When you have young kids, a limited number of vacation days from work or a tight budget, traveling may seem out of the question. However, taking a vacation doesn't always require expensive plane tickets and long hours of travel time. If you live in Ohio and want to get away, there are many popular vacation destinations not far from home.
Visit Ohio's Amish country for an escape from the rush and bustle of modern life. A visit to the tranquility and pastoral setting of the Amish communities can easily make you forget the deadlines and appointments of your day job. Shop at markets and farms for products you couldn't find at your local grocery store chain. The Amish country of Central Ohio seems like another world with its farms and horse and buggies. However, it is easily accessible from major cities like Akron, Columbus, Canton and Cleveland. Spend a weekend watching glass-blowing demonstrations, shopping for handmade quilts and eating farm-fresh food without venturing far from home.
If you're looking for an island getaway but don't want to jump on the next plane to the Bahamas, there is wonderful option right in Ohio's backyard. The Lake Erie Islands are a string of islands that are located just 12 miles from Sandusky's shores. Access the islands via a ferry boat ride from Port Clinton or Sandusky. Kelleys Island, Middle Bass and South Bass are privately owned, but visitors are welcome. For a taste of history, visit Kelley Island, which is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. Observe migrating birds, historic homes and eerie shipwrecks. Middle Bass Island boasts a Caribbean-style resort, its own microbrewery and primitive camping experiences. South Bass Island, also known as Put-in-Bay is a mecca of family fun. This tourist destination features amusement parks, cave tours, a chocolate museum, fishing, parasailing and other adventures.
Entertain the family with a day or weekend getaway to Cedar Point. This world-renowned amusement park has drawn visitors from all over the country and is just a short drive from many parts of Ohio. Rich in history, this theme park has been around for 130 years and has evolved from a simple dance hall to a state-of-the-art park featuring gravity-defying rides and sky-scraping roller coasters. Many Ohio families make a trip to Cedar Point a yearly pilgrimage. Kids will relish the dizzying rides and standard theme park delicacies.
