If you hail from Northeast Ohio (or really anywhere in Ohio) you’ve most likely heard, if not used yourself, the exclamation “there’s nothing to do around here!” As a girl who has spent almost my entire life living in Northeast Ohio, I can truthfully say this area has so much to offer. We may not boast tons of huge skyscrapers and big cities, but we have our fair share of excitement and fun activities for college students!
If you’re a foodie…
Northeast Ohio has some of the most delicious restaurants, ranging anywhere from family diners to five star restaurants. Kent itself has a variety of great places to eat including Fresco, Twisted Meltz, Wild Goats Cafe, Laziza, Pufferbelly and many more!
Only thirty minutes down the road is the beautiful city Akron (yes, the same Akron that is our rival, but give them a chance!) that is home to a vast assortment of delicious cuisines. Akron has everything ranging from sushi at Cilantro Thai and Sushi to mexican at Nuevo Mod Mexican and Tequila Bar, to gourmet grilled cheese at Lockview to authentic Italian at Luigi’s. Other notable restaurants in the Akron area include The Rail, Barley House, Mustard Seed Market and Cafe, Spaghetti Warehouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Steak and Shake, Cracker Barrel and much more.
Another cute town only fifteen minutes from Kent is historic Hudson. Downtown Hudson is set up in the style of an outdoor mall with many restaurant selections including Rosewood Grill, Hudson’s, Aladdin’s Eatery, Tomato Grill and more.
Another great place to go for good food (that is so worth the 45 minute drive) is Legacy Village. This expansive outdoor shopping mall has some amazing restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory (if you’re a fan of cheesecake, this place is a must!), Stir Crazy and the Melting Pot (fondue for appetizers, dinner, and dessert!).
If you enjoy having even more of a city vibe then the restaurants in Cleveland are for you! Cleveland itself has many subsections including Little Italy, Coventry, Ohio City and more all with their own unique styles and tastes to offer. Ohio City has a quaint little French cafe called La Petit Triangle Cafe (the crepes are a MUST) which has an outdoor eating area and is beautifully decorated to make you feel like an American girl in Paris. In addition, Ohio City has Lolita, Momocho Mod Mexican, Crop Bistro, and Flying Fig. Little Italy has many authentic Italian bistros including La Dolce Vita, Mia Bella, Trattoria on the hill and Valerio’s. If you are making a stop in Little Italy Presti’s Italian Bakery is a must do; they have delicious deli sandwiches and a ton of desserts (my personal favorite is the Creme Brulee)! Just up the hill from Little Italy lies Coventry which offers a Mongolian BBQ, Phoenix Coffee, Tommy’s Restaurant, Grum’s Sub Shoppe, and more.
Finally, my hometown, Medina. This beautiful town is a 45 minute drive from Kent but is well worth it. We have Dan’s Dogs (trust me on this-it is life changing), Lemonberry Frozen Yogurt, Eli’s Kitchen, Sully’s Irish Pub, Corkscrew Saloon, Thyme2, Miss Molly’s Tea Room, and so many more. It’s safe to say that if you love food, look no farther than the area you’re in!
If you’re a shopaholic…
Let’s be real for a minute, what girl in college doesn’t love to shop. Not much in life beats walking into a store and perusing the racks, running your hands against all the new fabrics. Luckily for all the like minded fashion lovers at Kent, Northeast Ohio has got you covered! Downtown Akron has great boutiques such as Blu and NOTO; just down the street from downtown is the Summit Mall which has a wide array of stores, offering over 125 stores to choose from! Mingling with the wonderful taste of Hudson are many great stores such as Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, Learned Owl Bookshop, Jewelry Art, Sew Deja Vu, and more. Another fantastic place to get some retail therapy is in Legacy Village which hosts Charming Charlie, Francescas, Nordstrom, Things Remembered, Lily Pulitzer, and more. Medina has some great shopping too, a personal favorite is The Raspberry and the Rose which features many handmade items and unique pieces.
The Raspberry and the Rose in Medina has adorable displays throughout the store to showcase jewelry.
If you love visiting museums…
Northeast Ohio is home to some amazing museums, many of which are either free or offer student discounts. The Akron Art Museum is a short drive away, located in downtown and is only $5 with a student ID and is free on Thursdays. The Cleveland Museum of Art is a world renowned museum that is always free and open to the public; the new renovations will take your breath away, this is a place you could easily spend hours upon hours roaming through. Stan Hywet is not a museum in the traditional sense because it has 70 acres of gardens, but there is a stunning and historic mansion that can be toured. Hale Farm is also not a museum in the traditional sense of the word, but you can tour through it to explore historic buildings, see a working farm, and period crafts. MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) is located by University Circle in Cleveland and is an absolute must for anyone modern art lovers. Cleveland is also home to the Botanic Gardens,Western Reserve Museum (which houses over 140 antique cars,10 aircraft, and so much more), and the Natural History Museum.
If you love the outdoors…
Then you came to the perfect school! Kent is located near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park which has over 33,000 acres and 22 miles of trails. In addition, you can take a train ride through the park on one of the historic trains (it is so much fun at any time of the year, trust me on this!). In addition to being close to a national park, Kent is close to many county parks including the Nature Realm, Hinckley Lake and Preservation and many of the trails that go through Peninsula.
Hinckley Lake allows visitors to kayak, canoe, swim, or rent a paddle boat to enjoy the sights even more! (below)
If you want something fun to do…
The Cleveland Zoo recently opened it’s newest attraction which allows visitors to feed and be up close to Giraffes!
A crowd pleaser for all ages-the zoo. Both Cleveland and Akron have a zoo with their own special attractions to offer. The Civic Theater in downtown Akron constantly has plays, musicals, and more going on with reasonably priced tickets, dinner and a show, the perfect date night! A scenic trip to Szalays Farm will give people not from around here a chance to take in all the beauty of Ohio and end with a fun stop to get pumpkins, go through a corn maze, eat fresh corn, drink hot cider, and have the picture perfect fall day.
If you’re someone that is looking for more intensity I would recommend a trip to Skyzone (an indoor trampoline park), a game of laser tag, rock climbing at Kendall Cliffs, or stopping by High Voltage Indoor Karting to go racing.
For the more laid back person, an art trip to All Fired Up is a great way to paint some pottery and have fun by yourself or with friends. If you want to go out at night but don’t like the party scene, a stop at Blu Jazz would make for a great time to hang out and listen to music. Playhouse Square and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra are other fun ways to catch a show, listen to music, or do something you normally don’t have a chance to do.
If you can’t wait to start on your Christmas celebrations, go to the Christmas Story House in Cleveland or swing by Castle Noel in Medina, the world’s largest privately owned Hollywood Christmas movie prop collection.
The next time you or a friend of yours is sitting around campus saying there’s nothing to do, remember just how much Northeast Ohio has to offer. These places are only a small fraction of what this area has to offer, all it takes is a little exploring to find some of the best restaurants, shopping or any other fun activities.