Ohio summer activity guide 2014

Riders enjoy the Maverick ride at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky.

Summer is here and as ever there is no shortage of activity anywhere across our great state. Read on as we break down activities in the northwest, northeast, central, southwest and southeast parts of Ohio with everything from beaches to festivals to amusement parks.

Northwest Ohio: A lot to do right in our own backyard

Northwest Ohio is a traveler’s paradise, especially come summertime. From amusement and water parks to a noted baseball stadium, museum, and zoo, the list of activities worth doing will almost certainly exceed the time you have to do them.

Northeast Ohio: Pleasure ranges from simple to sophisticated

There might be no space in all of Ohio more elegant than the new, light-filled atrium of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The museum, founded in 1913, has just completed a stunning eight-year, $320 million expansion and renovation. And though there is much to love about the entire museum, the atrium — the city’s newest gathering place — tops the list, with its dramatic skylights, marble walls, and wood-and-steel accents.Seeing Cleveland’s cultural grand dame updated with 21st-century style should top any traveler’s to-do list in northeastern Ohio this summer. But there’s more — much more. From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to the rolling hills of Amish country, this area of the state offers a diversity of attractions, from city sophistication to simple living.

Central Ohio: Education comes in the disguise of fun

Central Ohio, ironed flat by glaciers, might not offer much in the way of topography, but visitors will find an abundance of historic sites, parks, family attractions, and shops that more than make up for the area’s lack of fancy geography. Here are 10 must-see places to visit:

Southwest Ohio: Adventures of all kinds await you

With an estimated 188 million visitors to the state of Ohio in 2012 with a net impact of $36 billion, tourism is — and has been — a booming business. Southwestern Ohio “provides first-class experiences at an affordable price, and the diversity of those experiences is tremendous,” said Tamara Brown, TourismOhio public relations manager. “There are plenty of new travel experiences this year in Ohio.”

Southeast Ohio: Festivals set summer to music

This area of the state offers a buffet of regional foods, festivals, music, art, and outdoor thrills — something for every taste and pocketbook. The can’t-miss options: