Places to Visit in Ohio

Cleveland

Cleveland offers visitors a wide variety of attractions and your biggest problem will be deciding what to do first.

You could start by visiting some of the city’s interesting museums like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art.

Baby boomers (and just about everyone else) will love the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and patrons of the arts can make their way to Playhouse Square to enjoy a cultural evening of opera or ballet or to Severance Hall to attend the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.

Family-oriented attractions include the Cleveland Zoo, the interactive Children’s Museum, and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. Sport is very popular in Cleveland and you can watch the Cleveland Indians in action at Progressive Field. Map

Cincinnati

Cincinnati has something for everyone, regardless of your taste in entertainment.

You can join an American Legacy Tour to get your bearings and decide which attractions to return to in your own time.

Art lovers will enjoy the Cincinnati Art Museum and the marvelous Taft Museum of Art, which showcases many illustrious artists including Rembrandt and Goya.

If you enjoy the performing arts, you can get your fill of symphony, pop, opera, and ballet at the Cincinnati Music Hall or plan your journey to coincide with the June Fringe Festival.

You can take the children to the hands-on Duke Energy Children’s Museum, Coney Island Amusement Park, and the Cincinnati Zoo. Map

Columbus

There is never a dull moment in Ohio’s capital city Columbus. For a cultural visit, you can spend time at the Columbus Museum of Art or make your way to the Ohio Theatre to enjoy a symphony concert, an opera, or the ballet. Sport enthusiasts can watch ice hockey at the Nationwide Arena, baseball at Huntington Park, or football at the enormous Ohio Stadium.

You can take a tour of the sumptuous Ohio Statehouse, built in the Greek Revival style, and visit the interactive Ohio History Center to learn all about the early days in Columbus.

For a complete change of pace, you can enjoy the great outdoors in the Franklin Parker Conservatory and Botanical Gardens or go hiking in the parkland of the Scioto Mile. Map

Toledo

Nestled along the shores of Lake Erie, Toledo is well known as the “water recreation capital of the Northwest,” offering visitors and locals great outdoor fun. Here you can charter a sailing or fishing boat to explore all the coves and inlets of Lake Erie, do some fishing (including ice fishing in winter), or go on a lighthouse tour.

You can partake in the city’s vibrant arts scene by visiting the Toledo Museum of Art (home to a famous glass art collection and a concert hall that hosts the Toledo Symphony Orchestra).

History buffs can tour the Wildwood Manor House and the Sylvania Historical Village, while families can head to the Toledo Zoo or the interactive Imagination Station to encourage science and math skills. Map

Dayton

Dayton offers a great mix of attractions for all ages. The National Museum of the US Air Force is bound to be one of the highlights of your visit – the museum houses the largest collection of military aviation exhibits in the States. You can pay tribute to some of the country’s aviation pioneers and the legendary Wright brothers at the Aviation Hall of Fame and the Aviation National History Park.

For a complete change of pace, you can visit the Dayton Art Institute or the Schuster Performing Arts Center or head for a breath of fresh air at the Aullwood Audubon Center or the Riverscape Metropark.

Round off your visit at the Oregon Historic District to admire the architecture and galleries. Map

Sandusky

Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Sandusky is a popular vacation destination for beaches, fishing, water sports, and other outdoor activities. Fishing on the lake is quite good and you can charter a boat or launch your own vessel at several public launch sites. You can simply relax on Cedar Point beach, try your hand at jet skiing or parasailing, or head off on an island-hopping cruise.

Back on dry land you can make your way to the historic downtown to admire a wealth of well-preserved 19th-century architecture.

To get the adrenalin pumping, you can try some of the hair-raising rides at the Cedar Point Amusement Park or enjoy the (gentler) slides at the Castaway Bay or Soak City water parks. Map

Akron, Ohio

Akron, Ohio is situated just 39 miles south of Lake Erie, adjacent to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, offering an excellent selection of activities for both outdoor enthusiasts and culture vultures.

One of the top city attractions is the Akron Art Museum in the Historic Arts District, where art lovers can admire both traditional and contemporary art works presented in an exceptional gallery.

The Arts District is also home to many music clubs, restaurants, and galleries.

To learn a little about the old days in Akron, you can tour the Stan Hywet Hall, Hale Farm and Village, and the Main Street Historic District. Children will love the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and Akron Zoo. Map

Mansfield, Ohio

Perfectly located halfway between Cleveland and Columbus, Mansfield makes a great base for exploring Richland County and has a good selection of tourist attractions.

History buffs can explore Lincoln Highway National Museum and Archives, Oak Hill Cottage (1847), and the rather intimidating Ohio State (Mansfield) Reformatory, which is believed to be haunted.

If you love stately homes and gardens, you should not miss touring the Kingswood Center, while the Carousel Center, where craftsmen hand-make carousel ponies, is a great attraction for all ages.

Other attractions to add to your itinerary are the Mansfield Fire Museum, the Arts and Science Discovery Center at Richland Academy, and the Jones Potato Chip Factory. Map

Dublin

A suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Dublin is as Irish as you can get this side of the Atlantic.

You can feel it most during the Annual Dublin Irish Festival, while playing golf on Dublin’s golf courses, while indulging in a plate of fish and chips, or while enjoying a freshly baked scone.

And during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, everyone becomes at least a little bit Irish. The charming Old World town has a lot to offer to its residents and visitors.

There is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay waterpark for the whole family, Highbanks Metro Park, which celebrates Native American history, and Olentangy Indian Caverns, used by the native Delaware tribe.

There is art everywhere in Dublin and you do not even have to go to galleries – it is all around you.

Explore one of them at Field of Corn, a large installation made of concrete corn sculptures in a town park. Map

Canton

Canton is probably best known for its Pro Football Hall of Fame, but even if you are not a football fan you will find plenty of attractions in this Stark County city. You can immerse yourself in the vibrant arts and culture scene by heading to the Canton Arts District, which boasts seven galleries, 22 artist studios, and five live music venues, and if you love ballet, opera, or the symphony, you will find it all in Canton.

Family attractions include the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baylor Beach Park, and the Historic Zoar Village.

History buffs can tour the Hoover Historical Center and the Mabel Hartzell Historical Home. Children will love camping at Jellystone Park Camp or going on a horse-drawn canal boat ride. Map