March/April 2025

Cover of March/April 2025 Issue of Ohio Magazine

Travel

10 Ohio Road Trips to Take This Year

From our state’s only national park to museums dedicated to legendary women to incredible roadside art, these treks offer plenty of ways to make new memories. 

26 Ways to Explore Columbus This Spring and Summer

The return of warm weather offers a perfect time to visit our capital city for world-class museums, food-and-drink finds and a full slate of sports. Plus, save the date for a variety of special events. 

4 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ohio

Our state’s own city of Dublin gets serious about St. Patrick’s Day, hosting a range of activities for revelers of all ages. 

5 Incredible Roadside Art Finds in Ohio

From a giant Bigfoot sculpture in Mercer County to a backyard folk-art masterpiece in Springfield, these roadside art finds embody creativity in unusual and interesting ways.

5 Must-Visit Spots in Ohio’s Only National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers more than 33,000 acres of adventure just a short drive from both Cleveland and Akron, and these stops should be part of your itinerary.

5 Ohio Food Spots That Opened Before 1900

From the state’s oldest continuously operating business to an inn visited by Abraham Lincoln, these establishments all had their start before the turn of the 20th century. 

5 Ohio Museums that Celebrate Aviation and Space Exploration

Learn about our state’s deep ties to aeronautics at these museums where exhibits stretch from the Wright brothers to the Space Race.

7 Outdoor Adventures in West Virginia

The Mountain State is home to beautiful outdoor destinations, whether you’re looking to hit the trails, get some stargazing in or embrace adventures ranging from rail biking to bungee jumping. 

7 St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Ohio

Put on your green and get ready to experience a taste of the Emerald Isle in the Buckeye State with these parades and celebrations sure to help you feel the luck of the Irish. 

8 Floral Festivals to Enjoy This Spring and Summer in Ohio

From April through August, Ohio’s vibrant flower-focused festivals offer the opportunity to celebrate our state’s natural beauty while taking part in family-friendly activities, food and entertainment.

9 Unique Places to Stay in Amish Country

Whether you’re looking for a place to stay with plenty to do on-site, a bed-and-breakfast to start your day off right or accommodations surrounded by nature, these spots offer memorable stays.

Celebrate Legendary Women at These 5 Ohio Museums

Visit these sites that honor individuals who left an indelible mark on history, from a pioneering suffragist to a famous sharpshooter to a literary icon. 

Engage Your Kids’ Sense of Wonder at 5 Ohio Science Centers

Curiosity fuels learning at these kid-focused destinations across our state that are filled with hands-on experiences, insightful exhibits and big fun.

Experience Geauga County’s Nearly Century-Old Maple Festival

Founded in 1926, the annual celebration honors the region’s rich maple sugaring heritage with entertainment, traditional competitions and lots of sweet treats.

Explore the Arts at These 5 Columbus Spots

From an incredible art museum to a historic downtown music venue to a famous author’s family home turned literary hub, creativity abounds in our capital city. 

Explore the Life of a U.S. President Through His Books in Fremont

The new exhibition “Inside President Hayes‘ Library” opens March 28 at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. 

How Glass City Riverwalk Connects Visitors with Toledo’s Waterfront

The arrival of warmer temperatures brings a fresh focus on the Maumee River and what you can see, do and experience along it.

How Great Council State Park Honors Ohio’s Shawnee Heritage

This southwest Ohio park in Xenia, built on the site of the Native American village of Old Chillicothe, presents exhibits, artifacts and interactive displays inside an immersive visitor center.

Spend a Day in These 5 Ohio Small Towns

Our state is packed with picturesque villages, including these communities brimming with history, culture and creativity.

The Miller Ferries Begin Service to Ohio’s Islands for 2025 Season

Climb aboard this fleet of ferries starting as early as March 21 for service to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island.

Visit 5 Favorite Ohio Bookstores

Bibliophiles love these creatively organized and inviting spots where browsing the shelves makes for a memorable and fun experience.

Visit Ohio’s Newest Covered Bridge in Holmes County

Located along the Wally Road Scenic Byway, this northeast Ohio span has received national accolades since it was completed in 2023. 

Visit the Ohio Graves of 5 U.S. Presidents

Seven presidents were born in Ohio, and another called the state home before being elected. Connect with that history by visiting the final resting places of the five who are buried here. 

Food + Drink

4 Ohio Maple Events Sure to Sweeten the Season

Visit a nearly century-old festival, sample a variety of maple treats and swing by Pancake Town USA.  

This Small-Town Festival Celebrates a Pungent Wild Leek

If you’ve never eaten a ramp, you’re not alone. The annual Ramp Up Peninsula celebration offers a chance to try the wild leek, which arrives in parts of Ohio each spring. 

Toledo’s Stone Cut Bistro Continues a Family’s Restaurant Tradition

Elias and Nas Hajjar joined forces to open this spot in the Ottawa Hills Shopping Center that features the Lebanese-inspired dishes for which their family is known.

Why Beer Lovers Flock to Hoof Hearted Brewing in the Tiny Town of Marengo

Located just a couple miles off Interstate 71 in Morrow County, this brewery crafts a large lineup of creatively named and tasty brews.

Arts

Lake Metroparks’ Spring Art Show Focuses on Earth, Air, Fire and Water

Opening at Kirtland’s Penitentiary Glen Reservation on March 15, “Earth, Air, Fire & Water: Art & The Four Elements” features the work of 10 artists.

See ‘Cycle Thru! The Art of the Bike’ in Cincinnati

Explore the evolution of bicycle design at the Cincinnati Art Museum during “Cycle Thru! The Art of the Bike,” on display from April 4 through Aug. 24.

See ‘J.M.W. Turner: Watercolor Horizons’ at Cincinnati’s Taft Museum of Art

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of renowned English watercolor artist J.M.W. Turner’s birth during this exhibition running March 1 through June 15.

Home + Garden

Grow an Ohio Garden with the Native Plant Backyard Challenge

Make your outdoor space into a haven for birds, butterflies and pollinators this season by taking part in this National Audubon Society program. 

Lauren Alexander Designs’ Eco-Friendly and Incredibly Cute Everyday Items

This Columbus maker creates colorful replacements for household products that prioritize sustainability and reusability to help reduce harmful environmental impacts.

Ohio Life

Final Leg of the Buckeye Trail Is Dedicated

After decades of effort, Ohio’s official trail was recognized as complete during a ceremony on March 20, 1981.

Ohio Finds: Clyde Singer’s “Beaten Ball Club”

Born in 1908 in Malvern, Singer was a natural artist. He created this painting in 1949. 

Ohio Love Staff Picks: March 2025

From a beloved pancake breakfast in Burton and a former factory in Mount Vernon to an iconic piece of Cincinnati history, here’s what our staff loves about Ohio this month. 

Patty Mitchell Shares Her Inspiration for Creating Passion Works Studio

Her Athens studio empowers artists of all ability levels to channel their creativity into joyful, vibrant works of art, including its signature Passion Flower.