Christmas in Ash Cave

Our advice: take a flashlight on this hike. It is incredibly dark. We hiked it two years ago, and had to shuffle along holding hands. While there are luminarias along the trail, it's just not quite enough light once it gets really dark. However, it's great to catch glimpses of the bonfire as you get closer. The hike can be started any time, 5 to 7 pm today, December 11. For more info, click the link in the title or go to http://www.thehockinghills.org/Park_Event_Holiday_In_The_Park.htm

December in the Hocking Hills

Click on the title link to discover all the wonderful things to do in the Hocking Hills this December. Ice skating, cookie classes, parades, and much more. We're going to try to hike the Lake Hope Holiday Trail of Lights this weekend. Note: that some events in this link are in the past. We'll post a new link later this week.

Gas in the Hocking Hills

The gas station and little store at the intersection of State Route 664 and State Route 56 in South Bloomingville has RE-OPENED! No more hoping you can make it back to town on fumes.

Lilyfest 2010 - July 9, 10 & 11 - this weekend!

Lilyfest is one of our favorite events in the Hocking Hills. It is held every year at the Bishop Educational Gardens in Rockbridge. We are always inspired by the beautiful plantings, the art & the music. Since this is a large venue, crowds are never a problem and you can always find a quiet nook to just sit and breathe it all in. Check out the web site at http://www.lilyfest.com/ for more information.

Oh, it's free, although a small donation for parking is polite.

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Hocking HIlls Ash Cave Fire Tower now open

Dave and I hiked the Ash Cave to Cedar Falls trail yesterday evening, perfect day for a late afternoon/early evening hike. We saw exactly 2 people on the trail. Well, we saw them twice, once on the way out and once on the way back, but they were still just 2 people. The forest was absolutely lovely in the late day sun, and our tranquility was complete, except for those 2 people! By the way, this trail is 3 miles long, so a total of 6 to get back to the parking area.

We were thrilled to see that the Ash Cave Fire Tower is now open to climb. It's located on this trail, but also accessible from a parking area at the corner of State Route 374 and Chapel Ridge Road. Built in 1934, the tower is 80 feet tall and you can see far and wide from the top. We were a little concerned about the fragility of some of the platforms at the end of each flight of steps. They appear to be the original wood. While most of the steps have been replaced, it's obvious some of the platform boards are really, really old. In fact, on the first platform, two boards have fallen or been kicked off. I'll report to Forestry today.

Marsh Hollow is now Hocking Hills Green Certified!

Marsh Hollow is very pleased to have been accepted into the Hocking Hills Green Certified program administered by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association. The program is a voluntary environmental program for the purpose of reducing the environmnetal impact of the Hocking Hills travel industry through communication, responsible resource management and stewardship.

While you can read about all of our commitments at www.hockinghillsgreen.com, I'd like to highlight the ones that are particularly important to me:

• We have a longstanding recycling program to reduce materials going to landfills. What can our guests to do help? Bring refillable water bottles! We recycle way too many plastic water bottles. Our water is highly filtered and quite tasty.
• All food and trash is stored properly to prevent access by wildlife. What can our guests do to help? Please don't throw food waste into the woods (and 99% of our guests do not do this!).
• Guests are encouraged to follow the principals of Leave No Trace. And this means pet waste, cigarette butts, etc. I've heard numerous comments from our guests about dog doo on the state park trails. Please!
• We have worked very hard to make our cabin energy efficient. This year we installed new highly energy efficient windows throughout the cabin. What can our guests do to help? Close windows and doors while using heating and cooling equipment.

There is so much that all of us can do to keep the Hocking Hills the amazing natural wonder that it is. Find out more at Hocking Hills Green Certified.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Laurelville Old Time Fireman's Festival

TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY - 86th Annual Fireman's Old Time Festival in Laurelville; entertainment, rides, fish fry, parade all in the streets of Laurelville

FRIDAY - Talent Show at 5:30pm; Black Water Run bluegrass band at 8pm; midway opens at 6:30pm.

SATURDAY - baby contest at 10am; kid's big wheel race at noon; midway "matinee" from 1 to 5pm - all rides are one price; Queen's Tea at 3pm; Adelphi Community Band at 4:30pm; Grand Parade at 6pm; Ohio's most expensive cake auction at 9pm; square dancing at 9:45pm; Rt 56 & 180 in Laurelville.

We love the fish fry and will visit for multiple meals. And the local church ladies have a pie booth with the best pies ever. Buy by the slice or a whole pie.