Summer!

We spend our endless Ohio winters lamenting the chill and dismal gloom. On the cusp of summertime, it's time to rejoice and get busy having fun in the sun! We've assembled a 10-page guide to all sorts of warm-weather area diversions, from hiking, biking and swimming to al-fresco wineries, outdoor concerts and drive-in movies. Indulge. Exercise. Enjoy!

Swimming

Splish, splash! It’s summer and time to don that swimsuit and jump into a pool or lake to cool down. There are many places close by where you can do just that:

• Atwood Lake Park, 4956 Shop Rd. NE, Mineral City; (330) 343-6780; www.mwcd.org; public swimming beach, open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, $5 per car.
• Baylor Beach, 8725 Manchester Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township; (330) 767-3031; www.baylorbeachpark.com; open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting June 4 (open limited days before June 4); $6 per person age 4 and up, $7 on Saturday and Sunday.
• Clearwater Park, 12712 Hoover Ave., Lake Township, (330) 877-9800; www.clearwaterpark.net; Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.; general admission is $9.25, children under 30 inches tall are free.
• C.T. Branin Natatorium, 1715 Harrison Ave. NW, Canton, (330) 438-2738; indoor swimming, open swim, 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; $2 for students, $3 for adults.
• Dogwood Park Pool, 365 Seventh St. NE, North Canton, (330) 499-2052 or (330) 499-0886; open June 1 through Aug. 28, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week; $8 per day per person, after 5 p.m., $6.
• Massillon Recreation Center, 505 Erie St. N, Massillon, (330) 832-1621; open 6 a.m to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; $6 per person for a day pass.
• Tappan Lake, 8400 Mallarnee Rd., Deersville, (740) 922-3649, www.mwcd.org; beach, open 11 a.m. to 7 p m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Memorial Day through Labor Day; $5 per vehicle to enter park.
• Tuscora Park, 161 Tuscora Ave. NW, New Philadelphia, (330) 343-4644, www.newphilaoh.com/html/tuscora_park; 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., $4 per adult, $2 per student.
• Uhrichsville Water Park, 401 E. 12th St., Uhrichsville, (740) 922-1242, Web: www.cityofuhrichsville.org/waterpark; opens in May, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 17 years old or younger, $6 per day, 18 and older, $9 per day, $2 discount after 5 p.m.

Wineries

Warm nights, soft breezes, rolling acres of vineyards. Here is a quick look at just a few of Northeast Ohio’s wineries.

• Breitenbach Winery, 5934 Old Route 39, Dover, (800) 843-9463, www.breitenbachwine.com; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
• Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, 5585 State Route 307, Geneva, (440) 466-8466, www.ferrantewinery.com; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
• Gervasi Vineyard and Italian Bistro, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, (330) 497-1000, www.gervasivineyard.com; 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
• Grand River Cellars, 5750 Madison Rd., Madison, (440) 298-9838, www.grandrivercellars.com; noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday (Memorial Day through Labor Day), noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
• Laurello Vineyards, 4573 State Route 307 E, Geneva, (440) 415-0661, www.laurellovineyards.com; noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Maize Valley Winery, 6193 Edison St. NE (State Route 619), Marlboro Township, (330) 877-8344, www.maizevalleywinery.com; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (no wine sales or tasting).
• Old Firehouse Winery, 5499 Lake Rd., Geneva-on-the-Lake, (440) 466-9300 or (800) 862-6751, www.oldfirehousewinery.com; noon to 1 a.m. Sunday through Saturday.
• The Lakehouse Inn Winery, 5653 Lake Rd., Geneva-on-the-Lake, (440) 466-8668, www.thelakehouseinn.com; Memorial Day to Labor Day, noon to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
• The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, 11877 Poorman St. SW, Tuscarawas Township, (330) 832-3677, www.perennialvineyards.com; 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.
• The Winery at Wolf Creek, 2637 S. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., Norton, (330) 666-9287 or (800) 436-0426, www.wineryatwolfcreek.com; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Viking Vineyards & Winery, 268 Old Forge Rd., Brimfield Township, (330) 678-2080, www.vikingvineyards.com; 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Open-air concert fare

Summertime, and the concerts are plenty. ...

• On the local front, there’s the Canton Blues Festival (www.cantonbluesfest.com), a free downtown event, with headliners Elvin Bishop (June 18) and Hot Tuna (June 19), and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival Ribs Burnoff (www.profootballfestival.com) at the Stark County Fairgrounds (Aug. 4-6, headliners to be announced).
• Clay’s Park Resort near Canal Fulton is hosting a Country Fest on June 18 and 19 with performances by Dierks Bentley, Jo Dee Messina, Phil Vassar and others. The park’s Rock N Resort Music Festival on July 16 through 18 boasts Todd Rundgren, Hoobastank, Hinder, Blues Traveler, Bad Company and Starship. www.rock-n-resort.com.
• The Canton Symphony Orchestra will perform music from popular movies followed by fireworks at Zing in the City on May 30 in downtown Canton. www.cantonsymphony.org.
• The summer concert fare at Blossom Music Center includes Sugarland (June 5), the Dave Matthews Band (June 25), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (July 20), Jack Johnson (July 21), and Kings of Leon (July 26). www.livenation.com.
• The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2010 season at Blossom will include Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” (July 17), “Broadway Swings” (Aug. 1), the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma (Aug. 14) and the Joffrey Ballet (Sept. 4 and 5). www.clevelandorchestra.com.
• Coming to Cleveland’s Nautica Pavilion are the Moody Blues (July 3) and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band (July 20). www.nauticaflats.com.
• Musical attractions at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights include Kenny Loggins (June 19), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (July 17), Spyro Gyra (July 18) and David Sanborn (Aug. 12). www.cainpark.com.

