My and my Uncle are driving to Lansing Mi, from Baltimore Mon - Wed. We are looking for a fun place to stay overnight at a midway point. We are going to stay at a hotel, looking for a unique or fun area.

The drive is 9.5 hours and we want to drive the bulk of it on Monday, so the stop would be about 5 - 6 hours in putting us somewhere near Youngstown, OH, Akron, OH. We thought about Canton, NFL hall of fame, but high cost and seems pretty boring, and takes us a little out the way.

Any help greatly appreiated.

Definitely recommend Sandusky, Ohio and Cedar Point. Get an early, early start and stay at the Hotel Breakers. Spend the rest of the day in the Park (and I think there are certain tickets you can buy that will permit you to enter the part the next day also). Anyway check it out at: http://www.cedarpoint.com/
Cedar Point is the best Amusment Park ever! You will love it! Not cheap, but worth it.

I'm not sure about your route, but I'd likely pick Pittsburgh or Columbus. Columbus may be a bit out of your way.

Hands down, the place to stop is Cedar Point. It has 17 roller-coasters (at least at my last check).

It is an amazing park. The workers are very nice. It will be a great time.

Plus, it is not out of the way at all.

Definately, Cedar Point.
http://www.cedarpoint.com/

Youngstown really doesn't have that much: its one of the rust belt towns that hasn't really reinvented itself. I can't speak for Akron. Have you thought about stopping in Pittsburgh? Its about a 5 hour drive from Pittsburgh to Baltimore.

Thanks for the feedback, Cedar Point is great, but my 2 kids would kill me if I went without them. Thinking about stopping in Cleveland and checking out stuff around the flats.

There's a lot to walk and see in downtown Cleveland but forget the Flats. They have, over the years, dwindled down to 'not much there' The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is interesting and we love taking the Goodtime on a Lake Erie cruise, I think it's about 2 hrs. and you can park right downtown on 9th street and catch it there.
http://www.goodtimeiii.com/

Thanks for the point about the flats, the boat ride sounds perfect. A chance to sit back and relax.

Downtown Cleveland also has some very good hotels. The Renaissance is one of them, a 4star hotel within walking distance of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and offer's a package deal. Room, two tickets to the Hall of Fame and breakfast for $199.00.

"Ohio stop over fun" seems almost like an oxymoron! LOL, Just kidding and having some fun....I am from Columbus and have to go yearly to Dayton to see my sister and family. It was a great place to grow up, .

If you are passing through Pittsburgh on a night when the Pirates are playing, you can always get tickets and the new stadium is a beauty.

Downtown Pittsburgh has undergone a rennaisance. Nice hotels, good restaurants,and the riverfront is very scenic.

I'll suggest Kelley's Island then. You catch the ferry over & you can walk (or rent a golf cart, see the glacial groves, take a dip in Lake Erie & enjoy lunch @ the Pump. www.kelleysisland.com or ww.kelleysislandchamber.com.

Kelly's or Put-in-Bay would both be good and doable in a day trip! Renting the golf carts and just putting around is so much fun! There is so much you can do in Cleveland, maybe you could stay an extra day?

If you want to stop in Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a thought already conveyed. How about taking in an Indians game (if they are in town). If they aren't, do a tour of Jacobs Field.

Just a couple of thoughts.

take a safari

www.thewilds.org

wow, the original poster said a 5-6 hour stop and the suggestions have him at Cedar Point, Put-in-Bay etc., which are all 10+ hour type things.

If you were originally interested in Cleveland and the Flats, the new places to be downtown are West 6th Street and East 4th. Great restaurants/bars, etc.

I liked the Goodtime recommendation and definitely the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

There is also Little Italy, and some great museums.