Akron

Understand

Akron is called the City of Invention but used to be known as the Rubber Capital of the World, and before that, as the original home of Quaker Oats, and before that, as a pottery works. It was built right on the southern edge of the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is on the shortest possible line drawn between the Cuyahoga River (connecting to the Great Lakes - Lake Erie), and the Tuscarawas River (connecting to the Ohio River and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico.) The Portage Path, the shortest path for carrying a canoe from one water shed to the next, has connected the two since time immemorial, and is the primary reason Akron grew just where it did.

Visitor information Akron / Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, 77 E Mill St, ☏ +1 330-374-7560, toll-free: +1-800-245-4254. (updated Dec 2019)

Getting there

By plane 1 Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK IATA), 5400 Lauby Rd NW, ☏ +1 330-499-4221. The most convenient airport, small, easy to navigate, quick in-and-out. 2 Akron Executive Airport (AKC IATA). A large General aviation airport. Has an office for immigration and customs, and can accept international flights. (updated Dec 2019) There are non-stop flights to Akron Canton Regional Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Tampa. There are buses to/from the airport: Metro RTA bus 110 goes a number of times a day between the airport and downtown Akron on a local route through southern Summit County - fare $1.25 and duration approximately 1 hour; SARTA Route 81 travels between downtown Canton, the Belden Village area, the airport and the downtown Akron Metro RTA Transit Center via I-77 Monday through Friday. Route 81L runs from the Airport to the Belden Village area and downtown Canton only (the 81L Saturday route does not travel to Akron) - fare $1.50. Catch the bus at the north end of the airport terminal (new location).

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, (CLE IATA) - an approximately one hour drive to the northwest of Akron and a hub of United Airlines.

By train Akron lost its Amtrak station in the last round of cuts, so you'll have to go into Cleveland or Alliance.

By car Akron has wonderful interstate highway support. I-76 is an excellent way in from the East or West, and I-77 is an easy route to take between Cleveland and Akron. Further south on I-77 is Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Once in the city, there are two other freeways Route 8 and Route 59 (Innerbelt), both of which serve the center of the city. There is very little in the city that is more than 10 minutes from an expressway. One nice by-product of this system is that rush hour is less than an hour

Getting around

By bus Akron METRO RTA, 416 Kenmore Blvd, ☏ +1-330-762-0341, toll-free: +1-800-227-9905. Somewhat limited but adequate service to most Akron locations. It also has connectivity with Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to the north and Stark County Regional Transit Authority to the south. (updated Dec 2019)

By car

Taxis City Yellow Cab, 650 Home Ave, ☏ +1 330-253-3141. (updated Dec 2019)

See

1 Akron Art Museum, One S High, ☏ +1 330-376-9185. In 2007, the museum opened its new modern glass and steel facility. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, ☏ +1 330-375-2550, fax: +1 330 375-2575, [email protected]. This family-friendly zoo is dedicated to wildlife conservation. The more than 700 animals on display include the rare snow leopard as well as Humboldt penguins and Galapagos tortoises, and an Andean condor. (updated Dec 2019) 3 Home of John Brown, 550 Copley Rd, ☏ +1 330-535-1120, fax: +1 330 535-0250, [email protected]. Guided tours hours: W-F 12:30PM & 2:30PM. The famous abolitionist called Akron his home from where he launched his fight to free slaves including the Harper’s Ferry raid in 1859. Adult $5, senior or child $4. (updated Dec 2019) 4 Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, 714 N Portage Path, ☏ +1 330-836-5533, fax: +1 330 836-5533, [email protected]. April 1-December 30: daily 9AM-6PM (buildings close at 4:30PM). Closed: Easter, November 13 & 14 (for holiday decorating), Thanksgiving, December 24 at 1PM, Christmas Day, and December 31. The former home of Goodyear executive F.A. Sieberling and his family, this early 20th century 65-room mansion welcomes visitors to tour the house, the grounds, and the out-buildings. (updated Dec 2019) 5 The University of Akron Hower House, 60 Fir Hill (the University of Akron), ☏ +1 330-972-6909. A quaint Victorian Mansion, originally owned by one of Akron's Rubber Barons. 6 Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Rd, ☏ +1 330-666-3711, [email protected]. Jun-Aug: W-Su 10AM-5PM; Sep-Oct: Sa Su 10AM-5PM. Hale Farm & Village presents daily 19th century life in a rural community by demonstrating heritage farming and gardens, barns and buildings throughout the grounds. Glassblowing, blacksmithing, basket making, spinning, weaving, pottery, candle making, broom making, and brick making. See the event calendar for special events. $10 adults, $5 children.

Do

Arts and culture

1 E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, 198 Hill St, ☏ +1 330-972-7570, fax: +1 330 762-6313. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Akron Civic Theater, 182 S Main St, ☏ +1 330-253-2488, fax: +1 330 535-9828. (updated Dec 2019) 3 Highland Square Theater, 826 W Market St, ☏ +1 330-253-0100. Historic theater building, showing newly released movies. $5. (updated Dec 2019) 4 Musica, 51 E Market St (Northside). Live music (updated Dec 2019) 5 Summit Artspace, 140 E Market St, ☏ +1 330-376-8480, [email protected]. (updated Dec 2019)

Sports 6 Akron RubberDucks, 300 S Main St, ☏ +1 330-253-5151, fax: +1 330 253-3300, [email protected]. The RubberDucks are a champion Eastern League (AA minor league baseball) team that is part of the Major League Baseball Cleveland Guardians farm system. The park is 45 minutes south of Progressive Field. They often receive Major Leaguers (like a AAA team) right before they are sent up to Cleveland. (updated Dec 2019) 7 University of Akron Zips, ☏ +1 330-972-6920. U of Akron is a member of the Mid-American Conference of NCAA College Sports. (updated Dec 2019)

Nature Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Rd. 74 non-electric campsites, 400 horsepower limit on lake, 8 boat launch ramps, boat rentals, fishing, hunting, beach, five miles of hiking trails, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, basketball court, hunting waterfowl in designated areas. 8 Sand Run Metro Park. (updated Dec 2019) 9 Cascade Valley Metro Park. (updated Dec 2019) 10 Firestone Metro Park. (updated Dec 2019) 11 Goodyear Heights Metro Park. (updated Dec 2019)

Annual events

12 All-American Soap Box Derby, 789 Derby Downs Dr, ☏ +1 330-733-8723, fax: +1 330 733-1370, [email protected]. Begun in 1934, this annual event allows boys and girls ages 8-17 to compete in non-motorized r