Southwest of Akron, in Rittman, Wayne County OH, AerOhio offers the thrills of skydiving; blue skies, white clouds, panoramic views & tranquility. For tandem jumps, call ahead (330-925-3483) on weekdays jump or walk-in on a weekend. Located on their own private airport, surrounded by acres of wide open landing areas. Also: indoor packing, equipment demos, rigging services, video & student classrooms, souvenirs, & free camp grounds with hot showers.

The Akron Art Museum focuses on art produced since 1850, with impressive collections of turn-of-the-twentieth century realism and American impressionism, postmodern painting and sculpture, photorealism, Pop art, photography, and artworks that take surrealist and expressionist approaches.

Set over 50 acres just west of downtown, The Akron Zoo is home to more than 700 animals including a number of endangered species that are bred and raised on-site. Some of the animals calling the zoo home include snow leopards, komodo dragons, American bald eagles, Galapagos tortoises, red pandas, Sumatran tigers, Andean condors, and jaguars. The zoo offers fun special events during the year such as a Pajama Party, Zoobilation, Senior Safari, Boo at the Zoo and Snack with Santa.

Just a short drive from the city is the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga National Park, straddling the winding Cuyahoga River. A rolling floodplain, lush ravines, and thick forests are home to beautiful flora and fauna and can be visited via backcountry hiking trails and paved biking trails. The historic Ohio & Erie Canal which traveled through the area provides a look into trading life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. To cover a lot of ground, consider the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which runs on 51 miles of track through the park. A round trip to Independence, OH (just south of Cleveland) and back is three hours.

Just outside of the city near the Akron-Canton Regional Airport you’ll find the MAPS Air Museum, a volunteer-run museum dedicated to the preservation of exhibition of military aircraft. The museum hosts dozens of historic aircraft in its hangar, including fighters, bombers, transporters, helicopters, and flight simulators.

This 65-room Tudor-style mansion was built in 1912 for Goodyear Rubber Company founder FA Seiberling and is now a National Historic Landmark open to the public. The beautiful home is noted for its intricate wood paneling, made from oak, rosewood, and chestnut, and its 70 acres of manicured gardens. The grounds include formal English and Japanese gardens and a wildflower meadow, and are planned such that parts of the garden are in bloom year-round.