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These fun destinations are a hop, skip and jump away from The 330. Travel over a whirlpool, get immersed in interactive art and witness national treasures. Hit the road for unforgettable experiences.
Butterfly Conservatory photo by Chelsea Marcantonio
{ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com
}
TEMPERATURE CHECK
WINTER WEATHER MAKES US DREAM OF SUNSHINE.
Our feature on travel has me ready to get out of Akron. I’m writing this in February, and this winter’s cold has been unbearable at times.
As I got older, I never thought that I would want warm weather like my grandparents. I think it’s just all the work it takes to manage in the snow. Everything is a production. Walking the dog? I need layers of clothes. Digging my car out or just waiting for it to warm up? All the time adds up. When I was younger, I’d throw on a coat and be out the door. Now I’m calculating wind chill and debating whether it’s worth the effort.
The one good thing about the cold is that I got to see all the places where the heat is escaping from my house. I fixed two spots, but old houses tend to leak everywhere. You patch one hole and three more appear, like some kind of home improvement whack-a-mole.
The quick road trips we’re featuring in this issue sound like a nice reprieve from the winter doldrums. But let’s be honest — three hours of are we there yet from our 6-year-old, Bodhi, in the back car seat isn’t something to look forward to. With those same about three hours, we could be on a short flight to the furthest end of Florida, soaking up the sunlight. Of course, flying is never as easy as it seems. Let’s face it: No matter how short the flight is, it’s always a full day. By the time you factor in getting to the airport early, going through security, waiting at the gate, the actual flight time, baggage claim and the drive to wherever you’re staying, a quick three-hour flight turns into an all-day production. Sometimes I wonder if the hassle is worth it. Then I remember what waits at the other end: sunshine, warmth and a break from the routine.
The next trip I have planned is a week in Arizona later in the spring. Arizona has such a unique climate. You can be in the mountains where there’s snow near Flagstaff, and then, a couple of hours later, you’re in the blazing hot sun in Phoenix. I used to go to Arizona often to visit my grandparents when I was a kid. If you lived on the West Coast like I did, then you know that snowbirds migrate to Arizona, similar to how the ones here go to Florida. There’s something comforting about that ritual — people chasing the sun, seeking relief from the cold. I get it now more than I ever did.
I’m hoping I can play some golf when I go to Arizona. I’ve spent the winter working with a golf coach and practicing, but I have tennis elbow, so I’m already injured before the golf season starts. The great thing is that the coach has changed my swing, and I can’t even remember my bad habits. It’s a hard reset. Of course, I’m sure they’ll creep back, or I’ll find new bad habits to replace them. That seems to be how it works with golf. You fix one problem and create two more. One of the trips we feature in this issue is to Columbus. My wife’s family is there, so I get to spend quite a bit of time in the city. Having that quick getaway option can be enough to recharge, even if it’s just for a weekend.
The best part about Ohio is that we get that change in season — and in no time, I’ll only want to sit in air conditioning. But the older I get, the more I just like the warmth. Maybe it’s because the cold feels harder now. It seeps into your bones in a way it didn’t when you were 20. Or maybe I’m just turning into my grandparents, which honestly doesn’t seem like the worst thing. They knew what they were doing — chasing the sun.
Bodhi
ARABIAN NIGHTS
Ballet Excel Ohio shows you a whole new world March 14 and 15 with its new, full-length Aladdin ballet at Akron Civic Theatre. Take a magic carpet ride, and watch the tale of Aladdin and the princess as depicted through the original choreography of Erich Yetter in an exciting world premiere. Catch appearances by guest New York City Ballet artists Indiana Woodward and Daniel Ulbricht as well as alumni performers Dustin True and Ashley Klinger March 14 at 7 p.m. Plus, enjoy festive small bites and refreshments at Aladdin’s Arabian Nights Tea Party at 1 p.m. prior to the 2 p.m. shows. It’s all in celebration of the Cuyahoga Fallsbased company’s 50th anniversary. 182 S. Main St., Akron, 330-822-4296, balletexcelohio.org
NOW ROLLING
Grab popcorn and kick back with a free film. Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with free Ohio-related movie showings throughout the state this year. Catch “Major League,” the cultclassic feel-good baseball flick set in Cleveland, playing at Cinemark Tinseltown North Canton March 1 and at Hickory Ridge Cinema in Brunswick March 7. Spot Cleveland filming locations like FirstEnergy Stadium in “Draft Day,” following a fictional Cleveland Browns general manager, March 1 at the Valley View Cinemark. Bring the kiddos to Kent Stage March 8 to see the animated “Dog Man,” based on a youth graphic novel series by Cleveland native Dav Pilkey. Check back for more free movies through October. ohiogoestothemovies.org
IN SEASON
Get an early start on farmers market season by browsing 35 local farmers, makers and bakers at Taste of Downtown March 21 at the Canton Museum of Art and Cultural Center for the Arts. Hosted by Canton Farmers’ Market and Know Your Roots, the market features free samples from the Desert Inn Mediterranean restaurant and Fromage du Monde Cheese & Wine Shop. Sip organic drinks from Rambling Rose Kitchenette. Listen to the acoustic music of Samuel John while partaking in games and activities. Kids can enjoy balloon art, books, toys and coloring. Stick around to tour the art museum and its CMA Shop, featuring local artisan wares. 1001 Market Ave. N, Canton, cantonfarmersmarket.com
{ by Jillian Flack, Aladdin photos by Sprout Dickerson, market photo by Jena Grosschmidt }
{
Editor-in-Chief | Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com
}
EXCITEMENT FOUND
A CHANGE OF SCENERY OFTEN LEADS TO NEW DISCOVERIES.
While wandering the East Liberty Street area in Ann Arbor, Michigan, colors splashed all over brick walls beckon you to Graffiti Alley. It’s a maze of constantly changing street art that covers all the walls, pipes and surfaces. When I went during my college years in 2009, we saw sunflowers, peace signs and tons of tagging. Being a photojournalism minor, I saw the spot as an opportunity for an impromptu photo shoot with my cousin, Rose. I’m so enchanted by the alley. I went back several times, including with my then-boyfriend and now-husband, Tony, and my friends, Nicole and Moneesha. These sorts of discoveries add magic to traveling.
This spring, start your adventures with regional trips and destinations, including Kentucky Bourbon Trail tours just over the Cincinnati border and the winding, surreal Otherworld in Columbus.
I visited Ann Arbor many times because it was also where my uncle Steve lived. We would go into nearby Detroit and eat flaming cheese in Greektown. My entire family and all of my relatives went to Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum with Steve. The oddities and curiosities were striking, and there were plenty of quirky games, too. Rose and I went to the gigantic Ann Arbor Art Fair. Drawing nearly half a million people, it’s the largest juried art fair nationwide and sprawls over 30 city blocks. I got a sequined patchwork purse and a colorful lantern light.
Our family also went to the nearby 9-acre Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, with over 80 historic structures. It was fun to relive that trip while interviewing Cynthia Jones, director of museum experiences and exhibitions at the Henry Ford. It’s fascinating how the museum takes the theme of innovation in many unexpected directions.
“We think about it as both technical or technological innovation, but also social innovation, changes in our country that were driven by choices that we all made,” she says. “Sometimes that’s someone standing up for freedom. Sometimes that’s someone creating this crazy personal computer in their garage that we all end up adopting, which changes our entire culture. Sometimes it’s innovators thinking, OK, You’re all driving around in cars. How do I create McDonald’s, roadside eating or a Holiday Inn room to give you a place to stay? We cover all those things.”
I really enjoyed talking to Jones about the “With Liberty and Justice For All” exhibit that has an 1845 copy of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” and a 1910 New York Women’s Suffrage Party banner.
In this issue, we also take you to Pittsburgh. I’ve visited often and typically end up at Three Rivers Park, sitting around its fountain, or the National Aviary. I love how the birds fly openly in many spaces. Once, we caught a bird show, and it was incredible to see those birds flying so close to us. I’m glad that we’re featuring Randyland. I discovered it more recently and finding it felt like another Graffiti Alley moment. It’s a wonderland of brightly painted surfaces, signs promoting kindness, peace and love, and interesting examples of reuse. It’s my kind of creative place — and another great backdrop for a vibrant photo shoot. We worked on this issue in January and February. We’ve been having a cold, harsh winter. Getting away sounds wonderful, even if it’s only a few hours’ drive. A change of scenery always rejuvenates me. I wrote about Niagara Falls. It’s changed a lot since I rode the Maid of the Mist there as a kid. We feature experiences like riding in a tethered helium balloon near the falls, gazing behind the falls, walking through a power station tunnel that once carried water and riding a cable car over a whirlpool. The adrenaline junkie in me is up for all of it.
Whatever appeals to you, find an escape this spring. We’ve earned it after a difficult winter. New, exciting discoveries create enduring memories.
