Ohio's Vibrant Cleveland Suburb Is A Charming Midwest City With Water Fun, Shops, And Winter Thrills

If the words "Ohio suburb" make you think of a place that's bland and boring, then you're in for a surprise — and a treat — when you visit Strongsville. This bustling city of over 45,000 people is in Cuyahoga County, about 20 miles southwest of Cleveland, and combines a small-town atmosphere with historic landmarks, shopping centers, and outdoor recreation for visitors to explore.

Strongsville's roots go back to 1816, when namesake settler John S. Strong arrived. Travelers interested in this early history can see buildings dating back to 1823 at the Strongsville Historical Village or visit the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Covered Bridge. To immerse yourself in Strongsville's charming community, you can grab a sweet treat from Mitchell's Ice Cream Shop and take it across the street to the City Commons Park, which is especially vibrant during annual festivals like the Rib Burnoff in June and November's Winter Wonderland Lighting Celebration.

If you're in the mood for some retail therapy, Strongsville has plenty of places to shop. You'll find the most in one place at the SouthPark Mall, which has 20 restaurants and 180 shops packed into its 1.6 million square feet, putting it among Northeast Ohio's biggest shopping centers. Here, you can pick up the latest fashions from brands like American Eagle, Macy's, and Torrid, get toys at Toys "R" Us or the Build-A-Bear Workshop, or enjoy some active entertainment on the Bungee Bounce or the climbing wall and golf simulator at DICK'S House of Sport. Nearby shopping centers like The Greens of Strongsville and the Plaza at SouthPark add even more shops to peruse while you're in town. For those who'd rather spend their time in a more natural space, Strongsville's Mill Stream Run Reservation offers outdoor entertainment in every season.

Getting out in nature is easy in the Cleveland area, and not just because of the scenic trails of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The extensive Cleveland Metroparks system manages 18 reservations totaling over 25,000 acres. The 3,500-acre Mill Stream Run Reservation is the second-largest park in that system, over half of which is located in Strongsville. This gives visitors easy access to a whole host of outdoor activities.

Adventurous travelers can fly through the treetops at Go Ape's 42-obstacle adventure course and five zip lines. For hikers, the 8.9-mile All Purpose Trail runs from the Music Mound Picnic Area in the north to the southeast border where the trail continues east into Brecksville Reservation, Ohio's largest urban park. Mountain bikers can head to the park's southwest area, where there are two designated mountain bike trail loops. You can also spot birds and other animals in the meadows, woods, and wetlands of the Strongsville Wildlife Area, either from the ground or the Wildlife Watchtower.

The East Branch of the Rocky River flows through Mill Stream Run, too, and will be of particular interest for anglers in the spring, when it's known for its productive trout fishing. Mill Stream Run Reservation's lakes offer more opportunities to spend a day on the water. Wallace Lake is a repurposed quarry with a sandy beach for swimming that's also a productive year-round fishing spot. It's stocked with channel catfish in the spring and rainbow trout in the winter, and is also home to blue gill and largemouth bass. East of Wallace Lake is Baldwin Lake, another place to catch bass and trout, with a boat ramp for launching paddle boats or fishing boats.

Summer isn't the only time you can enjoy the outdoors in Northeast Ohio. The top spot in Strongsville for cold-weather thrills is The Chalet, which runs two toboggan chutes from late November through late February. Toboggans going down these refrigerated 700-foot chutes reach speeds of 40 mph, giving riders a roller-coaster-like experience. Understandably, this makes it a very popular attraction. Even with a timed reservation, be prepared to wait in line for around 30 minutes, and it can be longer on busy days.

On snowy days, you can get more low-key thrills without the wait at the Pawpaw Picnic Area sledding hill. You do need to bring your own sled here (as opposed to the toboggans, which the park provides). Wallace Lake has historically frozen over around mid-to-late-December, when the first winter trout stocking takes place, and is a popular ice fishing destination in January and February. You can check the Cleveland Metroparks fishing report to get info on its current status before your visit. The all-purpose trail is also used for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. If you don't have your own gear, you can rent it from the Seneca Golf Course, about 6 miles east of Mill Stream Run.

If you're more in the mood for downhill skiing, snowboarding, or tubing, take a 20-minute drive east to Peninsula, an under-the-radar town home to some of Ohio's finest parks. Its Boston Mills Brandywine Ski Resort is home to the popular Polar Blast Tubing Park, along with two ski areas that between them cover 88 skiable acres with 18 trails and three terrain parks offering a nice mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain.