Ohio Makes Weekend Trips Easy
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Ohio? If you like the idea of hiking in Hocking Hills, spending time kayaking on Lake Erie, and checking out glassblowing in Toledo, Ohio is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from riverfront sunsets to roller coasters and give you a taste of Ohio's landscapes, cities, and culture. Plus, most of it won't cost you a small fortune like coastal activities would.
Heather, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Heather has lived in Ohio for 36 years, minus a brief three-year stint in Kentucky (thanks, parents). Born in Appalachian southeastern Ohio, she later moved to the city and spent years wondering where all the cows went and why everyone was suddenly in such a darn hurry. She's adapted...mostly. That culture shock taught her Ohio doesn't get enough credit for its range of flat farmland, Amish hills, and mini mountains all crammed into one state. When she's not writing copy while binging true crime podcasts, she's hunting down a "bubble" from Jackson County (if you know, you know) or stealing the last slice of pie from her husband at So Pizza in Miamisburg. She's telling you about So Pizza with reluctance, because long lines would ruin everything. At Snappy Scout, Heather writes Ohio guides that don't waste your time and occasionally drops puns that may or may not land. You've been warned.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Ohio?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
Go Outside & Hike
Trek Hocking Hills Old Man's Cave in southeast Ohio. Get there early on fall weekends or you'll circle the parking lot for an hour.
Throughout Summer
Sandusky, lap Cedar Point coasters until your voice disappears. Millennium Force and Steel Vengeance are the must-rides.
Spend Time on the Water cooling off
Cleveland, kayak the Cuyahoga River past lift bridges, the same river that famously caught fire in 1969, now clean enough to paddle
Maybe you should go chasing waterfalls
Cuyahoga Valley is waterfall bliss at Brandywine Falls
This is the scenic ride for you
Cruise the Amish Country Byway through rolling Holmes County, just watch for buggies and don't honk
This is the Iconic Road Trip to take
Lake Erie coast is lighthouses and wineries from Toledo to Ashtabula. Fair warning, Geneva-on-the-Lake gets packed in summer
For the Sports Fans
Big game day? Cheer the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The Horseshoe holds over 100,000 and sounds like thunder
This is what locals do on the weekends
Graze at North Market in downtown Columbus. Hot tip: Jeni's ice cream and Hot Chicken Takeover are the lines to join
Underground Adventure
Descend into Ohio Caverns near West Liberty which are a constant 54 degrees year-round, bring a jacket
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, this roadside oddity will leave you in awe and confusion
Why a basket office? Newark's giant Longaberger building awaits. The company's gone but the seven-story basket remains
Hidden Gem Spotlight
go find the Healing Chapel in Coolville. It’s a tiny little roadside church that a guy basically built by hand as a labor of love. It doesn't have a big sign or gift shop or anything, it's just a quiet spot off the highway with benches, flowers, and a peace feeling that hits different. You pull over, sit for a few minutes, maybe say a quick prayer or just breathe, and suddenly the long drive doesn’t feel so bad. It’s not flashy, it’s not crowded, and it feels like Ohio’s best-kept secret for anyone who needs a reset. Most people zoom by on the interstate and never even know it’s there.
— Heather Taylor
Ohio Local Expert
Ready to See If Ohio Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Ohio guide for the bigger picture.