A wonderful historical stop in Versailles to pay tribute to the celebrated sharpshooter Annie…read moreOakley. Easy to navigate to and plenty of room to park, it's really cool to see that people are still stopping by her resting place to pay their respects.

I was just driving along a country road from Indiana to Lima, Ohio when suddenly a small sign…read morepopped up saying "Annie Oakley Grave" with an arrow pointing to a side road. I thought, "What??". I grew up on cowboys and Indians and one of my favorite TV shows was "Annie Oakley". I had missed the turn but took the next right to reconnect with the road. After driving aways, there was another sign and Brock Cemetery. I turned in slowly, parked, and walked reverently up to the headstones for Annie, her parents, and husband Frank Butler. It was pretty awesome to be standing at her final resting place. I read the information on the plaques, took some pictures, and somberly continued on my trip. You just never know what you will come across when you take the small roads to your destination instead of freeways.

It's a covered bridge! How can you give it a bad review? I mean, you shouldn't expect anything…read moremore than a covered bridge. I took a handful of pictures and just stood there enjoying the silence and the sound of the water and wind gently blowing on the mildly warm summer day. It's not really that far out of the way if you wanna see a covered bridge. And when I went, there wasn't much traffic on the roads both to and from the bridge to the nearest freeway. I am curious on just how cool this would look during the winter...but I guess I will never know.

I got lucky and saw the sign to this place and made my husband turn down the road. It's such a…read morebeautiful and well taken care of bridge. I enjoyed reading the review with the history of the bridge in it. The area all around it is so lovely. We didn't see anybody while we were there. I love the creek and all the crops. It's just so beautiful and peaceful there.

There are TWO Harding sites in Marion. There is the Harding Home Historical Site (Library and…read moreMuseum) which is about a mile from the Harding Memorial. If you're in town - be sure to visit both. The Harding Memorial is a stunning memorial and includes the burial sites for both Harding and his wife, Florence. Thie memorial rivals some of the more famous memorials in Washington, DC. There is no admission fee for the Harding Memorial.

William Harding was the 29th President of the United States and long time Marion, Ohio resident…read more The Harding Memorial is the burial site of President Harding and his wife Florence. It is also known as the Harding Tomb. This is one of the last elaborate presidential tombs ever made. The memorial is managed by the Ohio Historical Society. The circular marble structure is reminiscent of something out of ancient Greece. It has no roof in an effort to honor President Harding's wish to be buried in a simple grave under a tree and the stars. The memorial is the work of Henry Hombostel and Eric Wood. It was completed in 1927, but due to President Harding being marred by personal controversies and scandals at the time of his death, the Memorial was not officially dedicated until 1931 by President Herbert Hoover. It costed $783,103, which is approximately $15.3 million. It stands about 53 feet tall and has a diameter of 103 feet. The memorial is across from the Marion Cemetery and has a small private parking lot. The grounds are immaculate. It has a lot of green space and a small round structure at the base of the memorial that has informational placards about President Harding, his wife and his presidency/life. The President and First Lady's crypts are fenced off so visitors can not go up to them. You can easily view them through the fence though. There is not much to see on the backside of the memorial except the structure itself. This is not a very long stop but could easily be coupled with other nearby attractions such as the Harding Library, the Marion Cemetery, and/or the Marion Veterans Park to maximize your time.

I wish I could write more about this building but because it's private you can only see the…read moreexterior. However I think it's still worth a stop if you're in the area. It's an absolutely beautiful house with charm, elegance and beautiful design. I can tell you that what you can see from the street is absolute craftsmanship.

I've walked by this mansion several times a week for years and I had no idea this piece of history…read morewas on Yelp. Would ya look at that?! Being that I live so closed, I've looked into its background and it's pretty cool. It's history is long and rather weird, starting way back in 1895 when circus owner Peter Sells asked a well known Columbus architect to build a home for his wife. This architect was Frank Packard and he designed the one-of-a-kind home with gothic, tudor, chateauesque styles mixed with his own personal flare, even adding circus-like touches throughout. Fun fact - This same architect build the Ohio Governor's Mansion, the Jeffrey Mansion, and at least one other in the city. The Sells mansion was on the market for quite some and it started to go a little down hill. However, it was finally purchased in 2020 and I've noticed the new owners are doing what they can to renovate and bring it back to life.

It is completely free. So fun. Lots of history. Really a beautiful little spot. Flowers were…read morebeginning to bloom. My 3 girls loved it. Made a little donation and they sent me a thank you email.

The Rock Garden was neat to see. It had a bunch of places created out of rocks and it is well…read morepreserved. It's free to visit, they just ask for a donation to help preserve the community.

You will find this gem tucked away in the back corner of the Marion Cemetery. It was installed back…read morein 1896 by the Merchant family to mark the grave of their patriarch Charles Merchant. It consists of a large ball perched upon a stone plinth. The ball is made of Quincy black granite, which is not quarried anymore. The structure has smaller balls placed in a circular formation around it. Parking here is simple. You just pull up on the nearest driveway, stop and explore. The ball is polished to a shine with the exception of one spot. If you look closely, you will see a circular patch on the ball. That is where it originally made contact with the pedestal that it is sitting on. Rumor has it that the 5.2-ton ball has been slowly rotating somehow. Many have speculated the cause of the movement, including ghost, but there has not been a definitive explanation given to this day. The shifting was first noticed by the Merchant family who had the giant stone lifted by a crane and placed back in its rightful orientation in 1898. They also secured it with some tar. This is a neat unexplained phenomenon that is worth a visit if you are in Marion, just to say that you have seen it. Either way, do not go there thinking you will witness the ball revolving. It only moves a fraction of an inch a year. This memorial is not a large consumer of your time. I was there less than 5 minutes, so I recommend checking out the Harding Memorial, Veterans Memorial Park, the Merchant Memorial, and the Marion County Firefighter's memorial, The WWII Marion County Veterans Memorial, all with in a half a mile. Fun Fact: The structure was featured in "Ripley's Believe It or Not," in 1929 and there is a water fountain created in the likeness of the structure outside the" Ripley's Believe It or Not" Museum in Myrtle Beach.