Kelly
3/7 CANstruction Build Event
Watch teams build sculptures from canned goods during this live build. Sculptures remain on view through March 16. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. akronartmuseum.org
photo provided by Akron Art Museum
Through 3/7 “None of us really know what we look like inside”
Kent State School of Art Collections and Galleries present this exhibition from artist Corrie Slawson. These works take the form of mixed-media paintings, drawings and prints that explore an imagination of the interior of the body. KSU Downtown Gallery, 141 E. Main St., Kent. MondayFriday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. kent.edu/galleries
Through 5/10 “A Meeting of Cultures: Fashioning North Africa”
This exhibit is the first of its kind in the world to focus specifically on contemporary fashion designers and influencers in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. It broadens the scope of scholarship on fashion history. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/museum
Through 6/28 “LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style”
Highlighting his early fashion illustration, this exhibit on LeRoy
Neiman showcases his lesser-known work as a fashion illustrator and explores its influence on his lifelong interest in capturing the clothing, gesture and style of his subjects. See 85 illustrations, many on public view for the first time. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/museum
Through 6/30 “A Gift in Ink”
Take in a selection of prints donated to the Kent State University School of Art Collection by the New York Print Club. Library, Michener Gallery, 1125 Risman Drive, Kent. Hours vary. kent.edu/galleries
Through 8/23 “Sparkle: The Style and Jewelry of Aileen Mehle” Browse the dresses and jewelry of widely syndicated society columnist Aileen Mehle at this exhibit. Designers she wore included Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Tiffany & Co. and more. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-
Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/museum
3/1 Flamenco Fiesta! Music, Dance, and Story for All Ages
Travel to Spain through music and performance with this family-friendly flamenco show. Singers, dancers and musicians from Abrepaso Flamenco bring stories to life through song and dance. Akron Civic Theatre, The Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 3 p.m. Prices vary. akroncivic.com
3/1-3/29 Self-Guided Story Trail: North Country Spring
Walk through the self-guided story trail on Downy Loop Trail. Wood Hollow Metro Park, 2121 Barlow Road, Hudson. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. summitmetroparks.org
3/1-3/31 Medina County Student Art Show
View artwork created by students throughout Medina County in this monthlong display of artwork at businesses around the Medina Square. Free. mainstreetmedina.com by Xaverie
Baker
3/7 Britnee Kellogg
Hear country artist Britnee Kellogg perform live. The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. Doors 6:30 p.m., show 7:30 p.m. $40.83-$47.66. kentstage.org
3/13 NEO Rewind Series: Vanity Crash presents “Our Day Will Come: NEO Women Rock”
Celebrate Northeast Ohio’s femaledriven music scene through a highenergy concert led by Vanity Crash and fellow regional performers. It showcases original songs and reimagined favorites rooted in rock, pop and alternative traditions. Witness powerful vocals and stage presence. The event emphasizes collaboration and community while honoring women who shape the area’s live music culture. Akron Civic Theatre, The Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. Prices vary. akroncivic.com
3/13 Legacy Lecture: Mary Lincoln’s Photograph Album
Explore Mary Lincoln’s private world through a rare personal photograph collection during this virtual lecture hosted by the National First Ladies’
Library & Museum. Examine how the former first lady used images to preserve memory, cope with loss and document family relationships after President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Learn about 19thcentury photography, social customs and historical context from expert presenters. Gain insight into grief, resilience and self-expression through visual storytelling. Online. Noon-1 p.m. Prices vary. firstladies.org
3/14 Region 5 Ohio History Day
Compete and collaborate in a regional academic event that celebrates historical research and creative interpretation. It presents documentaries, exhibits, performances, papers and websites developed around annual themes. Support student achievement while exploring local, national and global stories through original scholarship. National First Ladies Library & Museum, 205 S. Market Ave., Canton. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Prices vary. firstladies.org
3/13 & 3/14 Stark County Home & Garden Show
Discover renovation ideas, landscaping trends and home-improvement solutions at this large regional expo. Browse exhibits featuring contractors, designers, remodelers and product specialists. Compare materials, gather estimates and attend demonstrations on maintenance and decor. Explore outdoor living displays, energyefficient upgrades and seasonal gardening tips. Enjoy giveaways, food trucks and interactive booths while planning spring and summer projects. Hall of Fame Village, Center for Performance, 1901 Champions Gateway, Canton. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Prices vary. visitcanton.com
3/14 & 3/15 Ballet Excel Ohio Presents: “Aladdin”
This new show brings the classic Arabian Nights tale to life through expressive choreography and colorful stage design. Follow Aladdin’s journey from street thief to hero through dance. See young performers alongside seasoned artists in a family-
EMPOWER ALL ABILITIES THIS MARCH
Scan the QR code for events and downloadables
friendly production. Storytelling, technical precision and imaginative costumes combine to introduce audiences to this full-length narrative ballet featuring original choreography. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. March 14 2 & 7 p.m., March 15 2 p.m. Prices vary. akroncivic.com
3/14 Bolivian Baroque with Firestone Choirs
Encounter rarely heard sacred and secular works from colonial-era Bolivia in this early music program. Choirs perform compositions preserved in South American mission archives using period-informed techniques. The show blends choral singing with historical instruments to recreate Baroqueera soundscapes. It offers cultural context and musical insight through brief explanations and commentary while highlighting global influences and regional traditions within classical music history. House Three Thirty, Cabaret, 532 W. Market St., Akron. 1-2 p.m. Free. housethreethirty.com
3/19 Third Thursday: Curtain Up on Culture and Charm
Explore creativity, etiquette and artistic expression during this wineand-cheese-style evening program. It highlights regional culture through guided discussion, multimedia elements and guest insights. The event encourages conversation about style, presentation and personal storytelling in social and professional settings. It provides a relaxed environment for networking and learning while enjoying light refreshments. The emphasis is on lifelong learning, confidence and community connection through shared experiences. National First Ladies Library & Museum, 205 S. Market Ave., Canton. 6:30-8 p.m. Prices vary. firstladies.org
3/20 Akron Symphony Gala: “Blue Skies”
Support the Akron Symphony Orchestra through an elegant evening of music, dining and fundraising. Celebrate artistic excellence with live performances, themed decor and curated programming. It gathers donors, musicians and community partners who sustain regional arts. Enjoy socializing, auctions and special
presentations in a festive setting. It combines philanthropy with cultural appreciation in one of the orchestra’s signature annual events. House Three Thirty, 532 W. Market St., Akron. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Prices vary. akronsymphony.org
3/20-3/22 “Murder on the Orient Express”
Unravel a classic mystery in this stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous novel. Follow detective Hercule Poirot as he investigates a murder aboard a luxury train stranded by snow. Experience suspenseful storytelling, period costumes and ensemble performances. Enjoy shifting perspectives and dramatic revelations through carefully paced scenes. It immerses audiences in intrigue, wit and theatrical craftsmanship. Akron Civic Theatre, The Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. Times vary. Prices vary. akroncivic.com
3/21 “The Simon and Garfunkel Story” Relive the music and legacy of Simon and Garfunkel through this concertstyle theatrical production, combining live performances with archival footage and narration. Trace the duo’s journey from early folk roots to international stardom. The show features faithful renditions of classics such as “Mrs. Robinson” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It appeals to longtime fans and newcomers with storytelling and musical nostalgia. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. akroncivic.com
3/21 Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Celebrate environmental storytelling through a curated selection of short films focused on conservation, adventure and outdoor culture. Stories highlight wildlife, climate action and community stewardship. The event encourages discussion about local and global environmental challenges. Support the Summit Metro Parks Foundation through ticket sales and donations. The festival combines entertainment with education in an intimate cinema setting. The Nightlight, 30 N. High St., Akron. 2-5 p.m. Prices vary. summitmetroparks.org
3/21 Migration Madness Field Trip
Observe spring bird migration during a guided bus trip led by experienced naturalists. Travel to regional wetlands and habitats known for seasonal bird activity. Learn identification techniques, behavior patterns and conservation principles. Use binoculars and field guides to spot waterfowl, warblers and shorebirds. Enjoy hands-on learning in changing natural landscapes. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $60. summitmetroparks.org
3/24 Brown Bag Lunch Lecture: “Silent Cinema”
Explore the artistry and innovation of early motion pictures during this lunchtime lecture. Examine how filmmakers told complex stories without spoken dialogue through visual composition, expressive acting and live musical accompaniment. Learn about pioneering directors, iconic performers and technological advances that shaped silent-era filmmaking. The lecture connects historical context with modern cinematic techniques. It encourages thoughtful viewing and appreciation of film history in an accessible midday format. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. 12:10-12:50 p.m. Free. massillonmuseum.org
3/26 Storytime & More with Stark Library: Preschool
This event fosters early literacy and creativity through interactive storytelling and hands-on activities. It shares age-appropriate books, songs and movement exercises led by library educators. Kids can learn listening skills, imagination and social development. It provides caregivers with practical reading strategies and community resources and creates a welcoming environment that supports family learning and curiosity. Perry Sippo Branch, 5710 12th St. NW, Canton. 2-2:30 p.m. Free. starklibrary.org
3/30-4/5 Gnomes on the Roam Search for whimsical hidden gnomes scattered throughout the Medina Square area during this weeklong community scavenger hunt. Pick up clue sheets at participating businesses and track discoveries throughout the district. It encourages families to explore local shops, restaurants and public spaces. The scavenger hunt promotes downtown engagement through playful competition and themed prizes. It combines outdoor activity with small-business support and neighborhood fun. Medina Square District, 39 Public Square, Medina. Free. mainstreetmedina.com
3/30 “330 Day”
Celebrate Northeast Ohio pride during this locally themed festival honoring the 330 area code. It showcases regional musicians, artists and vendors throughout the day. The day also highlights community partnerships, small businesses and cultural organizations. It offers food, drinks and interactive activities in a festive atmosphere. Wean Foundation, 147 W. Market St., Warren, 3:30 p.m. Robins Theatre, 160 E. Market St., Warren, 7 p.m. Free, $20 donation suggested. thesummitfm.com
3/31 Spring Stinks!
Investigate the “smelly” side of spring ecology during a guided nature hike. Learn how flowering plants and decomposing material use odors to attract pollinators and recycle nutrients. Observe seasonal changes along wooded trails and wetlands. Discover why skunks, fungi and wildflowers play important roles in healthy ecosystems. This event combines humor, science and outdoor exploration in an educational program. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. summitmetroparks.org
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Road Trip Ready
These fun destinations are a hop, skip and jump away from The 330. Travel over a whirlpool, get immersed in interactive art and witness national treasures. Hit the road for unforgettable experiences.
by Drew Berkshire, Dennis Farahani, Jillian Flack, Cameron Gorman and Kelly Petryszyn
photo by Untangled Digital
NIAGARA FALLS
On Niagara Parks’ Journey Behind the Falls, you can not only see under Niagara Falls — you can feel its power.
“You can literally feel the thunder of the falls in your body,” says Missy Sauer, director of attractions and retail for Niagara Parks. “It’s one of the closest and most powerful ways to experience Niagara Falls.”
To start, descend 125 feet to explore 130-yearold tunnels carved through bedrock. The twotiered observation deck is at the base of the 167-foot-tall falls — and offers a once-in-a-lifetime view of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water crashing down. Don a poncho to endure heavy mist from the upper deck. The bottom deck might be closed in early spring due to an ice bridge that formed over the falls during winter — but that itself is a marvel.
“The water is flowing underneath the solid ice,” Sauer says. “It’s quite the phenomenon.”
Viewing portals behind the falls might still be frozen over, but come in warmer weather to see amazing portal views described as a sheet of falling water.
In Awe
This is one of four attractions available through Niagara Parks’ Wonder Pass ($65 adult, $45 child). Bundling saves money and includes twoday unlimited Falls Incline Railway and hop-on, hop-off WEGO bus passes.
