Weekend Activities that You Can Do in and Around Chillicothe, Ohio

Gas prices seems to always be on the rise. We all know we have to cut corners if we are going to be able to afford just going to and from work every day. This means we are having to cut back in the extra travel. This also means many of us are canceling our vacations.

But we may not have to do this. If we actually think about the place we live and the surrounding areas. Maybe we could come up with some fun places to go right in our own neighborhoods.

I live in Chillicothe, Ohio, near Waverly, Ohio. I thought about the places my family could go this summer and actually have fun, yet without spending a lot of money in gas. Here is what I found for some quick weekend escapes.

Camping is the ultimate escape for the residents here in Pike and Ross counties. Of course, this is rural America. Most of us, loves to fish, hunt, camp, hike and we all love nature.

Here are some great camp grounds.

First, there is the beloved Lake White region of Pike County. But if you plan on doing any fishing or swimming, you better make sure that the county has actually filled the lake first. As of Memorial Day weekend of 2007, the lake was still empty. Many improvements is being made to the lake, including a new dam. But it is taking longer than expected. But once it is operational again, this is sure to be a fun spot, again.

For those of you who might enjoy some indoor entertainment how about some bowling at Shawnee Lanes on Bridge Street. They also sell all of our favorite foods, too.

For those of you who likes fast cars, there is KC Raceway on Blain Highway. Every Saturday night they have some top racers and some fast cars.

Yet, if you get a little bored of seeing the same sights of Ross and Pike County, you get venture just a little ways into Franklin County (about an hour and half drive) and then you can find a galore of activities and some really nice bed and breakfasts. These are always fun to stay at for a night or two.

Here are a sampling of some favorite bed and breakfasts in Columbus:

The Harrison House is located at 313 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. It was built in 1890 and was recently listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

The House of the Seven Goebels is located at 4975 Hayden Run Road.

Plus, another fun thing to do on weekend escapes is to eat out at places you don’t normally. So you may want to check out some of the local restaurants and take a small drive to a neighboring town. Of course, all the big cities in Ohio like Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati are filled with tons of great restaurants. Just do a bit of research and see which one has the best reviews.

So, don’t let the price of gas prices completely cancel your vacation plans. Instead take advantage of some of your local attractions.

Scioto Trails and State Park is the closet State Park nearest to me and my family. We love it. They have campgrounds, a swimming area, picnic areas, lots of trails for biking and walking. The local park rangers area always around to keep the park safe and they usually stop by and say hello to the visitors. If you are lucky, you may even get to see a glimpse of a bunny rabbit or if things are really quiet a deer grazing in the woods.Paint Creek State Park is located in Ross County. It is a favorite among many families. If you own a boat, they have the best marina in the area. You can even dock your boat there for the season and you don’t have to worry as much about theft, they actually have employees who guard the area. As for camping, you can rent camp grounds equipped with electricity and they even have cabin rentals.