Special churches and temples
Old Stone Church in Cleveland
The Old Stone Church in the city of Cleveland is a Presbyterian church building, which was built from 1853 to 1855 in the style of Neo-Romanesque. The Old Stone Church is the second church building in the city. The sandstone church has been on the list of Historic Places since 1973. Unfortunately, the Old Stone Church goes down a bit due to the tall buildings surrounding it.
| Contact | 91 Public Square Cleveland, Ohio 44113 |
St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland
The St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the city of Cleveland, more precisely in the Tremont district in western Cleveland, is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox churches in the USA. Today’s St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral is the third church building in the Russian Orthodox community of Cleveland. The church, built in the style of neo-Byzantine architecture, was completed in 1912. The roof structure of the church has a main onion tower as well as 4 middle and 8 smaller onion towers, which symbolize Jesus and the 12 apostles. The church has been on the list of Historic Places since 1974.
| Contact | 733 Starkweather Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113 |
Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral in the city of Cincinnati was built from 1841 to 1845 and is characterized by its “unusual” architectural style. The style of the church can be assigned to the Greek revival and thus the church is more reminiscent of a courthouse or even a state capitol. The pillars surrounding the entrance portal make the greatest contribution to this. The tower of the cathedral reaches a height of approx. 67 m and since 1973 the Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral has been on the list of Historci Places.
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| Contact | 325 West 8th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 |
Rosary Cathedral in Toledo
The Rosary Cathedral in the city of Toledo is a Roman Catholic cathedral from 1931. The architecture of the cathedral is based on the Spanish city of the same name, Toledo, and it is therefore not surprising that the Rosary Cathedral in Spanish Renaissance style, more precisely was built in the Plateresque style. The cathedral was built from 1925 to 1931. In addition to the exterior of the cathedral, the interior is also very impressive and definitely worth a visit.
| Contact | 2535 Collingwood Blvd. Toledo, Ohio 43610 |
Columbus Ohio Temple
The Columbus Ohio Temple in the city of Columbus is a temple belonging to the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Mormons). The temple, opened in 1999, is made entirely of white marble and shines very brightly when the sun shines. The Columbus Ohio Temple is the 60th Mormon Temple. In February 2013, there was a shootout in the temple parking lot with two injuries. As with all Mormon temples, it is important to remember that no details are given about the process of the sacred parts of the temple ritual outside the temple.
| Contact | 3870 Gateway Blvd Columbus, Ohio 4322 |
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple in the city of Kirtland, in northeastern Ohio, is a temple to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). The Kirtland Temple was built from 1833 to 1836 in a mix of early Victorian architecture, neoclassical and neo-Gothic styles. The Kirtland Temple is the oldest Mormon temple in Ohio. It has been on the Historic Places List since 1969 and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1977.
| Contact | 7809 Joseph Street Kirtland, Ohio 4409 |
Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati
The Isaac M. Wise Temple, also known as Plum Street Temple, is a historic synagogue from 1865, making it one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. The Isaac M. Wise Temple has been on the list of Historic Places since 1972.
| Contact | 720 Plum Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 |
Zoos, parks and amusement parks
Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky
The Cedar Point Amusement Park in the city of Sandusky in northwest Ohio, which calls itself the largest amusement park in the world, covers an area of approximately 1.5 km² on a (semi) island in Lake Erie. Cedar Point Amusement Park opened in 1870 and has over 3 million visitors annually. However, in the beginning the park was little more than a piece of beach with diving boards. The change to an amusement park in the “modern” sense took place from 1892 with the construction of the first roller coaster, the wooden roller coaster “Switchback Railway”. Today there are a total of 16 roller coasters in the Cedar Point Amusement Park. The roller coaster “Top Thrill Dragster” is the second highest and third fastest roller coaster in the world. The roller coaster “Magnum XL-200” is also very well known from 1989 which was the highest roller coaster in the world with a maximum height of 63 m at the time of its opening. In total, Cedar Point Amusement Park offers 72 ride attractions. However, Cedar Point Amusement Park is also historically interesting, as there are several historic buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the “Cedar Point Light” from 1839, on the grounds of the park.
