From Wikitravel

Akron [1] is a medium sized city located in the Northeast Ohio region in Summit County in the State of Ohio in the United States.

[edit] Understand

Akron is called the City of Invention but was formerly 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. Built right on the southern edge of the Connecticut Western Reserve, Akron really grew by selling gravity. It happens to be right 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 Ohio & Erie Canal (which can be seen downtown and throughout the Cuyahoga Valley National Park) connecting the two was inevitable, and is the primary reason Akron grew just where it did.

[edit] Newspapers

• Akron Beacon Journal [2] is the only daily newspaper published for the Akron market.

• The West Side Leader [3] a free weekly publication reporting on local news.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Akron-Canton Regional Airport, 5400 Lauby Road Northwest, ☎ +1-(330)-499-4221, [4]. Fly into Akron-Canton Regional Airport (IATA:CAK, ICAO:KCAK) if you can - small, easy to navigate, quick in-and-out.  edit

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

[edit] By train

Akron lost its AMTRAK station in the last round of cuts, so you'll have to go into Cleveland.

[edit] 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 - rush hour is less than an hour.

[edit] By bus

• Greyhound, 781 Grant Street, ☎ +1-(330)-434-9185, [5]. Station and ticketing hours: Daily 7:30AM-10PM.  edit

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

• Akron METRO [6] - 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.

[edit] By car

[edit] Taxis

• Barberton-Summit Taxi, Inc., ☎ +1-(330)-825-6595.  edit

• City Yellow Cab, 650 Home Avenue, ☎ +1-(330)-330-253-3141.  edit

[edit][add listing] See

• Akron Art Museum, One South High, ☎ +1-(330)-376-9185, [7]. In 2007, the museum opened its new modern glass and steel facility.  edit

• Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Avenue, ☎ +1-(330)-375-2550 (info@akronzoo.org, fax: +1-(330)-375-2575), [8]. 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.  edit

• National Inventors Hall of Fame, 221 South Broadway, ☎ +1-(330)-762-4463 (museum@invent.org, fax: +1-(330)-762-6313), [9]. W-Sa 10AM-4:30PM. Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, 4th of July, and Thanksgiving Day. Admission: Adult: $8.75; Youth (under 18): $6.75; Senior (55 and over): $7.75; Family Ticket: $29.00.  edit

• Goodyear World of Rubber Museum, 1144 East Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-796-6546. Learn the history of tire production and one of its pioneers, Charles Goodyear.  edit

• Home of John Brown, 550 Copley Road, ☎ +1-(330)-535-1120 (schs@summithistory.org, fax: +1-(330)-535-0250), [10]. 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. Price: Adults: $5.00, Seniors & Children: $4.00.  edit

• Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, 714 North Portage Path, ☎ +1-(330)-836-5533 (info@StanHywet.org, fax: +1-(330)-836-5533), [11]. 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 this family, this early 20th century 65-room mansion welcomes visitors to tour the house, the grounds, and the out-buildings.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Arts and Culture

• Akron Earthworm Collective, 16 South Highland Ave., ☎ +1-(330)-836-3949, [12].  edit

• Ohio Ballet, 354 East Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-972-7900, [13].  edit

• E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, 198 Hill Street (University of Akron), ☎ +1-(330)-972-7570 (fax: +1-(330)-972-2700), [14].  edit

• Porthouse Theatre Company, Address (Adjacent to Blossom), ☎ +1-(330)-929-4416, [15]. A summer professional theater provided by Kent State University.  edit

• Carousel Dinner Theatre, 1275 East Waterloo Road, ☎ +1-(330)-724-9855 (carouseldt@carouseldinnertheatre.com, fax: +1-(330)-724-2232), [16]. The largest professional dinner theater in the U.S. Fine dining and Broadway musicals.  edit

• Akron Civic Theater, 182 South Main Street, ☎ +1-(330)-253-2488 (fax: +1-(330)-535-9828), [17].  edit

[edit] Sports

• Akron Aeros, 300 South Main Street, ☎ +1-(330)-253-5151 (info@akronaeros.com, fax: +1-(330)-253-3300), [18]. Named for Northeast Ohio's prominent role in the aerospace and aviation industry. The Aeros are a champion Eastern League (AA minor league baseball) team that is part of the Major League Baseball Cleveland Indians farm system. Located just 45 minutes south of Jacobs Field, the Akron Aeros often receive Major Leaguers (like a AAA team) right before they are sent up to Cleveland.  edit

