I have lived a good portion of my life in the Akron/Canton region of Northeast Ohio, and yet it wasn’t until several of my friends from out of state came to visit that I realized the unique character of my hometown. To be sure, it isn’t a New York City or Chicago, and it is limited in the conventional activities and museums a tourist might expect in a larger metropolitan area. However, there are many unusual and remarkable sights to see in such a small city. In compiling my list, I restricted myself-in most cases-to the least common activities, in interest of providing a far more colorful record.
10) The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in 1963 as a repository for the records and memorabilia of the greatest players of America’s unique, hard-hitting game. According to the website of the Hall of Fame, Canton was chosen as the location because the first organized football league in America, the American Professional Football Association (later called the NFL) was founded there in 1920. This curiously shaped building, crowned by a distinctive, football-shaped dome visible from the expressway, is packed with the jerseys and equipment of some of the game’s greatest athletes, from the early days of thin pads and flimsy helmets to the modern, high-tech jerseys of such greats as Marshall Faulk. From walking into the front lobby, graced with an enormous statue of Jim Thorpe, it is football all the way, including every man’s dream: a massive . Admission is $16.00 for adults, $10.00 for children 14 and younger, and $13.00 for senior citizens.
9) The 146,000 square foot Goodyear Polymer Center is the home of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron. This college is at the center of a new wave of polymer technologies in the 21st century, and has led some to call the Akron/Canton area “Polymer Valley.” In the wake of the tire industry significantly reducing their output from Northeast Ohio, research into the myriad applications of polymers helped sustain Akron’s economy. Now, this rapidly growing, high-tech industry is drawing attention from around the world. For many visitors to Akron, this is merely a beautiful building, and memorable just for this reason. However, for any tourist remotely interested in the fascinating world of applied science, a long visit provides a fun-and educational-experience.
8) Harry London Chocolates are world-renowned for their warm, luscious flavors and exotic amalgamations of candy and fruit. However, few people know that the headquarters and main factory is in Akron, at the Harry London Chocolate Factory. Guided tours require advance notice, but the 45-minute trek is time well spent: perhaps one of the more difficult aspects of the entire trip is waiting until the end to sample the candies previously seen forming in the fascinating assembly process. Adult tickets are only $3, with children 3-18 costing $2, and children under three entering for free. Bring an appetite and a large wallet: according to their website, the gift shop has over 500 varieties of chocolate available for purchase.
7) Quaker Square, in downtown Akron, is the name for the mall-built from a train station-and a hotel-built from a Quaker Oats silo complex-that grace the chief commercial center of the Akron area. The chief attraction is the hotel itself: built from thirty-six silos, each of the 196 rooms is perfectly round and modern in its d�cor and amenities. In the adjoining shopping area, several small shops sell knick-knacks and collectables, as well as some of the best fudge and handmade candies I’ve ever tasted. Additionally, there are several restaurants, including the Trackside Grill, where you can eat in one of the train cars that used to carry the oats in and out of Akron. The complex itself is located within easy walking distance of some of the more popular downtown destinations, including Canal Park, home of the minor-league baseball Akron Aeros, the recently refurbished Akron Art Museum, brand new Akron Public Library, and the beautifully extravagant Civic Theatre.
6) Swenson’s Drive-in Restaurants started in 1934, and have been a favorite treat of Ohioans ever since. I can honestly say they serve the best burgers I have ever tasted, and this personal experience can be collaborated by the remainder of the area’s population, who have consistently voted it their favorite burger for years. Using a special recipe-some claim it is a marinade made partially of brown sugar-to grill their “hamburgs” (as the menu refers to them, in classic Midwest style) and delicious butter-toasted buns to serve the piping hot product, there is little that can be done to resist the impressive flavor. The restaurants have a certain air of nostalgia in their drive-in natures: employees sprinting to your car to take your order, car headlights used to signal for service, and a general design reminiscent of the heady days of the 1950s or 60s. In addition to their purportedly world-famous burgers, the menu is rounded out by other fare, including chicken piece dinners and a tasty side dish called “‘tato Teezers,” which are fried potato pieces about two inches long, filled with slightly spicy cheddar cheese. To finish off the meal, purchase one of their unbelievably creamy milkshakes, available in seventeen distinct flavors, from the standard chocolate, vanilla, and mint to the more exotic root beer, mocha, pineapple, and the perennial favor, key lime.
