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Overlooking the New River from the Endless Wall Trail. Photo by Jared Musgrave. Believe it or not; Cincinnati sits between some notable natural areas that are nationally, if not globally, recognized and praised. Due to Cincinnati’s picturesque placement at the confluence of the Ohio River, the city historically was known for river commerce and various manufactorings. Because of the city’s strategic placement and liveliness in the late 1800’s, it was often referred to as the “Queen City of the West”. Jumping forward through the Industrial Revolution and emergence of natural area conservancy, Cincinnati’s strategic placement led it to being graced with numerous other accessible cities and parks. As warmer weather approaches, many venture far from Cincinnati to go on vacation or experience scenic nature; not knowing that some of the most beautiful areas of the country are a short road trip away from the inner city. Let’s dive into 5 of my favorite hikes within a 5 hour radius of Cincinnati. Yes, there are plenty of moderate hikes with gorgeous scenery EVEN CLOSER than an hours drive; but this is for those who are looking for a little more adventure to spice up their summer road trip. - 5. Gunpowder Creek - Burlington, KY 6750 Sperti Ln, Burlington, KY 41005 Gunpowder Creek comes in at number 5 because of its accessibility. This is an easy day hike coming from the city and is surprisingly hidden in the middle of suburbia in Burlington, KY. So, you won't have to go far to reach the trailhead and have plenty of surrounding lunch options to wrap up your day. Parking is limited in the main lot so you may have to find street parking. The approach starts with a steep decline, which is easy to walk down, but you will definitely feel the burn coming back up. After following the trail down into a few switchbacks, your jaw will job at the beauty of the stretch of river you quickly approach. From there, you can follow Gunpowder Creek for a seemingly endless amount of time, but it does eventually connect to the Ohio River. The trail stops long before the river, but if you're adventurous enough to follow through downstream, you will be gifted with awesome swimming holes and small waterfalls. At a glance, this may be the cleanest stretch of river in the Northern Kentucky area. 4. Glen Helen Multi Trail Loop - Yellow Springs, OH 405 Corry Street, Inman Trail, Yellow Springs, OH 45387 Glen Helen is a nature preserve right outside of downtown Yellow Springs. The city of Yellow Springs is an absolute Ohio gem and, until recently, one of Ohio’s best kept secrets. You can easily spend the whole day hiking in the surrounding areas and exploring the various happenings of this quaint city and make it back to Cincinnati for dinner. You can also stay for the night at a campsite or one of the various Bed and Breakfasts! The Glen Helen Multi Trail loop connects some of the best hikes. The loop trail is about 3 miles long and will take you along some gorgeous rock structures and waterfalls as the Little Miami River carves its way through the area. This hike is also very well known for bird watching and is a moderately / heavily trafficked area, so be prepared for other hikers. Also, due to the park almost shutting down due to a lack of funding, there is a $5 parking fee to help with donations and mitigate the amount of cars parked in the limited lots. A great day trip, or stay for the weekend if you want to fully explore the small city of Yellow Springs! 3. Highlands Nature Sanctuary - Fruitdale, Ohio 7660 Cave Rd, Bainbridge, OH 45612 A lot of people are surprised when told that Ohio has beautiful, natural attractions. Before heading west, try heading east; specifically to Fruitdale, Ohio. This area has yet to be overrun with tourists and is, in my opinion, Southern Ohio’s best kept secret (which was once Yellow Springs until famous comedian Dave Chappele moved to the area, thus shining national attention on this once hidden city). Only an hour and a half east from the city, you will begin to enter the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. The area is home to a large Amish community and has deep Native American roots. There are loads of riverways perfect for kayaking, long hikes that loop upwards of 14 miles, and great climbing boulders. A perfect getaway for the city adventurer who is trying to get some serious sends in and really push their trail hiking experience. 2. Indian Staircase, Red River Gorge 3451 Sky Bridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380 This would not be a legit list of Best Hikes in the area if it didn’t have at least one in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, the crown jewel of the state. For those that are familiar, you know that the Gorge could have an extensive list of it’s own, but one if it’s most notable is Indian Staircase. Known for its near vertical rock scramble up it’s sandstone rock face, this hike will make you work for its beauty. The 3 mile loop takes longer than most hikes of that length due to the 643 feet of elevation gain, of which is mostly vertical with some heavy switchbacks at the start. The journey though is very much rewarded when you reach the top and are surrounded by one of the most unique views in the whole park. Atop of this horse shoe like rock structure that loops all the way around to other great hikes like Cloud Splitter, you will experience a vastness of beautiful treelines and distant sandstone. Bonus points if you go in the fall while the leaves are changing colors, a breathtaking spectacle. 1. Endless Wall Trail Endless Wall Trail, Edmond, WV 25837 As the idea of what would be considered “the most beautiful” is subjective in any matter, I don’t think it’s up for debate that the New River Gorge holds the east coast title as it was just recently / finally recognized as a National Parking; making it America’s most recent National Park, protecting it from ever being industrialized or developed. The New River being one of the oldest rivers on the continent and also a part of the long stretch of Appalachian Mountain, this is the furthest drive from Cincinnati, but easily roadtrip-able, clocking in at about 4.5 hours. In the heart of the park, trekking alongside the gorgeous new river, you will find the Endless Wall Trail. The trail is well-kept with numerous small bridges over creeks and some stairs down inclines. You can even climb down ladders to get to the bottom of the 300 foot cliff you are hiking along, which is great for rock climbers, of which you’ll see plenty of on this hike due to the world class sandstone rock face heavily sought after by any climbing enthusiast. As you exit the wetter areas and begin to enter the sea of sandstone boulders, you will eventually approach the most gorgeous overlook within driving distance from Cincinnati, a surreal