The railroad in Cuyahoga Valley National Park operates through the winter, offering themed rides that make it a compelling journey this time of year. Settle in for special culinary offerings, including beer-tasting and wine-tasting expeditions. Best of all, visitors who hop aboard during the holiday season can enjoy a festive trip to the “North Pole,” complete with a visit from Santa that’s sure to delight younger guests.

Ohio’s only national park, Cuyahoga Valley, is a haven of natural beauty and serenity. The old Ohio and Erie Canal travels through it, and the park’s most famous hike follows the canal’s towpath. There are waterfalls, shady groves of trees, historic farmsteads, and even a scenic train ride through the park. The park is bike-friendly, so bring your bike along (or rent one nearby).

A short drive from Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, Cuyahoga provides the weekend respite and open space that many weary urbanites need. This park offers not only natural treasures—forests, hills, open farmland, and the Cuyahoga River—but historical interest as well. The Cuyahoga Valley played a key role in American history as the site of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which opened Ohio up to settlement in the early-to-mid 1800s.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a hidden gem for trail runners, tucked between the urban sprawl of both Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. This park makes a crucial refuge for nature and a welcome retreat for those who seek it. With over 110 miles of trail spread across 33,000 acres, Cuyahoga offers the rare opportunity to run through deep woods and lose the drone of city traffic.

A short drive from Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park offers not only natural treasures—forests, hills, open farmland, and the Cuyahoga River—but historical interest as well. The Cuyahoga Valley played a key role in American history as the site of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which opened Ohio up to settlement in the early-to-mid 1800s.

Tucked between the urban sprawl of both Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers an escape to nature and an abundance of hiking. With over 110 miles of trail spread across 33,000 acres, the park offers a “refuge for flora and fauna, gives a sense of times past, and provides recreation and solitude for Ohio’s residents and visitors,” according to the National Park Service. Use this guide to discover the best family-friendly and dog-friendly trails within the park.

Not far from Cleveland and Akron in Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park features a wide variety of landscapes from gorgeous forests and rolling hills, to open farmlands still in use. Becoming a national park in 2000, this 33,000-acre (13,350ha) area is not quite as old or large as some of the others on this list, but its beauty is just as powerful. The park is brimming with picturesque scenery and hours of activities, including walks along the Towpath Trail.

Located between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio (about a half hour from each), Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an easy escape. Nature may slow down in winter, but this park keeps hopping, giving local residents and visitors alike a reason to get out of the house and into the outdoors. The railroad also operates through the winter and offers special rides you won’t want to miss, like the beer-tasting and wine-tasting trains, dinner trains, and a holiday season journey to the “North Pole.”