I'm just getting to know Cleveland, and I love the metro parks!!! If you live on the east side of columbus Hocking Hills is only about 45 min - 1 hr drive. They have all kinds of fantastic trails (well marked) with beautiful land marks and scenery. It is absolutely amazing and I never get tired it, in any season. I've gone out for a day trip and have also spent a few weekends there camping or renting a cabin and would hike 6 - 8 miles a day, along with canoeing. there is also horseback riding out there and other sorts of activities http://www.1800hocking.com/

I live in Columbus and you can't go wrong with visiting any of the Metro Parks...Great for walking, biking, running, hiking... or just getting your mojo back. Very peaceful and relaxing.

I don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for, but here's what I have:

*** Columbus/Newark ***

COSI (science center, actually not bad for walking for an indoor place)

Easton Shopping Center (shopping AND enjoying outside, also has a splash pad for the kids in the summer)

Downtown/Historical Gahanna, Westerville, Powell, or Grove City (all of which have a bunch of little shops on their main drags, and in the summer, they have farmer's markets)

Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay (the Zoo's water park)

A little ways out, there's The Wilds. A giant, safari-like park/reserve.

Goodale Park is also host to the city's annual Comfest, which has some awesome stuff (last year, there was a Capeoira group "performing")

On the day after Thanksgiving, Gahanna has a really nifty night time "parade of lights"

For the pooches, there are 4 or 5 dog parks in the area, too. I know of one in Bexley, off of Livingston Ave, and one in Westerville, off of Schrock Rd. (the Livingston Ave one has a pond for swimming)

I don't know if they have tours, but off of State Route 16, just east of Newark, is the Longaberger HQ, which is a giant basket. Kind of nifty seeing it in real life.

Newark is also home to a number of parks, most of which include old Indian burial mounds.

*** Cleveland ***

More obvious ones - the Great Lakes Science Center (not sure if it's still this way, but last I knew, season passes to COSI are honored here), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The West Side Market and the surrounding half dozen or so blocks

The Avenue (downtown, at the Terminal Tower, if for no other reason than the fountains in the main area)

Cedar Point! (not technically Cleveland, since it's out in Sandusky, but still a great place to go)

The Cleveland Zoo and Rainforest (additionally, if you get a season pass to either the Columbus or Cleveland Zoo, they are good at a number of other Zoos)

Findley State Park - trails, camping, swimming

For seasonal stuff, North Ridgeville (about half an hour west of Cleveland, just east of Elyria) has their annual Corn Festival. It's small, but a great excuse to get out and enjoy the weather and the great sweet corn from the area.

*** Rural areas ***

The Holmes/Tuscawaras county area is home to one of the country's largest Amish communities. If you find yourself in the area (or in Canton), it's definitely worth stopping down there for some great food at places like Mrs. Yoder's or the other local restaurants. They also have some great local cheese makers and butcher shops, including Walnut Creek Cheese and Sugar Valley Meats. There are also some neat little bed and breakfast and other lodging places (there's one where the rooms are built into the hill, they look like Hobbit houses, but I don't remember the name offhand).

Bidwell (outside Gallipolis) is home to the Bob Evans farm (or "Homestead"). They have a bunch of events worth checking out.

**Cincinnati Area**

there's a Castle out in Loveland, OH that's super neat. I love our Cincinnati Zoo, and we're so close to Newport, KY that the Aquarium is very nice to visit as well.

If you're into the outdoors, any of the Hamilton County Park's are gorgeous to visit.

Cleveland area here, if you go towards Lorain, Day's Dam is a wonderful plus for a run or walk

I think it goes without saying that Cedar Point is a major must go! My husband and I can't wait until we get done with out tour here in Japan (he's a Marine) and we get to go!
2014 might be our year to accomplish this!!!!

I live in Toledo. Just wanted to stop in and day hello. A must to experience is the Northwood Villa. Great food and lots of great history.

Hello Toledo area here as well. We've also got great metroparks scattered around the area AND a large zoo AND the Art Museum. There's a few great areas. Cedar Point and the Islands aren't far. Now if only we didn't have Winter, it'd be amazing. :laugh:

There is also a Splash pad in Polaris.. right next to benihana :bigsmile:

Cleveland area here, if you go towards Lorain, Day's Dam is a wonderful plus for a run or walk

Does Lorain still do the International (Food) Festival?