June 2026

Ohio Magazine June 2026 cover (photo courtesy of Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens)

Travel

10 Ohio Nature Centers Your Kids Will Love

From living streams to animal ambassadors, exhibits at these nature centers in parks across our state turn lessons about the outdoors into an adventure for families. 

30 Kids Adventures in Ohio

Summer break means it’s time to discover. Map out a season of exploration for your family with our guide to attractions and activities for all ages.

4 Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day in Ohio

From classic car shows to train rides to playing catch at a historic ballpark, celebrate with Dad this year at one of these four Father’s Day weekend events.

5 Nature-Focused Events Your Kids Will Love

Get the kids outside this summer at these five June happenings that promote learning and embrace the outdoors. 

6 Events In (and About) Nature Across Ohio

From a guided canoe trip along the Maumee Scenic River to a yoga practice set in our state’s only national park, check out these four events celebrating the beauty of the Buckeye State.

Be a Citizen Naturalist During Ohio BioBlitz 250 at Mosquito Lake State Park

This event in Cortland on June 13 challenges participants to identify more than 250 species over the course of a single day.

Embrace the Old West on Ohio’s Friendliest Train Robbery

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway stages this fun experience several times each summer, complete with play money and bandits with manners.

Explore African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton

With over 800 animals, this longtime northwest Ohio favorite invites families for a fun and photo-friendly experience.

Explore Put-in-Bay History at Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center

Visit one of South Bass Island’s most enduring attractions at this family-focused spot where history meets a kids maze, gem mining and mini golf.

Go in Search of Thomas Dambo’s Famous Trolls in Dayton

Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm’s whimsical woodland trail leads families to three giant trolls created by the renowned Danish artist. 

Kids Dig in at Penitentiary Glen’s Nature Play Area in Kirtland

The 1-acre play area at this Lake Metroparks’ reservation lets little ones shovel, splash, climb and even try gardening.

Ride Historic Streetcars at This Unique Ohio Museum

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum in Medina County opened for the season over Memorial Day weekend.

Sauder Village Admission $3 for 50th Birthday Celebration

The 1976-era pricing is just one way the living-history attraction in Archbold is marking its milestone during a June 14 celebration featuring interactive experiences and family-friendly entertainment.

Save The Date: 5 Summer Events at Put-in-Bay

The longest days of the year are here. Plan a trip to South Bass Island around one of these happenings. 

Step into the Treetops on the Blacklick Woods Canopy Walk

This elevated forest boardwalk with a giant cargo net and a treehouse invites kids to explore the forest from above.

Summer in Columbus: Festivals, Sports, Food and More

Discover major gaming and anime conventions, festival fun, women’s sporting events, America 250 celebrations and great new dining finds across Ohio’s capital city.

Summer in Dayton: Festivals, Live Music, Outdoors

This city offers plenty to experience, from open-air concerts to fun festivals to a quest to find artist Thomas Dambo’s famous trolls. 

Take a Ride at Gators Bike Park in Worthington

When physical-education teacher Rick Armstrong noticed fewer of his students were riding bicycles, he set out to create a bike park to help them.

Take a Summer Road Trip to Lake County

New wineries, downtown destinations and summer festivals showcase the fresh flavors, creative energy and lakeside fun that draw visitors this time of year.

Take Your Kids on a Summer Safari at The Wilds

The 10,000-acre conservation park in Cumberland affiliated with the Columbus Zoo, offers everyday tour experiences and summer camps aimed at specific interests.

Food + Drink

3 Just-Off-The-Trail Breweries and Bars in Ohio

Make a pit stop for a beer and a breather at these spots alongside some of our favorite hiking and biking routes.

Ohio Wine Month: Explore Wineries Across the State

Summer provides a great time to get out and explore the winemakers that dot our state. Plan a visit around one of these regularly scheduled offerings and experiences.

Take Your Best Friend to This Dog-Park Bar

Taps & Tails in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood lets you sip cocktails while your pup plays. It has indoor and outdoor spaces and a focus on safety.

Understory Combines Great Food and a Standout Columbus Patio

The outdoor space at this capital-city restaurant sits beneath a canopy of leaves, offering a welcoming place for diners to enjoy reinvented pub classics.

Arts

Columbus’ Cartoon Museum Unveils New Permanent Exhibit and Reimagined Galleries

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at The Ohio State University shared its new look with the public May 23.

See ‘The Scandinavian Home: Landscape and Lore’ in Cincinnati

This exhibition at the Taft Museum of Art brings together paintings, textiles and decorative arts that reveal how identity and place intertwine in Nordic culture.

Home + Garden

Suncraft Collective Makes All-Natural Items

Cincinnati-based artist Dani Fraley crafts functional products for the home ranging from wooden cutting boards and plant stands to cotton towels and bags.

Ohio Life

Backstory: The Boy of Summer

Charlie Hustle, Ty Cobb and the great American game.

Discover Pioneer Gardening Traditions in Springfield

Tended to by volunteers and overseen by The Ohio State University, Clark County’s Early Ohio Settlers Garden re-creates how those on the frontier grew plants.

Lake Erie’s High-Stakes Steamboat Race of 1901

Two rival shipping companies raced their steamers across from Cleveland to Erie in high-stakes contest that drew thousands of spectators and ended with a thrilling finish.

Maureen Gatewood Carries On Her Great-Grandmother’s Outdoor Legacy

The great-granddaughter of Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, the first woman to solo hike the entire Appalachian Trail, shares how she got involved with the Buckeye Trail.

Meet the Rare Beetle Ohio State Students Are Working to Save

The American burying beetle is making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts led by Ohio State University’s Bug Zoo and its partners.

Ohio Finds: Model of Cape Girardeau

An unidentified man in Wellsburg, Ohio, created this 36-inch replica of the historic packet boat in the 1960s.

Why Lake Sturgeon Are Making a Comeback in Ohio

With armored bodies, lifespans that can last a century and roots stretching back to the age of dinosaurs, here is how this ancient fish has mad a return here after decades of absence.