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When you arrive in Greater Akron, get ready for a variety of exciting and engaging activities. The following themed experiences will introduce you to all there is to see and do. We encourage you to use these suggestions and our Visitors Guide to create a visit you can call your very own!
NATURE LOVERS
When you commune with nature, your daily stresses and strains will quickly fade. Explore the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio’s only national park and among the Top 15 Most Visited in the U.S.), featuring more than 33,000 acres to hike, bike, ski, sled and simply unwind. Summit Metro Parks offer 14,100 additional acres with 16 parks, several conservation areas and more than 125 miles of trails and 2 miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Iconic attractions, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and Hale Farm & Village extol their surroundings, offering manicured gardens and open vistas. The Akron Zoo also offers a glimpse into the habitats of creatures large and small.
FOODIES
Whether you enjoy the art of cooking or prefer to savor a delicious dish prepared just for you, Summit County has a menu sure to please. Find the freshest ingredients at Mustard Seed Market & Café to make your favorite recipes exceptional. Want to avoid the kitchen? Enjoy nostalgic car-side service at Swenson’s Drive-In. Hundreds of eateries, diners, restaurants and grilles are located in every corner of Summit County, so pack a big appetite. Did we mention Fannie May Chocolate Factory?
ART ENTHUSIASTS
Visual, musical and theatrical — Greater Akron is the stage for sensational cultural pursuits. The expanded Akron Art Museum houses an eclectic modern collection. One block away, Summit Artspace is home to more than 40 arts organizations and features gallery space, studios and classrooms. Stunning spaces — Akron Civic Theatre, EJ Thomas Hall, Greystone, Blossom Music Center and Lock 3/Lock 4 — provide year-round access to performances large and small. Greater Akron boasts seven community theaters with inspiring and entertaining seasons. The world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra makes Blossom Music Center its summer home, while the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Musical Association, Summit Choral Society and Ballet Theatre of Ohio dazzle audiences during every season.
SPORTS FANS
From novices to pros, from armchair quarterbacks to conditioned athletes, Greater Akron is the place for sports. Cheer on the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park or catch The University of Akron Zips’ sports teams. The Akron Roller Derby is also taking the town by storm with their flat-track bouts. If you have a need for speed, Barberton Speedway has the cars, while Northfield Park has the horses. Show your own speed during the Akron Marathon Race Series. Marvel at the world’s best golfers at the Kaulig Companies Championship or gravity-defying races at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby Championships. A few more suggestions: indoor rock climb at Kendall Cliffs or Rock Mill, and slice through the powder at Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort.
POWER SHOPPERS
The shopping forecast couldn’t be brighter. Akron and Summit County have fabulous and unique shops with special finds for everyone on your shopping list, including you! The only limit on your fun is that placed upon you by your credit card company. Summit Mall is anchored by top retailers. Specialty shopping is abundant throughout the county including: Highland Square, Hudson’s First & Main, Macedonia Commons, Downtown Akron, Northside District and Peninsula. Akron-centric must-sees are Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, Akron Glass Works, The Bomb Shelter, and Crafty Mart.
HISTORY BUFFS
Greater Akron continues to play a proud and influential role in nurturing vibrant centers of commerce, education and culture in northeast Ohio. These initiatives rest upon our solid heritage. As early as Sojourner Truth’s 1851 “Ain’t I A Woman” speech, our community has been a melting pot for ideas, customs and forms of expression. Visit the birthplace of AA with a tour of Dr. Bob’s Home and the gatehouse at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Travel back to the mid 1800s at Hale Farm & Village. Numerous sites, mansions and homes also underscore poignant stories from our rich and lustrous past.