Ohio is full of surprises. From historic canal towns and quirky roadside art to haunted castles and underground caves, the Buckeye State offers adventures you simply can’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re a lifelong Ohioan or a weekend traveler looking to uncover something new, these tours and experiences capture the spirit of the state — where history, creativity, and community come together.
In this guide, we’re highlighting 12 cool and unique tours and experiences you can only find in Ohio. Many of these destinations support local preservation efforts, celebrate Ohio’s cultural heritage, or showcase innovative ways the past connects with the present.
So pack your camera, grab your walking shoes, and get ready to explore a side of Ohio that’s as unexpected as it is unforgettable.
Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour with Beer Tasting (Cincinnati)
This is one of our personal favorites on this list–we can vouch for how cool Cincinnati’s beer caverns are! Step beneath Cincinnati’s streets to explore the hidden lagering tunnels that helped make the city a 19th-century brewing powerhouse. This guided tour takes you through the old pre-Prohibition brewery caverns of Over-the-Rhine, revealing how German immigrants built a thriving beer culture beneath the city. Cap it off with a tasting of locally crafted brews from Cincinnati’s modern beer scene.
While in Cinci, we also recommend checking out the historic Findlay Market.
See the Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
The grand art deco Netherland Plaza hotel is our favorite in Cinci, and we’re dying to stay in this carriage house suite in the historic Marion Hall Mansion.
Ohio Rail Experience (Lebanon / Cincinnati Area)
For a journey back in time, climb aboard a restored passenger train operated by the Ohio Rail Experience. These vintage railcars—some dating to the 1930s—travel along scenic routes through southwestern Ohio, offering a glimpse of the state’s transportation heritage in motion. Depending on the season, riders can enjoy themed excursions such as fall foliage trips, Christmas trains, or railfan photography tours.
Each trip is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who share stories about Ohio’s railroad history and the restoration efforts that keep these historic locomotives running. The program preserves the legacy of rail travel while giving visitors a firsthand sense of what it was like to traverse Ohio by train decades ago.
Where to Stay
Trains leave from Cincinnati, so see our suggestions above.
Ohio Caverns (West Liberty)
Known as “America’s Most Colorful Caverns,” the Ohio Caverns take you deep beneath the rolling farmland of Logan County to explore a hidden world of natural wonder. Guided tours wind through passageways lined with stunning crystal formations, stalactites, and flowstone walls—some dating back hundreds of thousands of years.
The caverns were first discovered in 1897, and many of the original routes remain preserved for modern visitors to experience. The Historic Tour highlights these early exploration paths, while the Natural Wonder Tour delves deeper into the geologic and scientific marvels that make Ohio Caverns unique. Above ground, the site includes a visitors center, picnic area, and gift shop with locally made items and educational souvenirs.
See Ohio Caverns on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
This updated farmhouse looks like the perfect tranquil stay close to the caverns and other outdoor activities in Ohio.
Holden Arboretum Canopy Walk & Emergent Tower (Kirtland)
High above the forest floor, Holden Arboretum’s Canopy Walk offers visitors a chance to experience nature from a completely new perspective. Suspended 65 feet in the air, this 500-foot-long walkway takes you through the treetops, offering breathtaking views of native Ohio woodlands and wildlife. The adventure continues with the Kalberer Emergent Tower, a 120-foot structure that allows you to see for miles across Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline on a clear day.
Part of the Holden Forests & Gardens organization, the arboretum is one of the largest in the nation, blending scientific research, conservation, and public engagement. Visitors can explore themed gardens, miles of trails, and seasonal exhibits, making it a year-round destination for nature lovers and preservationists alike.
See the Holden Arboretum on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
The Arboretum is an easy 30 minute drive from Cleveland, making the stylish Fidelity Hotel an appealing option. There’s also quite a few wonderful lake houses just outside of Cleveland.
