Division Releases

Plan an Autumn Adventure Today with DiscoverOhio.com
Experience Ohio's fall color show, farmers markets and fun festivals on a three-day getaway
10/14/2008

CONTACT:
Marty McDonald at (614) 383-1621
Tamara Brown at (614) 466-8591

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 14, 2008) - With fall in full swing and Ohio's landscape transforming into a brilliant show of red, yellow, orange and green, Ohio is the perfect destination for an autumn getaway. With DiscoverOhio.com's new Autumn Adventures Web site, planning an Ohio getaway is now easier than ever. Autumn Adventures was designed to help travelers discover how they can experience Ohio's amazing fall colors, whether from a tree top zipline 60 feet above the ground or from the window of a scenic railway.

"While all states have a summer season, not all states have an authentic autumn experience like we do here in Ohio," said State Tourism Director Amir Eylon. "We are providing travelers with all the tools they need to create a uniquely Ohio getaway including harvest festivals, farmers markets, wineries, breath-taking hikes, colorful drives and even some sample itineraries for three-day getaways or a daytrip depending on their available time."

From spectacular leaf peeping and breathtaking driving tours to harvest festivals and itineraries, visitors will find just what they're looking for on DiscoverOhio.com to customize their autumn adventure. A link to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Web site provides visitors with access to the weekly fall color update for those who want to plan their experience around Ohio's fall colors.

Following is a great selection of ways to experience autumn in Ohio. For additional events and ideas, please go to www.DiscoverOhio.com or call 1-800-BUCKEYE. Ohio is too much fun for just one day!

Fall Foliage in Appalachian Country, State Parks
Ohio's fall foliage colors can be seen in a progression from north to south, typically peaking in southern Ohio in late October. There are plenty of different opportunities to enjoy the outstanding views. Visit the 17 covered bridges in Ashtabula County along a picturesque driving trail and see the most recently unveiled covered bridge - the Smolen Gulf Bridge is the longest in the country, measuring 613 feet long!

Ohio also is a great place to discover the many quilt barn trails that take you on numerous scenic routes. The Adams' County Clothesline of Quilts trail showcases 21 quilt barns and is part of the Appalachian Discovery Birding and Heritage Trail, a 200-mile trail that combines the region's most productive birding "hot spots" with significant historical sites. The Monroe County Patchwork Jewels quilt barns showcase the county's quilt barn artwork that proudly reflects southeastern Ohio's Appalachian heritage. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources also has a great selection of scenic drives throughout each region of the state.

For your own adventure, embark on a journey in one of Ohio's 74 state parks where you can see the best of fall foliage by region throughout the entire season on an exhilarating hike or a charming picnic. Make sure you're up to speed on peak color changes by viewing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' color reports.

Have a Taste of Ohio
Ohio's culinary scene is as diverse as the state itself - you can choose from the classic to the contemporary; from upscale to down-home cooking; from ethnic varieties to American favorites. With Ohio's popular farm markets and wineries, autumn's culinary scene gets a fresh new face. Sample pumpkin-infused delicacies or purchase other home-grown goodies at any one of the state's farm markets. Ohio also is home to fantastic wineries that specialize in fine ice wines, a delicious version that uses Vidal grapes picked during the winter months. The season's ice wines make for perfect samples during a tour of your soon-to-be-favorite Ohio winery.

Itineraries Offer Getaway Ideas Close to Home
Considering Ohio is within roughly 600 miles of about 60 percent of the U.S. population, planning your getaway to the state is both affordable and practical. Are you eager to embark on your own outdoor adventure below the most colorful tree tops in Ohio? Does the Halloween season have you feeling festive and eager to search for spirits of Ohio's past? Or, are you looking for a history lesson on the state's significant role in the Underground Railroad? These and other three-day getaways are the perfect way for you to kick back, relax and have some fun. Or, if you don't like following an itinerary, Ohio has some fantastic ways for you to choose your own adventure! Whether you like hiking and hunting or birding and biking, the list of ways to experience the fall season in Ohio is endless.

Celebrate Autumn, One Festival at a Time
During fall, Ohio comes alive with celebrations of heritage and history. Because Ohio is deeply rooted in Native American culture (early Iroquois settlers named the state after the Ohio River; its meaning translates to "great river"), the season is celebrated through harvest festivals that commemorate the history of Ohio's early settlers who depended on autumn to produce a harvest that would last them through the winter. The fall color season is also a great time to hike in a state park, forest or preserve, and ODNR has a great list of places to visit for an exhilarating outdoor adventure. From pumpkin and apple butter festivals to corn mazes, harvest fairs and fall hikes, Ohio is THE place to celebrate nature's bounty in autumn.

Embark on a Modern-Day Scavenger Hunt
Geocaching, a phenomenon that creates "adventures" using latitude and longitude coordinates as clues, is the ideal way to explore the remote wilderness of a state park or experience Ohio's hidden gems and energetic cities. During a geocache adventure, participants plug coordinates into a GPS device and are on their way to their own exploration. The Ohio Historical Society also has a great selection of geocaches in Ohio that take visitors on a history lesson they're not soon to forget!

About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio's vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $38 billion in visitor sales in 2007 and 454,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division's mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio's unique travel opportunities and market the state's outstanding quality of life.

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