Location: Chardon
Top Things to do in Chardon
10 Things to Do in Chardon That You Shouldn't Miss
Chardon is a city in and the county seat of Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 census. It is the only incorporated city in Geauga County, and includes land that was once part of Chardon, Hambden and Munson townships. It is located about 10 miles south of Lake Erie and within the "snow belt" of the Great Lakes.
Restaurants in Chardon
1. The Holden Arboretum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
The Holden Arboretum is 3,600 acres of the most beautiful gardens and natural areas in Northeast Ohio, including the Holden Wildflower Garden, featuring Ohio native plants; the Holden Butterfly Garden, which attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; the 20-acre Layer Rhododendron Garden and the 4.5 acre Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden; and collections of lilacs, viburnums, crabapples and conifers. The Arboretum includes the Murch Canopy Walk and the Kalberer Emergent Tower, which are open from April 1 through Nov. 1. Guided walking tours of the grounds are available from April through May, and tram tours are available May through October. Winter activities include snowshoe hikes in January and February, weather permitting.
Reviewed By haridas88 - Ohio
Lovely place to go for a hike . The tower and canopy tree walk were fun . Felt the canopy tee walk was a very short one . Don't forget to pay at the entrance if you would like to go to these two places . If you don't pay , you can go around the place and hike but I suggest paying and going to the two places .
2. Maple Highlands Trail
Overall Ratings
5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By ElaineAndGreg - Chesterland, Ohio
Imagine a park something like 23 miles long that is as little as about 20 feet wide in places and maybe 100 feet wide throughout much of its length. This park is mostly level and passes through many miles of beautiful woodland. Most of the trail is paved and is ideal for hiking or biking.
That's pretty much Maple Highlands Trail.
This beautiful park is along an old B&O railway line (think Monopoly) that was abandoned decades ago and has been converted over the course of years into a trail way through many of the most attractive parks of Geauga County. Most of it is paved (although much of the southern portion is not). The course is mostly wooded, with both newer and more historic covered bridges. You can basically decide how far you want to go and turn around wherever you want to.
Although this park snakes along many miles, there are a limited number of convenient places to park. As a result, while this is fun to walk, a bicycle might be more practical. Most recently, we go onto the trail just south of Chardon at the Mountain Run Station. Oddly enough, you pass through a sort of industrial park to get there, but once you are at the parking area it is a very pleasant paved walk in the wood to the trail. There are several other entrance points you can easily find on the Geauga Park District web site.
It's great that they've both preserved and converted this rail line so that we can all enjoy a trip of pretty much any length you would want. We also saw some older remnants from the rail line along the way.
3. Girdled Road Reservation
Overall Ratings
5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By WHMeg - Willoughby Hills, Ohio
With three different entrances (North, South and Skok Meadow), there are plenty of ways to access this over 900 acre park. Great for hiking (small amount of paved trail), some trails are groomed in the winter for cross-country skiing. You'll often find horse trailers parked at the South entrance, as this is a good trail-riding area as well. Our hiking group easily does 5+ mile hikes here and there are trail options so that you can do anything from any easy half-mile stroll on a paved trail to a challenging 8 mile or so hike with some good up and down hill stretches. There are bathrooms near the picnic area.
4. James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 263 reviews
The site is made up of a visitors' center, as well as the 20-room farmhouse Garfield lived in with his wife and five children.
Reviewed By Edward Hobart T
This is a great gem of a place. A self made man, last log cabin President, rock star of politics, death was more grieved than Lincoln's, and an incredible wife, Lucretia. Tour wonderful, tour guide, Barbara was just terrific. Spent two great hours and could have spent longer. Go. Go now.
5. Patterson Fruit Farms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By Susan M - Maui, Hawaii
Wonderful place to visit and eat huge Apple Fritters with Apple Cider! Lots of veggies, fruit, jams, kitchen gadgets and other preserves, all reasonably priced. We went early September and picked Honey Crisp and Ginger Gold apples first, so much fun!
There's plenty of parking, picnic tables, playground and a beautiful view of Lake Erie in the far distance!