Here there is something for everyone. It is a nostalgic place for me and many others who are from…read moreTroy, Ohio. But for many, this is a new and booming place, but it's not exactly new. This is not just any park...here is a little history: In the early 1940's, several Troy residents began clearing the river and the banks of rubbish in hopes of using the area for water activates. They even cleared away the remains of an old wooden damn located just north of the Adams St. Bridge. Then, Edward Alvah (E. A.) and William Hobart took an interest in the park and provided the heavy equipment needed to assist in the process of clearing. That's right...E.A and William Hobart of the Hobart Brothers Corporation. The Hobart Corporation used to be based in Troy, Ohio. Yes, that's right...the ones that created and made Kitchenaid for the home and for commercial use...and they are still made today (just not here). Let us not forget the welders, generators and industrial equipment as well to name a few. They weren't always made in a foreign country. Indeed, Hobart was alive and well in Troy, Ohio and the surrounding area once upon a time. The Corporation put quite the thumbprint on Troy, this is one of them. The leaders of the Hobart Brothers Corporation wanted to provide a location for not only boating enthusiasts, but also for their employees to enjoy the Great Miami River and all activities related to water. So, they constructed a marina, a boathouse, and a launch area with a lighthouse all from the profits of the company. At one time there was a baseball diamond located here and playground equipment as well. The place boomed with boating activities, festivals and company picnics for many years. My grandparents and parents used to speak of the fun times here. In the 1960's, E.A. Hobart gave the boathouse and property to the city of Troy as a gift. Troy accepted and decided it had great recreational potential. It has been utilized in many ways over the years. It has even seen days of non-use and dilapidation as well sadly. Some of my fondest memories growing up were playing out on the island after crossing a bridge...and we always fed the ducks. I used to love to ride my bike down that steep hill coming in and lift my legs & feet off the peddles. We used to rent canoes and paddle boats below...sweet memories. But what was once old, is new again. It brings me tears of joy to see this place come alive again and alive it is indeed. This place not only has its own website now, but it has a Facebook page too! There is a fairly new restaurant in the building called "Smith's Boathouse". The Smith family has a history of their own. I went to school with one of the brothers and was able to enjoy the family restaurant in Maui (Yummy). It is a great addition to the Park. And if you get a chance, please check it out. But not only that, there is now an area for concerts in addition to the typical walks, playing, biking, picnicking or just hanging out and enjoying the view. There is quite the venue these days at Treasure Island. It makes me smile that it is alive again. Although people call it "new", please don't forget the history, how it started, why it's here and how it has evolved. When in Troy...stop down...a water activity may interest you, a stroll, a bike ride...or maybe just the view. These are only a few things you can do there...there is something for everyone...to include finding that special spot for peace and quiet. http://www.troyohio.gov/587/Treasure-Island-Park https://www.facebook.com/pages/Treasure-Island-Park/142286295802726

This is a living museum. Hands on for sure. A gem of a home that has undergone a multimillion…read moredollar makeover to its original state. The building was once chopped up into several units after the original owners. Everything invites you to touch and feel unlike most Wright museums. The furniture is sparse and reproductions. The guide invites us to sit and feel the experience. We learned lots of insider info from our knowledgeable host. Go and see this living gem.

Springfield OH is home to Westcott House, architect Frank Lloyd Wright's first (and only) Prairie…read morestyle home in the state. The Westcott House had fallen into disrepair over the years, and was restored in 2005 by the local non profit Westcott House Foundation. The Foundation now owns the property and preserves it as a museum, which is open to the public for tours. Tour tickets can be purchased online. Our tour guide was fantastic. She had so much knowledge about the house, the architectural style and the Westcott family. The tour was scheduled for 90 minutes, but I think she could have shared info with us all day! The museum gift shop had some beautiful items. Parking is available on the street in front of the museum.

Only rated 1 as we drove especially to visit this museum and there were construction fences all…read morearound it. It notice on website about it being closed. Great if they would post this.

Troy is so lucky to have such an historic building! Benjamin Overfield built his tavern over 200…read moreyears ago next to the Great Miami River on the Ohio Frontier. The logs from those huge old trees still hold up this 2-story building. Once you step inside you'll feel as if you've gone back in time. It's definitely worth your while to stop in a few times every summer to see the new exhibits and attend seasonal events. Admission is only $2, however, the museum accepts larger donations also!

I have lived in OH for over 15 years and cannot believe I've never visited this site! Enjoyed…read morereading about how the sculpture came to be. The QR code lets you listen to a recording of the sculptor himself. The 12' sculpture can be climbed on from the rear and presents a nice view of the area. Lots of areas for picnicking and amphitheater for concerts.

This is a really cool quick stop. The monument is impressive. The park is so quiet and pleasant. We…read moreeven saw deer visiting. The river is pretty. Parking is plentiful and there are restrooms.