Travel guide for planning a vacation or trip to Ohio, including top tourist attractions.
Vacation travel in Ohio can be divided into regions. The western and eastern strips and the northern and southern regions. Each area is unique and has a wealth of sites and entertainments.
Most people are aware of the cities in the northern region of Ohio. The city of Cleveland was set out as the Western Reserve and was populated early as an industrial center. Youngstown is part of this industrialized region. From the 1940s through the 1970s, the area was a center for steel production, but the economy has shifted since that time. Many people have an image of a river burning due to factory pollution, but today the rivers are a model for the world of the ecological recovery that can be achieved with a proper balance of industry and conservation. The city of Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and spectacular art museums. The newly renovated Flats area by Lake Erie has upscale lofts and nightlife with restaurants and jazz music that rocks throughout the year. The city is also known for the large park areas with walkways and bicycle paths.
The far northern area of Ohio along Lake Erie offers rocky beaches and places to boat. The islands near Sandusky and Put-in-Bay are a relaxing way to spend a summer day. Take the ferries and bring your bike, or rent an electric cart to tour the islands. The area also is home to wineries, so if you imbibe, a winery tour can be developed with a little research. The Ashtabula area of northeast Ohio was a center for shipping. Ore loaders now stand idle, but the charm of the towns and villages of the area makes for a nice driving tour along the lake. Amusements and boat rentals are available along the route.
The far eastern strip of the state is rich with natural gas and clay resources and was known as a major region for steel and ceramic production. The Rust Belt no longer has large steel production, but it does feature scenery like no other in the country. Wooded areas of the Ohio River Valley make for spectacular Fall drives. The area is home to America's potteries. Hall and Homer Laughlin China Companies are located along the Ohio River.
Southern Ohio is a hilly wooded area, very different from other parts of the state. In fact, the 2004 election results show just how different the region is from the rest of the state. The center of the state to the southern boundary is the home to the Amish. Crafts and homemade foods can be found over the rural region.
The western strip along the edge of the state is another distinct region. Cincinnati is located in this area. The gaslight region of the city makes for an interesting visit. Restaurants, antique stores and bookshops are located along the sidewalks in the old town of Cincinnati. Walk toward the end of the day, when the gaslights are lit. The city has a numerous museums including two located in the restored deco railroad terminal. The terminal has a restored lunch counter that recreates the 1920s-1940s with tile walls and flooring. Cincinnati also has its pottery heritage. Take a walk through some of the old Victorian neighborhoods near the Rookwood pottery and dine in the restaurant of the old restored 1880 works.
Baseball is a tradition in Ohio. See the Indians in Cleveland and the Reds in Cincinnati. The Dragons, a farm team for the Reds, play in Dayton, Ohio. Akron is home to the Cleveland farm team, the Akron Aeros, who play in a modern stadium located in the city center.
Canals form a central part of the history of Ohio. Canals began construction in the 1820s and many of the towns along the route, Akron included, began as housing for the canal workers. Driving tours of the canal route are an easy vacation. Bed and breakfasts and quaint hotels are available all along the routes. The Miami and Erie Canal was located in western Ohio along the Great Miami and Maumee Rivers. This canal ran through Toledo and Dayton, with a detour through Columbus. The Ohio and Erie Canal started near Portsmouth, near the southern border, and headed northeast to Cleveland and Lake Erie.
Peninsula, Ohio has maintained the canal area and has a small railroad that provides tours of the lush landscape in the area. Canal Fulton has small coffee shops and summer programs in the park on the old canal. The Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal was a small canal running near Akron to meet up with the Beaver and Erie Canal near New Castle, Pennsylvania. Youngstown was a major stop on this canal.
The Wabash and Erie Canal ran west into Indiana. The route runs through Indiana and enters Ohio to run to Lake Erie. This canal was the second longest canal of the time. The Cincinnati and Whitewater Canal was a short route that ran from Cincinnati into Wayne County in Indiana. The Hocking Canal was a tiny one but the Sandy and Beaver Canal from Lisbon, Ohio into Pennsylvania was planned as a major trade route. Unfortunately, the canal was never completely operational, but the towns created along the route developed and make for interesting architectural tours.
Whether you are a baseball fan or enjoy a driving tour along a scenic tour, Ohio is the place to travel!
