Trout Island Trail

This quiet, pretty, and shady 5 mile out and back trail travels through a forest of young trees. The dam is located about 3/4 of a mile in and a parallel paved path starts there. We walked/rolled along the path until we came to a couple of downed trees and had to turn around to continue on the main trail. When pavement ends, the trail continues as a narrow dirt path that may go all the way to Shenango Reservoir.  

The trail is fairly level except for the first section that goes down hill.It's paved and in good condition. The dirt section is not accessible.

 

The parking lot is short and only has two spaces. Large vehicles can be parked on the street. Trail   41.26456, -80.47423

 

German Culture Museum

 The museum focuses on the history of the Amish, German and Swiss settlers of Holmes County and Walnut Creek Township. One large room is filled with donated household items and horse-drawn vehicles.

The museum is accessible.

The museum is on the bottom floor of the Walnut Creek Community/Library Building. Parking is in the rear. There are two very steep narrow streets that provide access but it's better to go west on Route 515 and then left on Carlisle Court. The parking lot is fairly small so park large RVs in the lot right off of Route 515 and walk/roll to the museum. Museum   40.54094, -81.7225

 

Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum

 What do you do when your collecting hobby gets out of control? Start a museum, of course!  Allan Robert Miller and his son, Allan Raymond began collecting toy trains in the 1970s and soon expanded into collecting all kinds of toys. 

This amazing collection of toys and games is housed in a 1907 former school. Each room has a different theme - board games, HO-gauge and O-Gauge trains, a giant puzzle and Disney toys, a K-nex amusement park, local history, and cars, trucks, and trains from the 1800’s to the present. Most of the rooms have toys and games that visitors are permitted to play with. The first floor center hall features a large Lego display. The second floor has a case filled with dozens of bobbleheads. 

The old metal toys are beautifully crafted. 

The entire basement is filled with Snoopy memorabilia, a collection donated by Dr. William Mercer, a local Wheeling doctor. 

The accessible entrance is on north side of the building. Call to have someone open the door. Once inside the floor slopes down steeply before leveling out. A small elevator, operated by the staff, provides access to all the floors. All the rooms are accessible. 

RVs will fit in the lot if parked across the spaces. Museum 40.04076, -80.65856

 

 

Hollywood Casino Dayton Raceway

 The casino has a two large lots. We parked in the north lot, far away from the entrance. There's no need to check in but as we were getting ready to leave after staying two night, a security guard told us that the limit is two days. 

Paths lead from the lot to the entrance but there aren't any curb cuts so rolling along the street is necessary.  The casino has heavy chairs and thick carpeting. The money and card slots are easy to reach.  Casino  39.81915, -84.17286

Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail Lock 14 Park

 The canal was completed in 1848 to connect the Chicago River  to the Illinois River, creating a continuous waterway from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois River to the Mississippi River. In twenty years, Chicago, formerly a small prairie town of a few thousand people, grew to be the busiest port in the US with a population of over 300,000. The canal was used until 1933 even though a parallel rail line was built in 1853. 

Today visitors can hike or bike along 60 miles of the canal trail. We parked at Lock 14 near the western end of the trail at La Salle, Illinois. A small park has interpretive signs and metal silhouettes of notable river travelers. During the summer visitors can take a short trip on the canal boat that's docked at the lock but this is the last year for the boat rides because the it's for sale - not surprising as it's in poor condition. 

We walked/rolled about two miles heading east along the trail. The trail is level and in fairly good condition. 

 

RVs will fit in the lot. Trail  41.32616, -89.09437

 

Amboy Depot Museum

 The museum complex consists of a fully restored, two story, 1876 brick depot; a building used to store freight; a relocated one room schoolhouse; and a steam locomotive and caboose. All of the buildings have exhibits. Abraham Lincoln stopped for a hair cut in Amboy so there he is, reclining in the barber chair with his hat still on. 

The complex is party accessible. The first floor of the depot is accessible, although the entryway has a slope and the outward opening door makes entering awkward. The school house has a ramp. The freight house has steps and no ramp. The walkway connecting the buildings is brick and bumpy and uneven in spots. 

The parking lot is large enough for any vehicle. Museum 41.71359, -89.33181