| Contact | 1 Cedar Point Drive Sandusky, Ohio 44870 |
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in the city of Columbus is located in the northwest of the city, more precisely in the suburb Powell, and was opened in 1927. The zoo is one of the most popular in the entire Midwest. The zoo covers an area of approximately 2.35 km² on which over 9,000 animals from over 900 species live. The zoo is divided into the geographic regions of North America, Polar Frontier, Pachyderms, Asia Quest, Shores, African Forest and Voyage to Australia and the Islands. The Columbus Zoo is particularly known for the breeding of cheetahs and gorillas. Since 1956, when the first gorilla was ever born in a zoo, over 30 gorillas have been born here to date. The zoo’s highlights include bison, Asian elephants and grizzly bears, Lions, tigers, zebras, orangutans, rhinos, giraffes, polar bears, panda bears and hippos. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has over 2.5 million visitors annually. The area of the zoo also includes the Zoombezi Bay water amusement park and the Jungle Jack’s Landing amusement park.
| Contact | 4850 West Powell Road Powell, Ohio 43065 |
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in the city of Cleveland was founded in 1882, making it one of the oldest zoos in the United States. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo now covers an area of approximately 670,000 m². The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is particularly known for its Monkey Island, a concrete island on which a group of black and white colobus monkeys lives without cages and fences in an almost “wild” environment. Most of the primates in North America still live in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The zoo is biothematically divided into the areas RainForest, African Savanna, Northern Trek, Australian Adventure as well as the primate, cat and aqua houses. One of the most popular areas is the RainForest, a rainforest plant that extends over two floors in a huge greenhouse. Of course, visitors to the zoo will find the mandatory animals such as Grizzly bears, lions, tigers, zebras, orangutans, rhinos, giraffes, polar bears. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo attracts over 1.2 million visitors annually.
| Contact | 3900 Wildlife Way Cleveland, Ohio 44109 |
Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati
The Krohn Conservatory in the city of Cincinnati is located in Eden Park and is a beautiful greenhouse. The Krohn Conservatory was completed in 1933 and the plant collection includes more than 3,500 plant species. Here visitors will find plants from almost all parts of the world. The Krohn Conservatory is thematically divided into a bonsai garden, a desert garden, an orchid exhibition, a palm house and a tropical exhibition.
| Contact | 1501 Eden Park Dr ive Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 |
Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati
The Newport Aquarium in the city of Cincinnati, actually located in the city of Newport, which lies on the southern bank of the Ohio River and is therefore part of the state of Kentucky, is probably one of the best aquariums in the region. The Newport Aquarium, opened in 1999, offers its visitors a total of 70 exhibitions and 14 galleries. The Newport Aquarium offers a total of 5 acrylic tunnels with a total length of approx. 60 m.
The animals in the aquarium come from all over the world, but the fauna of the Ohio River is also taken into account. However, the Newport Aquarium is particularly famous for the many sharks, the largest “collection” of sharks worldwide.
| Contact | 1 Aquarium Way Newport, Kentucky 41071 |
Cleveland Botanical Garden
The Cleveland Botanical Garden in the city of Cleveland in the University Circle district has been the city’s botanical garden since 1930. Nowadays the botanical garden, which has grown steadily over the years, is located on the site of the old zoo. At the center of the botanical garden is the approximately 1,700 m² Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, a greenhouse that is divided into two biomes, Costa Rica and Madagascar. Around the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse there are another 40,000 m² which are divided into various gardens such as a Japanese garden.
| Contact | 11030 East Blvd Cleveland, Ohio 44106 |
Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus
The Franklin Park Conservatory in the city of Columbus is a botanical garden and a historic winter garden from 1895. Today, the Franklin Park Conservatory has over 400 different plant species. These come from areas like the Himalayas, deserts and tropical and subtropical rainforests. But there are also bonsai trees or a palm house with over 40 types of palm trees. In addition to the winter garden, there is another 360,000 m² of botanical garden, the center of which is the winter garden. The Franklin Park Conservatory has been on the list of Historic Places since 1974.
| Contact | 1777 E Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43203 |
Toledo Zoo
The Toledo Zoo in the city of Toledo is a zoo that was opened in 1900 and today houses approximately 4,800 animals from 700 species on an area of over 200,000 m². The Toledo Zoo was the first zoo in the world with a “hippoquarium”, an enclosure for hippos, which allows visitors to see them under water. The zoo is divided into thematic areas such as Africa or the Arctic and everything is offered from ffen to ebras.
| Contact | 2 Hippo Way Toledo, Ohio 43609 |
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in the city of Cincinnati was opened in 1875 and is the second oldest zoo in the United States after the Philadelphia Zoo. Today, the zoo covers an area of over 26,000 m² on which almost 1,900 animals from over 500 species live. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden was the first zoo in the world to successfully breed California sea lions. The zoo still runs many successful breeding programs today.
