Summertime may not mean 3 months of absolute free time and extravagant vacations for everyone due to jobs and other commitments. BUT Ohio has several beautiful hiking, fishing and picnicking spots that fit in the "college student" budget! Making a few last minute day or weekend trips with friends is a blast! If you and your friends are looking for a mini road trip that costs close to nothing, check out these 11 beautiful places in Ohio!
1. The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland
With a new canopy walk and a tower that looks over the 3,600 acres, it is a perfect day trip! The flower garden is a place for an evening walk! Plus, the place is absolutely kid friendly with activities for them to do.
2. Portage Lakes in Summit County
Even if you don't have a boat on Portage Lakes, it is a great spot for fishing! There are several restaurants to visit in that area, too! There is a swimming area and a small beach to hang out at! The area is very animal friendly!
3. Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead
This location makes you feel like you're at the beach! If you're passing through the Lake Erie area during sunset, make sure to stop by the Marblehead Lighthouse! This is close to Put-In-Bay, where many teens and adults go for a summer get a way.
4. Squire's Castle in Willoughby
Squires Castle, built in 1850, is located near a few Cleveland Metro Parks. It is a location used for pictures and to roam around the wooded area behind the castle. There is a path there where many people take their dogs for walks.
5. Amish Country in Millersburg
If you've never experienced Amish cooking, you're missing out! Amish country has some of the best pizza in Ohio! With the Amish preferring not to be photographed, it gives you and your friends a chance to break away from technology and enjoy the culture!
6. Quarry Park in Marion
7. Old Man's Cave in Logan (Hocking Hills)
8. Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Falls
65 foot falls of absolute beauty! The surrounding trail is about 2 miles long that will take you down to creek level. It is open from dawn to dusk which gives plenty of time for exploring!
9. Mentor Headlands Beach in Mentor
This is the longest natural beach in Ohio, being about a mile long. Headland Beach is a good pick for a hot summer day for a swim! There are trails that provide an area for picnicking and hiking!
And for rainy days:
10. Cleveland Museum Of Art in Cleveland
Rainy day in Ohio doesn't mean you're out of plans! The Cleveland Museum of Art has FREE admission to the museum's collections! (Temporary exhibitions have a small cost).
11. Toledo Museum Of Art in Toledo
Admission to the TMA is also FREE, too! More than 35 galleries, a sculpture garden and the Glass Pavilion showcase the Toledo Museum of Art's collection of more than 30,000 paintings, sculptures and other works of art. In the Glass Pavilion, there are demonstrations that showcase why Toledo is called "The Glass City".
There are an ample amount of fun locations in Ohio to visit with friends on a free day/weekend! Whether it is a hot summer day, a day for adventure, or one to sight see- Ohio will not disappoint you!