Festivals

Mark your calendars. Here is a sampling of the many summertime festivals and outdoor events happening in the area.

• MAY 27: Taste of Canton, downtown Canton.
• JUNE 9-12: Greek Summerfest, St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, Canton.
• JUNE 16-19: Jackson Township Community Celebration, Jackson North Park.
• JUNE 17-19: Bolivar Strawberry Festival, downtown Bolivar.
• JUNE 18-19: Canton Blues Festival, downtown Canton.
• JUNE 19: Cruise-On-In and Dance Party, downtown Massillon.
• JUNE 20: Father’s Day Car Show, Stan Hywet Hall, Akron.
• JUNE 23-26: Alive 2010 Christian Music Festival, Atwood Lake Park, Mineral City.
• JULY 8-10: Olde Canal Days Festival, Canal Fulton.
• JULY 9-11: Cain Park Arts Festival, Cleveland Heights.
• JULY 9-11: Italian American Festival, Stark County Fairgrounds.
• JULY 14-19: North Canton Jaycees Fair, Memorial Stadium, North Canton.
• JULY 16: Island Party, Massillon Museum.
• JULY 17-18: Hudson Wine Festival, downtown Hudson.
• JULY 28-AUG. 9: Ohio State Fair, Columbus.
• JULY 30-31: Balloon Classic Invitational and Jackson-Belden Food Fest, Kent State University Stark Campus, Jackson Township.
• AUG. 4-6: Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff, Stark County Fairgrounds.
• AUG. 5-22: Carnation Festival, Alliance.
• AUG. 7-8: Zoar Harvest Festival, Zoar.
• AUG. 14: Downtown Massillon Funfest.
• AUG. 20-21: Constitution Lift-Off Festival, Metzger Park, Louisville.
• AUG. 20-22: Gallery On the Greens, Glenmoor Country Club.
• AUG. 21-22: North Canton Main Street Festival.
• AUG. 28-29: Great Trail Festival, Great Trail Farm, Malvern.
• AUG. 31-SEPT. 6: Stark County Fair, Canton.
• SEPT. 3-6: Taste of Cleveland, Tower City Amphitheater, Cleveland.

KIDS STUFF

It can be a long summer if wails of “Mom, I’m bored!” persist. End that whining with some of these places to take the kids:

• Zoos/Wildlife
  • African Safari Wildlife Park 267 S. Lightner Rd., Port Clinton, (419) 732-3606, www.africansafariwildlifepark.com; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 28 through Sept. 7; $17.95 for children and adults 7 and older, $11.95 for children ages 4 to 6, free for children 3 and younger.
  • Akron Zoo 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, (330) 375-2550, www.akronzoo.org; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily May through October; $10 for ages 15 and older, $7.50 for seniors, $6 for children ages 2 to 14, free for Akron Zoo members.
  • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, (216) 661-6500, www.clemetzoo.com; Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; $10 for everyone 12 and older, $7 for children 2 to 11; younger than 2 are free.
• Amusement
  • Cedar Point Sandusky, www.cedarpoint.com; $45.99 for those 48 inches or taller; $19.99 for those shorter than 48 inches; free for children 2 and younger; $15 for daily parking per oversize vehicle, $10 for daily parking.
  • Sluggers and Putters 333 Lafayette Dr. NW, Canal Fulton, (330) 854-6999, www.sluggers-putters.com; 3 p.m. until dark Monday through Friday, noon until dark Saturday and Sunday; call for pricing.
  • McDuffer’s Park Miniature Golf 5656 Dressler Rd. NW, Jackson Township, (330) 499-9611, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. Sunday; $5.50.
  • Laser Quest 4716 Everhard Rd. NW, Jackson Township, (330) 966-9966, www.laserquest.com, 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday; general admission, $8.
• Art
  • Akron Art Museum 1 S. High St., Akron, (330) 376-9185; www.akronartmuseum.org; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. Closed Monday and Tuesday; $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors 65 and older, free for children 12 and younger and members.
  • Canton Museum of Art 1001 Market Ave. N, (330) 453-7666; www.cantonart.org; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday; $6 for adults, free for children 12 and younger and members.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland; (216) 421-7340; www.clevelandart.org; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. Closed Monday. Free.

