Ohio Field Trips for Inquisitive Kids

Are you looking to take an Ohio field trip, but you don’t know where to go? I’ve made it easy for you! Full itineraries for various cities in and around Central Ohio are at your fingertips.

Camps are cancelled, many pools are closed and even playgrounds are taped off for the summer. Kids’ summer routines are altered and they’re learning to adjust, just like the rest of us.

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Field Trips in Ohio

As a kid, I loved field trip days. It was a chance to be away from the classroom and see something out of the ordinary. We got to talk to our friends more and the whole day just seemed extra special. On that thought, I decided it would be fun to start taking kids on small, outdoor field trips to enhance their summer after so many disappointments. It’s been super fun exploring the small towns around Central/Southeastern Ohio.

With the local schools opting for in-class session only two days a week, I will be continuing these Adventure Field Trips in Ohio on into the school year. I’ll add to the post as the weeks go by, so you can get ideas for adventures of your own.

Dublin

My list was long, so this destination will be a two-part excursion. Stay tuned for our follow-up adventure in the spring.

Our first stop when we arrived in this cute, little town was the Visitor’s Center. It is here that you pick up your Fairy Trail Passport (and find your first fairy door). The Fairy Trail is great because it not only is a fun, free activity, but it introduces you to the local businesses. It also serves as a great way to work on map reading skills. Inside the Visitor’s Center, there are free postcards for visitors to write and address. (This was another good learning activity: addressing a postcard). The Visitor’s Center will mail them at no charge. Who doesn’t love to get snail mail?!

From the downtown area, we drove to Indian Falls to take a short hike and to see the waterfalls. They aren’t huge, but they are definitely beautiful. The next stop was the Chief Leatherlips Monument. This structure is truly amazing! And yes, what kid wouldn’t want to stick their hand up a famous Indian chief’s nose? By this time, we were all ready to get inside, so we headed to Kilwins for hot chocolate. The kids claimed it was the best hot chocolate they had ever tasted. They were super stoked when they received a complimentary second heaping of whipped topping and sprinkles. It really means a lot to kids to be doted on.

A few more Fairy Trail stops and then it was time for lunch. We usually opt for a local restaurant, but with the original Wendy’s nearby, it served as an educational experience as well. We talked about the glass burger, “Where’s the Beef”, and Dave Thomas.

*It technically isn’t the first Wendy’s which is no longer operating. The fame chain started in Columbus. All of the paraphernalia has been moved to this location and Dave’s statue stands outside.

Mount Vernon

Lace up your tennis shoes and get ready to hit the stairs. Ariel Foundation Park, on the outskirts of town, has turned the old glass factory chimney into an observation tower. It’s 140′ in the air and 224 steps up, but what a view! The climb tested the nerves of some of my crew but all of them mastered their fears and achieved our goal. From the top, you have a great view of the terraces, labyrinth, glass river and building ruins.

Heading into town, I’d recommend parking across the street from the Knox County Courthouse. Beside the courthouse is a beautiful church that resembles the Cathedral of Notre Dame. We brought up a picture on my phone so the kids could compare.

Town Square

The town square, located inside the large roundabout, has a beautiful fountain, multiple memorials and a groundcover of engraved bricks depicting veterans from the area. There is a book listing the represented soldiers. One child found his last name – so cool! We also found three ‘Bird’ soldiers. Finding the bricks is a great way to teach the kids how to read/understand a grid.

As we walked downtown, we found a window display featuring the couple from the American Gothic painting. Ironically, across the street stands the most adorable gothic style building. There’s also a cute gothic style home as you come into town from the south.

Continue walking south and you’ll come to an absolutely adorable dog water fountain. Whimsical and uplifting, this newly installed fountain adds so much to the downtown vibe. The kids found their favorite dogs and even a shetland pony.

Stein Brewing Company

The Stein Brewing Company is housed in the old Opera House which has been converted into multiple store fronts. I loved the style of the restaurant; the old meets new to harmonize perfectly. I took both of my crews here for lunch on Wednesday and Thursday. The service and food were excellent on both visits. The kids RAVED about their food, the kindness from the server and the ambiance. THAT’S when you know you’ve found a great place.

