The Division of Travel and Tourism complies news releases on a regular basis, including monthly events releases, releases on a theme and Ohio tourism trends.
Ohio Tourism Attractions Provide Gifts of Personal Experiences
11/26/2008
CONTACT:
Tamara Brown at (614) 466-8591
Marty McDonald at (614) 383-1621
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Nov. 26, 2008) – In a day and age when the number of gifts from which one can choose is staggering, it is hard to know where to begin and what to choose. But there are some gifts that stand the test of time and require very little wrapping paper. Think about some of the most memorable experiences in your life – Where were you? Who were you with? Imagine being able to give a moment like that to your friends or relatives this holiday season, complete with a bow.
Ohio is full of world-class art and hands-on science museums, the one-and-only Pro Football Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, outstanding theater districts, 74 State Parks, historical sites and more – all ready with memberships, tickets and fantastic gift shop finds to provide those on your list with the experience of a lifetime. And what’s the harm if you enjoy some time of your own at these great sites, so long as you get some shopping done. By the way, many Ohio attractions offer a gift shop discount to members, so shopping Ohio tourism attractions can be very affordable as well.
Treasures from Uniquely Ohio Shops
With a trip to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, visitors can peruse the hall of football’s finest, and test your arm and trivia knowledge before stopping in the visitor’s shop where football lovers’ dreams come true. From jerseys to collector’s items, you can find it all and pair it with tickets for a gift that would bring tears to the eyes of Dawgs and Bengels fans alike.
History buffs will appreciate all the
Statehouse Museum Shop has to offer. Check out the broad array of quality Ohio-made products from arts and jewelry to pottery and foods. While you’re there, enjoy a free tour of the place where Ohio laws have been born since 1857. The art and architecture alone are worth the trip, but walking into the building where Lincoln was informed that he was elected President will give you goose bumps. If you don’t have time for a guided tour, take the sculpture cell phone audio tour.
Relive moments from your first date, college and your wedding or introduce your own kids to the music you grew up listening to with tickets to the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It’s the only museum of its kind in the country and has a great gift shop where you can find anything from apparel and rock history books to jewelry and desk accessories. There’s even some gear for the little rocker in your family!
Get the VIP Treatment
Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! Memberships to Ohio’s greatest museums can be used year-round and are great ways to provide fun for your loved ones. Check out memberships at the
Wexner Center for the Arts. This world-renowned contemporary arts center and avant garde theater proudly displays work from visual and performing artists from around the world. And until Jan. 4, 2009, the exclusive U.S. presentation of
Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms is on display providing a wide array of Warhol books and gifts in the gift shop.
In Cincinnati, the
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center tells the stories of former slaves, conductors on the Underground Railroad and the struggles of those vying for freedom even today. As a major player in the Underground Railroad movement, Ohio helped more than 40,000 slaves gain freedom. Members to this museum enjoy free access to the museum and numerous other perks.
For the art lovers out there, a membership to the
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA),
Columbus Museum of Art or the
Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown offer thrilling exhibits for visitors year round. Through December 28, MOCA is hosting three exhibits – Jorje Pardo: House, Sheila Pree Bright: Suburbia and Facing Race. The Columbus Museum of Art is currently hosting Objects of Wonder from the Ohio State University, Murray Jones: Unfolding Vision and plenty more. Coming to the museum in February is To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum. The Butler was the first museum of American art in the country and also has added the first museum addition dedicated solely to new media and electronic art.
Give the gift of knowledge with a membership from the
Ohio Historical Society. Members receive a year’s free entrance to more than 60 sites across Ohio including historic forts, ancient earthworks and mounds, U.S. Presidential homes, the National Afro-American Museum, Underground Railroad sites and the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum. Right now, the Ohio Historical Center is featuring Rockwell’s America, the largest Norman Rockwell exhibit in the world. Be sure to check out the Saturday Evening Post’s most famous artist during this engaging show that allows visitors to step into the pages of history as see through the eyes of this American icon.
Hot Tickets
Did you know that
Playhouse Square in Cleveland is the largest performing arts complex in the country outside of New York City? What theater lover wouldn’t enjoy tickets to a Broadway show located closer to home and at a fraction of the price of a show in New York? Or for the musically inclined, perhaps seats for the world-renowned
Cleveland Orchestra or
Cincinnati Pops would be the right call. The Cincinnati Pops was the only American orchestra invited to perform at the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing!
Give the Gift of Thrills and the Great Outdoors
For you thrill seekers out there—have you ever thought of a summer pass to the world’s greatest amusement park and roller coaster capital of the world?
Cedar Point boasts more than 75 rides and the Top Thrill Dragster—the tallest (420 feet) and fastest (120 mph in four seconds) roller coaster in the world. On top of the park’s thrilling coasters, Cedar Point also boasts its infamous Soak City water park, and Castaway Bay, a year-round, family-friendly resort that houses a 38,000-square-foot indoor water park!
If you know someone who just can’t get enough of the great outdoors, imagine the look on their face when you give them a gift card to enjoy any of
Ohio’s 74 outstanding State Parks. Gift cards can be purchased in the dollar amount of your choice, and the lucky recipient can use it to overnight at any of 56 state park campgrounds, getaway rentals or specified cottages; at camp stores; for boat or bike rentals; or even a round of golf. Now that’s a great gift!
About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio’s vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $38 billion in visitor sales in 2007 and 454,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division’s mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio’s unique travel opportunities and market the state’s outstanding quality of life.
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