Travelers can flex their creative muscles at workshops, studios and arts attractions around Marietta, Cumberland, Cambridge, Zanesville and the surrounding area.
Day 1
• Arrive in Marietta
• Cruise on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler
• Demonstration at JustAJar Design Press
• Lunch at The Levee House
• Tour of the Campus Martius Museum
• Evening entertainment at Peoples Bank Theatre
• Overnight at Lafayette Hotel
JustAJar Design Press
Marietta
In the historic town of Marietta, Ohio, groups will find JustAJar Design Press, a letterpress and design studio. Its owners, Sara and Bobby Rosenstock, produce custom woodcut and letterpress posters, logos and illustrations. These works of art are created using an old-fashioned technique: carving and inking blocks of wood and printing the designs onto paper using a Vandercook press. The studio’s work can be found all around Marietta, as local restaurants, publications and events use the custom designs for promotional posters and handbills. During a visit to JustAJar Design Press, groups can see hundreds of the company’s works on display and learn about the intricate letterpress process. The Rosenstocks are enthusiastic about sharing their work with visitors, so those who wander in might even catch a demonstration of this meticulous and time-consuming craft. Postcards, T-shirts and posters all feature images from the press and are available for sale in the shop.
Day 2
• Depart for Cumberland
• Wildlife safari at The Wilds
• Make-and-take bath salts experience at an Enchanted Garden
• Depart for Cambridge
• Lunch at Theo’s Restaurant
• Tour of the National Museum of Cambridge Glass
• Dinner at Salt Fork Lodge
• Overnight in Cambridge
The Wilds
Cumberland
Looking for a safari in southeast Ohio? There’s no better place than The Wilds, a conservation park affiliated with the Columbus Zoo that’s dedicated to providing sanctuary for endangered animals while also providing entertainment and an education for those who visit. The 10,000-acre park began providing sanctuary to its first animals in the early 1990s and has been home to many endangered species since. Today that list includes visitor favorites such as cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos and zebras, all of which live in large, natural habitats so they have room to roam. Groups can encounter some of these exotic animals when they board a park bus for an open-air safari tour narrated by a park guide. The park also offers sunset safaris and zipline tours. Groups can dine at the Overlook Café, which offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps and salads, and then commemorate their trip with a souvenir from the gift shop.
National Museum of Cambridge Glass
Cambridge
The Cambridge Glass Company produced colorful, elegant glassware that was known for its shine and its etched details. The company began making glass in 1902, and even though it closed in 1958, its name has endured because of the handiwork required to make its glass. Its pieces are also highly collectible, with each piece of the vintage glass considered a work of art and an example of the company’s fine craftsmanship. The National Museum of Cambridge Glass displays the glassware and celebrates the legacy of this Ohio company. During museum tours, groups can see 10,000 pieces of Cambridge glass, including rare and collectible pieces. The museum also gives visitors an interactive look at the glassmaking from start to finish, allowing them to examine tools used by artisans and feel the materials used to create the glass.
Day 3
• Depart for Coshocton
• Explore Downtown Coshocton
• Depart for Zanesville
• Lunch at Bryan Place
• Demonstration at Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio
• Hands-on project with local artist Susan Nash
• Dinner at The Old Market House Inn
• Evening entertainment at Renner Theatre
Downtown Coshocton
Coshocton
Downtown Coshocton is known for its historic district, quaint feel and plentiful shopping. The Coshocton County Courthouse, circa 1875, was designed in the Second Empire style, with a five-story tower containing a clock and the bell from the city’s 1824 courthouse. Groups can tour the courthouse, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, to see the courtroom and jury room. The city’s Court Square has beautiful floral displays during the warmer months. While in the historic district, groups can also visit and sing a hymn at a historic church. Several nearby shops offer a variety of goods, from the two-story Coshocton Antique Mall with over 30 vendors peddling antiques, pottery, artwork, jewelry and décor, to Mercantile on Main, a quilt shop filled with a dazzling array of fabrics. Groups can get their hands dirty with a DIY workshop at Rust Décor, with activities ranging from painting ceramics to constructing seasonal crafts, followed by a catered lunch.
Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio
Zanesville
Ohio native Alan Cottrill had founded a successful fast food business before he discovered his love for sculpting and dedicated his life to perfecting his craft. The renowned sculptor’s most famous works include sculptures of historical figures such as Thomas Edison, Jesse Owens and numerous American presidents. Cottrill has created the largest number of bronze works by any living sculptor, and his art can be found at many prominent locations around the country, including the U.S. Capitol. At his studio in Zanesville, groups can see 300 of Cottrill’s works, including bronze busts, bells and life-size figures. The studio also displays pictures and educational exhibits about some of the sculptor’s most impressive works, his life and the process he uses to sculpt. Cottrill remains a prolific artist and continues to work in his studio, so visitors may even get the chance to meet him and watch as he creates his next masterpiece.
