Sights in Ohio
-
A
Cincinnati Museum Center
Two miles northwest of downtown, the Cincinnati Museum Center occupies the 1933 Union Terminal, an art-deco jewel still used by Amtrak. The interior has fantastic murals made of Rookwood tiles. The Museum of Natural History (adult/child three to 12 years $8/6) is mostly geared to kids, but it does have a limestone cave with real bats inside. A history museum, Omnimax theater and children's museum round out the offerings. Discounted combination tickets are available. Parking costs $5.
reviewed
-
B
Carew Tower
- Cincinnati, USA
- Sights › Tower
Get a bird's eye view from the world's tallest standing pre-WWII tower. The 49th-floor observation deck has a fine art deco interior and affords magnificent views. You can look across the Ohio river to Kentucky or gaze down on Cincinnati's architecture.
reviewed
-
C
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, aka the 'Sexiest Zoo in America,' has the country's highest rate for successful breeding. It's famous for its gorillas, white lions and rhinos, and is located 3 miles north of downtown. Parking is around US$7.
The city zoo is internationally known for its collection of endangered species, though it has the dubious distinction of having been the last place a passenger pigeon or Carolina parakeet ever drew breath. The zoo's gorillas and white tigers have been making up for the sad past by producing a record number of babies in captivity.
reviewed
-
D
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum is more than a collection of memorabilia, though it does have Jimi Hendrix' Stratocaster, Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche and Ray Charles' sunglasses. Interactive multimedia exhibits trace the history and social context of rock music and the performers who created it. Why is the museum in Cleveland? Because this is the hometown of Alan Freed, the disk jockey who popularized the term 'rock 'n' roll' in the early 1950s, and because the city lobbied hard and paid big. Be prepared for crowds.
reviewed
-
National Museum of the US Air Force
The huge National Museum of the US Air Force is at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 6 miles northeast of Dayton. It's got everything from a Wright Brothers exhibit and Sopwith Camel (WWI biplane) to a Stealth bomber. Don't miss the annex with its collection of presidential planes; a free shuttle bus takes you over to the hangar (which you'll need a passport or driver's license to enter). Expect your visit to take three or more hours.
reviewed
-
Clyde Museum
Still further west, on US 20 and surrounded by farmland, is Clyde, which bills itself as the USA's most famous small town. It got that way when native son Sherwood Anderson published Winesburg, Ohio in 1919. It didn't take long for the unimpressed residents to figure out where the fictitious town really was. Stop at the Clyde Museum in the old church for Anderson tidbits or at the library, a few doors down.
reviewed
-
Museum
West of Cleveland, attractive Oberlin is an old-fashioned college town, with noteworthy architecture by Cass Gilbert, Frank Lloyd Wright and Robert Venturi. Further west, just south of I-90, the tiny town of Milan is the birthplace of Thomas Edison. His home, restored to its 1847 likeness, is now a small museum outlining his inventions, like the light bulb and phonograph.
reviewed
-
Hocking Hills State Park
Around Lancaster, southeast of Columbus, the hills lead gently into Hocking County, a region of streams and waterfalls, sandstone cliffs and cavelike formations. It's splendid to explore in any season, with miles of trails for hiking and rivers for canoeing, as well as abundant campgrounds and cabins at Hocking Hills State Park.
reviewed
-
COSI Columbus
COSI Columbus has been a popular science and industry museum for forty years. Exhibits range across subjects as space, the ocean and gadgets and provide plenty of scope for people of all types to find something to like. Children are well catered for by the numerous opportunities to get wet, build stuff or press a button while wandering about.
reviewed
-
HealthSpace Cleveland
While it's geared mostly to kids, HealthSpace Cleveland exhibits appeal to adults, too, especially the 'stress yard' and 'deli wagon' (showing how fast-food ramps up fat and sugar intake). Sneezes, by the way, can reach 100mph, and right-handed people live nine years longer on average than left-handed folks.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
The area south of Columbus was a center for the fascinating prehistoric Hopewell people, who left behind huge geometric earthworks and burial mounds from around 200 BC to AD 600. For a fine introduction visit the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 3 miles north of Chillicothe.
reviewed
-
E
Great Lakes Science Center
The Great Lakes Science Center gives a good account of the lakes' environmental problems. It's affiliated with the William G Mather maritime museum, which was a freighter but is now a steamship museum. Also berthed nearby on the waterfront is the storied submarine USS Cod, which saw action in WWII.
reviewed
-
F
Cleveland Museum of Art
The star of the lot is the Cleveland Museum of Art, which houses an excellent collection of European paintings, as well as African, Asian and American art. It's undergoing a whopping expansion, to be completed in 2012, that will increase gallery space by more than 40%.
reviewed
-
G
Newport Aquarium
Newport is to the east and known for its massive Newport on the Levee restaurant and shopping complex. The development also contains the well-regarded Newport Aquarium, where you can meet Sweet Pea the shark ray, parading penguins and more.
reviewed
-
H
Cleveland Botanical Garden
The lovely Cleveland Botanical Garden has a Costa Rican cloud forest and Madagascan desert exhibits. An ice- skating rink opens nearby in winter; skate rentals cost $3. Parking costs $5 to $10 per day and gives access to all the museums here.
reviewed
-
Lehman's Store
Lehman's Store is an absolute must-see. It's the Amish community's main purveyor of modern-looking products that use no electricity. Ogle the wind-up flashlights and nonelectric waffle irons, and then take a pie break at the café inside.
reviewed
-
Ohio Historical Center
The Ohio Historical Center has been changed from a fusty relic house to an interactive museum. For those planning to tour the Hopewell Indian sites, a visit is invaluable. After your serious research, you can join the kids and dress up in period costume.
reviewed
-
I
Krohn Conservatory
The Krohn Conservatory is a vast greenhouse with a rainforest, desert flora and glorious seasonal flower shows. Most visitors just ascend the hill for a look around, a drink and a pause to enjoy the view from the hilltop Catholic church.
reviewed
-
Christmas Story House & Museum
Remember the beloved 1983 film A Christmas Story, in which Ralphie yearns for a Red Ryder BB gun? The original Christmas Story House & Museum sits in Tremont, complete with leg lamp. This attraction's for true fans only.
reviewed
-
J
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center exhibits on how slaves escaped to the north; Cincinnati was a prominent stop on the railroad and a center for abolitionist activities led by residents, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts
The Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts displays modern art in an avant-garde building designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. The structure and its artworks are a pretty big deal for traditionalist Cincy.
reviewed
-
L
Procter & Gamble World Headquarters
- Cincinnati, USA
- Sights › Tower
East of Fountain Square is the postmodern Procter & Gamble world headquarters, often called the 'Dolly Parton Towers' due to its resemblance to the country singer's most prominent features.
reviewed
-
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, which includes Wright Cycle Company Complex, is where the brothers developed bikes and aviation ideas.
reviewed
-
Carillon Historical Park
There are numerous Wright attractions. Among them, Carillon Historical Park has the 1905 Wright Flyer III biplane and a replica of the Wright workshop.
reviewed
-
Yoder's
Just north of Walnut Creek, along Hwy 515, Yoder's is an Amish farm that's open to visitors. Tours (adult/child $11/7) include a buggy ride.
reviewed
