You finished your canoe trip down the river, complete with stops for the lunch and snacks you packed and breaks to sample some of the local food vendors along the water’s edge. You secured your campsite or other lodging for the night and are planning more activities for the rest of your stay. While it will more than likely include another chance to navigate the river, there are many other activities and attractions in the Mohican-Loudonville area.
For a nice “dry” adventure, try the go-karts, aerial park and miniature golf at Mohican Adventures. Packages are available so you can try everything and repeat your favorites. Mohican State Park offers miles of hiking trails. Choose a trail with a covered bridge or one with scenic waterfalls. Rent a boat at nearby Pleasant Hill Marina or Charles Mill Marina. Pontoons, fishing boats and jet skis are available.
Save half a day to try something new and exciting. Tree Frog Canopy Tours has more than 4,000 feet of adventure. It’s a trek through the treetops while suspended from a dual cable zip line for an outdoor experience you won’t forget. The 2½ to 3-hour long tour travels through the trees by means of zip lines, sky bridges and rappels connected to platforms suspended in the trees. This tour is suitable for first-time and experienced zip line enthusiasts. It is northern Ohio’s only canopy tour and is expected to become one of the top U.S. canopy tours. Open May through October, reservations are required, although walk-ins are welcome if openings are available.
Shopping buffs will appreciate the Creative Outlet Indian store and rock shop. You can select silver jewelry created by native artists, moccasins, hats, essential oils, crystals and stones, as well as custom-made silver jewelry. Copper from the Navajo and the Black Hills of South Dakota boast healing properties for arthritis. Turquoise, considered sacred to the Southwestern Native Americans and believed to bring good luck, fertility and friendship, is available in unique jewelry pieces. An upper level art gallery includes a variety of authentic Indian crafts.
The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum has been preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Mohican area for more than 45 years. Learn about inventors, entertainers and explorers who lived nearby and industries that were born in the area.
Wolf Creek Grist Mill Historic Park and Museum is dedicated to restoring and preserving historic buildings donated by previous owners and relocated to the Mill property from various locations around Ohio. After relocation, the buildings undergo complete restoration by volunteers. Wolf Creek Mill is an example of an early 1800’s grist mill, one of the few remaining in existence in Ohio. They host an International Wine Festival in June, with wine available for tasting, purchase and carryout.
For the athletes in your group, The Mohican Mountain Bike 100, a 100-mile bike race, starts in downtown Loudonville and ends at Mohican Adventures, passing through four counties on a loop. The Mohican Trail 100 offers runners a choice of 100 miles, 50 miles or the Mohican Marathon, traveling through the 5,000-acre Mohican-Memorial State Forest. Both of these events occur in June and if you choose not to participate, spectators are always welcome to encourage a strong finish. Also in June, the Thrills in the Hills motorcycle show takes place in downtown Loudonville.
July activities include an antique festival, car show and traditional fireworks for the 4th. Mohican Reservation Campground hosts the Great Mohican Pow-Wow with Native American foods, artisans, craftsmen and traders. Indian dance and drum competitions are a highlight of this event. August brings the downtown Loudonville sidewalk sales and an 18th Century Colonial Trade Fair at the Wolf Creek Grist Mill.
Make reservations now for the Mohican Bluegrass Festival held annually in September at Mohican Wilderness Campground. This 3-day family event combines good music with food and craft vendors.
There are several locations for horseback riding, as well as numerous golf courses in the area. Trails all around invite a hike or bike in the woods and you can choose the length and scenery.
With a short drive to nearby Lucas, Ohio, you’ll see Malabar Farm State Park. The home of Pulitzer-prize-winning author and agriculturist, Louis Bromfield, you can tour the “Big House” and see where famous and not-so-famous guests stayed the night, including where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall spent a night during their honeymoon. Tours of the working farm reveal landmarks and conservation highlights. You can enjoy a meal at the Malabar Farm Restaurant and purchase grass-fed, free-range meats before you leave.
Whether tent, camper or RV, you’ll find the type of campsite you desire from primitive to full hookup. Campgrounds offer amenities including indoor showers, swimming pools, picnic areas, playgrounds, and general stores to replenish supplies. Most campgrounds take reservations to confirm you’ll get whatever type of site you need or prefer in the busy summer months. Regardless of your camping preference, here are some tips to help:
- Pack frozen food in the cooler. It keeps food cold so you may not have to buy as much ice.
- If camping with children, pack playing cards, board games, and coloring books in case of rain.
- Use your empty cooler to transport dirty laundry home, saving space in the vehicle.
If you prefer more of the comforts of home to camping, there are numerous cottages, cabins, motel rooms and bed & breakfasts nearby. The unique Landoll’s Mohican Castle resembles a European castle with eleven suites available.
While there are several locations in the area to replenish your camping food supply, if you want a break from cooking, you can find burgers, pizza, wings, sandwiches, and homemade soups and pies at locations in town and near the water. Trails End Restaurant has pizza, wings, beer and a full bar. Their pizza buffet and salad bar are served in an actual canoe and an array of sports memorabilia decorates the walls. The River Room Lounge is situated on the Mohican River. With outdoor seating along the water’s edge, they feature live music.
Before you leave the area, take another trip down the river. If you went by canoe the first time, try another form of transportation like a kayak or a tube to get really close to the water. It’s a sure bet that the Mohican-Loudonville area has something for everyone, so take the short drive to visit and see for yourself. For a complete list of local events and updates, visit their website, DiscoverMohican.com.
Mohican-Loudonville things to do
