Ohio

The Buckeye State offers a mix of city and country, historic riverfront communities and lakefront towns. Head to Columbus for Ohio State University football and the capital city’s wealth of art, food and drink, and world-class museums. Cleveland is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, while Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood offers historic architecture and a wealth of food-and-drink destinations. Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park just north of Akron or explore the gorges and waterfalls of the Hocking Hills region in southeastern Ohio.

Barbecue dish with sauces and beer at Mabel's BBQ in Cleveland, Ohio (photo by Dustin Johnson)

James Beard Award winner Michael Symon features signature flavors of his hometown in the offerings at this downtown Cleveland, Ohio, favorite. 

People going down waterslide at Zoombezi Bay in Powell, Ohio (photo courtesy of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)

Located next to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, this waterpark in Powell, Ohio, is a summer destination for kids of all ages who love waterslides. 

Two women in robes at the Inn and Spa at Walden in Aurora, Ohio (photo courtesy of Inn and Spa at Walden)

Lounge within one of the six styles of suites, including the 1,250-square-foot loft suite, or head to the spa for a variety of treatments at this luxurious Aurora, Ohio, getaway spot.

Life-size figures on bench at Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio (photo courtesy of Cambridge/Guernsey County CVB)

More than 90 scenes featuring 180 life-size figures in vintage attire are set up at each lamppost and bench along Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio

Troll wearing “I Love Ohio” shirt at The Troll Hole Museum in Alliance, Ohio (photo by Jim Vickers)

This fun museum in Alliance, Ohio, embraces the nostalgia of the pop culture phenomenon and delves into the Scandinavian lore surrounding trolls. 

Boats docked on Middle Bass Island in Ohio (photo by Laura Watilo Blake)

The Lake Erie Islands of Ohio are a popular destination in the summer, especially this quiet haven just north of South Bass Island. 

Beachgoers at East Harbor State Park in Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio (photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources)

Enjoy Lake Erie's northwestern shore in Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio, on a beach packed with summer fun for the whole family. 

Casa Nueva in Athens, Ohio (photo by Stephanie Park)

Visit this Athens, Ohio, spot for Mexican-inspired cuisine with an ingredient list that draws from farmers and purveyors throughout the region.

Hall of Fame Gallery at Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (photo courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame)

The Canton, Ohio, favorite celebrates the story of the NFL, mixing a deep history of its first century with fun and interactive exhibits that highlight the game’s advances and innovations.

Family skiing at Mad River Mountain in Zanesfield, Ohio (photo courtesy of Vail Resorts)

As Ohio’s largest ski area, this Zanesfield, Ohio, destination spans 144 acres of skiable terrain, including 20 trails, a tubing park, 11 lifts and 300 feet of vertical drop.