November, December and January are the best times of year to visit Ohio, USA because of all of the holiday events worth experiencing.
Get to know Ohio
The state is named for the Iroquois word meaning “Great River” and is also nicknamed the Buckeye State. The population as of the 2000 census is 11,353,140 and farming is a big industry for the state with common livestock of cattle, calves, hogs, pigs and sheep and top commodities of corn, hay, barley, tobacco, potatoes, soybeans and wheat.
Ohio Attractions
Ohio boasts 4 amusement parks Cedar Point, Coney Island, Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom and Paramount’s Kings Island. There are many museums including Akron Art Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Dayton Art Institute, Ken State University Museum, Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park, Fort Ancient Museum, Hale Farm & Village in Bath Ohio, Malabar Farm in Mansfield, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. A big attraction is the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center Visitor Center in Cleveland. Ohio has several zoos including the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Toledo Zoo and The Wilds which is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation center in the entire world according to the website. There are several professional sports teams in Ohio including the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds for baseball fans, the Cleveland Cavaliers for basketball fans, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns for football fans, the Columbus Blue Jackets for hockey fans and the Columbus Crew for soccer fans.
During the winter holiday season visitors to Ohio and natives to the state enjoy events specific to the holidays including visiting the house used in the popular holiday classic “A Christmas Story” restored and open for guided tours at the house and museum located in Cleveland. Group discounts are available with ticket and other information available by calling 216-298-4919.
The Christmas Ranch is a light display of over 350,000 lights synchronized to state-of-the-art music technology and takes place on over five acres of scenic drive-thru route that takes visitors through a town and barn where a Jingle Bell Show takes place. Donations are made to the Ronald McDonald House of Cincinnati from the proceeds. Information about the event can be received by calling 513-697-2640 or by visiting the website.
The Christmas of YesterYear and Christmas Lantern Tour at Historic Lyme Village takes place on December 12, 13, and 27th from 1 to 9p and is located between U.S. 20 and State Route 113 at Bellevue (enter by State Route 4). Visitors receive a 19th century village tour featuring log houses, a log church, a one-room school, the 1836 Seymour House, and the 1882 Victorian Wright Mansion. There is a gift shop and Christmas Eve service is free beginning at 11p at the Detterman Log Church.
There are 4 Santa Trains including Polar Express that are always a treat to experience.
Cincinnati Railway’s Santa North Pole Express 1-413-933-8022
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Santa Claus Express – 1-800-468-4070
Dennison Railroad Museum’s Polar Express 1-877-278-8020
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway’s Santa Trains – 1-800-967-7834
No matter what time of year you visit Ohio there are sure to be attractions and special events to see and experience. During the winter holidays children and adults are treated to the wonders of the season in the crisp, cold and often snowy weather of Ohio.
Source:
Ohio Tourist Destination Facts – Ohio History Central http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/qf-ohio-tourist-destinations.php
