Trail OhioATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Trail, Ohio.
1. West Side Market
HISTORIC FOOD MARKETPLACE
West Side Market stands as Cleveland's oldest continuously operating public market, dating back to 1912. The market features over 100 vendors selling a diverse range of fresh foods, specialty items, and cultural delicacies. Visitors can admire the distinctive clock tower and Byzantine-Romanesque architecture while sampling foods from around the world.
2. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
NATURE AND ART HAVEN
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers a stunning collection of exotic plants in themed environments spanning 88 acres. The conservatory showcases seasonal exhibitions, Dale Chihuly glass artwork, and a butterfly garden that delights visitors year-round. Its Victorian-style glass greenhouse provides a tranquil escape with rotating horticultural displays.
3. A Christmas Story House
ICONIC FILM LOCATION
The House From A Christmas Story allows fans to step into the iconic setting of the beloved 1983 holiday film. Visitors can tour the meticulously restored house where Ralphie Parker lived his Christmas adventures, complete with the famous leg lamp in the window. The adjacent museum features original props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes memorabilia from the movie.
4. William Henry Harrison Tomb
PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL SITE
William Henry Harrison Tomb marks the final resting place of America's ninth president who served the shortest term of just 31 days before his death in 1841. The memorial features a stately limestone structure surrounded by a scenic hilltop setting overlooking the Ohio River. Visitors can learn about Harrison's military career, his famous campaign, and his brief presidency through interpretive displays.
5. William Howard Taft National Historic Site
PRESIDENTIAL BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM
William Howard Taft National Historic Site preserves the birthplace and childhood home of the 27th U.S. President and later Supreme Court Chief Justice. The restored Greek Revival house contains period furnishings and exhibits detailing Taft's unique distinction as the only person to serve in both of America's highest offices. Guided tours provide insight into Taft's upbringing, political philosophy, and lasting impact on American government.
6. U.S. Grant Birthplace
CIVIL WAR HERO'S ORIGIN
U.S. Grant Birthplace preserves the humble one-story cottage where the 18th President and Civil War general was born in 1822. The restored home contains period furnishings and personal artifacts that offer glimpses into Grant's early life and the influences that shaped his character. Visitors can explore exhibits chronicling Grant's journey from this small Ohio town to leading Union forces and eventually the White House.
7. Shaker Historical Museum
COMMUNITY HERITAGE CENTER
Shaker Historical Museum tells the story of the North Union Shakers who established a community on the site of today's Shaker Heights. The museum features exhibits on Shaker craftsmanship, religious practices, and the innovative communal society they created in the 19th century. Visitors can also learn about the transition from Shaker settlement to planned suburban community in the early 20th century.
8. 1825 Federal-style Church
ARCHITECTURAL NEW ENGLAND HERITAGE
The 1825 Federal-style Church stands as an architectural landmark showcasing Ohio's New England heritage through its distinctive design elements. The preserved historic structure reflects the influence of early settlers who brought their architectural traditions from New England to the Western Reserve. Visitors can appreciate the building's elegant proportions, classic details, and historical significance to the region's cultural development.
9. Youngstown Steel Museum
INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE PRESERVED
Youngstown Steel Museum chronicles the steel industry that dominated the city throughout the 20th century with comprehensive exhibits and artifacts. Visitors can examine the "last heats," the final batches of steel produced at each mill before their closures, representing a poignant chapter in American industrial history. The museum preserves the legacy of steelworkers and their contributions to building America while documenting the economic and social impact of the industry's decline.
10. Historic Zoar Village
GERMAN RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT
Historic Zoar Village preserves a unique community founded in 1817 by German religious dissenters seeking freedom to practice their beliefs. Visitors can explore numerous restored Zoarite buildings that showcase the distinctive architecture and communal lifestyle maintained until 1898. The village's centerpiece is its meticulously maintained public garden, preserved as it was in the 1800s with geometric beds and heirloom plants reflecting the community's spiritual philosophy.
11. Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries
INDIGENOUS MINING SITE
Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries encompasses a 533-acre preserve where ancient Indigenous peoples quarried flint for tools, weapons, and trade goods. Visitors can hike trails through the site to observe the historic pits left by quarrying activities that attracted people from great distances to obtain this valuable resource. The on-site museum displays artifacts and educational exhibits about Ohio's official state gemstone and its significance to early American cultures.
12. Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
EPIC EXPLORATION ROUTE
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail commemorates the famous expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the western portion of the Louisiana Territory. The trail covers approximately 4,900 miles across 11 states, with Ohio segments offering visitors insights into the early planning stages of the journey. Established by Congress in 1978 as part of the National Trails System Act, the route provides opportunities for outdoor recreation while preserving the cultural and historical significance of this pivotal chapter in American westward expansion.
13. Ohio History Center
STATE'S PREMIER MUSEUM
Ohio History Center serves as the headquarters of the Ohio History Connection and houses the state's premier museum of Ohio history. The facility features extensive exhibits spanning prehistoric times to the present, including archaeological artifacts, historic vehicles, and cultural collections that tell Ohio's diverse story. Visitors can explore both permanent and rotating exhibits that highlight significant people, events, and innovations that have shaped Ohio's development over centuries.
14. Hocking Hills State Park
NATURAL WONDER DESTINATION
Hocking Hills State Park showcases dramatic sandstone formations, towering cliffs, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls spread across 2,356 acres of pristine natural beauty. Visitors can explore popular features like Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls via an extensive network of hiking trails that wind through hemlock-shaded valleys. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities including camping, rock climbing, and nature photography in one of Ohio's most photographed and beloved natural landscapes.
15. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
PREMIER AVIATION COLLECTION
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force houses the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of military aircraft and aerospace artifacts spanning from the Wright brothers to modern space exploration. Spread across more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space, visitors can examine over 350 aerospace vehicles including presidential aircraft, experimental planes, and iconic military aircraft from every era. The museum offers immersive experiences through flight simulators, IMAX films, and interactive exhibits that bring aviation history to life.