The Grimes Flying Lab Museum
A part of the National Aviation Heritage Area, the Grimes Flying Lab Museum pays tribute to Warren G. Grimes. Known as the Father of the Aviation Lighting Industry, he founded Grimes Manufacturing in Urbana. The company continues to manufacture aviation lighting as a division of Honeywell Aerospace.  The museum is located at Urbana’s municipal airport, Grimes Field, which Mr. Grimes donated to the city in 1943.  The jewel of the museum is the restored Grimes Flying Lab, a Beech 18 used to test Grimes’ innovations. www.grimesflyinglab.org

Robert Rothschild Farm
Robert Rothschild Farm, a family-founded company in Urbana, Ohio, has won national acclaim for its gourmet line of preserves, mustards, dips, sauces and sweet toppings. Recognition has come from the Sofi Awards, Napa Valley World-Wide Mustard Competition, the Scovie Awards and America's Best Food awards, to name just few.

Robert Rothschild Farm products are made in a 51,000-square-foot facility on the farm where the company was founded in 1976. The products are available online http://www.robertrothschild.com/, by phone (800-356-8933), at fine stores across the U.S. and at the Le Gourmet Chef store on site, at 3143 E. U.S. Highway 36, Urbana, (937) 652-2164.

The tour of Ohio’s Historic West begins in Van Wert County - our northern most county. Situated on 252.6 acres of land just west of the city of Van Wert, in Van Wert county, Camp Clay offers many activities for family fun. Lake Rotary, a 5-acre lake in the shape of Ohio provides access to boating, fishing, and swimming - all strongly recommended! A shelter house next to the lake provides shade & picnic facilities. Clay Center has a multi-purpose gym area equipped for indoor soccer, roller skating/hockey, & indoor tennis. The Rotary Nature Center features a live bee hive, snakes, turtles, fish, mice, & other animals as well as rock, leaf, insect, & other environmental displays. A one-mile hiking trail through a wooded area & a Challenge Course consisting of 35-foot high obstacles provides opportunities for leadership & team building events.

For additional information contact the Van Wert Area CVB,877.989.2282 or
visit www.VisitVanWert.org

Braun Industries, Inc. is the manufacturer of Braun Handcrafted Ambulances. Building hand-crafted ambulances in Ohio since 1972, Braun Industries is recognized as an innovative leader in ambulance design & construction. From initial design to final assembly, all work is kept in house to control quality, utilizing state of the art technology such as 3D design, modeling software & computer controlled machining equipment. Tours may be scheduled.

For more information, visit www.VisitVanWert.org or call the Van Wert Area CVB at 877.989.2282.

Universal Lettering’s team of highly skilled sewing & embroidery experts have been providing personalized jackets for many different groups for over 70 years. For example, they designed the first Future Farmers of America jacket in 1933 & still remains the primary supplier of the world’s famous FFA jacket, outfitting most of the 490,000 boys & girls in that organization. Tours of the facility can be arranged.

More information is available at www.VisitVanWert.org or call VanWert Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 877.989.2282.

Traveling south, we enter Mercer County, & drive along the north shore of Grand Lake St. Marys, approximately 9 miles long & 3 miles wide with three lighthouses gracing its shores. This gorgeous body of water is both “American Made” and “Nature Made”! Grand Lake St. Marys was originally constructed as a feeder reservoir for the Miami-Erie Canal & was recognized as the largest man-made reservoir in the world for many years. Of course, there’s plenty of fishing, boating & picnicking all around the lake during the warm months, & ice-fishing in the winter! How about a sightseeing cruise to see the lake up close & personal? All aboard the Lost Weekend Cruises to discover the beauty of this Grand Lake in an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere!

Contact the Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800.860.4726, www.Seemore.org

To the east, as we cross into Auglaize County, we visit the historic town of St. Marys, located on the eastern shore of Grand Lake St. Marys, that has always been a site of trading & transportation significance. In the 1600s & 1700s both French & Indians frequented the area. The Shawnee Indians established villages here known as Kettle Town & later Girty’s Town. General Anthony Wayne constructed a fort here in 1795 (it no longer stands) & in the War of 1812 General William Henry Harrison erected Fort Barbee near the site of Wayne’s fort & established his headquarters there. St. Marys’ rich historical heritage includes the Miami-Erie Canal which still runs through downtown. The Belle of St. Marys, a replica canal boat has been restored & you may view it at Memorial Park.

Contact the Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800.860.4726, www.Seemore.org

Just a short distance to the south is the Bicycle Museum of America in the quaint town of New Bremen. How many people remember the banana seat? How about a tandem? This museum dedicated to the history of cycling opened in 1997. Featuring over 250 vintage bicycles from 1816 to the present, the collection includes over 150 Schwinn Bicycles from the former Chicago Museum. The museum was chosen by Arts and Antiques magazine in their special issue of “100 Top Treasures” to see in the U.S. & Canada. Location: 7 West Monroe St., New Bremen. Group Tours & Group Rates
available. Summer hours: M-F 11 a.m. - 7 p.m & Sat 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Winter Hours: M–F 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sat noon – 2 p.m.

