Hocking Hills Cabin Rentals

Are we there yet? I’m hungry.  I’m bored. I want to go home.

These are not things you’ll hear from kids who vacation in Hocking Hills.

Hocking Hills is a Great Place for Kids!!

Choosing a vacation spot with children can be a challenge. Deer Mountain Retreat and the Hocking Hills Region  make it easy by offering a variety of kid friendly activities, sure to keep the whole family entertained.

Hocking Valley Canoe Livery and Family Fun Center  accommodates children with a shorter 1-2 hour canoe trip. The Family Fun Center offers miniature golf, sand volley ball, and a go kart track. Discounts for canoeing and Fun Center are available to guests of Deer Mountain Retreat. www.hockinghillscanoeing.com

The beach at Lake Logan is a great place to picnic, swim, and fish.  Pontoon and paddle boats can be rented at the Lake Logan Marina. www.lakeloganboatrental.com  Check out Lakeview Cottage located just ½  mile from the beach http://www.deermountainretreat.com/Lakeview.htm . If your kids prefer a pool, the Dining Lodge at Hocking Hills State Park has a pay per day swimming pool with a snack bar. 740-385-6495.

Nature loving kids will enjoy hand feeding hummingbirds throughout the summer at Lake Hope State Park. Contact the park for dates and times. 740-596-3030

Scenic View Campground’s Gem Mine is open to the public April through November.  Try panning for gems and arrowheads from a 75 foot mining sluice.  Educational and fun for the entire family. 866-592-6149.

If animals are your kids’ thing, The Spotted Horse Ranch has both guided trail rides and supervised corral rides for inexperienced riders.  For a full day of fun the ranch offers a 4 hour trail ride that includes a complimentary “Cowboy Cookout” on the trail. Call the ranch for reservations 877-992-7433.

Ruby’s Petting Zoo at Remple’s Grove is free. Children can pet and feed pygmy goats and fallow deer. The Ice Cream and Pizza Shop is adjacent to the zoo. 12793 ST RT 664 740-385-0400

All aboard The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway!!  Trains run Memorial Day through November 2 from the train station in Nelsonville. Themed rides include Robbery Train, Caboose Train and Fall Foliage Train. See the Scenic Railway website at http://www.hvsry.org  for a schedule and fares.

The newest adventure to Hocking Hills is Hocking Hills Canopy Tours. Guests of the tour “fly” on a zip line thorough the tree tops above the forest floor. Tuesdays and Thursdays kids fly free with a paid adult. www.hockinghillscanopytours.com

Have a birthday boy or girl? Childrens’  Birthday Party Packages include decorations, cake, party favors, miniature golf, canoeing, and go kart tickets. Call Deer Mountain Retreat for details and pricing 740-415-8722

See Deer Mountain Retreat cabins and lodging at www.deermountainretreat.com for your lodging needs.

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

The warm days and nights of early Spring provide the ideal environment for edible wild mushrooms in Hocking County.  Hunters arrive to walk the forests and meadows searching for these elusive delicacies.  Most varieties emerge mid April to late May.

The most common and most sought after edible mushroom in Ohio is the morel. Morels have a sponge like texture and are dark brown to black or yellow to light brown.  They are typically found under leaves and plant debris in moist areas often after rainfall. Older or decaying elm, ash, and fruit trees are found to be productive areas.  Morels can grow two to twelve inches in height and are hollow inside.

Mushroom hunters should be extremely cautious as some varieties are poisonous. It’s advisable to use a field guide or other means of identifying each species.  Never eat a mushroom if you are not 100% sure it’s edible. All of Ohio’s State Forests allow mushroom hunting. Hunters should contact Hocking Hills State Park office for hunting rules and regulations within the State Park. Because mushroom hunting season coincides with Ohio’s wild turkey hunting season, all mushroom seekers are encouraged to wear bright orange.  We have 60 wooded private acres to hunt on for you and 22 of your friends.  Come stay at our Log Lodge.  www.deermountainretreat.com.

Happy Hunting!!

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.