Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Avon, OH

  • Published 2022/09/02

If you’re looking for a city full of life and unique attractions, you need to visit Avon, Ohio.

Located in Lorain County, the city has one of the most thriving communities in northeast Ohio.

During the 17th century, the present city area, along with Avon Lake, Westlake, and Bay Village, was a single territory.

The Ottawa, Wyandot, and Erie Native American tribes inhabited the area before the Europeans arrived.

In 1917, Avon township became a village and eventually the City of Avon in 1961.

You’ll see many lovely community parks, specialty restaurants, unique shops, fun amusement stops, and nearby nature reserves.

Do you want to know more about this city?

Then, it’s time to explore the best things to do in Avon, Ohio!

Discover Lovely Plant Varieties at Miller Nature Preserve

Miller Nature Preserve lies on a 145–acre woodland with a vast conservatory, a first in the county.

This attraction formally opened in 2011.

However, longtime resident Buddy Miller started the project in 1999.

He donated the property in honor of his wife, who loved gardening and painting.

Enter the 5,000-acre conservatory to see fascinating plant specimens from across the world like bromeliads, desert plants, and tropical plants.

View the magnificent Orchid Collections, including dendrobium, cymbidium, and cattleya.

The Bonsai Collection is equally charming, with displays reflecting the 13th-century Oriental art of bonsai.

You’ll appreciate and discover more plant varieties at the Desert and Carnivorous Plant Collections.

Drop by the Butterfly House to see the colorful butterflies flutter around.

Then, hang out at the Orchid Café or get souvenirs at the Gift Shop.

Hike along the shorter Pin Oak Trail to the woods or the Sycamore Trail that leads to the French Creek with gorgeous views.

The Miller Nature Preserve will take you on a relaxing nature escape.

Have a Day Out at Northgate Park

Northgate Park is one of the loveliest parks in downtown Avon.

You can find this 14–acre public park just off Colorado Avenue.

Check the outdoor fitness tracks, which include a half–mile long track and a shorter quarter-mile track.

Little ones can enjoy the playground area and have hours of playtime.

Older kids can practice scoring goals at the soccer fields.

You can fish at the pond, but keep the ODNR Catch & Release Guidelines in mind.

It’s also a nice place to enjoy a family picnic with tables, grills, and electricity provided by the park.

During the holiday season, Northgate Park becomes a fun place for sledding and ice skating on the pond.

Keep Fit at the Avon Fitness Court

The Avon Fitness Court is an outdoor fitness venue under the local government to promote fitness and health in the community.

The training venue is free, open to the public, and designed for any adult age and level of ability.

Enjoy a full-body workout, sweat it out and burn some calories.

You can join any guided routine or do freestyle exercises with over 30 pieces of training equipment.

The venue resulted from the city’s partnership with the National Fitness Campaign to install an outdoor gym for everyone.

Work up a sweat at the Avon Fitness Court!

Practice Your Swing at Bob-O-Link Golf Course

Bob-O-Link Golf Course is a 36–hole golf course you can visit for a round of golf.

The golf course is open to the public and features four nine-hole courses: the White Course, Blue Course, Red Course, and Gold Course.

The fairway’s layout suits any level of golf, whether open golf, leagues, or outings.

You’ll enjoy rounds of golf on the course’s flat terrain.

Practice some swings at the driving range and putting greens.

Otherwise, get coaching from LPGA Professional Vicki Harshberger.

Likewise, you can rent golf carts rentals and use the enclosed pavilions.

The Bob-O-Link Golf Course also has a snack bar where you can enjoy sandwiches, beers, and liquors after rounds of golf.

Have Tons of Fun at Main Event

Everyone in the family will have loads of fun at theMain Event.

The amusement center features state-of-the-art bowling lanes and interactive video arcades, air hockey, and virtual reality games.

Play laser tag at the indoor course, and climb over hurdles and obstacles to get to higher levels.

Enjoy an exhilarating experience on the gravity ropes and get suspended 20 feet up in the air.