Ohio State Reformatory (Mansfield)
Standing tall in Mansfield, the Ohio State Reformatory is one of the most striking examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the Midwest. Built between 1886 and 1910, the structure was originally designed to reform young, non-violent offenders through education and work programs. Its grand stone façade and cathedral-like interiors reflect the reform ideals of its time—yet its haunting corridors tell a much darker story.
Today, visitors can take part in a variety of guided and self-guided tours exploring the building’s history, architecture, and role in film culture. Movie fans will recognize it as the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption, and history enthusiasts can join ghost walks or overnight paranormal investigations that delve into its eerie legends. Preservationists with the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society continue to restore and protect the site, ensuring that its stories—and its architecture—endure.
See the Ohio State Reformatory on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
A little south of Mansfield is the can’t-miss Landolls Mohican Castle.
Fairchild PT-19 Private Flight Experience OR World War II Aviation Cadet Flight Experience (Middletown)
Take to the skies over southwestern Ohio in an authentic World War II-era trainer plane with the Fairchild PT-19 Private Flight Experience in Middletown. Hosted by the Butler County Warbirds Inc., the experience begins with a visit to their military history museum, where you’ll learn how the PT-19 was used to train Allied pilots during the war.
Next, you climb aboard the restored PT-19 for an exhilarating 30-minute private flight. You’ll soar above Butler County, enjoying expansive views across Ohio’s rolling terrain and—if conditions allow—a peek at the Cincinnati skyline. Even better: you’ll have the chance to take the controls under the guidance of your pilot.
If you’d prefer a more immersive experience the same operator offers a full day World War II Aviation Cadet Flight Experience that looks like a dream come true for military aviation buffs.
See the Fairchild PT-19 Private Flight Experience on Viator
See the World War II Aviation Cadet Flight Experience on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
Why not stay in a former firehouse while you’re visiting Middletown?
German Village Walking Tour (Columbus)
Step into another century with a stroll through Columbus’s German Village, one of the best-preserved historic neighborhoods in America. This 233-acre district is lined with lovingly restored brick homes, charming courtyards, and cobblestone streets that tell the story of 19th-century German immigrants who built a thriving community here.
Guided tours offered by the German Village Society bring the area’s history to life, highlighting its architecture, culture, and impressive preservation efforts. You’ll hear stories of how residents banded together in the 1960s to save their neighborhood from demolition — a movement that became a national model for historic preservation. Don’t miss the Book Loft, a maze-like independent bookstore inside a 32-room pre–Civil War building, or the historic Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, serving authentic German recipes for over a century.
See German Village Walking Tours
Where to Stay
German Village is heavily residential, with few hotels in the vicinity, but there’s plenty of vacation rentals, allowing you to stroll the streets like a local.
Lake Erie Lighthouse Tour (Various Locations)
Stretching along Ohio’s northern coastline, the Lake Erie Lighthouse Trail is a dream come true for photographers, history lovers, and coastal explorers. Ohio’s portion of Lake Erie is dotted with nearly two dozen historic lighthouses — some still in operation, others preserved as museums or scenic landmarks.
Start at the Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, then head west toward Port Clinton, Lorain, and Ashtabula to discover lesser-known gems. The Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse offers a deep dive into maritime history, while the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society continues restoration work on its offshore beacon. Whether you visit by car, bike, or boat, this self-guided trail offers a blend of natural beauty and preservation heritage few states can match.
See more about Ohio Lighthouses here
Where to Stay
There’s no shortage of lodging along the Lake Erie shoreline, but we’d recommend a vacation rental for a more relaxing experience.
Historic Roscoe Village (Coshocton)
Located along the old Ohio & Erie Canal, Historic Roscoe Village is a meticulously restored 1830s town that captures life during Ohio’s canal era. Once a bustling port, Roscoe declined after the rise of the railroads — but today, thanks to decades of preservation efforts, it thrives as an immersive heritage destination.
Visitors can explore hands-on demonstrations at the working blacksmith and weaving shops, take guided tours of original canal-era homes and businesses, or enjoy festivals that bring 19th-century life vividly to the present. Seasonal events like Apple Butter Stirrin’ and Canal Days showcase traditional crafts, food, and music that make Roscoe Village a favorite for families and history buffs alike.
