I’ve partnered with Ohio. Find It Here. to share this list of fun things to add to your Summer Bucket List.
All pictures and opinions are my own unless noted otherwise.
Schools out, the temperatures are rising, and things are starting to open back up (with precautions, of course) – that can only mean one thing! It’s SUMMERTIME, and that means it’s time to start working on our summer bucket lists. This summer, we’re ALL about exploring our home state because, if you didn’t know – Ohio is seriously super cool and has so many unique destinations to explore, from outdoor adventures and fantastic art scenes to engaging events and family fun. There’s something for everyone in Ohio.
As you’re making your bucket list, I highly recommend visiting Ohio.org. It is filled with everything and anything you’ve ever wanted to find in Ohio. They have road trip ideas, travel guides, adventure trails, and more.
I thought I’d share my summer bucket list with you for a little bit of inspiration…
1. Ride all the *kid-friendly* rides at CEDAR POINT
This might seem crazy, but I’ve NEVER been to Cedar Point. It is at the TOP of my list to visit this summer. From what I’ve seen online, it looks like it is VERY toddler-friendly!
2. AHA! CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Take an easy drive to Lancaster and explore AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children’s Museum. Did you know this museum started as an idea from a group of moms decided to explore the possibility of creating a hands-on, interactive children’s museum for Lancaster, Ohio?
3. SUNFLOWER FIELDS
Run through a 4-acre field of the happiest flowers at the Coshocton Sunflower Festival in August. We went to their last festival in 2019, and while it was HOT (hello, august heat) – it was a blast. The forty different types of flowers are gorgeous, and they have live music and food on the grounds, too!
4. Soar with the HOCKING HILLS CANOPY TOUR
Soar through the trees on the Zipline Adventure with Hocking Hills Canopy Tour. We did this years ago but have been itching to get back. It is such a neat way to see Hocking Hills. It’s so good – they’ve been featured in “Worlds Coolest Ziplines” by CNN TRAVEL and “10 Amazing Zipline Tours All Around the World” (Discovery.com).
5. SUGARCREEK METRO PARK
Visit The ‘Three Sisters’ at Sugarcreek MetroPark in Bellbrook. I mean could this be any more perfect? Three sisters (we have triplet girls) at Sugarcreek, which is a part of the Five Rivers (our last name and number of people in our family) Metro Park (our favorite places to visit).
6. Explore GENEVA ON THE LAKE
Spend a long weekend at Geneva on the Lake – Ohio’s oldest summer resort town. While visiting, at the top of our list is Eddie’s Grill, which has been serving up classic 50s style summer American fare since 1950! Fun Fact: In 1950, Eddie signed a 3-year lease to use the corner lot in Geneva-on-the-Lake, where the current Eddie’s Grill stands today. Eddie’s Grill was built with the money he saved from summers working the small food stand and his family’s help. Three generations of Sezons work the Grill each summer. Eddie is still behind the counter.
7. Ride a train at Ohio Railway Museum
Only open on Sundays from May through December, the Ohio Railway Museum located in Worthington has a unique assortment of equipment and artifacts from railroading’s past. When visiting, you even get to ride on a train – the girls are going to love that!
8. Pick blackberries at THE BERRY FARM
Pick blackberries at The Berry Farm in Richwood. One of my favorite childhood memories is picking blackberries at my Grandmas’s house, and I have a feeling the girls are going to love it just as much. Plus, I read The Berry Farm offers a roadside stand with all things Blackberry, including fresh berries, pies, jams, and more! All of my favorite summer treats!
9. Ride the carousel at CAROUSEL WORKS
Nothing brings to mind the sweet nostalgia of childhood summers like a ride around the carousel. I recently found out that Mansfield is home to Richland Carrousel Park. It opened in 1991 as the first new, hand-carved carrousel to be built and operated in the United States since the 1930s. Mansfield is also home to Carousel Works, the world’s largest manufacturer of wooden carousels, which occasionally opens to the public for tours.
