Other Destinations and Attractions in Ohio

Ashland is a fun place to visit with a wealth of arts and culture. One of the town's main events each year is the BalloonFest around the 4th of July weekend. Heritage Days are another annual event, held in the fall.

Some of the highlights of the arts community include the Ashland Symphony, Ashland University Theatre, Ashland Regional Ballet and Ashland Symphonic Youth Chorus.

The Hale Farm and Village in Bath is a recreated farm and village from the 19th Century. Here visitors will find costumed interpreters going about daily life from a bygone era. Demonstrations of glass blowing, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, candle making, and basket making are sure to entertain visitors of all ages.

The Fort Laurens State Memorial and Museum offers a pleasant area for a picnic or day outing. Fort Laurents was constructed in the late 1778 but was abandoned by 1779. The museum explains the history of the fort and occasionally military reenactments are held on the grounds.

Century Village, operated by the Geauga County Historical Society, is a collection of historic buildings that were relocated to Burton. Among the buildings in the village are the Crossroads Country Store, the 1798 Umberfield Cabin an old schoolhouse, and a sawmill. Visitors can tour the site from spring until fall.

The Crossroads Country Store serves as the museum store with pottery, linens, soaps, and other gifts available.

Clark Gable's birthplace is located in Cadiz and here visitors will find the original home restored to its initial condition. In the home is a collection of Clark Gable's personal effects along with a history of his life in show business. Also on display are items from his wife, Carole Lombard. Every year Clark Gable's birthplace holds a large celebration on the entertainer's birthday.

The St. Helena III Canal Boat offers visitors a chance to experience a piece of history. The boat is pulled by a team of horses along a section of the historic Ohio and Erie Canal. Tours depart from the Canal Fulton's Community Park for this return trip cruise on the St. Helena III.

The Austin Historical Society maintains the Austin log cabin in Canfield. Originally owned by Judge Calvin Austin, this restored cabin features historical displays related to the early 19th Century.

The Pioneer Waterland & Dry Fun Park in Chardon is a fun day outing for families. The park has a variety of attractions including waterslides, an inner tube ride, a large swimming pool, paddle boat rentals on a small lake, as well as dry slides, and a Kidsland area for small children. There is also an area for sports activities, with batting cages, a golf driving range, a basketball course, and other games.

For older children there is an site go-kart track.

The Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, actually just called Blossom, is a music venue located in a fabulous natural area. Blossom is home to the Cleveland Orchestra during the summer months and also hosts concerts and other outdoor shows from classical to rock. On concert occasions the blossom restaurant is open. Check the Blossom Concert Calendar to see what is upcoming.

South of Cleveland is the popular Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, a 22 mi. stretch of country along the Cuyahoga River that has been restored to its original state. Through the northern part of the park runs the old Ohio and Erie Canal. To the south of Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area is Hale Farm, an open-air museum with restored early 19th c. houses in which old crafts are demonstrated.

The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum has been artfully restored in a major renovation project. The building dates to 1873 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors can learn about the history of the town and the railroad and even take a train ride, by stopping at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. There is also an onsite restaurant and gift shop. Check ahead to find out about the summer train schedule.

The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame Museum in Euclid honors the Cleveland-style polka stars. Visitors can learn about the music, the history, and the most relevant musicians in the industry. On display are instruments, including the accordion and of Polka King, Frank Yankovic. Also on display at the National Cleveland-Style

The Fairport Harbor Marine Museum is located in an impressive old lighthouse. The original lighthouse was built in 1825 but was replaced in 1871 with the structure that still stands today. The Fairport Harbor Marine Museum features maritime exhibits and tries to depict life on the Great Lakes in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

The lighthouse stands 69 ft, and is accompanied by the large lighthouse keepers home, also built in 1871.

Shandy Hall in Geneva began as a four room home in 1815, built by Robert Harper. The house was added on to over the next two decades and resulted in the 17 room mansion that visitors see today. Some of the interesting features in the house include the original cellar kitchen, and the coved ceilings, and the overall detail that helps recall this time period.

Tours of the historic Shandy Hall are operated through the Western Reserve Historical Society.

The Gnadenhutten Monument recognizes the massacre of 90 Indians at this settlement in 1782. Gnadenhutten is known as Ohio's oldest settlement. A historical marker explains the history of the site and the tragic events that unfolded at this location. In addition to the Gnadenhutten Monument is a museum with Indian artifacts, and two reconstructed log structures.

Hinkley is commonly known as the "home of the buzzards" because each year in mid March the buzzards return to Hinckley. At this time of year Hinkley fills up with people who come here specifically to see the birds come back.

Apart from the buzzards Hinkley is a pleasant, prosperous community with rolling hills and a population of around 7,000.

World War II buffs and veterans will be interested on the items on display at the World War II Vehicle Museum located in Hubbard. Here visitors will find an overwhelming variety of trucks, jeeps, and all kinds of interesting transport vehicles including tanks. The museum also hosts a variety of special events including a WWII reenactment show in July.

Lawrence County Museum in Ironton is housed in an Italian Villa style home built in the 1870s. The museum has a permanent collection and offers changing exhibits throughout the year related to the history of Ironton and surrounding areas. Also of interest are a number of annual events hosted by the Lawrence County Museum, such as the Apple Butter Day and a special Christmas exhibit.

