Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Originally known as Manchester, Cuyahoga Falls was founded in 1812. Native Americans used the Cuyahoga River to travel from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi. The river also provided an early source of power for mills and manufacturing. In 1985, the city merged with Northampton Township, almost tripling its geographic area to approximately 27 square miles.

Nestled on over 800 acres of land, the famous Blossom Music Center was built as an outdoor center for entertainment and the arts. Summer home to the Cleveland Philharmonic, the venue seats 5,700 in the pavilion and another 13,500 on the lawn. The Cuyahoga Valley Art Center promotes the appreciation of fine and applied arts with a large gallery space, competitive exhibitions, workshops and classes in a variety of media. Many yearly events happen in Cuyahoga Falls, including the Riverfront Irish Festival, Oktoberfest and Sarah’s Vineyard Summer Solstice Festival.

Cuyahoga Falls features many dining options, several of them along Front Street in the Riverfront Square district, on State Road and the Portage Trail.

Housed in a building that dates back to 1916, Moe’s Restaurant has been delighting diners since 1998. The renovated space, with both a main dining room and a tavern side, features the original tin ceiling, bar top and rail. Everything — from the bread and pasta to the potato chips and cheesecake — is made on the premises. The lunch menu includes the ever-popular “Moe Betta” burger, topped with bacon, two cheeses and special sauce, while entrees on the dinner menu change monthly and feature steaks such as grilled beef tenderloin accompanied by bacon, lobster and sweet corn risotto and seafood like garlic shrimp scampi over smoked mozzarella grits.

An offshoot of the original Akron location, El Rancho serves up authentic Mexican cuisine prepared from scratch. Large portions and daily specials at both lunch and dinner keep patrons coming back to enjoy the cozy atmosphere highlighted with dark wood and tables decorated with Mexican artwork. Known for perfectly spiced salsa and delectable margaritas, this establishment's house specialties include tamales, tacos and enchiladas as well as chimchangas and burritos Mexicanos.

When the craving for a hot dog strikes, Cuyahoga Falls locals hit the Retro Dog, a '50s-style restaurant where one can dine in, drive in or walk up. Somewhat off the beaten path on East Steels Corners Road, regulars come for natural casing hot dogs, the homemade root beer and out-of-this-world custard shakes and sundaes. Hot dog options include the Carolina dog, the Chicago dog and the White Hot, made with veal and pork. The menu includes a variety of burgers, including the Banzai burger topped with a hot dog, wings and sides. The restaurant also features the Retro Dog Rocket, a food truck available for parties and functions.

When it comes to nightlife, Cuyahoga Falls suffers no shortage of bars, taverns and pubs. Many choices reside along Front Street as well as along other main thoroughfares in the city. The Craft Beer Bar gastropub, a modern interpretation of a public house, features 30 desirable craft beers on tap. Cocktails created with top-shelf ingredients and a wine list that showcases by-the-glass options keep locals coming back for more.

The perfect gathering spot to watch a live sporting event, Chelsea’s on the River features nine large flatscreen TVs in addition to a pool table and live music. The Red Fox Bar & Grill has a large outdoor patio for warm weather imbibing and a varied and diverse crowd. The bar's private party room can be reserved free of charge, including a dedicated bartender, dance floor and a DJ. Best known as a “townie” bar, the River City Bar & Grille features a jukebox and a dart board as well as karaoke on Saturday nights.

The Metro Regional Transit Authority provides bus service for all of Summit County. Residents who commute to Cleveland can take advantage of the Northcoast Express Service (NCX) bus, which takes 90 minutes from Cuyahoga Falls to downtown Cleveland. The area doesn't have local rail service.

A very car dependent city, downtown Cuyahoga Falls features walkable streets with ample sidewalks. For bicyclists, the entire length of State Road was widened to accommodate bike lanes in both directions. If you need a lift around the area or a ride to the airport in Akron or Cleveland, call one of three taxi/car services or an Uber ahead of time. Public parking is limited; however, three free public lots exist in the Falls River Square District, one of which serves as the pick-up/drop-off for the NCX bus to Cleveland.

