Ohio Road Trip: Rock ‘n Roll, Roller Coasters, City Culture and Charm

Fly into Cleveland International Airport and rent a car to start your trip. Your first stop has to be the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which enthralls with all things rock music. An expansive and cleverly designed space makes it easy to get caught up in the music and the legends that have defined so many generations. Discover an electrifying show at The Power of Rock, browse ultra-cool memorabilia at the Legends of Rock Experience and channel your inner rock star at the newly opened The Garage exhibit. Play, mix and record your own hits on more than 15 drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and mixing boards. Check out culinary history in Cleveland, too, with a visit to the West Side Market in the Ohio City neighborhood. Under the ornate vaulted ceilings, a plentiful array of food stalls selling ready-to-eat goodies, baked delights and more await. Two food stall favorites that merit your attention are the Cleveland Cassata Cake at Teresa’s Bakery and the extensive cheese selection at The Cheese Shop. Need a dose of arts and culture? Spend some quality time along the University Circle. Lined with world-class museums, two performing arts centers and a special history center – it’s the place where Cleveland’s stories and artistic vision come to life.

An hour’s drive west of Cleveland will put you in quaint and family-friendly Sandusky. Located on the shores of Lake Erie, it’s home to world-famous Cedar Point, a theme park with some major roller coasters. Whether you’re a thrill ride fanatic or a kid at heart, this is the place to be. To get there, you could drive, but why not add to the thrill and hop on a jetboat tour along Lake Erie? You’ll catch scenic views of downtown Sandusky, Lake Erie and the Cedar Point skyline. Stepping through the park gates will amp up your excitement, especially since the GateKeeper, a coaster with a top speed of over 100 kph, greets you at the entrance. There are 17 impressive, sometimes intimidating, roller coasters in total. Activate your adrenaline with a ride on Steel Vengeance, the world’s tallest, fastest and longest hybrid roller coaster if you’re up for it. If steep drops and hairpin turns aren’t your thing, you’ll find your fair share of entertainment with everything from bumper cars to arcade games in the park. Of course, you can grab a bite of delicious elephant ears (flattened fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar) or hand-dipped ice cream, then park yourself on a bench and watch the action instead. You may need a little break from the roller coasters before the next leg of your trip, anyway.

Just two hours south of Lake Erie leads you to Ohio’s Amish Country. As you detour off the main highway and into rolling hills, you’ll get a taste of picture-perfect country life. Lehman’s Retail Store is the big attraction in small-town Dalton. Step inside this old-fashioned store, walk the aisles and feel like you’ve gone back in time. Shop the sizeable collection of antiques and hand-crafted goods, or drop by the Soda Pop Shop to check out the 70-plus blends of root beer and soda. At Lehman’s Candy Land, count on a substantial offering of nostalgic candy: homemade salt-water taffy, peanut brittle, licorice bites and multi-flavored hard candy. Go ahead and purchase a few goodies before jumping back on the road to Millersburg, where you’ll experience the peaceful simplicity of Amish life on a working farm at Yoder’s Amish Home. Wander to the rustic barnyard (where you might just encounter sweet baby goats). For fun, set off on an old-fashioned buggy ride exploring the surrounding area’s bucolic beauty. Back at the house, follow the scent of homemade cookies, cinnamon rolls and bread wafting from the farm’s bakery. Treat your sweet tooth, but save some treats for the rest of your road trip.

Rolling green hills eventually give way to colorful city scenes just a couple hours southwest of Amish country in Columbus, Ohio’s capital city. Gravitate to the Scioto Mile, a lush riverfront expanse that naturally draws you to the water. Walk or bike it – it’s only 1.6 kilometers. Cool off at Bicentennial Park, a neatly designed spot dotted with fountains spouting water from the ground. For delicious cuisine paired with unbeatable views, dine at Milestone 229, where full-length glass windows offer views of the river, Bicentennial Park and downtown Columbus. Nearby, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum is a moving experience and architectural marvel all rolled into one. Feeling artsy? Plan a stop in the Short North Arts District. Drop into this trendy neighborhood and explore indie shops, art galleries and more. Street and gallery art happily co-exist in this ultra-cool neighborhood. Add the Sharon Weiss Gallery, a small space packed with the work of over 40 talented artists, to your must-see list. Whether you leave with an art purchase or not, don’t leave the neighborhood without popping into Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Grab a delectable scoop from this consistently fresh, made-from-scratch ice cream purveyor that utilizes local dairy and farm ingredients. Quirky and innovative flavors such as Brambleberry Crisp and Gooey Butter Cake are shop favorites. Plus, it’s a sweet way to wrap up a memorable Ohio road trip before catching a flight from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).