Happy 330 Day, Akron!
In 2015, the City of Akron designated March 30th as 330 Day - A day to celebrate our beloved community and the people who live here. In honor of 330 Day, we’re sharing our top 10 favorite things to do in our favorite city:
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an American national park that preserves and reclaims the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. The 32,572-acre park is administered by the National Park Service, but within its boundaries are areas independently managed as county parks or as public or private businesses. Cuyahoga Valley was originally designated as a National Recreation Area in 1974, then redesignated as a national park 26 years later in 2000, and remains the only national park that originated as a national recreation area. Cuyahoga Valley is the only national park in the state of Ohio and one of three in the Great Lakes Basin. Cuyahoga Valley also differs from the other national parks in America in that it is adjacent to two large urban areas and it includes a dense road network, small towns, four reservations of the Cleveland Metroparks, eleven parks of the Summit Metro Parks, and public and private attractions.
Canal Park & The Akron RubberDucks
Opening in 1997, Canal Park is a baseball stadium located in Downtown Akron that is the home of the Akron RubberDucks. The team is a double-A minor-league affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. The nickname "RubberDucks" refers to Akron's history in the rubber industry, in particular as the birthplace of tire and rubber companies such as Goodyear, Firestone, B.F. Goodrich, and General Tire.
Lock 3 Park
Lock 3 is an Outdoor park hosting seasonal concerts, ice-skating, fireworks, a farmer's market & holiday lights. It is located next to the Akron Civic Theatre on Main street downtown and is Akron's home for summer and winter family-fun entertainment. Since its opening in 2003, Lock 3 has hosted more than 2 million visitors.
Akron Historic Arts District
Akron’s Historic Arts District is an entertainment district located near Main, Market, and High Streets in Downtown Akron and home to many eclectic businesses such as the High Street Hop House, Musica, Blu Jazz, BluTique Hotel, Akron Coffee Roasters, the Nightlight Cinema, and Baxter’s Speakeasy. Featuring mixed-use historic buildings, this Arts District also offers lofts for living and offices for local businesses.
The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail
The Towpath is a multi-use trail that follows part of the former route of the Ohio & Erie Canal in Northeast Ohio. The trail runs from north to south 101 miles through Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, and Tuscarawas counties, with a section running through Downtown Akron and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You’ll find many Akron residents enjoying the Towpath Trail throughout all seasons of the year.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is a historic house museum in Akron, Ohio that sits on 70 acres of land and was built between 1912 and 1915. The estate includes gardens, a greenhouse, carriage house, and the main mansion, one of the largest houses in the United States. A National Historic Landmark, it is nationally significant as the home of F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Stan Hywet, loosely translated from Old English meaning "stone quarry" or "stone hewn," to reflect the site's earlier use and the abandoned stone quarries located on the grounds of the Aveill Dairy estate. This Akron Landmark offers annual memberships and hosts many fun events throughout the year including a Father’s Day car show, Holiday Lighting, and Ohio Mart, to name a few.
The Akron Zoo
The Akron Zoo is a 50-acre non-profit zoo located just west of downtown Akron. The Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals representing over 100 different species and it has over 400,000 visitors annually. The animal exhibits are divided into six different themed areas containing animals from different regions of the world. The zoo is the most visited attraction in Summit County. The Akron Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. As an AZA member, Akron Zoo participates in breeding programs to save endangered species.
Akron Art Museum
The Akron Art Museum first opened on February 1, 1922, as the Akron Art Institute. It was located in two borrowed rooms in the basement of the public library. The Institute offered classes in arts appreciation which were organized by Edwin Coupland Shaw and his wife Jennifer Bond Shaw. Its first permanent home was the Akron Public Library, a Carnegie library building, from 1948 to 1981. It has grown considerably since 1922. The new museum was open to the public on July 17, 2007, and hosts visiting shows from national and international collections.
Akron Children’s Museum
The Akron Children’s Museum was founded by a small group of young parents who, after visiting numerous children’s museums throughout the U.S. and querying their peers, determined that such an institution was indeed needed, and could serve Akron and the surrounding region well with Akron-centric, unique experiences. Their plans were set in motion in 2012 and they officially opened their doors on November 25, 2016. Featuring interactive exhibits such as Farm to Table, Wind & Air, and Discovery Ramps, The Akron Children’s Museum is a must-see for kids of all ages!
Don Drumm Studios & Gallery
Step through the courtyard gate at Don Drumm and you know you are someplace special. Consistently honored as one of the country's top contemporary craft retailers, Don Drumm Studios & Gallery is a unique shopping experience. Imagine two buildings - 5,000 square feet - filled with the finest jewelry, glass, sculpture, ceramics, metal and graphics created by the most talented designer-craftsmen in North America. Don Drumm represents over 500 artists from Vancouver to Miami to Berkeley to NYC. Exploring their showrooms is a cross-continent adventure in color, style, beauty, and creativity and a must if you are visiting Akron.
Some honorable mentions that we just couldn’t leave out include:
Akron Glass Works
Northside Marketplace
Hazel Tree Design Studio
Mustard Seed Cafe in Highland Square
Akron Civic Theatre
Goodyear Theatre
Nature Realm Visitors Center
Rock Mill Climbing Facility
Luigi’s Restaurant
The Peanut Shoppe
The Mustill Store
As lifelong Akron residents (six generations to be exact), we have a deep love and connection to our City and the people in it. That connection only deepens each time a new property lands on our desk. We feel lucky to be able to dive into the real estate and history of Akron each and every day. Thank you for supporting us for over 45 years!