Berlin is the oldest town in Holmes County and it's home to Ohio’s largest Amish community. So get ready to enjoy the region’s various Amish farms and shops. But, most of all, get rested and ready for any adventure.
1. Amish Country
Berlin is home to tens of thousands of Amish, so explore this unique and fascinating culture while you're in the area. You can take your family to visit an Amish store, enjoy Amish meals, or ride a horse-drawn carriage while touring the nearby farms. You'll learn an astonishing amount about the history of the culture at Berlin's Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center.
2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
It almost feels as if you should carry a passport to enter Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The deep forests and rolling hills along the Cuyahoga River seem like a different country, in which plants and wildlife are the true citizens. Do what makes you happy here—hike, bike, canoe, fish or picnic—but make time for the entire clan to take an adventure ride through the park on the vintage trains of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
3. Mohican State ParkM
To the west in nearby Loudonville, discover the Clear Fork Branch of the Mohican River running through the ohican State Park's 1,100 acres. The combination of forest and water opens up delightful recreational possibilities, including fishing, backpacking and horseback riding. Don't miss the chance to walk across the famous covered bridge in the park and climb up the old fire tower—one of the last remaining in the state.
4. Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Any football fans in the group? Head to Canton to see the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (formerly Fawcett Stadium). It's here that the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony takes place, as well as the NFL/Hall of Fame Game. Even if you don't make it for these football milestones, take a tour to admire the amazing renovation of the stadium: state-of-the-art Astroturf, a new scoreboard and updated lighting and sound systems.
5. Warther Carving Museum
Stop in and gawk at the Warther Carving Museum in Dover, just a short drive from Berlin—it's a place of wonder. Ernest "Mooney" Warther started whittling as a boy and took up carving ebony and ivory models of American trains. His precision earned him the attention of the Smithsonian Institute, which called his carvings "priceless works of art" and tried, unsuccessfully, to acquire some. You'll be astonished by Warther's talent, craft and patience when you see some of these whittlings at the museum. It's weird and wonderful—a must-see attraction.
6. Victorian House Museum
You don't have to dress to the nines to tour the Victorian House Museum. in Millersburg, but you might want to. The Queen Anne style-mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its 28 rooms house the museum society's Victorian-era antiques from Holmes County history. Every room has been lovingly restored to its original glory. If you visit at around the holiday season, your family's in for a special treat—the mansion is decorated with a special tree in every guest room.
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