If you’re planning a romantic or family holiday, or even a road trip, Ohio is the place to go. Ohio has a diverse terrain to visit, and Things to Do in Ohio in 2024 including sophisticated metropolis, coastal settlements, and lovely rural towns. You’ll discover world-class museums, cultural sites, plenty of dining options, and even some of the best amusement parks in the United States.
So, whether you’re looking for a city getaway, family fun, or high-speed activities, here are the best things to do in Ohio.
Cleveland
The city formerly known as “The Mistake on the Lake” is making a return. Cleveland, now known by residents as “The Land,” has undergone an incredible transition, as have many previous manufacturing towns, into one of the coolest destinations to visit. Nationally famous professional sports teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, and Cleveland Browns entice die-hard sports fans to root on their preferred teams. Visitors may also visit world-class sites such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Art (open to the public), the Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the USS Cod Submarine Memorial.
Foodies should not miss out on visiting the West Side Market. Located in Cleveland’s historic Ohio City area, the venue is the city’s longest continually functioning market, with over 70 exhibitors providing meats, seafood, fruit, dairy goods, flowers, spices, prepared cuisines, and other items. Take advantage of the Cleveland Brewery Passport, which rewards travelers who visit all 43 breweries in the metropolitan region.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Cleveland
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame debuted on September 2, 1995, with a benefit event at Cleveland Municipal Stadium including performances by musical legends such as Aretha Franklin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and James Brown. Today, the glass pyramid-shaped edifice is one of Cleveland’s most popular attractions. If you enjoy rock ‘n’ roll, you’ll admire the seven levels of valuable memorabilia, including performance outfits, handwritten song manuscripts, and other personal items. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also provides feature films, videos, and interactive exhibits.
You may even pick up a guitar or sit behind the piano or drums to create your own music in The Garage, or see recordings of legendary performances in the Connor Theater. The inductee Hall of Fame is a must-see on Level 3. Most visitors say they love the interactive displays and the film in the Connor Theater; they also recommend setting aside many hours for your visit. The exhibitions vary often, so check the current selections online before visiting. Tickets may be purchased in advance on Viator.
House From A Christmas Story: Cleveland
Fans of Ralphie and “A Christmas Story” won’t want to miss a tour to the movie’s actual house. Tour the house and then head across the street to the museum, where you can view behind-the-scenes images, real costumes, and even relics like Randy’s snowsuit, the toys from the Higbee display, and the family automobile.
You may even schedule an overnight stay in the house and sleep on Ralphie and Randy’s beds. The fee includes the use of the full private third-floor loft. After the museum closes, you may pretend to be the Parker family and recreate moments from the film since you will have access to the house until 9 a.m. the next day.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s sole national park, is conveniently located near cities such as Akron and Cleveland. The park in northeast Ohio has more than 33,000 acres and features 25 miles of the Cuyahoga River winding through the Cuyahoga Valley. Mixed ecosystems of woods, marshes, agricultural areas, and ancient fields highlight the region’s distinctive nature, which is divided into two distinct physical zones: the Appalachian Plateau and the Central Lowlands.
The park is home to over 900 plant species and about 400 animal species, and visitors may see more than 200 bird species throughout the year, including bald eagles, great blue herons, and a variety of migrating birds. Other animals seen in the park include mink, river otters, bats, foxes, coyotes, salamanders, snakes, turtles, and more.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
For almost a century, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has operated in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and along the Ohio and Erie Canalway. The train line provides year-round excursions, as well as a one-way ticket or seasonal pass for cyclists, hikers, and kayakers who want to catch a one-way trip back to their starting location.
Tour options include a two-hour beautiful trip on the National Park Flyer, elegant train dinners, murder mystery rides, and other themed excursions. There are also Christmas activities for children, such as the North Pole Adventure, which includes cookies, hot chocolate, and a surprise Santa appearance.
Explore the islands in Lake Erie
Yes, Ohio has islands. South Bass and Kelley’s Island are two of the most popular islands in Ohio’s Lake Erie. Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island, is recognized for its bustling environment, which includes bars, restaurants, and stores. Visitors may visit the island’s principal sights, such as Perry’s Victory and the International Peace Monument, which commemorate the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. A brief elevator journey to the summit of the 352-foot-tall Doric column monument provides magnificent views of the neighboring islands and, on a clear day, Canada.
