Best Winter Vista

While you can't climb the Marblehead Lighthouse in winter, the view from the base is a glittering panorama of ice and snow. The lighthouse, one of Ohio's most-photographed landmarks, is often captured in summer’s light. But intrepid shutterbugs may find their best shots framed in winter's illumination. 110 Lighthouse Dr. Marblehead, 419/734-4424.

Best Spot for Jazz

If you're a touring jazz musician in the United States, you most likely know Jerry Gillotti. He's been booking the best blues, jazz (and occasional rock) acts around into Gilly's nightclub in downtown Dayton for nearly three decades. From Christian McBride to Bobby "Blue" Bland to Jane Monheit to Joshua Redman, Gilly has brought them all to his small, intimate listening room at 132 S. Jefferson St. Two years ago he engendered a bit of controversy by taking the club smoke-free, an unusual move for a jazz venue that the non-smoking Gillotti says he doesn't regret one bit. Business sure hasn't gone down, and the music plays on. 937/228-8414.

Best River View

The Ohio River never looks better than when the Tall Stacks Music, Arts & Heritage Festival brings the world's largest gathering of steamboats to Cincinnati. The assembly of riverboats is a nautical wonder, a signature event that takes place every three years and draws up to a million visitors. But the 5-day event this Oct. 4-8 can sell out early, especially for evening cruises, so check out www.tallstacks.com or call 866/578-2257 to make your plans.

Best Reason to Stay for Halftime

At Ohio University, people don't go to the football games just to see the players; they go to see the band - the Marching 110. With their incredible energy, inspired dance routines and diverse repertoire, it's no wonder the members have twice played in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and have performed at Carnegie Hall, presidential balls and for thousands of fans over the years. Watch them bust a move as they put their distinctive spirit into hits from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Michael Jackson, The Who and more.

Best Yard Sale

The first annual, 250-mile-long Ohio Lincoln Highway "Buy Way" yard sale last August drew shoppers to hundreds of homes, shops, churches and civic organizations along U.S. Rte. 30, from East Liverpool on Ohio's eastern border to Van Wert and beyond at the state’s western edge. The event's success has prompted organizers to do it again this year, Aug. 10-12. www.historicbyway.com.

Best Place to go Nuts

It's easy to get a little gluttonous at Pistachio, a bakery in Columbus' Short North neighborhood that serves up such heavenly "artisan" confections as White Chocolate Passion Fruit Terrine and Caramelized Banana Rum Cheesecake. For a year-and-a-half, Chef Spencer Budros has been supplying made-from-scratch tortes, biscotti, cookies, pies and macaroons as well as dessert wines and a selection of coffees and teas that have garnered rave reviews from every sweet-tooth in town. 680 N. Pearl St., Columbus, 614/220-9070.

Best Tune with a Hue

Cutting edge, unpretentious, critically acclaimed and entertaining, Red {an orchestra}, Cleveland's newest ensemble is REDefining and REDesigning classical music to foster the genre's REDiscovery. "Red" draws diverse audiences as much for its unique spin on the concert experience as its masterful shows of musicianship. Performances are a multi-sensory experience combining music with film, poetry, theater, literature and visual art. www.redanorchestra.org.

Best Place tp See for Miles and Miles

Ohio built this 352-foot stone tower on South Bass Island to mark the 100th anniversary of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's defeat of the British fleet during the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, as well as the peace between the U.S. and Canada ever since. To this day a trip to the top of the Perry Victory and International Peace Memorial provides a magnificent view of the lake, the surrounding islands, and the village and harbor of Put-in-Bay down below. There's a visitor center that tells all about the battle and the war, including Perry’s still-remembered line, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." www.nps.gov/pevi

Best Backpacking

The best spot we've found for a good, rugged and sweaty-fun weekend of backpacking is Shawnee State Park near Portsmouth. The park sits within the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest, Ohio's largest and possibly its most scenic forest. A 60-mile hiking trail is your chance to get lost in the best nature the state has to offer, with hilly vistas and primitive campsites aplenty. For those who prefer to plug in their hair dryer, there are also cabins, conventional campsites and a lodge, of course. Portsmouth is close by, in case you need to stock up on supplies. 740/858-6652. www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/shawnee.htm 

Best use of Suspense

Considering the number of close games played by the Ohio State Buckeye basketball team at the Schottenstein Center, it’s fitting that the bridge outside the arena's door is sustained by suspense. Opened to traffic in November 2003, the Lane Avenue Bridge is held in place over the Olentangy River by a series of steel cables that attach at the top of the 145-foot-tall towers standing in the center on each side of the 370-foot span. The cable-stay suspension bridge provides a landmark entryway to The Ohio State University campus.