| Contact | 3400 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 |
Toledo Botanical Garden
The Toledo Botanical Garden in the city of Toledo is a more than 200,000 m² botanical garden. This is divided into several thematic gardens such as an herb or rose garden. In addition, larger events such as the Crosby Festival of the Arts take place annually in the Toledo Botanical Garden.
| Contact | 5403 Elmer Drive Toledo, Ohio 43615 |
Akron Zoo
The Akron Zoo in the city of Akron is a rather small zoo with approx. 200,000 m². Nevertheless, over 700 animals from more than 90 species live here. The Akron Zoo has a reputation for being one of the best zoos in the United States. The zoo is thematically divided into six areas in which animals from different parts of the world live. The zoo was opened in 1953 as Akron Children’s Zoo. With over a million visitors a year, the Akron Zoo is the most visited attraction in the region and anyone who is in Akron should not miss the zoo.
| Contact | 500 Edgewood Ave. Akron, Ohio 44313 |
Kings Island in Mason
The Kings Island amusement park is one of the world’s largest amusement parks and is located in the city of Mason in southwest Ohio. Kings Island was opened in 1972 and today the amusement park attracts more than 3 million visitors annually. The park’s most famous attraction was the wooden roller coaster “Son of Beast”.
This was the tallest and fastest of its kind and was renovated in 2006 after an accumulation of problems. The roller coaster was rebuilt, but was finally shut down in 2009. Another landmark of the park is a replica of the Eiffel Tower. In total there are 46 attractions in Kings Island, which covers an area of approximately 1.5 km², 13 of which are roller coasters and 3 water rides.
| Contact | 6300 Kings Island Drive Mason, Ohio 45040 |
Amish people
There are many people in the state of Ohio who can be attributed to the Amish community. In total there are approximately 72,000 in Ohio. Members of this denomination emigrated to the United States during the 18th century due to persecution. The emigrants mostly came from the southern German and Swiss German regions. Even today, the Amish speak among themselves a dialect that is called Pennsylvania German.
This is understandable for native German speakers and is similar to the Palatinate dialect.
The Amish live a life that is strongly oriented to the agricultural sector and rejects technical innovations. Such innovations are rarely adopted and after careful consideration. For example, the Amish ride in horse-drawn carriages instead of in cars.
Other examples from the Amish culture are the use of gas lamps instead of lamps with electric current and the simple clothing. However, bans vary from Amish group to Amish group.
If you are interested in Amish culture, you should visit the counties Holmes County, Wayne County, Tuscarawas County, Stark County and Geauga County in the northeast and east of Ohio, since most of the Amish live here. A drive through this area alone, for example via the Amish Country Byway, can seem like a journey through time if you meet the Amish with their horse-drawn carriages on the streets.
Road trips
Amish Country Byway
Amish Country, which is made up of Holmes County, Wayne County, Tuscarawas County, Stark County and Geauga County, is characterized by its gentle, green hilly landscape between Columbus and Cleveland. The holiday or panoramic road Amish Country Byway runs through this region.
The Amish Country Byway is a network of smaller country roads, which in addition to the gentle hilly landscape with its picturesque farms, also leads through dense forests. The other road users in their horse-drawn carriages make it very easy to travel back in time. There is also a lot to discover off the road, as many Amish welcome visitors and present their traditional handicrafts, such as cheese factories.
The Amish Country Byway has a total length of approx. 123 km and if you really want to experience something you should take two days instead of the route in about 4 hours driving time. The Amish Country Byway has had National Scenic Byway status since 2002.
Ohio & Erie Canalway
The vacation or panoramic road Ohio & Erie Canalway has a length of approx. 177 km and leads through northeastern Ohio from New Philadelphia to Cleveland on the banks of Lake Erie. Along the canal you can experience many current and historical living environments from before and after the canal was built.
It is therefore not surprising that numerous historic attractions can be found along the Ohio & Erie Canalway. There are also numerous ways to enjoy nature. The best example is probably the Cuyahoga National Park through which the northern section of the Ohio & Erie Canalways runs. It’s best to plan a few days for the Ohio & Erie Canalway, even if you can get there in up to 5 hours. The Ohio & Erie Canalway has had National Scenic Byway status since 2000.
