We will likely be staying with D in Columbus during the holidays. Don’t know her schedule yet but at best, she’ll have the weekend off. Too short and too expensive to fly anywhere. Thinking of visiting Cincinnati or any other place within a 2-3 hour drive from Columbus, just to get away.
Any recommendations? Cincinnati, Hocking Hills, Huntington WV, Charleston WV, Lexington KY were the suggestions…
Pittsburgh
You mentioned the Hocking Hills. Old Man’s Cave is in the Hocking Hills and can be wonderful at that time of year. I kind of liken it walking into the gorge a bit like discovering “Rivendell” from the Lord of the Rings. There are several other venues in the area to hike to also. If you head to Cincinnati and have an interest in planes take a detour (not to far 1/2 an hour maybe) and stop at the Museum of Aviation in Dayton at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. It’s free and a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours an afternoon or a day. One exhibit I enjoy is the Air Force one exhibit. The Cincinnati Zoo will be lit up for Christmas so that could be fun. If you get down to Lexington I recommend Kentucky Horse Park. Have fun.
I second Hocking Hills. It is lovely this time of the year.
Also Oglebay park (about a 2 hour drive) in West Virginia is a nice resort with plenty of things to do at the resort as well as in the area.
Ohioan here. Two of my kids live in Columbus. If she doesn’t want to leave the city there is SO much to do there!
But if you do, remember snow/cold might be found ANYWHERE within 2-3 hours of central Ohio. In addition to the above:
Cleveland - Cleveland is a GREAT city. Museums, Botanical Gardens (inside), Little Italy for dining, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, beautiful lakeshore, etc. I personally would go to Cleveland over Cincy.
Indianapolis is about 3 hours away.
Also going to plug Detroit. A little over 3 hours but depending what you like to do, the Detroit Institute of Arts, great dining, riverfront, casinos, etc. https://www.epicureantravelerblog.com/detroit-holiday-events/
Hocking Hills is lovely. If you could still find a rental would be a nice get away. But they book up- fast.
Another vote for Cleveland, for all the reasons mentioned above, plus amazing restaurants.
Cleveland Orchestra has holiday concerts in December:
If you go to Cleveland and have time, a visit to Stan Hywet is wonderful at the holiday time: https://www.stanhywet.org/events/deck-hall-lights-cameras-christmas. It would be less than a 30 minute drive depending on where you stay in Cleveland.
Thanks for all the suggestions thus far. Will check out Hocking Hills and Oglebay Park in addition to Cincinnati.
D lived in Cleveland for a few years - so we’ve been there several times. Looking for some places new to us!
@abasket - very well aware that this is all weather dependent. She said it was snowing (ok, flurries!) yesterday. Would love to get away to a warmer locale - but her schedule is so tight that it doesn’t look feasible.
Ohio state parks have lodges that you can stay in.
I have no idea if they are open in December
Plenty to do in Columbus. Germantown?
Amish country around Sugarcreek?
Maybe embrace the cold and winter and look for an Airbnb cabin or home where you can keep a fire going, take some nature walks, play board games and relax!
Something like these!
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Hocking-Hills-State-Park--Logan--OH--United-States/homes
That’s what I would do.