For more information, contact the Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800.860.4726, www.Seemore.org

From New Bremen, the journey heads west to historic Ft. Recovery, & another “American Made” structure in Mercer County -- The Fort Recovery State Museum. In late 1791, Miami Indians defeated General Arthur St. Clair's forces at this site along the Wabash River. Nearly three-quarters of St. Clair's men were killed or wounded in the attack. In late 1793, General Anthony Wayne sent a force to build a four-blockhouse post named Recovery at the site of St. Clair's defeat. It was completed in March of 1794 & on June 30 of that year General Wayne's army defeated a huge Indian force. This set the stage for Wayne's final triumph at Fallen Timbers in August of 1794. Two reconstructed blockhouses, a connecting stockade & many exhibits depicting the Indian wars of the 1790's are housed in the museum that also includes mannequins dressed in the uniforms of the 18th Century American soldiers, period weapons & one of the largest collections of Indian artifacts in the state of Ohio.

Contact the Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800.860.4726, or visit www.Seemore.org

From Ft. Recovery, travel south into Darke County to Greenville to explore another worldfamous,
“American Made” product! A guided tour through the KitchenAid Stand Mixer Factory reveals how the #1 stand mixer is made. During this one-hour walking tour, guests are escorted through the KitchenAid historical display area, the machine shop, powder paint operation, sub-assembly, building, shipping, customer service center and life-test lab. Closed-toe shoes are required and safety glasses will be issued. Advance notice is required due to production demands. Restroom facilities are plentiful & motorcoach parking is available. Cost is $5 per person.

For more information, contact the Darke County Visitors Bureau at 800.504.2995, www.VisitDarkeCounty.org

Once we’ve discovered how the #1 stand mixer in the world is made, we’ll visit the KitchenAid Experience Retail Center in downtown Greenville to see the live test kitchen, browse the KitchenAid Heritage Museum & shop the largest selection of first quality & refurbished KitchenAid products on the planet! If hands-on demonstrations & make-it/take-it projects are more your style, be sure to schedule time into your visit at the KitchenAid Experience Retail Center to make apple dumplings! Restrooms & seating are plentiful. Motorcoach parking is available. $5 per person for hands-on cooking demonstrations. Contract & deposit are required.

For more information, contact the Darke County Visitors Bureau at 800.504.2995,
www.VisitDarkeCounty.org

From the shop in Switzerland to the upscale stores in New York & San Francisco, one would expect to find a high-end artisan chocolate to tempt their taste buds, but in a small farming community in the heart of the Midwest? Born in Quebec, Canada, Ghyslain Maurais spent three years studying to become an architect when he realized he had a passion, & it wasn’t for building homes & high-rises. Ghyslain then went on to receive a diploma from the Institute d’Hotelerie et Tourisme of Quebec in Montreal for the culinary arts. He is certified in French pastry, chocolate décor, candy making, blown & pulled sugar, & he has worked in the finest of 5 star hotels as an executive chef as well as won numerous awards. Ghyslain’s commitment to his family & vision for the potential that exists in the high-end chocolate market helped him create a unique product that rivals that of the best chocolatiers in the world with Ghyslain Chocolatier in Union City, Indiana.

Ghyslain offers 4 tour options at his facility. They are: Option 1: Basic Tour of the production center, video presentation of the Ghyslain Chocolatier story, & a chocolate taste test. Option 1 tour is scheduled Mon thru Friday promptly at 10 am and 2 pm. Cost is $5 & takes 30-45 minutes. Option 2: Lunch Tour includes Option 1 plus lunch. Must be a count of 8 or more & have reservations. Option 3: Make Your Own Chocolate Tour includes Option 1 & the making of an edible chocolate tulip cup to be filled with mousse & decorated with chocolate décor. This is your creation to take home with you. This tour is $10 & must be a count of 8 or more & have reservations. Option 4: Spend The Day Tour for $50. Call Leslie for details on all tours at 765.964.7905, www.Ghyslain.com

From Darke County, we’ll travel east to Troy, located in Miami County, to see a “Nature Made” destination. At Brukner Nature Center we'll learn about Ohio’s wildlife at this 164-acre nature preserve which includes: a wildlife rehabilitation center; 6 miles of hiking trails; a nature store; an air-conditioned bird-watching vista; and a log home built by the first settlers into Miami County in 1804. The Center’s animal rehabilitation area is nationally famous, & has over 65 permanent animals on display, including a bald eagle. Brukner’s Naturalists can tailor a 90-minute program to suit your group’s particular interests, providing learning experiences for youthful people of all age groups. Activities include; nature hikes, wildlife lectures, bird watching and exploring an 1804 log home—even making your own butter! The Heidelberg Auditorium in the Nature Center is the perfect place to have your group’s lunch catered (it’s airconditioned & bug-free!). Or, if you prefer, you can eat outdoors on the picnic tables. Night-hikes are also a favorite! Location: 8995 Horseshoe Bend Road, off Rt. 55, west of Troy. Admission: $4 per person. Reservations required. Handicapped accessible in the Nature Center, but trails would be difficult. Restrooms & parking facilities are plenty.

