21 Stops for Adventure, History and Flavor in Appalachian Ohio

Many of Ohio’s first permanent settlements are located in the 32-county region that traces the banks of the Ohio River and hugs the Pennsylvania border. Here, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, outdoor adventure, the history of America and down-home culinary finds merge. Whether you’re seeing the Hocking Hills from a fresh perspective, discovering the region’s rich history or savoring a glass of great wine, these destinations across Ohio’s Appalachian region promise much to discover.

Outdoor Adventure
The Hocking Hills region has always been best appreciated on foot (or horseback or zip line), but a new audio tour that’s part of the TravelStorys smartphone app makes driving the region’s winding roads an adventure worth rolling down the windows for. The 90-minute tour of the Hocking Hills Scenic Byway, which was developed in partnership with the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, uses GPS to guide travelers south along state Route 374, dispensing bits of knowledge about popular spots like Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House and Old Man’s Cave. Make sure you hop out and hit the trails along the way to see these natural wonders up close. 

Once night falls, head to John Glenn Astronomy Park, one of the stops on the audio tour. The park features weekend stargazing programming, letting you learn about the celestial marvels overhead. For more night-owl fun, High Rock Adventures’ night-rappel tour offers a mile-long evening hike and two rappels of 60 to 70 feet.

Outdoor experiences in Ohio’s Appalachian region reach far beyond the Hocking Hills. At The Wilds in Cumberland, over 10,000 acres of reclaimed mining land is now home to safari tours featuring animals such as cheetahs, giraffes and rhinos. New for 2025 is the 75-acre Hellbender RV Campground, which has 47 full-hookup recreational vehicle sites, 26 primitive camping spots, and hiking and biking trails. Northeast of The Wilds, Ohio’s largest state park, Salt Fork State Park, is home to a new Eco-Discovery Center. Opened this year, the 3,332-square-foot center features interactive exhibits, including a woodland and wetland diorama with a tunnel kids can crawl through, aquariums and terrariums with live animals, and exhibits dedicated to Salt Fork’s Bigfoot lore. 

Appalachian Roots
In the late 1800s, southeast Ohio boomed with coal mining, which resulted in the loss of many of the region’s lush forests. Although Wayne National Forest was established in the 1930s with second-growth hardwoods and sparked a boom in outdoor recreation, what remains of the region’s mining towns, collectively known as the Little Cities of Black Diamonds, offer insight into the region’s history. 

Check out the annual New Straitsville Moonshine Festival each May, celebrating the town’s heritage with demonstrations of a working still and moonshine-themed foods. In nearby Athens County, the more than 100-year-old Eclipse Company Store — once the center of a thriving mining town — now serves food and craft beer.

The historical preservation of the region goes beyond mining towns and forests too. In 2022, the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative was created to highlight the rich history of the Underground Railroad in southeast Ohio. The initiative is installing historical markers at 20 Ohio Underground Railroad sites that are part of the National Parks Service’s Network to Freedom program, including the Rankin House National Landmark in Ripley and the Pleasant Green Baptist Church and Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. The initiative has plans for seven more markers at historical sites in southeast Ohio.

In Noble County, the memory of the U.S.S. Shenandoah and its crew is remembered to this day, nearly a century after the airship’s tragic demise. On Sept. 3, 1925, America’s first rigid, helium-filled dirigible was passing over Ohio as part of an 11-state tour of the nation when a storm destroyed the 680-foot-long U.S. Navy airship and killed 14 of its crew members. Today, you can visit some of the crash sites, and to mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy, the town of Ava will host a memorial event Aug. 31. 

Living History
Taking the stage each summer for more than five decades, Chillicothe’s “Tecumseh!” outdoor drama is almost as legendary as the man himself. The outdoor drama staged at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre highlights Tecumseh’s life as he fights to hold onto his homeland during the late 1700s. Watch as horses gallop, cannons fire and battles unfold. 

Next, head to Adena Mansion & Gardens. The 2,000-acre estate perched above Chillicothe was once the home of Thomas Worthington, father of Ohio statehood and our state’s sixth governor. Visitors can tour the 1807 home, its gardens and visitor center. 