Next, go above the falls with the Niagara Takes Flight attraction. Before boarding, learn about 13,000 years of history with multimedia exhibits, including “Eons of Erosion,” which highlights the geology that formed the falls; “The Ancestors Room,” featuring stories developed in collaboration with local Indigenous communities; “The Waterfall Room,” with a presentation narrated by James Cameron; and “The Transporter” elevator experience that shares the story of the region’s power stations. Take a seat in the immersive flying theater ride, where your feet dangle in a motion simulator and you get a bird’s-eye view of the Niagara region across four seasons. On the domed screen, see sights including a battle re-enactment at Old Fort Erie, jet boats, zip lines, wine country, shots over the crest of the falls and more.
photos by Rob Anzit and provided by Niagara Parks
“You’re gliding and flying,” Sauer says. “We’re completely immersing your senses with scent, mist, wind.”
Escape to an entirely different tropical rainforest environment with the Butterfly Conservatory, one of the largest glass-enclosed conservatories in North America. Witness over 2,000 butterflies, such as the Blue Morpho, monarch and owl butterfly — as well as trickling waterfalls and lush vegetation — in an 80-degree atmosphere where butterflies occasionally land on you.
Finally, take in the Niagara Parks Power Station — opt to come during the day to take a historical Generator Hall audio tour and see Tesla coil demos, come at night for the immersive Currents show or upgrade to do both with the pass. The Currents show covers the entire hall in moving LED lights and projection art to tell the story of the history of the 1905 power station and hydroelectricity surrounding the falls.
“It moves with you,” Sauer says. “You can actually step on the floor, and splash in a puddle.”
To continue the awe-inspiring night experience, descend 180 feet in a glass-paned elevator and enter an astounding 2,200-foot-long, brick-lined tunnel, glowing with rainbow LED lights, to reach an observation platform that takes you to the illuminated falls.
“The tunnel was actually a discharge tunnel when the power station was operating,” says Sauer. “Our guests are actually walking in the path of water. It’s an incredible thing.” //KP niagaraparks.com
Whirlpool Aero Car
Soar in a historic cable car that travels 3,500 feet across the Niagara Gorge and marvel at class 6 rapids and a swirling whirlpool below. “It creates this vortex, which is moving in a counterclockwise direction. With water moving at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, it’s one of the strongest natural whirlpools in the world,” says Missy Sauer, director of attractions and retail for Niagara Parks. The gentle Whirlpool Aero Car ride was designed by famed Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres Quevedo, opened in 1916 and renovated in 2023. Witness spectacular views from the aero car as you travel from Colt’s Point to Thompson’s Point and back without exiting the car.
“You’re over Canadian water for most of the ride, but for a brief moment, you pass over U.S. waters,” Sauer says. No passport required! //KP niagaraparks.com
photos by Rob Anzit and Untangled Digital, provided by Niagara Parks
Being up in the helium Live On Air Fallsview Balloon — tethered close to Niagara Falls — is refreshingly peaceful.
“It’s a really sort of transcendent experience when you get up there, because it’s just you, the sky and a spectacular view,” says Colin Nekritz, director of marketing for Live Incorporated, which the balloon operates under. “It’s a very tranquil experience.”
Launched in summer 2024 and open year-round, the Fallsview Balloon uses a sturdy, durable helium balloon with a gondola featuring a 360-degree ring-shaped walkway that allows for views from all directions. Each ride takes up to 30 passengers about 500 feet above Niagara Falls — the highest viewing platform on the U.S. side. A giant steel tether anchors the balloon, and a winch system helps it slowly ascend and descend.
During the 15-minute-ride, music plays and a certified balloon pilot guides passengers above the nearby glistening falls, which are located a third of a mile south of the balloon’s anchor point.
“Some days, you actually hear the roar of the falls,” says Nekritz.
Passengers can see Niagara Falls State Park, the Rainbow International Bridge to the Canadian side and, on a clear day, Buffalo 15 miles south and Toronto skyscrapers and the CN Tower just past Lake Ontario, 40 miles north.
“You’ll see the Niagara River running toward the falls from Lake Erie to the south, but looking then to the north, you get to see the amazing Niagara Gorge, where it cuts through the landscape, heading toward Lake Ontario,” says Nekritz. “It’s breathtaking to look at the twists and turns of the Niagara River from the balloon’s perspective.”
Nightly, riders see the falls illuminated in rainbow hues. From May 15 till Oct. 12, they can catch nightly weatherdependent fireworks from the balloon during fireworks flights, which are a safe distance from the bright displays.
“There’s the falls lit up with all these amazing shifting colors of lights from both sides. The fireworks go off, lasting several minutes,” he says.
“People can enjoy the fireworks from what
Sky Bound
photos by Mike McCarty, ML Studios, Live Incorporated and Rob Bennett
is almost the same height as the fireworks.”
Each morning, certified pilots check the weather to ensure it is safe and comfortable to fly. Safety is paramount, and the balloon has been thoroughly tested. The gondola has safety nets and railings surrounding the handicap accessible walkway, and there are several fail-safe features to ensure a safe landing in the event of an emergency.
Go home with a souvenir photo, creating lasting memories. Nekritz hears from passengers who are afraid of heights that it isn’t nervewracking like they imagined. It’s such a smooth ride that he likens it to taking an elevator up to the sky. The view is unlike anything passengers have witnessed from land.
“[There’s] the general excitement, the adrenaline of going up in the air and seeing the world from a different perspective,” he says. “People come to see Niagara Falls dozens of times … but it’s another thing to see them from 500 feet and get a perspective that not many people get.” //KP 454 Main St., Niagara Falls, New York, 716-513-0001, balloonoverniagara.com
Experience the rapids of Niagara Falls in a whole new way with Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours — and prepare to get soaked! From mid-April through October, take a splash through the Niagara River’s Devil’s Hole Rapids. They boast 15- to-20foot waves, speeds approaching 20 miles per hour and a class 5 rating. Commonly referred to as the “White Everest” of whitewater, passengers feel the power of the rapids
Jet Boats
as they crash over the boat. Passengers get the thrill of a lifetime — and also get to learn the history behind the Niagara Gorge. Those who want to stay dry can opt for the Freedom Jet Niagara River tour. Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours offer thrill-seeking fun for all. //DB 115 S. Water St., Lewiston, New York, 888-438-4444, whirpooljet.com
provided by Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
photos
Incredible Ingenuity
While visiting the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village as a child, Cynthia Jones felt transported through U.S. history.
“It was like walking into a time machine,” recalls Jones, now the director of museum experiences and exhibitions at the Henry Ford — which includes both attractions — in Dearborn, Michigan.
At the 9-acre indoor innovation museum, see seminal national artifacts like a rare early copy of the Declaration of Independence — one of 50 known copies from the 1820s — the presidential limousine John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated in 1963, the rocking chair President Abraham Lincoln sat in when he was assassinated in 1865 and the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in 1955.
“The story that we tell goes far beyond Rosa Parks — it really talks about the Montgomery bus boycott and the fact that people working together are the engine of change,” says Jones of the latter artifact. “When we think about innovation, we think about it both as technical or technological innovation, but also social innovation.”
Rare vehicles include the first car Henry Ford ever built: the quadricycle. It is made of bicycle tires, a tiller and more. Ford built it in 1896 while he was an engineer for Thomas Edison. “It’s very experimental and the only car of its kind,” she says. Plus, view a 1931 luxury Bugatti Type 41 Royale Convertible, a circa 1940 Texaco “Fire Chief” gas pump and more.
Don’t miss the “Driven to Win: Racing in America” exhibit, with 22 cars, including the Goldenrod, a long, skinny 1965 car that held the land speed record for decades. There are six racing simulators, as well as a hands-on pit crew experience on weekends. Enjoy a multisensory
theater showing a film that follows five racers, including NASCAR driver Josef Newgarden.
“When they rev the engines, you feel the engines,” Jones says. “When you’re racing down the track or you’re setting a land speed record, you feel the wind.”
Step inside the Dymaxion aluminum round dome home by architect R. Buckminster Fuller. “It’s a home that hangs off a single, central mass point,” says Jones, adding that Fuller only made two and that it laid the groundwork for similar ideas. “Modular homes or mobile homes — they became popular after this.”
photos by EE Berger and provided by the Henry Ford
Nosh on spinach pies, chocolate pistachio baklava and honey cookies from Astoria Pastry Shop in Detroit’s string light-strung Greektown. Among the Victorian-era streetscapes, also find flaming cheese at Golden Fleece and enjoy Greek nights at Exodus Rooftop. Stop in for a cup of Greek coffee from Bakalikon, a grocery store with imported Greek items and a cafe. Pick up specialty foods such as Olympus Graviera Cheese, bougatsa pie, Hellenic Farms fig salami, Misko Risoni orzo and more to take Mediterranean flavors home. //JF visitdetroit.com
photos by Gerard & Belevender
Greektown
See rotating exhibits as well, including “DaVinci: The Exhibition,” featuring drawings detailing his innovations, model inventions and real-size replicas of his paintings through May 3. From March 21 through Jan. 18, 2027, experience “Handmade: The Crafting of America” featuring 100 artifacts from the 1700s through today — including 1800s pottery by free Black ceramicist Thomas Commeraw and a 2023 Jean-Marcel St. Jacques wooden quilt made out of remnants of a home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Look out for the “Fabric of America” exhibit,
featuring over 500 artifacts, from June 7 to Sept. 13. From July 9 to 26, witness the “Documents That Forged the Nation” exhibit, highlighting original founding 1700s documents, including an early Constitution copy and more rare pieces from the National Archives in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
Greenfield Village opens April 11. Starting the week of June 9, tour a home that’s arriving from Selma, Alabama, where Martin Luther King Jr. stayed. It joins a campus of over 80 historic structures Ford had
moved to Greenfield Village, including the Wright Brothers’ home and workshop. Don’t miss a rare Model T ride.
“You’re going to learn something. You’re going to be impressed,” Jones says. “You’re going to have a great conversation.” //KP 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Michigan, 313-982-6001, thehenryford.org
A2AC Mural Walk
Following the self-guided A2AC Mural Walk, get swept away by the kaleidoscopic colors and geometric designs of Joey Salamon’s massive mural. In rainbow hues and shapes — taking up most of the back of an Ann Arbor building — he evokes joy and love. Afterward, see Jacob Dwyer’s birds seemingly flying across a midnight blue building — and contemplate the presence of life. Get immersed in a whimsical scene with largerthan-life toadstool mushroom homes, flowers, a firefly, a snail and more by the Urban Canvas mural class. Weave through buildings and discover 20 gems. Also pop into vibrant shops and cafes in the artsy city, such as the Hen Ann Arbor, a cozy, cute breakfast and lunch spot, or the Vault of Midnight, carrying graphic novels, comic books, games and more curiosities. //JF annarborartcenter.org
photos provided by A2AC
PITTSBURGH
A canvas with repeated imagery of Elvis Presley — just a bit larger than life size — graces the wall of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. Made with black ink layered on a silver background, the stunning silk screen print is one of the most recognizable works that Warhol, a prolific artist and filmmaker, produced during his lifetime.
