For tourists looking for a small-town getaway, a cosmopolitan experience, or a complete wilderness escape, the state of Ohio is a great place to go. Besides having some of the state’s top cultural attractions, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton also have fantastic shopping and a wide range of other things to do. For the best of Amish country, tourists can head out into the countryside. Alternatively, they can visit one of the Summer Fun Towns and spend the day at an amusement park. The lakes and woods are attractive places to explore Ohio’s greatest outdoor experiences from spring through fall, many of which can be found in state and national parks. In addition, the state is home to the world’s largest geode, which is located in the Ohio Crystal Cave. Tourists are sure to see this magical place. Here is an overview of it.
Get to know the amazing Crystal Cave in Ohio
In 1987, while digging a well for Heineman Winery, workers mistakenly stumbled upon the Crystal Cave. The magnificent cave was first used to collect crystals which were sold for use in making fireworks. As a result of this collection, the cave expanded to its current size. Between 1920 and 1933, the Crystal Cellar was the only remedy to preserve the Heineman Cellar because, before the Prohibition era, Put-in-Bay was home to several wineries that produced their own delicious wines, but during those years, 17 wineries from the island closed as a result of Prohibition and Volstead Act. The Heineman Winery was fortunate to have Norman Heineman’s business acumen in mind. He saved his business by making the Crystal Cave open to the public and selling admission tickets as well as unpasteurized grape juice. Nowadays, the splendid Crystal Cave has stunning Celestine crystals up to 3 feet (91.44 cm) wide and is home to the largest geode in the entire world. Additionally, strontium sulfate, a blue mineral known as celestite, coats the walls. These mesmerizing crystals range in length from 8 to 18 inches (20.32 to 45.72 cm).
- Location: 978 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456, United States of America
Visit the fabulous Crystal Cave
As tourists prepare for the visit, they will be herded into groups of twenty and queued down long stairs in the amazing cave, which is 12.19 m underground. The main chamber will be occupied by one group at a time, and they will be asked to avoid touching the marvelous walls as the fragile mineral growths inside the cave cannot stand having their surfaces repeatedly touched by people. This spellbinding tour is a must for any visitor able to descend steps to discover this fantastic crystal-lined cave.
- Opening time: The cave is open from May to September. During this period, tourists are welcomed from Monday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Admission fees : Adults must pay $8 to enter the cave, while it’s $4 per child ages 6 to 12 and free for younger ones.
Pass the vibrant vineyards of Heineman Winery and learn about its history
After the breathtaking cave tour and being on the same site, guests can take a vineyard tour at Heineman Winery and hear about wine production, then they can drop by the venue of tasting. There they can sip mouth-watering wines and buy bottles to take home. During this tour, tourists will learn more information about the beginning of this wonderful place and its founder. Heineman Winery was founded in 1888 by German immigrant Gustav Heineman from Baden. In this splendid European region, grapes are grown, and from there Heineman arrived with extensive winemaking skills to the Lake Erie Islands, where he discovered the land was perfect for wine production. Due to ideal soil conditions and an extended growing season brought on by the impact of warming Lake Erie, the grapes from this region are of extraordinary quality. It is a paradise for winegrowers!
All wine varieties are produced by Heineman Winery on the island using local grapes like the Labrusca grape. They produce all varieties of wine, including the Pink Cat or Pink Catawba, which is their best known. The charming wine garden and gift shop at the Heineman Cellar are open the same hours as the Crystal Cave. After having a great time in the beautiful Put-in-Bay, tourists can enjoy wine with cheese platters at home.
- Recommended wine: For white wine lovers, the Chablis and Niagara islands are recommended; as for red wine lovers, it is advisable to try Cedar Wood Red.
- To offer: Tourists will get a 20% discount on their bills if they purchase 15 or more bottles of wine.
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