5 Great Day Trips Near Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio is an amazing tourist destination. Between the Columbus Museum of Art, the Kelton House, the Franklin Park Conservatory and other attractions, there is more than enough to keep visitors busy. Still, there may come a time when you tire from all the hustle and bustle of city life. If you are looking for a getaway in the Columbus area, check out one of the following five day trips.

1. Wapakoneta

All good So You Think You Can Dance fans will remember Wapakoneta as the hometown of contestant Kent Boyd and a major tongue twister for Nigel Lythgoe. Don't be fooled by the backwards portrayal on So You Think You Can Dance. Although small in population, Wapakoneta provides visitors with all kinds of exciting activities, including the Armstrong Air and Space Museum and the Glacier Hill Lakes.

2. Salt Forest State Park

As part of an effort to restore the magnificent hardwood forests lost during the 19^th century, Salt Forest State Park provides a haven for white-tailed deer, red fox, ruffed grouse and several other wildlife species. You can spend your day hiking the fourteen miles of trail or just relaxing on the beach.

3. Ohio Caverns

Located a little over an hour from Columbus in the town of West Liberty, the Ohio Caverns provide visitors with a unique selection of tours and educational activities. As the largest cave site in the state, the Ohio Caverns offer an educational and entertaining day trip for family groups.

4. Hocking Hills

Catch some of Ohio's most beautiful fall colors at the Hocking Hills. The hiking trails at Hocking Hills State Park take visitors to stunning gorges and waterfalls while providing frequent glimpses of wildlife in its natural habitat. There's a reason the Hocking Hills are known as the bird watcher's paradise. The Hocking Hills are also an excellent place to work on T and rock climbing skills.

5.Cedar Point Amusement Park

Get your thrills at Cedar Point Amusement Park, home of the record-breaking Magnum XL-200. Other popular roller coasters at Cedar Point Amusement Park include the Blue Streak, the Corkscrew, the Raptor and the Top Thrill Dragster, the world's first strata coaster. If your stomach can't take the topsy-turvy coasters at Cedar Point Amusement Park, check out the mini golf courses, the paddlewheel boats or the Giant Wheel instead. On the Space Spiral, you can get a spectacular view of the park and the lovely Lake Erie.