East Central Ohio is a harmonious blend of history, culture, and nature. The region is home to some of the country’s longest-standing Amish communities, who live with a reassuring and wholesome simplicity.
The good old days of minimal distraction and relaxation aren’t distant memories when you stay with us. We echo that calmness in Your Family’s Place vacation rentals, multi-generational vacation rentals for the whole family to enjoy.
Relaxation can look like many things on our grounds, whether it’s the adults unwinding on a porch swing with a glass of wine or the kiddos entertaining themselves with board games or frolicking around the spacious, green property.
We attract many families from Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, and beyond, travelers like you who crave a relaxing, wholesome weekend getaway with the kids.
Speaking of kids, we’ll walk you through some hidden gems in Amish Country for the whole family to relish, from historical adventures to airplane simulators and beyond!
1. Tuscora Park
- Notable features: Historically inspired rides
- Address: 161 Tuscora Avenue, NW New Philadelphia, OH
- Website: tuscorapark.com
Between the rolling hills of New Philadelphia sits Tuscarora Park. Carosel rides, pond fishing, swimming pools, mini golf, roller coasters, oh my! Tuscora Park has it all.
The area is completely surrounded by lush green and shady trees, a great way to remind your children to reconnect with nature. People across Ohio State flock to Tuscora Park for affordable family fun, with rides starting at a modest $1.50 per go.
We adore each attraction’s little tastes of history, from the old-train-inspired playground to the dune buggy rides! If you’re visiting in the summer, don’t forget to pack a swimsuit! This park features three pools for the whole family to enjoy, including an Olympic pool, diving pool, and kiddie pool.
Don’t worry; lifeguards are on duty so that you can easily retreat to that good read every so often. Our advice? Don’t miss out on this “100 Ohio attractions in one” family spot. You can easily spend an entire day here, and your kids will remember this outing forever.
2. Norma Johnson Center
- Notable features: Free access to long nature trails
- Address: 3645 Conservation Drive, Dover, Ohio
- Website: normajohnsoncenter.com
Your kids might have bugged you for ice cream on the way to your rental. Who can resist the smooth, creamy fare at Miller’s Creamery, anyway? But if you want to burn off some of that sugar rush, the Norma Johnson Center is a fabulous active spot for the whole family.
Founded in 1990, the Norma Johnson Center is an endless deposit of land, 303 acres to be exact, with three prominent hiking trails in East Central Ohio.
The center reiterates that access to nature is a right, not a privilege. Just outside of Dover, you can enjoy a nature-packed, heart-pumping afternoon of hiking, biking, and strolling at a grand price of zero dollars. Talk about healthy and affordable.
Do you have any animal lovers in the family? The area showcases nearly 100 million bird sightings, from the Northern Cardinal to the American Goldfinch. Plus, you can introduce your kids to fishing here — catch and release only, though!
3. Dover City Park
- Notable features: Playground and swimming
- Address: 3000 Tremont Avenue, Dover, OH
- Website: doverohio.com
Dover City Park is a year-round destination for families who visit Northeast Ohio. Fancy a swim? Just follow the splashes and laughs coming from the Dover City Pool. We love this destination for family BBQs, as pavilions and miles of greenery host countless family cookouts and feasts.
What’s great about Dover City Park is that you can visit any time of the year and still have a blast with the whole family. If it’s winter, you can take the kids tobogganing down Deis Hill. If it’s autumn, a simple stroll through the trails and accompanying orange hues is enough to wake up any kid or adult’s sense of wonder.
4. McKinley Presidential Library and Museum
- Notable features: Cultural fusion of history and science
- Address: 800 Mc Kinley Monument Drive NW, Canton, OH
- Website: mckinleymuseum.org
Maybe it’s a little rainy on one of your vacation days, and you’re not feeling a national park or other outdoor activities. Of course, you can rest and relax in one of our cozy family vacation rentals; however, if your kids are itching for more stimulation, why not tickle their cultural bones and take them to the McKinley Museum?
While not exclusively a children’s museum, the McKinley Museum has plenty of interactive exhibits to entertain them. It’s also quite affordable, costing a family of four under $40 to visit.
The McKinley Gallery features artifacts and mementos from the 25th president’s lifetime, from medals and letters to the Ida Saxton McKinley gold and diamond tiara. But if your kids are getting stir-crazy, they might crave something more action-packed. If so, meander over to the World Science Center, with fossils and artifacts from the Ice Age and more.
Next stop? The Hoover Price Planetarium. Your kids will marvel at the special effects, from panoramic views to constellations and meteor showers for them to switch on and off — totally educational and interactive.
5. Schoenbrunn Village
- Notable features: Pioneer exhibits and shows
- Address: 1984 E High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH
- Website: Schoenbrunn Village
Keeping up with our history kick, Schoenbrunn Village is a culturally rich family activity that shows your kids a sneak peek into 1772.
