Explore Ohio with this all-in-one guidebook, packed with more than 200 of Ohio’s best destinations organized by theme. If you’ve ever asked, “What should we do today?” then grab a copy of Ohio Day Trips . You’ll discover hundreds of unique attractions around the Buckeye State, including the fun, the fascinating, and the downright unusual. This comprehensive guide by Cathy Hester Seckman is jam-packed with Ohio’s top spots for fun and entertainment. Take a simple day trip, or string together a longer vacation of activities that appeal to you. Useful for singles, couples, and families—visitors and residents alike—this guide encompasses a wide range of interests. You’ll find state parks, museums, and beaches; the best winter activities in the state; and family fun at amusement parks and zoos. So find an adventure that feels handpicked for you. With Ohio Day Trips  at your fingertips, you’ll always have something to do! Features you’ll appreciate: Sections divided by theme for easy reference—decide what to do, then figure out where to do it - Destinations based on such themes as Airplanes & Railroads, Festivals, Outdoor Adventures, and Sports - Activities for a variety of interests - Handy size that’s perfect for traveling Cathy Hester Seckman is a lifelong resident of East Liverpool, Ohio, who has been a fan of day trips since her parents first said, “Let’s take a ride!” on a Sunday afternoon. Writing this book has been an adventure, allowing her to discover new favorite places and revisit old ones. Cathy is an indexer and has compiled some 215 indexes. She has published more than a dozen short stories, hundreds of magazine articles, and thousands of newspaper articles. She is the author of East Liverpool, an Images of America title released by Arcadia Publishing in 2015. Weirdo World, her young adult fantasy novel, was published by Cool Well Press in 2012. As an indie author, she cowrote Bad Moon Rising, a murder mystery set between Woodstock and the Kent State shootings; Too Many Secrets, a women’s fiction title; and an anthology, H2O Mysteries. Her most-recent novel, Rightside/Wrongside, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2023. Black Swamp Bird Observatory 13551 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, OH 43449; 419-898-4070 If you’ve ever thought you might like to dip a toe into the birding world, Black Swamp is the place to start. Your first excursion might be a walk along the modest 1/3-mile birding trail behind the visitor center. If you’re intrigued by the migrant songbirds there, or the peculiar antics of the American woodcock, your next step is attending a Where the Birds Are popup trip, or the once-a-year field trip to see wintering raptors and waterfowl at Killdeer Plains. Research, education, and conservation are the missions of the Observatory, and enthusiastic birders and volunteers are always welcome. Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs, OH 45387; 614-265-6453 You might imagine canyons are only found out West, but we’ve got them right here in southwest Ohio. Clifton Gorge, one of 136 State Nature Preserves in Ohio, is also one of 23 National Natural Landmarks in the state. Set amid 268 acres along the Little Miami River, the Gorge is a spectacular example of the ways in which glacial rivers cut through limestone and dolomite bedrock. In this case, geologists speculate that glacial “potholes” (lakes left behind by melting glacier ice) may have connected to form one especially deep-and-narrow channel. Sections of rapids and waterfalls are visible from the trail along the Little Miami River. The Gorge trail is especially known for spring displays of snow trillium. Crabill Fen State Nature Preserve Buck Creek State Park, 1901 Buck Creek Lane, Springfield, OH 45502; 937-322-5284; GPS: 39.9622823°, -83.7513158° Crabill Fen, named for a pioneer family, is a spring-fed alkaline wetland at the edge of the Kennard glacial outwash in Buck Creek State Park. There are no visitor facilities or trails in the fen, but nature lovers will find it worthwhile for the unusual plant species preserved there. These include prairie dock, limestone savory, fen Indian plantain, fen sedge, and blue-leaved willow, among others. Ecological management, including removal and treatment of invasive species, keeps the fen protected. Because the fen is a sensitive area, access is by downloadable permit from the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves; request at least 14 days in advance. Crawford Park District 2401 State Route 598, Crestline, OH 44827; 419-683-9000 Two parks, three nature preserves, a wildlife area, and a bikeway make up this park district serving Crawford County in northern Ohio. The 53-acre Unger Park has a 3-mile trail system that includes sections open to horses from June through October. Yearly prescribed burns keep the restored prairie healthy. Unger also features more than 100 species of reintroduced prairie plants and a pond and wetland habita