From Cleveland to Toledo, the northern Ohio shoreline is lined with cities and towns that offer leading-edge urban amenities and infrastructure. Additionally, this part of the Great Lakes region boasts an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities thanks to its proximity to Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and a variety of city parks and gardens.
Cleveland
Cleveland was on the national stage this past summer as host for the 2016 Republican National Convention and the city was able to show off the more than $3.5 billion investment in visitor-related development over the past five years. This includes the new Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, which opened in 2013, and the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, which opened last year.
“Cleveland is an unconventional destination that offers the best of big cities and the feel of a small town,” said Emily Lauer, senior director of PR/communications for Destination Cleveland. “Visitors have access to world-class attractions, but in a setting that is filled with Midwestern hospitality.”
Beyond many of these attractions, such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art and popular sports entertainment, the city’s location between Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides a variety of activities for groups to get active.
Edgewater Park, just minutes from downtown, offers 6,000 square feet of shoreline, two beaches, pavilions that can be used for private events and a nearby pier with boat ramps offering access to Lake Erie. Also on the lake, groups can take stand-up paddleboarding lessons and kayaking tours with 41° North Kayak Adventures or groups of up to 330 can board the Nautica Queen for a private cruise.
Back on land, Bob’s Bike Tours and Cleveland Bike Tours can take groups on guided tours through downtown and historic neighborhoods such as Ohio City and Tremont.
From Cleveland through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park south to Akron, groups can board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for a picturesque journey. Both group tickets and train car rentals are available and can include private bars and catering.
“Riders can take in the sights as the train winds through small towns, a working 19th century farm and a fascinating canal museum,” Lauer explained. “Visitors can ride along through wine country on the Grape Escape and the Ales on Rails excursions, or bike and take the train back through the Bike Aboard program from April through October.”
Akron
Akron is located on the southern border of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 40 miles south of Cleveland. The city is home to the John S. Knight Center. The greater Akron area has 14 full-service hotels and non-traditional meeting venues and attractions, including the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron Zoo, Hale Farm & Village, the Goodyear Theater and Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park.
“Within steps of our metropolitan amenities, Greater Akron offers breathtaking vistas of our sprawling natural landscape,” said Jim Mahon, the Akron/Summit CVB’s vice president of marketing and brand management. “Meeting delegates and groups have absolutely everything at their fingertips, while also enjoying Greater Akron’s accessibility and affordability.”
On the northwest side of downtown Akron is the gateway to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park. The 33,000-acre park is a playground for hiking, mountain biking, birding, water sports and cross-country skiing, just to name a few activities. The popular Towpath Trail follows the route of the historic Ohio and Erie Canal and passes canal locks and structures once used to tow the canal boats through the river valley. In the park, the Happy Days Lodge and the Howe Meadow are available for private rentals and events.
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Portage Lakes are a group of lakes south of downtown. With Muddyfoot Kayaks, groups can explore the area by guided kayak tours that include basic instruction and gear, and can be customized to include a stop for lunch or dinner at a restaurant or a picnic onshore. Northwest of Akron at Cuyahoga Falls, groups can opt for self-guided or guided kayak trips down the Cuyahoga River with Burning River Adventures.
Canton
Canton’s top attractions include the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, as well as the National First Ladies’ Library.
In addition to these main hot spots, 100-acre Sippo Lake Park sits just outside the city. Visitors can use the park for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, hiking and biking on its many trails. Nature programs, picnic shelters and rental facilities are also available. The Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park is a nature, culture and learning center with banquet and meeting facilities for groups of up to 400.
Lake Erie Shores & Islands
Along Lake Erie, centrally located between Toledo and Cleveland, is a collection of towns and islands that make up the region known as Lake Erie Shores & Islands.
“Our beautiful destination right on Lake Erie offers year-round activities, over 8,000 guest rooms and over 615,000 square feet of meeting space,” explained Amanda Smith, director of group sales for the Lake Erie Shores & Islands CVB. “We offer what the big cities offer, yet provide great value.”
Naturally, with its location, the region offers a variety of water sports and activities. Goodtime I-Lake Erie Island Cruises takes groups on trips such as island-hopping cruises, sunset cruises or wine-tasting cruises aboard its 250-passenger vessel that can also be rented for private events and charters.
Even on land, water is a key attraction in the region, according to Smith. Sandusky is home to two large waterpark resorts: Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky and Kalahari Resorts, Sandusky. Kalahari is a destination within itself with nearly 900 guest rooms, 215,000 square feet of meeting space and both indoor and outdoor waterparks.
On-property guests can brave a zipline tour, ropes course and rock-climbing wall at the Safari Outdoor Adventure Park. Also at the resort is the Safari Adventures Animal Park, where guests can experience up-close animal encounters.
Toledo
Toledo, nestled in northwest Ohio, debuted Hensville in 2016. The collection of restaurants, retail outlets and entertainment venues is located within the city’s Warehouse District along the Maumee River. Fifth Third Field, home of Minor League Baseball’s Toledo Mud Hens, and Hensville Park, a re-imagined green space, are also part of the Hensville development.
Groups can use the facilities at Hensville and Fifth Third Field for meetings, corporate retreats, receptions, banquets and teambuilding activities. Restaurants NINE at Hensville and High Five both have rooftop spaces that can be used for private events and dining.
Just outside Toledo is the Schedel Arboretum & Gardens, a 17-acre estate with an on-site conference room, boardroom, welcome center and outdoor spaces that can all be used for meetings and events. There are both self-guided and guided tours of the grounds available.
South of Toledo, Bowling Green State University is scattered with public parks, gardens and nature preserves. The Wintergarden Woods and St. John’s Nature Preserve provide hiking trails and geocaching options. Groups can also arrange for private programs that can include plant and animal identification, as well as cultural history and nature hikes.