Summer camps

Dozens of opportunities await children at area summer camps. Here’s a glimpse at some that caught our eye:

Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center Summer CampsAges 6-16 Perrysville
(419) 938-3715
www.phoc.org

Chess Camp at Hawken School
Ages 5-16; Aug. 7-11
Lyndhurst
(888) 65-CHESS
www.chesscamp.com

Great Summer Science
Great Lakes Science Center,
Grades K through 8
Cleveland
(216) 621-2400

Camp Invention
Grades 1 through 6
Lake Township
(800) 968-4332
www.campinvention.org

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Summer Day Camp
Kids ages 5-12
(216) 635-3391
www.clemetzoo.com

Cleveland Browns
Football Camp
June 16-20 and June 23-27
Browns Flag Camp (boys and girls ages 8-12)
Browns Equipment Camp (boys and girls ages 11-14; equipment provided)
Cleveland Browns Training Facility, Berea
(216) 928-7300

Country School Farm
Ages 6-13
Holmes County
(330) 231-2963
www.tcsfarm.com

S’Camp, Old Trail School’s Summer Camp
18 months to 14 years
Bath
(330) 460-4168 Ext. 469
S’Camp@oldtrail.org

Camp ECCO
Elementary through high school
Carrollton
(330) 739-4200
www.campecco.org

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Summer Camps
Peninsula
(800) 642-3297
www.cvnpa.org

Faith Ranch Summer Camps

Ages 7-17
Jewett
(740) 946-2255
www.faithranch.org

Zoocamp, Akron Zoo
Ages 2-5 with caregiver, and ages 6-16.
Akron
(330) 375-2550
www.akronzoo.org

Camp Wakonda of Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton
Grades 1 through 12
Sherrodsville
(330) 735-2740
www.WakondaCamp.com

Camp Tippecanoe
Ages 7 and older
Harrison County
(330) 499-2587
www.ymcacamptippecanoe.org

Camp Carl
Ages 6-17
Ravenna
(330) 315-5665
www.campcarl.org

YMCA Camp Y-Noah
815 Mount Pleasant St.
Clinton
(330) 896-1964
www.gotcamp.org

Camp Country Day
Ages 6-12
Canton
www.cantoncountryday.org

Camp CHOF of Canton Baptist Temple
Grades K through 12
Dalton
www.campchof.org

Great Trail Girl Scout Camp
Girls grades K through 12
Malvern
(330) 433-9485
www.gsneo.org

Firebird Camp (Girls)
Camp Roosevelt (Boys)
Bowerston
(866) 404-2020
www.campfirebird.net
www.camproosevelt.net

Falcon Camp Summer
Carrollton
(800) 837-CAMP
info@falconcamp.com

National Computer Camp
Notre Dame College
South Euclid
July 11-23
www.NCCamp.com

Parks

Parks are a great place to go to meet people, have family outings and do the things you enjoy doing. Ohio parks generally have something for everyone, from camping to and biking to boating and fishing plus walking paths, swings and other types of fun activities. Here’s a look at some of our favorite places to relax:

• Some of Stark’s parks
  • Cook Park 1800 block of Mahoning Road NE; (330) 477-3552
  • David Fichtner Outdoor Education Center 12833 Market Ave. N, Lake Township, (330) 477-3552
  • Deer Creek Reservoir 14514 Price St. NE, Lexington Township, (330) 935-0367
  • Ohio & Erie Canalway Park Stretches from Cleveland to Zoar; www.ohioanderiecanalway.com
  • Petros Lake Park 3275 Perry Dr. SW, Perry Township, (330) 477-3552
  • Sippo Lake 5300 Tyner St.NW, Perry Township, (330) 477-3552
  • Walborn Reservoir 11324 Price St. NE, Lexington Township, (330) 935-0367
  • -www.starkparks.com
• OTHER parks close by:
  • Beaver Creek 12021 Echo Dell Rd., East Liverpool, (330) 385-3091
  • Guilford Lake 6835 East Lake Rd., Lisbon, (330) 222-1712
  • Jefferson Lake 501 Township Rd. 261A, Richmond, (740) 765-4459
  • Lake Milton 16801 Mahoning Ave., Lake Milton, (330) 654-4989
  • Malabar Farm State Park 4050 Bromfield Rd., Lucas, (419) 892-2784
  • Mohican State Park 3116 state Route 3, Loudonville, (419) 994-5125
  • Mosquito Lake 1439 state Route 305, Cortland, (330) 637-2856
  • Nelson Kennedy Ledges 12440 state Route 282, Garrettsville, (440) 564-2279
  • Quail Hollow 13480 Congress Lake Ave. NE, Lake Township, (330) 877-1528
  • Salt Fork 14755 Cadiz Rd., Lore City, (740) 439-3521
  • The Wilderness Center 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, (330) 359-5235 or (877) 359-5235
  • Tinkers Creek 11755 Kinsman Rd., Newbury, (440) 564-2279
  • West Branch 5708 Esworthy Rd., Ravenna, (330) 296-3239
  • Zoar Wetland Arboretum 434 W. Fifth St., Zoar, (330) 874-4632 -www.ohiostateparks.org