Of all places, Ohio was the last of the 50 states to make it onto my website! I had driven through Ohio before, but of course that doesn’t count as a real visit, so in 2014 I finally flew out to Columbus to complete my mission of visiting all 50 states in America. That alone made my trip to Ohio special, but being relatively close to my home state of Virginia, I wasn’t expecting it to feel dramatically different. Ohio ended up surprising me though. Between its major cities, historic sites, Lake Erie shoreline, and even a national park, I found a lot more to explore than I had expected.
Explore Columbus
Columbus is the capital of Ohio and the state’s largest city. There are several different parts of the city to explore, including downtown, the Arena District, German Village, and the Short North. Columbus also has plenty of museums, restaurants, nightlife, and sporting events, while one of its best-known attractions is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. There’s enough spread throughout the city that you could easily spend several days here without seeing everything.
Explore Cleveland
Located in northeastern Ohio along the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland has a long industrial history and remains one of the state’s major cities. Sports are a huge part of the city’s identity, with professional baseball, football, and basketball teams all calling Cleveland home. The city is also famous for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, while its waterfront, museums, historic neighborhoods, and downtown give visitors plenty more to explore.
Explore Cuyahoga Valley
Between Cleveland and Akron is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a surprisingly wild area considering how close it is to two major cities. The park follows the Cuyahoga River through forests, rolling hills, ravines, and waterfalls, with miles of trails for hiking and cycling. It’s an easy escape from Ohio’s urban areas and offers a completely different experience from visiting Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati.
Explore Cincinnati
Located along the Ohio River directly across from Kentucky, Cincinnati grew from an early river settlement into one of Ohio’s major cities. The riverfront is one of the most interesting parts of the city to explore, with parks, restaurants, entertainment, and the Cincinnati Reds’ ballpark along the water. Away from the riverfront, Cincinnati has historic neighborhoods, museums, architecture, and the home of President William Howard Taft, giving the city a good mixture of history and modern attractions.
