Places to go for spring break in ohio
Cincinnati
Cincinnati is synonymous with baseball, and a visit to the Great American Ballpark for a Cincinnati Reds game is a must if you plan to be in Ohio in the summer. If you come in the fall, you can join the legions of local football fans for a Cincinnati Bengals game.
History buffs can plan an entire weekend visiting the many museums, including the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education, and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
A stroll along the downtown riverfront is a great way to see the sunset. Enjoy the swings on the riverwalk as you watch runners pass by or stop and wind down at the Smale Riverfront Park, a popular spot for families.
Foodies can indulge in local history while eating their way through neighborhoods like the Over the Rhine district with a Cincinnati Food Tours experience. You can sample the fare at several restaurants on the walking tour and meet local chefs.
There are more than 50 unique neighborhoods in Cincinnati that you can explore, each with its own vibe. Walk the hilly neighborhood streets of Mount Adams with some of the best views overlooking the city, or soak in the arts scene in Northside.
No matter where you stay in Cincinnati, you do not want to head home without visiting the famous Holtman’s Donuts. This family-owned shop cranks out creative donuts every morning from scratch. It is an unforgettable experience for your taste buds, and you can smell the bakery from a block away.
The Wilds
Imagine going on an African safari in Ohio. The Wilds is a 9,000-acre open-range habitat in Cumberland that is home to hundreds of animals, including buffalo, giraffes, rhinos, and many endangered species.
It’s a conservation facility that is both educational and entertaining. There are several options for enjoying a safari, from an open-air jeep ride to private tours. Zip line excursions provide one of the most exciting ways to see the animals.
This is a great location for a romantic getaway if you stay in a private yurt in Nomad Ridge overlooking the grounds, and the lodge is perfect for families.
Marietta Sternwheelers
You can enjoy the charm of sternwheeler boats along the Ohio River during your getaway in Marietta. The town is themed around Ohio’s riverboat heritage. Take a sightseeing cruise on board the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, an authentic steamboat boat that has been in operation since 1973.
The Ohio River Museum is nearby, with a vast history of steamboats that dictates the bygone-era of this town. You can spend several hours in the exhibit building on the campus. You will notice that nearly everything in the town, including the rooms at The Lafayette Hotel, feature the steamboat theme, with actual artifacts and historic photos.
Marietta is a great walking city. A trail runs along the riverfront, and the small town is easy to navigate. The best time to visit is during the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, a free event that brings many riverboats into town. The annual festival is always held the weekend after Labor Day.
Cleveland
Cleveland is an easy getaway that can fill your agenda with plenty of things to do. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a must-see if you have never been to the city. At Progressive Field, you can attend a Cleveland Browns Football Game or a Cleveland Guardians baseball game.
Cleveland has an impressive Metroparks system that lets you enjoy the outdoors, with hiking, biking, bird watching, rowing, and one park with an ice chute that is open in the winter. The metroparks are connected around the city.
For a night out, the Flats East Bank is an easy one-stop venue for dining and entertainment. The renovated district is one of the most popular areas in the city, so restaurant reservations are recommended.
Other notable stops in the city include the Cleveland Museum of Art; the Cleveland Zoo; and a nostalgic visit to A Christmas Story House, which has been turned into a museum commemorating the classic Christmas movie.
Another must-visit during your Cleveland weekend getaway is the historic West Side Market, which is as interesting in its architecture as its food variety inside from local vendors selling fresh fruit and pastries to authentic hard-to-find ethnic specialties.
The Arcade Cleveland is worth a visit while you are in downtown Cleveland. The Arcade was built in 1890 and has been preserved to be one of the best landmarks in Ohio. The Arcade Cleveland was the first indoor shopping mall in the United States and remains a shopping and dining destination.
Maumee Bay
For time away that includes the shores of Lake Erie, hiking, birding, biking, and s’mores by the campfire, Maumee Bay in northwest Ohio makes for a full weekend. Just outside of Toledo, the Maumee Bay area has a diverse ecosystem and a wide range of things to do, including time on Lake Erie.
