Spring Break is just around the corner. Your friends are packing up and heading to the golden sands of Florida Keys, the green cafes of Amsterdam, the oceanic nighttime cartwheels of Thailand. And you just checked your bank account. $1.50. Uh-oh. Guess you’re stuck at home. You’ll be lucky if you can get out of your one bedroom apartment in Athens Ohio, let alone any place with a beach.
Relax. Even if you’re broke, you can still have an awesome spring break, right here in Ohio. In fact, you could even have a blast and still stay in your Ohio University rental. It will probably cost more than $1.50, but pass the hat around and raise some funds. Fun doesn’t need to cost much. Get your spring break on with these 3 spring break destinations right here in Ohio.
An Island Destination
Vacay on an island in Ohio? No, it’s not a three hour cruise, but you won’t want to go home anytime soon. A 20 minute ferry ride will take you to Put-in-Bay, Kelley’s Island, and Middle Bass Island. Enjoy a cool drink surrounded by water as far as the eye can see. In fact, some of Ohio’s best wineries are on the islands, including Heineman Winery, Kelleys Island Wine Co., and Put In Bay Winery.
Lay Siege to a Castle
Castles in Ohio? True, Ohio didn’t see any white people until the Medieval Period had long faded into retro. But it has been home to plenty of rich people who happen to love castles. And most of them are long dead, and their stone fortresses now have tour guides. The Château Laroche is a classic. Commonly known as the Loveland Castle, it was built by Sir Harry Andrews in 1927 for the Knights of the Golden Trail. There’s also Squire’s Castle. Owned by the Cleveland Metroparks in Willoughby Hills, this castle is only half-baked, since Mr. Squire’s wife died during construction. It’s still impressive though and worth the trip.
Visit the Haunted Moonville Tunnel
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this 1800s-era train tunnel is at least haunted by history. Swallowed by forests and time, the Moonville Tunnel is like stepping into another era. It’s the perfect mix of hiking and time travel. Moonville was an old mining boom town that has since faded into poison ivy and greenbriar patches.
Moonville is rumored to be haunted following a fatal collision of two freight trains caused by a dispatching mistake. People began reporting a ghost as early as 1895 carrying a bright lantern. Ghost reportings continue to this day. The best part? This haunt is within an easy 20 minute drive of your three bedroom apartment in Athens. Get your spook on.