Marysville, Ohio: Honda Heritage Center

It's always fun to see how things are built. That's particular true when it comes to the automobile. We've been fascinated by the giant plants and assembly lines for more than a century.

The good folks at Honda capitalize on those feelings by offering plant tours at the factory in Marysville, Ohio - northwest of Columbus.

The first stop is the Honda Heritage Center, where displays tell some of the history of the company. Here is the N600, a 1971 vehicle that was Honda's first car in the American market. I'm sure the 58 dealers in the USA were busy moving these babies along. The center also has a variety of vehicles and displays on the history and future of the company.By the way, the Heritage Center had a couple of associates who were very, very friendly. They must make a lot of friends for Honda.

Then it is on to the plant tour, in our case in East Liberty. It takes about 75 minutes to walk around the plant's designated areas, and it's a bit overwhelming. The robotics are amazing, and parts come from all sorts of angles on their way to become a full-fledged car. One of the many amazing facts given out - there is more technology now in the inside door handle than there was in the entire car in 1982.

The tour could have used an introductory film to explain what was going on, but it's still a great experience. Make reservations ahead of time, and take a look at how Hondas are built.

(And no, you don't get a free sample.)

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