Adventure awaits in the wild, wonderful outdoors of Guernsey County, home of Ohio’s largest state park and third-largest inland lake. There’s “Room to Roam” here. Enjoy a movie at sunset on a lakeside beach, hit the links on a top-rated golf course, kayak with the family next to a herd of grazing deer or even embark on a safari with rhinos and zebras. Take a day trip to escape the hustle and bustle of Ohio’s cities or plan a weekend full of outdoor fun for the entire family.
Covering about 17,000 acres of forests, valleys, meadows and waterways, Salt Fork State Park is Ohio’s largest state park and a playground for lovers of all things outdoors. Salt Fork Lake is the sparkling centerpiece of the park. Rent a boat or bring your own for a day of fishing, waterskiing and tubing (the park allows unlimited horsepower) or play a round on the 18-hole, par-17 golf course. There’s also a public beach for swimming, a nature center to explore and horseback paths to follow.
Hike along the trails and through the Civil War Era Hosak’s Cave. Stop in Stone House Museum to get a sense of life here in the 1800s. Take the kids gem mining at the park for a fun souvenir. The newest attraction is made with kids in mind — the Storybook Trail leads youngsters down a path with story stops along the way.
Stay overnight beside the lake in one of the cozy cabins or book a room in the Salt Fork Lodge & Conference Center that has scenic overlooks of the park.
Even more fun on the water awaits at Seneca Lake, Ohio’s third largest inland lake. Soak up the sun at the swimming beach, rent a boat or a bike, and learn about the land and local wildlife at the nature center. Bring your camper (or camping gear if you prefer to rough it) or stay the night in a cabin. Don’t forget your hiking shoes — the park features nine miles of trails. Get bragging rights by taking a walk along Ohio’s 1,400-mile-long Buckeye Trail that passes through the park on its route around Ohio.
Get up close to the plants and animals that you’ll find in the area’s parks at Deerassic Park Education Welcome Center. Opened in 2022, the facility offers interactive exhibits and activities designed to teach youngsters about the great outdoors and foster a love of nature. Kids can engage their senses while learning to identify animal tracks and calls, touching fur pelts and deer antlers, and watching the live white-tailed deer herd from the outdoor observation deck.
It may feel like a bucket list item to go on a safari to see rhinos, giraffes and cheetahs in the wild, but that very experience is closer than you may think. Go on a safari to meet animals from around the globe at The Wilds. At nearly 10,000 acres, it’s one of the largest wildlife conservation parks in all of North America.
The reclaimed mine land is now the open-range home to about 30 endangered species from around the world and a renowned conservation center that features a successful breeding program for white rhinos and other threatened species.
Take a tour on an open-air safari from May through October to see the animals in their outdoor habitats (and potentially get an up-close-and-personal visit from a curious camel or another animals) or soar over the great open plains with a high-flying zip-line tour.
If you’re “searching” for the elusive Bigfoot, the Ohio Bigfoot Conference, held every spring at Salt Fork State Park and Lodge, is for you. The conference welcomes TV personalities, scientists and investigators ready to share theories and stories. The park also offers monthly guided Bigfoot hikes. Get a photo beside the tall wooden carving of Bigfoot in the lodge before heading out. Find fun Bigfoot gear in the gift shop.
No outdoor adventure is complete without a classic picnic on a sunny summer day, McKenna’s Market in Cambridge is your one-stop shop for all the supplies. Stop at the deli or fill up your cooler to cook back at your cabin or campsite. Pick up custom fresh-made subs and salads from the deli, create a charcuterie board with Amish cheeses and meats, or sample McKenna’s own line of preserves, fruit butters and relishes. Choose from their large selection of flavored sodas with unusual flavors like mint julep, maple, red hot and lemon meringue, and treat yourself to some old-fashioned candy like salt-water taffy.
For a real home-grown experience, nosh on juicy burgers, fresh-cut fries and creamy milkshakes at 360 Burger. Dishes are made with farm-to-table local ingredients and the beef comes from the restaurant’s own cattle herd. Try the Spicy Bacon Burger paired with a hand-spun milkshake. Parents can opt for adult flavors like Kahlua Cookies & Cream.
Take in a spectacular view of the countryside while enjoying live music and a wood-fired pizza at Georgetown Tavern. That view includes the on-site vineyards from which the Tavern produces their own wines, including whites, reds, and fruit wines including blackberry, red raspberry and cranberry. Mom & Dad can sip a glass of wine to relax after a day of exploring.
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