Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Ohio! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Ohio.
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Ohio's major cities are scattered across the state, and so many of its attractions are too. Notable attractions in Ohio include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, and the amusement parks of Sandusky, including Cedar Point, widely considered one of the top rollercoaster parks in the world. For an awesome dose of nature, head to southeastern Ohio where you will find the amazing Hocking Hills State Park, a top-rated state park in the Midwestern region of the U.S. Ohio is also famous for its rail trails, with many long-distance cycling trips possible.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN OHIO
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Ohio? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Ohio, in no particular order:
✮ Ride some of the world's best rollercoasters at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky
✮ See historic American signs at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati
✮ Cycle the excellent Little Miami Scenic Trail paved rail trail
✮ Visit the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, which is one of the oldest, largest, and best aviation museums in the U.S.
✮ Explore the hiking and cycling trails of Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton
✮ Visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, one of the finest zoos in the country
✮ See impressive geologic attractions and waterfalls at Hocking Hills State Park in southeastern Ohio
✮ Eat at the West Side Market in Cleveland
✮ Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland
If I could select only one place to visit in Ohio, I would choose Hocking Hills State Park.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN OHIO
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Ohio. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Ohio bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern Ohio (including Sandusky and Toledo)
✮ Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky - arguably the world's best rollercoaster park
✮ Fifth Third Field, Toledo - one of the finest minor league baseball fields in the U.S.; home of the Toledo Mud Hens
✮ Ghostly Manor Thrill Center, Sandusky - a tourist attraction with a haunted house and other family-fun activities like mini-golf
✮ Imagination Station, Toledo - a large hands-on science and children's museum
✮ Kalahari Waterparks, Sandusky - the largest indoor water park in the Midwest; there's a hotel on site
✮ Kelleys Island State Park, Kelleys Island - take a ferry to see glacial geologic formations; the state park occupies 25% of Kellys Island
✮ Marblehead Lighthouse, Marblehead - visit the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes
✮ Merry-Go-Round Museum, Sandusky - arguably the best Merry-Go-Round museum in the U.S.
✮ National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo - an excellent maritime museum with 40 hands-on interactive exhibits; tour an iron ore freighter
✮ Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, Put-in-Bay - climb a 352-foot Doric column for great views
✮ Put-in-Bay - a lively small town on South Bass Island near Sandusky; the "Key West of the North"; offers water sports and a Peace Memorial
✮ Soak City Waterpark at Cedar Point, Sandusky - a great water park next to the Cedar Point rollercoaster park
✮ Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo - one of the best art museums in the Mid-Atlantic
✮ Toledo Zoo, Toledo - one of the best medium-sized zoos in the U.S.; features more than 10,000 animals across 700-plus species
Cincinnati (see below for the rest of southwestern Ohio)
✮ American Sign Museum - see an awesome and growing collection of historic American signs (including many "neon" type signs)
✮ Breweries in and around Cincinnati - visit some of the more than 70 breweries found in this general area
✮ Cincinnati Art Museum - large art museum with more than 100 art galleries
✮ Cincinnati Museum Center - a huge museum complex with three museums and several other exhibits/attractions
✮ Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - one of the top 25 zoos in the U.S.
✮ Great American Ball Park - famous MLB baseball park; home of the Cincinnati Reds
✮ Guided tours in Cincinnati - several companies in Cincinnati offer guided sightseeing and/or food tours
✮ Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati - the best casino in the area
✮ Krohn Conservatory - an art deco conservatory with several themed gardens and environments
✮ National Underground Railroad Freedom Center - visit a "museum of conscience, an education center, a convener of dialogue, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom around the globe"
✮ Roebling Suspension Bridge - a famous pedestrian bridge that connects Cincinnati, Ohio with Covington, Kentucky
✮ Smale Riverfront Park - a public park along the Ohio River that has gardens, walking paths, a children's playground, and a splash pad
✮ Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum - visit the beautifully landscaped grounds of the third largest cemetery in the U.S.
