Info on Marietta, Ohio Area?

Nette · #1 09/17/12, 01:55 PM

I had started a thread a while back inquiring about pretty areas of Ohio, and was planning a camping trip for Hocking Hills, as that had gotten rave reviews. It looks like it's so popular, though, that it might be more crowded than I prefer. I was thinking about camping at the Leith Run Recreation Area near Marietta and then taking day trips out to Hocking Hills and other points. Is the area around Marietta a good place for motorcycle riding (rural, farming, scenic, etc.)? I would appreciate any and all opinions.

DebM · #2 09/17/12, 07:32 PM

I'm not particularly familiar with the Marietta area, but SE Ohio in general is a pretty ride/drive. Some reclaimed mining land, some pretty drives along the Ohio River, lots of curving highways. Hocking Hills is a freaking zoo before Labor Day and during peak color. Parts of SE Ohio are still very poor and some drives may reflect that.

siberian · #3 09/17/12, 09:40 PM

Great Ride

pheasantplucker · #4 09/18/12, 06:06 AM

Marietta is an interesting town...the Hotel Lafayette is amazing (but pricey)...Only thing the town is lacking is a decent place to eat. They had one a while back but I guess it didn't have enough customer support to make it. It was a fantastic little bakery where you could get delicious soups and sandwiches. Anyway...About 20 miles north of Marietta (up 77) there is a beautiful little state park called Wolf Run. It is where my wife and I had our honeymoon and where we took our five kids camping for years. There are 6 tent only sites that sit high above a cliff overlooking the 220 acre lake. The lake is very clean and very deep. Great fishing, lots of wildlife (beaver and deer, skunks raccoons, etc.) Pretty countryside, and friendly people. Good luck.

Nette · #5 09/18/12, 07:22 AM

Thanks all. I still want to go to the Hocking Hills area, but thinking now that we'll make the Leith Run campground our base and tour out from there.

MattyD · #6 09/18/12, 01:02 PM

-You'll definitely want to go to Hocking Hills. Make sure you take the walk back to Ash Cave and take the hiking trails to Old Man's Cave. Also if you go down to Marietta, if the Fenton factory is open, they have free tours. And if you like primitive decorating and quilting, we stop at The Woolen Willow. It's right off the first exit, exit 185, in West Virginia going South from Ohio on I-77. Or you can just take the bridge over the Ohio River from Marietta. It right along the main road in Williamstown, WV. My Wife loves stopping there ever time we head South on vacation...

L8R,
Matt

Melissa · #7 09/18/12, 01:12 PM

We took the kids on this self-driven covered bridge tour one fall, we started up near our place though and ended up in Marietta, you can do the opposite.

http://www.firstohio.com/maps/tours_...e_Tour_pdf.pdf

Another option:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wayne...ea/?recid=6216

Nette · #8 09/18/12, 02:07 PM

Thank y'all so much! It looks like I picked a good spot for the things we're interested in.

Ohio dreamer · #9 09/18/12, 04:44 PM

Hey Matty, you forgot to mention Rocky Boots. I admit I only check out the outlet part of the store.....I'm too cheap to buy at full price. rockyboots.com

Marsha · #10 09/18/12, 07:13 PM

Marietta is my hometown, although I live in PA now, all my family still live there. It is a nice area like the others have mentioned. Melissa mentioned the covered bridge tour, and our family has a covered bridge that was built by our family members years ago...it is the Root Covered Bridge #1 on the tour.

There is some nice camping at Wolf Run, Senecaville Lake, and Salt Fork, which is not far from Hocking Hills, or Old Man's Cave. The Leith Run Campground is nice...not usually to crowded, and right on the beautiful Ohio River.

There is also a place called, "The Wilds," which is nice to go to...lots of African type animals out grazing on the hillsides...we went there this summer, and it was fun, but, a tad bit expensive.

Hope you have fun on your trip!!!!

Marsha

MattyD · #11 09/18/12, 07:55 PM

-Oh yeah! The Rocky Boot store in Nelsonville. Pretty nice store to go through. I think it may be about a 10 minute drive South of Logan along Rt. 33. When we stayed at Hocking Hills, we stayed outside of Logan near the caves. Just a beautiful piece of Ohio countryside to drive through. When we would go there, we would drive the back way in along SR93. You would also drive through parts of what was once well known pottery areas of Ohio, including Roseville.

L8R,
Matt

Nette · #12 09/19/12, 05:50 AM

Marsha, thanks for the thumbs up on Leith Run. We've never been disappointed in the Forest Service Campgrounds, so I hope this will be a good choice. I was interested in camping at Wolf Run and Salt Fork, but then I read that they only had latrine toilets. Fine for one night, but not for an extended stay--yeah, I'm a wimp. We will definitely do the recommended covered bridge tour, and I'll take special notice of Bridge #1!

SoINgirl · #13 09/19/12, 07:14 AM

I am from Marietta too, although I haven't lived there since I was small so I'm no help but I just wanted to say thanks for bringing this up. It sounds like a nice place to be from.

Marsha · #14 09/19/12, 08:15 AM

Nette...We used to hold our Root Family reunions (my mom is a Root) on the old covered bridge once it was officially closed to traffic. The inside of the bridge would be full of tables spread with all kinds of good food, and all the children would be playing in the creek with their cousins. Aw...the good old days!!!

How long do you plan to be in that area, and when will you be going?

Marsha