Beyond the living history attractions, the village features charming local boutiques, a cozy inn, and the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, home to fascinating collections of Native American artifacts and local history.
See Historic Roscoe Village on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
Stay right in the middle of Roscoe Village, or book a once in a lifetime stay at Landolls Mohican Castle, about a half hour away.
Brewdog DogHouse Hotel (Canal Winchester)
Nestled just outside Columbus in Canal Winchester, the BrewDog DogHouse Hotel offers a stay like no other: imagine checking into a room where the shower has its own beer fridge and the room overlooks a working brewery. With 32 rooms designed intentionally for beer lovers (and dog lovers too), you’ll step into the world of BrewDog from the moment you check-in. Whether you’re sipping a morning “beermosa” on the patio or settling in after a brewery tour, the DogHouse is a memorable piece of Ohio’s growing craft-beer tourism landscape. Book your room, bring your pup, and stay awhile—this is part hotel, part museum, part beer adventure.
See the Brewdog DogHouse Hotel on Hotels.com
Serpent Mound (Peebles)
Mysterious, monumental, and utterly unique, Serpent Mound in Adams County is one of the most extraordinary ancient earthworks in North America. This enormous effigy mound, built in the shape of a coiled serpent with an oval feature near its head, stretches over 1,300 feet across a ridgeline overlooking Brush Creek Valley. Archaeologists believe it was constructed by Indigenous peoples more than 1,000 years ago, though its exact age and meaning remain subjects of study and debate.
Visitors can walk the trails surrounding the mound for a full view of its intricate design, climb the observation tower for an aerial perspective, and explore interpretive exhibits at the Serpent Mound Museum, operated by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. The surrounding preserve features hiking trails, picnic areas, and guided programs that explore Native American history, astronomy, and the region’s geological significance.
Serpent Mound is also known for its astronomical alignments — some researchers suggest it may have been built to mark solstices or lunar events, making it not only a work of art and engineering but a spiritual and scientific site as well. It’s no wonder this UNESCO World Heritage-nominated landmark draws visitors from around the world.
See the Serpent Mound on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
You won’t be too far from Columbus or Cinci, but why not stay at one of the wonderful cabins in the area?
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours – Rockbridge
Tucked into the rolling hills and deep forests of southeastern Ohio, Hocking Hills Canopy Tours offers a different perspective on one of the state’s most scenic regions. Instead of hiking along the trails or driving to overlooks, visitors here can see the landscape from high in the treetops — gliding from platform to platform along a series of ziplines and sky bridges that cross the Hocking River and sandstone cliffs below.
The Original Canopy Tour includes more than ten ziplines, each revealing a new view of the forest canopy, waterfalls, and rugged terrain that make Hocking Hills a favorite for nature lovers. The guides are knowledgeable about the area’s geology and wildlife, adding context to the adventure with short stories and fun facts about the ancient rock formations that define this corner of Ohio.
There are a few variations for those who want something different: the X-Tour features higher and faster lines; the Night Flight offers a moonlit version of the experience; and the SuperZip lets pairs race side by side down a quarter-mile line. Whether you’re after an adrenaline rush or simply a new way to see the hills, it’s a memorable outdoor activity that highlights Ohio’s natural beauty without feeling overly commercialized.
See Hocking Hills Canopy Tours on TripAdvisor
Where to Stay
There are hotels in the Hocking Hills area, but without question, the way to experience the natural beauty of Hocking Hills is in a cabin or treehouse!
As you wrap up your journey through some of Ohio’s most unique tours and experiences, remember that each destination is more than just a stop on your itinerary—it’s a chapter in the state’s rich story of heritage, innovation, and natural beauty. Whether you wandered underground in the caverns, soared above the treetops, or stepped into a bygone era, you helped breathe life into Ohio’s past by being present.
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