Test your balance at the hanging beams and sway on the rope bridges.

You can also enjoy rounds of pool games or relax at the billiard hall.

If you want to unwind, the entire bar offers draft beers, cocktails, soda drinks, wines, appetizers, and meals.

Likewise, catch the big game on the big screen.

Grab a meal at the restaurant and feast on delicious appetizers, snacks, and chef-inspired meals on their menu.

Tasty food and endless fun await you at Main Event.

Enjoy Delectable Meals at Heck’s Café

Heck’s Café is a local restaurant where you can dine, lounge, and hang out with family and friends.

The casual warehouse feel of the restaurant lets you enjoy your meals in a relaxed setting.

The restaurant café is famous for its gourmet burgers and well-prepared local cuisine using fresh ingredients and original recipes.

Order a light orange and beet salad and go for a hearty mushroom ravioli.

Drop by in the morning for some filling breakfast or brunch meals paired with their signature roasted coffee.

You’ll also enjoy their wide selection of crafted cocktails, world-class wine selections, and locally crafted beers.

You can also rent a private dining room for special occasions or group dining.

From soup to starters, salads to entrées, sides to desserts, Heck’s Café never disappoints.

Swim and Splash at the Avon Aquatic Facility

The Avon Aquatic Facility offers a family-friendly venue where you can cool down on a hot day.

Take a plunge in the pools and have endless hours of water fun.

Zoom down the twisty slides, experience the Vortex, and let your little ones run on the sprayground and tots area.

Though this facility mainly welcomes residents and employees, visitors can get short-term passes.

You can also rent the party pavilion for special events and occasions.

Check out the Avon Aquatic Facility for pool hours, schedules, reservations, and passes.

Visit Maria’s Field of Hope

Maria’s Field Hope is a unique city attraction in Avon, Ohio.

In 2006, the daughter of Ed and Megan McNamara, Maria, received a diagnosis of a terminal brain tumor.

She died the following year.

In her honor, they built the Field of Hope.

The field opens in September, in time for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

You can visit the sunflower fields for free from morning until sunset.

Likewise, you can give donations to help with brain tumor treatments for kids.

Enjoy beautiful photo opportunities in the fields.

Then, support the Prayers From Maria Foundation by getting the Sunflower Shutterbug Passes.

You can also honor children or friends who have battled the disease and add their names to the Memorial Wall.

Enjoy the sunflower fields while contributing to a worthwhile cause at Maria’s Field of Hope.

Bring the Little Ones to Every Child’s Playground

Every Child’s Playground is a place to bring your little tots to enjoy.

The playground sits east of the Aquatic Facility and features a nearly 20-acre play area.

Have fun with your little ones and watch them run about, climb and slide on the play equipment.

Take the Storybook Trail with your kids.

Drop by the Harmony Circle, where you’ll catch some outdoor musical instruments.

Stroll the History Walk and Veteran’s Memorial, then relax for a family picnic at Lowe’s Pavilion.

Every Child’s Playground is a fun park where you can spend quality time with your kids.

Play Leisure Sports at the Little League Park

Little League Park is one of the city’s famous parks that offer excellent sports facilities and amenities.

The public park features two 60-foot baseball fields and a softball field.

Practice your pitching at the Ponytail and Coach Pitch fields or swing those bats at the T-Ball Fields.

The park has a playground that your little ones will surely enjoy.

You can also have some time at the City Skate Park beside this park.

Get snacks at the concession building or plan a family barbecue picnic at the pavilions with tables and grills.

Enjoy outdoor sports at Little League Park.

Other Things To Do Nearby

Sip Fine Wines from Klingshirn Winery

Since the early 1930s, Klingshirn Winery has produced high-quality wines.

Albert R. Klingshirn began winemaking in the cellar of his home with twenty wooden barrels.

The small cellar expanded to a large winery.

Today, the third generation of Klingshirns runs the family business.

