The Mad River
Flowing through Champaign County, the Mad River offers the best trout fishing in Ohio. It also is a popular venue for canoeing and kayaking. Rentals are available at Birch Bark Canoe Livery, 1455 River Rd., Urbana, (937) 652-2663.  Entry points for fishing are at County Line Rd., Dallas Rd., State Route 55, Old Troy Pike, State Route 36, Millerstown Rd., State Route 29, Lippincott Rd., Upper Valley Pike, Sullivan Rd. and Pimtown Rd.

Take off to Grimes Field airport in Urbana, 1636 N. Main St. (937-652-4319), to discover local aviation history. The airport, a part of the National Aviation Heritage Area (www.aviationheritagearea.org), was given to the city in 1943 by Warren G. Grimes, known as the Father of the Aircraft Lighting Industry and founder of Grimes Manufacturing of Urbana. His many inventions include the familiar red, green, and white navigation lights on the wing tips and tails of aircraft, which make air travel safer. The Grimes Flying Lab Foundation Museum at the airport displays memorabilia from his life and company and features the fully restored Grimes Flying Lab, a Beech 18 that was used to test Grimes’ innovations in flight. The airport also is home to the Champaign Aviation Museum, where you can see World War II aircraft, including the ongoing reconstruction of a B-17 Flying Fortress, the Champaign Lady. In addition, the airport hosts fly-ins and special events, including the Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-in, one of the country’s leading gatherings of experimental aircraft, held the second weekend of September.

For more information, visit
www.champaignaviationmuseum.org
www.grimesflyinglab.org
www.aviationheritagearea.org

How many people remember the banana seat?  How about a tandem?  The Bicycle Museum of America dedicated to the history of cycling opened in downtown New Bremen 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  recently chosen by Arts and Antiques magazine in their special  issue of “100 Top Treasures” to see in the U.S. & Canada. 

For more information, contact the Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800-860-4726.

For over 50 years, Jackson Center has been the home of The Airstream Trailer Co., the manufacturer of the legendary Airstream trailer.  Founder Wally Byam incorporated aircraft construction methods in order to lessen wind resistance and 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."  On January 17, 1936 Airstream introduced the "Clipper," and an American legend was born!  At the Airstream facility, we'll receive a guided tour to learn how they craft this American Classic. 

Tours are conducted daily at 2:00 p.m. and offer visitors a comprehensive overview of  Airstream's manufacturing process.  For more information, contact the Shelby County VB at 866-892-9122

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world. The museum uses both chronological and subjective layouts to tell the exciting story of aviation development from the days of the Wright brothers to the Space Age.  Exhibits include more than 300 aircraft and missiles, plus family-oriented and historically interesting aeronautical displays. More than one million visitors from around the world come to Ohio each year to tour this unique free attraction. 

For more information contact 937-255-4704 or nationalmuseum.mup@wpafb.af.mil

The  Armstrong Air & Space Museum was founded in 1972 by the Ohio Historical Society,and named in honor of Wapakoneta pioneering native Neil Armstrong.  The museum chronicles  Ohioans’ contributions to the history of flight and new horizons in space travel including the space shuttle program and the International Space Station. One can see a moon rock and the Gemini VIII spacecraft.  The museum’s Astro-Theater presents the sights and sounds of space.  Recent renovations include the addition of interactive exhibits with a space shuttle landing simulator and a lunar landing simulator. 

For more  information, contact the Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800-860-4726.

Next we will visit the Piqua Historical Area State Memorial, a 200-acre Ohio Historical Society attraction which was the home of John Johnston, a farmer, public official and United States Indian Agent for western Ohio from 1812 to 1829.  Not far from Johnston's farm, but at the Piqua Historical Area State Memorial is a modern Woodland Indian & Canal  Museum, which was constructed to resemble the blockhouse style of Fort Piqua, General   Anthony Wayne's 18th century supply post.  In 2001, the museum was renovated with updated exhibits that trace the story of the Eastern Woodland Indians of Ohio and the newly acquired Fort Pickawillany site.  Artifacts from Ohio's canal era are also on  exhibit.  After touring through the farm home and the Museum, you will take a ride aboard the General Harrison of Piqua, a replica 70 foot-long mixed cargo canal boat!  These boats were often used for transportation of passengers and cargo in the 19th century.  The ride is so serene and beautiful that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time!

Location:  For more information about the General Harrison canal boat ride, Johnston Farm, and the Woodland Indian & Canal Museum, contact the Miami County VCB at 800-348-8993.

Each summer the skies above Troy become filled with WACO flying planes and other aircraft resembling the type used by the Red Baron  during World War I, and more advanced aircraft used from 1920 through World War II. In the early history of flight, Troy played an important role in getting America off the ground.  The WACO Museum is a tribute to the WACO Aircraft Company’s place in American aviation history. With exhibits depicting the Troy company’s commercial and military aircraft  production and vintage aircraft, the museum is a one of a kind experience for those with flights of fancy. 

For more information about special visitation options,
please contact the Miami County VCB at 800-348-8993. 

Eldora Speedway, a one-half mile clay oval is recognized as one of the premier auto racingfacilities in the United States. Highly competitive, wheel-to-wheel racing, extreme speeds, combined with lucrative prize money has established Eldora Speedway as the leader in the industry. Track owner Tony Stewart, two-time NASCAR champion, often features his NASCAR brethren in competition for special events at this history-laden speed plant.

For more information, contact the Darke County Visitors Bureau at 800-504-2995 or www.discoverourlegends.com. To view the 2007 race schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.eldoraspeedway.com

The Historic Lincoln Highway.  A twenty-six mile section of the first paved coast to coast highway in the United States travels through the heart of Van Wert County.  This 3,000 mile “Main Street Across America,’ constructed in 1913, stretched from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California.  There has been much renewed interest in traveling this historic roadway in recent years.  A driving guide is available. 

More information is available at www.visitvanwert.org or by calling the Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at  877.989.2282.