For a Half Day

Kent State University Museum: Located on the picturesque campus of Ohio’s Kent State University, about 30 minutes’ drive east of Cleveland, the Kent State University Museum (tel: (330) 672 3450; website: www.kent.edu/museum) is an unusual institution, which houses an astounding collection of costumes and decorative arts from the 18th century to the present day. Opened to the public in 1985, its collection now includes almost 20,000 items of costume and 200,000 pieces of glassware, as well as fine furniture, textiles and paintings. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.


For a Whole Day

Cedar Point Amusement Park: Cedar Point (tel: (419) 627 2350; website: www.cedarpoint.com) began life in the middle of the 19th century as a bathhouse resort on a peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Soon after, rides were introduced and in the intervening years it has grown into one of the largest ride parks in the USA. Today the amusement park is home to 68 rides and 17 coasters, more than anywhere else in the world. It is a popular destination for coaster aficionados the world over. The newest roller coaster is the Maverick. Built in the style of a steam-era caster train, the track takes you through hairpin twists and turns and was voted the Best New Ride of 2007 by Amusement Today. Other facilities include a water park, an IMAX cinema, a marine mammal complex and a mile-long beach.

Cedar Point is located 98km (61 miles) west of Cleveland and is accessible by car via Highway 6 or Highway 2. A Greyhound bus service is operated to the town of Sandusky, which is itself worth a visit for its attractive rural setting and Downtown square. Cedar Point is open from May to September.

Kelleys Island: Located in Lake Erie about 19km (12 miles) north of Sandusky, Kelleys Island (tel: (419) 746 2360; website: www.kelleysisland.com) is the largest freshwater American island in Lake Erie and offers a tranquil day out of the city. Attractions include Inscription Rock State Memorial, a limestone rock with pictographs of men and animals carved 300-400 years ago; three hiking trails, sandy beaches and a picturesque and historic Downtown. Kelley’s Island is also very popular with bird-watchers due to the large number of migrating birds that visit it. The island is accessible by ferry from Marblehead via Highway 163 (total journey time – 2 hours). It is possible to bring a car onto Kelley’s Island, although travelling by foot, bicycle or golf cart is strongly encouraged.