Clevelanda rockin' good time

Cleveland is one of very few cities with a National Park right in its proverbial backyard. The northern edge of the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park lies about 20 miles south of the city. From Independence, eight miles south of Cleveland, you can board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway and ride the historic train 51 miles, all the through the park, to Akron and Canton, staying on the train for the three-hour round trip, or getting off at any of several stops. One of those stops is the Canal Visitor Center, displaying the history of the nearby Ohio & Erie Canal, a section of which has been restored for demonstration purposes. You can also hike or bike the Canal Towpath Trail, with its many natural and historic sites along the route, all the way from Cleveland through the National Park.