5) Before the wide distribution nationally of railroad lines, canals were the chief mode of transportation for most goods. The Ohio and Erie Canal was one of them, built to connect the Ohio River to Lake Erie north of Cleveland. In 1861, however, the forty year-old canal became largely obsolete due to the railroad, and by the early 20th century was entirely abandoned. However, the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the route used by the beasts of burden to tow ships through the locks and cuts of the canal, remained largely untouched. In recent years, the National Park Service rebuilt the towpath and paved it with a fine gravel, perfect for walking, running, and biking. Not only is it a beautiful journey along the Cuyahoga River and through the serene forests of Ohio, but it also is a historical treasure. Along the way, stop and read about the history of the lock system and the ingenious “water overpasses”-first designed by Leonardo da Vinci-used to allow two canals or bodies of water to cross each other. The remains of the locks, and the quarry used to dig most of the stone, still exist, and it is fascinating to see such a vital element of American history while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. If you visit in the summer, make sure to plan a stop at Szalay’s Farm Market, near the Ira Trailhead, for incredible sweet corn and other fresh vegetables.
4) Many remarks have been made about the strange proclivity of hall of fame committees to establish their museums in Northeastern Ohio, but for whatever reason, it is the home of several such halls of note. A perhaps more peculiar building is the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, also called by the more advertising-friendly name, Inventure Place. Half hall of fame, half museum, this unusual sail-shaped structure holds the repository for all the firsts in human history, from aviation to zoology. The lower floors hold interactive exhibits for all ages, while the upper floors cater to the intellectual pursuits one might find more commonly in a typical museum. Having recently completed a massive renovation, Inventure Place is an exciting tribute to human perseverance and tenacity.
3) The Summit County Metropark System are havens to those individuals who just can’t find solace in the bustling city environment. Nine thousand acres of forests, streams, and swamps spread across thirteen distinct parks, the Metroparks are Akron’s best-kept secret. Perhaps one of the most historically-fascinating parks is the Gorge Metropark, located along the steep ravine walls of the Cuyahoga Valley, near the town of Cuyahoga Falls. Along the trail you’ll find towering rock formations, rapidly carved by the fast flowing currents of the Cuyahoga River of antiquity. Additionally, though, there is the human aspect which many find particularly appealing: the Mary Campbell Cave, named for the little girl kidnapped by the local Indian tribes after her family was killed in a raid. The grotto which still exists today was where the tribe wintered every year, and standing below the towering rock face is a truly humbling experience. Throughout all the parks, though, the power of the natural world is dramatically presented, from the immense damage and erosion to riverbeds caused by the severe floods of several years ago, to the quiet solemnity of the pine forests in Silver Creek. Trails are numbered on basis of difficulty and are available in a number of lengths, from as short as half a mile to a strenuous five miles.
2) The Blossom Amphitheater is one of the great structures of Northeast Ohio. A natural amphitheater near Cuyahoga Falls became the site of a massive open-air pavilion, a concrete and wood structure with seating for over six thousand. The lawn itself remains undeveloped, a space for over seventeen thousand concertgoers and their lawn chairs and coolers. Concerts range from Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band to the Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by such notable personalities as Howard Shore and John Williams. Blossom is also the summer home of the Cincinnati Pops, who play between ten to fifteen concerts every summer. Blossom has something for everyone: an upscale on-site restaurant, art gallery, and even fireworks for their Fourth of July celebratory concert, which traditionally culminates with a masterful performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Perhaps the two favorite performances I personally witnessed were Howard Shore conducting his own Lord of the Rings Symphony, with full orchestra, choir, and boy’s choir, and an incredible performance of the music of Star Wars, story narrated by Anthony Daniels himself (he played C-3PO in all six films). Notable for its architecture as well as its Carnegie-quality performances, Blossom is one Ohio sight that shouldn’t be missed.
1) Akron was long known as the Rubber Capital of the World, because the three major tire companies-Goodyear, Firestone, and Bridgestone-all established their headquarters in the city. When F. A. Seiberling, founder of Goodyear, decided to build a country estate for his family, he settled on a Tudor-style mansion, and thus Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens was born. Stan Hywet (the name is Old English for “stone quarry”) was built in the Tudor Revival style and originally sat upon approximately one thousand acres of gardens, ponds, and forests. Since its completion in 1915, the city has steadily bought more of the land for use in additional building projects, but many acres of forests and gorgeous gardens remain. The house itself, with hundreds of rooms and scores of quarters for the guests, large extended family, and household servants, was so massive that it required a railroad spur built to accommodate all the building material. The house is incredibly preserved, a testament to the strong influence the Seiberling descendents had on the use of the estate. Additionally, gardens such as the English and Japanese Gardens provide eye-catching and beautiful views, demonstrating why Mrs. Seiberling spent so much time in them. Guided and self-guided tours are available, while a special “Nooks and Crannies” tour, specializing in the interesting side passages and additional floors typically unavailable for viewing by the public, occurs from time to time. Price is $12 for self-guided ($6.00 for students 6-17), $18 for guided tours ($8.00 for students 6-17).
