Ohio Travel Industry Releases

Around the World in Ohio
State parks offer international experiences in America's Heartland
6/11/2008

CONTACT:
Mona Mesereau
mona_mesereau@msn.com
(720) 842-5271

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (June 11, 2008) – Though they are located in some of the most scenic areas of America’s Heartland, Ohio State Park Resorts offer a wide range of activities that have origins from some of the most far-flung places in the world.

"Many visitors to Ohio come for the varied geography and all it brings – from the nautical playground of Lake Erie to the challenging golf courses of central Ohio," said Judi Lages, vice president of sales and marketing for Xanterra Parks & Resorts, operator of seven Ohio State Park Resorts. "We’ve discovered that many of our favorite recreational pastimes have roots from around the world, so our guests can have true international experiences right here in the Midwest."

Lages offers the following suggestions for an Ohio vacation with international flair:

Paddle. Derived from the word “kenu” – meaning dugout – canoes were originally used by the Carib Indians of the Caribbean Islands. North American Indians later created today’s version of the canoe – a frame of wooden ribs covered with the lightweight bark of birch, elm or cedar trees. Several Ohio State Park Resorts feature canoeing. At Shawnee State Park Resort near Portsmouth in Southern Ohio, paddlers can spend a lazy afternoon on Turkey Creek Lake. Situated within the Shawnee Forest, the area is often called “The Little Smokies” to reflect the area’s lush, rugged landscape.

Buy – but don’t say – "cheese." Ohio has the largest population of Amish in the world. Descended from Swiss Anabaptists, members of this conservative Christian religious group speak German (Pennsylvania Dutch) before they learn to speak English. Members are known for their strict adherence to a simple, non-modern lifestyle as well as for their production of high-quality – and highly desirable – goods, from quilts to cheese. Be respectful and never take photographs of Amish people, as they consider the practice an unwanted demonstration of pride. In Geauga County, one of Ohio’s largest Amish population centers is located near Punderson Manor State Park Resort, and many of the resort’s guests spend a pleasurable day exploring the area. The Middlefield Cheese House is a popular stop for enjoying Amish-style cuisine.

Shuffle. Be like Betty Grable and play shuffleboard. Invented in 15th-century England, the game was popular – and perfectly acceptable – among soldiers and, later, the wealthy landowners throughout the English countryside. The game made its way to the U.S. and eventually became considered a sinful pastime by the time of the Puritans in the 16th century. The game made a steady comeback, and by the 1940s it was popular among actors and musicians. Now enjoying fresh interest among young and old, the game is available at all seven Ohio State Park Resorts operated by Xanterra.

Float. Particularly popular throughout Africa, Australia and New Zealand, pontoon boats are the perfect solution for boaters who are committed to extreme relaxation. The flat-bottomed boats are available for rent on lakes at Mohican, Salt Fork and Burr Oak State Parks.

Pick and grin. Bluegrass music is frequently performed on selected summer weekends at Burr Oak State Park Resort in Southern Ohio. While most people consider bluegrass a decidedly American form of music, it actually has its roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music.

Break. Billiards tables are situated in game rooms at Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Salt Fork, Shawnee and Mohican State Park Resorts. The game originated in France and evolved from a croquet-like lawn game. The green cloth was placed on a wooden table to simulate grass. From the start, the game cut across class lines and was played by commoners as well as royalty.

Roast. There’s nothing quite like a marshmallow roast to put you in a summer-vacation mood, and several resorts feature campfire rings where marshmallow-roasting is encouraged. The gooey white confection dates to ancient Egypt where a honey-based candy was flavored and thickened with the sap of the root of the marsh-mallow plant.

Swing. Talk about a pastime with staying power. The first golf-like game took place in 1297 in the Netherlands, where the Dutch played a game with a stick and leather ball. But it was Scotland where the game really took off. St. Andrews, long considered the holiest of the holey lands, was developed sometime in the 15th century. Each of the seven parks features a challenging and picturesque golf course either within or near the park. Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Salt Fork, Shawnee and Punderson all feature special golf packages.

Check. The earliest forms of chess originated in Indian and Persian cultures. Today, it is one of the world’s most popular games. All seven resorts keep board games for complimentary use of guests, and on any afternoon you will find family groups clustered around comfortable lobby seating areas playing chess, Monopoly, cards and other games.

Pitch. Like shuffleboard, horseshoe pitching is making a comeback, especially among younger park visitors. The origins of the game can be traced to Greece. While the Greek athletes were throwing carefully formed discuses, most of the fans camped outside the stadiums were unable to afford them. So they created a contest surrounding the pitching of horseshoes instead. The game was blissfully rule-free until 1869, when England established a set of rules to govern the game. All seven resorts have horseshoe courts.

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About Xanterra Parks & Resorts
Xanterra Parks & Resorts® (consisting of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. and Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C.) operates lodges, restaurants and other concessions at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is the country’s largest park concessioner. Xanterra operates concessions in the following locations: Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial; and at the Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif.; and eight Ohio State Parks. Its affiliate Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C. operates concessions at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Xanterra also operates the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz.

Long committed to the preservation and protection of the environment, Ecologix, Xanterra Parks & Resorts’ environmental program, includes a variety of proactive environmental stewardship programs in each location. Xanterra has been repeatedly recognized for its environmental leadership in the hospitality industry and is the recipient of many honors, including major awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Travel Industry Association, Colorado Department of Public Health, State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

For more information about Xanterra, links to individual properties and reservations numbers, visit www.xanterra.com.