• University of Akron Zips, ☎ +1-(330)-972-6920, [19]. U of Akron is a member of the Mid-American Conference of NCAA College Sports.  edit

• Northfield Park, 10705 Northfield Road (Northfield), ☎ +1-(330)-467-4101 (info@northfieldpark.com, fax: +1-(330)-468-2628), [20]. Harness racing in Northfield.  edit

[edit] Annual events

• All-American Soap Box Derby, Address, ☎ +1-(330)-733-8723 (Soapbox@aasbd.org, fax: +1-(330)-733-1370), [21]. Begun in 1934, this annual event allows boys and girls ages 8-17 to compete in non-motorized racecars for scholarships and other prizes. Contestants qualify in regional events throughout the year before competing in the final in Akron each summer.  edit

• World Golf Championships NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club is an annual Professional Golf Association (PGA) event, hosting a competition of the winners of major international golf events.
• Founders Day Celebrations [22] Akron is the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous. Once a year, recovering alcoholics from around the world go to Akron to celebrate their sobriety.
• Art in the Square An annual convergence of art, music, and community in Highland Square.

[edit] Neighborhoods

[edit] Highland Square, [23]

Eclectic area centered on W. Market street.

• Mary Coyle's Ice Cream, Considered by many to be the best ice cream in Akron, a popular hangout after events.
• Michael Trecaso's Restaurant, Pastas in the same building as Mary Coyle's.
• Highland Theater, Historic theater building.
• Aladdin's, Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Angel Falls Coffee Co., [24]. A hip area coffeehouse.
• Annabelle's, Great for cheap beer and live music.
• Capri, [25], good pizza and wings.
• Platinum Dragon, Chinese with cheap lunch specials.
• Revival, [26], Eclectic vintage store.
• Square Records, [27] New and used vinyl.
• The Matinée, A well lit bar, with decent beer prices.
• Square, A classy bar.
• Akron Ink,[28] The only tattoo and piercing shop in Highland Square.

[edit] Northside

Area north of downtown containing loft apartments and many artist studios and glassware shops, as well as jazz and blues clubs, as well as local favorite Luigi's Restaurant.

• Northside, [29]. Blues club in a historic building on N. Main street.
• Mocha Maiden, Coffee shop with artist galleries and a live music venue attached.
• Musica, [30]. Live music
• The VegiTerranean, [31]. Vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

[edit] Learn

• University of Akron, 302 Buchtel Common, ☎ +1-(330)-972-7077 (fax: +1-(330)-972-7022), [32]. The University of Akron is one of the best schools in the country for engineering and polymer science.  edit

• Kent State University, home of the Liquid Crystal Institute (where liquid crystal displays were invented) is about 15 miles northeast of downtown Akron in the delightful small college town of Kent.

[edit] Work

Akron and Summit County boast the headquarters location for the following Fortune 1000 Corporations:

• 112 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Rubber Manufacturing
• 184 FirstEnergy, Utilities Company covering northern Ohio, various parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
• 839 Jo Ann Stores, Hudson - Specialty Retailer
• 995 A. Shulman - Chemicals

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Quaker Square, 135 South Broadway, ☎ +1-(330)-253-5970 (sales@cpquakersquare.com, fax: +1-(330)-253-2574), [33]. Silos and factory utilized by the Quaker Oats Company have been converted into a mixed-use complex, including arts and craft mall, Depot Diner, featuring old passenger train cars inside the restaurant, Crowne Plaza Hotel and office space. Quaker Square is now owned by the University of Akron and has been converted to dormitory space.  edit

• Orangerie Mall, 76 South Main Street, ☎ +1-(330)-535-6400. Smaller enclosed mall on the first floor of Akron Center, a complex that houses the headquarters of Chase Bank Akron Branch and FirstEnergy Corporation.  edit

• Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, 437 Crouse Street, ☎ +1-(330)-253-6268 (info@dondrummstudios.com, fax: +1-(330)-253-4014), [34]. best known for Don's cast aluminum crafts. Awesome collection of art work by various artists. Walk through it as if its an overcrowded museum - you don't need to be looking to buy to enjoy this gallery. The small gift shop contains many reasonably priced items you won't find anywhere else in town from handmade jewelry and clothing to fancy soaps and creative greeting cards.  edit

• Summit Mall, 3265 West Market (Located in the northern Akron suburb of Fairlawn), ☎ +1-(330)-867-1556. Summit Mall features over 120 retail stores as well as a food court and a Ruby Tuesdays Restaurant.  edit