Southwestern Ohio (including Dayton and Yellow Springs; see above for Cincinnati)
✮ Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton - features a children's museum, science and technology center, and zoo
✮ Carillon Historical Park, Dayton - a historic museum complex on nicely landscaped 65-acre grounds
✮ Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, Yellow Springs - see spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges; one of Ohio's most scenic areas
✮ Dayton Art Institute, Dayton - an excellent fine arts museum
✮ EnterTRAINment Junction, West Chester - supposedly the largest indoor train display in the world
✮ Glen Helen Nature Preserve, Yellow Springs - a beautiful nature preserve with 20-plus miles of trails, a natural spring, and small waterfalls
✮ Jungle Jim's International Market, Fairfield - visit a large farmer's market that is often called a "theme park of international food"
✮ Kings Island, Mason - one of the best amusement parks in the U.S.; has several world-class rollercoasters and thrill rides
✮ Little Miami Scenic Trail - an outstanding 78-mile paved rail trail that connects Anderson to Springfield; one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Miami Valley Gaming, Lebanon - one of the best horse racing casinos in the U.S.
✮ National Aviation Hall of Fame, Dayton - a museum that honors aerospace legends; located next to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
✮ National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton - one of the oldest, largest, and best aviation museums in the U.S.
✮ Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, Hamilton - a 300-acre outdoor sculpture park with more than 60 art sculptures
✮ Serpent Mound, Peebles - the largest serpent effigy in the world (which is a prehistoric mound made in the shape of an animal)
Columbus (see below for the rest of central Ohio)
✮ Center of Science and Industry (COSI) - a hands-on science and technology museum; also includes a planetarium
✮ Columbus Museum of Art - an excellent art museum in downtown Columbus
✮ Easton Town Center - a lively shopping center with open-air town squares and tons of shopping and dining options
✮ Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens - outstanding botanical gardens
✮ German Village - a famous neighborhood in Columbus with many brick houses built by German settlers
✮ Guided food tours in Columbus - several companies in Columbus offer guided food tours
✮ National Veterans Memorial and Museum - a tribute to the veterans of the U.S. Armed forces; features a stunningly beautiful building
✮ Ohio Stadium - visit a "legendary, horseshoe-shaped college football stadium"
✮ Ohio Theater - a beautiful and historic performance venue with Spanish-Baroque architecture
✮ Otherworld - an immersive art installation / entertainment center; features interactive puzzles and digitally augmented art
✮ ZipZone Outdoor Adventures - excellent zip-lining tours and several aerial adventure park courses
Central Ohio (including Zanesville; see above for Columbus)
✮ Airstream Heritage Center, Jackson Center - see more than a dozen vintage Airstream trailers and RVs at the Airstream headquarters
✮ Amish Country Theater, Millersburg - a popular family theater that features a stage that looks like a barn
✮ Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell - an excellent zoo with more than 10,000 animals
✮ Field of Giant Corn Cobs, Dublin - a roadside attraction of more than 100 giant ears of concrete corn; one of OH's best roadside attractions
✮ Hershberger's Farm and Bakery, Millersburg - a popular agricultural attraction and farmers market; features Amish goods and crafts
✮ Holmes County Trail - an excellent 23-mile paved rail trail with two segments (Fredericksburg to Killbuck and Glenmont to Brinkhaven)
✮ Mohican State Park, Loudonville - nature preserve with interesting geology/rock formations, great hiking trails, and riverside scenery
✮ Ohio Caverns, West Liberty - excellent underground guided cave tours
✮ Ohio State Reformatory / Mansfield Reformatory, Mansfield - tour a historic prison that was open from 1896-1990
✮ Valley Zipline Tours, Lancaster - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Wilds, The, Cumberland - a safari-like zoo that also offers zip-lining tours
✮ World's Largest Basket, Newark - the former home of the Longaberger company was shaped like a giant basket; a classic roadside attraction
✮ World's Largest Cuckoo Clock, Sugarcreek - a famous timepiece that performs every 30 minutes; one of OH's best roadside attractions
Cleveland (see below for the rest of northeastern Ohio)
✮ A Christmas Story House - visit the actual home that was used in the beloved 'A Christmas Story' movie
✮ Children's Museum of Cleveland - an excellent children's museum
✮ Cleveland Botanical Garden - features small but lovely indoor and outdoor gardens
✮ Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - one of the top 25 zoos in the U.S.
