You don’t typically think about visiting a Midwest state like Ohio when planning a trip or a vacation, but the state actually has a lot to offer in terms of tourism. Between big cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati with other cool attractions in the state, here’s five reasons to visit Ohio.


5 Reasons to Take a Trip to Ohio


1. Cedar Point Amusement Park

Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, is one of the best amusement parks in the United States. The park offers 18 amazing roller coasters for those seeking awesome thrills, and features the Top-Thrill Dragster, a 17-second ride that takes you from zero to 120MPH in just four seconds, and puts you 420 feet into the air and back down to Earth. The park has carnival games and old-school rides like its Ferris wheel, and also offers an area for children with “Planet Snoopy” based on Charles M. Schulz’s “Peanuts” cartoons. The park is one of the best in the world and definitely one of the top reasons you must go to Ohio.


2. Hocking Hills State Park

Hocking Hills State Park is one of the best places you can go in the state of Ohio. It’s perfect for outdoorsy types and nature lovers with its amazing beauty and miles of trails that show you breathtaking waterfalls, caves and cliffs. It’s located a little over 50 miles southeast of the city of Columbus. Visitors can also take part in amazing canopy tours that allow you to zip line through the forests of Hocking Hills. There are also music festivals in the summer months, great antique shopping, and it’s a very family friendly, fun atmosphere.


3. Cleveland

The city of Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie has been a punch line for years as a “bland” or “boring” city in the United States, but it actually has a lot to offer in terms of tourism. The most popular tourist destination is the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which takes you through amazing exhibits including one for The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd and all of the biggest names in the history of rock music. Cleveland is also a great city for sports with the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, the Cleveland Indians and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. Also for sports lovers, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is not far from Cleveland, located in the city of Canton. Cleveland has plenty of history to explore, like the Historic Warehouse District.


4. Cincinnati

The city of Cincinnati is another large city in Ohio with plenty to offer to tourists, especially museums. The Cincinnati Museum Center includes the Cincinnati History Museum, a children’s museum and the Museum of Natural History and Science. You can also find the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Taft Museum of Art there, and you can go to the unique and creative American Sign Museum. The American Sign Museum shares the delightful history of the sign industry and its significant contribution to commerce and the American landscape. They hope you can check out the iconic “Main Street” display in the middle of the museum and check out a century of American signage! Fountain Square is the epicenter of the city and features the Tylor Davidson Fountain. Music Hall in the city, built in 1878, is arguably the most beautiful building in Cincinnati and has opera, orchestra and theatre performances. You can also visit the Cincinnati Zoo as well as watch Cincinnati Reds baseball game or a Cincinnati Bengals football game.


5. Put-In-Bay

The small town of Put-In-Bay, located on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, isn’t highly populated at all, but has become a great tourist destination in the summer months. The town is home to one of the largest hotels in the world, Hotel Victory, which is named after the famous Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Of note is the International Peace Memorial, celebrating peace between the U.S., Canada, and Britain. History buffs will also appreciate Perry’s Cave, a key spot for Perry’s American soldiers during the War of 1812 and the location of an underground lake, as well as the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society. There’s great fishing on the island as well, especially for walleye and perch. Visitors also have many excellent restaurants to choose from, as well as bars, shopping and live entertainment.


This article was written by Cameron Lafontaine.