• Chapel Hill Mall, 2000 Brittain Road, ☎ +1-(330)-633-1131, [35]. MON - SAT 10am - 9pm, SUN Noon - 6pm. Chapel Hill Mall is home to all your favorite stores like JCPenney, Sears and Macy’s, and almost 100 more! There is also a full-sized indoor carousel with authentic wood-carved animals and painted scenes of Summit County landmarks, located in the Food Court.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

• Menches Brothers Restaurant, 300 South Main Street, ☎ +1-(330)-375-1717 (info@briccoakron.com), [36]. Frank and Charles Menches of Akron invented two of America's favorite foods - the hamburger in 1885 and the cornucopia ice cream cone in 1904.  edit

• Aladdin's, West Market Street, Highland Square. Cheap middle eastern restaurant with lots of healthy, fresh menu options. Popular for takeout as well.  edit

• Swenson's, Various - see web site, [37]. Best burgers ever! Old fashioned milkshakes, sodas.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Bricco, 1 West Exchange, ☎ +1-(330)-475-1600 (fax: +1-(330)-475-1604), [38]. Hours: Mon-Thu: 11 - Midnight, Fri: 11 - 01:00, Sat: 16 - 01:00, Closed most Sundays. Serves a reasonably priced Italian-based menu and specialized in pizzas and pastas ranging from $9-18. On Monday and Tuesday nights they sell wine at state minimum retail prices. There is also a relatively lively bar scene for weeknights.  edit

• Crave, 57 East Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-253-1234, [39]. Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 - 22:00, Friday 11 - 23:00, Saturday 17 - 23:00. Crave serves an eclectic range of food from gourmet sandwiches to rum and vanilla glazed halibut. Prices are also fairly reasonable, with entrees no more than $26 and averaging in the high teens. The decor is funky and contemporary. edit

• Spaghetti Warehouse, 510 South Main Street, Bldg 33, ☎ +1-(330)-374-0025 (fax: +1-(330)-374-0804), [40].  edit

• Beau's Grille, 3180 West Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-865-5577, [41]. Banquet Room, Bar, Seafood, Steakhouse, Sushi, American  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Hyde Park Grille, 4073 Medina Road (Market Street and I-77, 15 minutes northwest of downtown Akron), ☎ +1-(330)-670-6303 (fax: +1-(330)-670-6174), [42].  edit

• Ken Stewart's Grill, 1970 West Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-867-2555. Contemporary, Seafood, Steakhouse Cuisine  edit

• Tangier Restaurant & Cabaret, 532 West Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-376-7171 (info@thetangier.com, fax: +1-(330)-376-0165), [43]. Bar, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, American  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Highland Square, the "cultural" district, has a number of bars on West Market Street. Guidance about what location would suit your needs is best dispensed by (younger) locals.
• Downtown, between Exchange and Cedar Streets, there are a couple dozen different college oriented establishments, including bars, clubs, and lounges.
• Kenmore Boulevard, is accessible from I-76. Has a number of unique establishments.
• Jillians' Billiards, 363 South Main Street (Across from Canal Park.), ☎ +1-(330)-252-0085 (fax: +1-(330)-252-0089), [44]. Daily: 11:30 - 02:00.  edit

• The Lime Spider, [45]. Live music almost every night, located in the heart of downtown right across from Lock 3 Live! park.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Best Western Executive Inn of Akron, 2677 Gilchrist Road, +1 330 794-1050, Fax: +1 330 794-8495, [46].
• Best Western Inn & Suites, 160 Montrose West Avenue, +1 330 670-0888, Fax: +1 330 668-2926, [47].
• Motel 6 Akron North, 99 Rothrock Road, +1 330 666-0566, Fax: +1 330 666-6874. [48]

[edit] Mid-range

• Comfort Inn and Suites [49] - 9172 Market Square Dr; tel. (330) 422-6446 fax. (330) 422-0492
• Comfort Inn Akron Hotel [50] - 2873 S. Arlington Road; tel. (330) 645-1100 fax. (330) 645-1101
• Comfort Inn West Akron Hotel [51] - 130 Montrose West Avenue; tel. (330) 666-5050 fax. (330) 668-2550 - close to I-77 interstate and 25 miles from Cleveland International Airport, and surrounded by several area attractions including Geauga Lake, the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pinnacle Sports, Akron University, etc.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Akron South, 1025 Interstate Parkway, +1 330 245-0041, Fax: +1 330 564-0630, [52].
• Hawthorn Suites Akron - 5025 Park Avenue West; tel. (330) 769-5025 fax. (330) 769-5026 [53]. Hotel features spacious suites, full or efficiency kitchens, in-room DVD players, voice mail, functional work desks, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, coffee makers, micro-fridges and iron & ironing boards. Other amenities featured include an exercise facility, indoor pool and on-site guest laundry and valet services.