Historic National Road
The Historic National Road is a very special holiday or panoramic road, as its status as a National Road suggests. The Historic National Road is historically the first federal-funded highway in the United States. Construction of the highway known back then, but still today, as Cumberland Road began in 1811. Cumberland Road was to connect the Potomac to the Ohio River. Cumberland Road thus became an important route during the western expansion of the United States. From 1830, construction sections were macadamized, making Cumberland Road the first street in the United States to be built using the macadam method. The Cumberland Road thus ran from Cumberland (Maryland) to Vandalia (Illinois) over a length of approx. 1,000 km. Today, the Historic National Road is 1,326 km long and runs through the 6 states of Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Along the way there are numerous historical interesting sights such as the historic bridges, customs houses or milestones as well as numerous buildings that are on the list of historic places. Along the Historic National Road are the statues of the Madonna of the Trail. The Historic National Road has been a National Scenic Byway since 2002.
Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail
The vacation or panorama road Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail runs for about 472 km through the north of Ohio or rather along the coast of Lake Erie. The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail is therefore an optimal route for all those who want to experience the sights of this region. In addition to historical attractions relating to the liberation of the former slaves and the war of 1812, there are numerous natural beauties such as marshlands, prairies, rivers and waterfalls, not to mention the picturesque islands in Lake Erie. The journey time of the route is up to 8 hours, but of course you need 3 or 4 days to really experience something. The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail has been a National Scenic Byway since 2005.
Ohio River Scenic Route
The Ohio River Scenic Route runs for approximately 1,518 km through the US states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois along the banks of the Ohio River. The Ohio River Scenic Route overlooks the river almost the entire route, but that’s not all.
The Ohio River Scenic Route in Ohio, for example, passes the Wayne National Forest, prehistoric, Indian cult sites and several state parks. In Indiana, the Ohio River Scenic Route runs through the Hoosier National Forest, past the historic Angel Mounds site, and in Illinois through the Shawnee National Forest.
Of course, the Ohio River Scenic Route offers many more attractions than could be shown here. The pure travel time of the route is up to two and a half days, but of course you need about 8 days to really experience something. The Ohio River Scenic Route has been a National Scenic Byway since 1998.
National parks
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in northeast Ohio near the major cities of Akron and Cleveland in the foothills of the Allegheney Mountains. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park was established in 2000 and covers an area of approximately 134 km². The area has been a National Recreation Area since 1974. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park has numerous attractions but is mainly used by hikers and cyclists and the landscape of the national park is characterized by rugged terrain with many river valleys and steep, sloping forested mountain regions.
The park has over 70 waterfalls, the most famous of which are the Brandywine Falls, hilly landscapes, gorges, cliffs, caves and rivers such as the Cuyahoga River that runs through the park. There are also historic farms from the 19th and 20th centuries in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, such as Stanford House.
A special hiking trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail with a length of approx. 31 km. However, there are many other ways that differ greatly in their length. For example, the Ledges Trail, which leads to the Ledges Overlook, a cliff with an excellent view, is only approx. 182 m long. On the other hand, the Buckeye Trail, which is also highly recommended, is about 8 km long. There are approximately 200 km of hiking trails in total in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad also runs through the park. The route has a length of approx. 81 km and dates from 1880. The route runs from Rockside Station to Canton, including via the city of Akron.
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park attracts over 3 million visitors annually.
Nature reserves
Wayne National Forest
Located in southeast Ohio on the Allegheny Plateau, the Wayne National Forest is the only national forest in the state. The Wayne National Forest covers a total area of approx. 972 km², however it should be noted that this is not a coherent area, but the Wayne National Forest is composed of three separate parts. The Wayne National Forest has existed since 1992 and much of today’s national forest is former coal mines.
Today there are more than 480 km of hiking trails in the Wayne National Forest. The area is mostly overgrown with cedars and pines and hikers with a lot of luck can see lynxes, eagles, falcons and turkeys here. If you believe some “Bigfoot researchers” a large group of Bigfoots should live in the Wayne National Forest. If you are very lucky, you may also see them.
The areas are great for hiking, so it’s no surprise that the North Country Trail, Buckeye Trail, and American Discovery Trail run through the Wayne National Forest.
There are over 480 km of hiking trails in the Wayne National Forest. The Covered Bridge Scenic Byway continues through the national forest.
