I know many travelers and animal lovers who make a visit to The Wilds as part of their Midwest Bucket List. There are so many things to do in the area after your visit to The Wilds.
I’m sharing more about what to expect during your visit and reasons to stay and explore around Cambridge, Ohio, while you’re in the area.
Our visit was sponsored by Tourism Ohio. All opinions are my own.
Take an Open-Air Safari at The Wilds
14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH
The Wilds gives visitors a taste of an African safari but with the affordability of Midwest prices.
The Wilds resides on over 9,000+ acres that were formerly used for strip mining in Cumberland, Ohio.
The repurposing of the land has allowed an opportunity for important animal conservation and education.
During the 2+ hour open-air safari tour, you’ll see several rare and endangered species, along with rhinos, ostriches, and giraffes roaming around in a natural setting.
Use your brochure to learn more about the animals on site and check the box as you identify them on your tour.
It’s recommended that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time to allow additional time to be transported from the parking lot by the shuttle to the top.
If you arrive with extra time to kill before your tour, I recommend checking out the Discovery Field Station.
It’s a great way for kids to burn off some extra energy, especially if you traveled a few hours to get to the Wilds.
There are lots of hands-on activities for kids and opportunities for you to ask questions about wildlife and conservation.
Open Air Safari Tour at the Wilds
A variety of tours are available for guests during a visit. The most popular tour is the Open Air Safari tour.
You will definitely want to allow several hours for your visit to the Wilds.
You will learn more about each animal you encounter and the conservation efforts around the world.
The Wilds also offers a variety of specialty tours in addition to the guided open-air safari tour.
Lake Trail and Carnivore Center
During this tour, you will make a stop at the Lake Trail and the Carnivore Center, where you can see fish, birds, and mid-size Carnivores in closer proximity.
During the Lake Trail stop, you can purchase fish food and seed sticks to feed the birds for a small fee.
Where can you eat at the Wilds?
The Wilds has several dining options available for guests on-site.
During the open safari tour, you can eat at the Terrace Cafe during a stop at the Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center.
You’ll find typical American menu options that’ll appeal to both kids and adults.
After your tour, another option is to dine with a view at The Overlook, which has a cafe and a gift shop.
If you have more time, I think this is the best option because they also offer a larger menu that includes fresh salads.
Stay Overnight at The Wilds
Enjoy a scenic view of The Wilds before you go to bed and when you wake up.
There are overnight accommodations available at the Wilds if you want to extend your stay.
Guests 21 and over can opt for an overnight in a yurt at Nomad Ridge. Families or groups can stay at the Wilds cabins at Straker Lake or the Lodge.
Other Tours at the Wilds
In addition to the Open Air Safari tour, The Wilds offers several other experiences to enhance your visit.
For thrill seekers, ziplining tours at The Wilds allow participants to experience the property from a bird’s-eye view.
The “Wildside tour” takes you around the property with an Animal Management specialist.
During the colder months, consider the “Winter at the Wilds” tour, where you can experience up-close interactions with animals, including rhinos.
*All tours at The Wilds need to be booked in advance.
Things to Do in Cambridge, Ohio
After a visit to the Wilds, you will find plenty to do around Cambridge, Ohio, only 34 minutes away.
National Museum of Cambridge Glass in Historic Downtown Cambridge
136 S 9th St, Cambridge, OH 43725
The museum is open seasonally, April -October (Wed-Sat 10 AM-4PM and Sunday 12-4PM )
I honestly had a hard time believing that we would spend 1-1.5 hours at a glass museum, but this museum was a very unexpected gem.
The Cambridge Company was THE premier company for handmade glassware, with a legacy of beautiful products that have evolved over the years.
The innovative shapes, colors, and craftsmanship evolved over the company’s span from the early 1900s to the mid-1950s in an attempt to keep up with consumer demands and trends.
The collection inside the museum helps capture the periods with collections that draw you in to appreciate every detail.
We discovered several pieces and color schemes that we thought would be fun in our home.
Take a Guided Tour of the Museum
We took a guided tour from Cindy Arent, the museum manager.
Her background as an elementary school teacher made the tour both really interesting and very hands-on. Anyone with a short attention span will really appreciate her tour style.
Cindy has a personal connection to glassmaking; there’s an image of her aunt who worked at one of the glassmaking factories in town at the museum.
A Fun Photo Op at the National Museum of Cambridge Glass
Our tour began with a brief vintage film that shared more about the company.
Next, there was a hands-on demo using glassmaking tools that also doubled as a photo op. Afterwards, we went through the exhibits and display cases.
It took an average of 75 people from start to finish to create a handcrafted glass piece.
After understanding more about the process, it definitely justifies the price.
We moved through the displays, learning interesting stories along the way, and were encouraged to ask questions as they came up.
There is even a Hollywood display showcasing pieces that have been in popular movies and TV shows throughout the years, which was really interesting.
Kids and adults will enjoy creating a pencil rubbing from a variety of authentic etching plates.
My son stayed in that room and created more etchings while we checked out the final exhibit room of the museum.
View 8,000 Pieces of Glass
There are over 8,000 pieces of glass inside the museum. You’ll definitely leave with a new appreciation for the art form, and you won’t overlook the Cambridge Glass sticker if you see it on a piece in the future.
The museum is open seasonally, April -October (Wed-Sat 9-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm )
We stayed 1.75 hours because we found it so interesting.
The museum tour was also a great point of reference for when we took the Mosser Glass tour the following day.
