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Ohio's state capital was named for the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) and it's with his same sense of adventure that you should begin sightseeing this vibrant city, founded in 1812 and which sits at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers.
Tuning into Cleveland means hanging out at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This is one of America's most venerated venues dedicated to popular music, and is where the rock and roll music industry honors its finest entertainers. The stunning exterior is the work of celebrated Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei (1917–2019).
The museum is essentially a history of popular music. Beginning on the ground floor, you can work your way up over six floors while taking in a wealth of rare and valuable rock memorabilia.
Still in Dayton, housed in the Presidential Gallery at the National Museum of the US Air Force is this Special Air Mission (SAM) 26000, US President John F. Kennedy's Air Force One. This SAM 26000 flew JFK's body from Dallas after he was assassinated on November 22, 1963 and it's where Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president while onboard.
There's no better place to unwind and have fun than Cedar Point, located near Sandusky on the shores of Lake Erie. The amusement park is justly famous for no less than 17 world-class roller coasters and other rides of maximum thrill level, including the awesome WindSeeker (pictured).
Out and about in Ohio state means exploring Hocking Hills State Park. One of America's lesser-known state parks, Hocking Hills is especially known for a natural wonder called Ash Cave (pictured), one of several caverns of great beauty. A popular hiking destination, the park offers around 200 campsites, most equipped with electricity.
One of America's favorite zoos, this outstanding facility is home to more than 7,000 animals representing over 800 species. The zoo is divided into regions, each housing animals from a particular area of the world and with every continent represented.
A landmark not to be missed, the Cincinnati Museum Center is a stunning example of 1930s Art Deco architecture. The museum is actually incorporated into the city's former Union Terminal railway station and in fact features three separate museum facilities—the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, and the Museum of Natural History and Science.
Budding botanists will be in their element at this excellent gardens and conservatory complex. The park displays numerous species of flora from around the world and features a diverse range of habitats, anything from desert to rain forest.
Internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian exhibits, the Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the country's most prestigious cultural institutions. The museum also holds an important collection of American art and medieval art from Europe.
One of the country's most significant historic homes, Stan Hywet Hall was the home of F. A. Seiberling (1859–1955), co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The plush property is crammed full of original furnishings and antiques which you can admire before exploring the well-manicured grounds.
Toledo is always worth a diversion as it hosts another arty visitor attraction, the city's art museum. Toledo is known as the "Glass City" for its long history of glass manufacturing, and the museum holds major collections of glass art and of 19th- and 20th-century European and American art, including Vincent van Gogh's 'Wheat Fields with Reaper' (pictured), painted in 1890.
The focal point of Cincinnati city center, Fountain Square is a lively and attractive hub landmarked by a beautiful water feature, which was cast in Munich, Germany and erected in 1871. The square is lined with numerous shops, bars, and restaurants. If you're visiting in winter, check out the ice rink they set up under the fountain.
Serving as an important refuge for an abundance of native flora and fauna, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is set in Summit County and Cuyahoga County. Located near the cities of Cleveland and Akron but a world away from their hustle and bustle, the Cuyahoga Valley is blanketed by forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. The Instagram favorite is Brandywine Falls (pictured).
Wildlife calling the valley area home include the great blue heron (pictured), white-tailed deer, river otters, bald eagles, and mink.
An intoxicating variety of aromas permeate throughout Cleveland's famous West Side Market, the central feature of which is the beautiful market house which dates back to 1910. It's a food lovers' paradise with over 100 vendors selling everything from fine meats and fresh vegetables to wines, cheeses, and other deli-style wares.
The city's museum choice includes the highly respected Cincinnati Art Museum and the equally renowned Taft Museum of Art. But for something a little more quirky and offbeat, visit the American Sign Museum, a veritable pantheon to the neon advertising sign. There's over 500 to admire.
Art lovers, meanwhile, can gather here, Cleveland's outstanding Museum of Contemporary Art. Its iconic exterior reflects the city's busy Euclid Avenue while inside works by Christo, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein, among others, dazzle in their color and complexity.
