From the buzz of the cities to the relative hush and calm of Amish Country, Ohio is a place of genuine contrasts. The rollercoasters are high-octane, the many dairy farms are the heart of the state’s farming community, while the museums and zoos are world-class.
City living
Cleveland has really come a long way in the last few years, cleaning up its once foul river, regenerating its neighbourhoods and becoming a great place to visit in the process. It sits close to Erie, one of the Great Lakes, but there’s still plenty to see and do within city limits. Chief among them is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which combines a museum of essential memorabilia with interactive displays that bring music to life. The guitar gallery has axes that belonged to Muddy Waters and Bobby Womack, while there are original items from Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and dozens more.
On the other edge of the state, Cincinnati lives on the edge of the Ohio River. Home to the Bengals American Football franchise, it turns out to be a superb city for tourists, with distinct neighbourhoods and handsome bridges spanning the river. The best of these is the Roebling Suspension Bridge, built by the same man who designed New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.
There’s a rich choice of museums, with actual bats in residence at the Museum of Natural History and masterpieces by Titian, Hogarth, Rubens and Van Gogh at Cincinnati Art Museum. For a blast of vintage neon artwork, head to the American Sign Museum.
Rural peace
Drive through Holmes and Wayne counties and you’ll see a different side of American life, with the country’s biggest Amish community. While popular myth suggests that all the Amish live in a time warp, the restrictions actually vary from commune to commune. Regardless, it’s an interesting way of life, with outmoded transport, clothing and farming methods. They’re happy to receive visitors but appreciate politeness – photos are frowned upon. Head to Yoder’s Amish Home to see inside a typical abode, while you can also take a buggy ride.
Away from Amish Country, Yellow Springs is a friendly town with a bohemian vibe and plenty of independent shops and galleries. There’s a working farm here, Young’s Jersey Dairy, where visitors can see cows getting milked and take advantage of a number of family-themed games. The ice creams and milkshakes at Dairy Store are legendary.
Thrills and spills
Sandusky is a couple of things. It’s a port town that many use to access the Lake Erie islands and, even better, it’s home to Cedar Point Amusement Park. This isn’t a run-of-the-mill collection of rides – it has some of the most spectacular and scary roller coasters in the world. There are over 70 rides, with 18 coasters and the park holds numerous world records. Steel Vengeance, which opened in 2018, hits a top speed of 74mph, with four inversions and more airtime than any other coaster on the planet.
Other high-speed gems include the Top Thrill Dragster and Valravn, although the park does also have its gentler side. Water rides and carousels are family friendly, while there’s a children’s play park too and plenty of Peanuts-themed rides for Charlie Brown fans. With Ohio car hire you can have a day out at Cedar Point then explore the striking Lake Erie coastline.
