With Ohio’s only national park next door and a thriving urban center, Akron offers a hard-to-find combination of natural treasures within minutes of city fun. Groups enjoy touring Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens — a Tudor Revival marvel built by the hometown co-founder of Goodyear Tire — along with many other attractions. And, if your group needs to re-charge in nature, they can be in the stunning Cuyahoga Valley National Park within minutes.
Akron is an unusual city/nature destination that offers a rich history and a slew of concerts, museums and festivals, including one with the world’s largest gathering of twins. And it is why going to Akron and Summit County offers an unforgettable adventure.
“We juxtapose city and urban life with a national park and our city scene,” said Stephanie Berry, vice president of marketing and brand management for the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Plus, we have museums and food you won’t find in other areas.”
Major Attractions
One of the biggest attractions for groups is visiting the 64,500-square-foot Stan Hywet Hall, the former estate of F.A. Seiberling, who co-founded the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Completed in 1915, the mansion stands as a shining example of an American country estate and the tremendous wealth that the Industrial Age brought to the nation.
Seiberling and his wife built it as their dream home and made sure that everyone in the family got a feature they most wanted. The estate helps to highlight why Akron is known as the “Rubber Capital of the World,” and the beautiful grounds feature 10 fully restored gardens.
Another Akron spot to see, especially for fans of aviation history, is the MAPS Air Museum. It contains aircraft ranging from a Martin Glider to an F-16A Fighting Falcon and tells the fascinating story of aeronautics through educational and interactive exhibits.
Other popular group attractions include the Akron Zoo and the Akron RubberDucks, the town’s minor league baseball team. The new Akron History Center gives visitors a look into the city’s past as America’s rubber manufacturing hub, as well as famous former residents such as LeBron James.
Groups enjoy many other interesting events each summer in Akron, including the annual FirstEnergy Soap Box Derby World Championships. The races feature hundreds of competitors between the ages of 7 and 20 driving gravity-powered cars.
If your group likes unusual entertainment, just north of Akron is Twinsburg, the host site of the Twins Days Festival, which always takes place the first full weekend in August.
Other popular places include the Northside Marketplace, home to dozens of local entrepreneurs, and the Cuyahoga Falls Shopping District on the banks of the Cuyahoga River.
Plentiful Arts
Akron also offers a wide range of beautiful spaces to enjoy its vibrant arts scene.
The Akron Art Museum houses thousands of works of contemporary art with a strong focus on modern paintings, sculptures and photography. The building itself is a work of art, featuring an attractive and massive combination of steel and glass.
Located in the Historic Arts District, Summit Artspace is home to studios, creative businesses and galleries with pieces produced by local artists. Admission is free.
Akron revitalized 25 downtown buildings and 86 storefronts to create the Contemporary Arts District, which is also free. The district offers a rotating collection of murals on shipping containers, digital art, exhibits and studios that pulse with creative energy.
Billed as the “hottest destination” in the city, Akron Glass Works hosts workshops with live music, allowing anyone 15 years or older to experience the art of glassblowing firsthand.
An unusual and fun day is going to Don Drumm Studios & Gallery. Housed in several buildings featuring art on just about every wall, Drumm Studios displays pieces from all over the world. Drumm pioneered the use of cast aluminum.
For music, the Akron Civic Theatre is a classically ornate entertainment venue known as “The Jewel on Main Street.” Akron is also a tremendous place to experience outdoor concerts at the Blossom Music Center. Its conical roof wraps around the stage, but the sides of the center structure open to a hillside where guests can sit to watch performers and listen to music.
Call of the Wild
Located just 15 miles from downtown, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers the stunning 65-foot Brandywine Falls, as well as forests, a scenic train ride, a beautiful trail on the Ohio & Erie Canal, bike paths and lots of activities.
An excellent place to start is the park’s Boston Mill Visitor Center, which can provide maps, and is the jumping-off point for a 2.5-mile hike to Brandywine Falls. Visitors can park near the falls, but the trail from Boston Mill to the viewing platform overlooking the falls is flat and considered easy.
For those who wish to explore beyond the waterfall, there is a 1.5-mile trail loop and overnight lodging available at the historic Stanford House.
A fantastic way to see the park is by train aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Guests can take their families on the fun loop, or there is also a luxurious dinner-on-the-train experience. One of the gems that many groups enjoy is Hale Farm & Village, a living history attraction with historic structures, all within the boundaries of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
For groups that prefer to remain in Akron while enjoying the outdoors, there are 16 parks, nature centers and a visitor center available through Summit Metro Parks. Summit Parks offers the beautiful Towpath Trail along the historic Ohio & Erie Canal. Be sure to check out the many naturalist-led programs and activities available through Summit Metro Parks, including concerts, fireworks and classes on everything from paddleboarding to embroidery.
“We have over 150 miles of trails,” Berry said. “Wherever you are, there are parks nearby, and they are always doing different programming and events for family and all ages.”
