By Sabah Karimi
Ohio is nicknamed the "Buckeye State" because of the prevalence of Buckeye trees scattered throughout the region. This state experiences all four seasons and is a great place to enjoy the classic Midwestern lifestyle. Key cities in Ohio include Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Akron, and many are "college towns" because of the universities and colleges in and around the metro areas. However, you'll still find a number of attractions and fun sights to explore throughout the state.
Go Hiking in Wayne National Forest
This lush forest and nature preserve is an idyllic destination to go hiking, camping or canoeing on the lakes. Wayne National Forest covers nearly 250,000 acres of land across 12 counties, and it is divided into three separate districts. You can head to the Athens district to hike the nature trails and catch sight of the famous Shawnee Lookout Tower or trek to the foothills of the Appalachians to see hundreds of species of native birds, beautiful pines and mammals in their natural habitat. This is also the best park to hop aboard an ATV or bike to explore the Hocking Hills district.
Wayne National Forest
Supervisor's Office and Athens Ranger District
13700 U.S. Highway 33
Nelsonville, OH 45764
(740) 753-0101
Play at the Kalahari Indoor Water Park
The Kalahari Indoor Water Park in Sanduscky is one of the largest waterparks in the Midwest and is perfect for kids of all ages. It's home to the famous Flowrider indoor surfing wave pool, dozens of tubes and slides and several large pools. The Kalahari is also designed with special kiddie pools for toddlers and younger children.
Kalahari Indoor Water Park
7000 Kalahari Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
(877) 525-2427
Take a Winery Tour
There are more than 20 wineries scattered across northeast Ohio's Grand River Valley, and you can take a guided tour of the grounds to learn more about the history of grape harvesting and the different types of Midwest wines. St. Joseph Vineyard, one of the largest family-owned boutique wineries, offers wine tastings, tours and other special events. Head here to enjoy a quiet and relaxing day in one of Ohio's most beautiful vineyards.
St. Joseph Winery
6060 Madison Road, Ohio RT 528
Thompson, Ohio 44086
(440) 298-3709
Visit the Ghostly Manor
The Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is a haunted house that features motion rides, 3-D theater rides and other attractions year round. It's designed to scare and delight kids of all ages and is a thrilling adventure you'll never forget. The Ghostly Manor is located in Sandusky and is minutes away from area restaurants and attractions, so you can spend the entire day at this this popular attraction.
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center
3319 Milan Road
Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 626-4467
Explore the Butler Institute of American Art
Head to Youngstown to see the giant collection of paintings, ceramics, murals and artifacts. The Butler Institute of American Art is the country's first museum of American art and was built in 1919. It is listed on the National Register of Historic places and houses more than 20,000 works from famous sculptors and painters.
The Butler Institute of American Art
The Beecher Center
524 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44502
(330) 743-1107
About the Author:
Sabah Karimi is a professional web and print copywriter with an educational background in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She writes in several niches including travel, fashion, beauty, health, fitness, lifestyle and small business. Karimi received a Top Content Creator Award from Demand Studios in 2009.
