Bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
Century Cycles’ Peninsula location offers a perfect launching point for two-wheel excursions up and down the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s nearly 20-mile section of the Towpath Trail. Century offers three types of bike rentals: hybrid comfort bikes ($10 per hour), fat tire bikes ($15 per hour) and electric bikes ($45 per two hours). The shop’s information technology manager Kevin Madzia says the Towpath Trail is perfect for all levels of riders because of how relatively flat and wide it is, just make sure to brush up on your trail etiquette. “Ride on the right, pass on the left,” he says. “And announce as you pass, either by saying ‘on your left’ or by ringing the bell or horn if you have one.” 1621 Main St., Peninsula, 330-657-2209, centurycycles.com
Fish at the Cleveland Metropark’s East 55th Street Marina
Grab a comfy camping chair, stock your cooler with bait and a beer or two and head over to the East 55th Street Marina and take easy breezy aim at some Lake Erie fish. “The accessibility is almost second to none,” says Mike Durkalec, aquatic biologist at the Cleveland Metroparks. “Between parking and fishing, you’re talking about a couple dozen steps from your vehicle to your fishing spot.” The marina’s shop offers bait and hooks in case you run out, and make sure to check out both fishing spots here: one with access to the lake itself (and a chance at a yellow perch), or the marina side. “On that side, you can catch all kinds of different sunfish species like bluegill, which are also good to eat,” Durkalec says. Lakefront Reservation, 5555 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, 216-431-3280, clevelandmetroparks.com
Paddle the Portage Lakes
It’s all about the views while aboard one of Killinit Kayaks’ boats. The Portage Lakes rental shop offers solo and tandem kayaks, standup paddleboards and canoes ($10-$18 per hour) to take in the natural scenery. And since paddles are about 5-6 feet in length, they’re a perfect measuring stick to make sure you’re staying social distant even on the water. Wildlife fans can spot everything from mallards and Canada geese, to herons and hawks. “If you’re a bird person, there’s tons out here: waterfowl and different things that are pretty rare or specific to the area,” says Killinit owner Andy Kilgore. 3803 1/2 State Road, Akron, 330-760-3533, killinitkayaks.com
