Southwestern Ohio Tours

The beautiful rolling hills of Southwestern Ohio present travellers with an extremely diverse palette of attractions. Because of its southern location and proximity to the Ohio River, some of the state's oldest establishments are present here, such as the Golden Lamb Inn, Ohio's oldest inn, dating back to 1803. There's lots of German influence here in commerce, industry and entertainment, as well as Ohio River oriented attractions. Invention, entertainment and agriculture abound in our many Southwestern Ohio tours. There's truly something here for everyone right in our own back yard!

The tours are set out as typical Hub and Spoke, One Night / Two Day Trips. However, all can be adapted to One Day or Multi Night Tours, or can be combined with others to form Circle Tours.

Click on any of the links below or scroll through the page to learn more about some of the trips we offer.

 

“How's, Why's, What's & Wherefores”

Paws, Claws, Scales & Tails

Let's Go Girls

Freedom's Path

American Pride

Days of Yesteryear

Fins, Furs, Films & Fun

Floats, Goats, Glass and Class

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Gourmet Lover's Delight

 

“How's, Why's, What's & Wherefores”

Cincinnati - Dayton Area

Life is full of questions - How? What? When? Where? Which? Who? and Why? Now you can get answers to those questions that you've always wanted to know, or frankly never thought of!

Why did we build a canal system in Ohio? Visit a replica of a lock tender's home and canal locks from the 1820's.

Which is Cincinnati's tallest building? Begun in 1929, this was the nation's largest commercial building project in the country during the Depression. Enjoy the scenic view from the observation deck.

Who were the Mound Builders? Dating back almost 3000 years, trace the history of Ohio's pre-European inhabitants from 10,000 BC to 1800 AD. In many ways their civilization paralleled those of the Egyptians, Mayans and Incas.

Where is there a bit of the Holy Land in the Cincinnati area? View the garden that now includes replicas of the burial tomb of Jesus, Joseph's carpenter shop and a Spanish chapel, as well as large boulders from the River Jordan.

Why do Americans drink more coffee than tea? Learn the history of our coffee obsession at a coffee house, while trying samples. Or if tea's “your bag“, have a morning or afternoon tea at a “typical English style” church, that also serves Shepherd's Pie for lunch.

Which local resident served as a General under McArthur during WW II? Tour his beautiful family home, built in 1901, where every room down stairs is paneled in a different wood. The library has an extensive collection of military history and oriental swords.

How does a hotel operate? Go behind the scenes at a full service hotel, and see how it works. Visit the kitchen, the audiovisual room, tour the administrative offices and behind the front desk, and explore the laundry and the commissary.

Who were the Shakers and what did they invent? Visit one of the best collections of Shaker furniture in the country.

What were the eras of commercial signage in the US? Explore the largest collection of signs in the country, from glass to neon to plastic signs.

What was the first commercially built airplane? See replicas of the world's first mass produced plane , enjoy a fascinating video and other exhibits. Maybe someone in your group can take a flight or ride in the WWI era staff car.

Who were the “Cincinnati Liars“? View this government facility that infuriated Hitler so much during WWII that he derisively referred to it as the Cincinnati Liars. It's now a museum of broadcasting–covering the history of medium and short wave operations.

Other ideas? Which is the oldest stained glass company in the country?…what does the inside of a Moslem Mosque look like?…how do you make chocolate?…where do they keep former Air Force Ones?…what American Cathedral was copied after Notre Dame in Paris?...where do the Hollywood notables buy their “furs”?…how did the Underground Railroad get its name?…what does a 12 th century Indian village look like?…where can you tour a pioneer village, dressed as a pioneer?…who's the country's largest maker of church bells?...

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Paws, Claws, Scales & Tails

Cincinnati and vicinity Available March—November

*Various sites have performance venues

Overnight at the Newport Aquarium —sleep with the sharks! Oh, the fun and excitement of having the ENTIRE aquarium available just for your group!! Partake in a scavenger hunt, aquatic craft project, pizza party, movie and of course a night tour of the aquarium. Enjoy breakfast with the penguins.

Enjoy a Private Breakfast buffet with the animals at the Cincinnati Zoo while the zoo staff introduces some of the zoo's inhabitants—up close and personal. Watch out for the claws and paws…they may want your breakfast!

