5 Ohio Museums That Won't Bore You

Museums can be one big yawn fest, and the simple utter of the word can send a shudder down an adventurer’s spine. But there is such a thing as a cool, adventurous museum, and Ohio is home to quite a few kickass museums. Below is a list of some of Ohio’s coolest museums that you’d be more than pleased if you chose to visit!

1. Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton): Ohio has some pretty hardcore football fans, from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Browns. The genesis of the nation’s captivity and affection for the pigskin sport began in the Canton area, as the city is considered to be the birthplace of the NFL (originally the American Professional Football Association) in 1920.

2. Rock & Hall of Fame & Museum (Cleveland):  Cleveland was overall chosen as the spot where this iconic structure would be built due to the fact that Cleveland DJ Alan Freed is widely credited as coining the term "rock and roll" and that Cleveland was the location of the very first rock and roll concert. I first traveled here as a junior in high school, and most recently in 2009. It is a jaw dropping experience entering a place where you can marvel at Les Paul guitars, Michael Jackson's glove, Elvis' signature apparel, and numerous other music gems. You can also walk through the "hall of fame" itself which lists all inductees, from The Beatles to Madonna.

3. National Air Force Museum (Dayton): It is only fitting that the Dayton area is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (or NMUSAF), as this is known to be the "Birthplace of Aviation," where the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur) lived and invented the world's very first successful aircraft. The museum houses many artifacts relating to the history and development of aviation and pays homage to the Wright Brothers.

4. COSI: Center of Science & Industry (Columbus): This science museum has been named by Parents Magazine as the #1 Science Center for families in the country. But this museum is good for all ages, old and young and everything in between. The plus side is that the museum makes science fun instead of geeky with exhibits on space, the ocean, weather, the human body, and more. There are also limited edition exhibits like the Titanic, dinosaurs, or the current H2O exhibit! You will bring out the kid in you and learn a ton while getting lost for hours in this absolutely awesome learning experience.

5. Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum (Pickerington): While working in the Ohio state legislature, I had the opportunity to meet the government affairs specialist for the American Motorcycle Association (AMA). While crafting bills pertaining to motorcyclists and traffic actuated stop lights, he also took the time to inform me that the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame was located just minutes away from downtown Columbus! Again, I was absolutely gobsmacked that Ohio is home to such a kickass museum that any young boy fascinated with motorcycles (or those experiencing their mid-life crisis) would die for.

Run With The Pack Recap

Photo by Steve Matheny

They say a dog often takes after its owner. And, in my case, that seems to be true! My newly rescued pet chihuahua Slider has been an absolute joy over the past month that I have owned him. Just like me, he seems to be quite the adventurer and athlete! Not many would expect that out of a nine pound fully grown dog, but I have certainly lucked out by landing myself an OHventurous canine companion!

This was evidenced by our recent participation in the "Run With The Pack 5K" to benefit Pets Without Parents. The race is designed so that you can run with your dog, with the entry fee going toward a great cause of helping shelter pets find homes. It took place this past weekend, Saturday, June 23 bright and early at 8:30 AM at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park.

Slider and I arrived at 7:30 AM with my mom and aunt who were visiting Columbus for the weekend. We had a late night, so an early morning race was going to prove challenging. I chugged a 5 Hour Energy Drink, ate some granola bars and stretched out in preps for the event. This was my first official race since running the Capital City Half Marathon in May, and I was still recovering from illiotibial (IT) band syndrome from that race. Slider and I had run just a couple of times in the days leading up to the race, but I had seen him run freely in the dog park and knew he'd be a fast one!

Photos by OHventures

Dozens of booths lined the paths near the starting line, including a Doggy Kissing Booth, raffle drawings, giveaways, sponsors, and more! Some of my favorite booths included the Pet Butler (who cleans your yard when **it happens!), the Animal Hospital of Polaris (which seems to have a great deal of amenities), and the various booths offering treats and other services.

Literally hundreds of dogs and their owners were at the park on that beautiful Saturday morning. Some people ran without a dog as well, or there were multiple people running with one dog. Every breed imaginable was present, from bulldogs to bichons, collies to cocker spaniels, and mutts galore! Slider was definitely in the smaller size bracket, but that did not stop him from performing above and beyond any expectations!

The horn blew when I was in the middle of filling out raffle tickets, so I had a bit of a delayed start. But once we started running, it was Slider speeding ahead, zipping through the crowd and causing quite a spectacle! Many people commented to us as we ran by, in aw at how quickly my dog's four little legs were moving. I had a hard time keeping up with the little guy! However, immediately when we hit the 1 Mile Marker, right by the Scioto River, Slider had to take a rest to go potty and drink some water.

We picked up the pace again for the second mile, as we ran under a path shaded nicely by trees. Still, I was pouring down sweat, and it seemed to be time to downshift to a power walk for a bit. At one point, I picked Slider up to give his paws a break as we jogged for a few tenths of a mile. After stopping for some more water, we kicked it into gear and ran the third and final mile. More comments came from fellow runners who were impressed and amused by Slider's abilities and demeanor.