✮ Cleveland Museum of Art - one of the best art museums in the U.S.
✮ Cleveland Museum of Natural History - one of the top-rated natural history museums in the U.S.
✮ Lake View Cemetery - take a self-guided tour of a beautiful 285-acre cemetery
✮ PlayhouseSquare - catch a concert or show at the largest performing arts center in the U.S. outside of New York City
✮ Progressive Field - a famous MLB baseball park; home of the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians)
✮ Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park - an indoor mountain biking complex (perhaps the finest in the U.S.)
✮ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - the most famous and arguably best rock & roll museum in the world
✮ Severance Hall - a revered concert hall and the home of the Cleveland Orchestra
✮ USS Cod Submarine Memorial - tour a World War II submarine
✮ West Side Market - one of the best public food markets in the U.S.
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park; see above for Cleveland)
✮ Castle Noel, Medina - billed as "America's largest indoor year-round Christmas entertainment attraction"
✮ Cuyahoga Valley National Park - activities and attractions along the Cuyahoga River (e.g. hiking, cycling, scenic railroad, waterfalls, etc.)
✮ Geneva State Park, Geneva - shoreline park with a small beach, freshwater marshes, estuaries, great fishing and boating, and 3 miles of trails
✮ Headlands Beach State Park, Mentor - features a lighthouse and the largest natural beach in Ohio
✮ Mill Creek Park, Youngstown - a huge public park that offers a myriad of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, golf, and more
✮ Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park, Garrettsville - nature park with several short hiking trails; known for its rugged cliffs and waterfalls
✮ Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail - an outstanding 90-mile partially paved rail trail that connects Cleveland with Zoarville
✮ Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton - the official hall of fame museum of the National Football League
✮ Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron - tour a 65-room historic home on a 70-acre estate with gardens; one of the largest houses in the U.S.
✮ Toboggan Chutes, Strongsville - an extremely popular toboggan run at The Chalet in Mill Stream Run Reservation; reservations required
Southeastern Ohio (including Logan and Rockbridge)
✮ Big Muskie's Bucket, McConnelsville - see the "world's largest earth moving machine"; one of Ohio's best roadside attractions
✮ Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills State Park, Logan - the premier waterfall found within Ohio's best state park
✮ Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve, Rockbridge - interesting waterfalls and sandstone cliffs; one of Ohio's best natural areas
✮ Hocking Hills Canopy Tours, Rockbridge - a great aerial adventure park with zip-lining
✮ Hocking Hills State Park, Logan - Ohio's best state park; features waterfalls (e.g. Cedar Falls) and imposing geologic features (e.g. Ash Cave)
✮ Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills State Park, Logan - the most popular area within Ohio's best state park features striking geology
✮ Soaring Cliffs Zip Line Course, Rockbridge - excellent zip-lining and canopy tours
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Ohio? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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KY |
MI |
PA |
WV
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN OHIO
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These towns and cities in Ohio are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Cincinnati - a large city in southwestern Ohio known for its abundance of breweries, excellent zoo, and several fine museums
✮ Cleveland - a major city on Lake Erie known for its professional sports teams and several fine museums (e.g. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
✮ Columbus - a major city in central Ohio that is famous for its food scene; Ohio's largest city by far
✮ Geneva-on-the-Lake - a small town on Lake Erie with beaches, water sports, and family-fun attractions (e.g. arcade, Ferris wheel, etc.)
✮ Kelleys Island - a small island near Sandusky; offers great boating and fishing; the "Walleye Fishing capital of the World"; geologic attractions
✮ Marietta - a small city in southeastern Ohio with a historic downtown and Victorian homes; lots of outdoor recreation is nearby
✮ Put-in-Bay - a lively small town on South Bass Island near Sandusky; the "Key West of the North"; offers water sports and a Peace Memorial
✮ Sandusky - a small city that is world-famous for its amusement parks and other family-friendly attractions; Cedar Point is there
✮ Yellow Springs - a small town near Dayton that is dubbed a "hippie town"; the town has a historic downtown area with boutique shops
My favorite large city in Ohio is Cleveland - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
If you want to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park, stay in Peninsula or Hudson. You could also stay in Cleveland as well.