Maumee Bay State Park has dozens of hiking trails throughout 1,300 acres as well as recreational options. The landscape ranges from forestland to marshes, and convenient trails and boardwalks get you up close to the wildlife.
Maumee Bay sits along the Lake Erie Birding Trail, so take your binoculars to spot eagles and songbirds. One of the most popular times to visit is during the Biggest Week in American Birding each spring, when hundreds of birders and photographers come to see the tiny warblers on their migration path.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
One of the most unique cities you can visit for a weekend getaway is in the tiny northern town of Peninsula within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The quaint community has shops featuring the work of local artisans and quaint B&Bs that make the stay a peaceful one, whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or solitude.
Since you are within the national park, biking and hiking trails are abundant. Many cyclists who are traveling across the country or making multi-day trips use the bike trail that goes through the park since it connects to a larger trail system where riders can make overnight stays at B&Bs along the way.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is an enjoyable day out to view the national park by train. For a special occasion, you can book a trip on one of the themed train excursions that change throughout the year.
Put-in-Bay
Few weekend getaways in Ohio compare to the island resort community at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island. The Lake Erie getaway offers a range of things to do, from boating, swimming, and kayaking to dining in open-air restaurants while enjoying evening entertainment.
The mood in Put-in-Bay is one of leisure, so you can rent bikes or golf carts and just explore at your own pace. A worthwhile stop while on the island is Perry’s Victory and International Memorial. For a small fee, you can make the trek up to the observation desk on the 352-foot-tall monument, where you get the best view of the island.
The best way to get to Put-in-Bay is by the Miller Ferry or Jet Express Ferry that runs on regular schedules to take you to the island from Port Clinton. It is important to take note of the last ferry that returns from the island at the end of the day, as that is your final opportunity to leave unless you are spending the night.
During your weekend visit, you can base yourself in Put-in-Bay and plan activities during other days to Kelleys Island and Cedar Point amusement park, which you can get to with the Jet Express ferry.
Amish Country
A peaceful weekend getaway in Ohio’s Amish country will remind you of life’s simple pleasures. The winding back roads that run through Amish communities in east-central Ohio will take you past laundry drying on the line and farmers plowing fields with work horses as you share the road with Amish buggies heading to market.
The towns of Charm, Walnut Creek, Millersburg, and Berlin are all located near each other, so you can drive through all of them in one visit. Many quaint bed-and-breakfasts lie throughout Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Knox counties, and they often serve up hearty breakfasts and baked goods made from locally sourced ingredients that are in-season.
To make the most of your visit, plan some time to meander through the winding back roads with no particular agenda. Be sure to stop for a tour and samples at one of several cheese factories in the region like Guggisberg Cheese and Heini’s Cheese Chalet in Millersburg.
A must-visit in Ohio’s Amish country is Walnut Creek Cheese in Walnut Creek. It’s a large grocery store with incredible prices on cheese blocks and baking supplies. Take home a locally made Amish apple fry pie or pick up a cookbook of Amish recipes from the expansive gift shop, so you can take the homemade taste of Amish Country home with you.
Your Amish country visit will undoubtedly include impromptu stops at things you see along the way, like Amish children selling handmade baskets on the roadsides, and small independently owned shops that are located outside of the main tourist areas. These unplanned detours are often the best finds and create the most memorable experiences of your visit.
New Plymouth Ravenwood Castle
While New Plymouth is not on many destination searches, it’s one of the best-kept secrets in Ohio because of the medieval Ravenwood Castle. This is one of the most unique romantic getaways in the state.
The castle, a replica of 12th- and 13th-century castles, is tucked away in the Hocking Hills region. The grounds in the area lead you through a medieval village and themed cottages, cabins, and rustic gypsy wagons. The Great Hall has large dining tables, a mural of medieval battles depicting the grand majesty and allure of the times, and stunning stained-glass windows.
A New Plymouth getaway is a great home base if you plan to visit the Hocking Hills, as it is set apart from the other cottages in the area.