Happy National Tourism Day! National Tourism Day occurs on May 7th during National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), an annual tradition observed during the first full week of May for the U.S. travel community to celebrate the value travel holds for our economy, businesses and personal wellbeing.
For 2021's NTTW, the travel industry is recognizing the POWER OF TRAVEL. Travel contributes so much to our economy and to NWO's unique spirit. We want to share with you some 'powerful' spots that bring people from all over the country to Northwest Ohio!
Cedar Point - America's Roller Coast
Home to 72 rides, including 18 world-class rollercoasters, an 18-acre waterpark, 3 areas dedicated to attractions for kids and families, and so much more, Cedar Point is the ultimate destination for the whole family! Cedar Point is located on the shores of Lake Erie for a beautiful view while you're climbing the hills of the famous roller coasters.
Cedar Point also hosts a number of events and will be bringing back many for the 2021 season including:
CELEBRATE 150 SPECTACULAR
It’s a party fit for a sesquicentennial! See the park’s iconic turning points, innovations and moments in this new multi-sensory nighttime parade with over 100 performers and illuminated floats moving to an original score along the Main Midway each night. The Celebrate 150 Spectacular culminates with an epic street party in Celebration Plaza with performances, dancing, pyrotechnics and music throughout the night! FRONTIER FESTIVAL An all-new festival, full of Old West flavor. Annual sunflower-inspired gathering celebrates hope, health and this year’s harvest. Brimming with hops and hootenanny, Frontier Festival kicks off the season and fills the streets with rousin’ live bands, nightly hoedowns, pie eating contests, a hubbub of activities, games, crafters and more. For adults, this hootenanny would not be complete without a full lineup of libations. Sample your way around town, sip on more than 65 craft brews, spiked seltzers and signature cocktails including this year’s special concoction! Bring your appetite, too, because the fixins this year come with a cherry on top! Feast on more than 20 cherry-inspired provisions ranging from mild to wild, saucy and savory with some mighty fine sweet treats, cobblers and more! Frontier Festival!
SNAKE RIVER EXPEDITION Embark on one of Trapper Dan’s riverboats and be a part of this new adventure. Help the crew complete a secret mission, smuggling valuable bounty to safer waters. What is it? We don’t know – and it’s best you don’t ask! Beware of a few surprises, twists and turns around every bend – it’s not always smooth sailing but it’s sure to be fun!
1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870 cedarpoint.com
Glacial Grooves - Kelleys Island's Most Iconic Tourism Destination
The Glacial Grooves on Kelleys Island are the largest and most humanly accessible example of glacial scoring in the world! They are located at the intersection of Division Street and Titus Road, only a mile and a half north of downtown. A paved parking lot provides easy access. As of 2018, the glacial grooves site has been equipped with an ADA accessible ramp so that all visitors can enjoy their splendor. The grooves are visible from the parking lot or from a winding series of steps and footbridges that loop around their upper rim.
Don't miss this must-see treasure - a National Natural Landmark that draws visitors to Kelleys Island from all around the globe! The glacial grooves are 400 feet long, 35 feet wide, and up to 15 feet deep. They were created by the slow movement of the massive glacier that created the Great Lakes and Lake Erie Islands.
When glaciers move across the earth, they pick up rocks, soil, and other debris, and drag them along. As the ice crept over the soft limestone bedrock of Kelleys Island, these harder bits of rock gouged the grooves that we see today. Originally, the grooves were filled with soil, debris, and quarry waste. In 1972, excavation to uncover the full extent of the grooves began, and they have been a popular tourist attraction ever since.
The grooves are also important to historians, scientists and students. They give us valuable information about the direction and movement of the glaciers that shaped our entire landscape. If you only have time to visit one Kelleys Island destination, the Glacial Grooves are not to be missed!
After you explore the grooves, take some time to check out our other nearby natural spots. The North Shore Loop Trail is only a two-minute walk from the grooves; the North Pond Boardwalk and East Quarry Trails are a short five-minute golf cart ride as well.
739 Division Street, Kelleys Island, OH. 43438
Grounds for Thought
Located in the heart of Downtown Bowling Green, Grounds for Thought serves up fresh hand-roasted coffee and pastries of all kinds! This nationally recognized coffee spot roasts their award winning coffee onsite five days a week. That's not all they provide the BG community, Grounds is also a used book store with over 250,000 books in their collection making it the area's largest used book store. Grounds also has a collection of used records and comic books that you can peruse. All used items are hand inspected to ensure that you're getting a high quality find. Grounds for Thought also serve as an event space providing the community with concerts, poetry readings, and much more! Many acts include performers from Bowling Green State University to world renowned musicians.
