Hocking Hills

In the 360 million years since the Blackhand sandstone of Hocking Hills State Park served as

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a river delta, weathering and erosion have created deep caves and recesses within the thick stone. Humans first inhabited the hollows of Hocking Hills more than 7,000 years ago, but the 2,350-acre park's Old Man's Cave is named for a hermit who occupied it around the turn of the 19th century. From Old Man's Cave, hikers have the perfect view of the larger waterfall, Middle Falls, and can watch the creek's clear water ripple and roll down the sandstone ledges. Also visible from Old Man's Cave is the Devil's Bathtub, a "tub" of water that spills over into Clear Creek. The cave also marks the start of a six-mile hike connecting Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and the hulking horseshoe-shaped Ash Cave, where water plunges over the rim into a pool below. • More: World's 'first airport' largely unknownWant a weekend that's kinda nerdy and a little dangerous? Oklahoma's Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, near the town of Jet in the northwest part of the state, does not disappoint. The refuge is home to an 11,200-acre salt plain that was protected as a stopover for migratory birds. e harsh landscape offers a host of recreational opportunities, yet the real fun is hidden beneath the surface of the crusted salt field. The plains are the only known place in the world where visitors can dig for selenite crystals with hourglass-shaped "inclusions." Geology geeks will love the experience. Beware, though. The plains were closed for crystal digging from 2007 to 2009 after a Boy Scout unearthed vials of chemicals that were buried beneath the salt plains during World War II. Authorities since have determined the area to be safe for tourists, but the federal website for the refuge still carries an ominous warning. Happy digging!