Other popular attractions include the South Bass Island Lighthouse, the Aquatic Visitors Center, The Boardwalk Island Grille & Bar, the Butterfly House at Put-In-Bay, and the Heineman Winery. Natural wonders include Perry’s Cave and Crystal Cave, which houses the world’s biggest geode, as well as state parks and wildlife preserves.
Sandusky
This seaside location, located along the coastline of Sandusky Bay, is home to the well-known Cedar Point amusement park. Sandusky is also known as “Ohio’s Water Park Capital,” with prominent indoor and outdoor water park resorts like Kalahari, Castaway Bay, Cedar Point Shores, and Great Wolf Lodge.
During the warmer months, go kayaking, sailing, or paddle boarding on the bay and Lake Erie. There are also sunset and scenic excursions available, as well as island-hopping trips to explore Lake Erie’s islands. Another attraction of Sandusky is the self-guided Underground Railroad walking tour, which visits homes, buildings, and locations significant to Sandusky’s Underground Railroad tasks.
Cedar Point: Sandusky
Cedar Point, known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” has been inviting visitors to its site on Lake Erie since 1870. The park’s first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, debuted in 1892. Cedar Point proceeded to create mind-blowing coasters beginning in the late 1970s, with each one outdoing the previous one. In 2000, the park shattered its own record with the introduction of Millennium Force, the world’s tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster at the time, standing more than 300 feet tall.
Today, the park is home to around 70 rides, including 18 roller coasters. Steel Vengeance is the world’s longest hybrid coaster, while Millennium Force remains one of the top coasters. Visitors may relax on a mile-long beach, see live entertainment, and eat at a variety of casual restaurants. During the summer, guests may cool down at the 18-acre Cedar Point Shores Waterpark by riding the slides and playing in the water attractions.
Taste your way through the wine trails
Ohio has over 300 wineries, including seven designated wine trails. The Grand River Valley is one of the state’s leading wine-producing regions, specializing in cultivating European-style grapes and producing varietals such as pinot gris, riesling, pinot noir, chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc. Explore the picturesque countryside along Lake Erie’s south coast by following the Vines & Wines path.
Plan to spend a few days at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake to take in the area’s other delights, such as the breathtaking sunsets over Lake Erie.
Follow the Covered Bridge Trail
Ashtabula County, located in the state’s northeast region, boasts an astonishing 19 covered bridges. Before you visit these historic sites in Ohio’s stunning countryside, download the self-guided tour to your smartphone.
Before you take the road, keep in mind that the Riverview Covered Bridge, which is 150 feet long and 14 feet broad, is only accessible by foot. The Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge spans the Ashtabula River and is the longest covered bridge in the United States, measuring 613 feet in length and 30 feet wide. Travelers say it’s intriguing to see all the different sizes and designs of bridges, and taking the Covered Bridge Trail is a fantastic way to spend the day.
Pro Football Hall of Fame: Canton
Football aficionados would not want to miss what has been dubbed “football heaven.” The Pro Football Hall of Fame is likewise a popular attraction in the state and in the United States. The attraction, which pays respect to pro football’s finest stars and icons, has welcomed over ten million spectators from around the United States as well as tourists from more than 70 nations worldwide.
The Hall of Fame Gallery, which features bronze busts of football greats as well as images, biographies, and movies on touch-screen kiosks, is one of the museum’s attractions. The Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery showcases the game’s history from Super Bowl I to the current day through exhibitions and memorabilia, including championship rings. In the immersive holographic.
Berlin
You may visit Amish Country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but did you know there is a similar location in Ohio? Berlin is located in the center of Ohio’s Amish Country, surrounded by lush rolling hills, charming Amish farms and homes, horse-drawn buggies, and golden grain fields. The neighborhood, located approximately 55 miles south of Akron, is known for its year-round family-friendly events and activities. You may go on a scavenger search for miniature barns at Berlin Barnstorming, learn to milk Callie the Cow at MooFest, and enjoy food and entertainment at the Harvest Festival & Rib Cook Off, which includes live music, a parade, and fireworks.
Metroparks: Toledo
Toledo’s park system has 19 parks across more than 12,000 acres with 200 miles of trails. Outdoor activities include fitness walks, running, biking, kayaking, hunting and birding. Plus, there are even more year-round activities available that you can do on your own or through the park’s educational system, such as horseback riding, geocaching, camping, snowshoeing, sledding or ice skating. For a unique experience, take a ride back in time on The Volunteer, a mule-driven canal boat. After a day in the parks, you can spend the night slumbering away in the treetops in one of the treehouses at Cannaley Treehouse Village.