OHIO ?'s about visiting (updated)

[Cincy'sMom]

Slighly more then two hours from Findlay is Cincinnati. There are lots of nice parks there (and many dog parks too). Also a bit further then 2 hours is Hocking Hills State Park. A gorgeous area, and from my understanding, dog friendly hiking.

[Cinder & Smoke]

As others have said - you can't go wrong with visits to Ohio State Parks!

Almost all OHIO State Parks for Fee Free - basic entrance, parking, and
most activities are FREE to one and all.
Dogs are usually welcome in 90% of Ohio State Parks - BUT must ALWAYS be on a leash!
Dogs are usually NOT allowed within spittin distance of a swimming beach;
and sometimes not welcome in picnic areas.
Leash requirements are usually enforced - often with an expensive TICKET given
with no warning! Park Rangers are "plentiful" and are armed Police Officers -
who sometimes enjoy "enforcing" where a warning would do. But MOST of em
are NICE Guys & Gals!

Are you bringing "Camping Gear" (tent, sleepie bags, etc)??
AFTER the Big MD Weekend - there should be campsites available in most of
Ohio's Parks.

Final suggestion:
When you first enter Ohio - if it's via a major InterState Route - there should be
a "manned" Visitors' Welcome Center - they usually have tons of literature, maps,
flyers, and some discount cupon books & magazines. Worth the time to stop!
And most of the NEWER Ohio Turnpike Service Plazas have information counters -
Wherever you stop - be sure to pick up a copy of the Ohio Turnpike map -
you'll need it sooner or later ... and ALL of the OTP Entrance booths are
robots spitting tickets -
the attendant that might answer the call button NEVER has a map!

Enjoy your visit - there's a LOT to See & Do in Ohio!!

[lv4dogs]

Debby, a few of my friends reccomended Celina, they also say it is beautiful. I love state parks, I'll be sure to visit at least one while I'm there.

Cincy's mom, I replied in the Schappacher Park thread, if my plans change I'm going to try to make it up there.

Phred, thanks for all the wonderful information! We are not bringing our camping gear, we just don't have the time to get it all ready & together, and we want the van to have as much as possible, this will be both Indy & Kaige's longest trip yet so we want them to be as comfy as possible. I'd love to but it would also be Kaige's first time camping, I wanted to be a little more prepared.

Thanks a bunch! Keep the ideas/reccomendations comming!