USA: Tourist tips for Ohio visitors

The city of Cleveland at dawn. Photo / Thinkstock

This state in the heart of the Great Lakes region will give travellers a taste of authentic America.

Cityside

Riverside Cincinnati is often described as a pretty city and home of the "five-way" (chilli, spaghetti, cheese, onions, and beans). Must-sees and dos are catching a baseball game, strolling the riverfront and visiting Cincinnati's thought-provoking National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Working man's town Cleveland surprises visitors with its Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in a glass pyramid with famous exhibits including Michael Jackson's Thriller mask and Bono's first guitar.

Lakeside

The Lake Erie shore is popular with Ohio residents and visitors. A long stretch of golden sand and resort towns stretch from Toledo east to Cleveland; ferries cruise to the lake's islands of South Bass, Middle Bass and Kelleys islands. There's an amusement park at Sandusky and eight nearby state parks and a national wildlife refuge. Nearly two dozen wineries also add charm to the region.

Countryside

There are 17 historic and reconstructed covered bridges that span the Ashtabula River in northeast Ohio. Driving around this picturesque Ashtabula County area you'll come across these bridges, charming lakeside towns, orchards and vineyards. If you love hiking, two great outdoors spots are Hocking Hills State Park (88km southeast of Columbus) and Cuyahoga Valley National Park (30 minutes south of Cleveland).

Back in time

Founded in 1817, Zoar was the home of a group of 200 German Separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland. They paid for their land by hand-digging an 11km stretch of the Ohio and Erie Canal near the village. Tours show what life was like in the early 1800s. Also check out Holmes County, home to 19,000 Amish - on some roads, buggies outnumber cars.

Military masterpiece

Another highlight is the world's oldest and largest military aviation museum, the National Museum of the United States Air Force, 9km northeast of Dayton, has more than 300 planes and missiles. There are guided and behind-the-scenes tours of the restoration area.

Further information: See DiscoverAmerica.com for more on visiting Ohio.