Ohio Travel Guide
Nestled in the Great Lakes region of the US, Ohio has a colorful history that includes European influences and Native Americans who have lived in this area for hundreds of years. Numerous Native American tribes call Ohio home, including Iroquois and Shawnee. Ohio has a bloody history with regards to its Native Indians, with battles such as the Beaver Wars and well known massacres such as the Gnadenhutten and Yellow Creek Massacre all taking place in the state.
Geographically, many consider Ohio to be in the northeast, but it was originally considered to be in the Midwest. Ohio is bordered by Lake Eerie, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indian, Kentucky, West Virginia and Canada (Ontario). This geographic location makes Ohio an important transportation route and because of this, the state has excellent highway and port facilities.
The capital and largest city in Ohio is Columbus, but many will have heard of other large cities in Ohio such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Akron. As much as Ohio is an agricultural state, it also has plenty of urban attractions. With over three quarter of a million inhabitants, Columbus is located almost in the center of the state. Named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, the city sits beautifully along the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. There is plenty on offer for visitors including the Columbus Museum of Art, Chadwick Arboretum and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The zoo and aquarium are particularly famous because of their director, Jack Hanna, who frequently appears on TV shows.
Cleveland and Cincinnati rank second and third after Columbus in size. In fact, Cleveland was voted one of the best cities to live in the US and offers the visitor a diverse set of experiences. The skyline is dotted with architecturally diverse buildings and the city boasts the second largest performing arts center in the US, the Playhouse Square Center. Many visitors come to Cleveland to seek out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Ohio is also known for its educational institutions and there are no less than 13 state universities here, the most famous being Ohio State University (OSU) and Cleveland State University. Here, visitors will find diverse arts and cultural programs, as well as excellent bookstores and beautiful campuses to explore on foot.
If you are interested in American sports, Ohio is home to many professional teams including the Cincinnati Reds (baseball), Cincinnati Bengals (American football), Cleveland Cavaliers (basketball) and Columbus Blue Jackets (ice hockey). Tickets are fairly easy to get and can be quite reasonable; seeing a professional sports match at the stadium is a great experience.