If you want to visit Hocking Hills State Park, stay in or near Logan.
Most would probably agree that Kelley's Island is more family friendly than Put-in-Bay. Kelley's is great for riding bikes around the island.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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Here are some things that Ohio is famous or well-known for:
✮ amusement parks
✮ aviation history
✮ covered bridges
✮ Dutch/Amish culture
✮ presidential homes/birthplaces
✮ professional sports teams
✮ rail trails
✮ rock n' roll history
✮ zoos
Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.
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There is currently one national park in Ohio. There are also several other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Parks
✮ Cuyahoga Valley National Park - activities and attractions along the Cuyahoga River (e.g. hiking, cycling, scenic railroad, waterfalls, etc.)
National Monuments
✮ Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Forests
✮ Wayne National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
✮ First Ladies National Historic Site
✮ Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
✮ James A. Garfield National Historic Site
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
✮ William Howard Taft National Historic Site
For more information on Ohio's national parks, visit the Ohio page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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Ohio has more than 75 state parks. Here is a list of many of Ohio's finest state parks:
Northwestern Ohio (including Sandusky and Toledo)
✮ Kelleys Island State Park, Kelleys Island - take a ferry to see glacial geologic formations; the state park occupies 25% of Kellys Island
Southwestern Ohio (including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Yellow Springs)
✮ Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, Yellow Springs - see spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges; one of Ohio's most scenic areas
Central Ohio (including Columbus and Zanesville)
✮ Mohican State Park, Loudonville - nature preserve with interesting geology/rock formations, great hiking trails, and riverside scenery
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park)
✮ Geneva State Park, Geneva - shoreline park with a small beach, freshwater marshes, estuaries, great fishing and boating, and 3 miles of trails
✮ Headlands Beach State Park, Mentor - features a lighthouse and the largest natural beach in Ohio
✮ Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park, Garrettsville - nature park with several short hiking trails; known for its rugged cliffs and waterfalls
Southeastern Ohio (including Logan and Rockbridge)
✮ Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve, Rockbridge - interesting waterfalls and sandstone cliffs; one of Ohio's best natural areas
✮ Hocking Hills State Park, Logan - Ohio's best state park; features waterfalls (e.g. Cedar Falls) and imposing geologic features (e.g. Ash Cave)
My favorite state park in Ohio is Hocking Hills State Park. The scenery (rock formations, waterfalls, etc.) is gorgeous, well beyond what most people would think Ohio is capable of holding.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources website offers an excellent PDF guide to the Ohio state parks. You can find that here.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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Ohio is believed to contain more than 200 natural waterfalls. Here is a list of many of the best waterfalls in Ohio:
Central Ohio (including Columbus and Zanesville)
✮ Hayden Falls in Hayden Falls Park, Dublin
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park)
✮ Blue Hen Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Buttermilk Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Chagrin Falls, Riverside Park, Chagrin Falls
✮ Dundee Falls in Beach City Wilderness Area
✮ Great Falls of Tinkers Creek in Bedford Reservation, Bedford
✮ Mill Creek Falls in Cleveland
✮ Paine Falls in Paine Falls Park
Southeastern Ohio (including Logan and Rockbridge)
✮ Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Old Man's Cave Waterfalls in Hocking Hills State Park
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Ohio, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN OHIO
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Ohio:
✮ Covered Bridge Scenic Byway - a 47-mile series of paved roads (mostly OH-26) from Marietta to Woodsfield past many covered bridges
✮ Hocking Hills Scenic Byway - a 26-mile series of paved roads (mostly OH-374) from Rockbridge to Hocking SF and Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Ohio Amish Country Byway - a 160-mile series of paved roads (including OH-60, US-62, and OH-515) in the largest Amish community in OH
The 290-plus Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway is likely to have a few scenic spots too, but I haven't driven that road yet. The roads of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (e.g. Riverview Road) may also be interesting as well.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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Ohio is one of the very best states for rail trails (competing with states like FL, PA, MI, MN, and WI). Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Ohio:
Northwestern Ohio (including Sandusky and Toledo)
✮ Wabash Cannonball Trail
Southwestern Ohio (including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Yellow Springs)
✮ Great Miami River Trail
✮ Little Miami Scenic Trail - this trail is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
Central Ohio (including Columbus and Zanesville)
✮ Holmes County Trail - this trail is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Kokosing Gap Trail
✮ Little Miami Scenic Trail - this trail is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park)
✮ Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
✮ Western Reserve Greenway
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Ohio, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN OHIO
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There are several great amusement parks in Ohio, including.
