Summit: Discover Nature, History and Culture

Summit combines impressive natural experiences with an unusually diverse cultural history. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in Summit County and offers a landscape of forests, wetlands and former fields. In addition, there are museums in Akron, historic estates, a covered bridge, waterfalls and opportunities to explore the valley in different ways. When choosing your vacation rental, you can therefore first decide whether nature, history, art or a combination of these should be the focus of your trip.

Natural experiences among trails, wetlands and waterfalls

Cuyahoga Valley National Park has more than 125 miles of hiking trails. These pass through forests, wetlands and former fields, offering different impressions of the landscape. Summit Metro Parks provides maps for every park and every trail, as well as a map of Summit County showing the locations of the Metro Parks. Such maps are helpful when you want to plan your outings around the type of natural experience you are looking for.

One particularly distinctive place is Beaver Marsh, one of the most diverse natural communities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. From the Ira Trailhead, you can reach the area via an easy walking path along the Towpath Trail. The path is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. This makes Beaver Marsh a practical option for a quieter outing when not all family members are looking for the same physical challenge.

Brandywine Falls is a 60-foot waterfall. A partially accessible boardwalk leads to the viewing area. The area is open daily from sunrise to sunset; the boardwalk may be closed in icy conditions. Take this restriction into account when planning your day and check the conditions if you would like to visit the waterfall during the colder season.

History and art as a second travel focus

The historical side of Summit includes Everett Covered Bridge, the only remaining covered bridge in Summit County. Hale Farm & Village is an open-air museum dedicated to living history. It depicts rural life in the Western Reserve in northeastern Ohio from 1825 to 1850. Guides in period clothing convey the history, while craftspeople demonstrate historic crafts. Hale Farm and Village therefore combines vivid insights into a specific period with practical demonstrations.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens also places a clear emphasis on history. The estate includes five historic buildings. The Gate Lodge is associated with the conversation that led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Those interested in architecture, regional history and the personal stories behind historic places will find a different perspective here than on a hike through the national park.

In Akron, the Akron Art Museum focuses on modern and contemporary art and collects more than 7,000 objects dating from 1850 to the present. The Akron History Center presents Akron's history through exhibitions, activities and events. Rediscovered artifacts, stories and exhibitions highlight the city's development there. A vacation rental in Summit can therefore also serve as a base for a stay that deliberately alternates days in nature with museum visits.

Exploring by bike, train and canal history

The Freedom Trail connects cyclists between downtown Akron and Kent. Another perspective is offered by a train ride through the Cuyahoga Valley, which follows the Cuyahoga River. Rockside and Akron Northside are the main stations for the Scenic Train Ride. At the Canal Exploration Center, visitors can watch live demonstrations of locks at relevant events and learn about the history of the canal. Events for summer and fall are announced for this purpose; you should check the specific dates before planning.

Afterward, you can tailor your search for a suitable vacation rental more specifically to the desired character of your trip, without combining the individual experiences into an unverified circular route.

More places to consider for your search

The following additional location pages are available: Fairlawn, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Macedonia, Stow, Twinsburg, Clinton, Barberton and Northfield .

For the overarching travel overview: Ohio.