Visiting Northwest Ohio

Fort Recovery

Historic Northwest Ohio

The upper portion of Northwest Ohio is an extremely flat plain that was once the bottom of an ancient lake. South of this plains is not as flat and is characterized by gently rolling hills. These rolling hills are the results of millions of years of glacier advances and retreats leaving deposits from Canada in their decline. This area has one notable exception where a hilly belt of bedrock in Bellefontaine rises 1,549 feet above sea level - the highest point in the state, called Campbell's Hill.

Marblehead Lighthouse
Marblehead Lighthouse

Global warming nothing new

We hear a lot about global warming and Lake Erie's shrinking coastline, but when you start looking at things in geological ages, Lake Erie has been shrinking for thousands of years. In fact, at one time Lake Erie extended deep into Northwest Ohio. As the great lake shrank, it left what was called the Black Swamp which was still present when the first settlers arrived in the area. In fact, Native Americans refused to live in this foreboding region.

Today this area is no longer a swamp and has some of the richest, most fertile farm land in the state.

Perry Victory Memorial
Perry Victory Memorial

Located on South Bass Island is the Perry Victory Memorial built in the early 1900s as a lasting monument to Oliver Perry's victory over the British naval forces that had control over the western end of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

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Fort Meigs Cannon

Fort Meigs

Fort Meigs, the largest reconstructed wooden fort in Ohio, includes 10 acres of land and has a mile perimeter overlooking the Maumee River. Fort Meigs stood as an important stronghold against the British during the War of 1812. In the 1960s the Ohio Historical Society purchased the site to rebuild the fort, and in 1974 the reconstructed fort was opened to the public.

See authentically dressed characters demonstrate important aspects of the fort. The Fort Meigs Museum offers an indepth experience of the activies of the fort as well as many artificats recovered during the reconstruction.

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The Toledo War with Michigan

Ohio's decision to include the Toledo area (then part of the Michigan Territory) in the state's canal system led to a boundary dispute, the so-called Toledo War of 1835.

Residents of the city organized to a transfer the political jurisdiction of the lower Maumee from the Michigan Territory to Ohio. Michigan, led by Gov. Stevens T. Mason, opposed this and sent troops. Ohio Gov. Robert Lucas called out the militia, and the state legislature organized most of the disputed area into Lucas County with present Ohio line as the northern boundary.

The dispute was settled by Pres. Andrew Jackson in favor of Ohio. In 1836 the U.S. Congress compensated Michigan for the loss by awarding it the Upper Peninsula and admission to statehood.

Ohio's Major Regions...

Ohio is a diverse state from rolling hills to flat planes with each region offering a variety of interesting locations and things to do, see and experience. For a quick intro of each region, click on the map below.

5 Geographic Regions of Ohio Northwest Ohio Northeast Ohio Southwest Ohio Southeast Ohio Central Ohio

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Fort Recovery Monument

 

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Our goal is to bring as much information about the great state of Ohio as possible.

Part of that pledge includes providing a source of information about local festivals and events.

If you have a local event or festival that might be of interest to our readers, please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will include it in our listings.

Click here for our online form to let us know all the particulars.

Kingwood Gardens

Kingwood Center, Mansfield Ohio

KitchenAid Mixer made in Greenville Ohio
KitchenAide has long been an fixture in many American kitchens. Visit where these wonderful appliances are manufactured in historic Greenville.

More about KitchenAide
Factory Tour in Greenville, Ohio

Amusement Parks

African Safari Wildlife Park
(Near Port Clinton)
267 S. Lightner Road Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Toll Free: 800-521-2660
(419) 732-3606

Cedar Point
(Near Sandusky)
One Cedar Point Drive Sandusky, Ohio 44870
(419) 627-2350

Great Wolf Lodge
(Near Sandusky)
Indoor Waterpark
Sandusky, Ohio
(419) 609-6000

Monsoon Lagoon
(Lake Erie-near Port Clinton) Port Clinton, Ohio
( 419) 732-6671

Northwest Wineries

Ohio Wineries

Flintpoint Vineyard
1190 CR 9
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

Logsdon Orchards
15880 CR 109
Upper Sandusky, Ohio43351

McDaniel Vineyard
810 Piper Rd
Mansfield, Ohio 44905

Valley View Vineyards
16100 SR 39
Loudonville, Ohio 44842

Candlelight Winery
11325 Center St.
Garrettsville, Ohio

Firelands Winery
917 Bardshar Road
Sandusky, Ohio 44870

Quarry Hill Orchards & Winery
8403 Mason Rd.
Berlin Heights, Ohio

Stoney Ridge Winery
07144 CR 16,
Bryan, Ohio 43506

Kelley's Island Wine Company
418 Woodford Rd.,
Kelleys Island, Ohio 43438
(419) 747-2678

Heineman Winery
Catawba Avenue
Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456

Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery
3845 East Wine Cellar Road
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

Parks & Lodges

East Harbor State Park
Located on the northeast part of Ottawa County on the north part of Catawba Island, off of Route 63, on the shores of Lake Erie.

Harrison Lake State Par
Fulton County, 26246 Harrison Lake Road, Fayette, Ohio

Kelleys Island State Park,
Erie County on Kelleys Island, Ohio.

Mary Jane Thurston State Park,
Henry County, northeast of McClure at 1-466 State Route 65, on the Maumee River.

Maumee Bay State Park
Lucas County, east of Toledo, and northeast of Oregon on the shores of Lake Erie.

Middle Bass Island State Park
Ottawa County, on Middle Bass Island south of Pelee Island and north of Catawba Island Ferries are available from Catawba Island or Marblehead.

Malabar Farm State Park
Ashland County, 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio.

South Bass Island State Park
Ottawa County on South Bass Island, southwest of Pelee Island and northeast of Catawba Island Ferries are available from Port Clinton or Marblehead.

Van Buren State Park
northern Hancock County, north of Findlay, east of Van Buren at 12259 Township Rd. 218.

Maumee Bay Resort & Conference Center, [2]
1400 State Park Road, Ohio.

Northwest's Byways


Toledo Metro Park

Providence Metropark features an operating 19th Century canal boat that you can take a trip down a portion of the Miami & Erie Canal. One highlight of the trip is passing through one of the very few operating locks that were a common part of traveling by canal.

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Merry Go Round Museum

Located in beautiful downtown Sandusky, is the Merry-Go-Round Museum devoted to the passing past-time of entertainment that was common in almost every community in years gone by. Enjoy a fun and relaxed atmosphere while touring the Merry-Go-Round Museum, where you'll learn about the history and art of the carousel.

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