The kids’ meals are good sized portions so even my older kids felt complete. I had the Stein’s Club. Oh. My! Delicious. Think club on a bun with cheddar cheese and pulled pork. So good and so filling. I also tried their dill pickle soup. I really didn’t know what to expect. Excellent! A creamy soup, slices of dill pickles and just the right amount of spice. I’ll be ordering that again on my next visit, along with their pulled pork nachos. Yum!

As for dessert, they offer the following: Bacon Fried Apples, SBC House-Made Bacon Bourbon Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Fried Oreos and Velvet Ice Cream. Decisions, decisions…

Newark

Our Ohio field trip started at the Dawes Arboretum. This is a nature gem for the region! $5/kids $10/adults We identified multiple types of trees. Many have identification tags or plaques which makes it easier for everyone. By parking to the left of the entrance, we were close to the cypress bog, my favorite. This then put us close to the underground tunnel (which the kids said felt like walking through a dinosaur’s rib cage). This area is also where the Storybook Trail is located. The kids took turns reading the silly story as we walked along the path. Currently, there is a wind sculpture exhibit. A 20-30 minute walk around the paved path showcases the sculptures and gives you a chance to see the Dawes’ home, the pond and the living willow house.

This is the perfect place to take my book, Going on a Tree Hunt: A Tree Identification Book for Young Children, to read and help identify trees. You can purchase your copy here.

Downtown Newark

After all that hiking, we were all getting hungry so we headed to downtown Newark for lunch. A stop at Elliot’s Wood Fired Kitchen and Tap was even better than I had imagined. The cook gave the kids a little Cooking 101 by explaining how the wood fired oven operates. The kids were shocked that it was 600 degrees inside but just barely warm to the touch on the outside. They also couldn’t believe it only takes 4 minutes to cook a pizza. Rave reviews followed after the kids took their first bite. Even in the car on the way home comments were made about how good the pizza tasted.

From Elliot’s it’s an easy walk to the Licking County Courthouse. When looking at the courthouse, continue to the right for about a block and you’ll come to the Historical Licking County Jail. This jail was from the era when the head jailer and his family lived in the same building as the prisoners.

A quick stop for ice cream was in order to help the kids remember their trip to ‘Licking’ County.

Coshocton

Roscoe Village has been on my bucket list for more years than I’d like to admit. Finally, I can check it off my list, but I can’t wait to go back. Once you arrive, start out at the Visitor’s Center by purchasing your admission ticket. While in the main room, be sure to notice the gorgeous music box that will play a punched record, similar to how a player piano works. There is a miniature canal display as well as a short movie to give you a little background information about the canals. After paying a small admission fee, you are welcome to visit all the different shops and learn about life in the mid 1800s.

Roscoe Village functions as it did over 100 years ago with blacksmiths, broom makers, a printing press and other trades. When you visit the doctor’s office, be sure to ask about his patient.

There is a canal boat that sits at the opposite end of town from the Visitor’s Center. You are able to walk in and around the boat to get a better idea of what traveling on the canals would have been like back in the day. The actual canal boat rides are offered a few miles away. They operate Thursday-Sunday.

Unusual Junction

After exploring Roscoe Village, we headed to Unusual Junction for a delicious meal inside an eclectic, restored train depot. Opening in the 1970s, this business has added several train cars to the property over the years making it a great stop for trains lovers young and old alike. The kids thought it was super cool to be able to climb up on the caboose steps and pose.

Inside Unusual Junction, you are met with the most tantalizing assortment of bulk candy you could ask for. They even carry unicorn gummies! A huge Santa, an original Price Is Right sign from the ever famous game show and many other fun surprises create unique conversation pieces as you look around the dining area. I kept waiting for Bob Barker to pop out from around the corner, but it never happened.

The drive from Lancaster to Coshocton is a little over an hour, so I created an I Spy to help pass the time. Newark’s HUGE basket, a small plane and buggy signs can all be found along the route. If you are interested in the pre-made list, feel free to drop me an email at bountifulblessingstravelblog@yahoo.com and I’ll send it to you.

Logan

Logan is nationally known for the Hocking Hills. There are definitely some great hikes, but for this trip we incorporated more of the history of the area. We started out by going just south of Logan to Haydenville. The town was named after Mr. Hayden who was quite the entrepreneur in the 1800s. He established a business for making bricks.