“Some of the image is very crisp and clear, in other areas it’s a little blurry, it might be fainter, and part of that is the effect of the silk screen,” says museum director Mario Rossero. “It really grabs your attention.”
Co-founded in 1989 and opened in 1994, Pittsburgh was selected as the Warhol’s location because of its connection to the artist’s life. It was his birthplace, and he studied at the Carnegie Institute of Technology.
See work from when Warhol was a student to early pop art and pieces through the ‘80s. According to Rossero, the museum has 500,000 objects in its archival collection — the world’s largest collection of Warhol art and archives — including letters and personal items.
“You can see different aspects of the artist that you may not see if you only looked at the art,” Rossero says. Start on the museum’s seventh floor to take a chronological tour. Moving down, take in Warhol’s forays into pop art.
“You see Coca-Cola bottles, of course you see soup cans, you see Brillo boxes. And then we start to see some superstars, Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor portraits,” Rossero explains. “As you progress, you get into more collaborations with other artists and art forms and bands like the Velvet Underground. … [It] broadens your sense of this artist who worked across so many genres and different media.”
Make sure to see Warhol’s high-contrast collaborations with painter and artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, including a series of 10 eye-catching punching bags.
“They each have their own unique sort of visual language that they’re bringing to the work,” Rossero says.
Visit a film and video gallery on the fourth floor to explore more of Warhol’s videos — and, using a “screen test machine,” produce your own version of short films Warhol created between 1964 and 1966.
“Warhol’s direction was not to have a conversation necessarily, or even portray an emotion or a feeling or a thought, but just really … spend time in stillness with the camera,” he notes. “They’re really striking.”
Until March 9, visitors can encounter “Andy Warhol: Vanitas.”
“Think about vanity, think about contemplation of life and death,” Rossero says. “Think about beauty,
Late Works gallery, “Mao” installation, “Silver Clouds” gallery and other museum photos by Abby Warhola, “Cow,” Andy Warhol, 1966, “Ice Cream,” Andy Warhol, circa 1959 and Andy Warhol, “Self-Portrait,” 1986, provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
True Visionary
Randyland
You can spot Randyland from a distance. Its yellow-painted main building — with colorful geckos, graffiti-style Peace, Joy and Love signs and oversized butterflies and ladybugs — stands out in its Mexican War Streets neighborhood. Within the artful scenes spread among several brightly painted buildings and an open courtyard, see a mirage of colorful found objects, including flamingos, fake flowers, mirrors and mannequins. Founder Randy Gilson emerged from struggling with homelessness and poverty to become a community activist. This wonderland of artistic creativity and reuse is a one-of-a-kind experience. //JF 1501 Arch St., Pittsburgh, 412-342-8152, randyland.club
Randyland photos by Kelly Petryszyn
art, the temporality that we all face as human beings.”
From April 9 to June 2, the Warhol presents “Up, Up and Away.”
The activation of the museum’s second floor expands the presence of Warhol’s “Silver Clouds”— “silver mylar pillow-shaped objects” that are part air and part helium.
“They float through the air, and people can touch and interact with them,” Rossero says. “Usually, when you walk into that gallery, you might encounter 15 to 20 of those. But we’re looking for the spring to really have this sort of Silver Cloud takeover of our second floor. So, all I can say is that there’ll be a lot of joy.”
Rossero notes that “any living artist” is connected to Warhol, whose style transcends time.
“He certainly has found a way,” he says, “to live much longer into the future.” //CG
Be lifted up to Mount Washington on the first passenger funicular railway that was built in the United States.
Constructed in 1870 and recently refurbished, the Monongahela Incline offers Pittsburgh skyline views and brushes with history — riders can see part of a freight incline that ran till 1935. At the top, browse the restaurants and eateries of the Mount Washington neighborhood. Walk
through Emerald View Park, and enjoy city views from afar. Stop by Grandview Bakery to taste a chocolate marble cookie or a caramel apple coffee cake. If you’re still hungry, head to the Steel Mill Saloon, and try a burger with bourbon bacon jam, cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato and pickles. //JF Lower Station, 8 Grandview Ave., Pittsburgh, monongahelaincline.com
Incline photos by Dustin McGrew, Kelly Petryszyn, Serena Brooks Photography and Erin Gulling
KENTUCKY
Spirited Experience
On New Riff Distilling’s Bonded Tour, guests get an up-close look at a gleaming 60-foot-tall copper still tower — while discovering amusing facts about New Riff’s spirit-making process.
“People are surprised to learn … that we got to produce beer to get to the whiskey,” says lead tour ambassador Grover Arnold. “Eyes light up, like, oh, Wow!”
A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, New Riff crafts Kentucky sour mash whiskey. The Newport, Kentucky, distillery’s bourbon and rye whiskey are made in accordance with the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 for the highest quality — without any added flavoring. There’s no added coloring, it’s aged in new charred oak barrels, and it’s made without chill filtration.
“These federal requirements were instituted to … achieve what is the actual gold standard of reducing whiskey spirit,” Arnold says. “The nonchill filtration allows to give the full taste of what is the actual mature spirit that we produce.”
The Bonded Tour takes you through the bourbon distilling process from grain to barrel, including sour mashing.
“We walk you through every stage of the journey where we mill the grain, sour mash it, get to see it actually percolating and more or less fermenting inside the tanks to walking to the still tower to actually see it cascade down the column, to distill out the alcohol that we created in it by fermenting it for three to four days to establish it as a beer base,” says Arnold. “Taking that beer through … intense steam and heat to strip the alcohol from the beer to refine it and condense it down to a beer spirit that will eventually go in that barrel.”
The tour ends at the gauging and barreling room. Enjoy tastings throughout, including of New Riff’s Bottled in Bond bourbon and rye, a single-barrel rye and bourbon and an exclusive whiskey selection, currently a malted rye with a sherry finish.
You can also opt for the Happy Hour Tour, which includes the Bonded Tour and discounted happy hour menu pricing in the sleek Aquifer Tasting Room.
Pick up where the Bonded Tour left off with
photos provided by New Riff Distilling
the Barrel Proof Tour at the West Newport Campus, where the rickhouse holds barrels aging for a minimum of four years. Also see the dumping and gauging rooms and the turn-of-thecentury bottling hall. In the rickhouse, participants get a chance to taste straight from a barrel, comparing it to a bottled singlebarrel spirit. They also get to taste a barrel-proof bourbon and rye and a surprise offering.
For a rare experience, participate in the Blend, in which you create your own personal blend of bourbon or rye by tasting from three barrels and then selecting the amounts to blend of each one, crafting a take-home bottle.
“They’ll get the chance to build their own profile while we taste and give notes as we walk through the process,” Arnold says. “They get to taste what they created. It’s like, Man, this is cool.” People enjoy that the tours come with a $10 discount off a $25 store purchase. They wear earbuds, so they can hear the tour guide even while they witness live production.
“You get a true behind-the-scenes viewpoint of what takes place when you come on a production day, generally a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,” Arnold says. “You literally get to see the live action of building this wonderful spirit together.” //KP 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Kentucky, 859-261-7433, newriffdistilling.com
Touch a stingray as it glides past or watch it swim over you in a glass viewing tunnel at Newport Aquarium in Kentucky. This award-winning aquarium invites visitors to see thousands of creatures, including a Pacific octopus, moray eels and shark rays. From penguins and Orinoco crocodiles to seahorses and rare reptiles, witness a wide range of creatures in myriad habitats. Enjoy stunning views — including an 85-foot seamless shark tunnel, a 32-foot Amazon River tunnel and a 60,000-gallon coral reef tunnel. Experience the new “Jellies: Go With The Flow” 1,700-square-foot exhibit showcasing dozens of jellyfish species. Those feeling brave can cross a rope bridge over the shark tank — or even touch a shark! //DF
Hear a banjo’s twang as you float across the Ohio River while on a BB Riverboats music cruise. The River Queen and the Victorian-style Belle of Cincinnati paddle wheel boats offer a range of voyages, from laid-back daytime sightseeing cruises infused with local history to evening cruises guided by Cincinnati and Kentucky cityscape views and live music in the summer or DJ tunes in the offseason. Families gravitate toward themed kids’ cruises,
where princesses and superheroes turn the deck into a magical realm. Couples can enjoy a romantic evening with the dinner cruise, complete with drinks from the bar and dancing. Enjoy a few unhurried hours on the river to escape the busy city while still taking in its beauty. //DF 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, Kentucky, 800-261-8586, bbriverboats.com
photos provided by BB Riverboats
COLUMBUS
In a room decorated to resemble a basement, a projector beams a black-and-white cartoon onto a sheetlike screen. Push past it, and the screen parts — allowing visitors to step into the world of the cartoon itself.
Under lights that cast people and objects in a sepia tone, encounter larger-than-life vintage cartoon-inspired figures and a casket that — once opened — restores color to the world. This layered scene is just one of many to explore at Otherworld, an immersive art and entertainment experience in Columbus.
“Immersive … what it means to me is to take people to a place that they only have seen in dreams, and then you bring it to the forefront of reality,” says director of operations Jon Stewart, “where art and technology and entertainment all accumulates into one interaction.”
Opened in 2019, Otherworld was launched by owner Jordan Renda, who came from the world of escape rooms and haunted houses. Wandering through 47 rooms in the 32,000-square-foot expanse, discover myriad themed spaces.
In a stalagmite cave, musical notes play when visitors brush their hands in between spikes. A forest centered around a hollow, illuminated tree has branches extending from the ceiling and a glowing tower that hides a secret puzzle. Enter a bedroom with monster features jutting out of the closet, wall and window — and climb under the bed to reach a land of squishable creatures. Encounter a jumbo plush narwhal with a mouth you can crawl into. An oceanthemed exhibit is complete with fuzzy starfish, a giant eel monster, a submarine and even more whimsical elements.
