Once again, we’ve got the inside line on the best travel deals this summer. Here, our picks for fabulously fun ways to get the most for your money.

GREAT FREEBIES
Hop in the car and enjoy a mini-getaway at these free events and attractions across the state. For more great deals, visit discoverohio.com.

Dublin Arts Council Sundays at Scioto Summer Concert Series, June 6–July 25
Pack a picnic basket, take a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy tunes from regional musicians every Sunday evening at Scioto Park. dublinarts.org, 614/889-7444

Lolli-Pops! Children’s Concert Series, Powell
These concerts are a fun way for kids and their parents to enjoy a musical Monday at the Village Green Amphitheater. All run from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For the 2010 schedule, visit cityofpowell.us or call 614/885-5380

Parade the Circle, Cleveland, June 12
International and national guest artists join Cleveland’s community of artists, families and schools to parade around Wade Oval in University Circle. See colorful floats, giant puppets, bright costumes, handmade masks, stilt walkers, dancers and musicians. The daylong Circle Village offers hands-on activities, music and food vendors. Many of the University Circle museums offer discounts the day of the parade. universitycircle.org.

Powell Festival, June 25–26
A favorite destination for families, this year’s event features two days of live entertainment, vendors, merchants, animal visits, games, rides, a food court and beer garden, all capped off with a spectacular fireworks display. visitpowell.com, 614/396-3336

Schnormeier Gardens, Gambier, June 12–13
This spectacular 75-acre Asian-inspired garden in Gambier opens its doors to the public just one weekend each year. Features include 10 lakes, several waterfalls, rock formations and dozens of sculptures and statuary. schnormeiergardens.org

Marietta Sweet Corn Festival, July 16–17
A sweet summer festival with the best sweet corn in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Spend the weekend enjoying hayrides, magic shows, tractor pulls, cornhole competitions, corn-eating contests, face painting,  crafts, a caricature artist and live entertainment. mariettasweetcorn.com, 800/288-2577

Rogues Hollow Festival, Doylestown, Aug. 6–7
Check out this old-fashioned street festival, complete with antique cars, live music and dancing on the square. Take a tour of the historic Chidester’s Mill while you’re there. doylestown.com

African American Heritage Festival, Steubenville, Aug. 6–8
Celebrate African-American heritage with music, food, art, games and educational presentations. 740/346-6818

International Women’s Air and Space Museum, Cleveland
Learn about aviation pioneers like Amelia Earhart as you explore women’s past and present accomplishments and contributions to the fields of aviation and space. iwasm.org, 216/623-1111

Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, Marietta, Sept. 10–12
Dozens of Sternwheelers line the levee to celebrate river life. Enjoy live music, fireworks, food and activities for the whole family. ohioriversternwheelfestival.org, 740/373-5178

Prairie Days in Darke County, Sept. 25–26
The annual event at Shawnee Prairie Preserve focuses on the prairie way of life from 1780 to 1810. Many crafts, games and trades of the time are featured, including apple-butter making, candle dipping, nature-related arts and crafts, plus folk music, a native plant sale and Percheron-drawn wagon rides. darkecountyparks.org, 937/548-0165

Hand-Feed Hummingbirds, Vinton County, July 1–Aug. 29
Naturalists show participants how to make a small bird feeder and attempt to feed birds by hand at the Lake Hope State Park Nature Center. Wed.–Sun., 1–3 p.m. lakehopestatepark.com, 740/596-5253

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland
Check out the free concerts offered from the spring to the fall. rockhall.com, 216/781-7625

Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society Museum
Discover how law enforcement has changed throughout the years and browse the collection of uniforms, equipment and other artifacts representing more than 200 years of history from police agencies. gcphs.com, 513/300-3664

Hopalong Cassidy Museum, Cambridge
A local boy who gained national recognition, William Boyd made a name for himself as the famed cowboy star Hopalong Cassidy. The museum displays an extensive collection of cowboy memorabilia. visitguernseycounty.com or hcherry.com, 800/933-5480 or 740/432-3364

Underground Railroad Walking Tour, Springboro
Relive a part of our nation’s history as you tour Springboro’s 27 safe houses, learn about the city’s elaborate tunnel system and explore this important stop along the Underground Railroad. ohioslargestplayground.com/free, 937/748-0074

Hiking in the Hocking Hills, Logan
The state’s most spectacular collection of natural wonders, including the natural rock bridge and waterfall in the Rockbridge State Nature Preserve (3-1/2 miles round trip), come at a price that can’t be beat. 1800hocking.com, 800/HOCKING


BASEBALL DEALS
What better way to enjoy summer than spend a day at the ballpark? The following discounts make an already good deal even better.

