Ohio truly is the Heart of It All, and this summer, it has more to offer than ever before. On May 13, many of the top attractions in Ohio will celebrate Ohio Tourism Day. This holiday recognizes our state’s tourism industry, which brings in $56 billion in visitor spending annually. You can join in on the celebration by planning your next Ohio trip!

From incredible roller coasters and new water slides to multiple airshows and museums that rock, here are some of the top ways to enjoy Ohio this summer:

Amusement Parks

• Ride the new Siren’s Curse this year at Cedar Point! Cedar Point, located on the shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky, is celebrated as the roller coaster capital of the world. In addition to iconic coasters like Millenium Force and Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point is adding Siren’s Curse and has reopened Top Thrill 2. Siren’s Curse will be North America’s tallest, longest and fastest tilt coaster and it will open in early summer. Top Thrill 2 is the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster. Cedar Point is now open for the 2025 season.

• The new “Conservation Tower” at Zoombezi Bay at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium includes three record-breaking water slides. Ride “The Hive” on a two-person tube through two massive helixes. “Captina Falls” starts 51 feet in the air and lets two guest race one another on a mat head-first to the bottom through enclosed and high-speed turns. “Mussel Mayhem” will be the longest waterslide at Zoombezi Bay, offering guests two funnel elements while they ride in unique two-person rafts while facing one another. You can’t find slides like these anywhere else in the world!

• New at Soak City Water Park at Kings Island this year is the “River Racers” water coaster. Race down the river against family and friends on this side-by-side dual racing water coaster. Kings Island is open now, and its Soak City Water Park with “River Racers” and the new “Splash River Junction” play area opens on May 24.

Unique Attractions

• Ohio Space Week is taking place September 9-13 in Northeast Ohio! Over the course of the week, there are multiple space and NASA-focused events hosted by Orbit Ohio, featuring a NASA Evening with the Stars, a symposium on Space Sustainability and more. You won’t want to miss these out-of-this-world events!

• America 250 Ohio is a group that is celebrating Ohio’s contributions to the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States, which will happen on July 4, 2026. They have created two Ohio trails, which are exciting ways for visitors to explore some of Ohio’s rich stories and locations. The Ohio Air & Space Trail takes you through 30+ historic sites about Ohio’s contributions to aviation and aerospace, and the Creativity Trail features 100+ sites that encompass Ohio’s creative community.

Sporting Events & Air Shows

• The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin will take place May 26-June 1 this summer. Recently named one of eight PGA Tour Signature Events, this central Ohio tournament highlights the world’s best golfers as they compete on one of the most challenging courses in the country – right here in Ohio!

• The Cincinnati Open professional tennis tournament has a new two-week format and will feature new upgrades to the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The event will take place in Mason from August 5-18. You know what that means… double the tennis and double the fun!

• Multiple air shows are coming to Ohio this summer! The Dayton Air Show will be held June 21-22 at Dayton International Airport, the Columbus Air Show will be held August 22-24 at Rickenbacker International Airport, and the Cleveland Air Show will be held on August 30- September 1 (Labor Day Weekend) at Burke Lakefront Airport. These shows will feature heart-pounding air performances, family-friendly activities, and appearances from the United States Air Force Thunderbirds!

Museums & Exhibits

• Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and see their new “Saturday Night Live” exhibit opening on May 23. This immersive exhibit celebrates the shows iconic 50-year musical history, storied performances and sketches. Through state-of-the-art video installations and first-ever virtual experiences, it will bring to life some of the show’s most memorable moments, including performances by Blondie, RUN-D.M.C, Mick Jager, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Sabrina Carpenter.

Zoos & Safaris

• Experience the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s new North America Trek, opening this summer! Inspired by North America’s National Parks, this 14-acre area will bring you closer to animals from the mountains, prairies, wetlands and seas, including bald eagles, black bears, North American river otters and more.

• The Wilds’ new Hellbender RV Campground is taking reservations and will open on May 30! With 47 full-hookup RV sites and 26 primitive camping sites, the Hellbender RV Campground offers your family an immersive stay in the heart of Ohio’s wildlife preserve, hiking and biking trails, and discounted open-air safaris. Take your camping trip today and connect with nature in a unique way.

Thanks to growing investments, Ohio is becoming an increasingly attractive place to visit, work and live. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor excursion, an intriguing exhibit, or a thrilling roller coaster experience, Ohio offers more exciting attractions this summer than ever before.

(Stivers is president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce)