CITY LIFE. OUTDOOR LIFE. GRAB LIFE RIGHT HERE!

City Life. Outdoor Life. Grab Life Right Here! With hot metro places and cool outdoor spaces, visitors to Greater Akron, Ohio, can get energized by the offerings of our metropolitan communities or escape to the breathtaking views of Ohio’s only national park.

Cities offer visitors the thrill of rich culture found in various major metropolitan areas. Art enthusiasts can explore the Akron Art Museum and galleries like Summit Artspace or Akrona which feature local and touring exhibits. Catch a performance. Akron has a variety of playhouses and concert venues from which to choose including the Akron Civic Theatre, one of five remaining atmospheric theaters in the nation. Glimpse back into Greater Akron’s past at Hale Farm & Village, Perkins Stone Mansion, and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens — the former estate of F.A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Wander off the beaten path to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP — 14th most-visited national park in the U.S. in 2022) by using the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which runs through the heart of downtown Akron, or by hopping on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Sights, sounds, and special experiences await. Plan a visit that will be your very own. 800-245-4254, akron.travel, playeatshop.org, summitbrewpath.com, thedripdrive.com.

Rush of History

For over a century, people have made the trek to Niagara Falls’ various lookouts to see the gushing natural wonder spanning two countries, but the Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station allows visitors to experience the nearly 190-foot waterfalls from a different vantage point. The attraction, which opened in 2022, offers a glimpse into the past, while bringing renewed life to the once-dormant station.

The Niagara Parks Power Station opened in 1905, following four years of construction. Its 2,200-foot-long tunnel once served as an exit point for water used to generate hydropower and was excavated using rudimentary dynamite, shovels, lanterns and pickaxes.

Adaptive reuse construction for the power station’s revival as a tourist attraction began in 2020 with the goal of delivering a modern guest experience, while also preserving the heritage and story of the facility. Today, visitors can walk the power station’s tunnel to a viewing platform along the lower Niagara River that provides breathtaking views of the Horseshoe and American falls.

The journey begins in the power station’s generator hall, a large atrium that houses 11 of the original generators the power plant used to create electricity in the early 20th century. From there, visitors enter a glass-enclosed elevator and slowly make the 180-foot descent to The Tunnel, while getting glimpses of the facility’s impressive infrastructure. Guided tour options are available in the main level, but The Tunnel is a self-guided experience only.

For after-dark visitors, “Currents: Niagara’s Power Transformed,” a sight-and-sound night show, offers an immersive experience that spans millennia. Presented in the atrium, it features a combination of floor and wall projection mapping that shares the story of Niagara Falls, from the Ice Age to present day. 7005 Niagara River Pkwy., Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6T2, niagaraparks.com/power

Hot Dog Heaven

WEST VIRGINIA HOT DOG FESTIVAL HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA

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This city along the banks of the Ohio River is home to nearly a dozen hot dog emporiums — some with multiple locations — that make the summer food staple their primary business.

This local frenzy for frankfurters dates to 1932, when Stewart’s Original Hot Dogs opened. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Stewart’s is joined by many other establishments, including Frostop, which is simple to spot with its giant mug of root beer on the roof. Hillbilly Hot Dogs is also easy to find along the roadside, thanks to the huge jumble of junkyard treasures surrounding it — both rustic and rusty. Guy Fieri’s Food Network series “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featured the eatery’s famous Homewrecker, a 15-inch, all-beef hot dog.

Although many of the offerings in town might seem remarkably similar, locals swear they could be blindfolded and still know which ones were made where because of the various chili sauces served atop them — many with closely guarded secret ingredients. Other topping choices include onions, bacon, barbecue sauce and even nacho cheese or sour cream as well as a distinctive local favorite: sweet-andcreamy coleslaw.

Huntington celebrates its hot dog heritage during the West Virginia Hot Dog Festival the last Saturday in July. The full day of entertainment, music and contests includes the Wiener Dog Race, a crowd favorite in which dozens of dachshunds dash for the finish line. Other events include a Pooch Parade, a dog costume contest, a Buns on Bikes race, a cruise-in and the popular hot dog-eating and root beer-chugging contests. The 2023 West Virginia Hot Dog Festival is July 29. Visit wvhotdogfestival.com to learn more. For more information about hot dog spots in Huntington, go to visithuntingtonwv.org.

— RICH WARREN