Hocking Hills Cabin Rentals

I am starting to dream about fall…
 
Are you like me, when it is so stinkin hot that you start to think about fall?  I really look forward to fall because my family always takes a week off and goes to Hocking Hills to see the fall foliage.  There is nothing better than hiking in the fall. 
 
With 9 State Parks all within 15-20 minutes, we literally can go on different trails everyday.  What is great about this area too is what you get to see when you’re hiking, caves, waterfalls, rock formations, gorges, wildlife and yes of course the fall foliage.
 
Then after all that hiking I come back to my cozy cabin get a glass of red wine, light the fire and go sit in the hot tub…heaven.  I can’t believe more people don’t come here, it is only 45 minutes from Columbus and 2 hours from Cincinnatti.  If you do go you have got to get a cabin from this great place called DeerMountainRetreat.com.  They have great prices and they provide everything, all I bring is food.

Wow it was better than I remembered…

It has been at least 30 years since I last saw Tecumseh and let’s just say that I never thought 30 years ago when I was 12 that I would someday be bringing my 10 and 8 year old to see Tecumseh. You see I grew up in Ohio but have since lived in NJ, NC and for the last 10 years FL, but I go back to Ohio for family reasons like a recent graduation of a nephew from time to time.

On this trip someone said they had just been to see Tecumseh and how great it was and then it all came flooding back to me. As a kid I remember how surreal the whole thing was, I mean you are sitting outside late at night with all these Indians dressed well, as Indians did back in the day and they are very loud and fighting to the death. It is also pretty wild and very exciting. It is also just a very unique experience for a kid, I don’t think I have ever had anything quite like it since, there is something about being outside at night watching a play, you kind of feel like your part of it or that it is real. I think this must speak to the quality of the show. Like I said I saw it 30 years ago and it has probably been going on a lot longer than that. All this praise is actually very unusual for me because I really don’t like plays. Like I said I lived in NJ and I would get dragged to NYC to see Les Miserab, Miss Saigon, Grapes of Wrath and others I don’t remember or slept through–I know, I know it’s bad to admit, but true.

I looked at the website and the people that put on the show are the real deal, they come from all around which must be hard to do since the show is in Chillicothe Ohio, not exactly NYC. Anyway I liked it and I recommend it. I also liked the place I stayed at which was DeerMountainRetreat.com

I am going to the ABATE(American Bikers etc.) Log Jam in Logan.  I went to the ABATE.com website and I could not find any information on it.  I guess I will have to call               800-25-BIKER        tomorrow to find out more or if someone knows about it you could respond.  I looked it up on another website and it said it was being held in The Woods at Kaeppner Place from June 25-27, but I always like to stay at a cabin (DeerMountainRetreat.com, they have specials for bikers)through the weekend and go to some biker bars and ride a lot.  I used to camp, but I don’t like to pack a lot of stuff.  I would like to know what the Log Jam trail be like.  I also want to know what other events and contests there will be.

I found a great place to take my horse for vacation or weekends
 
The place is only 45 minutes from me because I live in the Columbus Ohio area.  It is called Hocking Hills area and it is hilly.  The website where I booked the cabin is DeerMountainRetreat.com.  They were really helpful about where I could go riding with my horse.  I am always looking for new places to go trail riding.  My horse is stabled and the place I have her at is small and flat so this was really different.  I ride mostly in the ring, so it was nice to get her out in the open. 
 
Our cabin was really nice and right next to the round pen so my horse was never far away, that was also nice to be able to spend so much time with her, her name is Lady.  The cabin was located on 60 wooded acres.  We rode all around that property and then we decided to head over to the State Park which has hundreds of acres for riding.  While we were in Hocking we saw lots of sights and ate some good food.  All in all it was one of our best vacations.

We had a great vacation and it was really cheap!
 
I had no idea this place had so many things to do and a lot of them were dirt cheap.  Like everyone else, I am watching my expenses these days, but the kids don’t want to hear about that.  They just want to know, where are we going on vacation ? 
 
I found a place in Southern Ohio called Hocking Hills.  I got a really great cabin, fully furnished, hot tub, fire ring, and it was on several acres.  This place even gave us robes, slippers and chocolate Buckeyes on our pillow.  We thought we were at the Ritz and it was about $150 a night.
 
The first day we went to Old Mans Cave and then did some hiking…free by the way, after that we came home cooked up dinner and sat in the hot tub.
 
The next day we went canoeing, $28 bucks for a 3 hour night time river ride, the kids loved it.  Afterwards, we stayed there and listened to a Blue Grass Band and had a weenie roast, $8 more per person, it was great!
 
The 3rd day we went shopping at the local flea market, antiquing, and pottery shopping.  They have really large pottery places and antique malls, I got some great stuff.
 
The 4th day we went to Ash cave and did some more hiking. Later that night we went in the hot tub and then had a big fire in our fire ring—really, really cheap day.
 
The 5th day we went to the Columbus zoo and Water Park only 45 minutes away.  The zoo is world famous and the water park is new.  Our tickets were $29.99 adults and $24.99 kids so we spent $110.00.  We bought sandwiches for lunch and pizza for dinner so food was about $50 bucks total day was $160
 
The 6th day we went swimming and fishing at Lake Logan, fire and hot tub at night.
 
