CLEVELAND, Ohio – Summer has finally arrived, and vacation is beckoning. But with inflation and gas prices fluctuating, how can you plan summer fun without busting the budget?
Easy. You don’t even have to leave the state to find plenty of fun activities that will get your family out of the house and enjoying the long summer days — without putting a drain on your wallet. Ohio has a plethora of family-friendly attractions that are free. Ues, we said free.
Cleveland.com has partnered with Stacker to find the most fun, family-friendly — and economical — things to do close to home. So, pack a picnic, and the kids, in the car and head out to discover all Ohio had to offer.
Methodology
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Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Ohio according to reviewers for Tripadvisor. Check out the rankings below.
No. 30
Riverwalk
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Hiking trails
Address: No exact location but you can start at Smale Riverfront Park, Cincinnati
Read more about Riverwalk on Tripadvisor
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No. 29
Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Nature and wildlife areas
Address: 24858 Big Pine Road, Rockbridge
Read more about Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve on Tripadvisor
No. 28
Eden Park in CincinnatiGetty Images/500px Plus
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Eden Park
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Park
Address: 950 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati
Read more about Eden Park on Tripadvisor
No. 27
Fountain Square
Rating: 4.5
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Type of activity: Points of Interest and Landmarks
Address: 5th and Vine Street, Cincinnati
Read more about Fountain Square on Tripadvisor
No. 26
The iconic Short North Arches over High Street. Columbus, OhioGetty Images
Short North Arts District
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Neighborhoods, Points of Interest and Landmarks
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Address: 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus
Read more about Short North Arts District on Tripadvisor
No. 25
Cedar Falls Hiking Trail
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Hiking trails
Address: No exact address, located in Hocking Hills State Park, Logan
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Read more about Cedar Falls Hiking Trail on Tripadvisor
No. 24
Cleveland Metroparks
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Parks
Address: No exact location, Cleveland
Read more about Cleveland Metroparks on Tripadvisor
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No. 23
Findlay Market
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Flee and street markets
Address: 1801 Race St., Cincinnati
Read more about Findlay Market on Tripadvisor
No. 22
The pedestrian bridge connecting Jack Casino and a parking garageJohn Kuntz, cleveland.com
JACK Cleveland Casino
Rating: 4
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Type of activity: Casinos
Address: 100 Public Sq., Cleveland
Read more about JACK Cleveland Casino on Tripadvisor
No. 21
Hershberger’s Farm & Bakery
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Farms
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Address: 5452 State Route 557, Millersburg
Read more about Hershberger’s Farm & Bakery on Tripadvisor
No. 20
Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Nature and wildlife areas, cemeteries
Address: 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati
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Read more about Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum on Tripadvisor
No. 19
Rock House
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Points of Interest and Landmarks
Address: No exact location, within Hocking Hills State Park
Read more about Rock House on Tripadvisor
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No. 18
The 2nd floor, looking at the wine area of the downtown Heinen’s grocery store, in the old historic Cleveland Trust Building, at the corner of Euclid Ave. and E. 9th St., in Cleveland, Ohio on December 13, 2018. (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
The Plain Dealer
Heinen’s Downtown
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Points of Interest and Landmarks
Address: 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Read more about Heinen’s Downtown on Tripadvisor
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No. 17
The Roebling Bridge exits near Smale Riverfront Park. The bridge is undergoing restoration and is currently closed to vehicles, although pedestrians can still walk across to Covington, Kentucky over the Ohio River. With 195 acres of sports, culture, entertainment, housing, offices, and parks tied closely to Cincinnati’s downtown, The Banks, as it is known, is undeniably an impressive sight.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Smale Riverfront Park
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Parks
Address: West Mehring Way, Cincinnati
Read more about Smale Riverfront Park on Tripadvisor
No. 16
A bald eagle nests in a tree in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Stone Rd., just west of the Towpath Trail. The eagle took over a Heron nest within a rookery in that area. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Rating: 4.5
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Type of activity: National Parks
Address: 15610 Vaughn Rd., Brecksville
Read more about Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Tripadvisor
No. 15
Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park.
Old Man’s Cave
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Caverns and caves
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Address: State Route 664, Logan
Read more about Old Man’s Cave on Tripadvisor
No. 14
Marblehead Lighthouse at dusk, with its green light illuminated.
