Things to Do in Bucyrus

As the oldest historic tour on the national register, the German Village Society's Annual Haus und Garten Tour sends feet pattering across 233 acres of historic landmarks, enchanting gardens, and award-winning restorations. A year ago, the daylong celebration drew a total of more than 6,000 visitors, and this year, an even larger crowd is expected to be on hand to ogle and coax autographs from the 13 homes and gardens scheduled for display.

Tour-takers can meander along the route at their own pace, stopping to explore the shops and eateries in the marketplatz or to peek into classic abodes, which homeowners have transformed into chic, opulent spaces ideal for modern living or showcasing the latest trends in wool socks for coffee tables. In addition to the lineup of architectural stars, the tour will also be stocked with various live performances, including a rendition of The Scarlet Pimpernel in Schiller Park at 2 p.m.

Brady Konya and Ryan Lang aren't from Ohio, but they loved the area for its business-friendly community and rich natural resources, and decided Columbus was where they had to build their distillery. The duo's passion for the Midwest colors everything about Middle West Spirits, from the name down to the Ohio-grown soft red winter wheat in their whiskey and award-winning vodka, which they also infuse with honey and vanilla beans or stone fruit. Inside the distillery, which sprawls over 3,200 square feet of open air, Brady and Ryan craft these artisan OYO spirits—named after the original word for the Ohio River Valley, pronounced o-y-o_—in 600-liter pot-and-column stills. Hand-built onsite by German craftsmen using copper, stainless steel, and bits of Saturn's rings, these stills earned Middle West Spirits a place on _Popular Mechanics' 5 of the World's Most-High-Tech Distilleries list.

The Westcott House Foundation celebrates its charge’s history through continuing preservation efforts, safeguarding the house as both a museum and shrine to Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision for Prairie-style homes. One of 260 of Wright’s remaining houses in the world, the pristinely restored structure entices visitors from far and wide with its architectural allure and unparalleled hide-and-seek spots. The grounds embody Wright’s love of melding a building with its site, boasting a terrace, a pool, and period-inspired gardens. An intricately latticed pergola connects the carriage house to the main building, a rare and interesting gem among Wright’s normally trellis-free Prairie homes.

A collection of adrenaline-pumping ziplines whoosh through the forest on Markin Farms Zipline Adventures' 80-acre farm. The multilevel platforms, built high in the trees, connect the course's ziplines, which pass above bubbling creeks, over ponds, and through time. The scenic course includes challenge areas and ends with a double-zip setup, where two riders race to the finish directly above or below one another, overlooking the sparkling water. The farm also offers specialty zips that glide through the forest after twilight or just as the sun sets.

With decades of experience skimming the shores of Lake Erie, U.S. Coast Guard–licensed Captain Sib Randolph has had ample time to hone in on the best spots to nab walleye, bass, and perch. Though he relies on years of successful fishing charters to guide his routes, it doesn’t hurt that his 27-foot SportCraft fishing boat is equipped with fish-finding and navigational equipment. In addition to advice on the likelihood of a fish’s ability to grant wishes, Captain Randolph supplies fishermen with free bait and ice.

Like a museum of living landscape paintings, The Dawes Arboretum combines the delicate beauties of a Japanese garden, a cypress swamp, and an azalea glen, creating a colorful haven of native plants. But this 1,800-acre wonderland wasn’t always so expansive. In 1929, when nature lovers Beman and Bertie Dawes first transformed their woodland property into an arboretum, it was just a 293-acre swath of Licking County. This stretch, with its rolling hills and mature trees, was so calm that it drew visitors from across the state and instilled a love of nature in the Dawes’ children.

Today, many of the arboretum’s more than 16,000 labeled trees and shrubs are representative of types native to central Ohio, such as the 17 Ohio buckeyes planted to form the number 17. Elsewhere, more than 100 bonsai trees adorn the courtyard by the visitors’ center. Along with plants, the grounds entice explorers with more than 12 miles of hiking trails and a 4-mile auto tour. Antiques and memorabilia from the 19th and 20th centuries adorn the Daweswood House Museum, and the Discovery Center enthralls youngsters with bird watching, crafts, and fun facts about honeybees and frogs.