Most people don't think of Ohio when choosing a vacation destination, explore its many treasures.
When you think of vacation, you probably think of the obvious places, such as Florida, California, Nevada and Hawaii. There are attractions in every state, however, and the best-kept secrets can be found in places you'd never expect, like Ohio. Now, when you think of Ohio, you probably think of Cleveland and not much else. Ohio is usually thought of as the state you drive through to get to somewhere else. Notorious for its over-abundance of state troopers handing out traffic citations, Ohio may even be the state you try to avoid when traveling. There are many treasures in Ohio, however, and it is the perfect place for a family vacation, especially if you hate crowds and price gouging. When everyone else is heading for a more popular destination this summer, pack the family in the car and take off to Ohio!
Most people don't know that Ohio has one of the most popular theme parks in America, SeaWorld. SeaWorld in Ohio? How did they get whales in Ohio? Well, they did, along with all of the dolphins, sea lions and walruses that are found in Florida, California and Texas SeaWorlds. The hotels in the surrounding SeaWorld area are inexpensive and the crowds only a fraction of those found in sunnier climates. There are also campgrounds nearby for those who like to travel in RV's or just rough it. SeaWorld, Ohio is located near Kent State College in a quiet suburban area. SeaWorld provides entertainment and education for the entire family and may give you a chance to sea animals you might never see otherwise. SeaWorld's shark encounter is one of the greatest shark exhibits I have ever had the pleasure to see. All varieties of sharks swim in a giant tank which reaches above your heads, the sharks are literally swimming over you. SeaWorld, Ohio also contains an incredible children's play area with water games and a giant climbing enclosure, which is two stories tall and filled with lots of ropes and tubes for hours of fun. A family could easily spend two days here and not get bored and there are special two day passes available.
Directly across the water from SeaWorld is Geauga Lake Amusement park. Geauga Lake is a typical amusement park with rides such as roller coasters and Tilt-A-Whirls, complete with cotton candy and carnival games. Ohio also is home to a Six Flags amusement park, and Cedar Point Amusement Park, which features the world's fastest and tallest roller coaster, so there is no shortage of places to go for a thrill.
In nearby Cleveland, you can find the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum. The Hall of Fame building is one of the most gorgeous pieces of architecture around and is constantly exhibiting new and exciting items. Yearly ceremonies induct new members into the Hall of Fame and recent stars inducted include Tina Turner, Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan. Every inductee receives the honor of having every song they have performed entered into a computerized juke box which is on display at the museum and a film of their careers is also produced. There is also a display of items belonging to the current year's inductees.
Also in Cleveland, you can find the fabulous Museum of Art, several Theaters and an internationally renowned orchestra. Cleveland also houses the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, complete with a fabulous rain forest, the zoo is 165 acres of wooded forest and 2 indoor acres of tropics. The zoo recently had its first baby rhino, weighing in at 80 pounds!
A lesser known attraction of Ohio is the Steubenville City of Murals in Steubenville, Ohio. This attraction includes an all day tour of twenty murals, animation factory, a classic car museum and more. The organization that guides the tour also provides a buffet lunch and the murals are stunning. Also in Steubenville is the Union Cemetary and Botanical Gardens, quite a combo! You can see more than one hundred species of flowers plus a fabulous view.
Ohio is also home to many beautiful state parks. State parks are often the best as they are low or no cost and are beautifully maintained. Some of the most beautiful parks can be found on the coast of Lake Erie. If you've never visited a great lake, this is the perfect place to do so, the soft waves, wide expanse of water, and beautiful beaches of the state parks will have you thinking you're at the sea coast. Ohio also boasts many beautiful forests and lakes, you can find out about them from the Ohio Department of Tourism.
If you are a golfer, you can find many gorgeous courses in Ohio, such as the one at the fabulous Maumee Bay State Park near Lake Erie. The Maumeee Bay golf course is an 18 hole "Scottish Links" style course and the park holds many attractions for the rest of your family while you are putting around. There is a nature center, swimming, boating, hunting and fishing. Lake Erie is known as the walleye capital of the world.
There are many more attractions in Ohio and with a little investigating, you can put together an exciting vacation for your family. With small crowds and beautiful scenery, Ohio makes one of our favorite summer destinations.