Northwestern Ohio (including Sandusky and Toledo)
✮ Cedar Point, Sandusky
✮ Cedar Point Shores, Sandusky
✮ Kalahari Waterparks, Sandusky
Southwestern Ohio (including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Yellow Springs)
✮ Coney Island Park, Cincinnati
✮ Kings Island, Mason
✮ Soak City, Kings Mills
✮ Stricker's Grove, Hamilton
Central Ohio (including Columbus and Zanesville)
✮ Zoombezi Bay, Powell
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park)
✮ Pioneer Waterland & Dry Fun Park, Chardon
Cedar Point is consistently rated as one of the very best rollercoaster parks in the world. Having been there myself, I can certainly understand why.
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Ohio has an amazing assortment of museums. I would say it ranks within the top 10 best states for museums. The best museums in Ohio include:
Northwestern Ohio (including Sandusky and Toledo)
✮ Imagination Station, Toledo
✮ Merry-Go-Round Museum, Sandusky
✮ National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo
✮ Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo
Cincinnati
✮ American Sign Museum
✮ Cincinnati Art Museum
✮ Cincinnati Museum Center
✮ National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Southwestern Ohio (including Dayton and Yellow Springs; see above for Cincinnati)
✮ Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton
✮ Carillon Historical Park, Dayton
✮ Dayton Art Institute, Dayton
✮ National Aviation Hall of Fame, Dayton
✮ National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton
✮ Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, Hamilton
Columbus (see below for the rest of central Ohio)
✮ Center of Science and Industry (COSI)
✮ Columbus Museum of Art
✮ National Veterans Memorial and Museum
✮ Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum
Central Ohio (including Zanesville; see above for Columbus)
✮ Airstream Heritage Center, Jackson Center
✮ Ohio State Reformatory / Mansfield Reformatory, Mansfield
Cleveland (see below for the rest of northeastern Ohio)
✮ Children's Museum of Cleveland
✮ Cleveland Museum of Art
✮ Cleveland Museum of Natural History
✮ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
✮ USS Cod Submarine Memorial
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park; see above for Cleveland)
✮ Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton
✮ MAPS Air Museum, North Canton
✮ National Packard Museum, Warren
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Ohio has some great hiking trails, especially in the premier hiking areas of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Hocking Hills State Park. Here are some of the very best day hikes in Ohio:
Northwestern Ohio (including Sandusky and Toledo)
✮ 17 Mile Trail, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, Swanton
Northeastern Ohio (including Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park)
✮ Brandywine Falls via the Stanford House, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Brandywine Gorge Loop, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Blue Hen Falls via the Buckeye Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Buckeye Trail-Red Lock to Boston Shore, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Hell Hollow Wilderness Area trails
✮ Ledges Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Mill Creek Park trails, Youngstown
Southwestern Ohio (including Cincinnati, Dayton, and Yellow Springs)
✮ Glen Helen Nature Preserve trails
Southeastern Ohio (including Logan and Hocking Hills State Park)
✮ Arches Fork Trail, Wayne National Forest (Marietta District)
✮ Ash Cave, Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Backpack Trail-South Loop, Zaleski State Forest
✮ Cantwell Cliffs Loop, Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Cedar Falls, Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve trails (e.g. Gorge Trail, Rim Trail)
✮ Natural Bridge, Rockbridge State Nature Preserve
✮ Old Man's Cave & Ash Cave via the Buckeye Trail, Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Rockhouse, Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Upper Falls to Lower Falls via the Buckeye Trail, Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Whispering Cave, Hocking Hills State Park
Before you hike in Hocking Hills State Park, study a trail map. There are a lot of trails that can be connected. However, take note that the state park asks folks to hike some
trails in a certain direction in order to cut down on passing hiker traffic.
