20 Tips For Bus Tour Planners by: Dr. Charleen Jaeb
20 Tips on Ohio Attractions
Because of the expected large influx of vis-
tom hardwood furniture stores, bulk food stores,
Why give 20 tips on visiting free, frugal and
itors to the Republican Convention July 18
Lehman’s Hardware (world’s largest retailer
famous attractions in Ohio? Is it because
through 21, the first 12 tips are places in Cleve-
selling non-electric appliances), Wendell August,
Cleveland is spending millions to spruce up
land or within a two hours’ drive. Lodging costs
Warther Museum, tours of Amish homes; and
for hosting the Republican Convention in July,
in and near Cleveland have skyrocketed when
in Berlin at Schrock’s Amish Farm and “Behalt”
Ohio is “Mother of Presidents,” the home of
the Convention will be here so you might con-
at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center
the largest Amish settlement in the world, or
sider staying outside Cuyahoga County.
in Berlin.
Ohio has all the attributes of my 20th tip which
1. Casinos were approved to be built in 2009
3. Cleveland’s Free Attractions: I have
describes places in most states that are free?
in Ohio. Currently Ohio has 11 casinos/or raci-
toured and recommend the Cleveland
All are reasons; however, the main motiva-
nos in or near Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colum-
Museum of Art, Federal Reserve Bank and
tion for choosing the Buckeye state is because
bus, Dayton and Toledo. They are free and one
Money Museum, Cleveland Police Museum,
of our condo neighbors in Florida who tell me,
of the most popular attractions of bus trips as
NASA Glenn Research Center, International
“Ohio is a state we drive through.”
the major destination or as a side trip. The min-
Women’s Air and Space Museum, Lincoln
imum age for gambling in Ohio is 18.
Electric Company, Rockefeller Park Green-
In writing this column I used Google, the AAA Tour Book, travel magazines, visitor
2. Amish Communities: Four million peo-
house, West Side Market, Little Italy with its
bureaus, recommendations of others, bus com-
ple visit Amish country annually. They are
free art galleries, Italian bakeries and restau-
pany tour books as well as my experience
located in northeast and central Ohio, both
rants, Lake View Cemetery which is home to
escorting and planning bus and family trips.
within a two hours’ drive from Cleveland.
the Garfield Memorial and Wade Memorial
Some destinations are free on certain days of
Geauga County has the third largest Amish set-
featuring a Tiffany-designed interior and the
the week, times of the year or for certain indi-
tlement in the world. Holmes County has the
Cleveland Zoo which houses largest primate
viduals; e.g. students, professionals, veterans,
largest Amish settlement in the world. I visit it
collection in the world and is free on Mondays
seniors, residents of a certain county or age.
several times a year. Amish people reject tech-
to residents of Cuyahoga County.
If you are planning to stay in one location for
nology in favor of a simpler lifestyle. They do
4. Cleveland Famous Attractions include
a number of days, you can use the Zip Code
not have telephones or electricity in their homes,
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Sci-
Radius Finder to find spots to visit within a cer-
travel by horse and buggy, and wear modest
ence Center, Cleveland Museum of Natural
tain radius of miles. Citizens older than 62 who
handmade clothing. Married men have beards.
History, Cleveland’s world-renowned Cleve-
purchased a non-transferrable Golden Age Pass-
Women wear caps. German is spoken in the
land Orchestra, and Cleveland Botanical Gar-
port prior to 2013 have a lifetime free admission
home and children finish education in the eighth
dens, The Nautica Queen and Goodtime III that
of Federal entrance fees for themselves and peo-
grade. Bus trips usually include a back roads
do sightseeing cruises on Lake Erie and the
ple in their car. The Golden Age pass is still valid
tour, shopping and end with dinner in an Amish
Cuyahoga River. The docked USS Cod Sub-
but is no longer sold. A somewhat similar Senior
home or restaurant. Holmes County has more
marine and Steamship William G. Mather can
Pass for $10 can be purchased in person by a
entrepreneurs than any of Ohio’s 88 counties.
be toured. Sports fans come to watch Cleve-
senior citizen with identification from a person
Popular stops in Amish country include bak-
land Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland
at participating Federal recreation sites or offices.
eries, cheese houses, quilt and craft shops, cus-
Browns and Lake Erie Monsters play. Outside
40 • Bus Tours Magazine / March, 2016