Ohio has some of the best family vacations in the Midwestern United States. It is comfortably situated near Lake Erie to the north, which means water activities and boat tours. The state is full of museums, zoos and botanical gardens to amaze and educate the entire family. Summer visitors can enjoy any of Ohio's great theme parks and water parks. If you happen to be vacationing in the winter, there are plenty of snow activities as well.
Sandusky is located in Northern Ohio and borders Lake Erie. This city could easily be considered the recreation capital of Ohio because of all its fun activities and amusements. Your family could spend your entire vacation at Cedar Point, a 364-acre amusement park. The park contains 68 rides and 16 rollercoasters -- more rides than anywhere else on the planet. The grounds also contain Soak City waterpark, four resort hotels, an RV campground, two marinas and an entertainment complex. Also in Sandusky, the family is sure to enjoy Ohio's first indoor waterpark resort, Great Wolf Lodge. The park features a 42,000 square foot indoor recreation area with nine slides, five pools, a 100-game arcade and Cub's Club activities for smaller children. Your family may choose to stay in Great Wolf's 271-suite resort accommodations or dine in one of their two restaurants. History enthusiasts may enjoy a trip to the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky, where you can learn the history of amusement carousels and watch restorers bring old pieces back to life. The Jet Express catamaran provides a 22-minute tour past seven Lake Erie islands and a narrated history of the lake and islands.
The city of Columbus, in central Ohio, is rich with fun and educational opportunities for your family. Start with a visit to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, a 400-acre zoo that was one of the first animal education and research centers in the country. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a nature escape with beautiful plants and information about ecological awareness. If your kids are interested in dance, you should catch a performance at the BalletMet Columbus, a professional dance training facility. If theatre is your interest, stop by the Cloak and Dagger Theatre, where you can catch a interactive live show and enjoy a fine dining experience at the same time. Museums in the area include the Columbus Museum of Art and the National Heisey Glass Museum. Just a short drive away in Powell, you can enjoy the rides and attractions at Six Flags Wyandot Lake amusement park.
There is plenty of fun to be had with a winter vacation to Ohio. You will find ski resorts throughout the state where your family can take part in fun activities like skiing, snowboarding, skating and tubing. Check out Snow Trails in Mansfield, Ohio's first ski resort. In addition to several ski slopes and six ski lifts, the resort boasts a snow tubing track with guided snow banks and a conveyor lift to take you back to the top. Mad River Mountain in Zanesfield has over 17 skiing and snowboarding trails and a tubing park for snow tubing and sled riding. Big Creek Ski Area in Concord offers cross-country trails, free ski lessons and unlimited downhill skiing for your entire family. If ski resorts aren't your ideal vacation, try Burr Oak State Park in Southeast Ohio where you can choose to stay in guest rooms in the lodge or rent a cottage. Activities include sledding, ice skating, ice fishing and an indoor swimming pool.