Why not join a free guided tour of the Ohio State Capitol? It's the best way to glean an overview of the history and design of the building. Its marble-clad interior houses the fascinating Museum Education Center.
Some of the state's more unusual visitor attractions are found underground, such as the Ohio Caverns located near West Liberty—the largest of all the cave systems in Ohio. The majestic "Crystal King" (pictured) is the most famous of the stalactite and stalagmite formations decorating the caves.
For a more refined retail therapy experience, browse the historic Cleveland Arcade. Inaugurated in 1890, this is one of the earliest indoor shopping arcades in the United States, and certainly one of the most elegant. Complementing the upscale boutiques is a food court, and there's even a hotel incorporated into the building.
Perhaps not on everybody's must-see list, but Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery is a bit special in that it's the final resting place of assassinated US President James A. Garfield (1831–1881), who was in office for just 200 days before being shot on July 2, 1881. He died six months later and is entombed in his own Byzantine-Gothic- Romanesque Revival-style mausoleum (pictured). The cemetery also serves as the last resting place for industrialist John. D. Rockefeller and Untouchables crime fighter Eliot Ness.
One of the most rewarding ways of discovering the region is by rail. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad historical route meanders its way from the Rockside Station in Independence down to the Northside Station in Akron. If you're celebrating a special anniversary, consider taking the evening dinner trip, a romantic excursion that includes a four-course meal served in the charming domed dining car.
Take flight from the state's bigger cities and land in Dayton. Here you'll find the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and the historic brick and wooden Wright Brothers bicycle shop where Orville and Wilbur designed the Wright Flyer I, which made the first sustained flight by a manned heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraft—an airplane—on December 17, 1903.
The Dayton Art Institute was founded in 1919. The museum is housed in a lovely Italian Renaissance–style building in which treasures like 'Water Lilies' by Claude Monet from 1903 (pictured) are exhibited.
Image: Dayton Art Institute.
If you're in the city for a few nights, take note of what's on at the Cincinnati Music Hall. Dating back to 1878, this is arguably the finest building in town and home to the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, and Cincinnati Opera.
Don't be put off by Cincinnati's industrial credentials. This is still a city appreciated for its many museums and musical heritage.
Cleveland is the second largest city in Ohio, and has long been appreciated for its cultural clout. It's the largest city on Lake Erie and one of the major conurbations of the Great Lakes region.
The Ohio Stadium (pictured) is the home field of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Huntingdon Park, meanwhile, is home to the Columbus Clippers baseball team. Why not catch a game during your visit?
Ohio has the dubious honor of commemorating not one but two former American presidents cut down by the gun. The McKinley National Memorial in Canton is the final resting place of William McKinley, who served as the 25th President of the United States from 1897 to his assassination in 1901.
Sources (The White House) (Wright-Brothers) (Britannica)
If you fancy getting away from it all, follow the 257 km (160 miles) or so of the Amish Country Byway, which rolls and meanders through some of Ohio's most bucolic countryside. Along the way, call in on a Amish community store and stock up on homemade cheeses, candy, ice cream, and other homemade goods.
The Midwestern state of Ohio is crammed full of vacation possibilities. Known as the "Buckeye State" after its abundance of buckeye trees, Ohio will please city-break aficionados with destinations like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, but will also appease those seeking solace in the countryside with places such as Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Holmes County, in the heart of Amish Country. In fact, it's great fun finding your way through Ohio. Already packed?
Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.
Finding your way through Ohio
From Columbus to Amish Country
TRAVEL United states
The Midwestern state of Ohio is crammed full of vacation possibilities. Known as the "Buckeye State" after its abundance of buckeye trees, Ohio will please city-break aficionados with destinations like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, but will also appease those seeking solace in the countryside with places such as Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Holmes County, in the heart of Amish Country. In fact, it's great fun finding your way through Ohio. Already packed?
Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.