100+ Adventures Around the Lake: Ohio

Beneath the Surface
Learn the awe-inspiring secrets of the deep at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, filled with more than 300 artifacts and 40 hands-on interactive exhibits. They include the 111-year-old freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker, which has been restored to the days when it was known as the “Queen of the Lakes.” nmgl.org

Cheers!
Raise a glass to one of the original craft brews and ciders for which Toledo’s Maumee Bay Brew Pub (mbaybrew.com) is known. Start with a pint of Throwin’ Scones Brown Ale, brewed with scones made by neighboring Maddie & Bella Coffee Roasters (maddieandbella.com), or opt for a pitcher of semi-sweet, refreshing MacQueen’s Cider featuring fruit by the Ohio orchard for which it’s named.

Bird’s Eye View
Forty-foot-high bluffs with 9,000 feet of shoreline provide the backdrop for magnificent views of the water along Lake Erie Bluffs in Perry. Visitors of all skill levels can enjoy low-impact hiking and fishing in the park. Get a bird’s-eye view of the coast atop the 50-foot observation tower by taking the winding staircase to a deck that offers 360-degree views. lakemetroparks.com

See the Sights
Cruise our Great Lake in style on the Nautica Queen (nauticaqueen.com) and enjoy a sightseeing adventure filled with spectacular views of bridges, Lake Erie coastline and the Cleveland skyline. Each lunchtime, sunset and Sunday outing includes a full buffet and tunes spun by the DJ aboard. While downtown, be sure to visit Great Lakes Science Center (greatscience.com), which makes the subject fun with a variety of out-of-the-ordinary NASA exhibits, including the Apollo command module which traveled 26.5 million miles in space; and depictions of how life is lived on the International Space Station. The center’s six-story high Cleveland Clinic DOME movie theater features surround sound and laser illuminated projection that takes audiences on stunning around-the-world educational adventures. Next door, the heart of rock ’n’ roll beats loudly in the shrine that tells the story of the music and its stars. Artifacts, interactive exhibits and music at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (rockhall.com) capture the magic of the soundtrack of our lives. 

New Scenes at Cedar Point
As we bid a bittersweet goodbye to the antique cars that cruised their way along a tracked roadway in Frontier Town, we anxiously await the unveiling of plans for what is to come in that space. What do we know now? A restaurant geared toward enhancing the park’s variety of culinary offerings is in the works. What else is new for 2022? Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark & Resort (castawaybay.com) and Sawmill Creek Resort (sawmillcreekresort.com) are receiving major makeovers, from the front desks to the guest rooms, hallways and outdoor spaces — all with the goal of enhancing visitors’ experiences at America’s Roller Coast. Looking to plan your stay? Here’s a few dates to keep in mind:

• Opening Day: May 7

• Frontier Festival: May 26-June 19

• CoasterMania!: June 3

• Light Up the Point: July 4

• Cedar Point Nights: July 29-Aug. 21
cedarpoint.com

Picture Perfect 
For more than a century, nature lovers have been drawn to North Chagrin Reservation in Mayfield Village, Willoughby Hills and Gates Mills for the outdoor recreation it offers, the naturalist-led programs it hosts and the wildlife sanctuaries it harbors. The center’s Sanctuary Marsh wetland is filled with native plants that attract waterfowl, songbirds and shorebirds; it blooms with wildflowers in spring and summer. Sunset Pond is home to Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards and rare black ducks. Be sure to visit the North Chagrin Nature Center, featuring live animal exhibits, a children’s play area and wildlife viewing areas. Paved trails surrounding the center provide easy access to all visitors and feature a 300-foot boardwalk surrounded by picture-perfect views of Lake Erie. Pack a picnic and eat lunch beside Squire’s Castle, a historic gatehouse modeled after German and English baronial castles of the 1890s. clevelandmetroparks.com

Taste of Tuscany
Savor a taste of Tuscany in Northeast Ohio. Buccia Winery in Conneaut is renowned for producing estate-grown cool-climate, handcrafted, artisanal wines, including the exclusive Rogers 15-variety Agawam. Set amid picturesque vineyards, Buccia also hosts wine tastings and live music. Make it a getaway by booking a room in one of the winery’s cozy B&B guest suites, featuring private four-person Jacuzzi hot tubs and patios with vineyard views. Breakfast and wine flights are included with each stay. bucciavineyards.com

Take Me to the Theater
Experience the magic of live performances in the Rabbit Run Theater premier barn, located in the heart of the Grand River Valley Wine District in Madison. Each summer, guests are invited to bring a picnic supper and dine on the spacious grounds before seeing the best of Broadway inside. This season’s playbill features The Belle of Amherst: The Story of Emily Dickinson, (May 27–June 11), Titanic: The Musical (June 24–July 9), Disney’s Newsies: The Musical (July 22–Aug. 6) and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Aug. 12–27). rabbitrun.org