
Wanderlust is part of our American heritage. Fortunately, there are a number of intriguing road trips from Columbus, OH that are short on distance, but long on culture and entertainment.
Picturesque Marietta, just under a two-hour drive from Columbus, bills itself as "Ohio's First Adventure," but they're not just bragging. No less an authority than National Geographic calls Marietta one of the best "adventure towns" in the United States. Use this helpful guide to plan your own adventure in Marietta.
418 4th St., Marietta, OH 45750
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You'll feel like a member of royalty for a day when you visit The Castle, a stunning Gothic Revival home dating back to 1855. Built for the then-princely sum of $10,000, The Castle has housed lawyers, bankers, and even a member of the Ohio Senate. In addition to antiques and historical furniture, museum displays include many items related to various owners of the home. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for students. Hours vary by season and advance reservations are required, so visit the website for more information.
241 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750
Enjoy the charm and history of Marietta from a comfortable seat on the Trolley Tours. You'll get a unique perspective of the town thanks to entertaining stories from the knowledgeable tour guides. The 90-minute trip covers all noteworthy areas of Marietta, including beautiful residential streets, so you can decide which places you want to explore in depth. Trips depart from the Armory parking lot at 10 a.m. Call or visit their Facebook page for more information.
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Marietta is nestled in the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. The latter provides a scenic backdrop for a pleasant walk along the Marietta River Trail. Construction is occurring in phases, but the current configuration runs 3.28 miles, just long enough for a family-friendly outing. Leashed four-legged family members are welcome, so bring your precious pooch along. The trail begins at the Indian Acres Boat Ramp, extending to E. 8th and Jefferson streets.
206 Gilman Ave., Marietta, OH 45750
Do your kids think history is boring? They'll love the "education" at the Children's Toy and Doll Museum. Founded in 1976, the museum outgrew two other locations before settling into its current home in a Queen Anne-style house. Nine separate rooms contain themed collections featuring dolls and dollhouses along with a wide selection of antique toys and games. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for kids. Hours are 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. weekends.
152 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750
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When you visit Wit & Whimzy, the name alone lets you know you're in for a unique experience. The shop is filled with a carefully curated collection of artisan-crafted items from local and regional artists and small business owners. On any given day, you can find unique jewelry, home decor, bath and body products, apparel, and accessories that are perfect for yourself or gift-giving. Many items have a Marietta, Ohio, or West Virginia theme. Wit & Whimzy is open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and noon - 4 p.m. Sunday.
290 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750
Tired of shopping at national chain stores with mass-produced clothes and no customer service? Teri Ann's features women's designer clothes and accessories so you can put together your own stylish look. Cheerful and knowledgeable service is a hallmark of the family-owned store, founded in 1961 by George and Virginia Zide and named after their eldest child. Store hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
167 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750
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Marietta has a rich past, but the city has also embraced the best features of modern-day life. Head to Marietta Brewing Co. for locally-made craft beer and "guest" beverages from top Ohio breweries. The food menu includes eight types of burgers along with other brewpub classics such as pizza, chicken wings, and nachos. Dine in or order online for carry-out. Hours are 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
332 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750
Dining out is truly a special event at The Buckley House Restaurant. Located in an elegant Victorian-style home listed on the Ohio Historic Register, The Buckley House was built in 1879 as a private residence. The seasonal menu is influenced by the delicious flavors and healthy ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy the impeccably landscaped grounds from the outdoor dining areas on the front porch and back deck. The Buckley House serves dinner from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. every evening but Sunday and reservations are recommended.
101 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750
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Legend has it that American Revolution hero Marquis de Lafayette was the first tourist to visit Marietta during its fledgling days. The occasion is memorialized in the name of The Lafayette, one of the last remaining riverboat-area hotels. Located in the heart of downtown Marietta, The Lafayette has a distinctive triangular shape that allows guests a view of either the Ohio or Muskingum rivers. Amenities include a private fitness center, dry cleaning service, onsite laundry facilities, two restaurants, and a coffee shop. Visit the website for a list of specials and themed packages.
203 Second St., Marietta, OH 45750
Marietta's past meets the 21st century at The Hackett Hotel, a "casually chic" boutique hotel located on the second floor of a fully renovated 1899 building. The hotel's five rooms have their own individual decor and each one is named after an influential figure from Marietta's history. Modern amenities include free WiFi and HD TVs. Conveniently located on the first floor, The Galley is a lively gastropub with 24 beers on tap along with a menu that combines gourmet dishes and bar food classics. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday.
What's been your most memorable road trip from Columbus, OH?
When it comes to world records, Ohio is an old pro. Our incredible state is full of famous record holders—including many of the "World's Largest Things". We have everything from the world's largest cornfield to the biggest set of drumsticks, each with their own interesting story.
We rounded up some of our favorite unique "Biggest Things" in Ohio. Whether you're looking for quirky stops to put on your next road trip or want to learn more about our state's wacky side, you'll find something that'll pique your interest!
Click the city link accompanying each destination to see its location and photos taken by curious visitors.
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This Cleveland landmark, which was originally commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio (now Amoco), stands 28 feet tall and 48 feet long. The massive sculpture has the word "Free" written across the bottom to commemorate the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, which honors soldiers from the Civil War and freedom from slavery. Today, you can find it in Willard Park in Downtown Cleveland!
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The Field of Giant Cobs, or "Cornhenge", is located in Dublin, Ohio and features 109, people-sized ears of concrete corn in an eclectic art display. The installation was created as a salute to Sam Frantz, former Dublin farmer, who worked on developing hybrid corn seeds with Ohio State University from 1935 to 1963 on the very land where the large sculptures now reside.
