 Home / U.S. State Travel Guides / U.S. Vacations / U.S. National Parks / U.S. State Highpoints / U.S. Road Trip Planning  OHIO TRAVEL GUIDE
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. Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I do not make any profit from this website, and you will see no ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.  OVERVIEWTOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN OHIO✮ 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. 5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN OHIONorthwestern 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: IN | KY | MI | PA | WV BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN OHIO✮ 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.) ✮ Kellys 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. Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S. WHAT IS OHIO FAMOUS 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. NATIONAL PARKS IN OHIONational 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. STATE PARKS IN OHIO
|
