fall group getaways in Ohio

Shores & Islands Ohio: The Perfect Fall Setting for Your Group Getaway

If summer slipped by too quickly and you didn't make it to Shores & Islands Ohio—don't worry! It's never too soon to start planning your next group tour.

Can't-Miss Cultural Gems

Make the Most of These Can't-Miss Cultural Gems

Come along and explore some of these top cultural destinations and attractions around the world, along with some top tips for making the most of your group's experience.

Wild About Wine Trail

Wild About Wine Trail: Sip, Savor, and Explore Southeast Ohio

Just a short drive from Columbus, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh, the Wild About Wine Trail offers group travelers an immersive journey through the rolling hills, charming small towns, and vibrant flavors of Muskingum, Guernsey, and Coshocton counties.


This Appalachian foothill region blends deep-rooted history, artisan craftsmanship, and distinctive wineries into one unforgettable experience.

The Trail invites visitors to "sip their way" through a collection of exceptional wineries and breweries, each with its own personality. Whether your group enjoys a casual afternoon tasting or a full weekend itinerary, the stops along the trail provide a variety of flavors, scenic settings, and warm Ohio hospitality.

Start with Raven's Glenn Winery in West Lafayette, known as Ohio's "Crown Jewel of Wineries," where award-winning vintages are paired with chef-driven dining and river views. Nearby, Rainbow Hills Winery, Brewery & Pizzeria offers not just handcrafted wines and beers, but also wood-fired pizzas, a perfect lunch stop for groups.

 

Photo courtesy of Visit Zanesville

 

In Muskingum County, the historic Headley Inn Winery & Vineyard serves guests in a building that has welcomed travelers since 1833, while Stone Crest Vineyard charms with hillside waterfalls and 19 wine varieties from dry to sweet. For a cozy countryside feel, White Eyes Creek Winery provides a peaceful escape with panoramic views.

Guernsey County's Georgetown Vineyard overlooks the city of Cambridge, serving oven-fired pizzas alongside an expansive wine menu. The unique Baltic Mill Winery operates inside a restored 1908 flour mill, offering tastings surrounded by original mill machinery, a fascinating stop for history and wine lovers alike.

Beyond wine, the trail also celebrates local brewing culture. Weasel Boy Brewing Company and Y-Bridge Brewing Company in Zanesville, along with Guernsey Brewhouse and Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, deliver craft beer experiences perfect for mixed-interest groups.

The Wild About Wine Trail is more than a tasting tour, it's a gateway to Southeast Ohio's culture and attractions. Between stops, groups can explore Historic Roscoe Village in Coshocton, stroll the Storybook Trail at Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County, or visit Zanesville's Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio & Gallery, home to hundreds of striking bronze works by one of America's most celebrated sculptors. For a truly unique detour, groups can also visit The Wilds, one of the largest conservation centers in the world. Spanning over 10,000 acres, this safari-style adventure features rare and endangered animals roaming open pastures, with guided tours, ziplining, and breathtaking views from the Bing Overlook Café.

 

Photo courtesy of Tap & Cork Excursions

 

Seasonal events such as the Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival or Dickens Victorian Village add extra charm to itineraries. Dining options along the route are plentiful, from hearty steak dinners at The Forum in Cambridge to nostalgic ice cream treats at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville. Many wineries offer their own menus or partner with local food trucks, making it easy to keep the group well-fed.

With ample group accommodations, tour packages, and welcoming staff at every stop, the Wild About Wine Trail is an ideal itinerary for motorcoach tours, girlfriend getaways, and multi-day excursions. The scenic drives between wineries through vineyard-lined hillsides, past historic barns, and along peaceful rivers are as much a part of the experience as the tastings themselves.

For group tour professionals, the Wild About Wine Trail offers flexibility, variety, and a true taste of Southeast Ohio's hospitality. Guests will leave with new favorite wines, unforgettable memories, and a desire to return again and again.

Courtesy of Visit Zanesville.

 

 

Main photo courtesy of Killing Tree Winery

 

The Met Reopens Newly Reimagined Galleries

The complete renovation of the wing, which encompasses over 40,000 square feet of gallery space on the Museum's south side, was designed by Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture.


The Metropolitan Museum of Art has reopened The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, following the completion of a major renovation. The wing includes the collections in the Arts of AfricaArts of the Ancient Americas, and Arts of Oceania galleries, and features over 1,800 works spanning five continents and hundreds of cultures. These three major world traditions stand as independent entities in a wing that is in dialogue with neighboring gallery spaces. The reopening comes as the galleries have been closed to the public and under renovation since 2021.

Designed by WHY Architecture in collaboration with Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects LLP, and with The Met's Design Department, the reimagined galleries have been designed to transform the visitor experience and incorporate innovative technologies that allow The Met to display objects in new ways. In galleries dedicated to each of the distinct collection areas, design elements reference and pay homage to the architectural vernaculars of each region.

The reinstallation of all three collection areas—in the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania galleries—reflects new scholarship, undertaken in collaboration with international experts and researchers. Digital features and new wall text allow for deeper contextualization of objects. Highlights of the collections that are well known to long-time visitors to The Met are showcased in innovative ways with a completely new gallery design, which also incorporates filtered daylight through a custom-designed, state-of-the-art sloped glass wall on the south facade, adjacent to Central Park.

Additionally, across each collection, there are objects on view for the first time, including major new acquisitions of historic and contemporary art in the Arts of Africa galleries; a gallery dedicated to light-sensitive ancient Andean textiles, which are the first of its kind in the United States; and several new commissions for the Oceania galleries by Indigenous artists and a range of new digital features that present contemporary perspectives.

"The complete renovation of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing reflects The Met's profound commitment to—and deep expertise in—caring for and expanding understandings of the works in the Museum's collection," said Max Hollein, The Met's Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. "Together with our collaborative and community-based approach to curating these collections, the transformation of these galleries allows us to further advance the appreciation and contextualization of many of the world's most significant cultures.

"When the wing first opened in 1982, it brought a much broader perspective on global art history to The Met, and this thoughtful and innovative reimagining reflects our ambition to continually expand and even complexify narratives. We're deeply grateful to the many artists, scholars, community leaders, and cultural figures who are partnering with us on this essential and ongoing work."

The newly imagined galleries were designed to highlight the diversity and distinction within each rich collection while providing a welcoming and memorable sense of place for visitors.

"The primary goal of this considerable institutional project is to deepen appreciation for the greatness of the art displayed within. While the creation of the wing asserted the place of the arts of sub-Saharan Africa, the ancient Americas, and Oceania in the world's leading museum, the new edition underscores their autonomy from one another and foregrounds the artists responsible for those achievements," said Alisa LaGamma, Ceil and Michael E. Pulitzer Curator of African Art and Curator in Charge of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. "The new galleries devoted to three major collections presented in The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing allow us to reintroduce them with to the public enriched with a wealth of contextual detail. Those layers of information range from artist bios to interviews with experts in the region that relate the works presented to specific historical sites in the form of audio guide commentary and documentary films produced as an integral part of the experience."

Learn more about these newly reopened galleries and more by visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Courtesy of Groups Today.

 

Photos by Bridgit Beyer, Courtesy of The Met. 

 

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