The Kidron Community Historical Society maintains the Kidron-Sonnenberg Heritage Center. Housed in an old mansion, the Heritage Center explores the history of the local Mennonite Anabaptists. Visitors will find a variety of antique items used in the daily life by these people including, tools, household items, artwork, and textiles as well as the names of over a million Swiss Mennonite, German Mennonite, and Amish.

The Lake County Historical Society Center in Kirtland Hills exhibits a wide range of historical artifacts. Some of the highlights include 19th Century music boxes, information on the Boy Scouts of America, founded by former Painesville resident Daniel Carter Beard, and a permanent exhibits entitled "Pathways Through Lake County - 200 Years" dealing with the history of Lake County. Check in with the Lake County Historical Society to see about upcoming events.

The Old Stone House in Lakewood was built in 1838, making it the town's oldest standing stone home. On display in the house are pioneering artifacts, household items, textiles, and items that would have typically been found in homes in Lakewood during the first half of the 19th Century. The grounds of the Old Stone House even contain an herb garden with plants consistent with pioneer cooking.

The town of Martins Ferry is the oldest permanent settlement in Ohio. It was founded in 1779 on the banks of the Ohio River. The city of Wheeling, VA is across the river and the two cities work closely together on many initiatives. The town has just over 7000 residents, many of them employed in hospital care, steelworks, a large bakery, and the banking industries.

The James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor is an immaculately restored home. This site is managed by the National Park Service and is the former home of the James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States in 1888. The lawns and surrounding areas are very well kept and interesting historical plaques dot the area.

The historic Victorian House in Millersburg was built around the turn of the 20th Century. The home is a Queen Anne style, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Victorian house features 28 rooms furnished in period, showcasing Victoriana decor and items related to the history of Holmes County. Some of the rooms are done in theme, including a law office and medical office.

Mount Pleasant is a quaint little villages with a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the town's founders was a Quaker, leading to a large Quaker population in Mount Pleasant. The Quakers strongly opposed to slavery and consequently Mount Pleasant became associated with the Underground Railroad.

Visitors can take a guided tour of historic Mount Pleasant.

The Custer Monument in New Rumley stands at the birthplace of George Armstrong Custer. Little remains of the original house apart from the foundation. The monument is a bronze statue of Custer information on his life. George Armstrong Custer was born in 1839 and died during the Civil War.

Temperance Tavern Museum in Newcomerstown is located in an 1840s tavern originally on a stagecoach route. The museum has a variety of displays on the local history of the building and area dating back to the early settlers. There is also exhibits on the Delaware Indians and a section on local athletes including baseball pitcher, Cy Young, and football coach Woody Hayes.

William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, was born here in Niles. To commemorate McKinley the town donated the land for this impressive classical style building, built in his honor. This enormous memorial, called the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial, is constructed in Georgian marble. It houses the McKinley Memorial Library, the McKinley Museum, and an auditorium, complete with a statue of the man.

Painesville is one of the more prominent towns in Lake County and also the county seat. It has grown largely into a summer destination with tourism becoming a major industry over the past decade. Many visitors come to enjoy nearby Lake Erie and Painesville now has many bed and breakfasts as well as restaurants and other tourist facilities.

Painesville is also home to Lake Erie College.

The Portage County Historical Society Museum consists of a number of historic buildings on a 12 acre site in Ravenna.

Some of the buildings include the pioneer homestead of Carter House, the John Campbell Land Grant Office, the Strickland House the Mahan Barn, the Ford Seed Company Museum, as well as an Advance-Rumely Steam Traction Engine, the Proehl-Kline Clock Tower, and the Lowrie-Beatty museum, among others. Both the Carter House and the Strickland House are open to the public for tours.

The Shaker Historical Museum in Cleveland is housed in a Tudor style mansion and displays collections of shaker furniture and other items. This is a great place to learn about the Shaker history and culture. The museum is run by the Shaker Historical Society.

Twinsburg is a small city with a slow pace. One of the towns fun annual events is the Twins Days Festival held the first weekend in August. The festival includes events for adults, children, and families with a golf tournament, field games for the kids, dances, hot air balloon rides, a parade, and other entertainment.

The village of Wellington is located only 66 km / 50 mi from Cleveland and makes for a pleasant day trip. Founded in 1818 the village has grown and prospered over the years and is now home to just over 4,800 permanent residents. The village has some interesting 19th Century architecture and boasts of casual cafés, restaurants, and comfortable accommodation.

The owners of The One and Only Presidential Museum profess it to be the best place to learn about every single US President. Inside the non-descript building visitors will find all manner of memorabilia from each president. Items include letters, pictures, and family mementos. The museum has a special focus on the first president, John Hanson.

The Indian Museum Of Lake County explores the history of Native Indians in the Ohio area from prehistoric times to present. The collection includes crafts, interactive displays, artifacts, and a library.

A visit to Zoar Village located in the town of the same name is like stepping back in time to a simpler era. Here visitors will find costumed interpreters demonstrating the way life was in the early 19th Century. There are ten restored buildings on the site at Zoar Village, including a bakery, dairy, wagon shop among others. Accommodation in restored buildings is also available for those wishing to do more than a day trip.