“What sets us apart is that we encourage our guests to play with the art, get involved with it,” says Stewart.
“They can also solve three major puzzles that we have throughout the space, looking for clues and following the storyline of Otherworld.”
Pure Imagination
Whether you’re marveling at Cleveland’s Terminal Tower and other iconic Ohio landmarks made from Legos or watching Lego mascot Bertie come to life in the 4D Cinema, the interactive Legoland Discovery Center is sure to put a smile on your face. The Columbus attraction offers a flying Merlin’s Apprentice ride, as well as 10 themed play zones, such as Duplo Farm. Take a seat on a Lego chariot while experiencing the popular Kingdom
Quest ride, in which you save a baby dragon and compete to see who can zap the most monsters with blasters! Learn tips from a Master Model Builder, create a Lego race car and more at Legoland — and let your imagination run free. //DB 157 Easton Town Center, Columbus, 614-407-7721, legolanddiscoverycenter.com
Legoland Discovery Center
That storyline begins in the lobby — also the location of a bar and cafe — where guests take on the role of visitors to another world. It can take them in many directions.
“You are going into, in a sense, a sleep study, and you’re going to be transferred to this new space, which is called Otherworld,” Stewart explains. “You’re kind of having to figure out and decipher: Is this a dream, or is this reality?”
Solve puzzles that involve moving or touching objects, interacting with visual patterns or light beams, responding to audio cues and more.
Discover a mirrored “void” hallway, a cave shaped like a gargantuan mouth, a room full of eyeballs that follow you as you move and other surreal landscapes.
“Each and every room and tunnel that you go through is taking you to a different dimension with a different feeling,” Stewart says.
Otherworld — which now has a second location in Philadelphia — also recently opened a sister business in the same building. Gamegrounds, an interactive art and gaming experience, puts an Otherworld-like twist on carnival games like whack-a-mole and “test your strength.” It features carnival-themed food and drinks at a bar, as well as merchandise. Otherworld and Gamegrounds are fun for all ages — especially those searching for a place where artistic imagination comes to life.
“We cater to families, then during late-night hours ... we bring in known DJs, and we turn it into a giant disco,” Stewart says. “This is why we’re still talked about in Ohio, is because we keep pushing the boundary line of what immersive and art experiences can and should be.” //CG 5819 Chantry Drive, Columbus, 614-808-6433, otherworld.com
Photos by Catie Viox
photos provided by Legoland Discovery Center
Explore a 1950s house made of porcelain-enameled steel, see a massive mastodon skeleton, behold 160-year-old-plus battle flags and more at the Ohio History Center, located in Columbus.
“The Ohio History Connection’s mission is to spark discovery of Ohio stories. And with that, we have a tagline: We embrace the present, share the past and transform the future,” says Neil Thompson, marketing department manager for the Ohio History Connection. “The Ohio History Center is doing all those things.”
As the Ohio History Connection’s flagship museum, the Ohio History Center is housed in a five-story building that opened in 1970. It presents visitors with exhibits that tell the story of Ohio — from the works of ancient Indigenous people to its more recent history.
“We’re looking to tell the history of not only Columbus … but it’s to tell the story of the entire state,” Thompson says. “Everything that has to do with weaving together that tapestry of history.”
Encounter the Conway mastodon, which was discovered in 1887 in a swamp between Ohio’s Champaign and Clark counties. It introduces visitors to the “Nature of Ohio” exhibit — featuring taxidermy animals, natural features of Ohio and more.
“You can see animals that are native to the state of Ohio, animals that
might not be prevalent here anymore or are very rare, like a black bear,” Thompson says.
The “Follow the Flag” exhibit, next door, displays historic flags owned by the Ohio National Guard.
“Some of them were actually battle flags that were carried with certain regiments as they progressed through the different theaters of the Civil War,” Thompson says.
The next exhibit, “1950s — Building the American Dream,” features a full prefabricated Lustron house, minus only the roof, that visitors can explore to understand more about life in Ohio during the era. See a corded rotarystyle phone, record player and blackand-white TV.
“They built Lustron homes from 1947 to 1950, right here in Columbus,” Thompson says. “People can touch and interact with everything.”
Buckeye Roots
Continue to “Indigenous Wonders of Our World: The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks” to learn more about massive, ancient earthworks built by Indigenous people who lived in Ohio 2,000 years ago. See scale models, artifacts, banners portraying walls of the earthworks, diagrams and depictions of the eight locations of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks — collectively Ohio’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“We also wanted to … tell people in this section, How were the earthworks built? And basically, it was by hand, one basketful of Earth at a time, with basic tools like picks, like sharpened sticks, maybe some clamshell hoes,” Thompson says.
Don’t miss the Ohio Village, a living history museum slated to reopen for a limited first look, after renovations, during the Ohio State Fair July 29 through Aug. 9 and for events in October and December. Ohio Village will open for its next full season in spring 2027.
Visiting the Ohio History Center allows you to add a stamp to the Ohio History Connection Passport, a program that guides visitors through all 58 Ohio History Connection sites and museums that tell the story of the Buckeye State. They receive a stamp or do a pencil rubbing for each visit. After they complete all site visits in each of the five regions, they can collect regional pins at checkpoint sites, such as Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve in Oregonia, Campus Martius Museum in Marietta and Schoenbrunn Village in New Philadelphia.
“History is an amazing thing,” Thompson says. “If we’re learning about where we’ve been, we can understand a little bit more about where we are right now. If we get those perspectives, then we understand where we’re going.” //CG 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 614-297-2300, ohiohistory.org
Tulip Festival Timbuk Farms
With over 500,000 tulips in bright reds, yellows, pinks and other hues across 4 acres — as well as 50,000 daffodils — the Timbuk Farms Tulip Festival in Granville is magical. Guests of all ages can take photos, pick tulips and soak in the beauty of the flowers. Scheduled to begin the week of April 15 and run for three consecutive weekends, the festival also features food truck fare, live music, a petting zoo and more ways to create incredible springtime memories //DB 2030 Timbuk Road, Granville, 740-587-2178, timbuk.com
Tulip photos by McCusker’s Marketing
{ by Sprout Dickerson, photos provided by Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank }
elfless 5K SElf
Nearly 1,000 elves participated in the AkronCanton Regional Foodbank’s 13th annual Selfless Elf 5K Dec. 20. A hallmark of the Foodbank’s holiday fundraising campaign, the event draws runners, walkers, loyal supporters and holiday lovers in costumes.
The overall top female runner was Macy McRowe, 26, of Wadsworth, who has run the race for 12 years and has been the first-place female runner for 11 years. The overall top male runner was Andy Feltman, 23, of Akron, who was running the race for the first time.
The VIP Elf — who raised nearly $1,900, which will help provide the equivalent of 5,700 meals — was Valerie Murray of Hudson. The best costume award went to Claira Nelson, 5, of Cuyahoga Falls, for her adorable Grinch getup. 1 2 3 4 5
Mrs. Claus and Santa
Claira Nelson
Andy Feltman
DENTISTS Top
This list is excerpted from the 2026 topDentists™ list, a database which includes listings for more than 70 dentists and specialists in the Akron Metropolitan Area. The Akron list is based on hundreds of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at usatopdentists.com.
For more information, call 706-364-0853, email help@usatopdentists.com or visit usatopdentists.com.
SELECTION PROCESS
“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”
This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and of course physical results.
The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees.
Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given a careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received, status in various dental academies can play a factor in our decisions.
Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in
ENDODONTICS
DaviD J. Harris
Advanced Care Endodontics 3869 Darrow Road, Suite 209, Stow 330-688-3800 acendo.com
MattHew KotapisH 3075 Smith Road, Suite 201, Fairlawn 330-660-0400 akronendo.com
good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.
Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in Ohio. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.
DISCLAIMER
This list is excerpted from the 2026 topDentists list, which includes listings for over 70 dentists and specialists in the vicinity of Akron, Ohio. For more information call 706-3640853; or write to P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; or email help@usatopdentists.com or visit www.usatopdentists.com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2010-2026 by topDentists, LLC of Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists, LLC. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.
Barsan Family Dental 330 Stow Ave., Cuyahoga Falls 330-928-5575 barsanfamilydental.com
bryan
60 N. Miller Road, Fairlawn 330-867-7741 bryanstephensdds.com
MicHelle
Taylor Dental 9795 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg 330-227-6009 twinsburgsmiles.com
Hunsicker Dental
Akron native Dr. Grant Hunsicker provides personalized, state-ofthe-art dental care in Tallmadge. A graduate of Walsh Jesuit, Purdue, and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, he has built a modern, patient-focused practice over the past 12 years.
Hunsicker Dental offers complimentary Trial Smiles, advanced implant care, and facial esthetic treatments including PRF, Botox, and fillers.
“I love helping patients feel confident and comfortable,” says Dr. Hunsicker. “A great smile can change your life.”
Dr. Grant Hunsicker
150 West Ave., Suite 101 | Tallmadge 330-633-5133 hunsickerfamilydental.com
BEST TECHNOLOGY, BEST CARE
We use the most advanced and pain-free techniques to provide you with the best care possible. Technology helps us reduce treatment times, increase accuracy of diagnosis, create the best possible outcomes , and deliver a more comfortable experience.
A WARM PATIENT EXPERIENCE
From the minute you walk in the door, our friendly team of highly trained people is here to guide you throug h every step of your dental health journey. We’re dental health nerds , we’re happy to field every question you have.
robert a. ZavoDny
Zavodny Dental 2950 W. Market St., Suite N-O, Fairlawn 330-836-9511 razavodnydds.com
pHilip J. ZniDarsic Nordonia Dental Group 98 W. Aurora Road, Northfield 330-467-6466 nordoniadental.com
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
DoMinicK c. aDornato iii 1129 E. Aurora Road, Suite 101, Macedonia 330-468-1188 drdominickadornatoiii.com
w. stepHen barnes ii Falls Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center 57 Graham Road, Cuyahoga Falls 330-929-2808 fallsoralsurgery.com
MicHael p. Horan
Frontier Dental 5155 Buehlers Drive, Suite 107, Medina 330-952-2015 frontierdentalohio.com
robert Klein
Akron Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 539 White Pond Drive, Suite C, Akron 330-836-2882 akronoralsurgerygroup.com
MattHew t. MarsHall
Marshall Oral, Facial & Implant
Surgery Center 3075 Smith Road, Suite 102, Akron 330-670-0050 marshallsurgerycenter.com
MattHew D. pavlicK
Pavlick & Reppas Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 1551 S. Water St., Kent 330-678-6564 pavlickandreppas.com
serafiM n. reppas
Pavlick & Reppas Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 1551 S. Water St., Kent 330-678-6564 pavlickandreppas.com
A Patient-Centered Approach
saM reppas
Pavlick & Reppas Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 1551 S. Water St., Kent 330-678-6564 pavlickandreppas.com
paul s. rollins
Falls Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center 57 Graham Road, Cuyahoga Falls 330-929-2808 fallsoralsurgery.com
At Eberhardt Dentistry, the focus is on your comfort, health and confidence. Since 2007, Dr. Kyle Eberhardt and his team have been serving Akron with compassionate and high-quality dental care.
