Blake Walsh

20 Best Things to Do in Cuyahoga Falls, OH

  • Published 2023/05/01

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, features gorgeous waterfalls that flow towards the city’s boundary to the south.

You can find this city in the beautiful Summit County, which prides itself on its 100 waterfalls.

As the second-largest city in Summit Country, Cuyahoga Falls gives you rich culture and history with its historical sites, museums, art galleries, and outdoor adventures.

You will surely enjoy spending a weekend or more in this city.

Not only does the city of Cuyahoga Falls offer one of the best tourist spots in the world, but it’s also an excellent place for businesses.

It enjoys a low utility rate and easy access to the national highway.

If you’re looking for fun and adventure, check out the best things to do in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Ride the Cuyahoga River with Float the River

The fun at Cuyahoga Falls is just a float away with Float the River.

Rent a kayak or tube from the rental service and float around the Cuyahoga River.

If you have your flotation device and life jacket, you can use them as long as it complies with the U.S. Coast Guard standards.

However, you can’t use your tube for preventive measures.

Depending on river conditions, you will float down the Cuyahoga River for about an hour or two.

The river sits between Cleveland, Kent, Cuyahoga Falls, and Akron, where tourists can enjoy kayaking and floating.

Did you know that the Cuyahoga River has caught fire 13 times due to heavy industrial pollution?

One notable fire was in June 1969, which alerted many environmental groups to step up.

Since then, the local government of Cleveland and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency have taken care of the river.

In 2019, the American Rivers Conservation Association named the Cuyahoga “River Of The Year.”

This honor celebrates Cuyahoga River for its “50 years of environmental resurgence.”

Experience Creative Arts At Cuyahoga Valley Art Center

Founded in 1934, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC) celebrates visual arts and creatives through its exhibitions, workshops, classes, and more.

Located in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, CVAC also offers a free show for all tourists and art enthusiasts.

As a non-profit visual arts organization, CVAC helps artists to enhance their talents and skills in graphic arts.

CVAC collaborates with other artistic groups and individuals to share their perspectives and ideas through visual arts.

The Cuyahoga Valley Art Center regularly holds art exhibitions where different artists show their valuable contributions to the community.

Bring Your Family to Clifford’s Mini Auto Museum

Whether or not you’re a classic car lover, visiting Clifford’s Mini Auto Museum will make the rest of your day enjoyable.

The museum sits just in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, which brings you back to the good old days.

See the classic and antique collection of cars, bicycles, gas pumps, and more.

William Clifford owns the museum; he restored and preserved the vintage cars and other classic memorabilia.

However, the mini-museum isn’t always open to the public.

Mr. Clifford only opens his spot on specific days and during essential festivals in the area.

Clifford’s Mini Auto Museum is also free of charge.

Visit the High Bridge Glens Park Butterfly Garden

Nothing beats a beautiful and colorful day!

High Bridge Glens Park offers one of the most colorful butterfly gardens in the country, showing a nice view of the famous Cuyahoga River.

They carefully chose the flowering plants to ensure that they attract different varieties of butterflies.

Established in 1879, High Bridge Glens Park offers scenic spots, trails, caverns, and waterfalls, among others.

The park had to close in the 1900s and reopened a century later in 2009.

Cool Off at Cuyahoga Falls Splash Pad

Bring your kids to one of the most notable splash pads in Ohio, where they can enjoy playing with the automated water for free.

You can find Downtown Splash Pad at the Downtown Plaza close to Broad Boulevard.

The city revamped Splash Pad was updated, which required groundwork to ensure that the kids would enjoy the splashing water from the ground.

Interestingly, there is a button that kids will need to push to turn the splash fountain on.

However, the Cuyahoga Falls Splash Pad only opens during the summer, which is perfect for enjoying it.

Skate All Day at Cuyahoga Falls Ice Skating Rink

If you’re into skating, Cuyahoga Falls doesn’t disappoint.

Located near the Downtown Pavilion and Amphitheater, where you can also find the Splash Pad, the Cuyahoga Falls Ice Skating Rink is free for all skaters.

If you don’t have your skateboard, you can rent one.

However, the Ice Skating Rink isn’t open all the time.

Its opening depends on the weather conditions in Cuyahoga Falls.

Don’t fret, though.

You can always double-check with the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Department.

Watch Phenomenal Concerts At Blossom Music Center

Home to the famous Cleveland Orchestra, Blossom Music Center sits by Steels Corners Road in Cuyahoga Falls.

The outdoor amphitheater opened in 1968; it is a subsidiary of the Musical Arts Association (MAA), the parent organization of the Cleveland Orchestra.