I too gave compliments and made comments to other runners on how well their dogs were doing, and how beautiful their pets were! There was a gorgeous husky running near us most of the time, and a number of retrievers I was fond of! But the chit chat was kept to a minimum, as Slider and I had a lot to prove! We finished strong with a time of approximately 33 minutes! I was very proud of my dog (and I am sure he was proud of me). We had some water, and also had him cool off in a small doggy pool. After replenishing with a bagel and apple, we mingled (including with my friend and OHventurer Jason Warner) and made our way back home to rest!

I have to say that this was one of the most fun things I have done in a long, long time! If you have a dog, and/or if you simply care about dogs, I highly encourage you to participate! This race brings a smile to my face seeing all of the happy-go-lucky dogs running about, and knowing that it goes to such a good cause. There are other dog runs around the state that you can keep an eye out for! It is quite an experience!

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park

Photo by Jenn Daly for OHventures

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
State Route 282
Nelson Township, OH
(440) 564-2279

Known by regulars and locals as simply “Nelson Ledges,” the Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Nelson Township, Portage County, Ohio has always been notorious for its eclectic visitors and risky rock-strewn terrain. Located just under an hour away from my hometown of Hubbard, it was here that I first got a thirst for traveling the state to visit adventurous parks and trails. My friends and I would drive out to Nelson Ledges during the summers of high school and college ready to hike, swim, and explore.

Because of the dangerous crevices and chasms that exist at Nelson Ledges, our parents were sometimes leery of allowing us kids to visit the park. However, if you stick to the officially marked trails, you will remain safe and out of danger! This is one park in particular where the majesty of Mother Nature is best to be viewed from a distance. The established trails (all named after a color: White Trail, Yellow Trail, Red Trail, Blue Trail) allow hikers to experience the beautiful and dramatic quartz and sandstone rock formations, such as Old Maid’s Kitchen, Dwarf’s Pass, Fat Man’s Peril, The Squeeze, and Devil’s Icebox.

The trails here are not very long, adding up to just 3 miles in total length. However, there is a great variety of terrain that one can experience when hiking here, from a nice and leisurely jaunt on the rim of the park to the very rough and rugged channel in between the bottoms of the cliffs.


There are also caves and waterfalls to add to the splendor park-goers can see on a visit. My favorite part of Nelson Ledges is the aforementioned Devil’s Icebox, which can literally cool you off if hiking on a hot summer day. There are rock formations that resemble a devil or demon that seems to be overlooking the cool spot. I also enjoy and get a chuckle out of the “Fat Man’s Peril” which would truly be a peril to someone who was obese, as they would have a hard time getting through the passageway.

A view of the cliffs at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park

Rock climbing is not allowed at the park, although one may be tempted. But, as I mentioned before, these cliffs are extremely dangerous, and you should exercise extreme caution when in the area. It is quite a sight, however, to see wildflowers, ferns and trees growing along the walls of the cliffs, their roots reaching all the way down in plain sight.

When finished hiking, my friends and I would typically head down the street to the Nelson Ledges Quarry Park (12001 State Route 282) where we could spend time swimming and laying on the beach at the amazingly beautiful quarry. Aside from swimming, there is a designated spot for cliff jumping (the location can be seen above at the orange pylon), which provides a great thrill. A lifeguard is on site in a kayak to ensure safety.

Me with friends Jeff, Mark and Paul at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in 2004

The campgrounds here do tend to attract a specific group of free spirits, who may even refer to themselves as “hippies,” and thus there are often musical celebrations and festivals full of tie-dye, headbands and tambourines. But seeing this from afar can be a fun spectacle and provide a nice slice of culture in your life!

National Museum of US Air Force

Photos by Anna Garcia for OHventures

 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, OH 45433
(937) 255-3286

The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, is the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum. My former boss was a licensed pilot who would always rant and rave about the Wright Patterson Air Force Base and all that takes place there. I hold our nation's servicemen and women in high regard, have a huge interest in history, and like any young boy growing up, always have had a fascination with airplanes and aircrafts. This museum was calling out to me!

There is no cost for admission to the museum, which consists of three large hangars. The first hangar is dedicated to the beginnings of aviation, the second is about World War II, and the third contains memorabilia from the Korean War & the Cold War. You can sign up to take a tour to the nearby base to see more planes, but the tours are limited. Currently the museum is home to a traveling Holocaust display of personal artifacts, which I would highly recommend, as many of the concentration camp liberators were from Ohio.

It is only fitting that the Dayton area is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (or NMUSAF), as this is known to be the "Birthplace of Aviation," where the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur) lived and invented the world's very first successful aircraft. The museum houses many artifacts relating to the history and development of aviation and pays homage to the Wright Brothers. The Huffman Prairie (part of what is now called the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park), where the brothers performed many of their experiments, is located nearby.

In addition to the sections of the museum dedicated to the pioneers of aircraft (from Ohio and elsewhere), there are 360 aircraft and missiles on display, including many rare aircrafts such as Bockscar the B-29 Superfortress that dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki during the last days of World War II.

We are truly lucky to have such a renowned museum with such important historical artifacts located here in Ohio. It’s one of the many reasons I am proud to call Ohio home.

Many thanks go out to my friend Anna Garcia for providing insight, information and photographs from her visit to the museum in June 2012.