Ohio

Tucked away in Mentor’s bustling industrial strip, there’s a place where your heart races, your brain buzzes, and your inner lumberjack gets to shine. Escape Room Mentor & Axe Throwing isn’t your average Saturday outing—it’s a full-on challenge-packed adventure with a dash of adrenaline and a whole lot of laughs.

Land of Illusion's Aqua Adventures is no ordinary day at the lake. Imagine bounding across giant inflatable trampolines, sliding into the water from towering ramps, and laughing your way through an epic course that’s equal parts “Wipeout” and summer camp. Tucked just outside Middletown, this wild water park brings out the big kid in all of us—and makes it easy to cool off in style.

If you're craving an adrenaline rush that doesn’t involve ski boots or snowmobiles, this icy Ohio ride might just be your new favorite winter ritual. Hidden among the wooded trails and gentle hills of Strongsville’s Mill Stream Run Reservation, the Toboggan Run at The Chalet isn’t just any slide—it’s a 700-foot twin chute of pure, slick excitement.

If you think you need to hop on a plane to the Rockies for real winter fun, think again. Tucked in the rolling hills just south of Mansfield, Snow Trails is Ohio’s best-kept secret for frosty adventure and après-ski charm. Whether you're shredding the slopes or sipping hot cocoa by a roaring fire, this spot brings all the alpine feels—without ever leaving the Midwest.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is the kind of place that makes you do a double take. One minute you're just outside downtown Columbus, the next you're strolling under towering palms and gazing at a chandelier made of hand-blown glass. It's lush, it's luminous, and—honestly?—it’s like walking into a living fairytale.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of those places that makes you stop, breathe, and just be. Tucked between Cleveland and Akron, this green ribbon of wild wonder offers a surprising dose of serenity and scenic drama without requiring a plane ticket or backcountry hiking boots. Whether you're chasing waterfalls, biking through leafy tunnels, or spotting herons along peaceful boardwalks, this park feels like a well-kept secret shared by locals and in-the-know adventurers.

Tucked just south of downtown Columbus lies a place that feels like it was plucked from a European postcard and gently placed in the Midwest. German Village is the kind of neighborhood where red brick sidewalks wind past ivy-covered cottages, where chimneys puff in the winter and flower boxes burst with color in the summer. It’s not just scenic—it’s soul-soothing.

Tucked along the Ohio River, just minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Riverwalk offers a slice of slow-down serenity with just the right touch of charm. Whether you’re craving a leisurely stroll with a view or a place to catch your breath and watch the boats roll by, this stretch of riverside magic delivers.

Tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio lies an adventure so unexpected, you’ll feel like you’ve left the Midwest entirely. Welcome to The Wilds, a sprawling 9,000-acre wildlife conservation center where rhinos roam, giraffes graze, and open-air safari trucks rumble through untamed pastures. It’s part nature preserve, part hidden safari park—and 100% unlike anything else in the Buckeye State.

There’s something electric about Euclid Avenue. It’s the kind of street where past and present stroll side by side—where century-old mansions whisper stories of oil barons and rail tycoons, while just a few blocks down, indie theaters and Instagrammable eats buzz with energy.