How2Day: Attractions and Things to Do in Ohio

Ohio is home to a wide range of attractions and activities, from outdoor recreation to indoor museums that pay homage to the best musicians and football players in history. The Midwestern state borders one of the nation's largest lakes and also boasts one of its biggest amusement parks. Ohio is home to professional sports franchises --- including the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Indians, the Cincinnati Reds and the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers --- so you can always find a game.

Cedar Point Amusement Park is a thrill-seeker's paradise, with 75 rides, including 17 roller coasters. The 364-acre park is located in Sandusky, in northwestern Ohio, on the edge of Lake Erie. You'll have to walk through the park, so bring comfortable shoes and don't forget sunscreen if you're going in the summer. In addition to adrenaline-inducing thrill rides --- such as the wooden coaster Blue Streak and the twisting, turning Maverick --- the park has a variety of family- and kid-friendly rides and live entertainment, such as music concerts and magic shows. You'll have access to a stretch of beach, as well as 14 restaurants inside the park, including the Johnny Rockets diner and the Chuck Wagon barbecue restaurant. Cedar Point is open from May 15 through October every year.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland encompasses 150,000 square feet of music memorabilia, theaters and exhibits. The seven-story building is home to five theaters with ongoing shows such as the U2 3D concert film. New artists and bands are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame each year, and their memorabilia is added to the exhibits. Among the items you'll see on display at the museum are instruments and clothes that once belonged to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Johnny Cash's tour bus has been on display, as have artifacts from The Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, including clothing, posters and photographs. Purchase your tickets in advance on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website to find special offers, including college, military and AAA discounts.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio, and covers 83,000 square feet. The Hall contains memorabilia of the National Football League's Hall of Fame inductees and of the league's history, dating back to the days of the American Professional Football Association. The Hall's annual enshrinement festival draws thousands of people to Canton every August and features the enshrinement ceremony, with speeches from the new inductees. Tickets to the event generally sell out, so purchase yours through the Hall of Fame website at least two to three months in advance. Admission tickets to the Hall of Fame are available online and at the front door. In 2010, the Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and remains open until 8 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.

Lake Erie stretches along the northern edge of Ohio, separating the state from Canada. One of the United States' five Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the 11th largest lake in the world with a surface area of 9,910 square miles. The lake's massive size means the area can play host to a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including swimming, boating and hiking along the southern shore. The lake also offers fishing for walleye, bass, catfish and perch. The north edge of Ohio is dotted with campgrounds and state parks alongside the lake, such as Lake Erie Islands State Park, which offers opportunities for camping, picnicking and wildlife viewing.

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