Whether you’re visiting for a routine checkup, looking to enhance your smile with cosmetic dentistry or seeking solutions for missing teeth, you will find a warm, welcoming environment. Eberhardt Dentistry offers a full range of services, including preventative care, restorative treatments, smile makeovers and implants.
Dr. Eberhardt makes sure each patient is fully informed about treatment options. “One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing a patient regain their confidence as they achieve a healthier smile,” he shares.
By utilizing the latest dental technology and continuously advancing his education, Dr. Eberhardt provides top-tier care. Eberhardt Dentistry believes that financial concerns should never be a barrier to excellent dental care. The practice offers a dental savings plan for uninsured patients, and it works with different financing companies on treatments that might not be covered by insurance, ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need.
If you’re looking for a dental home where your needs come first, visit us at Eberhardt Dentistry. We care about more than just your teeth — it’s about you.
ORTHODONTICS
stepHen J. belli
Belli & Streit Orthodontics
1551 S. Water St., Kent 330-673-6411 bellistreitsmiles.com
Daniel breHa
Breha Orthodontics
4831 Darrow Road, Suite 102, Stow 330-650-0880 brehaorthodontics.com
carl DietricH iii
Dietrich Family Orthodontics 1690 W. Exchange St., Akron 330-864-2101 dietrichfamilyorthodontics.com
484 S. Miller Road, Suite 200, Fairlawn 330-867-3320 akronperio.com
luis pires
Fairlawn Periodontics 33 Baker Blvd., Suite 201, Fairlawn 330-836-9341 fairlawnperio.com
PROSTHODONTICS
sanJay KarunaGaran
Frontier Dental 5155 Buehlers Drive, Suite 107, Medina 330-952-2015 frontierdentalohio.com
We Make Dental Implants Affordable!
Dr. Marino & Associates is passionate about making dental implants affordable and convenient. Family-owned and -operated, the practice’s 18 providers — at four locations — have placed over 10,500 dental implants at half the price of other providers.
A single dental implant, abutment and crown can be placed and restored at any of our locations. It’s just $2,199 for a dental implant, abutment and crown. This option can replace a missing, diseased or broken, non-restorable tooth.
CHARDON
Center Street Dental
320 Center St., Suite G2
440-285-7800
centerstreetdentaloh.com
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
Innovative Smiles
13922 Cedar Road, #3 216-721-0500
innovativesmilescle.com
The team’s other most comprehensive treatment is a fixed full-arch appliance supported by dental implants. This replaces all the teeth in the jaw using four to six dental implants — in just one day! This is ideal for patients missing all of their teeth or those with badly broken down, diseased or decayed teeth. This full arch treatment starts at just $12,000.
Dr. Marino & Associates’ award-winning general dentists have had additional training in placing and restoring dental implants. Dental implants can be life-changing. Call any of the practice’s four locations to schedule a complimentary consultation or go online to request an appointment and see if you are a candidate for dental implants.
Reducing the Stress of Root Canals
When Dr. David Harris began his dental studies at Case Western Reserve University, he had no intention of becoming an endodontist. However, when he performed his first root canal on a patient, it came so naturally he knew he’d found his calling. He began his practice in 1992 and moved to his current Stow location in 2009. Knowing how to perform a root canal is just the beginning — making it as painless and stress-free as possible is key. Harris continues to educate himself and others on the latest technology, the most efficient tools and the newest methods of sedation and anesthesia.
One example is cone beam computed tomography, a medical imaging technique, which allows Harris to get a more complete image of the patient’s head. The tomography shows different views of the mouth, sinuses and the temporomandibular joint — as well as fractures, miscanals or extra roots — providing a thorough image of the area to be addressed during the procedure.
For many patients, just the thought of being numbed before a dental procedure evokes a feeling of fear and dread. Harris and his team are among the few dentists in the area trained in oral conscious sedation. No needles, just pills. The patient is monitored closely throughout, ensuring safety during the procedure. This is a game changer for many, reducing the stress of traditional sedation techniques.
Harris is a member of the American Association of Endodontists, the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, the Chicago Dental Society and the Akron Dental Society.
At Advanced Care Endodontics, Harris and his team strive to offer you the highest standard of professional care in a friendly, comfortable environment. Their main goal is to exceed your expectations and relieve any anxiety you may have about root canal treatment.
David J. Harris, D.D.S., M.S.D.
SKY HIGH
MAPS AIR MUSEUM SHOWCASES OHIO HERITAGE AND AVIATION MARVELS.
Feel close to aviation history with local connections throughout MAPS Air Museum, including the seminal Martin Glider, built by self-taught Stark County aeronautical engineer William Martin. Martin held two patents, including one for dihedral wings. He first flew the glider in January 1909 on a hill at his farm, where he roped it to his plow horse, Billy, who then ran down the hill and the glider took flight.
“Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, the Wright brothers came … to look at it, because they didn’t know how he did it,” says Doug Perry, MAPS marketing manager. “This is the first mono-wing airplane that could fly.”
Founded in 1990, MAPS has about 60 aircraft throughout its sprawling properties next to the Akron-Canton Airport. The museum tells the stories of American aviation and military history through planes, vehicles, uniforms, medals and other artifacts. There are around 120 volunteers who donate over 35,000 hours each year to MAPS doing tasks, including restoring aircraft.
In the winter, there has been as many as 23 aircraft in the indoor hangar. See a fabric-covered 1916 Sopwith Triplane, made of English broadcloth coated in a doping agent to stiffen it. Stand in the gondola of the Spirit of Akron GZ-22 Goodyear blimp, which first flew in 1987. Witness a massive 1941 B-26 Marauder, a World War II bomber that took over 20 years to restore, is one of only six remaining and is the oldest surviving B-26. Spot a red airplane-style drone suspended from the ceiling used for target practice in the ‘40s.
Climb inside a cockpit used to train pilots to fly before they got in an airplane. Sit in an AH-1 1972 Cobra attack helicopter, in which the pilot was in the backseat and a gunner sat in the front with advanced tech.
{ by Dennis Farahani, photos by Erin Gulling }
“The military is at least 30 years ahead of whatever you can imagine,” says Perry. “This is a 1972 Cobra that has a laser, infrared and optical sighting system.”
Learn stories of many memorable locals, including Sharon Lane, currently honored in the lobby. Find Lane’s name on a panel of the traveling Vietnam Wall memorial, with stars denoting the Ohioans named in each line.
“We lost eight female nurses in Vietnam. She’s the only one killed by direct enemy fire. She was only over there 44 days. She’s a graduate of Canton South High School,” says Perry. “She was trained at Aultman Hospital.”
Enter the Gallery of Heroes to uncover more stories of Ohioans, such as Canton native Lee Kessler, who served and designed Army Air Force nose art, and the seven veterans of the Reymann family from Akron, including one brother who flew with Lindbergh in the South Pacific. Spot pictures of Goodyear’s inflatoplane and a model of a Corsair fighter plane — over 4,000 were built in Akron during WWII. (MAPS is currently restoring one). Take in artifacts such as a red metal toolbox bearing the name “Whitey”— it belonged to a MAPS volunteer who built Corsairs with fellow Rosie the Riveters. See a flag from Canton teacher Eva Sparrowgrove, who hand-stitched the names of her students who served in WWII. Also behold a mini American flag signed by Amelia Earhart. Spot the uniform of Nadine Harris-Bluhm. She was a MAPS founding member and a WASP, or a Women Airforce Service Pilot. Due to sexism, WASPs didn’t get rank, privileges or benefits until years after their service.
Browse the downstairs library of military and aviation history, which also holds recorded veteran interviews that have been submitted to the Library of Congress.
Upstairs, learn about America’s military history and witness several Medals of Honor, including six or seven originals, in the Ohio Military Museum gallery.
Read about Stark County native recipients, including Sgt. Robert Pinn, a Black Civil War soldier buried in Massillon. Also learn about Ohioans who were the first Medal of Honor recipients for the Great Locomotive Chase raid during the Civil War.
Also find an art room, an F-100 Super Sabre room and areas that tell the story of Vietnam, complete with mannequins wearing original uniforms from volunteers. Soon, look out for a room honoring Clevelander Bob Hope, who
performed many holiday shows for troops.
Return for special events and programs, such as the Air Academy, which invites a parent and child to learn about aviation and then experience flight simulators.
You can get your tour guided by volunteers, who are often veterans like Perry. They frequently share their stories or those of other volunteers.
“You never know quite who you’re talking to here,” says Perry. “The gentleman that came through with the camera earlier — he was a young lieutenant sitting in an F-100 Super Sabre on a runway in Florida in October ‘62. Had Kennedy said go, he would have been the second man in Cuba in 18 minutes.”
2260 International Parkway, North Canton, 330-896-6332, mapsairmuseum.org
{ by Dennis Farahani, photos by Erin Gulling and Sprout Dickerson }
CORE WORKOUT
THE CENTER OF RECREATION & EDUCATION GIVES GREEN RESIDENTS A PLACE TO GET ACTIVE.
Play pickleball, dribble a soccer ball on turf and walk a track — all under one roof — at the new Center of Recreation & Education, or the Core. Opened in late 2025 by the city of Green, it serves as a multiuse community facility for recreation, fitness and educational programming for residents of all ages.
The Core is a shared-use facility created through a partnership between Green and Green Local Schools. Among the building’s primary features are two full-size basketball courts, where community members can also play volleyball, pickleball and other indoor sports. It also hosts tournaments and community events.
“We had our first basketball tournaments last weekend, January 31, which was a success,” says Chrissy Lingenfelter, the deputy director of public service for Green. “We hope to work with more organizers soon on tournaments.”