Best Road Now Taken

The commute from Columbus to Athens and back just got a bit smoother, thanks to a brand-new, 12-mile stretch of U.S. Rte. 33 that loops around Lancaster. Estimated time of arrival to the Hocking Hills via the bypass: approximately 20 minutes earlier than before. Now, there’s plenty of time for that second cup of coffee.

Best Place to Shake Things Up

Pick your poison. Looking for a place to take the family for a Sunday afternoon treat? Load the kids in the SUV and head to Young's Jersey Dairy, where folks line up to suck down the delicious homemade milkshakes. 6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd., Yellow Springs, 937/325-0629, www.youngsdairy.com. Looking for a place to mingle with singles? Hop into your car and head to Martini Italian Bistro, where they specialize in, well, making killer martinis and terrific Italian food. 445 N. High St., Columbus, 614/22-ITALY, www.cameronmitchell.com.

Best Place to Feed Your Soul

While you may run the risk of falling asleep at your desk when you return to work, sometimes you just can’t resist a plate full of hearty food covered in gravy. And, if you head to Bread & Better in Columbus' Market Exchange District on Thursdays, that’s just what you'll get when the soul food special is on the menu. Whether you choose the pork chops or chicken, it's all good when you mop up what’s left on your plate with one of the restaurant's melt-in-your-mouth rolls. 443 E. Main St., Columbus, 614/464-2732.

Best Spot for Quiet Contemplation

Since 1875, the faithful and the curious alike have been making the trip to tiny Carey in Hancock County, midway between Columbus and Toledo. They want to enjoy the serene Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation, a sumptuous old-world church and garden that honors Mary and her life. A gilded statue of the holy mother patterned after one in Luxembourg is at the center of the basilica, and some believe the place has special healing properties. 315 Clay St., 419/ 396-7107. www.olcshrine.com 

Best Pajama Party

Ah, the beauty of Amish Country at dawn: the sun rising above rolling hills; those first few black buggies ambling down empty roads; and hundreds of shivering shopaholics, clad only in pajamas, standing ankle-deep in snow. They've got the world’s largest annual pajama party to thank for those smiles frozen (literally) to their faces. On the last Saturday in January, picturesque Berlin promises as much as 40 percent off merchandise at nearly a dozen area shops - but only to those customers dressed in their PJs. Last year, 500 women began lining up outside Country Craft Cupboard at 4:30 a.m. (never mind that the store didn't open until 6). www.amishgateway.com

Best History Lesson

The Freedom Summer Memorial, a stone amphitheater in a peaceful, sylvan setting at Miami University in Oxford, marks a little-known chapter in Ohio's involvement in the civil rights movement. Etched on the backs of the amphitheater seats are headlines from the summer of 1964, when the media spotlight shone on the voter registration drive in the South. The Western campus (then Western College, a private college that merged with Miami in 1974) was a training site for volunteers, including Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner, who set off from Oxford in June 1964 and were killed less than 24 hours after arriving in Mississippi. http://wcp.muohio.edu/

Best Way to Start  Your Meal

If El Meson isn't the best restaurant in the Dayton area (and plenty of folks think it is), then it's definitely got the best appetizers in town, if not just about anywhere. This exotic Latin fusion and Hispanic specialty restaurant owned by the Castro family in West Carrollton, south of Dayton, is known for its wide variety of tapas, meant to be shared and enjoyed as much as the meal itself. There are dozens to choose from (and wash down with sangria; white or red, your choice), and they arrive at the table almost instantaneously. Some of us never actually get around to the dinner course. 903 E. Dixie Dr., 937/859-8229.

Best Maple Syrup

The Motz family, founders of Clough Valley Maple Syrup near Cincinnati, has been extracting sap from hundreds of trees and turning it into maple syrup for two generations. The sap starts running in February, and visitors are welcome at the nightly boilings. The Motzes produce just 900 pints of the dark amber, but nonetheless the syrup won a blue ribbon at the Ohio State Fair. 5531 Clough Pike, Anderson Township, 513/231-6567.

Best Convergence in the Country

At the annual Darke County Steam Threshers Reunion, enthusiasts gather for what is billed as the largest gathering of antique tractors, gas engines, farm machinery and steam engines in the state. There's plenty of log-sawing, wheat threshing and, needless to say, tractor races. The 2006 event takes place July 6-9. York Woods, St. Rte. 127 at Ansonia (near Greenville), 937/538-3676.

