Summer is over but the fun is not over in Guernsey County

Shelby Reeves, Chillicothe Gazette
·6 min read
Salt Fork State Park offers many amenities including two marinas and eight launch ramps for those who enjoy being on the water and hiking trails for those who prefer to be on land.
Salt Fork State Park offers many amenities including two marinas and eight launch ramps for those who enjoy being on the water and hiking trails for those who prefer to be on land.

CAMBRIDGE ― Many people have taken their vacations already and are winding down for the year, but just because summer is over doesn't mean the adventures have to stop. Guernsey County is a great place to explore without being far from home. From hiking trails to wineries there is something for everyone to enjoy. Here is a look at eight things you need to do before the year ends here in Guernsey County.

Salt Fork State Park

At Salt Fork State Park visitors can enjoy thousands of acres of beautiful land and water. Boaters and fishermen will enjoy the two marinas and eight launch ramps that give access to the 3,060 acres of water. Once out they can catch a variety of bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye and muskellunge.

Those preferring to stay on land can enjoy one of the 14 hiking trails the park offers. These trails range in length and level of difficulty so make sure you are prepared before heading out. Golfers will also enjoy the 18-hole course with a putting green and driving range.

Deerassic Park

While we may never hear the iconic "Welcome to Jurassic Park" in real life you can visit the next best thing, Deerassic Park. This park and education center encourages families to explore the great outdoors. They offer interactive experiences for people of all ages to help build a love of nature. The informative games are so fun you don't even realize how much you are learning about the state's native wildlife.

The park also offers a look at the Ohio Whitetail Hall of Fame. Here around 100 of the most magnificent free-range deer from across the state are displayed. Guests can see the animals and learn their stories including what county they were found in, how they were killed and what their Ohio Big Buck Score is. One of the most famous deer in the collection is a 45-point buck that was killed by a train with a mysterious hole in his antlers.

The Wilds

Enjoy a fall safari this year in Cumberland at The Wilds where you can see rhinos and giraffes up close from an open-air vehicle. The safari, which is located on almost 10,000 acres of reclaimed mine land, aims to connect people with wildlife and teach them how to care for the environment around them.

For even more fun The Wilds offers overnight accommodations with views of the animals and special tours. These specialty tours give guests a unique behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at the safari. Brave adventurers can even take a zipline tour over pastures to get a bird's eye view of the animals grazing below.

Mike 'Sully' Sullivan and Richard Jordan slice through a log during the crosscut saw competition at the 2021 Paul Bunyan Show International Lumberjack Competition.
Mike 'Sully' Sullivan and Richard Jordan slice through a log during the crosscut saw competition at the 2021 Paul Bunyan Show International Lumberjack Competition.

Paul Bunyan Show

The official Paul Bunyan Show runs from Oct. 7-9 at the Guernsey County Fairgrounds. The show is one of the oldest and largest forest industry trade shows in the nation. There is something for everyone including lumberjack competitions, demonstrations, carvers, crafts and more. The show helps highlight the foresting and woodworking industry of Ohio.

Tickets to the show will be available soon. Tickets purchased in advance will cost $8 for adults and $4 for seniors and kids between the ages of 7 and 12. On-site tickets will cost $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids between the ages of 7 to 12. Kids 6 years old and under get in for free.

FAME Festival

The FAME Festival will take place on Sept. 24 in Downtown Cambridge. The festival celebrates food, art, music and entertainment. The festival will feature fun activities for kids, a dunk tank, a petting zoo, live entertainment, crafts, a beer garden and more. The best part about the festival is that it is free to attend meaning everyone can come and celebrate.

The Guernsey County Fair will run from September 12 to September 18 this year at the fairgrounds. The fair promises a week of fun for all who attend.
The Guernsey County Fair will run from September 12 to September 18 this year at the fairgrounds. The fair promises a week of fun for all who attend.

Guernsey County Fair

The Guernsey County Fair is back this year with a promise to be bigger than ever. The fair has been a place for making memories for more than 175 years and this year will be no different. Greasy food and fun rides will be available to enjoy as well as the 4-H competitions. From rabbits and pygmy goats to cows and horses the whole barnyard will be on display throughout the week. The fair also features motocross contests, truck and tractor pulls, an independent wrestling show, a rodeo and other live entertainment.

This year the fair will run from Sept. 12-18 with tickets costing $10 per day for general admission, $40 for a season pass, $42 for a membership pass and $20 for an advisor pass.

Parks

An easy, and free, way to enjoy any town is by visiting the local parks. Scattered throughout the county there are several different parks to enjoy. Byesville Village Park has basketball and volleyball courts to enjoy as well as a baseball field and disc golf course. It also has a playground for younger kids. Cambridge City Park offers fishing, walking trails and a covered bridge to enjoy. It also has many different courts and a handicap-accessible playground. Fletcher Park is a great place to relax for lunch as it offers picnic tables and a barbecue grill. Jackson Park is best known for its four-acre pond stocked with plenty of fish.

With the start of fall the trees in the park will be changing colors, going from green to vibrant yellows and oranges. Visiting your local park is a great way to make sure you see the beautiful foliage this season.

Satisfy your Sweet Tooth

After a long day of exploring everything the county has to offer it is finally time for dessert. Luckily there are many great places scattered around to stop in and satisfy your sweet tooth. Nothing But Chocolate is a perfect place for chocolate aficionados to get their fill. They offer signature chocolates such as dipped pretzels, truffles, cashew clusters and an Ohio classic, buckeyes. Pure Love Bakery in Byesville offers delicious sweets and a fun experience as the bakery is themed after Scooby-Doo. They offer beautiful cakes for almost every occasion, cookies, macarons and cookies. Pure Love even lets you play with your food with their Paint Your Own cookies. These sugar cookies look very similar to a coloring page that patrols color in with the provided icing.

These are just a few of the fun things Guernsey County offers residents and visitors there are also tons of local shops and restaurants to enjoy. With so many adventures waiting to happen there is no way to name them all, but did we name your favorite thing to do? If not tell us what we missed and let us know what you think is a must-do activity in Guernsey County.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Summer is over but there's still plenty of fun things to do