Sip wine to your hearts’ content and taste the Reds Collection, like Cabernet Franc, Home Run Red, and Chambourcin.

Try some bottles of White Wine selections like White Reisling, Pinot Grigio, and Reflections of Lake Erie.

Otherwise, savor the flavors of Rose like their Country Blush and Vin Rosé.

Join the annual Klingshirn Winery Steak Fry and enjoy the evening with live acoustic, contemporary and traditional music.

You can also make reservations for catered steak dinner at the event.

Make a pleasant toast at Klingshirn Winery at nearby Avon Lake, Ohio, nine minutes from Avon.

Enjoy Coffee and Meals at Rio Coffee Brewery

Rio Coffee Brewery sets up just the right combination of locally roasted coffee and satisfying deli meals.

You can find this place in Avon Lake, 11 minutes from Avon.

The coffee shop and restaurant offer over 20 coffee bean varieties brewed fresh.

Likewise, their baristas meticulously prepare these drinks every time.

Get your caffeine kick with a cup of brewed coffee, cafe au lait, or rocket fuel.

Sip other hot coffee flavors like cappuccino or cafe mocha.

Likewise, you can enjoy it cold with a cup of plain frappuccino or white mocha.

They also serve non-coffee beverages like organic loose-leaf tea, hot chocolate, and fruit tea smoothies like orange Julius and raspberry.

Rio Coffee Brewery also serves all-day breakfast, tasty wraps, paninis, toasts, savory salads, soups, and delicious kids’ meals.

Explore the Outdoors at Huntington Reservation

Huntington Reservationoffersvisitors a place to enjoy stunning lake views in Bay Village, Ohio, 13 minutes from Avon.

In 1925, the Cleveland Metroparks acquired the property, which became a habitat for various wildlife and a relaxing scenic spot.

This natural attraction is also home to Cleveland Metroparks affiliates: Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and BAYarts.

The reservation also serves as a venue for many philanthropic and educational programs and hosts local arts events.

Trek the three-mile nature trails and observe the different forest, meadow, and creek habitats.

Enjoy the lake waters on boats, sails, paddle sports, or better yet, take a cool swim.

Huntington Reservation’s other amenities include ADA beach wheelchairs, a canopy and ball field, and picnic tables with grills.

You can also find restrooms, changing rooms, electricity, and ample parking.

See the Animal Exhibits at Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

Lake Erie Nature and Science Center is at Huntington Reservation in Bay Village, which hosts live animal exhibits.

This place is 12 minutes from Avon.

The nature and science center aims to provide adequate wildlife care and rehabilitation under the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

You can visit for free with general admission to all indoor and outdoor animal exhibits.

Get inside the Schuele Planetarium, initially built in 1968.

Discover the science of astronomy and see the Fleming Family Projection System.

Marvel at the realistic and breathtaking 360–degree constellation image displays.

Watch the whole-dome 54-seater planetarium theater and learn more about the stars and heavenly bodies.

Lake Erie Nature and Science Center has much to teach visitors about the wonders of space and nature.

Trek the Woodlands at French Creek Reservation

French Creek Reservation is another natural attraction near Avon you can visit.

You can find this place in Sheffield, Ohio, seven minutes from Avon.

The 450–acre woodland area includes the beautiful Nature Center and French Creek Theatre, which offers live creative performances year-round.

You can trek the vast trails spanning almost 4.5 miles.

Explore lush forests and three separate creeks: Sugar Creek, Fish Creek, and French Creek.

The reservation offers programs and exhibits you can join or see, plus a wildlife observation area.

Likewise, bring your kids to the combined indoor play area and nature space.

You can also drop by the Historical Burrell Homestead.

Other things you can do at the French Creek Reservation include fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and picnicking.

Final Thoughts

Avon is a city with a thriving community and offers many family-friendly recreation everyone will enjoy.

You’ll never run out of things to do here with plenty of local shops, restaurants, and amusement stops.

Plan your trip today and discover the best things to do in Avon, Ohio!

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