Best Cheap(er) Thrill

The tallest ride of its kind in the world, Skyhawk, the new giant swing at Cedar Point amusement park, will propel riders 125 feet in the air and reach speeds of 60 mph. And it will cost less this year to subject oneself to this arc of terror: Admission to the park has been reduced by $5 for adults (from $44.95 to $39.95). Tickets for senior citizens and age 3 and older (under 48 inches tall) have been reduced from $24.95 to $9.95. www.cedarpoint.com

Best Green House

Imagine living in a house made from tires packed with dirt. Jay and Annie Warmke have just such an abode, and they call it Blue Rock Station. It's more than their home, though; it's an educational center for Earthships — dwellings made from natural or recycled materials that can support themselves with almost complete independence. The Warmkes' Earthship, which they started building in 1996, was Ohio's first. Now, they have a 38-acre retreat where they teach people about earth-friendly construction, offer hands-on workshops on a variety of topics and let people trek around the land with one of their llamas. 1190 Virginia Ridge Rd., Philo. 740/674-4300. www.bluerockstation.com

Best Bugs

Bugs may be icky, but everyone loves the soft flitting and colorful fluttering of butterflies. There are plenty to be seen at the delightful Butterfly House of Whitehouse, near Toledo, where 500 species from around the world float through a garden setting that lets you get up close to these wonderful critters. Since the butterfly lifespan runs its course in just a few weeks, new ones are introduced each week. The Butterfly House is open seasonally, May through September, at 11455 Obee Rd. 419/877-2733. www.butterfly-house.com    

Best Freebie

Check out the UnMuseum, the children's museum located on the top floor of the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati. The UnMuseum features free art supplies (clay, posterboard, foam, beads, and the like) as well as interactive exhibits for kids ages 5 and up. There's  free admission on Monday evenings, 5-9 P.M.  (But don't let the tykes step off on the wrong floor, where decidedly R-Rated art is displayed.) 44 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati, 513/345-8400. www.contemporaryartcenter.org

Best Bet for Bibliophiles

Way back before the Internet allowed you to research a subject in seconds, people happily whiled away silent hours amoung the stacks at the local library. It's nice to know there are spots where that's still taking place. Thanks to such criteria as the number of customer visits. The Columbus Metropolitan Library ranks no. 1 among all large city libraries in the nation, according to the 2005 Hennen's American Library Ratings, published in American Libraries Magazine. For the past 125 years, the main library and its branches  have prided themselves on helpful librarians, educational programs, and a collection that drew 8.2 million visits last year alone. www.columbuslibrary.org

Best Rest

Want to sleep in an old log cabin? Logan's Inn at Cedar Falls offers six renovated cabins, all built in the 1840's. They're adjacent to the fabulous, leafy confines of Hocking Hills State Park. Each is appointed with antiques and the luxuries on e expects these days of a high quality bed-and-breakfast spot, and indeed the Inn offers more modern cabins and rooms that are less rustic but just as comfy. And of course, you're right in the heart of Hocking Hills. Hiking, anyone? Follow it up wth dinner at the Inns's fine restaurant. 740/385-7489. www.innatcedarfalls.com

Best Place to Let Off Steam

Climb aboard the quarter-scale steam Engine 901 at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation (NWORRP) in Findlay for a ride into iron-horse history. The train's season runs from April through mid-November, and NWORRP offers special North Pole Express rides during the Christmas season. 11600 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, 419/423-2995. www.nworrp.org

Best Place to do a Double Take

Minnesota may have the Twin Cities, but Ohio has the twins' city. Every year on the first full weekend of August, twins from all over the world converge on Twinsburg for the Twins Days Festival. Last year, 2,025 sets of twins turned out for the 30th annual celebration. Twins, triplets and quadruplets parade through town and are judged on their similarities and dissimilarities, with awards given to the most alike and least alike. This year’s party of pairs will take place Aug. 4-6. www.twinsdays.org.

Best Place to Spend Eternity

William Henry Harrison, for the little time he spent in the White House, may well be among the least of our presidents, but you at least have to give him this: He sleeps in a wonderful place. Harrison’s Tomb stands on a lovely hill overlooking a gorgeous bend in the Ohio River that is one of the prettiest, most picturesque spots anywhere along the state's shores. The ninth president's tomb is topped by an imposing 60-foot limestone obelisk that doesn't look so bad, either. The tomb is in North Bend, in Hamilton County, 15 miles west of Cincinnati, on Cliff Road west off U.S. Rte. 50. 800/686-1535. www.ohiohistory.org/places/harrison

Best Place to Gourd-ge Yourself

Two words - pumpkin soup. Yes, you'll find that and any other culinary concoction that can be whipped up using the orange gourd at the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show each October. Pumpkin donuts, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cookies and, yes, pumpkin pies - including a 400-pound monster - are among the items on the menu. The big event each year is the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In, where 1,000-pound gourds are not uncommon. This year's show - the 100th - will run Oct. 18-21. Log on to www.pumpkinshow.com for more (pumpk)information.