Marblehead Lighthouse
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Lighthouses
Address: 110 Lighthouse Dr., Marblehead
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Read more about Marblehead Lighthouse on Tripadvisor
No. 13
Ash Cave Falls
Ash Cave
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Caverns and caves
Address: 26400 OH-56, South Bloomingville
Read more about Ash Cave on Tripadvisor
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No. 12
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1866.Steven Litt, Cleveland.com
Roebling Suspension Bridge
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Bridges
Address: John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, Cincinnati
Read more about Roebling Suspension Bridge on Tripadvisor
No. 11
Saturday Farmers Market, North Market, Columbus, Ohio, USA. (Photo by: Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Universal Images Group via Getty
North Market Farmer’s Market
Rating: 4.5
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Type of activity: Flea and street market
Address: 59 Spruce St., Columbus
Read more about North Market Farmer’s Market on Tripadvisor
No. 10
German Village
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Historic sites and neighborhoods
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Address: 588 S 3rd St., Columbus
Read more about German Village on Tripadvisor
No. 9
Guests of Cleveland’s Lake View Cemetery visit the Haserot Angel so often that no grass or plants can grow on the graves due to all of the foot traffic. (Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer)
Lake View Cemetery
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Cemeteries
Address: 12316 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
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Read more about Lake View Cemetery on Tripadvisor
No. 8
Cincinnati Art Museum
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Ballets and art museums
Address: 953 Eden Park Dr., In Eden Park, Cincinnati
Read more about Cincinnati Art Museum on Tripadvisor
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No. 7
Toledo Museum of Art
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Art museums
Address: 2445 Monroe St., Toledo
Read more about Toledo Museum of Art on Tripadvisor
No. 6
Jungle Jim’s International Market
Rating: 4.5
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Type of activity: Flee and street markets
Address: 5440 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield
Read more about Jungle Jim’s International Market on Tripadvisor
No. 5
Hiking the Old Man’s Cave Trail at Hocking Hills State Park.
Hocking Hills State Park
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: State parks
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Address: 19852 State Route 664, Logan
Read more about Hocking Hills State Park on Tripadvisor
No. 4
Ohio, Columbus, Easton Town Center, Shopping Mall Interior. (Photo by: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Universal Images Group via Getty
Easton Town Center
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Neighborhoods, Points of Interest and Landmarks
Address: 160 Easton Town Ctr., Columbus
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Read more about Easton Town Center on Tripadvisor
No. 3
Big changes are being proposed for Cleveland’s iconic West Side Market. (Photo by Paris Wolfe)
West Side Market
Rating: 4.5
Type of activity: Historic sites, Flee and street markets
Address: 1979 W. 25th St., Cleveland
Read more about West Side Market on Tripadvisor
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No. 2
Visitors walk through the expansive atrium at the Cleveland Museum of Art (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer) ORG XMIT: CLE1403090640389965 ORG XMIT: CLE1403300415315544 The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer
Cleveland Museum of Art
Rating: 5
Type of activity: Art museums
Address: 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland
Read more about Cleveland Museum of Art on Tripadvisor
No. 1
The Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used during World War II, on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
National Museum of the US Air Force
Rating: 5
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Type of activity: Specialty museums
Address: 1100 Spaatz St. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton
Read more about National Museum of the US Air Force on Tripadvisor
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“The Biggest Party of the Summer” goes down tonight.
WWE SummerSlam 2024 takes place this evening, live from Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Scheduled for tonight’s premium live event is Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match for the WWE Universal Championship, Damian Priest vs. GUNTHER for the WWE World Championship, as well as CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth “Freakin’” Rollins as the special guest referee.
Additionally, the show this evening will feature Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Championship, Bayley vs. Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship, Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, as well as Logan Paul vs. LA Knight for the WWE United States Championship.
Join us here tonight for live WWE SummerSlam 2024 results.
Matt and Jeff Hardy are in Cleveland, OH for today’s Wrestlecon Destination event. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, it was confirmed that the team met with WWE officials while in the area. Matt and Jeff are currently advertised for tomorrow night’s TNA Wrestling event in Tampa, FL.
Johnson stated the following…
“We are told that The Hardys met with WWE very early this morning. No word on what was discussed, but we have also heard some content was filmed to be rolled out via WWE digital as well.”
Matt and Jeff recently teased the idea of challenging for the WWE NXT tag team titles. Jeff has also commented on potentially being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with his brother.