Pike State Forest
The Pike State Forest, in the south of Ohio near the city of Chillicothe, covers an area of approximately 49 km² and its history goes back to 1924. At this point, land was started to be bought to protect damaged forest areas. Nowadays the reserve is very popular and offers good recreational opportunities for anglers and hikers. There are approximately 53 km of hiking trails in the Pike State Forest.
Zaleski State Forest
The Zaleski State Forest, in southeast Ohio near the city of Columbus, covers an area of approximately 110 km², making it the second largest state forest in Ohio. Although the Zaleski State Forest is a protected area, there are areas that are cleared for deforestation.
In the Zaleski State Forest there is an approx. 40 km long, very interesting hiking trail.
The Zaleski State Forest surrounds Lake Hope State Park.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is located in northern Ohio near the small town of Port Clinton on the shores of Lake Erie. The conservation area was established in 1961 and today it covers an area of approx. 27 km² and protects the last remaining part of the former swamp area “Great Black Swamp”. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge serves as a resting place for migratory birds and thus offers excellent opportunities for bird watching.
Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve
The Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve is a nature reserve in western Ohio that protects a swamp landscape that formed after the ice masses of the last ice age retreated approximately 12,000 to 18,000 years ago. The Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve covers an area of approximately 18,000 m² and was established in 1942. Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve is the first state-owned conservation area in Ohio. In 1967, the area was also raised to the National Natural Landmark due to its special importance.
Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge
The Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge is a nature reserve in northwestern Ohio near the city of Toledo, which protects a swamp landscape with associated lakes over an area of approximately 10 km².
The Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge is the largest contiguous swamp area on Lake Erie.
Hiking and biking trails
North Country National Scenic Trail
The North Country Trail is a long distance hiking trail approximately 7,400 km in the northern part of the United States. This makes the North Country Trail the longest of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States. The North Country Trail was inaugurated in 1980 and to date around 3,400 have been certified as a paved and managed hiking trail. The North Country Trail runs from the small town of Crown Point in northeastern New York to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota. On this course, the North Country Trail passes a total of 7 states.
From east to west, these are: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. When the trail begins in northeastern New York, it initially runs westward, then crosses northwest Pennsylvania. In Ohio, he joins the Buckeye Trail and makes a circular motion that swings him north-west in Ohio. In Michigan, the trail also runs from south to north until after crossing the “Straits of Mackinac” (Mackinac Strait, connects Michigan and Lake Huron) it turns west again, along the southern coast of Lake Superior (Upper Lake) respectively. After crossing Northern Wisconsin, the North Country Trail divides into two sections.
One runs north along the coast of Lake Superior and represents a huge “detour”. The other part basically continues west and both reunite northeast of Minnesota. Finally, the trail runs through North Dakota where it ends in the central part of the state. On this trip, 10 National Forests (Finger Lakes, Allegheny, Wayne, Manistee, Hiawatha, Ottawa, Chequamegon, Superior, Chippewa and Sheyenne National Grassland) are hiked.
Other highlights include the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Wisconsin’s St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, New York’s Fort Stanwix National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Tamarac Wildlife Refugee, Audubon Wildlife Refugee. In total, the North Country Trail runs through 57 state parks and 47 state forests.
So the trail should offer something for everyone who has enough time. A connection between North Country Trail and Appalachian Trail in Vermont is currently underway.
Buckeye Trail
The Buckeye Trail is a long distance hiking trail with a length of approx. 2,324 km that runs more or less circularly through Ohio. If you tackle the Buckeye Trail completely or partially, you can be sure to get to know the most beautiful corners of Ohio. For example, the long distance trail runs through Hocking Hills State Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The northern section of the Buckeye Trail is congruent with the North Country Trail and parts of the southern section are congruent with the American Discovery Trail. The signs that serve as a guide for the hiker are blue.
Little Miami Scenic Trail
The Little Miami Scenic Trail is a special hiking trail with a length of approx. 126 km.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail can be assigned to the “Vías Verdes” category (bike and / or hiking trails on a former railway line). The Little Miami Scenic Trail runs in southern Ohio, between the towns of Springfield and Newtown.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail is most suitable for cyclists because it is paved along its entire length.
Other natural beauties
Hocking Hills State Park near Logan
The Hocking Hills State Park in southern Ohio near the small town of Ohio was established in 1924 and is mainly characterized by rock formations. Visitors will find caves like the Old Man’s Cave or the Ash Cave complex, cliffs, gorges and waterfalls. Over time, the water has created numerous rock formations here that visitors like to use as bathing facilities.
