Activities abound in the Buckeye State, Ohio. A great variety of things to do, all within a few hours drive.
November and December bring The Festival of Lights to Oglebay Park. America's largest light show features more than 1 million lights sculpted into dozens of animated, holiday-themed displays, including flying reindeer, the Twelve Days of Christmas, a jack-in-the-box and many more. And just in case you decide to turn your day trip into a weekend get-a-way, Oglebay Park offers 49 private cottages and the renowned Wilson Lodge for overnight accommodations.
You'll find the World's largest Amish population residing in Holmes County, Ohio. A trip to Amish Country, an easy drive from almost anywhere in the state, is like a trip back in time. Horses and buggies share the roads with cars and tour buses and the Amish people go about their simplified lives unfazed by the development of electricity technology.
Shopping in Amish Country is a rare treat. Visit shops selling homemade crafts, genuine Amish food and handcrafted Amish furniture. The Buggy Trail Tour is a three-hour, back-road bus tour that visits Amish farms and workshops while a guide narrates the tour with stories about Amish history and customs. There are also several wineries in the area as well as numerous museums.
From the southwest corner of the state, an easy drive across the Indiana border will take you to any of three floating casinos docked along the Ohio River. Lawrenceburg, Rising Sun and Belleterra, Indiana all play host to legal gambling aboard majestic riverboats. Adjoining resorts offer world-class dining, lodging and championship caliber golf.
Along the state's northern border, Lake Erie offers dozens of recreational opportunities. Water sports of all types, historic lighthouses, scenic island getaways and fishing charters are just a few of the activities you can find here. Ohio is also a dream destination for amusement park lovers. Cedar Point and Geuga Lake to the north, Kings Island and Six Flags over Kentucky to the South all offer heart-stopping thrill rides to kids of all ages.
Professional sports also abound in Ohio. The National Football League has two Ohio franchises, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. (In addition, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts play home games within an hour's drive of Ohio's borders.) Cleveland is also home to the NBA's Cavaliers. The National Hockey League's Blue Jackets are based in Columbus. Minor league hockey teams can also be found in Cleveland and Cincinnati, while Columbus and Dayton boast of minor league baseball teams.
