Ohio

Introduction

South of Wooster, Ohio

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The Midwestern state of Ohio covers around 116,000 square kilometres and has about 11.5 million inhabitants, making it one of the most populous and densely populated states in the country. The state's capital and largest city is Columbus, though both Cleveland and Cincinnati have larger metropolitan areas. Ohio became the US' 17th state on 1 March, 1803. It borders a number of states and also Ontario, Canada. Much of the north forms a coastline along Lake Erie and there are numerous seaports to be found here. Ohio is not one of the highlights of a visit to the US, though it's within reach of a lot of other interesting states, cities and parks.

Geography

To the north, Lake Erie gives Ohio 502 kilometres of coastline, which allows for numerous seaports. Ohio's southern border is defined by the Ohio River, and much of the northern border is defined by Lake Erie. Ohio's neighbors are Pennsylvania to the east, Michigan to the northwest, Ontario, Canada, to the north, Indiana to the west, Kentucky on the south, and West Virginia on the southeast.
Much of Ohio features glaciated plains, with an exceptionally flat area in the northwest being known as the Great Black Swamp. This glaciated region in the northwest and central state is bordered to the east and southeast first by a belt known as the glaciated Allegheny Plateau, and then by another belt known as the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. Most of Ohio is of low relief, but the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau features rugged hills and forests. Significant rivers within the state include the Cuyahoga River, Great Miami River, Maumee River, Muskingum River, and Scioto River. The rivers in the northern part of the state drain into the northern Atlantic Ocean via Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River, and the rivers in the southern part of the state drain into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio River and then the Mississippi.

Cities

• Akron
• Canton
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland, You'll see why "Cleveland Rocks" after a visit to the birthplace of rock-n-roll in Northeast Ohio. But it doesn't end there, Cleveland is also known for its vivacious art scene, major sporting events and wide range of culturally diverse foods.
• Columbus, the state's capital and largest city.
• Dayton
• Lorain
• Mentor
• Parma
• Toledo
• Yellow Springs
• Youngstown

Sights and Activities

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great place to relive the greatest moments in rock history at the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Legendary memorabilia fills the halls, from Tina Turner to Jimi Hendrix. The Rock Hall also features special art exhibits, concerts and music classes.
• Cedar Point Amusement Park and Resort in Sandusky, Ohio's Cedar Point is famous for its roller coasters, many towering over 200 feet tall. There are over 150 rides to choose from, including 17 roller coasters (holding more than any other park on the planet), and three of them make the top 10 list of "best steel roller coaster in the world."
• Theatre can be seen in Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare District.
• Lake Erie: Sport fishing, swimming, jetskiing, parasailing, boating and scuba diving are just some of the things you can do at one of the five Great Lakes.
• The Historic Warehouse District - If you're looking for nightlife, this downtown hot spot is Cleveland's very first neighborhood and the place to spend an evening if you're looking to go "bar/club hopping." Also a nice selection of restaurants in the area to start your night off right.
• The Pro Football Hall of Fame - Football fans unite and reminisce through the history of your favorite athletes and teams in Canton.
• Professional Sports games are easy to catch from Football to Baseball.

Getting There

By Plane

1. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is the main gateway to the city of Cincinnati and the main gateway to the state. It mainly has domestic flights and some international connections to Canada and the Caribbean.
To/from the airport
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) has provides a route from the Airport to Downtown Cincinnati, and rental cars, parking places (short-term and long-term) and taxis are all widely available at the airport.
2. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is about 9 miles (14 kilometres) from the central business district of Cleveland. It mainly has domestic flights, though international connections include Cancun, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Toronto and Montreal.
To/from the airport

• Public Transport: the airport is connected to the Cleveland Rapid Transit system. Passengers can board Red Line trains at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (RTA Rapid Transit station) airport terminal. During late night/early morning hours, service is provided by bus #75 from Hopkins to Downtown Cleveland.
• Car: the rental cars are available, but at a distance from the airport and a relatively high cost. Taxis ply the route between the airport and downtown Cleveland as well.

By Train

A number of trains operate to and from Ohio, mainly en route between New York and Chicago.
These include:

• The Cardinal/Hoosier State between New York and Chicago, via Washington DC, Cincinatti and Indianapolis.
• The Capitol Limited between Washington DC and Chicago, via Cleveland.
• The Lake Shore Limited between New York/Boston and Chicago, via Albany and Cleveland.

Getting Around

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

Ohio has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.

By Bus

• The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority - The RTA makes it easy to get around Cleveland and 58 surrounding municipalities by bus/rapid transit system for just $1.75 each way.

Eat

• The West Side Market is a major landmark and culinary enthusiasts dream. Your options are endless with over 180 vendors selling fresh eats from cultures across the world.

Drink

• Ohio Wine Producers Association - Vineyards across the state offer delicious wine tastings and breathtaking tours of their wineries and countrysides. Geneva, Ohio is an especially popular destination for wine lovers.

• Great Lakes Brewing- Local beer, made in Cleveland and available throughout the state. Huge year long and seasonal variety.

Sleep

Hotel and Motel Chains

There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include:

• Motel 6
• Super 8
• Days Inn
• Quality Inn
• Red Roof Inn
• Howard Johnson
• Best Western
• La Quinta Inns and Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Econo Lodge
• Travelodge
• Hilton
• Choice Hotels
• Ramada
• Radisson
• Starwood Hotels
• Marriott Hotels

External Links

http://www.ohio.gov|Official Governmental Website]]