Not sure what coffee to try first? We recommend their House Blend or the best selling Highlander Grogg roasts. Grounds for Thought also sells whole beans and grounds of their popular coffee blends on their website!
174 S. Main Street, Bowling Green, OH 43402
Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum
The Mad River & NKP Railroad museum is a lasting bicentennial project. NKP is the AAR reporting mark for the Nickel Plate Road (New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company) which ran through Bellevue from 1882 until 1964 when it merged with the Norfolk & Western Railway.
MUSEUM DISPLAYS
The private collection of Ted & Sarah Church of Erie, PA is an interesting addition to our museum. The collection is displayed in former Troop Sleepers 9210, 9211, 9212 which were used by the U.S. Army during the war.
Within these cars you will see wall and floor cases and pictures lining both sides of the cars. In the wall cases are displays of torches, buttons, badges, locks, silverware and many hand tools with historical interest. The floor cases hold china and linens and much more.
MUSEUM ARTIFACTS
We have a collection of artifacts that include, uniforms, timetables, lanterns, china, locks and much more. Our collection continues to grow each year thanks to the many donors interested in preserving the history of railroading.
Hanging along the walls are numerous lanterns and light fixtures from as early as 1890. A large drawing from 1880 shows the Old Union Station on the lake front in Cleveland while another drawing shows the corporate history of the LS&MS Ry.
MUSEUM TOURS
· Steps and open doors on the many rail cars and cabooses mean welcome aboard to folks of all ages who come to this "hands on" Museum to enjoy the day and reminisce at their leisure about railroading.
· Books, videos, patches, pins, T-shirts, hats, and mugs are just a few of the items available in the gift shop.
· A picnic shelter is located in the former LS & MS passenger depot area. The area has been made into a park.
· The former Bellevue Monument Works now houses some of the displays, wooden cars and a video viewing area.
· There is plenty of room for cars and buses.
· Restrooms are handicapped accessible and are located in the Monument Station.
·Safety Videos by Operation Lifesaver®
253 Southwest Street, Bellevue, OH 44811
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is a symbol of the long-lasting peace enjoyed by the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. The 352-foot Doric column has an observation platform that offers a 360 degree view of the surrounding islands and mainland.
The Perry Memorial Visitor Center, located on the grounds, offers a 15-minute free movie on the War of 1812 and Battle of Lake Erie. The visitor center also has a display of artifacts, including a British musket, a scale model of the US Brig Lawrence–Perry’s flagship–and a large flat hull diorama of the Battle of Lake Erie as Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry crossed through cannon fire to reach the US Brig Niagara and change the course of the battle.
93 Delaware Ave, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456 nps.gov/pevi/index.htm
The Magic Corner - A Hidden Gem in Wauseon
Behind the old brick walls of the beautifully restored Italianate façade in downtown Wauseon, Ohio, awaits the thrills and chills of The Magic Corner, which includes the Magic Shop, Magic Museum, and Birch Theater.
Stepping through the Gothic-themed front door, visitors discover a unique magic store featuring hundreds of magic tricks and related supplies, ranging from easy tricks for beginners to more advanced supplies for professionals.
The magic and charm continues as you move through the building. The Birch Theater features regular performances by resident magician and owner, Dr. Kenneth Ladd, who has been a practicing magician for over 48 years. Dr. Ladd refers to his performances as “Magic with a Message,” weaving the gospel throughout his show
Moving upstairs, The Magic Museum immerses visitors in the world of magic history—including artifacts and exhibits about famous magicians like Harry Blackstone Sr. and Jr., Houdini, McDonald Birch, Hardeen, and many more!
The Magic Corner is a truly unique experience. Escape the mundane and allow your mind to “disappear” into this imaginative and intriguing world of illusion!
113 S. Fulton Street, Wauseon, OH. 43567
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
Adventure awaits you and your family at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 720 species. Explore plenty of indoor and outdoor exhibits including the Barnyard, the Zoo’s newest interactive exhibit designed to be a year-round area where guests can meet alpacas, goats, pigs and other farm animals. The ProMedica Museum of Natural History allows visitors to travel back in time through wild Ohio to when American Lions, Mastodons and other giants roamed the land. Next up, visit the Aquarium and immerse yourself in the wonder of 3000+ aquatic animals in 178,000 gallons of water and get your hands wet with sharks, sting rays and crabs. The Zoo provides guests the most immersive, hands-on connections to animals as possible, leaving guests with memories that last a lifetime.
2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH. 43609
Happy National Tourism Day and National Travel and Tourism Week from all of us at Visit Northwest Ohio! Share with us your favorite spots to visit in Northwest Ohio by using the hashtag #VisitNWOhio.