A short drive away, history buffs can take a trip further back in time at the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Mound City Group. Part of Ohio’s only UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Mound City Group features reconstructions of Native American-built ceremonial earthworks that stood here up to 2,000 years ago, and the on-site visitor center displays artifacts found during archaeological digs.  

The area that is today Tuscarawas County played a role in the American Revolution, and thanks to “Trumpet in the Land,” Schoenbrunn Village and Fort Laurens, travelers can learn about that history. For more than 56 years, “Trumpet in the Land” has staged an outdoor drama sharing the story of Moravian missionary David Zeisberger and his followers as they established Schoenbrunn in 1772 before becoming entangled in war.  

Just a couple miles away sits the Schoenbrunn Village site, which features 18 reconstructed log-built structures and the original mission cemetery. Complete your American Revolution-era outing by heading to the Fort Laurens Museum in Bolivar. The museum features exhibits, including a model of the fort, which was the only American Revolutionary War stronghold in what is now Ohio. 

Food & Drink
There’s plenty of fun to harvest along the Wild About Wine Trail, a 15-stop tour of wineries and breweries in Guernsey, Coshocton and Muskingum counties. Ten wineries and five breweries make up the trail, including Y-Bridge Brewing Co. in Zanesville. Head to Georgetown Vineyards in Cambridge to try its American Fredonia or American Cranberry, a sweet wine that is pleasantly tart. The vineyards are part of Georgetown Tavern on the Hill, which serves the wines along with pizzas, caprese salad or bruschetta for a perfect pairing. 

At Guernsey Brewhouse in Cambridge, make sure to order the S-Bridge Chocolate Cake Stout or the Sasquatch Cerveza, a refreshing Mexican lager that pays homage to Salt Fork State Park’s famous cryptid. If traditional German brews are more your style, Wooly Pig Farm Brewery features classics such as the Rustic Helles golden lager and the Schwarzbier black lager. (You can also order pork products made at the working farm, including bacon, bratwurst or pork chops, ahead of time and pick up the order when you visit.) 

Theo’s Restaurant in downtown Cambridge is a local favorite with roots that reach to 1931. Feast on classics such as hot sliced beef sandwiches served with mashed potatoes and gravy, burgers and daily specials such as house-made cabbage rolls. Don’t leave without a slice (or more) of the restaurant’s house-made pies, which have been on the menu since the start, with flavors such as Dutch apple, cherry or chocolate cream. At Dockside Restaurant at Seneca Lake Marina outside of Cambridge, you can soak in the mix of lakeside vibes and local flavors. During the summer, ribs, brisket and pulled pork are smoked over local fruitwood. 

WHEN YOU GO
Visit these websites for more information about locations mentioned in this article. 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Hocking Hills Scenic Byway Tour
travelstorys.com

John Glenn Astronomy Park
jgap.info

The Wilds
thewilds.org

High Rock Adventures
highrockadventures.com

Salt Fork State Park
parks.ohiodnr.gov

APPALACHIAN ROOTS

Little Cities of Black Diamonds
lcbdohio.org

New Straitsville Moonshine Festival
facebook.com/newstraitsvilleohio

Eclipse Company Store
eclipsecompanystore.com

Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative
appalachianfreedom.com

U.S.S. Shenandoah 
visitnoblecountyohio.com

LIVING HISTORY

Tecumseh!
tecumsehdrama.com

Adena Mansion & Gardens Historic Site
adenamansion.com

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
nps.gov/hocu

Trumpet in the Land
trumpetintheland.com

Schoenbrunn Village
ohiohistory.org

Fort Laurens Museum
fortlaurensmuseum.org

FOOD & DRINK

Wild About Wine Trail
visitguernseycounty.com, visitcoshocton.com, visitzanesville.com

Georgetown Tavern on the Hill
georgetowntavern.com

Guernsey Brewhouse
guernseybrewhouse.com

Wooly Pig Farm Brewery
woolypigfarmbrewery.com

Theo’s Restaurant
theosrestaurant.us

Dockside Restaurant
docksideofsenecalake.com