Ohio doesn’t scream FUN when you’re first planning a trip there. Whether you’re planning a trip for family reasons or just want to check out our state, here are some fun spots to check out while visiting Ohio:
1. Ride the Rides at Cedar Point
If you only do one big touristy thing in this whole state, make it Cedar Point. This place is basically roller coaster heaven, with beautiful Lake Erie views in every direction. Steel Vengeance alone is worth the drive. So is Top Thrill 2.
2. Check Out Our Beloved Cincinnati Zoo
I went in expecting “fine” and left completely charmed. The Cincinnati Zoo is famous for its big cats, but honestly the botanical gardens tucked around every corner are beautiful and absolutely worth the visit. It doesn’t feel like a huge sprawling zoo you need a map and a snack plan to survive. It feels walkable, calm, and genuinely well cared for.
3. Book a Round of Laser Tag
Laser tag in Ohio has become my go to answer when people are visiting. It’s cheap, it’s indoors so weather is never an issue, and there’s something delightfully silly about grown adults sprinting through blacklight fog trying to zap each other. Perfect for family outings as well as just fun with your friends, it’s a good way to get some energy out.
4. Get Lost in Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills, hidden in the southeastern hills of the state, has waterfalls, sandstone gorges, and hemlock forests, nothing that you would come to expect in the Midwest. Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave are the famous stops but the calmest of going alone is what sold them to me. Go on a weekday and enjoy your reconnection to nature.
5. Visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Release your inner Music Nerd and the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The building itself is a striking glass pyramid right on the lakefront, but it’s what’s inside that gets you: handwritten lyrics, stage outfits, guitars that changed music history.
6. Catch a Game and Just Soak It In
Ohio is a sports state. Whether it’s the Guardians at Progressive Field, the Reds at Great American Ball Park, or the Cavaliers packing an arena in Cleveland, there’s something contagious about being in the crowd.
7. Wander the Short North in Columbus
Independent galleries, quirky boutiques, and some of the best restaurants I ate at in the entire state, all packed into a few very walkable blocks. If you can time your visit for the first Saturday of the month, the Gallery Hop turns the whole street into a party with live music and open galleries until late. Short North doesn’t get the flowers it deserves as a beautifully designed and easy to navigate neighborhood, but regardless, it’s worth your time and your visit.
8. Walk Through Actual Aviation History at the Air Force Museum
Free, massive, and honestly kind of mind blowing. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, Ohio houses everything from early biplanes to stealth bombers to a real space capsule, all under one roof (well, several enormous hangars). Budget half a day minimum, but honestly I could have spent another 5 hours there. If you’re intrigued at the physics of aviation, this museum does a fantastic job explaining the technology.
9. Sip Wine on the Shores of Lake Erie
Ohio has an actual wine region, which caught me off guard the first time someone mentioned it. The islands around Put in Bay and Kelleys Island have a handful of small, family run wineries thanks to the lake’s microclimate. Pair a tasting with the ferry ride out and you’ve got a full, laid back day that feels more like a coastal town than the Midwest.
10. Do the Water Slides and the Coasters at Kings Island
Cincinnati’s big amusement park is a little more family friendly than Cedar Point, with Peanuts themed areas for younger kids sitting right alongside intense rides like Orion and The Beast. The water park attached to it is one of the largest in the country. Honestly, plan for two days if you can.
11. Slow Down in Amish Country
Holmes County is home to the largest Amish population in the country, and spending a day here feels like stepping into an entirely different pace of life. Rolling farmland. Horse drawn buggies sharing the road. Bakeries and furniture shops run by the same families for generations. The food is hearty and homemade in a way that’s hard to find elsewhere.
12. Hike the Cleveland Metroparks
Locals call this system the “Emerald Necklace” as it surrounds the entire city with green space, waterfalls, and trails, plus a working farm and a small zoo. The Rocky River Reservation surprised me the most with how rugged it felt for being just minutes from downtown traffic.
13. Eat Your Way Through West Side Market
If you’re in Cleveland, do not skip this. West Side Market has been running since 1912 and it shows in the best way, packed with vendors selling everything from pierogis to fresh seafood to baked goods that make the whole building smell incredible. Go hungry. Go with cash. Just go.
14. Watch the Sunset from Put in Bay
This little island town on Lake Erie has a surprisingly festive, almost boardwalk energy in the summer. Golf cart rentals, ice cream shops, live music spilling out of bars near the water. Climb Perry’s Victory Monument for a view over the whole lake, then find a spot on the water to watch the sun go down.
15. Try a Cincinnati Chili
You cannot leave Ohio without trying Cincinnati chili, and locals will have very strong opinions about which chain does it best. It’s not quite what you’re picturing. Served over spaghetti, topped with a mountain of shredded cheese, it’s a strange combination on paper that somehow just works.
