By April Rodgers Content Coordinator
From tulip trails to new zoo pals, Ohio is springing into adventure!
If Ohio had a theme this week, it would be “go outside and have a blast!” From blooming tulips to brand-new animal encounters, it’s been a colorful, quirky celebration of spring across the Buckeye State.
Here’s what’s been happening:
White House Fruit Farm Bursts Into Bloom (Canfield) The much-loved White House Fruit Farm, just outside Youngstown, launched its first-ever Tulip Festival — and it’s pure magic. Over 225,000 tulips in every shade imaginable now stretch across 3.5 rolling acres, and visitors can wander the fields, snap dreamy spring photos, and soak up the sea of color. Fresh bouquets are available for purchase at the farm market, letting guests take a little piece of spring home without plucking the petals themselves. (Pro tip: don’t leave without a box of the farm’s legendary donuts.) The festival runs through May 3, so there’s still time to tiptoe through the tulips!
Columbus Readers Hit the Road: Bookworms had their own kind of adventure during the Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl on April 26. Fourteen independent bookstores around the city joined forces for a one-day literary road trip, complete with prizes, special events, and plenty of fresh new reads. From cozy neighborhood shops to bustling downtown hubs, it was a day to celebrate the joy of local books — and maybe discover a new favorite author along the way.
New Neighbors at Elephant Trek (Cincinnati) The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden just made an already-awesome experience even bigger. While the zoo’s enormous Elephant Trek habitat opened in 2024, this spring it welcomed new Asian animal neighbors — including rhinoceroses, Komodo dragons, and more — to join the elephant family. Now visitors can stroll through lush trails that connect elephants with other majestic creatures from halfway around the world, all living in spacious, naturalistic environments designed for their comfort. The elephants — and their new roommates — seem pretty thrilled with the upgrade!
COSI Celebrates Earth Day in Style (Columbus) Earth Day wasn’t just a date on the calendar this year — it was a full-blown party at COSI (the Center of Science and Industry). Partnering with Ohio’s agriculture agencies, COSI hosted a lively, educational event for families, focusing on clean water, sustainable farming, and protecting our planet. Science experiments, hands-on exhibits, and outdoor activities made it a memorable, earth-friendly bash right in the heart of Columbus.
Salt Fork’s Eco-Discovery Center Opens Its Doors (Guernsey County) Nature lovers, rejoice! Salt Fork State Park — Ohio’s largest state park — just opened its brand-new Eco-Discovery Center on April 22 as part of Ohio State Parks Week celebrations. This hands-on center is packed with interactive exhibits about local wildlife, conservation, and the wonders of Ohio’s natural world. It’s the perfect new stop for hikers, campers, and anyone who likes their adventures a little wild.
Whether you’re picking up tulips, collecting books, meeting rhinos, or getting your hands dirty for the planet, Ohio proved this week that spring isn’t just a season — it’s an adventure. Better grab your walking shoes — and maybe a few extra donuts, just to be safe.
