Dent Haunted Schoolhouse

Rating: *****<>

Link: http://www.frightsite.com/

Quick Review: Don’t let its size fool you…it is crazy.

Review: Although the Dent Haunted Schoolhouse may seem small on the outside it is filled with some of the biggest frights of the whole state. This place will scare you. Even if you don’t believe the history of the place, the modern attraction will get you.

Okay, the history. In the 1940’s and 50’s some school kids went missing. The children’s remains were found in the Janitor’s basement of the school.

The current attraction is a throwback to this history. One starts by going threw a small outside yard, then in to the building. The outside seems to be there so as to help with the crowd. Once inside the building the real fun begins. The rooms on the first floor are set up like a real school with desk, kids killing themselves, and crazy teachers. After the first floor comes the downstairs. Caution, the stairs are small and steep.

The basement is set up to look like the Janitor left it, and a whole lot more. Even though it may seem small, it is can take a long time to go through. The hallways are narrow and wind from room to room. Some of the hallways are filled with lockers, cabinets, and other things At first they seem to connect the rooms as passages for the visitors. Eventually one realizes that they are a perfect place to be startled.

Actors jump out of everywhere. Everywhere. If it seems too small for a person to be hiding, then they are in there. The walls must be hollow and the rooms connected by hidden doors. Actors yelling at one in a room will be laughing at a few rooms down with no way of passing the group.

To add to the fear of the random actors is the theme. A schoolhouse. Everything is a school theme. From the shop room, to the medical lab, to the butcher in the cafeteria, all of the rooms fit the theme. No alien spaceship or random junkyard, but a well crafted series of rooms designed to look as if they would fit in a school. Every prop a perfect fit to its location. Unless it isn’t a prop but an actor waiting to jump out.

If one has a chance to go to only a single haunted attraction in Ohio… do not miss Dent Haunted Schoolhouse.

Quick tip: That’s not a dummy on the table… or is it?

Middletown Land of Illusion

Rating: ***

Link: http://www.thelandofillusion.com/haunted_trail.php

Quick Review: 4 scares for the price of 2… 3 for the price of 2 all together.

Review: The Middletown Land of Illusion is a group of four haunted attraction set in the woods in southwest Ohio. They include Temple of Terror, Killer Klown Maze 3d, The Haunted Trail, and Doctor Psycho Estate. The best being the trail with the others being varying in quality. The Haunted Trail is the reason to go to this attraction. It is almost a mile long, maybe longer. One starts an open area and is soon thrown into the woods. As the trail meanders along it goes through buildings, junkyards, a field, and the woods. It has length. This length is great, but at times can hurt it. With the typical monsters jumping out at the visitors there is many an opportunity to be frightened. With the vast array of scenes, however, there is many a time to be wonder “What is the theme?” Yes, a redneck could be scary the first time, or even the second, but not the 45th. “Where are you going?” seems to be the trails theme. Broken up into sets as the trail is it works, but as a whole the thing is to broken up. It seems as if the designers knew what would be cool… but not how to connect it. The trails length also means that slower groups get connected to faster groups and by the end almost always 2 or more groups have formed a long chain of people. The people that jump out at the front are known to the people at the back, and the people jumping at the back miss the front.

The other three attractions seem small in comparison to the trail. The Temple of Terror, themed around an ancient temple, and The Killer Klown maze, a… well the name says it, are about the same size, with Doctor Psychos Estate being the smallest.

The Temple of Terror is well done visually and thematically, but sparse. Sparse in both actors and visitors. This may be connected, with a low turn out meaning fewer actors are needed, but it works. The design is more of a winding hallway than a long passage. Every room full of something, from animatronics to simple dummies. Every turn is a dark endeavor with something possibly hiding in the void. Overall the theme is well done and the sparse nature makes every dark corner a question.

The Killer Klown maze is a typical haunted attraction. Great some people are afraid of clowns. Some people are just annoyed. This attraction can help one figure out which they are. It is in 3d. The kind of 3d it is however is the fake color effect type. Put on some glasses and certain colors pop out. Some how this is okay. The colors fit the theme, the 3d makes them a little less annoying. The clowns on the other hand are a little over bearing. If one is not afraid of clowns they can, and will, become a problem. The maze its self is nothing because the clowns won’t allow any one to get lost in it. this takes out the fun and adds to the clown problem.

The final attraction is the smallest one, but one of the best. Doctor Psycho’s haunted estate is the home of a crazy doctor who did mad experiments. Just a small backyard and a house. Nothing much to it. the theme however is kept through out. This is great because a lot of the elements, from bodies on tables to bloody kitchens, are used in the trail. In the trail they are random. In the house they are gruesome. The theme makes the difference.

Overall the Middletown Land of Illusion is a good place to start ones Halloween. With a lengthy trail and many other things to see and do it is worth the money. And even though it might lack a theme and is a little long the trail is one of the best in the area.

Fall in Ohio

Rating: *****<>

Quick Review: People visit New England for the Fall Colors, they visit Ohio for the Leaves, festival, harvest, and so much more.