All Pro Freight Stadium, Avon
At this new stadium west of Cleveland where the Frontier League’s Lake Erie Crushers play, general admission seats are just $6 and Sundays are family days, when fans can get four tickets plus food for just $44. (Plus, kids get a chance to run the bases after the game). Or take advantage of Monday’s “senior day” discount, when adults over 60 get box seating for just $6, a savings of $3 per ticket. lakeeriecrushers.com, 440/934-3636

Fan Special, Ohio Ballparks
Ultimate baseball fans have a chance to see the best of Ohio baseball at a price that can’t be beat. The “Around the Horn” package from the Cleveland Indians and its minor league affiliates is a chance for two people to see up to five baseball games for less than $100. The four pack ($74) includes tickets for a Cleveland Indians, Lake County Captains, Akron Aeros and Mahoning Valley Scrappers game, plus special deals on food and drinks at each venue. Add on a Columbus Clippers game to the package ($94), and your total savings on this baseball extravaganza jumps from $58 to $66. indians.com/aroundthehorn, 866/788-2482

Canal Park, Akron
Akron Aeros fans save big throughout the week with deals such as buy-one-get-one savings on adult tickets, hot dogs, ice cream, soda and popcorn on Tuesdays; family packs (four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four sodas) for $48 on Wednesdays and Sundays; and — new this year — “super saver Saturdays,” when fans can see the game for $7, and fuel up on $1 hot dogs, popcorn, soda and beer. (Available on select Saturdays only; see website for details.) akronaeros.com, 330/253-5153

Classic Park, Eastlake
Head to Classic Park for a Lake County Captains game on “Feed Your Face Wednesdays” and $18 buys you game tickets, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, onion rings, popcorn and chips. Wash it all down on “Thirsty Thursdays,” when a domestic draft beer costs just a nickel when purchased an hour before the game, and you can get half-price beer and fountain soda through the seventh inning. Another Thursday bonus: active and retired military personnel, their families and college students get in for $5. captainsbaseball.com, 440/954-9467

Huntington Park, Columbus
The posh downtown home of the Columbus Clippers is also a hot spot for good eats and drinks. The best food deals are on weekdays, with City Barbeque Buck-A-Bone Night on Tuesdays, Rooster’s 50-cent wing nights on Wednesdays and Party-at-the-Park specials on Fridays, when $2 drafts and other food and drink specials will save you cash. And with a $6 general admission for adults and $3 for seniors and children 12 and under, it’s a night out for less than the price of takeout. clippersbaseball.com, 614/462-2757

Eastwood Field, Niles
Watching the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, play ball is always a bargain, with general admission seats running a mere $7 for adults. But super-savers will love Tuesdays, when you can see the game for just $2 — on Thursdays, that price drops to just $1 per ticket. mvscrappers.com; 330/505-0000.


COOL COMBOS
Package deals double the fun.

Rock & Ride Combo, northern Ohio
If you like to work hard, play hard and rock out, then this deal is for you. The “rock & ride” combo package
($54) includes adult tickets to two of northern Ohio’s best attractions — Cedar Point in Sandusky and the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. Tickets must be used by Oct. 31, 2010, and are valid
for a one-day visit at each attraction. cedarpoint.com, 419/627-2350.

Ride and Roar, southwest Ohio
How does a day of heart-pounding vertical drops and head-spinning rides at Kings Island, followed by a day
of seeing the animals at the Cincinnati Zoo & Aquarium sound? Book the “ride and roar” package ($319),
and get four tickets to Kings Island, four tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo, two nights lodging with free breakfast
at either the Comfort Suites Kings Island or Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast and two free kids’ meals
at Bob Evans. rideandroar.com, 800/791-4386