This place got its name from Dudley S. Blossom Sr. and Blossom Jr., who served MAA in the 1930s.

If you visit the amphitheater when the Orchestra plays, you’re lucky!

Otherwise, there are picnic tables where you can enjoy yourself with your family and friends.

Also, you can stroll around and enjoy the sight of Blossom Music Center’s gorgeous gardens!

Go Dancing at Riverfront Ballroom and Latin Dance Center

At Cuyahoga Falls, it’s not just about the Orchestra.

It’s also about dancing!

If you’re into dancing, ballroom specifically, you can go dance it out at Riverfront Ballroom and Latin Dance Center, founded in 1981.

However, it’s not just for advanced dancers.

Newbies who want to learn are also welcome to visit the center at Portage Trail in the beautiful downtown of Cuyahoga Falls.

Riverfront Ballroom and Latin Dance Center offer private dance lessons, group lessons, and even wedding dance lessons.

It sounds exciting, right?

Cuyahoga Falls has many fun activities to enjoy during your stay!

Cool Down at Water Works Family Aquatic Center

Nestled right in the Water Works Park, Water Works Family Aquatic Center offers both fun and water adventure.

The aquatic center features four slides, eight pools of different sizes, waterfalls, geysers, water sprays, and a sand play area.

Guests can use the center’s changing rooms, lockers, sun and shade areas, lounge furniture, and picnic tables.

If you want to have lunch there, you can use the grills or purchase something at their concession stand.

You can also rent one of their five poolside cabana cottages, especially when you’re with a small group.

The park is an excellent destination for family and kids to enjoy, especially during the summer!

They opened Water Works Family Aquatic Center in 1998.

Get Fit at the Natatorium

Vacationing can sometimes delay your daily workouts, but not in Cuyahoga Falls.

The city prides itself in having a state-of-the-art fitness center, The Natatorium, built in 1969.

The Natatorium comes equipped with the main gym, weight floor, auxiliary gym, the Fit Kid Circuit, Kids’ Castle babysitting, and two racquetball courts.

You can find the Aquatics area with four pools on the main floor.

The upper level of the fitness center also brims with over 200 cardio and fitness machines, a Fitness Circuit, and a 1/8-mile walking track.

The Natatorium also offers more than 60 land and water classes inside its 116,000-square foot premises.

Shop and Dine at Portage Crossing Shopping Center

One of the best things to do when visiting a place is to eat out and shop at a local marketplace that promotes the city’s tourism.

At Portage Crossing Shopping Center, shopping and dining never disappoint.

Located at 2925 State Road, the marketplace opened in 2014 and offered a distinct mixture of entertainment, food, and shopping.

It includes Cinemark Theater, Starbucks, Chipotle, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LensCrafters, and Giant Eagle Market District, among others.

If you’re also a lover of a poke bowl, the famous Poke Fresh is also in Portage Crossing.

Play Golf at Brookledge Golf Club

At 1621 Bailey Road sits the beautiful Brookledge Golf Club, which features gorgeous rolling hills and woodlands.

The course opened in 1992, offering best-in-class amenities for golfers and the like.

In 1941, the property was once a backyard farm, though the owners transformed it into a state-of-the-art golf course that caters to up to 100 players.

It has earned consistent spots on the Beacon’s Best Top Ten Golf Courses throughout the years.

They have continued to improve for better service.

Brookledge Golf Club also offers golf lessons and tee time.

Buy Local Products at Craft Shoppe

One of the most significant factors that make a city thrive is its government’s support of its local crafters and artists.

At the Craft Shoppe, you’ll find lovingly made handcrafted items from Cuyahoga Falls’ local artists and crafters.

The shop exhibits hand-sewn and quilted home decor, crocheted, embroidered, and knitted items, wooden stuff, jewelry, greeting cards, and floral arrangements.

You’ll love these handcrafted items you can buy for your loved ones and friends.

Craft Shoppe is on the first floor of Quirk Cultural Center at 1201 Grant Street.

Explore Babb Run Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary

Babb Run Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the must-visit places in Cuyahoga Falls to maximize your vacation to this gorgeous city.

It’s where you can see birds of different kinds like the blue herons, ducks, and geese in the surrounding area.

You have to keep quiet to attract those birds because they don’t show up if they find you noisy or too fussy.

This 1.9-km out-and-back trail also offers an excellent area for hiking and running, apart from checking out the bird sanctuary.

The shaded pathway for hiking is simply stunning along a flowing stream.

You can visit anytime.

If you have a dog, you can also bring him with you as long as he’s on a leash.

