This Ohio Road Trip Won’t Disappoint
This Ohio Road Trip Won’t Disappoint
2020 will be the summer for good, old-fashioned road trips. Travelers have been turning to AAA Western and Central New York for destinations, maps, tour books and more. It appears that travelers are looking to escape with day trips, long weekends, and eventually week-long trips.
A nice, easy trip from New York is to the nearby state of Ohio. While you can’t do the usual, like catch a Cleveland Indians game (due to the pandemic), there are many other opportunities and experiences that are safe with social distancing.
This summer, AAA expects travelers to “Rediscover America” by traveling within the United States, and National Parks are the perfect place to do that. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is about five hours from Syracuse and three hours from Buffalo. For those staying in Cleveland, it’s about a 30-minute drive. Map your route with AAA’s Internet TripTik Planner.
Upon arrival, you’ll be impressed with the green landscape from the park’s 33,000 acres. We chose to hike the Ledges trail in awe of the massive rock formations. The park asks visitors to follow trails in a clockwise direction to ensure social distancing. Be sure to pack a picnic and find a spot to enjoy nature!
In the center of the park (we drove a short distance up the road) you’ll find the small village of Peninsula, Ohio - home to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. While trains departures have been canceled through September 30 due to the pandemic, you can still appreciate the rail history and carefully snap a photo near the rail station, or rent a bike and explore the area on wheels.
Be sure to stop for lunch at one of Peninsula’s outdoor restaurants. We chose Fishers Café and Pub and were not disappointed. The service and food hit the spot after working up an appetite hiking at the National Park – try the eggplant fries!
Digest your lunch by strolling past art galleries and small shops and be sure to get some popcorn to take home from The Crooked Kettle Popcorn Company.
Peninsula is midway between Cleveland and Akron, where you’ll find plenty of hotels to choose from. Simply contact your AAA Travel Consultant to choose one to your liking.