10 Best Places for Children in Ohio

https://content.nomadsoup.com/uploads/thumbnail_img_7080_f8999ebe19.jpg
Sviat Oleksiv
April 2, 2022

Ohio is a fun tourist destination with a variety of activities to do and places to visit around the state.

Ohio offers everything from interesting museums and art galleries to historical attractions, zoos, amusement parks, marketplaces, and outdoor activities. Explore with your children the attractions that teach a little something about the state's history, natural beauty, significant Ohio individuals, and some of the most distinctive museums in the US. There are a lot of places for the whole family. Let's explore the best places for children in Ohio.

1. Cedar Point

Cedar Point Amusement Park is located in Sandusky - a city between Toledo and Cleveland. Cedar Point is the world's fastest and tallest roller coaster. Families will have a great time visiting the Roller Coaster Capital of the World, which has roller coasters, thrill rides, and kid-friendly rides.

Sports fans will enjoy Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point. This sports complex, which was just built at Cedar Point, is a recreational development that holds sports events and provides families with additional activities such as mini-golf, a trampoline play structure, and a rope course.

2. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum honors persons who have made significant contributions to rock music's history and cultural importance. This downtown Cleveland museum, which opened in 1995, is one of the most intriguing sites in Ohio.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a must-see for music fans. There is modern architecture. As you go around this museum, you'll come across a multitude of rock-and-roll memorabilia, including interactive displays, costumes, and one-of-a-kind instruments.

3. National Museum of the US Air Force

This museum was opened in 1923. It is a must-see for anybody visiting Dayton. The National Museum of the United States Air Force houses a highly amazing collection of aircraft, including hundreds of missiles and airplanes for tourists to admire. There are more than 350 missiles and aircraft.

In addition to the amazing displays and artifacts, the museum offers a variety of other activities for visitors to discover and enjoy, such as flight simulators and the Air Force Museum Theater.

There are many galleries where you may see the exhibits, including the WWII Gallery and the Cold War Gallery.

On each month's first and third Fridays, the museum offers a free behind-the-scenes tour. The tour is available from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Space STEAM Learning Node.

4. The Ohio State Reformatory

Ohio State Reformatory is located in Mansfield and is available to the public all year. A former Civil War army training camp that has been converted into the Ohio State Reformatory is a must-see sight in Ohio. Between 1910 and 1990, the Ohio State Reformatory was a functioning jail that closed its doors for good. The institution rose to prominence when it appeared in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption.

Depending on the time of year, it provides tourists with various experiences. During the majority of the year, it serves as a window into the prison's past. Offering guided tours of the prison, the institution's pop-cultural relevance, and excursions conducted by former prisoners. Halloween is a special time to visit the jail since it is transformed into a haunted home or utilized for ghost tours. It's a popular venue for community gatherings and festivals.

5. Ohio Caverns - Open All Year

West Liberty is home to the caves, which have long been considered a spot "where nature sculpted a fairyland."

According to the book "Ohio Caverns, Ohio's Outstanding Natural Wonder," the caves were found by accident in 1897 by 17-year-old Robert Noffsinger. Curious about a sinkhole and how swiftly rain drained into it, the youngster proceeded to dig and discovered a crack in the limestone bedrock. He was the caves' first visitor.

Tours take visitors into two sections of the cavern. The Historic Tour starts at the discovery location and encompasses the region that was first investigated between 1897 and 1925. The Natural Wonder Tour takes visitors on a mile-long stroll across areas discovered after 1925. It has The Crystal King, Ohio's tallest stalactite, and many other amazing formations and hues.

6. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a 234-acre zoological park. This zoological park is ideal for families and animal enthusiasts. This zoo, which contains over 10,000 species, features appealing displays such as the Congo Expedition, Heart of Africa, and Asia Quest.

Spend the day touring six different places and learning about the local animals in each. The following are just a handful of the attractions of the Columbus Zoo.

Polar Frontier is a viewing platform for aquatic life at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Visitors may stand in a glass enclosure and stare up at the polar bears as they play in the water.

Heart of Africa, the zoo's biggest zone, launched in 2014 and offers hands-on activities like camel rides, giraffe feedings, and cheetah runs.

The zoo's newest zone introduces you to wildlife from various species. Sea lions and seals take center stage with a 360-degree viewing experience inspired by the Pacific Northwest.

7. Hocking Hills State Park

Hocking Hills State Park is a beautiful spot. It is located in southeastern Ohio and is one of the state's most scenic locations, with spectacular caverns and breathtaking waterfalls.

There are hiking paths, caverns, camping areas, and cottages in the region. Hocking Hills is also one of the perfect destinations for a weekend escape, especially in the fall when the leaves in the wooded regions change to bright hues. Other local outdoor adventure choices include kayaking, ziplining, and rock climbing.

The most well-known of the caves are Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave, both of which may be visited. They are wheelchair-accessible

8. Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a wide expanse of natural beauty located between Akron and Cleveland. During the summer, this national park has plenty of hiking, bicycling, fishing, and kayaking options and entertaining kid-friendly activities like junior ranger programs and seasonal train trips. The park's major feature is the magnificent Cuyahoga River, only a short drive outside Cleveland.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has multiple stations, and spending a day on the train is a great opportunity to see a lot quickly. Hiking routes flowing around the park provide visitors with the finest opportunity to observe animals while going up to some of the park's primary areas of interest, such as Brandywine Falls, the park's largest waterfall.

In addition, during the cooler months, Cuyahoga Valley transforms into a winter paradise, attracting winter sports enthusiasts who want to spend their holiday snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or sledding.

9. Chagrin Falls Waterfall

Chagrin Falls is a lovely, easily accessible site in the Cleveland metro region if you don't want to leave the city to see natural beauty. Chagrin Falls is well-known for its country-meets-city vibe and its abundance of things to do.

The falls are incredibly easy to locate — right below Chagrin Falls' Main Street bridge! Take in the view from the bridge, or venture down to the lower-level boardwalks to look at these stunning falls.

Following a visit to the falls, the town has a number of modest stores, including a great ice cream shop right close to the river.

10. The Cedar Falls Hiking Trail

The Cedar Falls Hiking Trail is located deep within the Hocking Hills National Park.

The main Cedar Falls route is only 0.4 miles each way. It's is ideal for a short stroll. The half-mile walk is bordered by towering hemlock, sheer rocky walls, grottos, and waterfalls, and it culminates with Cedar Falls, the park's biggest waterfall (50 feet). To get to Cedar Falls Trail, park in the lower parking lot and walk down the Lower Gorge of Old Man's Cave to Queer Creek.

The Grandma Gatewood Trail extends off roughly two miles on either way to Ash Cave and Old Man's Cave for those seeking a day trip walk.