Ohio is located in the Midwest region of the United States between Lake Erie and the Ohio River. It is home to such natural attractions as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Wayne National Forest and the Lake Erie Islands. Winters in Ohio are often cold with plenty of snow. There are as many attractions in the state during the winter as there are during the summer.
Ohio's state parks offer many outdoor activities and winter recreation options for snow lovers. Punderson State Park, in Newbury, has six miles of trails that wind through silent forests. Punderson also hosts the yearly Sled Dog Classic, a dog race across a special route laid out on the park's golf course. Ice skating and ice fishing are popular activities on the park's 100-acre lake. Hocking Hills State Park, in the southeastern part of the state, offers hikers miles of scenic hiking trails. You can see caves, hollows, cliffs and waterfalls. Cross-country skiing is allowed on multipurpose trails in all state parks. A number of state parks also offer sledding, ice-skating and snowmobiling.
For those who wish to stay indoors, Ohio provides indoor water parks that promise to keep visitors warm even in the midst of a snowstorm. In Sandusky, go to Castaway Bay, the indoor resort park with a tropical theme. In addition to its aquatic attractions, it also has a day spa, fitness center, arcade and restaurants. The nearby Great Wolf Lodge features pools and multiple slides, a tree house water fort, a lazy river and whirlpools. Fort Rapids, with its Wild West theme, has a full menu of land-based activities in addition to the usual assortment of slides and pools.
The Medina Ice Festival in February features an ice-carving contest, live music and plenty of food. The Arctic Ice Festival also takes place every February, along Sandusky Harbor. It features various activities such as an ice boat race and a soup cook-off. The Geauga County Maple Fest in March includes parades and rides to celebrate the success of the area's maple syrup industry. Malabar Farms outside Mansfield also hosts a maple festival with horse-drawn carriage rides and maple syrup demonstrations.