Haydenville

Our first stop was at the town’s church. This church uses four different brick patterns to create a stunning architectural structure. The kids did brick rubbings on two of the four styles and then drew the third style. They had a fun time coming up with names for the designs. Waffle/Lego, Boombox/Speakers, and Horn/Steering Wheel were our ‘official’ terms.

As we were slowly driving down the street to look at and talk about the company houses that used pipes for an architectural design, a gentleman asked us if we needed any help. Long story short, he ended up being an owner of a brickyard and knew all sorts of interesting facts about bricks. He even had a Speedway brick. Did you know Logan has the bragging rights to being one of the factories that made the 3.2 million bricks needed for the Indianapolis Speedway? I didn’t! We also learned how street pavers were laid and the purpose to all of the holes. It was quite fascinating.

At the edge of town there is the cutest round house. It’s an old silo that has been converted into a home. It, along with the church I mentioned earlier, is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

Heading back to 33, on the right hand side of the road, sits the Hocking Valley Canal Lock 17. Many of the sandstones remain making it a great opportunity to actually walk IN the lock area and talk about the canals and their function.

Logan

Coming back into Logan, we stopped at the Columbus Washboard Factory to take a good look at the HUGE washboard that hangs on the exterior wall. Fun fact: It holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest washboard. As luck would have it, the original street pavers were peaking out from worn down asphalt, so the kids got to see how the streets used to look versus how they look now.

We also drove by the Hocking County Courthouse and another beautiful church. From there we headed to the Pencil Sharpener Museum. It’s a tiny little shed at the Hocking Hills Visitor’s Center, but it houses quite a few pencil sharpeners that were once one man’s collection.

After grabbing our lunch to go, we stopped by the wooden park to have a picnic. This park has such a nice assortment of apparatuses to play on and the kids had a blast.

Rockbridge

Jumping back in the car, we headed west on 33 to Rockbridge where we hiked 1.75 miles to the Natural Bridge. We identified a few trees and talked about erosion, both to soil and to rock. The bridge is quite intimidating, so we opted to walk under it to examine its beauty.

Circleville

We began our field trip in Ohio by parking across from the Castle Inn Bed & Breakfast. Luck was on our side and we given a brief tour of the inside. The kids thought all the decorative armor, secret hiding spots and stained glass were pretty cool.

Downtown

After leaving the castle, I handed out a booklet to each child. On each page was an outline of a building found in Circleville’s downtown. I was impressed at how well they were able to find the buildings by just using the general outline. As each building was found, they got to tape a printed picture of that building next to its negative space image. Fun fact: Circleville’s County Courthouse used to be round with the town circling around it. The courthouse was replaced with a squared off building and the town streets followed suit.

We made a pitstop at Lindsey’s Bakery for her famous pumpkin donuts. The kids also got to see the pie pan that is used each year to make the HUGE pumpkin pie for the Pumpkin Show. It once held the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin pie.

Walking downtown gave us the opportunity to talk about the amazing murals that are painted on the sides of the buildings, along with discussion on the 5 cent and 10 cent murals from the early 1900s. On the corner of South Court and Mound Street there is a plaque telling about Circleville’s role in the Underground Railroad and an old horse hitch. History and learning is everywhere!

Heading over to grab lunch, we stopped at the Octagon House which sits near the pumpkin water tower.

Marion State Park

Marion State Park makes a great place to have a picnic. There is a walking path, a wetlands, a playground and an exercise area. Each place gives way to a lot of discussion and learning.

Zanesville

Zanesville has so many neat things to see that we only got through half of my list, so we may be heading back there again in a few weeks. This itinerary of activities covers nature, history and structures.

Mission Oaks Garden

Start out at Mission Oaks Gardens. There are three separate gardens within this hidden gem: The Children’s Garden, the Conifer and Garden the Woodland Garden. The Children’s Garden has a beautiful arch covered in morning glories. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a hummingbird approach one of the feeders overhead. There is a Free Little Library, a checkerboard and raised beds. The raised beds test your nose and your taste buds as you discover what is planted in each.