The facility includes an indoor turf field, providing space for activities such as football, flag football, soccer, lacrosse and training programs. It also features batting cages that retract down from the ceiling.
“There’s potential to have clinics here for students to benefit from,” says Zack Kaufman, the Parks & Recreation program supervisor and supervisor of the facility — also mentioning that they’re hosting a summer camp for kids.
An elevated indoor walking track circles the main gym space, with about seven and a half laps equaling to one mile. Along each corner of the track are TRX workout machines, which can be adapted for everyone, even those using wheelchairs.
Other amenities include meeting rooms, a rooftop terrace — providing outdoor space for gatherings and events — and, instead of regular locker rooms, lockers spread throughout the facility.
Programming at the Core includes a mix of athletic leagues, fitness classes and educational offerings. Group fitness classes, such as yoga, circuit training and Pilates, are also available.
“We really try to pick classes that give something for everyone, whether you know it or it’s new to you like DrumFit,” says Valerie Wolford, the communications manager for Green.
“The DrumFit class is a five-gallon bucket where an exercise ball sits on as the participant hits it with drumsticks while squatting.”
The Core is also a designated SilverSneaker-approved facility, which allows eligible seniors to participate in fitness activities through insurancebased wellness programs.
City officials agree that the facility is an essential gathering place for the community, especially since it’s located
right in the center of Green, between the high school, middle school and Central Park. “It’s the Core,” says Valerie Wax Carr, the director of public service for Green.
FIBER ARTIST SUE SPARGO CREATES UNIQUE MASTERPIECES IN GREEN.
Sue Spargo distinctly remembers the first fiber art project she ever made. Growing up in South Africa, she did a lot of sewing in school — and crafted her first quilt around age 15.
“I made a grandmother’s flower garden, which are little hexagons, and I pieced it all together by hand. Then I made this ruffled edging for it,” she says. “It was all hand done, and now I’m back to that many, many years later, finding such joy in handwork.”
Spargo, a fiber artist and quilt maker, first became interested in fiber arts after her mother taught her to sew at a young age.
“It developed into a love of quilting and then into what I do today,” says Spargo, who now owns Sue Spargo & Co., a shop and studio in Green. “It’s been all my life, actually, that I’ve always done something with my hands.”
After spending her formative years in South Africa, she moved to England for three years, took some quilting classes and returned to South Africa. There, she continued to quilt, teaching a bit, before immigrating to the United States about 35 years ago.
“I did many, many quilts … learning each technique and how to piece. And I did a lot of needle turn applique,” she says. “I realized how handwork really drew me rather than all the machine work.”
Spargo’s first foray into design came when she took a class with a designer who asked if she could finish an applique piece to feature in a book. After publishing many quilts under the designer’s name, Spargo started her own business.
“My sister started the dyeing for me, did some beautiful colors, which led to my son, Jason, taking over the whole dye shop that we have now in Ohio,” Spargo says. “I wrote an embroidery book, and then it just evolved into what my quilts are today.”
Today, Spargo mainly creates folk art quilts and works with handdyed wool and embellishments.
“With folk art, I think it lends a lot to the voice of the maker, because there is often more techniques or unpredictable things that happen when you create in a more spontaneous way,” she says. “It really comes from your heart.”
{ by Cameron Gorman, photos by Erin Gulling and Sprout Dickerson, portrait by David Ibarra Naranjo }
RETHINKING EDUCATION
Her quilts, needle rolls and other fiber items sing with details, layering and textures.
“I often have a theme for each quilt that I do, but they do incorporate often a lot of flowers, birds, animals,” she says. “They have a story.”
Her business employs around 30 people, including three of her children. It takes the form of a website and a 33,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar space in Green, where customers can find a shop carrying curated goods such as quilting fabrics, ribbons and more. Unique items include eco-printed wool, specialty threads and handdyed wool. There is space for a dye shop, and visitors can join clubs or take classes on quilting, eco-printing, organic applique, improv piecing, stitching and other practices.
“We have people from all over the world and all over the country come
The Value of Career Technical Education
SPONSORED CONTENT
Throughout the country, more young adults are rethinking traditional postsecondary pathways. Rising college costs, concern over student debt and the demand for job-ready skills have led many students to explore alternatives. Since 2020, trade school enrollment has grown significantly, while traditional four-year college enrollment has declined.
Many students feel caught between the long-standing expectation to pursue a four-year degree and very real financial realities. This is where Career Technical Education provides clarity and confidence — and right here in Green, Portage Lakes Career Center is leading the way.
At Portage Lakes Career Center, full-time postsecondary programs can be completed in as little as 10 months, with tuition typically comparable to — or less than — a community college. Students gain hands-on experience, earn industry-recognized credentials and move directly into in-demand careers, often with far less debt and solid career opportunities awaiting them. For high school students, programs offer an engaging, real-world learning environment that builds skills and opens doors before graduation. Adult learners can quickly gain new skills to advance in their current careers or launch into new ones.
Career Technical Education doesn’t limit options — it expands them. Some students enter the workforce immediately, confident in their expertise and earning potential, while others leverage their skills, certifications and experience to continue their education on their own timeline.
As the Career Technical Education provider right here in Green, Portage Lakes Career Center equips learners — both high school and adult — with the tools, knowledge and credentials to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce. Beyond supporting students, Portage Lakes Career Center is also a valuable resource and partner for local businesses, helping train and develop the next generation of skilled employees. For students looking to avoid excessive debt, gain real-world experience, and build a meaningful career, Career Technical Education offers a smart, practical, and empowering path forward.
In March, learn about English Paper Piecing basics and improv piecing. Take a class with Spargo, entitled “Trade Winds” — in which you “explore the ocean through layered hand-dyed wools, cotton fabrics and more.”
“Fiber arts or handwork is very meditative,” Spargo says. “We get lost in doing something with our hands.”
Your kids can try something new and get active with these summer camps.
FLIP IT
At just 6 months old, Dominique Moceanu was placed on a clothesline by her parents to test her strength. She held onto that clothesline until it broke. At that moment, her parents knew that she was going to be a gymnast.
Moceanu was just 3 years old when she began her gymnastics career. Her journey to the Olympics — at which she was a member of the 1996 gold medal-winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team — taught her a great deal.
“It teaches you to never, ever, ever give up on a dream and a goal,” Moceanu says. “No matter what the obstacle, every time that I’ve accomplished something great in my life there’s always been adversity beforehand.”
This summer, her Dominique Moceanu Gymnastics Center hosts its ninth annual summer
camp on June 10 to 12, June 24 to 26 and July 8 to 10 at its Medina gym.
Owner, founder and instructor Moceanu says the camp is one of the aspects of coaching that she enjoys the most.
“I love to see kids in those happy moments, where they’re getting those aha moments and they’re super excited to listen to you, take in your impact, take in your words and really give their best effort during camp because they know that they’re there for that growth and learning,” Moceanu says.
A typical camp morning includes warmups, games, conditioning and three rotations or sessions. After lunch, there are three more rotations and a cooldown session. Rotations include vault, bars, beam, floor and dance. One of the cool downs offered is yoga, which many similar gyms don’t have.
{ by Drew Berkshire, photos provided by Dominique Moceanu Gymnastics Center, illustration above by Cameron Gorman }
“It’s a gift that keeps on giving, because long after gymnastics is done, they may want to pick up yoga,” Moceanu says, “to do something difficult, something active and something that they can do for the rest of their lives.”
The day concludes with a Q&A with a special guest, such as coaches who have competed in the Olympics, have college experience or have coached for many years. Plus, kids can get their autographs.
The last day ends with a show. Each child learns a dance number and performs it for their loved ones. Moceanu hopes that the campers can gain wisdom from the staff.
“We really strive to have that wonderful experience for them and for them to walk away with something extremely positive,” she says. 734 N. Progress Drive, Medina, 330-952-2767, dominiquemoceanugymnasticscenter.com
It teaches you to never, ever, ever give up on a dream and a goal.
Dominique Moceanu (pictured)
Adventure Time
Kayaking, biking and rock climbing — these are just some of the many activities offered at Kent Parks & Recreation’s Junior Adventure Camp, which immerses participants in the beauty of nature.
Junior Adventure Camp works with Kent State University’s Adventure Center and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to provide an entire summer of outdoor experiences for kids going into fourth through sixth grades from June 8 to Aug. 7.
Primarily held at Plum Creek Park, this eightweek-long camp is geared toward adventure activities, ranging from pond fishing to bird watching. Kids in the camp learn basic outdoor skills, including backpacking, campfire safety and
campsite management.
When recreation specialist Megan Johns first joined the team, the camp was a standard outdoor camp without the adventure aspect.
“We’re like, You know what? We already have a couple of those camps, so let’s make this one different,” Johns says.
After revamping the camp, one big change was the field trips. Every Friday, the camp takes a trip to CVNP to do activities like fishing and hiking. Other field trips include visiting the Kent State Recreation Center to climb the rock wall and practice paddleboarding and kayaking in the pool before taking on the Cuyahoga River and Wingfoot Lake. Plus, campers take fun breaks,
{ by Drew Berkshire, photos by Oliver Wuensch, illustration below by Cameron Gorman }
such as biking to Katie’s Korner for ice cream.
“This camp is just another opportunity for the kids to try something new,” Johns says.
Johns says the highlight of Junior Adventure Camp is its kayaking and paddleboarding river trips. This is a major aspect that the kids look forward to and the main activity that they are working toward for the whole summer. By the end of the summer, the goal is for campers to have gained confidence in themselves. Confidence,
respect, endurance, resilience and dedication are some of the key characteristics incorporated into the camp.
For prospective campers, Johns recommends having children first get comfortable with learning new things.
“This will be a good environment for you this summer if you’re willing to take that leap,” she says.
590 Plum St., Kent, kentohio.gov
This camp is just another opportunity for the kids to try something new.
Megan Johns
PLAYER ONE
For many, video games go beyond just a hobby — they are a passion. Every move of a joystick or click of a button can mean triumph or failure in a battle or quest. Now, students in middle school and high school can work together to learn how to overcome the challenges presented in games while also building valuable life skills with The University of Akron’s Esports Kids Summer Camp.
“We teach a lot of different healthy habits about gaming and give the campers a lot of encouragement,” says Nathan Meeker, who runs the camp and is also the director of esports at UA. “The fact that they’re not alone in the hobby that they play and that they’ve chosen to do allows them to make a lot of friends throughout the course of the camp.”
