Ohio, home to about 11.5 million residents, combines big-city excitement with rural landscapes and the changing beauty of Lake Erie. Visitors to the Buckeye State will find plenty of interesting museums, parks, shopping and historic sites to fill a week or more of adventures.
Ohio has more than 70 Indian burial sites within its borders, remnants of the days when the Adena and Hopewell Indians inhabited the state. The most famous of these is Serpent Mound, located in southern Ohio near the Ohio River. This 1,370-foot-long creation is built to resemble a snake with an egg in its mouth.
Many of Ohio's highways were once stagecoach routes, and many of the inns along these byways still welcome travelers. Among these are Lebanon's Golden Lamb Inn, built in 1803, and the Granville Inn, just east of Columbus.
During the summer months, there's no better place to be in the United States than on Ohio's Lake Erie Islands. South Bass Island, the largest of the chain, offers a lively marina, casual yet delicious seafood restaurants, Victorian bed-and-breakfast inns, historic wineries and some of the most popular beer halls in the state.
Ohio is home to Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, and there's always something to see in do in the Buckeye State's large cities. See Toledo's glass museum, take in a concert by the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, wander through German Village in Columbus, take a riverboat ride in Cincinnati or relive the history of aviation in Dayton.
Ohio's Amish country is located in the east central part of the state, particularly in and around Holmes and Trumbull counties. Here you'll find quality handmade furniture, food products and quilts as well as simple, tasty, home-made meals in the area's many restaurants.
Many interesting products are made in Ohio and most offer factory tours or have a factory outlet store. Among these are Longaberger Baskets in Newark, Hall China in East Liverpool and Bob Evans sausage products in Rio Grande.
