Area Attractions

The Works, one of Ohio's most popular centers of discovery! The Works is a museum and educational complex with history exhibits, hands-on activities for kids, daily glassblowing
demonstrations, a prehistoric mastodon display, art exhibits and much more!

Velvet Ice Cream Company is a Midwest ice cream manufacturing powerhouse, and its headquarters at Ye Olde Mill in Utica, Ohio is widely known as Ohio’s Ice Cream Capital. Ye Olde Mill attracts 150,000 nature and ice cream enthusiasts from all over the country. Ye Olde Mill, on 20 picturesque acres nestled in the gently rolling hills and forests of lovely Licking County, is the perfect spot for family fun, reunions, weddings, and more.

Board a Safari Transport to view and learn about rare and endangered animals from around the world – like rhinos, giraffes, and cheetahs – roaming freely in open-range habitat at this innovative, 10,000-acre conservation center in southeast Ohio.

One of the premier public gardens in North America, The Dawes Arboretum has over 1,700 acres of plant collections, gardens and natural areas. Founded in 1929, Dawes is a travel destination for Licking County, central Ohio and beyond!

This nature reserve is dominated by oak-hickory mature woods along with Virginia pine and mountain laurel. Yellow birch, cherry birch and eastern hemlock grow on northerly exposures.

The name Blackhand, for which the preserve is named, originated from a dark hand-shaped Native American petroglyph that was engraved on the face of a massive sandstone cliff along the north side of the river. The engraving was destroyed in 1828 when canal builders dynamited the cliff face, during construction of the Ohio-Erie Canal, which runs through the gorge.

The trail itself is asphault with some rough spots where tree roots are reaching under the surface. There is a "wet" bridge where the trail crosses the Bruchy Fork and may be impassable when the water is running high.

The Greater Licking County Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting travel and tourism destinations in Licking County. From fine dining to beautiful country surroundings, see what is happening in Licking County.