Contact the Miami County VCB at 800.348.8993 or visit www.VisitMiamiCounty.org for more information.

Our next stop in our appreciation of American Made products is the WACO Aircraft Museum & Learning Center, and Historic WACO Airfield, just south of Troy in Miami County. A tribute to the WACO Aircraft Company's place in American aviation, the museum features the company's unique heritage & contributions to the industry. Exhibits depict the Troy company's commercial & military aircraft production from the 1920s through WWII. In the 1920’s WACO was the largest producer of aircraft in the country. The WACO Aircraft Company was co-founded by Clayton J. Brukner, who also founded Brukner Nature Center in Troy. After your tour through the WACO Museum with a WACO Historical Society member, you’ll explore WACO Airfield, and a tour of the hangar by a pilot who has flown these fabulous WACO aircraft! Following your hangar tour, an option is to enjoy a catered dinner inside the hangar.

Contact the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau at 800.348.8993 or visit www.VisitMiamiCounty.org

To the north of Miami County, the journey takes us to the Lockington Locks of Shelby County. Do you know the function of a lock? Why were locks necessary to enable canal boats to travel between the Ohio River and Lake Erie? How did they function? How were they constructed? You’ll learn the answers to these questions as your group visits the remains of the Lockington Locks in the village of Lockington. At the height of the activity on the canal, scores of boats a day moved through the system of locks. This slow process (it took as long as five or six hours to traverse the locks) caused a backup of boat traffic, which in turn allowed travelers to go ashore for a period of time. A collection of log houses & huts sprang up, first occupied by laborers working on the canal, later by the owners of stores & other businesses. Chief among the enterprises were at least six saloons! Construction of the railroads helped bring about the decline & eventual demise of the canal system in Ohio. We are lucky to have the historic remains of the canal system to remind us of what life was like in the 1800s for our fore-mothers & fathers!

For information, contact the Sidney VisitorsBureau at 866.892.9122 (Shelby County) or www.VisitSidneyShelby.com

Also in Shelby County, we’ll visit another factory to see an easily recognized “American Made” product! For over 50 years, Jackson Center has been the home of The Airstream Trailer Company, the manufacturer of the legendary Airstream trailer. Founder Wally Byam incorporated aircraft construction methods in order to lessen wind resistance & improve the strength-to-weight ratio of his trailers. In 1934, Mr. Byam introduced the name "Airstream" because his improved trailers cruised down the road "like a stream of air." In 1936 Airstream introduced the "Clipper," and an American legend was born! A guided tour will show how they craft this American Classic. Tours are conducted daily at 2:00 p.m. offering visitors a comprehensive overview of Airstream’s manufacturing process.

For information, contact the Sidney Visitors Bureau at 866.892.9122
(Shelby County) or www.VisitSidneyShelby.com

Are you ready for more delicious treats? The final leg of our trip through Ohio’s Historic West will take us to Logan County to explore another American Made treasure! In the adorable town of West Liberty, nestled in a refurbished train depot is Marie’s Candies. In 1941 polio struck a young, hardworking Ohio farmer named Winfred King. The disease put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Over the years friends and neighbors helped the young family as much as they could. To express their gratitude, Winfred and his wife, Marie, began giving gifts of homemade candies. Marie’s Candies opened its doors in 1956, and its reputation for old-fashioned, high-quality candies spread across the countryside. Jay, a son of Winfred and Marie took ownership in 1977 and in 1998 Shannon; Jay’s son, extended Marie’s Candies into its third generation. During our visit of Marie’s today, we’ll receive delicious free samples of chocolates and candies. Staff members will share the history of this candy company & some slides that make the story come to life. Location: downtown West Liberty. Fee: none—but please allow plenty of time for your group to shop! This is how Marie’s is able to offer samples & the slide presentation for “no charge.” Handicapped & motor coach accessible.

Contact Logan County Convention & Tourist Bureau, 888.564.2626, www.SeeLoganCounty.com

The last stop on our American Made-Nature Made tour will be Ohio Caverns, a true gift from Mother Nature. These magnificent caverns are the largest & most beautiful of all Ohio caves. The diversity of the crystal-white stalactite and stalagmite formations and unexcelled coloring are unique because they are still developing. In addition to the education & fun found in the Ohio Caverns, visitors will also find a 35-acre park with shelter house & picnic tables; a souvenir/gift shop plus a friendly staff in the pleasant surroundings of this marvelous Nature Made attraction.

Visit www.ohiocaverns.com or call the Logan County Convention & Tourist Bureau, 888.564.2626, www.SeeLoganCounty.com