A good resource for hiking in Ohio is the Trek Ohio website.
The highpoint of Ohio is Campbell Hill (1,549'). You can drive right to the top, and so no hiking is required.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN OHIO
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Ohio offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Ohio include:
✮ Backpack Trail
✮ Buckeye Trail
✮ Mohican-Memorial State Forest
✮ North Country Trail
✮ Oak Openings Metro Park
✮ Tar Hollow State Forest
✮ Twin Valley Trail
✮ Shawnee State Forest
✮ Wayne National Forest
✮ Zaleski State Forest
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN OHIO
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Ohio offers many great outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the Backpack Trail
✮ Backpacking in Shawnee State Forest
✮ Bouldering at Chippewa Creek
✮ Bouldering in Hocking Hills Forest
✮ Bouldering at Salt Fork State Park
✮ Bouldering at Whipp's Ledges
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on Big Darby Creek
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on Blackfork River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on Cuyahoga River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Hocking River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Little Miami River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Mahoning River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Mohican River
✮ Cycling the Holmes County Trail
✮ Cycling the Little Miami Scenic Trail
✮ Cycling the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
✮ Cycling the Western Reserve Greenway
✮ Day hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
✮ Day hiking in Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Hot air ballooning in Lebanon
✮ Kayaking on the Mahoning River
✮ Mountain biking the Alum Creek Phase II trails in Lewis Center
✮ Mountain biking the Metroparks Mountain Biking Area in Huffman Metropark in Dayton
✮ Mountain biking in the Mohican Wilderness in Loundonville
✮ Mountain biking at Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park in Cleveland
✮ Mountain biking in Strouds Run State Park in Athens
✮ Mountain biking at Vulture's Knob Mountain Bike Park in Wooster
✮ Mountain biking in Wayne National Forest
✮ Rock climbing at Logtown
✮ Rock climbing in Rockbridge
✮ Rock climbing at Whipp's Ledges
✮ Skydiving in Alliance, Ashland, Garrettsville, Middletown, Petersburg, Waynesville, and Xenia
✮ Tubing the Cuyahoga River
✮ Tubing the Great Miami River
✮ Tubing the Hocking River
✮ Tubing the Little Miami River (in Oregonia)
✮ Tubing the Mad River
✮ Tubing the Mohican River
✮ Tubing the Tuscarawas River
✮ Tubing the Whitewater River
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There are currently four ski areas in Ohio. All four ski areas are very small. The largest resort is Mad River, with 24 trails and a vertical drop of 300ft.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN OHIO
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Ohio:
✮ buckeyes
✮ chili
✮ Cincinnati chili
✮ Dutch apple pie
✮ goetta (e.g. around Cincinnati)
✮ pierogis
✮ polish boy
✮ sauerkraut balls
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Ohio (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Ohio (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY OHIO INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Ohio:
State Capital:
Columbus
Major Airports:
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) near Columbus
Largest Cities:
Columbus (929,492), Cleveland (367,786), Cincinnati (311,791), Toledo (267,603), Akron (188,741), Dayton (136,868), Parma (81,054)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-77, I-80, I-90
State Highpoint:
Campbell Hill (1,549'); you can drive right to the top
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers
NFL: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns
NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Bloody Corners, Fleatown, Knockemstiff, Lickskillet, and Pee Pee
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Cocoa, Milk, and Sugar Silos in Cleveland, Ohio
Ballantrae Community Park in Dublin, Ohio
Field of Giant Corn Cobs in Dublin, Ohio
giant McDonald's statue in Sunbury, Ohio
Tall Stack of Books in Centerville, Ohio
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton Ohio
World's Largest Stamp in Cleveland, Ohio
American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio
Target Field in Cincinnati, Ohio
downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
Giant Paddle Ball in Cleveland Ohio
Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum in Logan, Ohio
USA's Tallest Our Lady of Guadalupe statue in Windsor, Ohio
Plastic Brick Museum in Bellaire, Ohio
signed hot dog rolls at Tony Packo's Cafe in Toledo, Ohio
Tower of Volkswagen Bettle Cars in Defiance, Ohio
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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