When attendees tire of the “same old same old,” consider heading to Southern Ohio, where a quirky gamut of offerings breaks away from the everyday. From biplane thrills to unique eats to marvelous one-of-a-kind museums, the region makes an unforgettable impression on planners willing to think outside the box.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite offbeat offerings in the region that groups can sink their teeth into, both literally and figuratively.
CINCINNATI
“From breakfast with flamingos to the neon glow of decades past, Cincinnati USA is a destination that consistently surprises visitors with our quirky, exciting, and unforgettable attractions,” says Dan Lincoln, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA CVB. “This region is experiencing incredibly positive momentum right now, and the increasing number of unique meeting and group offerings are perfect examples of this revitalization.”
Whether seeking an intriguing off-site outing for a tempting tour or singular setting for a group event, the American Sign Museum is a smart choice.
“This museum is a mecca for history lovers and those looking for a little taste of Americana as they stroll through signs from the past century,” says Debbie Crowdus, communications manager for Cincinnati USA. “A new, larger facility just opened in 2012 to better house the eclectic collection, as well as the museum’s own working neon shop, great group event space and 19,000 square feet of signs.”
Guided tours are offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Parties of 10 or more receive a substantial discount, though planners wanting a private tour should notify the venue in advance. Those wanting to plan a function of their own will find plenty of colorful options, with most of the “decorating” already in place, for groups ranging from 50 to 500.
Not many restaurants showcase roaring lions, strutting flamingos and towering giraffes on view for diners, but the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s new Base Camp Cafe is an enjoyable exception. The restaurant is one of the highlights of the zoo’s new Africa exhibit and was named the “Greenest Restaurant in America” by the Green Restaurant Association.
The zoo is hugely popular for event-hosting, and a picnic or other event can be bolstered by a customized visit from a furry or feathered friend. PageBreak
For some funky evening fun, it’s hard to picture a more memorable setting than Igby’s, a thriving nightspot and restaurant housed in a revamped 150-year-old structure divided into three floors of rocking dance areas and plush private spaces.
“Architecturally, Igby’s is so unique,” says Bob Deck, owner of the venue. “When people walk in, they’re going to be wowed. It’s the kind of place that people are going to want to spend the entire evening.”
Foodies will have an especially good time, with a gamut of innovative small plates making up most of the menu, plus creative craft cocktails that will encourage even the most staid attendees to try something new.
Offbeat lodgings include the recently opened 21c Museum Hotel, a snazzy boutique property with a serious dedication to the arts—as reflected in its free, publically accessible, 8,000-square-feet of art exhibition space.
COLUMBUS
“Whether it is one of our independent retailers, fashion boutiques, artisan food producers or even a local distillery or brewery, Columbus is full of creative and unique places that surprise visitors,” says Dan Williams, senior director, convention sales, for Experience Columbus. “And due to the compactness of our convention package, many of them are within walking distance of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, allowing anyone the chance to explore and create memories.”
One unique element to the city is its allure as a leading gay and lesbian travel market, and it was also named by Forbes as one of America’s Top 5 Shopping Cities. Another standout feature of Columbus is its strong Bavarian heritage, which can be savored in full at Historic German Village, a sprawling bastion of Old World offerings ranging from a pretty 30-acre park to numerous restaurants and a whimsical bookstore. Ample event spaces include a freshly revamped ballroom ideal for a range of events.
“Brides, businesses and event planners alike love our freshly remodeled space, which is complete with original wood floors and tin ceiling,” says Shiloh Todorov, director of the German Village Society. “You can’t beat our prices right in the center of picturesque German Village, one of 2011 ‘10 Best Neighborhoods in America’ as judged by the American Planning Association.”
CVB officials also tout the city’s growing underground art scene, which can be sampled at the Wexner Center for the Arts on the Ohio State University campus, home to all manner of rotating exhibits and cutting-edge performances. Similarly, the new Pizzuti Collection—a fabulous trove of contemporary creations compiled by local collectors Ron and Ann Pizzuti—has opened in a reimagined historical building in the Short North neighborhood. PageBreak
DAYTON
Dayton’s singular offerings include plenty of the “Wright stuff”—activities and venues associated with brothers Orville and Wilbur and the birth of flight.
These inspirational offerings include the chance to take an “open-air” flight in the meticulously reproduced Wright B. Flyer, the first mass-produced airplane from the famed siblings, out at the Dayton South/Wright Brothers Airport. Additional aviation excitement can be had at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the biggest and oldest military aviation museum on the planet and the state’s most popular fee-free attraction.
The Schuster Performing Arts Center, designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, offers impressive design elements that include a fiber-optic constellation display on the Mead Theater’s ceiling that depicts the positioning of stars in the Dayton sky on the evening of the Wright Brothers’ famed first flight. The center is built around the Kettering Wintergarden, a tall glass atrium enhanced by colorful patterns that can host events of up to 1,000 attendees.
The Cox Arboretum at Five Rivers MetroPark is another unusual setting, home to a funky ‘Tree Tower’ observation platform, butterfly house and even an edible garden. And two additional out-of-the-ordinary offerings are on tap in Dayton’s near future: the formation of a white-water kayaking park on the Great Miami River and the inception of a historically accurate old-time brewery in Carillon Historical Park.
MASON
In Mason, many of the out-of-the-norm offerings are tied to splashy water fun or exotic edibles.
The Beach Waterpark has an ambience and setting more akin to a Caribbean island than an Ohio theme park, with live palm trees and endless ocean sands helping create an oasis of fun during the fair-weather months. In addition to its watery elements ranging from spectacular to sublime, the attraction offers unusual happenings like “Dive-In” movies and works with any group of 15 or more to set up a memorable event such as a catered luau.
For year-round group fun, the Great Wolf Lodge showcases a spectacular indoor waterpark in addition to its 401 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of meeting space. In addition to its impressive waterpark, the lodge offers a host of other offbeat options as well: CompassQuest, a high-tech scavenger hunt combining video game and GPS tracking excitement; a family-friendly bowling alley with kid-size balls and lanes; glow-in-the-dark mini golf; and even a spa for kids.
For unusual eateries, city spokesperson Jennifer Trepal recommends The Wildflower Cafe, an organic oasis that has its own kitchen garden out back; the exotic Straits of Malacca Malaysian restaurant and colorful Banana Leaf Modern Thai eatery; Aponte’s, making a comeback after its recent Restaurant: Impossible appearance; and Ice-n-EZ, a recently debuted “gourmet” Italian ice establishment.
