My husband and I and two children (age 9 and 12) are planning a trip to King's Island this summer. We are from Toronto, Ontario and have never been to Ohio. Can anyone suggest things to do and see in Ohio. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

call 1-800-buckeye.......for a brochure about Ohio....all kinds of info....

There is lots to do in Ohio. In the northern part of the state, there is Cedar Point, rivaling Kings Island and IMO, a better park with more coasters, the Lake Erie Islands, Cleveland Zoo and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Amish Country, great state parks, Old Man's Cave in SE Ohio and the Hocking Hills, great zoo in Cincinnati as well as Columbus, COSI in Columbus, great shopping.

Suggested websites:
www.buckeyenorth.com
www.ohiotourism.com
www.ohiowines.org
www.lake-erie.com
www.SurpriseItsColumbus.com
www.ohiostateparks.org
www.cincyusa.com
www.bluejacketdrama.com
www.athensohio.com

Have fun!

Cows.

Deb - the Amish country in Ohio is great. Not nearly as much commercialism as in Lancaster County, Pa. There is a grand woodcarving museum called "Warthers" or "Werthers" in the Amish area suitable for adults and children. Miles and miles of country roads to meander. We plan to go back another time. Enjoy. Marie

Please,
When you return, post a little trip report. Ohio is one of those places which doesn't excite very many people, probably not on one's "A" list for vacation spot (except for "Ohioans" and neighboring state residences), and can use any positive words.

There are some misconsceptions about Ohio. Tourism is big business in Ohio. Ohio ranks either 3 or 4 in tourists and money spent. Yes, there are cows, but there are also dynamic cities on the rebound from the so-called rust belt days. Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the US now and recently acquired a pro hockey team.
Ohio has some of the best state park systems in the country.

So come on and visit, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

Deb,
If you do get to Amish Country, head on over to the Mohican area nearby. If the kids like canoe trips, this is a terrific place to do it. The camping areas are great also. If you get to the Columbus area, I recommend a trip out to West Liberty to see the Ohio Caverns.
http://www.cavern.com/ohiocaverns/
Have fun at KI.. be sure to ride the Beast twice. Once in the daytime, and once again at dusk or nighttime. That ride is even better in the evening.

Cincinnati has a great Children's museum-the old train station. Also some great views of the Ohio River from Eden Park and some other museums there. Go north to Dayton & the Air Force Museum (all day, if you really like anything to do with flying machines!) Or Carillion Park and near by Wright Bros. museum. A Cincinnati Reds game. Sawyer Point Park along the Ohio--eat at near by Boat House and Ted Gregory's wonderful Ribs and a view of the river. Those are some closer things to do. Enjoy.

I second the recommendation for the Amish Area of Ohio. We have gone to Holmes County (near Millersburg and Wooster) several times and enjoy it more each time. We have also been to the PA Amish Area and we liked the Amish Area in Ohio lots more. You also might want to tour the Football Hall of Fame in Canton. It was inetersting.

Hi, there are quite a few things to do in ohio as you've seen listed. I prefer cedar point(also has a water park called soak city) over kings island. you could go to cedar point for a day and visit either kellys island of put-in-bay.Amish country is also very nice. cleveland columbus and cinncinati are all great. watch an indians or reds baseball game visit a state park hocking hills and mohican are both great. have a great time

Sue, Ohio does NOT rank 3 or 4 for tourism! It's not even in the top ten!!

The natural history museum is house in a beautiful art deco building. Newport has a new and good aquarium. Columbus has Cosi which is a wonderful science museum. do not forget the new paul brown football stadium. Mt Adams. The art museum has a few really treasured pieces. your canada wonderland tickets will get you in to Kings Island free.

Dan-Believe it or not, Ohio does rank in the top 10 for tourism. It was just in our paper. Next time, check you facts before you go spouting off....

I live in Cleveland, Ohio and have been to Kings Island before..... but Cedar Point is 10 times better.

I would also make a stop in Cleveland! Its an up and coming city! Plenty to do! see www.clevelandlive.com

When my kids were your kids' age, we went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland--it was a really fun trip, and now that they're three years older I'd love to get back with them. (We have family near there.)

It's on a beautiful spot right near the lake. Jacobs Field is nearby--if you like baseball, you could perhaps go to a game. Also, I believe there's a science museum right there also?

Fodor's picked Columbus as one of the best hidden spots. There are plenty of great restaurants, German Village, the Short North, with it's many galleries, Brewery District, Arena District, Easton Town Center, with World Class shopping and entertainment, a brand new COSI (Science Museum, great for kids) First class zoo, replica of the Santa Maria anchored downtown, Thurber House, Wexner Center for the Arts on Ohio State Campus, 2 arenas that attract top notch concerts and entertainment, NHL hockey, Polaris Amphitheater that offers outdoor concerts and more. Check out, www.surpriseitscolumbus.org.

One thing I will say about Ohio is that for a state of its size (population-wise and geographical), it has surprisingly excellent art museums. I have been to the ones in Cleveland and Toledo and both are great, and I've also heard Cincinnati and Columbus have good ones.
Also, growing up in Michigan we made an annual trek to Cedar Point every summer -- it is a blast. Kings Island is fun too.

When I was a child, my mother, sister and Grandmother took a 3-4 day car trip around what then were tourist sites on the Ohio map. (We lived in the Cleveland area from 1950-1958 and this trip must have been in '55-56.) I remember visiting mounds that Indians had built (not pitching mounds, but burial or ceremonial mounds!); the "Blue Hole" for which supposedly no one could determine the true depth; and a Scottish castle someone had taken apart, moved across the ocean, and rebuilt stone by stone. It's unlikely these are tourist attractions anymore. I probably have pictures taken with my Brownie camera somewhere in the attic. Thanks for bringing these odd memories-of-an eight-year-old-kid back. Let me know if you find any of "my" attractions! (I also remember taking weekend art lessons at the Art Institute. It was a very cool place.)

Are there any casinos in the Cleveland area?