You can find the world's largest washboard hanging on the side of the Columbus Washboard Company building in Logan. If you can, we recommend taking a tour of the factory, where you can watch them make washboards and other antique equipment. And that giant washboard isn't the only thing Logan is known for; they also host the annual Washboard Fest. At "Ohio's Most Unique Festival" clothes are hung out across the street in lieu of banners, you can listen to local artists perform, enjoy tasty treats from food vendors and participate in the parade!View this post on Instagram
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On the outskirts of Napoleon, at the side of the Campbell's Soup plant, you'll find an enormous soup can adorned with a traditional Campbell's label. There's a small gravel spot where you can pull over, take a photo and, according to visitors, actually enjoy the smell of soup wafting through the air!
Cleveland's Playhouse Square is the largest theater district in the country outside of New York City's Lincoln Center, hosting thousands of fantastic shows and performances each year. But the dazzling events aren't the only thing huge about this neighborhood—it also happens to be home to the world's largest outdoor chandelier. The already iconic fixture was installed in 2014 and holds over 4,200 acrylic crystals.View this post on Instagram
This massive hammer of justice is located in front of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus. The 30-foot long gavel was created by artist Andrew Scott in 2008 to honor the Ohio Supreme Court and is settled on top of a large reflecting pool.View this post on Instagram
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Trolls are all the rage right now and there's no better place to be a troll enthusiast than the Troll Hole Museum. This Alliance treasure boasts more than 20,000 troll items—including a Guinness World Record troll collection. Here, you can learn everything about trolls, from ancient mythology to the modern dolls in pop culture that we have grown to know and love.
The city of Newark is home to a lot of baskets thanks to Longaberger Basket Company, which unfortunately went out of business in 2018. The world's largest basket, a seven-story structure that was created to replicate Longaberger's popular Medium Market Basket, was used to house the company's headquarters. You can still drive by the iconic building along with several of its sisters—including the world's largest apple basket and the house-sized picnic basket in nearby Dresden.View this post on Instagram
Photo courtesy of Pins Mechanical Company
The world record for the largest ping pong paddle is held by Pins Mechanical Company in Columbus. The 12-foot long behemoth is located next to one of the ping pong tables in this eclectic arcade-bar. Along with ping pong, Pins Mechanical also offers plenty of pinball machines, duckpin bowling, outdoor Jenga, and, of course, a great selection of food and drinks.
Pin Mechanical isn't the only bar in Ohio to have its own world record—Proto Build Bar in Dayton lays claim to the world's largest claw machine. This unique establishment is part 3D printing lab, part electronic maker space and part café. You can play the massive claw machine, design your own model at one of the many 3D printers around the space, or just sit with a cup of warm espresso while you watch others create!View this post on Instagram
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The largest geode in the world is a cave located in Put-in-Bay, 40 feet underneath Heineman's Winery. The winery discovered the cave, aptly named "Crystal Cave", when workers were attempting to dig a well on their property in 1897. Thanks to the cave, which is full of massive crystals that reach up to 18 inches long, the family-run winery was saved from demise during Prohibition. You can visit it today to see the incredible crystals (and to do some wine tasting) seven days a week, May through September.
The world's largest loaf of bread is located in Urbana. While it's not edible, it's still definitely worth a trip. The structure was constructed out of fiberglass and steel and can be found near the loading dock of the Bundy Baking Museum and Factory. The age and origin of the loaf are unknown and because it's pretty hard to find, it has become something of an urban (or should we say Urbana?) legend to locals.View this post on Instagram
Unbeknownst to many, David Grohl, the former drummer for Nirvana and the frontman for the Foo Fighters, was born in Warren, Ohio. While he isn't a lifelong resident, he did call the small town home for a while when he was a child. Former local police officer, Joe O'Grady wanted to encourage the young people in the community of Warren with the success story of David Grohl. He accomplished this by cleaning up a decrepit alley and giving local artists a place to showcase their work. The area became known as "David Grohl Alley" and features sculptures and murals dedicated to Grohl created by local artists—including the world's largest drumsticks, each of which weighs close to 900 pounds.View this post on Instagram
It's no secret that we adore Ohio's Amish country. There are so many delicious farm-to-table restaurants, hospitable inns and interesting things to see—including the world's largest horse and buggy! This quirky art installment is made completely out of 2x4s and is a total of 32 feet long and 14 feet tall. The sculpture is located in front of an Amish-style bulk grocery store, Beyond Measure Market.View this post on Instagram
We can't think of a better place for a massive pumpkin water tower than in Circleville, a city famous for its annual pumpkin festival. The Circleville Pumpkin Show is always completely free to attend and features a giant pumpkin weigh-in, a pumpkin pie auction, several parades, a Little Miss Pumpkin Show, fantastic live music, delicious fair food and so much more.View this post on Instagram
Photo courtesy of the Blue Tip Festival
The world's largest matchstick is erected one week a year, with a flaming torch head, as part of Wadsworth, Ohio's annual Blue Tip Festival. The festival was created to celebrate the town's former top employer: the Ohio Match Company. The company helped move Wadsworth from a coal mining town to an industrial community, opening up a factory in the area to make their famous "Ohio Blue Tip" strike-anywhere matches. While the corporation closed in the 1980s, the festival lives on, with the 17-foot-tall match being ceremoniously lit during the annual Blue Tip Parade.
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