Christmas in a Cave, Scavenger Hunt, Offbeat Celebrations Welcome Holiday Visitors to Ohio's Hocking Hills

    LOGAN, OH, November 19, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dazzling scenery and memorable holiday experiences make southeast Ohio's Hocking Hills the perfect place to escape the crazy, commercialized holiday hustle and bustle this season. Throughout November and December, this stunning region welcomes visitors with a Holiday Treasure Hunt. The treasure hunt encourages travelers to shop local for holiday gifts at the region's small, independent shops and galleries. With 27 locations participating, travelers can download a printable treasure map. Those who visit just six of the shops can enter to win any of more than 30 prizes -- including a Grand Prize Getaway for four to the Hocking Hills.

This year, treasure hunters can increase their chances of winning by participating in the Holiday Treasure Scavenger Hunt Instagram Challenge. To be eligible, visitors must take a photo of the #HockingHillsPaintedRock (one is hidden in each participating store) and post the photo to their Instagram account, tagging the location and using hashtags #HockingHolidayTreasures and #HockingHillsPaintedRocks. The top five users who visit the most stores will win two stunning hand-carved official Hocking Hills Tourism hiking sticks.

There's no more magical way to step away from hectic holiday hubbub than a moonlight stroll back into majestic Ash Cave. Held Dec. 9 from 5-7 p.m., the annual event begins with a lantern-lit walk through the cave. Visitors can warm up around a cozy fire while sipping refreshments, as the sounds of carolers reverberate through the cave. A visit with an old-fashioned Santa and the chance to decorate a Christmas tree with treats for wildlife make the experience truly unforgettable for young travelers.

Every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 17, visitors can embark on a historic holiday train ride with Santa on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. Each train car will be decorated for the holidays and Santa will visit with passengers as the train traverses the magical, snow-covered Hocking Valley.

On Saturday, Dec. 2, the Downtown Logan "Petacular" Christmas Parade will meander through downtown Logan, starting at the Hocking County Fairgrounds and culminating at the Tractor Supply parking lot. Bands, businesses and pet-themed parade floats will fill the town with cheer, along with a special visit from Santa following the Parade. The fun-filled afternoon will end with the lighting of the downtown Logan holiday lights.

Located 40 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio's Hocking Hills region offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences that make every day feel like Saturday, with plenty of Admission: FREE activities. The region boasts a wide variety of affordable lodging, from camping, cabins and cottages to hotels and inns. In addition to hiking trails, parks and forests, the Hocking Hills is the zipline capital of the Midwest, with 50 ziplines being offered via three distinct guide services. Unique gift and antique shops, canoeing, horseback riding, golf, spas and more add to the allure of the Hocking Hills as the perfect place to unplug. Complete traveler information is available at ExploreHockingHills.com or 1-800-Hocking (800-462-5464).

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