Ohio has a collection of great theme parks, is a hotbed of sports activities, and has spent a great deal of money upgrading it’s most famous cities, making it a perfect to visit.

Cleveland Rocks
Cleveland, but is a fantastic place to start any visit to Ohio. With the spectacular new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center as well as an outstanding nightlife, fine dining spots, and some of the areas best live blues and jazz, Cleveland has come a long way. For the Arts buff, don’t miss University Circle, home to the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Museum of Art. If you’d like a little more adventure, have a blast at SeaWorld Cleveland, Six Flags Ohio or the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Rainforest. Sports fans will marvel at one of the best new baseball facilities in the world, Jacobs Field, and can also visit the Cleveland Browns home field right nearby.

Cincinnati
The newly renovated Union Terminal prides itself as one of the greatest examples of Art Deco architecture in the world. This beautiful site, combined with the other diverse architecture, public sculptures and parks of Cincinnati, make it one of Ohio’s best destinations. Mt. Adams, just a short drive from downtown, offers the best views of the downtown area, the Ohio River and the surrounding area; it also has some wonderful dining spots. The Cincinnati Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park, as well as the pro sports teams of Cinegy Field, are some other must sees, as is Cincinnati Zoo.

Columbus-The Capital
Although overshadowed by the other two major cities, Columbus does have a number of attractions worth visiting. The city itself is a historic collection old restored neighborhoods, performing arts centers, and exciting nightclubs, and has a litany of professional and amateur sporting venues. The Columbus Zoo with it’s 100,000 gallon Discover Reef, featuring over 1,000 species of ocean life is a must see. Children love the Center of Science and Industry (known as COSI), which has four floors of interactive exhibits. Ohio State University sports one of the largest campuses in the country, and locals are avid fans of the Buckeyes sports teams. Columbus will also be home to a NHL team in 2001, and has been home to the Yankees minor league affiliate, the Columbus Clippers and the MLS Columbus Crew.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
No trip to Ohio would be complete without visiting this newly created marvel in Cleveland. Featuring a wide array of objects from some of the world’s most famous and influential artists, it is dedicated to “exploring the past, present and future of the music and the cultural context from which it emerges.” If you are looking for a walk through history that kids and adults of all ages will enjoy, this place is for you. In addition to legendary items, the Museum has interactive film, videos and, of course, music for your entertainment.

Pro Football Hall of Fame For those Monday evening quarterbacks and Sunday couch potatoes, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is a must see. The five building layout includes 83,000 square feet of space, which displays the history of professional football from 1892 to the present. The Hall pays homage to the over 200 athletes in two giant galleries. The Game Day Stadium is a treat, where the visitor can experience the game up-close.

Amish Country
This is an old world of horses and buggies, simple farm homes and plainly made clothes that exists around and within the rest of the world. Holmes County, the heart and home of the Amish, and its neighbors, Wayne and Tuscarawas Counties, are the center of the world’s largest Amish population. The Amish people have maintained a centuries old culture of forsaking modern conveniences and choosing a simpler way of life. Visiting Amish country is a true learning experience about simple pleasures—an all natural home cooked meal, a beautiful handmade wicker chair or a marvelously hand stitched quilt.

Toledo Zoo
Known as the world's most complete zoo, The Toledo Zoo is just the right size for an afternoon visit or an all-day affair! State-of-the-art exhibits, together with historical architecture, are blended to provide it’s animals with the best possible environment and offer its visitors an exciting experience. The Zoo is home to over 4,000 animals, representing 600 different species and making it a unique, educational place to visit. The Arctic Encounter is the largest exhibit ever in The Toledo Zoo's 100-year history, featuring underwater viewing of polar bears and seals, as well as an extensive interpretive area about life at the "top of the world."

Six Flags Ohio
Six Flags revamped this former park, adding forty million dollars worth of new rides. The 70-mph Superman Ultimate Escape is a must for avid coaster riders, as is the Batman Knight Flight, which boasts a floorless ride. Looney Tunes BoomTown is a great time for kids, where they can meet their favorite characters alongside interactive rides and other fun programs geared towards kids. In addition Hurrican Harbor is an exciting new waterpark with a huge wavepool and a long boat ride called Shipwreck Falls.

Cedar Point
Another mammoth amusement park/resort, Cedar Point has the largest collection of rides (68) and roller coasters (14) in the world. Located in Sandusky, on a Lake Erie peninsula, you’ll find the Millennium Force, the world’s first roller coaster to top the 300-foot mark, and the Power Tower, a 300-foot-tall multi-million-dollar mega-thrill machine. But, Cedar Point is more than just thrill rides; there are also live stage shows, a strip of white sand beach, water rides, two children's areas with pint-sized rides, craftspeople, shopping, dining and an IMAX theater. The adjacent Soak City water park and Challenge Park, an entertainment complex that includes miniature golf courses and a go-kart raceway, are very fun and there are great places to stay, including three hotels and a beautiful marina.

Presidential Museums
Ohio boasts three presidential museums, which honor and commemorate the life and times of Presidents McKinley, Hayes and Taft.

In Canton, the McKinley museum preserves over 48,000 artifacts, including the world's largest collection of President William McKinley artifacts. Dedicated in 1907, it also displays various science exhibits, encouraging visitors of all ages to explore fossils, dinosaurs and the lives of historic people.

The William Howard Taft National Historic Site, in Cincinnati, is the only memorial to the Nation's 27th President and 10th Chief Justice. His home has been painstakingly restored to its appearance during the years he lived in Ohio as a child and young adult.

Finally, in Fremont, the museum of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center was started by the President's 2nd son, Colonel Webb Cook Hayes, shortly after the turn of the 20th century.

Population: 11,102,198.

State Capital: Columbus.

Entered the Union: March 1, 1803 as the 17th state.

State Motto: With God, all things are possible.

State Bird: Cardinal.

State Flower: Scarlet carnation.

State Nickname: Buckeye State.

State Song: Beautiful Ohio.

Origin of Name: From an Iroquois word meaning great river.