U.S TRAVEL GUIDE
Ohio — A State People Love to Hate. A Guide to a Wonderful Weekend in Ohio
Here are four awesome places to check out!
Two weeks ago, a friend messaged me a meme over Instagram. Text rested on top of a photograph which I presume was a major city in Ohio. The meme read:
THINGS TO DO IN OHIO: 1. LEAVE!
Yes, it made me laugh, but I relayed to my friend how much I enjoyed my visit there when I went in June 2021.
Earlier that month, I set an ambitious goal for myself: visit all 50 states in the U.S within one year. The counter was set to zero. I wanted the first state to be in close proximity. To kick off the journey, I selected the ‘Buckeye State’ — Ohio.
I live in Michigan, the state north of Ohio. Ohio is a state that people love to hate. My fellow Michiganders harbor this sentiment in earnest. The rivalry between the two states may have stemmed from the Toledo War. In 1836, Ohio and Michigan disputed ownership of the city of Toledo. Albeit the conflict shedding little blood, Ohio won. Ohioans joke that the U.S Congress took pity on Michigan and gave them the Upper Peninsula as a consolation prize.
With some exceptions, I spend no longer than three days per state. My trip to Ohio spanned a weekend. I was accompanied by two friends for this trip. From our residence in metro Detroit, we reached our first destination by car in under two hours.
During your weekend in Ohio, be sure to visit…
Cedar Point Theme Park
The first locale we visited was Cedar Point Theme Park, which is located in Sandusky.
In 2020, a poll from USA Today ranked Cedar Point as being the second best amusement park in the nation. Quite an accolade! The park is a steel oasis containing some of the world’s fastest and tallest rollercoasters.
Impatient? Get the Fast Pass. You’ll still wait — but you’ll wait less. A good strategy to cut wait time is to start at the back of the park and work your way forward.
My personal favorites: Millennium Force, The Raptor, and Valravn. There is one ride I refuse to go on because I’m too scared: the Slingshot! You sit down arched at a 45 degree angle and then are launched 360 feet into the air! Scary!! I have a fear of heights as it is.
If you’re not a fan of high-adrenaline rides, no problem. There are plenty of merry-go-rounds, bumper car rides, gentle spinners, and carnival-style games to keep you entertained. Fun for the whole family!
Cleveland is a great city with plenty to do! Here are three places in Cleveland we enjoyed:
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Months after I returned from my trip, I told some members of my family about this museum. Since then, they’ve gone twice — and they aren’t frequent patrons of museums!
Travelers on a tight budget, rejoice! The museum is free to enter!
The museum features hundreds of art pieces belonging to Vincent Van Gogh.
What else? African art. European Renaissance art. Korean art. Contemporary art. Currently, the museum’s 20+ collection areas span millennia and the entire globe. You’ll find numerous exhibitions as well.
This was my favorite spot in Cleveland!
Hungry? You should eat at a place you can only find in Ohio! Therefore, go to…
Swenson’s
Swensons is an Ohio-only fast food restaurant that’s been around since 1934. Its locations reside in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Canton, and Greater Akron. The restaurant has a “drive-in” ordering system. Once you park your car, a bubbly employee comes out to your car to take your order. I had their iconic “galley boy” and a sloppy joe. Both were delicious!
After you finished your meal, make your way to…
Downtown Cleveland
One of downtown’s most famous attractions is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Throughout the city, you will find a bunch of amp-shaped sculptures in different colors.
Cleveland has a lively and vibrant downtown! Sports fans can catch a Cavaliers game at Q Arena or an Indians game at Progressive Field. Or both — if you’re an avid sports fan (I’m not). Like many downtowns, you’ll find boutiques, bistros, bars, theaters, clothing & apparel stores, snazzy hotels, nightclubs, skyscrapers, public art, and more! The sections of downtown with the most foot traffic are the Gateway District, East 4th Street, and the Civic Center District.
Conclusion
On my blog, I give each state an “experience” rating ranging from one to five stars. Ohio received four stars from me. It’s a state I want to visit again! If you are interested in reading an in-depth review (with more pictures!) of my time in Ohio, please check out the article here!
Now that you are inspired to go to Sandusky and/or Cleveland for the weekend, let me know how it goes!
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