In teams coached by professionals and those on Akron’s Esports varsity team, students hone their gaming skills and receive one-on-one
assistance and coaching. Kids play Super Smash Brothers, Rocket League, Overwatch 2, Valorant, Marvel Rivals and Fortnite. Each participant learns strategies, takes breaks with sessions of physical activity, learns about careers related to esports and develops PC building and IT skills. Every day has a few hours of free play.
“It’s a mixture of classroom experience for students and campers, some skill-based, oriented things and then just having fun and being a camper, being a kid as well,” Meeker says.
Participants can choose to attend during the day July 20 to 24 and July 27 to 31 or to spend the night in university dorms July 6 to 10 or July 13 to 17.
At the end of the Esports Kids Summer Camp, there is a tournament streaming on Fridays that parents are invited to watch.
“We’re working with the campers on skills that they can take away from the camp and utilize
{ by Jillian Flack, photos provided by The University of Akron, illustration below by Cameron Gorman }
both in their day-to-day lives and maybe something if they wanted to use that after high school or going into college as a career interest,” Meeker says. “They get to see how these games are played at the highest level and really what it takes to get there.”
The University of Akron, 303 Carroll St., Akron, 330-972-7111, uakron.edu
Nathan Meeker
{ by Dennis Farahani, photos provided by St. Vincent-St.Mary High School,
SLAM DUNK
At St. Vincent-St. Mary High School — a place steeped in Akron sports history due to its status as the home court of superstar LeBron James and the “Fab 5” — boys and girls ages 8 to 14 have the chance to sharpen their basketball skills with a Nike camp from Aug. 3 to 6.
Led by St. Vincent-St. Mary coaches Carley Whitney and Dru Joyce, the camp focuses on fundamentals, character development and the creation of meaningful opportunities for youth — honing athletes’ abilities while also teaching lessons like teamwork that extend beyond the game. The camp’s inception came from a desire to expand extracurricular opportunities for youth, Whitney says. “It gets people to the campus that don’t usually have the opportunity,” she says.
The camp itself is one of the few co-ed basketball camps in the area — something Whitney says helps to broaden its reach. The camp blends instruction on fundamental basketball skills with personal growth, allowing players to develop independence and discipline.
“You see the camp evolve while its players do too,” Whitney says.
Joyce says that his teachings during camp reflect the values he emphasizes during the St. VincentSt. Mary basketball season — especially the idea that success comes from buying into something bigger than oneself.
“From there … we help them build trust and relationships,” says Joyce via email.
Both coaches stress the importance of attitude
illustration below by Cameron Gorman }
and effort. Campers are taught that improvement comes through consistent work and sacrifice. Whitney says working alongside Joyce, who was James’ coach and mentor at St. Vincent-St. Mary, allows their coaching styles to merge — creating a balanced environment.
“I find joy coaching with Coach Dru,” she adds. “It blends our philosophies.”
Campers also benefit from playing in the LeBron James Arena, which Joyce says serves as a source of inspiration.
“They can dream about whatever is their life’s purpose,” he says, “and know that everything [LeBron] has accomplished started with a dream.”
15 N. Maple St., Akron, 330-253-9113, stvmathletics.com
Dru Joyce (pictured above)
{ by Cameron Gorman }
The Hustle
STARTING YOUR OWN SIDE BUSINESS CAN GIVE YOU THE FREEDOM TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.
Running your own business sounds appealing. You get to be your own boss, set your own prices and make your own priorities. But what if you don’t want to — or can’t — commit to leaving your day job to start something new? There’s always another option: starting a side business or “side hustle.”
“A lot of times, your main career field is going to be your bread and butter, what supports your life and your lifestyle. If you have a niche that you think is going to take off right away, you can take that risk. But there’s always a risk with any business that you create,” says George A. Malachin Jr., CPA, director of audit and assurance services at Holbrook & Manter, which has a location in Akron. “Are you willing to trade off the risk of giving up your main day-to-day job to chase a dream or a passion that is unproven, or is it easier to keep that day-to-day job and something you can slowly roll out and build over time, and turn into a side business?”
If your side business becomes successful enough, you might even be able to transition it into your full-time gig — without impacting your lifestyle. While Malachin sees the popularity of side hustles increasing from his position in the world of finance, a proper amount of care still needs to be taken.
“We don’t necessarily see it being done correctly, with the proper plan and structure in place on the front end,” Malachin says. “For any business, in order for it to survive and thrive, it needs to essentially be its own separate entity.”
One of the first steps to take
would be to set up a separate bank account for your side business — this, according to Malachin, properly segregates “the business activity from your personal finances.”
It’s also important to discuss risks and potential liabilities with an attorney.
“It’s important to discuss proper entity formation and potential legal ramifications with an attorney,” Malachin says. “We recommend that anybody starting up a new business or a side hustle have that conversation to say, What am I being exposed to by starting this business, and how can I limit potential issues down the road?”
Following talking to an attorney and setting up a separate bank account, it’s time to get organized.
“After you have talked to an attorney, they’ve set up an LLC or other entity type that best matches your circumstances, the next step is to create an organized filing system with respect to the financial aspects of the business. Not just the day-today operations, but also the financial side. It’s so important from us, on the accounting side, to have complete and accurate information in order to figure out whether or not this hustle is actually making you any money or not, and to be able to track your results.”
Create filing systems to keep records of bills you’ve sent out to customers, as well as what you’ve earned in terms of revenue. Malachin says the most widely utilized choice in software to keep track of your accounting is QuickBooks.
“Make sure there’s a place to track expenses and other amounts payable to suppliers … subcontractors and/or other
vendors,” Malachin says. “That way, you have a filing system for any expenses. The key there is not to commingle personal expenses. Always keep your business expenses purely business.”
Be sure to learn the IRS rules as to what is deductible and what is not. Malachin says certain things may have deductibility limitations.
Deciding whether your business’s basis of accounting will be a cash basis or an accrual basis is another important step. Cash basis accounting means that expenses and revenue are recorded when money is received or given. Accrual basis accounting, meanwhile, records revenue only when it’s earned and expenses only “when they are incurred,” according to Congress.gov. Cash-basis accounting is simpler, according to Bank of America.
“Most likely a startup or a side hustle is going to be strictly a cash basis business,” says Malachin. You always want to jump into your side business with a proper business plan, so you know what your financial and personal targets and goals are with the business, both long and short term.
“A well-designed business plan gives you an operational game plan and a guide as to what you’re trying to accomplish,” Malachin says. “You always want
to update the plan regularly as you learn what does and doesn’t work.”
On the tax compliance side of things, ensure that your business is generating a profit.
“If your new hustle is not generating a profit and does not realize positive net income in three out of five years, you’re not really a business in the eyes of the IRS, you’re a hobbyist. The tax ramifications are substantial,” he notes. “If your side hustle is reclassified as a hobby, you effectively end up in a tax situation whereby you have to claim all the income … on your tax return, but your ability to deduct expenses is severely limited. All of your expenses end up as miscellaneous itemized deductions on Schedule A, and those are subject to certain thresholds in order to even be able to deduct them in the first place.”
In other words, if your side business isn’t generating enough money to be considered a business, it may be more beneficial to stick to your day job.
“Don’t be afraid to call on your chosen group of professionals frequently,” Malachin says. “To ask, Is this new business really worth ? You should have that discussion regularly, or at the very least, on an
The type of entity that your attorney advises to best fit your unique circumstances will impact what type of tax return(s) you will be required to file. Most often, side hustles start as Schedule C filers, which is a form that accompanies your individual 1040 form.
Malachin advises that a general rule of thumb is to “hold back
roughly 40 percent of your net profit” to pay for taxes.
“That 40 percent will go to cover all of the taxes that would typically by withheld by your employer if you were an employee,” he says. “It covers federal income tax, selfemployment tax, state income tax and municipal income tax components of a side business that flow through a Schedule C. Depending on the type of business you choose, there may also be requirements for additional transactions-based taxes, such as sales, use or property taxes. You definitely want to have these discussions with an accountant. It is much less expensive to report all tax items proactively than it is to risk fines and penalties along with paying a professional to correct it on the back end.”
There’s a lot to remember when it comes to starting your own business. So, Malachin suggests starting with reading other business plans, networking with other professionals who have taken the leap and talking with an attorney, a financial adviser and an accountant.
“If you believe a side hustle is something that you really want to invest your time into, go for it. Just be sure to understand that it really pays off to do the homework and due diligence on the front end,” Malachin says. “It’s going to force … whoever’s taking on the side business to really vet and fine-tune their thoughts a little bit, rather than just jumping into the fray unprepared.”
{ by Dennis Farahani, photo provided by Hudson Library & Historical Society }
Escape on the Lake
SILVER LAKE, CIRCA LATE 1800S
City dwellers could swap streetlamps for starlight — and rent two-story framed cottages, fully furnished, for $2 a day at Silver Lake Park at the turn of the 19th century. From tents to log cabins and Swiss-style cottages, its campground on Silver Lake was a destination. Campers often named their campsites with titles, such as Camp Delight — like Katherine Rogus and Bertha Rideout did with their group of mostly Hudsonites, pictured here. The park featured attractions, such as a menagerie of 40 animals across 20 species, including monkeys from Africa, anteaters from Australia and one of Ohio’s first aquariums. Called “the Coney Island of the West,” it also had a steamboat, miniature railway and an amusement park with more than 30 attractions, including a water toboggan slide. By 1903, the growing number of visitors — due to a nearby railway and trolley service — required more lodging, so the Silver Lake Hotel was built. Though the park closed in 1917, locals can now camp lakeside at spots like Mineral City’s Atwood Lake, where campers stay at over 600 sites accommodating cabins, tents and RVs April through October.
How Can I Get The Most Out of Selling My Business?
In my years of working with dentists, doctors, and other business owners in general, I have seen many of them wait too long to sell their businesses. Owners become tired, lose focus, and fail to strike when the iron is hot.
That’s why I encourage them to sell when the business is still producing maximum revenues and profits. Whether the sale is to employees or partners, or to a third party, my goal is to maximize value for the owner. Because I work with W3’s integrated team of business valuation, finance, and accounting professionals, I am able to negotiate the best sale price possible while also structuring the transaction to achieve the most tax-efficient results.
Working in tandem with W3’s diverse team of wealth advisors, I am also able to ensure that those maximized after-tax proceeds are then deployed in the most efficient and prudent manner possible to provide for a rewarding and secure life following business ownership.