The Conifer Garden lends the way to a perfect opportunity to read Going on a Tree Hunt. This is a book I wrote and in it conifers are discussed. Along with the various, cool conifers, there is also a pond with huge lily pads and a small waterfall. Be sure to hike up the hill a little ways and see all of the different conifers. Some make very good forts.

The Woodland Garden consists of a small loop with a bog at the far end. Just by chance, Zanesville’s Herb the Hedgehog was hidden in the bog area for this week and we were able to find it. If you are heading that way, check out the Muskingum Valley Park District’s Facebook page to see where he’s hiding.

Lunch, Courthouse, Vasehenge

For lunch, I recommend Ditty’s Downtown Deli which is conveniently located downtown by the Muskingum County Courthouse. After your meal, you can walk to the courthouse and read about its history and learn from the very moving WWII/Korean War Memorial.

After driving left across the Y bridge, you will see Vasehenge off to the right. Think Stonehenge but with vases. These vases are all around the city commemorating Zanesville’s pottery history.

Putnam Hill Park

Head up the hill to Putnam Hill Park and you will find an EXTRA LONG slide to have an absolute blast on. Once you’ve had enough sliding fun, continue on up the hill for a great overhead view of the Y bridge. (For parking simplicity, you may want to reverse these two activities)

At this point, we had to head home, but we learned and explored a lot and can’t wait for our next adventure.

Nelsonville, The Plains and Athens

We headed south this time for our field trip. Our first stop was in Nelsonville. This town has taken an economic hit from the bypass, so any commerce you can give is appreciated.

Nelsonville

We started at the Nelsonville Train Depot to check out the old train cars. We were all fascinated by the majestic size of the ice breaker engine. There are a few passenger cars and several caboose cars parked on the track to admire. We found the caboose that is mentioned in the Ohio plaque. The kids had fun playing pretend ticket master and checking out the depot.

Right around the corner from the depot is Nelsonville’s original downtown square. I just love the cozy feel of this area. With the second story balcony, the Opera House and the fountain, you can almost imagine what it was like on a bustling Saturday night. The kids threw in their pennies, made a wish, found two styles of brick and learned a bit of history about the town.

The Plains

On down 33, we stopped at The Plains. Taking the first right after you get off the exit, you’ll take a right on Mound St and there will be the largest Adena Indian mounds left in this area. A nice map in front shows where other smaller burial mounds are located and there is also a plaque telling about the Adena history.

Athens

Feeling a bit hungry, it’s time to stop for lunch at Larry’s Dawg House. The name had the kids laughing but when they read that it was Weenie Wednesday, they really let loose. 99 cents for a chili dog or corndog. Larry’s is a local icon as it has been serving the community since the 1950s.

Down the street, just past the fairgrounds, is a large cemetery. Initially we went there to learn about two particular headstones featuring two little girls and a log. There ended up being flags that needed put back in place and headstones that needed grass brushed off. Showing respect for those that have passed ended up kind of being our theme.

Having fun in a cemetery?

It sounds strange, but there were more giggles than you could imagine as we respectfully walked the grounds. It started by an arch that the kids pretended was a time portal. From there it went to funny stories based on names that we read (or misread) such as Pugh, Gross, Roach and H.A.

After exhausting our time at the cemetery we headed to the Athens County Courthouse. As you walk downhill from the courthouse, you’ll come to the original courthouse and also a photography display. These pictures are so beautiful and intriguing. Each child picked his/her favorite and then we took the ‘Public Art’ photo and decided to have some fun.

The goal was to find words that we could ‘create’ a picture from. Chase and Recycle Butts Here received a lot of laughs as you can imagine. Walking down the block toward the university, we passed a classic retro cinema and other unique architecture to discuss.

At the entrance to Ohio University there is a very interesting plaque. Being from Lancaster, the notation about Thomas Ewing was even more pronounced. The monument honoring those that served during the Civil War aided in more discussion about our country’s past.

Grove City

Our first destination was a bit of an odd roadside attraction. The huge cowboy that used to welcome hungry customers to the Western Pancake House now sits waving his hat at the traffic that passes him by. There are two different cowboys located fairly close together. The first one we stopped at looks almost directly at the small overpass bridge. You must pull into the car dealership to get up close (2125 Harrisburg Pike). The second cowboy is in front of a restaurant at 1425 Frank Rd. I related these guys to our current Frisch’s Big Boy. We talked a lot about branding, logos, advertising and icons throughout the day.

