Vacation Rentals in Ohio

Known as the Buckeye State thanks to the vast amount of buckeye wheat that its farmers produce, Ohio has around 12 million people, and is right on the border between the Eastern United States and the plains of the Midwest. It offers a wonderful mixture of coastal recreation, urban sophistication and outdoor fun.

Because of its central location between the Eastern Seaboard and Chicago, getting to Ohio isn’t hard. You can take Amtrak services from New York or Philadelphia to Cleveland, catch a Greyhound to almost every major city in the state, or fly into airports at Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.

Ohio’s landscape is a story of north and south In the north, the landscape is flat, and slopes towards the shores of Lake Eerie, where you’ll find attractive tourist resorts and islands. To the south, you’ll find more mountainous terrain, with hiking country and snaking river valleys. That kind of variety makes it a fascinating state to explore by car.

There’s no shortage of family attractions in Ohio, where options include the 18 rollercoasters at Cedar Point, Sandusky, and the child-friendly delights of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

If you love sport, Ohio is the place to go. Watch the Bengals or the Browns in the NFL, see the Columbus Crew play Major League Soccer, play some golf at championship courses like Muirfield Village.

Ohio’s cities are full of appeal. Whether you want to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, tour Cincinnati’s huge range of museums (or visit its popular Oktoberfest), or see the galleries and parks of Toledo, every city has something to offer.

The world’s number one pop music museum, Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame includes sections dedicated to legendary acts like the Beatles, Talking Heads, Elvis and Chuck Berry.

Located in Sandusky, Cedar Point is one of America’s favorite amusement parks. Dating back to 1870, it features a wide range of rollercoasters and is right next to Cedar Point Shores – a massive water park complex.

Situated in Lake Eerie, the Bass Islands are a blissful place to relax, and offer a number of vacation rentaloptions. Head there for fishing, yachting or just pure relaxation.

Food is a big deal in Ohio – often with a German flavour. Check out May’s Taste of Cincinnati or July’s Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus – or try specialist events like the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in August.

Only 50 miles from downtown Columbus, the Hocking Hills feel like another world, with their impressive rock formations, caves, forested hillsides and winding trails. If you love the outdoors, they are a must-visitduring your Ohio vacation.

If you are heading to Cleveland, the best time to visit is probably late summer and early fall – as the lakeshore can be pretty hot and humid in mid-summer. Elsewhere, schedule a trip from May through October for mild weather and great conditions for hiking, visiting food festivals or just taking it easy.

Ohio is a fairly large state, but it has an excellent highway network, so you shouldn’t have any problems traveling between its cities and attractions. The main roads are I-70, which cuts across the center of the state from east to west, and I-71, which runs from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Greyhound buses also link together all parts of the state if you don’t plan to rent a vehicle.

Every corner of the state has its own local events, so wherever you choose a vacation home, be sure to check the calendar. You wouldn’t want to miss out on highlights like the Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville, or Ohiolina, a unique fusion of North Carolina and Ohio’s music traditions, which takes place in Mount Vernon every September.