gaze over the New River with a seemingly endless wall structure vectoring into the distance. From there, you will continue to walk along the ridge with nothing but panoramic beauty at all angles. This is a must do hike for those willing to go the extra mile. - As there are plenty of gorgeous hiking, climbing, kayaking, bird watching, adventure opportunities within a short radius of Cincinnati, these top 5 are sure to satisfy any nature enthusiasts or someone new to hiking, looking to get out of the city. Getting to your destination is vital, and having the right transportation will allow you to even be more prepared. The new Ford Bronco Sports are perfect everyday drivers as well as camping vehicles with accessories geared towards adventure enthusiasts. We also have Jeeps and trucks that will rip through any backcountry situation you find yourself in. You can review our extensive collection of vehicles at MarkWilliamsAutoGroup.com and find your perfect adventure vehicle. Please read any rules and guidelines of these areas before approaching and ALWAYS respect the wildlife and these preserved areas. BE SAFE when going on more difficult hikes and wear proper gear. Most importantly, get outside and have fun! Nick Schultz Creative Specialist Mark Williams Auto Group

If you are looking for a new pickup truck that turns heads, has power, and can get the job done, the 2021 Ram 1500 is the perfect truck. Critics and drivers alike are raving about this vehicle for its performance, its striking good looks, and its ability to tow, haul, carry, and transport the largest loads with ease. It's Towing Capacity While you can't go wrong with any of the trim levels available for this Ram truck, you'll get the maximum towing capabilities when you choose the 5.7 Hemi V-8 engine that can tow up to 12,750 pounds. The diesel engine can tow almost as much with a 12,560-pound towing capacity thanks to its 3.0 L Eco-Diesel V6 engine backed by the strength of 260 hp and 480 pound-feet of torque. An additional benefit of a diesel engine is that you'll get great gas mileage, even while towing a sizable load, with 33 miles per gallon on the highway. A Performance Like No Other The new Ram 1500 is the perfect vehicle for off-roading. Not only can it tow a heavy load, but it can handle any terrain you encounter. The Ram Rebel is designed to take the road less traveled thanks to its off-roading features, including tow hooks, all-terrain tires, front and back LED lights, and a 1-inch factory suspension lift that will keep your truck high enough off the ground so it can conquer anything. A Design That Will Turn Heads It's no secret that the Ram 1500 is an attractive vehicle, but even better, it's aerodynamic, which is not something you'll find in most trucks. With an elevated hood that helps it drive and perform better than any truck in its class, driving the new Ram will feel smooth and effortless. A Truck That Makes Your Life Easier Sometimes towing can cause you stress, but not when you own a Ram 1500. This vehicle comes fully equipped with smart towing technology that includes features designed to increase your confidence on the road while towing the heaviest of loads and make your life easier. Thanks to the smart towing technology, you'll be able to stay in your own lane with trailer sway control. You can also drive without the fear of rolling your vehicle thanks to electronic roll mitigation and see your truck and your trailer from every possible angle with the help of 360° surround-view cameras and Blindspot monitoring. A Price You Can Work With Depending on which model you choose, you can find a Ram 1500 that fits your budget. The base model starts at $32,795, and trim levels go up in price, topping out at $57,350 when you choose the Limited trim level. If you are in the market for a new truck that is powerful, attractive, and can tow like no other, the new Ram 1500 is a perfect choice. Visit us today at Mt. Orab Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Mt Orab, OH to test drive one of the new Ram 1500s to see for yourself why you should make it your next new truck! Image via DealerOn

Everybody has their own food preferences, so it can be difficult to find a meal that will please everybody. But one dish that just about everyone can agree on is pizza. We've got some great joints right here in the Mt Orab, OH area. To help you find the best pies around us, we decided to put together a list of our favorite local spots to grab a slice. Stop in at one today and dig in. Grandma's Pizza People always say they want food that is ‘just like grandma used to make,' and that's exactly what you'll get at Grandma's Pizza. We loved the prompt and friendly service we got on our visit, which made us feel welcome and want to come back again. Their chef's salad makes a refreshing start for your feast. We kept it classic here with a plain pie, and the homemade dough really brought out the flavor. Giovanni's For pies and other Italian classics done right, stop in at Giovanni's. We couldn't stop eating the breadsticks they bake up here, available plain or with cheese. As far as their great selection of specialty pies goes, our favorite has to be the Five Meat Treat. This meat lover's dream comes loaded up with premium sausage, pepperoni, ham, bacon, and ground beef topped with a blend of mozzarella and provolone cheese. You can also get some great dessert options at this spot, like their chocolate chip cookie sliced in pizzeria-style cuts. The cinnamon snazzy is another tempting choice, where you get a fresh-baked cinnamon bun topped with sweet icing and powdered sugar. La Rosa's Located near both Rt. 32 and Rt. 68, La Rosa's has a convenient location that makes it the perfect spot to drop in for a meal. One unique specialty pie they offer is the Buddy Deluxe. You'll get their homemade sauce and provolone cheese as well as pepperoni, sausage, banana peppers, and capicola ham. If you're in the mood for a different Italian dish, their spaghetti and meatballs is another instant classic. Rapid Fired They really mean it when they say ‘Rapid Fired'; this place will have your meal ready in just a few minutes. They let you custom build your own pie, with a wide selection of sauces, cheeses, meats, veggies, seasonings, and dipping sauces. They've also got some great dessert options for a sweet treat after your pie, like their caramel apples and brownies that are so good, you'll have to taste them to believe it. Already hungry after reading about these spots? If you need to get any maintenance for your vehicle so it's ready to go grab your pies, our helpful service team has got you covered. We can also hook you up with the perfect new or preowned vehicle if you want to deliver your slices with a whole new style. Stop in and see us today at Mt. Orab Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today and let us help you!