The 7th day we went horseback riding which was $30 for a long trail ride so it was $120.  We left later that day.  I figure the whole thing was under $1,500, which is about half of what I usually spend and we had a great time.  There were other things to do there like zip lining but we never got around to it.  When we come back we will come with friends and split the costs, so I will save another $300-$400.
 
So, you’re probably wondering, where is this place?  It’s called Deer Mountain Retreat. Check it out at www.deermountainretreat.com

I love trains. Not the electric toy trains, although I guess they’re OK. I am into the real thing. Big, loud, lumbering trains that never let you forget that you’re riding in hundreds of tons of energetic steel along track laid generations ago, inch by sweaty inch.

When I was stationed in Germany with the Army, we would load our tanks onto flatbed railcars for the 100 mile or so trip to our maneuver area for war games. Loading the tanks was a very precise and exhausting exercise. After loading, we would board sleeper cars. The trip would often take 13 hours or more, as we were frequently stopped to allow commercial rail traffic the right-of-way. I looked forward to the rides because of the scenery a train trip affords you. But, most of all, I looked forward to sleeping on the train.

It’s probably too difficult to describe, but the ride always lulled me to sleep. The melodic sound of the wheels on the track, the gentle rocking of the cars, and the safety and security of the sleeper would relax me like nothing else. I’ve never slept better.

I’m a history buff, too. And that’s why I really enjoy the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in beautiful Southeastern Ohio. The Railway is an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of historic railroad equipment for the education and enjoyment of the general public.

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway offers diesel-powered rides through the scenic, rolling hills of Southeastern Ohio aboard vintage equipment. The coaches used were built in 1927 for commuter service around Chicago, and the primary diesel locomotive was built in October of 1952. The HVSR operates year-round, and you can check it out at www.hsvr.com

And while you’re visiting, stay at one of our unique log cabins at Deer Mountain Retreat. We have cozy, romantic cabins for two, and we have lodges that will accommodate up to twenty-two. www.deermountainretreat.com

I love my wife.  I really, really do.  And she is a fantastic cook, much better that I am.  She has an intuitive sense of adding just the right ingredients and does whatever she needs to do to make her dishes taste their best.  Her one drawback is that she tends to get distracted while cooking.  Over-easy eggs often become very hard and dry.  Pots boil over.  And if something is cooking out of sight – like in the oven or toaster oven – watch out.

This morning, she burned the toast again.

We just celebrated our 16^th wedding anniversary.  We don’t make a big deal about anniversaries these days, except, I guess, to congratulate ourselves for making it through another year.  Way back before the kids arrived on the scene, we would always go away for a long weekend around anniversary time.  We’d stay at a B&B near the coast or in a cabin in the hills.  It was so easy to do.

Not anymore, of course.  We focus so much attention and energy on our kids and their activities, that there is very little time left over for “just the two of us”.  Heck, Mother’s Day came and went recently, and I am wrapped up in guilt for not having done more to show her how much she means to me.  It’s time to re-establish our old tradition.  I’m taking her away to someplace that’s quiet, cozy, and, yes, romantic.

And I’ll even burn the toast for her.

If you and your spouse want or need to get away, why not come to beautiful Hocking Hills in Southeastern Ohio?  You can stay in one of our genuine log cabins.  Check us out at www.deermountainretreat.com

Physical and fun outdoor activity is no stranger to the Hocking Hills area. For years, adventurers have been coming to this part of Southeast Ohio for hiking, kayaking and horseback riding. But zipping through the treetops like Spiderman? Well, my spider sense tells me that’s exactly what you’re in for when you visit Hocking Hills Canopy Tours, Ohio’s first world-class zipline adventure.

The three hour tour combines hiking, climbing, rappelling and, of course, zipping. Visitors zip through the treetops on a network of cables and adventure bridges suspended high above the forest floor, overlooking a cave, rock cliffs, the Hocking River and other nature flora. At the start of the tours, guides give visitors safety and equipment briefings before they are fitted with equipment. After some low-level practice zips, the adventure begins. The course consists of 10 ziplines, 4 adventure skybridges, and a rappel back to ground level at the finish line.

But don’t think it’s all about fun and games. During the tour, guides point out various highlights of the surrounding area, including history, animals and vegetation. Thrill seekers can also admire the splendid views from the observation platforms. The experience is designed so that everyone from first-time zippers to experienced zipline enthusiasts can enjoy it.

While you’re visiting this or one of the many other Hocking Hills attractions, why don’t you stay at our Mountain Lodge or one of our beautiful cabins at Deer Mountain Retreat? Check us out at www.deermountainretreat.com

Welcome and thanks for dropping by.  At Deer Mountain Retreat, we are passionate about hospitality and providing you with a relaxing respit from your hectic life.  Our cabins are all geared for your comfort and relaxation and are all surrounded by vibrant nature and wildlife.

Be sure to come back often and learn more about upcoming events in Hocking Hills, Ohio State Parks and more.  Visit our site and check cabin availibility or reserve your cabin online today at www.deermountainretreat.com.