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.

Rock Hall & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio (photo by Lacey Criswell)

Listen to tunes, see wardrobe and guitars from the greats and commune with the all-time greats in Cleveland, Ohio

The Mohicans Treehouses in Glenmont, Ohio (photo courtesy of destination)

Eight treehouses — two designed by Pete Nelson of Discovery Channel’s “Treehouse Masters” —offer a natural, upscale getaway in Glenmont, Ohio.

Bent Ladder Cider and Wine in Doylestown, Ohio (photo courtesy of destination)

This Doylestown, Ohio, cidery grows a variety of heirloom apples at its neighboring orchard and crafts a tasty variety of hard ciders.  

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (photo by Michelle Peters)

This Peninsula, Ohio, excursion train travels through the heart of the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Boston Mill Visitor Center at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (photo by Rachael Jirousek)

Start your visit to Ohio’s only national park with a stop at this visitor center in Peninsula, Ohio that will help you prepare for adventure and learn about the history of the area. 

From the place where Harland Sanders perfected his fried chicken to an examination of West Virginia’s famous cryptid, these unusual museums offer a perfect pit stop.

From a small community where every day feels like Christmas to a light installation that has wowed families  since 1985, here are six spots that are sure to make spirits bright.