18 Best Places to Visit in Ohio

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

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.

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.

Put-in-Bay is one of Ohio's most frequented Lake Erie islands. It is a popular recreational and summer vacation destination located less than 23 miles northwest of Sandusky and accessible via the Jet Express boat.

There are stunning sea vistas, ancient attractions, and perfect entertainment, so you may have an unforgettable island retreat.

Visitors to Put-in-Bay can board Island Transportation's Tour Train to obtain a birds-eye perspective of the island. Don't miss a tour of must-see destinations like Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial and the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center.

Driving your own car is not recommended on this island. There is minimal parking. Rent one of their golf carts to tour the area in a fun and economical way.

Perry's Cave Family Fun Center, which includes a butterfly house, a miniature golf course, a rock-climbing wall, and a gigantic maze, is also recommended for families vacationing with children.

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.

Headlands Beach is Ohio's longest natural beach and has previously been named the greatest beach in the state.

Headlands Beach, in addition to giving excellent sunbathing and swimming options, also provides unique beach glass searching and spectacular Lake Erie sunset views. While in the region, take advantage of the various hiking paths that provide breathtaking views of your surroundings.

The interplay of the lake, wind, and sand generates the unusual lakeside sand dune ecosystem, which supports rare and distinctive flora and contributes to the park's reputation as one of Ohio's finest birding destinations. Nesting bald eagles, red foxes, and the stunning monarch butterfly migration are among the other wildlife watching options.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The iconic Roebling Suspension Bridge is one of Cincinnati's most prominent structures. It was opened in 1867 and had the world's longest span of 1057 feet. The engineer responsible for designing this famous element was John A. Roebling, whose next project was the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is named for its architect, John A. Roebling, and it still transports hundreds of cars every day.

The bridge connects Cincinnati, Ohio, with Covington, Kentucky. You may stroll across the ancient bridge to see both cities and contemplate the expertise and daring of the men who built it. RoeblingFest held each June only feet from the bridge in Covington, Kentucky, commemorates this local gem.

Mill Creek Park is located on the outskirts of Youngstown. It is one of the hidden Ohio treasures. Visitors to the park may enjoy tennis, golf (there are two 18-hole courses), fishing, boating, picnicking, and other activities.

Lanterman's Falls, a stunning 15-foot cascade fed by Mill Creek, is overlooked by a historic grist mill. The restored waterwheel and covered bridge at the mill create a historic and one-of-a-kind experience. There are also various trails surrounding the falls and the stream that will take you to different viewpoints of the falls for even better shots. The viewpoint is a short walk from a parking area on Mill Creek's north bank.

Hiking aficionados may enjoy 15 miles of footpaths, while cyclists, skateboarders, and hikers can utilize the Metro Parks Bikeway, an 11-mile paved track.

Paine Falls Park is located near the city of Painesville and Lake Erie. It is home to a spectacular Ohio waterfall. The park is about five miles from town and has a small park and facilities for picnicking, barbecuing, and hiking around the gorge.

Paine Falls is an excellent place to stop on a road trip (especially between Buffalo, New York, and Cleveland). Just before the bridge, the falls are half a mile off Paine Road. It is named after Colonel Hendrick Paine (the nephew of Painesville's founder, Edward Paine), who moved into this little valley in 1818 and explored it.

Spend some time on the route surrounding the falls, but keep on the path since the rocks around the falls are quite treacherous.

Hayden Falls Park is located south of Dublin and north of Columbus. It is a tranquil oasis in the midst of Central Ohio's bustling metropolis. The two acres around Hayden Falls provide a tranquil setting for a workday lunch or weekend picnic.

Hayden Falls is easily Central Ohio's most well-known waterfall. A stairwell may reach it from a parking lot off Hayden Run Road. A promenade at the base of the falls provides breathtaking views of the cascade. The waterfall has a 35-foot plunge into a clean lake below and is particularly impressive when heavy rains fall in the region.

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.

In the middle of the 4,500-acre Mohican Memorial State Forest, Mohican State Park is a stunningly lovely portion of northeastern Ohio. It is home to some of Ohio's most distinctive natural beauties, such as a massive hemlock forest, stunning river vistas, and two of Ohio's most magnificent waterfalls, Big Lyons and Little Lyons. A two-mile circle trip along the 300-foot-deep Clear Fork Gorge leads hikers to these foggy falls.

Big Lyons falls 80 feet into the gorge, and you may explore the cave below the falls. Little Lyons is a little shorter, but it's just as stunning (especially from above). The falls are most magnificent after heavy rain when the pouring waters are much more impressive.

Visitors may also canoe, kayak, and tube down the Clear Fork River, which is stocked with brown trout for fishing.

Marblehead Lighthouse is one of Lake Erie's most well-known and photographed sights. It is located on the Marblehead Peninsular, which is a rocky promontory that juts out into Lake Erie. It is the Great Lakes' oldest continuously operating lighthouse. Since its inception in 1822, the lighthouse has been continuously operational.

During the summer, visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for amazing lake views. History aficionados will like the replica lifesaving station and the souvenir store. There are additional picnic sites and facilities in the vicinity.

East Harbor State Park offers a plethora of outdoor leisure activities. In Ohio's biggest state park campsite, boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking are popular activities. At the same time, nature lovers will appreciate the variety of ducks, shorebirds, and other animals found in the park's wetlands.