Best Beads

From the outside, this little shop in Athenslooks like nothing special. But step inside Beads & Things, and instantly be overwhelmed by the vast number of, well, beads: every color, every kind of bead you could imagine - ceramic, wooden, glass, metal, shell - from all over the world. Just pick your beads and sit down to make whatever you want. If you've never made jewelry, co-owners Jo Merkle and  Phil Berry will show you exactly what to do and supply you with everything you need. "We offer a space for people to explore their creativity," Merkle says. 8 North Shafer St., Athens, 740/592-6453.

Best Scrapbooking

The Scrap Shack in Ashland stands out, and not only because it's painted in bright pink and purple stripes. Owner Karin Perry did scrapbooking as a hobby for six years before she decided to open the shop two-and-a-half years ago. She offers classes and custom scrapbooking services, not to mention almost any material a novice or experienced scrapbooker might need; the store is overflowing with colorful paper, stickers and how-to books. The shop's motto is "There are no mistakes in Scrapbooking." 802 E. Main St, Ashland, 419/281-7300.

Best Bloom

Tread lightly in Hocking County, the only known Ohio home of the small whorled pogonia. The rare orchid can now grow a little easier, thanks to $323,000 in federal grants and donations that will create a 160-acre conservation site. The project includes land acquisition and fencing to shield the flower from wayward hikers and deer in the mood to graze. Sporting five leaves and white or yellow flowers, the orchid sporadically blooms in late May.

Best Way to Enjoy Beethoven

When it comes to getting audiences hooked on classics, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra knows the score. All fans in attendance for this season's all-Beethoven program had the chance to buy a limited-edition bobblehead sporting a likeness of the composer, and received a "Get Your Beethoven On!" temporary tattoo and commemorative bookmark. Free chocolates made the weekend truly an ode to joy.

Best Zest

From $5 worth of wilting Hungarian peppers a mini-salsa empire has bloomed. The southeastern Ohio enterprise Frog Ranch Foods, begun 11 years ago with a few bargain flats of peppers, offers a fresh-tasting, zippy salsa in mild, medium and hot octanes. Particularly piquant is the smoky chipotle variety, which makes a fine meal out of a plate of scrambled eggs. www.frogranch.com.

Best Affair for Meatheads

As the birthplace of the inventors of the hamburger, Akron businessmen Charles and Frank Menches, Ohio has earned its spot as a meat mecca. That reign continues this Memorial Day weekend with the First Annual National Hamburger Festival in downtown Akron, when up to 40 renowned burger eateries from across the country descend to dish out their greasy goods, amateur chefs try to grill their way to success in a cooking contest, and one lucky young lady is crowned Miss Hamburger. 330/375-2871.

Best Nod to the Past

Eighty-one yeas ago, residesnts of Geneva-on-the-lake raced to their newly established firehouse anytime the village's buildings were in flames. Today, that fire station is a hot spot of its own. The Old Firehouse Winery lures Ohio oenophiles eager to indulge in fine spirits. From the firefightening paraphernalia that adorns the inside of the building, to the 1924 fire truck parked out front, the winery's decor and scenic perch overlooking Lake Erie draw a steady crowd. 5499 Lake Road, Geneva-on-the-lake. 440/466-9300, www.oldfirehousewinery.com

Best New Fest

From the start, festivalgoers knew they were in for something completely different. To open the Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology last Labor Day weekend, dancers, skateboarders, drill teams, cyclists, majorettes, and low-rider cars blasting music streamed into Cleveland's Public Square, followed by a free public concert featuring top local musicians such as legendary bluesman Robert Lockwood Jr. Over the next three days, 175 events as diverse as an opera using NASA sound technology, a symphony for 21 iPods, and a dance choreographed to a video of open-heart surgery drew some 70,000 people to the city’s center. Plans are under way for an encore this year.

Best New Spot for Eagle-Eyed Ohioans

For that breed of hobbyist for whom bird watching is a passion, the news that bald eagles were spotted soaring around Central Ohio's Buckeye Lake this summer was like manna from heaven. Not that the birds are an entirely rare sight: Last year, 108 bald eagles were recorded nesting in Ohio (most often in the marsh region of western Lake Erie). Rather, the birders’ delight comes from learning that the endangered species is still thriving here. In 1979, the same year Ohio began a bald eagle restoration project, only four of the birds were spotted in the whole state.