Review: Ohio may not be famous for its fall colors, but with a vast area of forest the state is one of the best places to see the fall leaves change. Ohio has so much more to offer than the leaves though. From Festivals to haunted houses to nice cool weather, Ohio is one of the best places to be in autumn.  

The line up of festivals in autumn is so vast that it is impossible for one to visit them all. Wine, Apples, Hay, Pumpkin, Buttercream … you name it, Ohio has a festival for it. From the small local festivals focused on the local produce to the big music fest to the ongoing harvest celebration festivals in Ohio are a great way to spend a the day.

At night, however, the state really comes alive, even bringing back the dead to help celebrate. Haunted Houses are a grand tradition. From the massive Land of Illusions to the small little local organizations Ohio has a level of haunt for everyone. With the harvest theme in mind many attractions also offer haunted  hay rides. If fake ghouls and ghosts don’t interest one desires then try a haunted ghost tour. Every city seems to offer one, even the State House building.

If one just wants to sit back and relax Ohio is a wonderful place to watch the show that nature displays. Try a scenic drive on US Route 35 (Ohio portion), or just walk the many park trails offered.

Any way you slice it Ohio is a great place to visit in the Fall.

The Great Seal of The State of Ohio

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_Ohio

This was inspired by a view from a hill at Adena Mansions and Gardens

The Fair at New Boston

Rating: ****

Link: http://www.fairatnewboston.org/index.html

Quick Review: Step back in time……. at the Fair At New Boston! (from the nice website) 

Review: The Fair at New Boston, held yearly at the site of the former Shawnee villages of Peckuwe, is a recreation of a 1800 trade fair. A trade fair it is.

Unlike other historical fairs The Fair at New Boston is authentic to its roots with out seeming like a history lesson. It’s fun without seeming like a disney style attraction. The event is not your local lets play dress up. This is a serious event and all merchants/reenactors must send pictures of clothing a materials before being allowed to attend.

This creates a feel of reality that many other faors lack. It is dirt in the hunting village. The fires are hot. The smoke is smoky. And the merchant wares are awesome. People actually treat it as a trade fair. A lot of merchants commented on how they create everything they need for their costumes at the fair.

Every detail of the fair will make you feel as if you have actually stepped back to a time when the country wa young and the state was new. This great for any one wanting to learn about the history of the time. But it also great for anyone wantting to buy period peices. Art, Furniture, food, candy, Anything one might want is for sale at the fair. And anything for sale is also probably being made at the fair. The merchants area is a great place to see crafts men working their wears and doing their trades.

Overall the Fair at New Boston is a great place to see Ohio’s, and America’s, history in action.

Quick Tip: Visit everywhere… not  everything is located at the main trade area.

Ohio Historical Center

Rating: ***

Link: http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/c09/index.shtml

Quick Review: A quick overview of Ohio, with a few artifacts thrown in.

Review:  The Ohio Historical Center is nice. It is nice, but not much. The museum and grounds, which includes a historical village (Only open on special occasions)  tell the history of Ohio.

 With as great and varied a history as Ohio has it is suprising to see the main museum of the historical society as sparse as it is. The history of the state is told with artifacts and displays, and the amount of space given to each time period is large enough to give an overview, however lacks real depth.

The vast area of artifacts are astounding and a treat to view and put into context. The timeline of the state is told. the History aspect is explained. Then the next artifact is placed next to it. Overall the flow seems a little off for a person going to study the history of Ohio. It is perfect for a first timer or kids.

The space given to traveling exhibits is great, almost half the size of the main hall. The traveling and temporary exhibits are a good reason to go to the museum.  They might even be the best reason. From a recreation of Norman Rockwell’s Studio to exhibits from other state museum, the non permanent exhibits are a treat.

If one wants to see a specific area of the state the Historical Society has great museums and attraction in that area. But if one wants a general overview the Historical Center is a good way to spend a few hours.

Side Note: The Ohio Historical Society has been going through a lot of changes due to budget cuts… which can explain some of the museums changes. http://www.ohiohistory.org/about/pr/072109a.html

Blossom Center for the Performing Arts and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Rating:   Blossom **** 
            Cuyahoga ****

Link:

Blossom – http://www.livenation.com/venue/blossom-music-center-tickets

Cuyahoga Valley National Park - http://www.nps.gov/CUVA/index.htm

Blossom Center for the Performing Arts is located in Cuyahoga Falls outside of Cleveland. Blossom is an outdoor amphitheatres that hosts concerts and is the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra. Blossom pavilion section seats 5,700 people, with space for about 13,500 more on the lawn.  Blossom is a great place to see the orchestra and a more upscale productions, but has does not always receive favorable reviews for rock concerts. The are many options to what to see at the blossom, so one should go to the Blossom first before deciding the place is a waste of time. The best seats are under the pavilion (no worries about rain), but expect to pay more than a lawn seat.

The Blossom Music Center for the Performing Arts is located inside Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cuyahoga is the only national park in the state of Ohio. This park was first established as a national recreation area in 1974 by president Ford and designated a national park on October 11, 2000. The park was established really because many people in the are wanted to prevent urban sprawl from taking over the park.

