meet the Presidents at 1p.m. and 3 p.m. Our special presidential guests will offer first person accounts of their lives, and answer questions from the audience. There is a small fee for each craft, and discounted tickets for tours of the Garfield Home will be sold in honor of our special event! Please call 440-255-8722 for information. (James A. Garfield National Historic Site ) www.wrhs.org/lawnfield/home.htm SW - LOVELAND CASTLE (page 199). It's come to our attention that it can be rather confusing to find this favorite spot of ours in Ohio! Click on the map below provided by the castle to assist you.
Seasonal & Special Events: NC - SNOWLAND – Sandusky. Great Wolf Lodge. www.greatwolflodge.com. The lodge is decorated in a winter scene. It snows 3x daily, hot cocoa and live music, clock tower sing along, Rowdy the Reindeer Storytime. Attend the North Pole University for Elves. Admission (includes lodging and indoor waterpark passes). (month-long in December) NE – SLED DOG CLASSIC, Newbury, Punderson Resort State Park. (440) 564-2279. Dog sled racing in Ohio? Yes! See sled dog racers mush their teams through challenging race courses. Fee for racers. Spectators are admitted FREE. (one weekend in January, depending on weather) MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVALS SW – Hueston Woods State Resort Park main beach parking area. (513-523-6347). Explore the process of maple sugaring through history. A pancake breakfast is available. Tour the sugar bush in the afternoon. (first two weekends in March) SC – Hocking Hills at the naturalist cabin behind Old Man’s Cave visitor center. (740-385-6841) Discover the many methods used to make the tasty treat from local maple sap. Pancake breakfast offered at the lodge in the morning. (second weekend in March) CE – FOX CREEK OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE, Canal Fulton, Clays Park. (330) 854-9083 or www.foxcreekoutdoors.com. The first outdoors show that is really held in the great outdoors. Beside a lake, nestled under the trees, and under the big blue sky. Bring the whole family and spend the day or all three days playing: archery, fishing, kids motorcycle training, climbing wall, canoeing, Frisbee golf, butterfly tent, low ropes course, crafts, bicycle test rides, air gun range, boomerang throwing, fly-fishing, and bird identification. Demos include: water ski shows, retriever dogs, extreme bikes, hovercrafts, chainsaw carving, watercross-snowmobiles, sled dogs, Clydesdales horses, kite flying, R/C vehicles and motorcycle stunts. Admission per day (avg. $5.00-$10.00 per person). (second full weekend in October)
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