Show your kids old-style log cabins revitalized to retain historical details or the first school and church in Ohio state. Established by Moravian settlers, Schoenbrunn Village alludes to a time when religious missionaries lived peacefully with the Delaware Indians.
Frequent exhibits and events feature people dressed in 1700s attire, spinning wool or testing muskets. The on-site museum also features cool artifacts from the past, like cooking utensils and antique furnishings.
6. Uhrichsville Waterpark
- Notable features: Two-story water slides, affordable
- Address: 401 E 12th Street, Uhrichsville, OH
- Website: Uhrichsville Waterpark
Every child loves a long, winding water slide. Just the mention of a waterpark is enough to send your kids on a giddy happy dance of excitement. Luckily, Uhrichsville Waterpark isn’t far from Your Family’s Place vacation rentals.
The facility features a whopping 4.5 acres, including an 18,000-square-foot heated pool. Phew! At least the parents can relax, too!
On top of that, your kids will relish the two-story water slides, water playground, waterfalls (more like fountains), and splashy dumping buckets.
You can pack a sandwich or two or hit up the onsite concession stand for provisions. Your kids will adore the chicken fingers; who wouldn’t?
7. MAPs Air Museum
- Notable features: Simulator Trainers, Air Academy Summer Camp
- Address: 2260 International Pkwy, North Canton, OH
- Website: mapsairmuseum.org
Are there any aspiring pilots in the house? Then, your airplane-loving child will fall in love with MAPs Air Museum — an internationally recognized aviation museum in Green, Ohio, and a super fun place for kids.
Here, you’ll see aircraft from every era, from World War I & II to Post-Vietnam and the Digital era of the 1980s and beyond. On top of that, the museum features engaging exhibits, like the Fallen Feathers Memorial, to honor lost soldiers in 9/11 and other wars.
Keep an eye on the MAPs website for special events, from breakfast fundraisers to collector shows.
8. Atwood Lake Park
- Notable features: Year-round special events
- Address: 9500 Lakeview Road, Mineral City, OH
- Website: atwoodpark.mwcd.org
Swimming, sailing, boating — just a few hours of either is enough to tucker out your kids! You’ll access all three family activities and more on your visit to Atwood Lake Park. Not to mention the basketball courts, picnic pavilions, and endless green areas to spread out and enjoy a sunny day.
This is also a hotspot for local events year-round. If you head there in July, you’ll catch the Alive festival — an annual Christian music gathering that attracts thousands annually. October is also a special time to expose your kids to history and culture with the autumn Indigenous Pow Wow.
Visiting without a plan? No worries. Just head on over to the visitor center to get the 411 on nature programs and family activities to immerse your kids in wholesome, educational fun!
9. Historic Zoar Village
- Notable features: Crafts and historical programs and tours
- Address: 198 Main St., Zoar, Ohio
- Website: historiczoarvillage.com
Itching to take your kids to a National Historic Landmark right here in Ohio state? The Historic Zoar Village deserves a spot on your itinerary! Take the family on a hands-on guided tour where your kids can see what life was like in the 1850s. Slow life right down by exploring just how pioneers created toys or churned butter, and marvel at the art of manufacturing with the blacksmith shop section!
But if you want to leave your kids in a supervised program, adults can access their own engaging activities as well. Why not unwind with a watercolor class, or learn a new craft like needlepoint or blacksmithing? The village has tons of programs for people of all ages to enjoy.
Don’t forget about the onsite Bimeler House & Museum, a house that was built in 1863! Now, it’s a museum with rotating exhibits.
It’s easy to spend an entire day here, whether it’s focused on a guided program or simply meandering through the old-style architecture and serene scenery!
10. The Wilderness Center
- Notable features: Fun scavenger hunt opportunities
- Address: 9877 Alabama Ave SW Wilmot, Ohio
- Website: wildernesscenter.org
If you want to teach your kids about nature, sustainability, conservation, and community, the Wilderness Center is a great choice. This longstanding organization protects the region’s natural land and encourages conscious conservation amongst community members.
Your kids will explore and learn across hundreds of miles of trails that wind, ascend, and descend as close to nature’s intention as possible. Feel free to bring your pup, but make sure you leash ‘em.
And if you want a little extra structure to your Wilderness Center outing? Try out one of their many programs. Download easy-to-use worksheets to launch your family’s own personal scavenger hunt — be it with insects, spring flowers, or Sign your kids up for an Insect Scavenger Hunt or science knowledge from the trails’ many signs, maps, and historical info bits.
Play and Stay in East Central Ohio
As parents, we want to help our children experience the best things in life. If you agree those things include exposure to history and culture, immersion in nature, and exciting sports activities, you’ll relish all the kid-friendly activities in East Central Ohio.
Are you planning your next getaway? Your Family’s Place offers stellar accommodation options with comfort, convenience, and complete relaxation in mind. Feel free to peruse through our other Ohio properties and reach out with any questions.
Book your East Central Ohio vacation today!
Featured Image Credit: Inside Creative House
