Location: Akron
Top Things to do in Akron
Things to do in Akron, Ohio (OH): The Best Outdoor Activities
Rising from the rolling hills of the Western Reserve along the Ohio & Erie Canal, Akron is a vital heartland city and an ideal meeting point at the center of multiple major transportation routes. Surrounded by lush greenery and adjacent to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Akron is a playground for active travelers. The downtown hosts a vibrant arts scene and world class shopping. Summer brings excitement with the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational and the All-American Soap Box Derby.
Restaurants in Akron
1. Blimp City Bike and Hike
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Independent bike shop renting, selling, servicing bikes on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath. We are close to the Cuyahoga National Park.
2. Cascade Valley Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By IvanSusanin1613 - Cleveland, United States
This large branch of the Summit County Metroparks system has several different areas and entrances, so these comments are limited to the Chuckery area. Not far from the parking lot and toilets is a large tree famous as a Native American trail marker. Past it and across a small meadow, the trail enters a wooded area and quickly brings one up alongside the Cuyahoga River, frequently passes a boisterous section with roiling rapids coupled with calmer pools near to the shore. The trail can be a bit muddy in spots after a rain, and there were a few mosquitoes, but those were the only drawbacks. The trail was wide enough, and was lightly trafficked. The wooded setting was pleasant and quiet, with no noticeable traffic noise even though the park is on the edge of Akron.
3. Portage Lakes Cruises
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
Pontoon boat tours, customized daily to suit your group or join in public tours on M-W-F. Clean and comfortable 24'boats with friendly and safe captains who share information about the history, wildlife, and local events. Scenic beauty on a chain of seven lakes with refreshments included. Additional breakfast, lunch and dinner options available or stop at lakeside eateries. Season May 1 thru September 30. The Portage Princess, a large tour boat carrying up to 45 people is available for Private tours and parties. Adding in 2018 is Live on the Lakes, with live acoustic music and Karaoke designed for adults - every Thursday departing from The Upper Deck at 6pm.
4. Cascade Locks Park Association
5. Akron Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 810 reviews
Reviewed By AnitaS398 - Chesterland, United States
The Akron Zoo started out as a children's zoo years ago...it was a start, not very good, and was closed during the winter months. Then...something changed. A new zoo director came to Akron and the zoo started getting better. Then...a woman zoo director took over and things really got much better and is still getting better yet. This zoo has only just so much space in which to expand, but the way the land has been redone and new exhibits have been added and are still being added as I write this review...it is amazing how a dinky zoo has stepped up to being a top notch zoo with natural habitat exhibits and naturalistic exhibits that are good for the animals and the people on the other side of the enclosures. The only exhibit that is not so good is the bird enclosure for native birds to our region...there are two ways to see this...from the outside which you are looking through mesh or through a walk through platform in the top of the trees....and there are very few birds to see besides one turkey. As for the grizzly bear exhibit, this is wonderful. Giant picture windows get you up close to see the two bears (brother and sister) and the exhibit is rather large with grasses growing wild as they should be. A new exhibit that opened up this summer, 2019, is a large natural (will be much more natural in a year or two when the natural grasses grow) is for African lions. There are two "prides" (not really prides, since one pride is only two lions) that rotate in the exhibit since you can't put two males together who are strangers. The original lions (a bonded pair, male and female) are exhibited one day, then there will be three new lions (a male and two females) exhibited on another day. In the exhibit next to the lion exhibit is a large enclosure that has white storks, Speke's gazelles, and a smaller bird or two. There are goats for the people to feed, there is a wonderful garden with beautiful plants and flowers, there is an aquarium of a sort, a carousel, penguin exhibit, lemur exhibit, snow leopards, etc.... enough animals to see to keep you busy for a few hours. They also have a few eagles, a few owls, a jaguar, a capybara,, bats, snakes, a few Andean condors, etc.... What is being built now is a whole new asian area exhibit that will include tigers, red pandas, and I don't know exactly what else....but it should be interesting and better than what it is replacing. Parking is $3.00, and if you must throw coins into a body of water, you can do so outside of the entrance to the zoo in a naturalistic fountain on the right side of the entry doors. If you are handicapped, you can rent a scooter for a charge. The paths around the zoo are paved and handicapped accessible. As for zoo hours....the zoo is open at 10AM and closes at 5PM in the summer months. The zoo is open in the winter....but you must dress for the weather. I don't know what you would see in the winter, but I will say that this is more of an outdoor zoo, even if there is an indoor place with exhibits and a food concession and eating area. And....right now as construction for the Asian exhibits progress, in order to see the rest of the zoo, there is an uphill climb to get to these exhibits, so wear good walking shoes. Oh, by the way, they do have zoo "shows" in a building behind the zoo garden that are geared to keep children interested.
6. Firestone Country Club
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By mefinVA - Williamsburg, United States
I'm not a good golfer but I enjoy going out to play along with my husband. We are on a road trip and have arranged to play along the way at courses owned by Club Corp, which owns our home country club as well. Firestone is pretty famous so we were excited to play here. The South Course is the most famous, where they have PGA tournaments. Way too difficult for me. We did accidentally play a couple of holes on it when we were looking for Hole 1 on the West Course. They started us on the back 9. When we looked for hole 1, hole 1 of the South Course was there first. It was the only time the signage failed us--it was generally quite good. Once we found out, we went back and got better instructions to get to hole 1 on the West Course. The rangers were really nice about the whole thing. The course was in beautiful condition. It was hard, but not so hard that I got discouraged.The greens were kind of mottled, but still very smooth. We had lunch at the 1929 lounge looking out over one of the courses. The food was fine and the staff was nice. A great club to visit, especially for the golf!
7. Canal Park
8. Springfield Bog
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By cnjpage - Akron, United States
We finally visited this Metropark & really enjoyed the walk. It is well maintained & a fairly level trail. We were amazed at how many butterflies & dragonflies were flying around - it was stunning. The wildflowers are lovely too. We are grateful to have this in our community.
9. Go! Running Tours Akron
Guided running tours in Akron. Run back in time to the rubber industry's heart and to present day Akron with its modern vibe. Discover Akron with a private running guide.
10. Raymond C. Firestone Golf Course
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
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