Hiking, history + the world's largest basket | Ohio Adventures

Joyce and Pasquale

Jul 5, 20223 min read

Here's the thing, Ohio, like Connecticut and every other state has its hidden gems to discover.

Some are true hidden gems and some are random like the world's largest basket (see pics below).

World's largest picnic basket

The world's largest picnic basket stands 7 stories tall and 200 feet wide. It was the home of the former Longaberger Basket Company. Seems like the perfect fit for say, Yogi Bear?

I mean, look at the details of this thing

Headed to "the beach" as the locals call it

Looking for some nice kindling wood... found it

someone got a haircut

picnic by "the beach" - it was 99 degrees this day

rolling hills of thick trees

driftwood along the shore and rolling hills

Looks like Neil is following us

Hiked Hocking Hills State Park

...a 6-mile hike...

Starting our 6-mile hike

These rocks and caves were out of this world.

Look how the trees are growing right on the rocks on the ledge

It was like one giant cave

Like most parts of the country, there hasn't been much rain here so the waterfalls are not as full as they normally are

And more stairs going up. The stairs act as a connection between the rocks.

This place was amazing. We were exhausted but soaking up every step of it.

All the smells

Still smiling

Another waterfall

the stairs just kept going....

do you see them chiseled in the rock? We climbed them.

Over 150 stairs. One set of stairs had over 50 steps to get to the top of the rock. Felt like Rocky just minus the rain.

Blackhand Gorge

(just the entrance because no dogs allowed)

Little turtle did not want to be scooted off the road.

Roscoe Village in Coshocton, Ohio

It was about a 45 minute drive from our campground. We started to drive there around 3 so by the time we got there and it being Sunday, most things were already closed. But we looked in the windows and admired the historic homes.

Joyce peeking through the window at an old loom and broom shop

This is an old floor weaving loom. Probably used to make rugs or large tapestries back in the 1800s and early 1900s.

This shop makes brooms from the beginning to the end. Pasquale snuck in here just as the lady was closing the door.

This house sat up on a hill with about 30 steps to climb just to get to it. So we stood on the street and admired it.

Saw this lady walking around.

Look at the barn quilt on top of that building. You will see this a lot in the Amish community. The Ohio Amish largest community is about 25 minutes north of this little town.

These were plaques on the buildings. I just loved the doctor one. Reminded be of Gun Smoke and all the western movies I used to watch with my brother when we were kids.