Not everyone can afford to make it to Daytona Beach for spring break, but with a little creativity and ingenuity Ohioans can find a little vacation close to home.
An easy and cheap way to find interesting locations is by exploiting that high-speed Internet connection in your residence hall room and searching through various Ohio tourism Web sites.
For those history buffs out there, and for anyone who wonders what all those pamphlets in the gas stations along Interstate 77 are about, the Ohio Historical Society's Web site has the answers. The information includes historical sites from different regions around the state. Museums such as Campus Martius in Marietta and various presidential sites are also available.
The Ohio Department of Development, Division of Travel and Tourism Web site has links to the 28th Cleveland International Film Festival, which runs from March 18 to 28, coinciding with Ohio University's spring break. The film festival is held at Tower City Cinemas in Cleveland.
Those staying in Athens or the southeast Ohio region can find close trips on the Hocking Hills Tourism Association's Web site. Various parks, such as Old Man's Cave, are within driving distance - all you need is a good pair of hiking boots.
Shopping on the cheap side can also be achieved, even if your wallet is breaking from too many Easton trips. There are two Prime Outlets locations in Ohio: in Lodi (Cleveland/Akron/Canton area) and Jeffersonville (Cincinnati/Columbus/Dayton area), and a Grove City, Penn., location convenient to Youngstown and Pittsburgh. Switching from J. Crew to the J. Crew outlet may save just enough pennies for next year's spring break.
Visiting one of Ohio's 74 state parks is another way to get away from it all, with such options as Maumee Bay Resort near Toledo, which even offers a beach.
There also is a large selection of wineries in Ohio to choose from to make up for all those margaritas you're missing. The Ohio Wine Producers' Association Web site offers a map of the different regions of Ohio where wineries are located. It's not exactly Coronas on the beach, but wineries offer locally grown wines and attractive surroundings. A designated driver is a must.
Interesting museums are found in most major Ohio cities. Travel back in time to that sixth-grade field trip and visit COSI in Columbus. Check out the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Hang on Sloopy: the music of Ohio exhibit if you're in the Cleveland area over break.
So grab your sweater, raincoat and/or winter coat (hey, this is Ohio) and explore our lovely, chilly heart of it all.
17 Archives
Megan Chew
