Clark Griswold and family on a recent trip to Vegas (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

By Paul Staley, Section Chief Ohio’s Travel Information Centers

In the movie "Vacation," the Griswold family travels thousands of miles to a fictional theme park called Wally World, only to find out the park is closed for the season. Fortunately for families living in Ohio, they can find many great vacation spots right here in the Buckeye state without traveling a thousand miles. Anyone starting to plan their family vacation should read on as we discover Ohio’s many tourist destinations.

Ohio is a diverse state with Lake Erie to the north, the Ohio River to the south, Amish country to the northeast, and several large metropolitan cities, small towns, villages and townships scattered throughout the state. There are fairs, festivals, museums, sporting events, zoos and great places to eat and shop right here in Ohio. Ohio has something to offer everyone.

For those families wanting some thrills and chills visit Ohio’s several theme parks. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Kings Island and The Beach in Cincinnati, Sea World & Geauga Lake in Aurora, and Wyandot Lake in Columbus all provide an enjoyable family experience. Most of these attractions are open from May until October and offer special family passes.

Beginning in the spring and running until early fall there is some type of festival or special event going-on in Ohio. From art festivals, corn festivals, flower shows, popcorn festivals, pumpkin shows to antique shows, boat shows, fish festivals, Octoberfests’, Swiss Festival and hundreds of other events, there is much to see and do. Ohio’s county fairs and of course the Ohio State Fair - the largest fair in the country, provide plenty of entertainment for the family. Of course, no festival or fair would be complete without candy apples, cotton candy, french fries, hamburgers, hotdogs, snow cones, and all those other great treats that your doctor told you to avoid.

For those wanting a more relaxed vacation, consider exploring Ohio’s extensive state parks. With 72 state parks, Ohio has one of the largest state park systems in the country. Visitors can go biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming and learn more about nature and the outdoors. Educational programs are available in most of the parks. Call 1-800-AT-A-PARK for more state park information.

The Hocking Hills area in Southeast Ohio is another fun family get away. The family can explore Old Man’s Cave, Conkle’s Hollow, Ash Cave and enjoy the several miles of hiking trails. Overnight accommodations, cabins, eateries and small shops are close by and make this a nice trip for the family.

Do window shopping, eating home cooked meals and exploring a more laid back lifestyle sound appealing? Then plan to visit Ohio’s Amish country. Ohio has the world’s largest Amish population mainly located in Holmes, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties. Antique stores, art galleries, furniture stores and restaurants are prevalent throughout this area. Bed and breakfasts, hotels and country inns are available for overnight accommodations. Are your feet getting tired yet? Our journey of Ohio’s tourism attractions continues.

Don’t worry if it rains on your vacation, Ohio has plenty of indoor attractions to keep you occupied. Ohio has several outstanding museums including the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo Art Museums, Center of Science and Industry located in Columbus and Toledo, natural history museums, Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, popcorn museum in Marion, motorcycle museum in Westerville, historical museums and monuments for Ohio’s eight U.S. President’s and hundreds of other museums spread across Ohio.

If watching sports is more to your liking, Ohio has several professional sports teams including the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Cavaliers, Columbus Crew and in a few years the Cleveland Browns will be back. Attending a Reds or Indians game is a great way to enjoy an afternoon in the middle of summer. Minor league baseball teams are also located in several Ohio cities and provide a fun activity for the family. Find out why soccer is the biggest youth sport in the United States by attending a Columbus Crew soccer game, the only major league soccer team in Ohio.

This list of tourist activities and destinations is by no means exhaustive but does highlight some of the many things to do in Ohio. To receive more information about Ohio attractions and events call 1-800-BUCKEYE, Ohio’s tourism hotline or visit Ohio’s Travel Information Centers.

Ohio has 13 Travel Information Centers located along the major interstates with one located in the lower level of the Ohio Statehouse. Trained, professional travel counselors can help plan your next family vacation right here in Ohio. The centers have more than 350 tourism brochures including: antique shops, bed & breakfasts, festivals, hotels, museums, restaurants, theme parks, special events, state parks and zoos. Most of the brochures include directions, hours of operation, phone numbers, and prices if applicable. The official Ohio Transportation Map, city maps, and hotel discount coupons are also available in the centers to the public free of charge. The centers are open seven days a week including all summer holidays from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. To find out more information about the Travel Information Centers program call (614) 728-5078.

With all this information available, there is no reason why anyone should end up like the Griswold’s.