State Route 8, which runs from Akron to Cleveland, passes right through Cuyahoga Falls, making it easy to travel to either destination. Many interstates, including routes 80 (the Ohio Turnpike), 76 and 77 also share close proximity to the area.

Just north of Cuyahoga Falls lies the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Managed by the National Park Service, the park caters to a wide range of pastimes, including biking, bird watching, hiking and fishing. For those who enjoy combining technology with outdoor fun, the park offers EarthCaching, an activity where visitors use their portable GPS system to treasure hunt for caches the Earth has created.

Cuyahoga Falls residents can take advantage of an impressive array of parks and recreational facilities managed by the city. More than 30 different park sites and facilities with a wide array of activities reside within the area. Float down a lazy river or shoot down a flume at the Water Works Family Aquatic Center. The park also has a competitive swim team and a junior lifeguard program. Seasonal passes cost approximately $175 for a family of four, while daily admission tickets run $5 for children and $7 for adults. The park welcomes non-residents, but they must pay higher fees. Directly behind the aquatic center, Water Works Park has fields for baseball and soccer, a horseshoe court and a playground. The Natatorium, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, has four pools and two gyms for those seeking an exercise-centric experience.

The Brookledge Golf Club covers 120 acres of rolling hills and woodlands. In addition to the challenging 18-hole course, residents can hit a bucket of balls at the driving range. Group, private and junior lessons are available. Weekday rates run $25 for 18 holes, $37 with a golf cart; weekend rates are $10 more. Keyser Park features a full range of activities, a summer concert series and a popular two-acre dog park. The Downview Sports Center on Bailey Road includes an 18-hole miniature golf course, batting cages and a cool skate park.

The cost of living in Cuyahoga Falls comes in 4 percent higher than the city of Cleveland and 5 percent higher than Akron. The one-way fare via Metro Northcoast Express to downtown Cleveland runs $5 or $40 for a 10-ride ticket. Expect to pay a median rent of $651 per month for a one-bedroom residence in Cuyahoga. Gasoline prices hover approximately 15 percent lower than the national average, while craft beer prices at local watering holes cost around $5 a bottle.

From national chains to locally owned boutiques and specialty shops, Cuyahoga Falls offers it all. Downtown, the Riverfront Centre Mall at Falls River Square features a collection of antique shops, art galleries, hobby shops and restaurants. The square also offers seasonal boat rides, a boardwalk for optimal river viewing, an interactive fountain and a winter ice rink. One of the most popular shops at Riverfront Centre, The Hidden Pearl, has been voted one of the "best four vintage shops in the Cleveland area" by Cleveland Magazine. Since 1984, this small gem has served as a treasure trove of fine and fun vintage frocks from the Victorian Age through the 1970s, costume and designer jewelry, handbags, and accessories.

Family owned and operated Sugar-Luv creates tasty homemade temptations using only simple, fresh ingredients. Indulge your sweet tooth with confections including the famous salted caramels, gourmet truffles made one-at-a-time in very small batches, weekly featured cupcakes and even craft beers.

From board game and classic games to card games, Underhill's Games has them all. Sometimes referred to as a "geek's paradise," the store overflows with every game imaginable, from Monopoly and Scrabble to Magic and Dungeons & Dragons. The expert staff loves to make recommendations and invite patrons to stay and play. Underhill's has a full calendar of special events and hosts monthly meetings of the Boardgamers of Greater Akron.

When the pantry starts to run low, Cuyahoga Falls residents have numerous grocery shopping options that include three Giant Eagle stores and two Acme Fresh Markets. Market District, an "upscale" concept supermarket from Giant Eagle inspired by the open-air markets found across Europe, delivers a culinary, dining and shopping experience like no other. Find ethnic foods at a variety of specialty food shops, including Falls Mediterranean Food Mart & Grill and the Asian Food Market.

The Farmers' Market in the Falls, held at the Quirk Cultural Center, sells locally grown, fresh produce, baked goods, dairy and more on Friday afternoons from late June through early October. Other nearby farmer's markets include the City of Tallmadge Market held Thursday afternoons from June through October and the Countryside Conservancy, which runs farmer's markets year-round in various locations in the Akron area.