• Holiday Inn, 4073 Medina Rd, +1 330 666-4131, [54].

• Quaker Square Inn, 135 South Broadway, ☎ 330-253-5970, [55].  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Cambria Suites Airport [56] 1787 Thorn Drive , Uniontown, OH, 44685, Phone: (330) 899-1990, Fax: (330) 899-1991, . Developed to be the perfect place to unwind at the end of the day, this hotel caters to business travelers and vacationers alike
• Crowne Plaza Hotel, 135 South Broadway, +1 330 253-5970, [57]. Connected to Quaker Square, this unique hotel is constructed from cylindrical grain bins from the former Quaker Oats plant.

• Courtyard Akron Montrose, 100 Springside Drive, +1 330 668-9090, Fax: +1 330 668-9090, [58].
• Residence Inn Akron, 120 Montrose West Avenue, +1 330 666-4811, Fax: +1 330 666-8029, [59].

[edit] Contact

• United States Post Office, 209 South Main Street, ☎ +1-(330)-376-7098. Hours: Mon. 08:30 - 17:00, Tue. 08:30 - 17:00, Wed. 08:30 - 17:00, Thurs. 08:30 - 17:00, Fri. 08:30 - 17:00.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Given the size of the city, and diversity and activity there, it's really pretty safe. There's almost nowhere in Akron anyone shouldn't go in the daytime, and very few places at night.

Generally, the South west side of the city is regarded as the worst section of town. With a higher rate of violent crimes and theft, it is best avoided by outsiders. Some, but not all, housing projects - notably Joy Park on the east side- are also somewhat unsafe and should be bypassed altogether by foot and car.

If visiting the University of Akron, it's best to stay west of the Market / Buchtel intersection. The near-East neighborhood of which this is the "border" (Middlebury) is not necessarily unsafe, but does have a large amount of medium-scale drug activity and the occasional assault and non-violent robbery.

• Fire Department (Non-emergency): +1-330-375-2101
• Police Department (Non-emergency): +1-330-375-2181
• Poison Center: +1-330-379-8562

[edit] Hospitals

• Akron Children's Hospital, One Perkins Square, ☎ +1-(330)-543-1000, [60].  edit

• Akron General Medical Center, 400 Wabash Avenue, ☎ +1-(330)-344-6000, [61].  edit

• Akron City Hospital, 525 E. Market Street, ☎ +1-(330)-375-3000, [62].  edit

[edit] Cope

[edit] Religious services

• First United Methodist Church of Akron, 263 East Mill Street, ☎ +1-(330)-376-8143 (akronfirst@hotmail.com, fax: +1-(330)-376-0750), [63]. Methodist services.  edit

• Woodland United Methodist Church of Akron, 444 North Hawkins Avenue (Located in West Akron), ☎ +1-(330)-836-9777 (woodlandumc@sbcglobal.net), [64]. Methodist services.  edit

• Rosh Pinah Messianic Congregation, 3891 Ira Road (Located in the town of Bath), ☎ +1-(330)-668-6840, [65].  edit

• Islamic Society of Akron & Kent, 152 East Steels Corners Road (Located in the town of Cuyahoga Falls), ☎ +1-(330)-922-9991 (info@isak.org), [66]. Muslim services.  edit

• St. Anthony of Padua Church, 83 Mosser Place, ☎ +1-(330)-762-7277, [67]. Catholic services.  edit

• Community of Christ Church, 834 Grant St., ☎ +1-(330)-253-8803 (cofcchurch@sbcglobal.net), [68]. Grace Based Fellowship  edit

• Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church, 1430 Goodyear Blvd., ☎ +1-(330)-784-7633 (ghpcoffice@neo.rr.com), [69]. Presbyterian Church (USA)  edit

[edit] Get out

• Go north to Cleveland. There's a lot going on up there.
• Get a blended taste of the outdoors and American industrial history by touring the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Canal Byway extends from Lake Erie in Downtown Cleveland through Akron and south through Canton, New Philadelphia and into rural Bolivar and Historic Zoar.
• 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.

This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions, arrival and departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star!