Tour Mosser Glass
9279 Cadiz Rd, Cambridge, OH 43725
(Free factory tours are offered Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 9:45 AM and 11 AM to 2PM)
*Factory Tours are not available during the first two full weeks of July or the last two weeks of December.
I HIGHLY recommend taking the tour AFTER you visit the National Museum of Cambridge Glass.
Seriously, it all came together for us when we were observing the handcrafted glassmaking process on the tour.
Watch Glass Being Made
You will have a way greater appreciation of the craftsmanship you witness. It’s also easier to identify each job because of your previous hands-on demo at the museum.
You will also have a greater appreciation for the workers who endure the heat while they work. It was fascinating to watch artisans form and create pieces in front of us.
The beautiful pieces created by Mosser Glass are shipped all over the world.
The final stage of the tour takes you where the pieces are cooled and prepped for shipping to their customers.
After your tour, you can shop around in the showroom if you want to take home a handcrafted piece of glass.
Their craft is more important than ever as the last hand-pressed glass company in the country. Their creative displays beautifully showcase the pieces that you will want to add to your collection.
Deerassic Park Education Center
14250 Cadiz Road, Cambridge, Ohio
Deerassic Park Education Center‘s mission is to create a one-of-a-kind place where youth and families are encouraged to explore the outdoors.
The center provides opportunities to participate in outdoor education experiences and learn a lifelong love and appreciation for nature.
Deerassic Park Education Center offers year-round programming, making it a popular location for field trips and community events.
The new 10,000 sq. ft expansion will help provide more educational space, a Welcome Center, and the Ohio Whitetail Hall of Fame.
The Deerassic Classic Giveaway and Outdoor Expo, an annual fundraiser, draws thousands of outdoor enthusiasts from around the country with music, camping, and outdoor activities.
Stay and Play at Salt Fork State Park
14755 Cadiz Rd, Lore City, OH
You could easily make a relaxing vacation just out of a stay at Salt Fork State Park Lodge.
The state park offers activities for the whole family to enjoy, and the vibe is super relaxing.
Take a Guided Hike with a Naturalist
Salt Fork State Park has several hiking trails throughout the park.
Naturalist, John Hickenbottom offers a variety of FREE themed hikes throughout the year.
A few to be on the lookout for are the Golf course safari, salt cave tour, creeking tour, and the canoe excursion. Check the schedule to learn more.
During our hike, we learned that the area has a great birding population; in fact, he said it’s one of their best-kept secrets.
There is no horsepower limit on the lake, which means all types of boats are welcome for recreation and fishing.
There are dozens of hiking trails, and we enjoyed the lower trail, offering scenic views of the lake and large boulders to climb on.
Hike to Stone House
John took us on a hike to see the Stone House, a two-story home made from sandstone that dates back to the mid-1800s.
The former home of Benjamin Kennedy has been converted into the Stone House Museum.
Stay at Salt Fork Lodge & Conference Center
US Route 22 East, Cambridge, OH
Fun Things to Do at Salt Fork Lodge
- Large outdoor pool
- Indoor pool
- Relax in the jacuzzi
- Game room
- Fitness center
- Dine at the Restaurant
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Shuffleboard
- Playground
- Multiple fireplaces to sit by inside the lodge
- Activities for families and kids
Accommodations at Salt Fork Lodge
The Lodge has 148 guestrooms and 54 cottages.
Our room at the Lodge had two beds, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a balcony view of the water.
I loved their commitment to reducing landfill waste by using dispensers instead of tiny toiletry bottles.
The lodge has a full-service restaurant where we ate a delicious breakfast.
If you are in the mood for a hearty breakfast, try the Appalachian skillet.
Bigfoot Legend at Salt Fork State Park
While you’re at the Lodge, you can stop by the gift shop to pick up some Bigfoot merchandise.
There have been more than 36 reported Bigfoot sightings at Salt Fork since the mid-1980s, which means that you never know what you will see when you are in the woods.
Television shows have come from all over to do reports at the park, and there’s even an annual Bigfoot Conference onsite that draws thousands of sasquatch enthusiasts each year.
Great Places to Eat in Cambridge
Theo’s Restaurant
632 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge, OH
Theo’s Restaurant is a great option for families, featuring American-style food at an affordable price.
We tried the Smitty Burger with giant onion rings, spaghetti, and the Spicy Gyro.
Make sure you save room for their homemade pies.
We tried a few…in the name of research. The coconut cream, chocolate peanut butter, and peanut butter pie did not disappoint.
Stop for a Sweet Treat
If you are craving something sweet, make a donut, stop at Kennedy’s Bakery (1025 E Wheeling Ave, Cambridge)
You also can’t go wrong with handmade chocolates from Nothing But Chocolate. It’s one of 30 places to visit on Ohio’s Buckeye Candy Trail.
We were so full afterward that we opted to walk around the downtown for a bit before coming back to try their homemade ice cream.
More Information About Things to Do in Guernsey County
Find more information about the area on the Guernsey County website.
The Wilds and Cambridge are the real deal. Visit also at Christmas for the Dickens Victorian Village experience and the courthouse light show! You won’t be disappointed.
We are so glad you had a great visit to Guernsey County and Historic Downtown Cambridge, Ohio.
I used to work in downtown Cambridge. I would shop at the shops on my lunch hour some days. Theo’s And Kennedy’s were my favorite places. No one does chili like Theo’s and no one does donuts like Kennedy’s!