6. Observatory Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By acampingwewillgo1 - Shreveport
went with family to this great park, got to go to an activity, that included learning about stars, planets, etc. The park naturalist, was very knowledgeable and kept all ages entertained! They have programs, all year long. Excellent hiking trails, and exhibits, along the trails. This is where park is located:
Observatory Park
10610 Clay Street
Montville Township
(Montville, OH 44064)
Hotline: 440-279-0820
Park open daily at 6 AM
Memorial Day-Labor Day: open till 1 AM
Labor Day-Memorial Day: open till 11 PM
(see below for building/staffed hours)
Sign coordinates N 41° 34.991 W 81° 4.295
Oberle Observatory
& Robert McCullough Science Center
2nd & 4th Fridays & Saturdays 6-11 PM
Every other Sun. (see program listings for actual dates) 1-4 PM; planetarium show at 2 PM
7. Punderson State Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By Greg D - Angel Fire, New Mexico
Really enjoyed our stay at this campground while visiting Cleveland. It's only about 30 minutes away from downtown with the Rock Hall and West Side Market - both highly recommended. Full hookup sites are VERY limited but water and electric sites seem to be fairly plentiful. Lake across the road and being away from the city noise is excellent. It's on our must stay again location for anytime we're in the area.
8. Century Village Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Sheila S - Burton, Ohio
We live in the town where Century Village is located. We attend most activities offered there. My children grew up going to pioneer school there. It's a great advantage to have this museum in our community. Schools come from far and wide. Civil War is the annual highlight but all activities are excellent family fun. Apple Butter Festival is yummy in autumn with freshly-made apple butter and kettle corn. Beautiful location year 'round. Worth a Sunday drive for families. Town also has restaurants and shops of interest.
9. Sage's Apples
Overall Ratings
5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Steve C - Chardon, Ohio
Nothing beats locally grown fresh apples like the ones at Sage's. All grown right there and delicious. Also lots of local jams, and other farm stuff like sweet corn in season and locally milled flours. Grocery store apples jsut aren't the same any more.
10. Kirtland Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Kirtland Temple and Museum:http://www.kirtlandtemple.org/history.htmlhttp://www.kirtlandtemple.org/tourinfo.htmlThis is one of the most historic buildings in Ohio and an amazing example of pre-Civil War carpentry.
Reviewed By BLTurpin - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Kirtland Temple, owned and administered by The Community of Christ, is most attractive to anyone interested in religious history. There is certainly reason to visit if one is interested in architecture or local history, but this site is primarily about religion, those who believed Joseph Smith to be a prophet, and the community that built up around Smith's believers.
It is possible to walk around the temple without a guide, but in order to go inside you must be with a tour group. Thus, it makes more sense to start your visit at the Visitor's Center. The Visitor's Center has a small museum which explains the temple and which presents artifacts, documents, and history relating to the temple's construction. The original finial is also on display in the lobby as well. Visitors watch a short film and learn about the temple as well as The Community of Christ, the church which owns and operates the temple today.
After the film concludes, a guide will walk with your group the short distance to the temple (approx 100-150 meters.) The day we visited it was raining heavily, but the guides are well equipped and will provide umbrellas.
Once you arrive, the guide will lead you up the stairs to the second floor. The stairs are steep and there are a lot of them. This building upper floors of the building are not accessible to anyone who cannot climb stairs. The unusual architecture, features, and detailing of the hall are explained - visitors may sit down in the congregation area but are not allowed into the pulpit areas. Columns are open to show the ropes and pulleys that controlled the curtains (veils).
After the second level, visitors are guided back downstairs to the ground level. The third floor is not available to visitors on the current tour. On the ground floor, more is explained about the religious history including the building's dedication and first-hand accounts of those in attendance. The guide closes by having the group sing "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning," Hymn #2 in the LDS hymnal which is sung at every Latter-Day Saint temple dedication.
The Community of Christ is welcoming to all people of all faiths. They are used to getting bus loads of LDS visitors and are perfectly at ease conversing with everyone. The Community of Christ are careful caretakers of the temple, using it both to tell the story of how it was built and what it meant as well as use it for some of their contemporary services. The day we visited there was a performance of hymns in the evening.
I highly recommend a visit to the Kirtland Temple. It won't take long and will provide significant insights into the people who lived, worked, and worshipped in the area in the 1830s as well as the legacy of their sacrifices.
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