Morgan's Float Trip— Enjoy a guided tour down the Little Miami River on a large, non-capsizable raft. Guides will share the fabulous tales and knowledge of nature in the area.

Visit Ft Ancient —Ohio's premier museum of Native American history. The museum traces the history of the pre-European inhabitants from 10,000 BC to 1800 AD. Learn how archaeologists and historians study and interpret the past and an authentic Native American meal.

A visit to the Cincinnati Fire Museum , housed in a former Fire Station, you can learn the history of Cincinnati's Fire Department, the first paid department in the country, through a variety of exhibits.

Tackle the Beast at the best thrill park in the Midwest, Paramount's Kings Island . Over 350 acres of world class thrills!! Kings Island has more than 80 rides, shows and attractions with something for every member of the family!

The Great Wolf Lodge is Ohio's only Indoor Water Park Resort . This indoor water park includes (2) four story, 300-foot tube slides , and two body slides . There's also Fort McKenzie, a million dollar tree house, with four stories of interactive fun, featuring twelve levels of water-based adventure.

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Let's Go Girls ...a women 's only tour
High teas, wine tasting, chocolates, fashion shows, personalized coloring, dining at a five-star restaurant, chick flicks, modeling shows, art museums and more.

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Freedom's Path
Tour the new National Underground Freedom Center, view “safe houses”, stand atop “Liberty Hill” and learn more about African American history in the Tri-State area.

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American Pride
Tour a general's home, a Civil War camp, and a Civil War museum. Visit the “Cincinnati at War” exhibit, see presidential planes, and a historic war memorial. Hear an escaped POW's story and raise your flag during a musical “Salute to Lady Liberty.” Also, tour the one-of-a-kind Voice of America Museum.

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Days of Yesteryear
Dress as a pioneer and experience life in an 1830's village with a meal on a covered bridge! Visit a historic octagonal home, fascinating farm market complex, grist mill, and canal boat ride.

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Fins, Furs, Films & Fun
Visit a great aquarium, then model jackets at a “faux ” fur salon. See Cincinnati area sites used in the filming of various well known movies. Tour one of our country's best zoos and enjoy a Hollywood style revue.

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Floats, Goats, Glass and Class
Enjoy dinner in a old Classen Barn, with entertainment. Take time to browse in the unique country store. Spend time with guide for a day of exploring the Miami-Erie Canal that joined Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Stop at the Canal Museum, and the 1826 Canal Locks.

Enjoy a guided wilderness tour down the Little Miami River aboard a large, non-capsizable raft. Enjoy a visit to Willow Run Dairy and Caprine Estate Goat Farm, the largest goat farm in the U.S.

A short driving tour of Waynesville known as the "antiques capital of the Midwest", with its 40 + stores. Learn of its relationships to the Stetson hat, Tennessee Williams, and Northwestern University, among others.

Enjoy dinner at Valley Vineyards, one of the area's oldest wineries. Tour Beau Verre Studios. Learn the history of beveled, and stained art glass windows.

Tour Bern's Garden Center—one of the area's largest garden centers, and a talk by one of the horticulturists. Enjoy a meal at Ohio's Oldest Inn, once host to a dozen U.S. Presidents and dignitaries.

Overnight at a historic property. Over the past eight decades this hotel has hosted European royalty, Presidents, foreign leaders, entertainers and more!

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Railroad museum Learn about the Dayton area's importance to our transportation history—canals, rails, autos, and planes. Visit an outdoor transportation museum, ride on a canal boat, visit the world's largest air museum, and an old auto dealership
Songs 'N Suds

Mainstrasse Building Experience the German history of the “Zinzinnati” area. Visit old German churches and the Hofbrauhaus–one of three in the world, with songs, food, and Munich brewed “suds.” Explore Music Hall, built for the German singing groups, and visit a brewer's home. Tour a former German settlement and shop at Mainstrasse Village.

Gourmet Lover's Delight
Tour through Robert Rothschild's modern production facility of famous gourmet foods. Feed the fish and even pet the friendly sturgeon at a visit to Fresh Water Farms! Visit Alliston Manor for a special bonus on this tour ONLY...the chef will give personal table side gourmet tips and a Q&A session. Also, stop at the KitchenAid Factory, dine at The Inn at Versailles, and visit Spring Hill Nursery, one of the largest mail order garden centers in the country.

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Click on the map to quickly select a region.

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Licensed Ohio Tour Planner #88-87-0003.