For someone who’s lived in Ohio for most of her life and didn’t go to Hocking Hills until this year, I sure do like going to Hocking Hills. I ventured back again for a bloggers’ retreat to experience Hocking Hills Comfort Food Cruise, a weekend excursion where an $18 ticket—$5 of which supports local food pantries—gives you access to specialty menu samples at 13 participating restaurants throughout the weekend.
We stayed in a luxury lodge courtesy of Cedar Grove Lodging and were treated to a home-cooked meal before firing up the grill to make S’mores, as is one’s duty when staying in a rustic cabin.
In the morning, we went to Pearl’s Diner to enjoy steaming cups of coffee and warm biscuits and gravy before heading off on a winter hike. Experiencing the scenery of Hocking Hills State Park with softly fallen snow, icicles hanging precariously from ledges, and rushing water was eerily beautiful. It really is an awe-inspiring place and worth braving the cold to witness, though my frost-bitten feet would probably disagree. I should have worn better shoes…
We explored Old Man’s Cave and Rock House until the cold became unbearable, then headed to Olde Dutch Restaurant for some cozy comfort food. I went all in—chicken noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried chicken, corn casserole, and roast beef. I wish I’d saved room for the pie buffet (which, by the way, should be standard at all restaurants), but by that point my belt had grown cumbersome and my Fitbit was yelling at me to take more steps (stop judging me, you stupid bracelet!)
I wasn’t able to stay the whole time, so I missed out on prime rib sliders, mac & cheese, and brownies, but I did get to meet some fellow bloggers, see some snowy sights, eat some delicious food, and get real sleepy and tryptophan-y (that’s a thing.)
The Comfort Food Cruise runs every weekend in January. To purchase tickets, go to Explore Hocking Hills. Special thanks to the Hocking Hills Tourism Association and Cedar Grove Lodging for sponsoring the trip. Opinions, as always, are my own.
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