There are many things to do inside the park. Some of them include backpacking, bicycling, bird watching, camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, golfing, picnicking, horseback riding, train riding, and doing winter sports.  There are also Ranger led events all year long. Now this is something for everyone.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operates 12 months a year and offers transportation in the park. This is a great way to not have to drive in parts of the park. One wanting to ride the railroad should first visit http://www.cvsr.com/. This will give one a good idea of prices and where to board the train. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operates outside of the park also, so definitely visit their site to figure out which city to board in so you are on the right train trip that goes through the park.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a national park is hiking and Cuyahoga does not let down. Cuyahoga has over 125 miles of hiking trails. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, are nearly level and are accessible to all visitors. A portion of Ohio’s Buckeye Trail also passes through the park. There is a trail for everyone at the park. One trail of mention is the the Towpath Trail. The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.  You can walk or bike on what used to have mule pulled canal boats on it.

The park offers campsites and even offers a small bed and breakfast. The park is also located between Cleveland and Akron Ohio, so those two cities also have hotels and so do many of the cities in between. So lodging in or around the park is not a problem.

One can spend the day hiking then seeing a concert at Blossom Music Center. The Blossom Center for the Performing Arts and Cuyahoga Valley National Park are two great places in Northeast Ohio not to be missed.

Ohio Renissance Festival

Rating: ****

Link: http://www.renfestival.com/

Quick Review: Step back in time for fun.

Review: The Ohio Renaissance Festival located in Harveysburg, Ohio is open each Fall on weekends in the months of September and October. It is easily accessed from Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati. The Festival is located in a 30 acre recreated 16th century English Village. The festival is complete with crafts, food, costumed characters, shows, jousts, knights, royalty, and more 16th century fun for the whole family. The festival is a great place to go to spend a day away from your everyday life. Tickets sold on the website and at the festival come in many different varieties from season passes, 4 person family and friends combo, to general admission tickets for one day.

There are many entertainment options at the festival. The festival hosts about 100 shows daily on 11 stages.  The shows range from magic, sword fights, comedy to music.

One great thing to go to the festival to see is the crafts. This is really where the festival shines.  Hundreds of master artists come to share their crafts and techniques. You can see glassblowers, blacksmiths, candle makers, weavers, boot makers, stone carvers, stained glass, and this only names a few. The nice thing is that many of the artists make demonstrate their crafts on site.  One can spend a good part of the day going from booth to booth.

One thing people always get at the festival is a good bite to eat. The festival has many food options. The favorite of many is the huge turkey legs, but more is to be had. There are many sweet treats to be had.

There are many hotels in the area that offer hotel packages for the festival. Go here to see the deals http://www.renfestival.com/asp/lodging.aspx. This would be a good site to visit if one is going to come to the festival from a far away place.

One great thing about the festival is that one can visit many weekends and each time get a different experience with theme weekends they offer. Two weekends that look interesting on the schedule are Pirate Weekend and Highland Weekend. If you were only going to go to the festival one time one should first go to their website and look at the theme weekend page and plan out which weekend to go based on their favorite theme.

One might also note that weddings can be arranged on the festival grounds. That would be an interesting way to start a life together with another person.

The Ohio Renaissance Festival is a way to not only have fun but also learn a good piece about the way of life in 16th century England. This festival is one of Ohio’s best festival for its uniqueness. One will never for get it, so bring all my ladies and my lords to the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

Ohio State Flag

^{Image from http://www.touring-ohio.com/ a really cool site about Ohio}

Ohio Caverns

Rating: *****

Link: http://ohiocaverns.com/

Quick Review: A COOL place to visit under the state.

Review: The Ohio caverns is COOL. Yes, as you head underground the temperature stays a constant 54-55 degrees (it varied with the change in moisture.). The  Ohio caverns is a small cave in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Found over 100 years ago by a 17 year old farm boy, it hasn’t changed much.

      Because the same family has owned the location since 1920’s the place has been well preserved. The formations are almost all intactand beautiful. The stalagmites range from huge to microscopic. The columns look as if they are holding the place up in spots and as if they can’t hold themselves up in others.  The color are vivid and unique, giving the place the name of “America’s most colorful caverns.”

     The guides are well knowledged and ableto answer any question you have. (And probably already answered it a few times that day… the same questions get asked a lot.) Their knowledge of the place is vast. The information they provided on the fromations is  great. The history of the place is short and simple but the guides know it to the smallest detail.    

     The path through the cavern’s is well paved and lit. Almost a completely flat trail through the caverns means that the mile long walk is a breeze. The only  difficulty is the over 100 stairs in the place (okay 60 at the end and very few inside.) Any one able to do the end stairs will have no problem with the trail. If one can not take the tour the caverns site also offers a large park for picnics and simple play.

      Overall the caverns are a great place to visit for anbody in the area. Beautfiul and colorful and just plan cool.

Quick Tip: Groups of ten or more can seethe historic section with advanced reservations.