Likewise, don’t miss heading out to the top of the giant pile of tree stumps you’ll find at the end of the park to see a gorgeous hidden waterfall!

Babb Run Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary runs from the corner of Sackett Avenue and 27th Street in Cuyahoga Falls.

Grab Some Fine Wine at Sarah’s Vineyard

Cuyahoga Falls doesn’t just offer gorgeous waterfalls and exciting outdoor adventures.

It also takes pride in its homegrown winemaker, Sarah’s Vineyard.

Located at 1204 W Steels Corners Road, the winery grows nine varieties of grapes to produce quality wine.

They also have delicious wood-fired pizzas, salads, and sandwiches.

The winery opened in 2007.

Its owner also named the winery after their daughter Sarah, who tragically died in a car accident.

However, the vineyard doesn’t simply showcase wine.

You can also see beautiful art there.

While enjoying your wine, you can browse the vineyard’s art gallery, which exhibits different works of both local and national artists.

At the gallery, you’ll find purses, collages, photographs, pottery, jewelry, watercolors, and many more.

So, if you’re in Cuyahoga Falls, make time for Sarah’s Vineyard!

Hike the Gorge Metro Park Trail

About 1.8 miles of a loop trail in Cuyahoga Falls takes you to a beautiful waterfall, a man-made dam, a nice cave, amazing rock-ledge formations, natural springs, and all things nature.

The Gorge Metro Park Trail offers an exciting hike along its stunning cliffs with lots of deer grazing on the grass around, as well as other wildlife to see like beavers and birds.

It’s a short hike, but the scenery is unbeatable.

You’ll also see some carvings on the cliff rocks and some old-growth trees that can be traced back to the 1800s during the settlement of the natives in the area.

You can find the Gorge Metro Park Trail on Front Street.

Hang Out at HiHO Brewing Co.

The best spot to cap the night after a long day of exploring the beautiful Cuyahoga Falls is HiHO Brewing Co. on Front Street.

Located downtown overlooking the stunning Cuyahoga River, the brewery produces craft beer both classic and seasonal, which you can taste in its charming taproom.

Try its popular Gorge’s Blonde Ale, Bossy Lady IPA, Touchdown Brown, and many more.

And of course, you can enjoy its brick oven pizza; particularly its famous Habanero Hot Honey!

You can also have its delicious appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.

Ali and Jon Hovan established HiHO Brewing Co. in 2017.

Have a Good Laugh at Funny Stop Comedy Club

Laughter is the best medicine, they say, which is why Funny Stop Comedy Club is a great stop while in Cuyahoga Falls.

Here’s another excellent place to hang out with your family and friends, and laugh your hearts out!

The club features touring comedians both national and international, open-mics, and local acts who will make your night out more fun and memorable.

You can also grab a bite and drinks if you’re there early.

Funny Stop Comedy Club is located off State Road.

Grab Unique Gifts and Souvenirs at the REVERIE

The REVERIE, with its eclectic and unique items perfect for gifts and souvenirs, is the go-to place among locals and tourists in Cuyahoga Falls.

This quaint gift shop features handmade candles, jewelry, greeting cards, customized mugs, toiletries, unique clothing, glassware, stuffed animals, and many more.

It has a bit of everything for all ages, which is great for gifts and souvenirs on this trip.

So don’t head back home without taking a trip to the REVERIE on Front Street!

Kristin Hadari Worcester established the REVERIE in 2010.

Get Your Coffee Fix at Asterisk Coffee Bar

Whether you’re getting your daily coffee fix in the morning or afternoon, Asterisk Coffee Bar doesn’t disappoint!

The coffee shop sources its specialty coffee from Akron Coffee Roasters and it’s popular for its delicious cortado, cappuccino, espresso, and matcha latte.

If you have diet restrictions, you can ask for plant milk such as almond milk as a substitute.

You can also pair your favorite coffee with its delicious pastries, toasts, and breakfast sandwiches.

Also, if you’re up for some specialty cocktails, Asterisk Coffee Bar also offers hand-crafted cocktails, beer, and wine.

Final Thoughts

If you have plans to visit Cuyahoga Falls soon, this should be your perfect guide on doing what you like the most.

The city offers a variety of things to do, especially water-related activities.

Since many beautiful waterfalls and the ever-famous Cuyahoga River surrounds the city, your visit will never bore you.

Don’t forget to bring extra clothes with you when you’re floating and kayaking.

Lastly, Cuyahoga Falls’ versatility in recreational activities is simply incredible.

Start planning your adventure today!

You might still find other things to do in Cuyahoga Falls after you’ve already exhausted this list.

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