Our Winter Weekend Trip to Hocking Hills Ohio

For our final trip as a family of two, we decided to get away to Hocking Hills for a weekend full of rest, outdoor adventures and of course, food.

For those unfamiliar with the area, Hocking Hills is one of Ohio’s most coveted and highly visited regions for outdoor enthusiasts boasting tons of natural beauty and State Parks. Located about an hour away from Columbus, Hocking Hills made a quick, easy trip for the two of us in the final month of my pregnancy.

Here’s how we spent the weekend:

Our Stay: The Gladiola Tiny House

When it comes to Hocking Hills there are tons of options for accommodations. Between Airbnb, cabin rentals and nearby hotels there’s no shortage of places to stay. For our trip, we were looking for some place cute and modern where we wanted to spend evening hours resting from the day’s activities. Enter: Hocking Hills Tiny Houses.

Owners Matt & Christine operate three separate tiny house properties along the scenic Lake Logan and were wonderful hosts! The Gladiola was absolutely adorable with tons of windows letting in gorgeous views of the water and great natural light - even in the winter months! Chris and I appreciated the modern finishes for functionality while still making us feel cozy and comfortable. Perhaps our favorite aspect was the front porch for sipping coffee overlooking the fire pit and mini dock.

We loved our stay so much that we can definitely envision returning with our new addition when the weather gets warmer.

The Gladiola hosts up to four guests and is outfitted with all your necessities including dishes, cookware, a Keurig, bedding, towels and more. Guests can also purchase bundles of firewood for $5 and take advantage of their kayak/canoe with a signed waiver. View the AirBnB listing, here.

*Disclosure, we were hosted by Hocking Hills Tiny Houses. Opinions are our own.

Coffee, Pizza, Charcuterie

No matter where we travel, I make it my mission to find the dreamiest coffee house in the area. Enter: the Hocking Hills Coffee Emporium. With made-to-order coffee creations, breakfast bites and locally-made snacks for sale, this little countryside café is the perfect place to start the day.

My order: the Whispering White Mocha + Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

Surprise, surprise - I found a charcuterie board. After our Saturday morning hike, we visited Hocking Hills Winery to fuel up on one of their meat & cheese platters. The winery was busy and bustling and impressed with their heated, patio and outdoor stage. Our server was the sweetest and gave me a complimentary wine glass to use when we return to enjoy a flight, (or two). Hocking Hills Winery has live music Friday & Saturday nights form 6-9 pm making it a perfect place for a post-hike nightcap. They serve drinks, light bites and let you bring in your own food!

It wouldn’t be a true Berno Trip without a pizza pit-stop. After reading an overwhelming amount of positive reviews, we placed an order at Pizza Crossing located in Logan, a nearby town that some consider to be “home base” for the Hocking Hills region. I picked up our custom-order pie (pepperoni, sausage + banana pepper) from the seemingly nicest staff I’ve ever encountered from their quaint, small town establishment and I’m not lying when I say we would drive an hour just for this pizza. Thin crust or BUST.

Outdoor Adventures

Hocking Hills is known best for its natural limestone rock formations that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region every year. With countless trails boasting hidden waterfalls, rock bridges, caves and more, it’s a must-visit for anyone looking for outdoor adventure.

This trip we tackled the Gorge Trail at Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve. Being ADA compliant, this trail is easy for hiking beginners (and pregnant mamas) who still want to get a taste of the breathtaking views.

The Conkles Hollow parking lot is located at 24858 Big Pine Rd, Rockbridge, OH 43149 and no, you won’t have cell service but trust me, it’s 100 percent worth it.

Hocking Hills was the perfect location for our winter weekend getaway and made for a beyond memorable trip. For more information about the region, visit ExploreHockingHills.com.