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Vacation Planner: 2-hour trips back again this summer

Photo by Amy Phelps In the first of the summer travel series to begin June 3, Wayne County, Ohio, will be visited. Lehmans is a large store that offers plenty to look at.

PARKERSBURG — Last summer, the Parkersburg News and Sentinel ran a weekly travel series explore a new place for families to visit, all within a 2-hour driving distance from the Mid-Ohio Valley. And this year, the series will be back again looking at all new places. The following is a short look at the places at will be visited:

* Wayne County, Ohio: Outside of the better known Holmes County in the Amish Country area, Wayne County features several large stores with familiar names. Lehmans, a family-owned store must be seen to believe as it is made up of four pre-Civil War era buildings that feature gardening products, classic toys, kitchenware, hearth heating, home goods and even a snack bar.

Smucker’s Store and Cafe offers a look at the company’s history and a wide array of products, apparel, gifts and household items as well as a cafe and an ice cream sundae bar. P. Graham Dunn Gift Shop offers factory outlet merchandise, personalized gifts and more.

* Audra State Park, Upshur County, W.Va.: In Upshur County, Audra State Park features hiking trails, river swimming and inter-tubing, camping and picnic areas as well as a playground. There are also five historical Civil War sites in Buckhannon, as well as Fidler’s Mill that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The West Virginia Wildlife Center offers a chance to see native animals like elk, bison, foxes, wolves and more in a 1.25 mile loop walkway.

* Tuscawarus County, Ohio: Several historic sites are located in the area of Ohio, including the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, the site of the Gnadenhutten Massacre, the Olde Main Street Museum and Social Center in Newcomerstown and Schoenbrunn Village in New Philadelphia. Whether learning about World War II travel in Dennison, the Native Americans at Gnadenhutten, a reconstructed 1940s town in Newcomerstown or pre-Revolutionary War colonial times, there is plenty to visit.

* TransAllegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, W.Va.: Learn about West Virginian history or hunt for ghost in this former mental hospital from the mid-1800s. With stories of Civil War raids, a gold robbery and the “curative” effects of architecture, there is plenty to learn and get a few scares.

* Velvet Ice Cream Factory, Utica, Ohio: Located in Licking County, Ohio, the Velvet Ice Cream Factory offers tours to the public, as well as a museum and restaurant. In nearby Newark and Heath is the Dawes Arboretum and several Earthworks with museums.

* Prickett’s Fort, Fairmont, W.Va.: Visitors can step back in time with this historic site which offers a glimpse into early colonial life for those in then Virginia. There is also the Phillipi Covered Bridge, the site of the Civil War’s first land battle in 1861 and the New Tygart Flyer diesel-powdered train in Marion County.

* Ohio History Center and Ohio Village, Columbus, Ohio: These two museums in Columbus give visitors a look into the state’s history, as well as a look at the 1890s with Ohio Village, which also hosts the Ohio Village Muffins, a vintage base ball club.

* Fayetteville, W.Va. and New River Gorge: Named after the Marquis de Lafayette, the historic town has plenty of shops and restaurants to visit as well as 75 historic buildings. New River Gorge is the site of Bridge Day every year and hosts plenty of opportunities for whitewater rafting.

* Burr Oak State Park, Athens County, Ohio: In between Athens County and Morgan County, this state park has lodging, trails and more to explore. Nearby Nelsonville has the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway to visit as well as Stuart’s Opera House and the Rocky Outdoor Gear Store, while Athens has many restaurants and shops, as well as the Dairy Barn Art Center.

* Beech Fork State Park, Barboursville, W.Va.: Beech Fork State Park has plenty of opportunities for biking, boating, camping and hiking. On the way, stop at Point Pleasant and visit the Mothman Museum and the site of several Revolutionary War battles, as well as the infamous Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage.

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