• A museum about the Ohio River is one of Southeastern Ohio's attractions.bridge over the ohio image by Dawn Williams from Fotolia.com
  
  Southeast Ohio is the least-populated part of the Buckeye State, with no major cities in the region, but you'll find plenty of things to do there, from enjoying the area's natural scenery on foot or by train to visiting sites that capture the history of that part of the state. You can even observe African animals like giraffes and zebras roaming free at The Wilds.
  
  

Hocking Hills State Park

• The Hocking Hills geographic region of Ohio features scenery like hills, caves, unusual rock formations and waterfalls. The 2,356-acre state park has 11 hiking and biking trails, more than 150 camping sites, and opportunities for swimming, fishing, volleyball, archery and rock climbing. Popular sights in Hocking Hills State Park include Old Man's Cave, the Ash Cave gorge, the Cedar Falls waterfall and Cantwell Cliffs, an area of ancient rock formations.
  
  

Historical Sites

• The Ohio Historical Society lists nine sites of interest in Southeast Ohio. The Ohio River Museum in Marietta contains exhibits about the history of the Ohio River and the history of steamboat use on the river. The nearby Campus Martius Museum focuses on pioneer and Native American settlements in the area. One admission fee allows visitors to explore both museums. Another area attraction is Buffington Island, a monument to Ohio's only major Civil War battle, an 1863 skirmish won by the Union. (see reference 3)
  
  

The Wilds

• At the Wilds conservation center you can get the experience of an African safari without leaving southeast Ohio. The Muskingum County attraction covers 10,000 acres and offers guided tours in open-air vehicles through meadows where visitors can get an up-close look at giraffes, rhinos, camels, zebras and antelopes in areas designed to resemble their natural habitats. The Wilds works closely with the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium to advance conservation and offer educational programs.
  
  

Scenic Railway

• The Scenic Railway in the Hocking Valley carries visitors by train from Nelsonville to Logan. Some of the trains stop at Robbins Crossing, a village of log cabins from the 1850s that takes guests back in time with a re-creation of a one-room schoolhouse and various shops. The heated trains run even during winter, when kids can take a ride on one of the Santa Claus trains.
  
  

Camping

• You can find a number of campgrounds and resorts in southeastern Ohio. Top O' the Caves Campground features primitive and full hook-up sites for tents and RVs. As it names indicates, Top 'O the Caves is located just a short walk from Ash Cave and Old Man's Cave. Hocking River RV Park, another campground near the Hocking Hills State Park, offers 29 electric sites for RV campers. The forested campground sits near a river where you can swim or fish.