Discover Licking: Earthworks, Flint and Nature
Accommodation in Licking
Licking combines impressive traces of the past with nature experiences and trails along the water. Those planning a trip with culture, scenery and a variety of discoveries will find several different highlights here: Hopewell Nation earthworks, the history of flint, hiking trails through protected areas, museums and a paved path along the Licking River. When choosing your vacation rental, it is therefore worth considering first whether you want to focus your stay more on historic sites, nature experiences or excursions on the water.
Earthworks and the History of Flint
One of the prominent historic attractions is the Great Circle Mound in Newark. It was built by the Hopewell Nation about 2,000 years ago. The Octagon Earthworks consist of two geometric enclosures: a circle and a larger octagon. Particularly noteworthy is the alignment of a line from the center of the Great Circle Mound to the Observatory Circle of the Octagon Earthworks. It points toward the northernmost moonrise on the eastern horizon.
Flint Ridge also reaches far back into the region's history. The nearly eight-mile-long vein of high-quality flint extends through Licking and Muskingum Counties in eastern Ohio. The rainbow-colored flint was used for trade as well as for tools and weapons. At Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries & Nature Preserve, hiking trails lead through a 533-acre protected area. The Great Circle Earthworks also have a small museum, a gift shop and a restroom.
Hiking Trails, River Scenery and Water Access
For active days, Dawes Arboretum offers the 2.75-mile Lake Trail. It leads to an observation tower overlooking the well-known Hedge Letters and Dawes Lake. Blackhand Gorge offers a different landscape: A paved path runs along the Licking River, with ancient cliffs rising above it. At the access point for paddle boats, there are 30 parking spaces and three spaces for boat trailers. An access road allows unloading near the riverbank. This information is helpful when planning an outing that combines a walk with your own paddling equipment.
The section of the Ohio-to-Erie Trail at Newell Recreation Preserve is approximately a quarter of a mile long. This makes it possible to include the trail as a brief landscape experience of its own in your trip planning, while the longer trails and historic sites offer other ideas for day trips.
Museums and Historic Houses
In Newark, The Works combines a SciDome planetarium with glasswork, historic artifacts and hands-on science laboratories. The National Heisey Glass Museum displays more than 6,000 pieces of Heisey glassware in two connected buildings. Those interested in architecture and personal stories can visit the Sherwood-Davidson House. It was originally built in 1828 by local merchant Buckingham Sherwood; the Sherwood-Davidson House Museum is open by appointment from May through December. The Webb House was built in 1907 by Frank Camden Webb for his bride, Shirley Pister.
Other Places to Include in Your Trip Planning
Buckeye Lake is also part of the region's character: The lake is bordered by Licking County to the north, and the Ohio Canal project of 1825 enlarged it. For further orientation, you can also include Hebron, Heath, Buckeye Lake, Granville and Pataskala in your research.
This makes it possible to tailor your search for a vacation rental in Licking to your preferred type of trip: Historic earthworks and museums are ideal for a culture-focused stay, while protected areas, riverside trails and paddle-boat access offer different points of emphasis. Clearly identifying your preferred experiences makes it easier to choose the right base for your trip.
For the higher-level travel overview: Ohio.
More Destinations
More places under the same destination:
