Discover Nature With Your Ford: 3 Great State Parks Near Heath, OH

Yes, we're landlocked here in Heath, OH, but thankfully that doesn't mean we're short on great seafood restaurants. Our city has a few chain places, of course, but there are some great indy spots for amazing seafood just a short drive away. Pack the family into your roomy Ford Explorer and explore some of the great places we've nearby to satisfy the surf half of that surf and turf equation. Pier 11 Boiling Seafood and Bar: For a Special Occasion The Pier 11 Boiling Seafood and Bar is located at 7661 Farmsbury Dr. in Taylor Square in Reynoldsburg, and it's well worth the less than half-hour drive. If you've never had a Low Country Boil (sometimes known as a Beaufort Stew or a Frogmore Stew), you really need to try it for your next special occasion. It's a perfect blend of messy, fancy, and incredibly delicious. What you do is roll up and choose what you want to be included in your boil. Traditionally, corn, sausage, potatoes, and shrimp are all required, but at Pier 11, you can tweak your boil to match your tastes. For example, you can subtract any of the above or add egg, and you can choose blue crab, lobster, snow crab, mussels, and more to add in it. They also have special sauces to go with it, like cajun, lemon pepper, or the 88 special. You also choose your spice level and get some great sides (like hush puppies). more Rusty's Wharf: Fish and Chips If you're in the mood for some fried food, Rusty's Wharf is the place to stop. You'll find them at 7256 Hazelton-Etna Rd SW. This is a casual place with a great atmosphere, and it's a family-run business you can feel great about supporting. The prices here are great, and they are generous with their basket servings. Their "Big Ole' Baskets" come with hushpuppies and chips, and you can get fish, shrimp, smelt, calamari, clams, or all kinds of combinations of these items. They also have a great clam chowder, baked fish, and ala carte options for all the fried seafood. For those in the group who don't like seafood, don't worry: there's chili, burgers, wings, and lots of sides they'll love. Fugu Sushi: Date Night Asian If you want some raw seafood, there's nothing better than sushi. And there's no better sushi than Fugu Sushi at 10503 Blacklick-Eastern Rd NW in Pickerington. You'll find them in the Shoppes at Hunters Run, and they stay open until 10PM, so this is a great place for a date night. We recommend starting with their house soup, which comes with mixed seafood and vegetables. Then, go for the spicy Kani salad, which is crab meat and cucumber fish roe. We love the pepper tuna here, and the tako su, which is octopus in a vinegar sauce. Try their Alaska roll, which is salmon, avocado, and cucumber. Or, get some of their great mackerel sushi sashimi. It's all great. We love seafood, and we're blessed to be able to get some of the best in less than a half-hour drive from our town. To make sure your Ford is always in great shape for the drive, visit us at Coughlin Ford of Heath for service. Image via Pier 11 Boiling Seafood and Bar.

Everyone loves a good bakery, especially here in Heath, OH where the local area boasts some truly amazing talents who create some of the best cakes, bread, and cookies in the state. If you're in town and you want to give your sweet tooth a treat, we've compiled this list for you of some of the best bakeries within driving distance of Heath. Simply Sweet Bakery If you're looking for somewhere to pop in and grab something sweet quickly, then head on over to Simply Sweet Bakery. Located on West Church Street, the shop is always packed full of different baked goods, but items you will generally see every day include sugar cookies and donuts. Aside from the cakes and cookies, Simply Sweet Bakery also serves up a great selection of drinks including Italian soda, tea, coffee, and their unique creation: the chocolate bombs. These are big balls of chocolate that come served in a coffee mug with a side of hot milk or water: simply pour the hot liquids over the chocolate bomb and watch it implode, releasing the fillings. Not only are these delicious, but they are also great fun for kids! more Suzie's Bistro and Bakery A family-run business, Suzie's Bistro and Bakery is the place to go for high-quality sandwiches and quiche. All the bread is homemade on-site, and for those watching their carb intake, Suzie's also offers their sandwiches on healthier keto bread. Of course, as a bakery, Suzie's also serves a great selection of different sweet pastries such as croissants, pain au chocolat, and cinnamon buns, or, if you want to really treat yourself, you can go for one of the amazing desserts such as the French cheesecake or the chocolate mousse cake. Sweet 23 Run by a home-based local baker, Sweet 23 is a cute little bakery that serves homemade French macarons, cupcakes, and other delicious sweet treats. There isn't a set menu here, as what's available changes daily to ensure everything is fresh, but everything is always of an exceedingly high-quality and decorated beautifully. Sweet 23 also creates some absolutely astounding custom cakes for different occasions, including birthdays and weddings. Depending on the occasion, some of these are huge and require constant care when handling and transporting them, but thankfully, with lots of space inside and excellent suspension, the new Ford Explorer XLT will be able to get your cake from the store to the event without any damage, providing you don't drop it yourself when you get there! There are loads of great bakers in the local area - which is what makes Heath such a great town to live in if you love cakes - but these are definitely our favorites. Whether you're looking for a custom-made cake for a special event or simply a nice slice of quiche, there's something for everyone here. Drop in and visit us at Coughlin Ford of Heath to let us know your thoughts on these places and get that essential repair or service. Image via Simply Sweet Bakery.

There are a lot of great events going on within easy driving distance of Heath, OH this season. You're going to love getting in your new Ford F-150 XLT and using its advanced features like lane-keeping assist. It's going to make chasing down these upcoming spring activities even more fun. Here are some of the fun and unique events we're most looking forward to right now. 1. Made Local Spring Event Local artisans, live musicians, and a tarot card reader will be joining vendors for a spring event. This shopping will be available at the historic Granville Inn, just 8 miles from downtown Heath. It's located at 314 E Broadway and will be in the carriage house and courtyard. The event is free to attend. The band Bourbon Legend will play on the patio from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm if the spring weather permits. The event is on Thursday, April 27th from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. more 2. American Roots and Bluegrass Ensemble Spring Concert Friday, April 28th at 7:00 pm you'll want to head to Swasey Chapel. You'll find it just under 10 miles from downtown Heath at 200 Chapel Dr. in Granville. The Denison University American Roots Music Ensemble will be playing a spring tribute to Bluegrass. You can expect to hear tributes to the best from the 1960s through the 1980s. Inspiration will be pulled from legends like Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. You do not need a ticket in order to attend this event. 3. Arbor Day Festival Just 5 miles from downtown Heath is The Dawes Arboretum. On April 29 there will be free admission to the arboretum for anyone attending the Arbor Day Festival. The festival is taking place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at 7770 Jacksontown Rd in Newark. There will be celebrations for all things trees with activities, demonstrations from plant experts, and tree climbers. There will also be live music and food trucks. This family-friendly event will be giving away tree seedlings while they last. This event is sponsored by Park National Bank. 4. Fairy Trail Party Infirmary Mound Park is having a Fairy Trail Party on Sunday, May 6 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Infirmary Mound Park is at 4309 Lancaster Rd in Granville, just under six miles from downtown Heath. Attendees will be walking the Wildflower Trail area to see the spring blooms and fairy houses along the way. There will be snacks for a fairy picnic and face painting. You can also ride a horse-drawn carriage, do crafts, and maybe meet a unicorn. Attendees are welcome to dress in their fairy best. There is so much fun to be had this spring. It'll be all the more fun if you're in a brand-new vehicle. Visit Coughlin Ford of Heath now to see our inventory of new cars. Image via pixabay.com.