Activities & Attractions: Lorain County

Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM)
This museum is on the campus of Oberlin College. It is consistently ranked as one of the best academic art museums in the U.S. because of its collection of Dutch and Flemish art from the 17th century, Japanese woodblock prints, and paintings by Cézanne, Picasso, and Monet from the 20th century. Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 1pm-5pm (87 N. Main Street, Oberlin 44074; 440.775.8665; www2.oberlin.edu/amam/)

Altitude Trampoline Park
Altitude is a great place for family fun, birthday parties, and just jumping off the walls. It has more than 25,000 square feet of indoor trampolines, a rock wall, foam pits, dodgeball courts, gymnastics tumble tracks, and more. Open 10am-8pm Monday through Thursday, 10am-10pm Friday, 9am-10pm Saturday, and 11am-8pm Sunday. (110 Market Drive, Elyria, OH 44035; 440.281.9999; altitudeelyria.com)

Amherst Historical Society & Sandstone Village
Learn about the town’s history of sandstone quarrying for almost 200 years and see 17 buildings and structures that show how people lived in the 1800s and early 1900s. The Village has a working blacksmith shop, a fire station museum, an octagonal barn, a chapel, a school house, a train caboose, and even a three-seat outhouse. Call to find out when the museum is open. (113 South Lake Street, Amherst, OH 44001; 440-988-7255; amhersthistoricalsociety.org)

Black River Landing
The Lorain Port Authority runs a summer concert series and provides walking paths, picnic tables, pavilions, and a summer concert series at this popular dog-friendly waterfront park. The Lorain Station 100 Historical Marker and Reflection Garden, which remembers one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad, is also there. Many slaves who were running away went through Lorain on their way to Canada, where they could be free. (319 Black River Lane, Lorain, OH 44052; 440.204.2269; lorainportauthority.com/facility-rentals/black-river-landing)

Black River Reservation
One of the most popular parks in Lorain County, almost 500,000 people visit this park every year. The Steel Mill Trail and the Bridgeway Trail, which has a 1,000-foot bridge over the Black River, make up a 5.5-mile paved path that follows the Black River as it winds from Elyria to Lorain. There are also three separate picnic areas on the reservation. Every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (1750 Ford Road, Elyria, OH 44035; 440.458.5121; loraincountymetroparks.com/black-river-reservation)

Cascade Park
Within this 135-acre park, the east and west branches of the Black River meet and flow over Berea Sandstone. The park is only a few minutes from downtown Elyria. A paved path leads to two beautiful waterfalls and connects the park’s two playgrounds for all kinds of kids. In the winter, many people go to the park to sled. Open 8am-sunset daily. (387 Furnace Street, Elyria, OH 44035; 440-323-9238; loraincountymetroparks.com/cascade-park)

Common Ground Canopy Tours
At the Common Ground Cindy Nord Center for Renewal, zipline tours take people over 10 into the treetops of the Vermilion River Valley. There are seven ziplines, two spiral staircases, two aerial bridges, one unique floating staircase, and a final rappel at the end. (14240 Baird Road, Oberlin, OH 44074; 440.707.2044; commongroundcenter.org)

Hickories Museum
Take a tour of The Hickories, a mansion built in the late 1800s by Elyria businessman Arthur Garford, who also came up with the idea for the first padded bicycle seat. Inside the house, there are windows in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany, six fireplaces, carved faces, and a private chapel. Get tour times from the Lorain County Historical Society. (509 Washington Avenue, Elyria, OH 44035; 440.322.3341; lchs.org)

Lakeview Park And Beach
This park on a lake is known for its Historical Rose Garden, beautiful sunsets, and views of the Lorain Lighthouse. It also has a lot of different ways to have fun, like swimming, lawn bowling, and beach volleyball. Open sunrise-11pm daily. (1800 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052; 440-245-1193; loraincountymetroparks.com/lakeview-park)

Lorain Harbor Lighthouse
Lake Erie Living magazine has chosen Lorain’s “Jewel of the Port” as the Best Lighthouse on Lake Erie six times. The “Jewel of the Port” is open for tours and Sunset Wine Dinners in the summer and for special events all year long. The only way to get to the lighthouse is by boat. (440.326.1968 or lorainlighthouse.com)

Lorain Historical Society
The Lorain Historical Society is based at the Carnegie Center, which was built in 1903 and named after Andrew Carnegie, whose Building Foundation helped pay for it. Tours are available both at the Center and at the Moore House Museum across the street. The Carnegie Center also has a Children’s History Room with replicas of Lorain landmarks like the historic Bascule Bridge and a lake freighter that kids can interact with (329 W. 10th Street, Lorain 44052; 440.245.2563; lorainhistory.org)

Oberlin Heritage Center Monroe House
Visit the Monroe House, which was once owned by Civil War hero Giles Shurtleff, who led the first black regiment in Ohio. It was later the longtime home of James Monroe, who fought for voting rights, was friends with Frederick Douglass, and served in Congress for five terms. The Underground Railroad, abolition, coeducation, integration, and women’s rights are all big parts of the tours. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (73 S. Professor Street, Oberlin 44074; 440.774.1700; oberlinheritagecenter.org)

Underground Railroad & Abolitionist History Walk
Several parts of the famous Underground Railroad ran through Lorain County, and the town of Oberlin was one of the most important stops. The Westwood Cemetery and other historic buildings and landmarks, like the Westwood Cemetery, tell the story of Oberlin’s role in the anti-slavery movement. The Oberlin Heritage Center offers tours of these places. (mapquest directions 20 West Vine Street, Oberlin, OH 44074; 440.774.1700; oberlinheritagecenter.org/visit/town)