8 Must-See Places in the National Aviation Heritage Area

Originally constructed as a feeder reservoir dug by hand for the Miami & Erie Canal, Grand Lake St. Marys was the world's largest reservoir when built. The region played an important role in opening up the Northwest Territory as the St. Marys River was a vital link between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. The park offers 52 miles of shoreline for boating and fishing, as well as a family campground, swimming pool, and picnic areas.

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Ohio's Largest and Most Beautiful Cavern Tours take guests through two different parts of the cavern. The Historic Tour begins at the site of discovery and includes the part that was originally explored from 1897 to 1925. The Natural Wonder Tour takes guests on a 1 mile walk through parts discovered after 1925. It includes the largest stalactite in Ohio, The Crystal King, along with many other marvelous formations and colors. The Winter Tour is the only tour offered from October 1st through April 30th. It is a hybrid tour, showing guests highlights from both the Natural Wonder and Historic tours.

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The Heart of Ohio is 122,000 sq. ft. filled with 1,425 booths and showcases of room-ready antiques. From Martha Stewart Magazine to CNN, everyone has named this antique mall - and its surrounding antique malls and events - its top antiquing destination in the nation.

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Young’s history began in 1869 when relatives of the Young Family built the red barn. Today, over 1 million people visit the farm annually, many sampling their best-selling fresh cheddar curds. Garlic, Italian, Dill, Cajun, Plain, Sweet Basil & Garlic and Ranch...the favorite is the Deep-Fried Cheddar Curds. From corn mazes to homemade ice cream, annual signature events, and batting cages, this stop is fun for kids of all ages (even the ones who have seen a few decades).

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History is alive and well at Indian Creek Distillery…authentic and true to the spirit of historic Staley Mill Farm. As the 6th generation to own this legendary farm, Staley Rye Whiskey is distilled using the same copper pot stills that Missy’s great-great-great-grandfather Elias Staley used almost 200 years ago, the same limestone water, and the same recipe. Unique to its heritage and rich in the flavors of history, Staley Rye Whiskey is the Spirit of America in a bottle.

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Get a sweeping view of Air Force and military aviation progress at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum. You’ll discover more than 360 aircraft and aerospace vehicles on display, many rare and one-of-a-kind. Take a ride on a simulator and check out their ever-changing exhibits throughout four hangars. Co-located within the museum is the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Meet the heroes and heroines of aviation and space travel and experience interactive displays that give you hands-on experience in landing an aircraft on a Navy carrier, controlling the movement of a helicopter, docking in space with the Hubble Space Telescope, and taking the controls of a historic aircraft on one of four flight simulators.

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The Great Miami Riverway includes more than 99 miles of river, paved trails, and connected communities in southwest Ohio where you can surf the river, cycle the bike trail, and find your way through historic downtowns. Surf Dayton is a community information source for everything river SUP, surf, and whitewater kayaking related around Dayton, OH. Enjoy three whitewater features, one of the most popular is located right in the heart of downtown Dayton.

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Thrill-seekers meet their match when they visit Kings Island to ride Orion®, one of only seven giga coasters in the world, a class of roller coasters having a height or drop of 300-399 feet. Named Best New Amusement Park Attraction for 2020 in the USA TODAY 10Best.com Readers’ Choice Travel Awards poll, the ride features the latest prototype vehicle developed by the Project X initiative. Scientists are in a race against time to develop technology capable of weaving transport vehicles through a coming meteor storm and traveling to a new planet within the Orion constellation. For the program to be successful, it needs volunteers to help with testing. Riders on Orion plummet down an exhilarating 300-foot first drop, sending them on a high-speed journey over seven more hills and 5,321 feet of track at speeds up to 91 mph on Kings Island's tallest, fastest and longest steel roller coaster.

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