Need a cowboy hat for fun photos like these? You can order it here.

Scioto Grove Metro Park

The next stop was the Scioto Grove Metro Park. You could easily spend a good portion of your day here. We made a short stop at the very cool webbed playground, drove to the lodge where we hiked to the suspension bridge (head to your right from the lodge) and then checked out the beaver dam, cattails and frogs at the pond on the way out. There are SO many frogs! It was cool watching them jump across the water as we walked along the edge.

Fun fact: Did you know Scioto means ‘deer’?

The boys (Wednesday group) opted to eat at Big Boy to stick with our theme. (logos) The girls (Thursday group) chose to walk Grove City’s downtown to see what we might find. We ended up having a delicious pizza, al fresco, from Tammy’s on Broadway.

Downtown Grove City

While walking downtown, we came across many beautiful murals, the iconic silhouette of a man lighting the city lamps, a gorgeous gazebo (look up when you go inside) and fun little shops.

Our favorite shop was Capital City Cakes. The WOW factor is apparent the moment you step through the door. Stunning cakes sit on display, but none compare to the bride’s dress. You’ve got to see it to believe it. They even have an upside-down cake chandelier. Such a fun decorative touch! The owners have been invited to various bake-off shows and are known nationally for their fine craftsmanship. The little chef cake was their entry when they first appeared on Bake It Like Buddy. This is a must when you visit Grove City. You might not need an entire cake, but their choice of delicious cupcakes, cake pops and cookies will do just fine.

Canal Winchester

National Barber Museum

Canal Winchester is full of hands-on history. The boys had the special opportunity to visit the National Barber Museum. Reservations must be made ahead of time for tours. Four classrooms in the old school on Washington Street are meticulously arranged with all things that relate to barber shops: swirling poles, barber chairs, shaving mugs, brushes, combs and more. Pieces have been donated from around the world to this one-of-a-kind museum. We all learned so much! I HIGHLY recommend making a stop here.

The Lockville Canal Park, located at 5895 Pickerington Rd, has two sections of the canal that you can walk in, through and around. You can see the indentions on the stone where they would have inserted the large tongs to move the stone as well as where the lock’s doors would have been located. Between the two lock areas is one of Fairfield County’s 17 covered bridges.

A second covered bridge is located west of Canal Winchester. This was the last covered bridge to be built in Franklin County. The boys had fun being silly with the beam’s angles.

Additional local history was learned and discussed at the town’s preserved train depot located on the east end of town. There is also a  one room school, an old mill and two caboose cars. Contact the Historical Society for tours for these places. You can park along the street and walk to the downtown area after exploring the depot.

Throughout the downtown area, you can enjoy various murals. Some depict historical significance and some are just beautiful art to enjoy. We found seven all together. There are also several super cute businesses to stop in and check out.

Fantasy Cupcake

The yummiest business would definitely be Fantasy Cupcake. They offer cupcakes in all your favorite flavors, all make daily. Just in time for fall is the pumpkin spice cupcakes. Nothing pairs better with a sweet treat than a cup of coffee made just to your liking. My hot mocha was so delicious! Fantasy Cupcakes also offers beautifully decorated cookies, festive cake pops and adorable doggy treats.

Canal Wigwam

Both days we had our lunch at Canal Wigwam. This 50’s diner makes you feel like you stepped back in time with the black and white tile and red vinyl booths. On Wednesday, we ate inside and on Thursday, we ordered ahead and took our meals to go. We then took our food to Slate Run for a picnic.

Slate Run Metro Park

Slate Run is a living historical farm and so much more. The farmhouse and barn area are currently only opened Thurs- Sat, but the rest of the park is open for you to enjoy. There is a large, netted playground the kids really enjoyed. From there, it is a short walk to the pond. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see fish, frogs, turtles, Canadian geese, and many more creatures. Seating and a viewing lens is available to sit and enjoy.

Well, that’s all for now. Come back next week after we’ve explored our next city.

Playing disc golf, hiking through Ohio’s nature preserves and spending time at Buckeye Lake are all topics I’ve written about that you may enjoy as well.