10. Hike at HOCKING HILLS
Before the girls, Stephen and I had a great time exploring the naturally beautiful Hocking Hills area. This summer, we are on a mission to find toddler-friendly hiking trails and introduce them to one of the most incredible places in Ohio. Any recommendations? Send them my way!
11. Visit CLEVELAND
We’ve visited Cleveland many times, but never with the girls. It looks like we would have a great weekend exploring with them. I plan to visit the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Zoo, and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
12. Stay in a TREEHOUSE
Unique lodging has been a trend for a few years, and this year I’m making it a point to stay in one of them. I am thinking of one of the treehouses at the Mohican in Glenmont. They have nine amazing authentic treehouses, two were designed by Pete Nelson, treehouse designer and star of discovery channel’s hit series “Treehouse Masters.”
13. Play at LEGOLAND
I sometimes forget that we have the ultimate indoor LEGO playground with rides right here in Columbus. We went to their first-anniversary party before the girls could walk, which feels like a lifetime ago. I can’t wait to see what they build and their excitement on the Kingdom Quest ride.
14. Visit all the OHIO ZOOS
We frequently visit the Columbus Zoo and feel super lucky to be so close, but did you know there are four other zoos in Ohio? Cleveland Zoo, Akron Zoo, Toledo Zoo, and recently voted number one zoo in America by USA Today – the Cincinnati Zoo. I would LOVE to visit all the Ohio Zoos.
15. Go on a safari at THE WILDS
Speaking of animals, have you been to The Wilds in Muskingum County? The Wilds and its 9,000 plus acres are home to rare and endangered species from around the globe living in open range habitats. They even offer zip line tours, horseback riding, fishing, and more, including one-of-kind, hands-on educational opportunities
16. Brighten my green thumb at GROOVY PLANTS RANCH
In the last year or two, I’ve gotten interested in gardening and plants. While I might not have the greenest thumb just yet, I am learning, and I think a visit to Groovy Plants Ranch might bring me up a shade or two. They are a family-owned greenhouse located just north of Columbus and have a MASSIVE selection with the most unique and intriguing botanical oddities from around the world.
17 . THE TROLL HOLL MUSEUM
Did you collect trolls growing up, or am I just showing my age? The Troll Hole Museum in Alliance is home to OVER 20,000 trolls! Sherry Groom, the owner, has held the Guinness World Record title for the most extensive collection of trolls since 2012.
18. Journey to the OTHERWORLD
Spend an afternoon Immersing ourselves in the sights and sounds of the 32,000 square foot immersive art installation Otherworld in Columbus. Mysteries unfold as you explore over 40 rooms filled with large-scale interactive art, mixed reality playgrounds, and secret passageways.
19. Find the Lighthouse at MARBLEHEAD STATE PARK
One of my favorite things to do when we travel to the ocean is search for lighthouses. We don’t have any out-of-state vacations planned for this summer, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find few lighthouses. We have the t Great Lake’s Oldest Lighthouse located at Marblehead State Park, just east of Toledo and west of Cleveland. Marblehead has been an iconic piece of the Lake Erie landscape since it was first lit back in 1822.
20. Eat our way through the OHIO ICE CREAM TRAIL
Last but not least – the ultimate summer treat – ICE CREAM! Did you know we have an Ohio Ice Cream Trail? Ohio is the cream of the crop when it comes to this yummy treat. Did you know there are more than 2,200 dairy farms and hundreds of shops each with its own flavor for creativity sprinkled throughout Ohio?! I want to hit all 15 of the stops on this trail.
This is going to be a FUN summer!
Need a little more inspiration, here are a few of our adventures from last year…..
A Visit to Amish Country, Ohio: 5 Fun Things To Do with Kids
A Day Trip to Learn about Dayton History
Play, Eat and Explore | A Day Trip to Mount Vernon, Ohio
