Kent, OH

Kent is a cultural epicenter of northeast Ohio, offering unmatched art, music and history. Because of the community's relationship with the university, Kent has historically been at the heart of pop culture and virtually every niche thereof. Throughout the city, there is public art in the form of murals, sculptures, statues and "yarnigami" as well as numerous art galleries and museums scattered around town. Stop by the Kent Historical Society, Standing Rock Cultural Center and the KSU Art Museum for a varied cultural experience.

For those with more of a musical inclination, Kent has you covered as well. With five year-round music venues, the best in local music can be found on any given night in Kent. Stop by the Kent Stage, The Stone Tavern or Bar 145 and see what these local musicians have to offer.

Nightlife and cuisine in Kent are as diverse and unique as it comes and offer something for every palate and social persuasion. The main bar/restaurant strip is located in the Franklin Street/Water Street area at the intersection of State Routes 43 and 59, a reasonable walk from many residential areas of Kent.

The bar scene offers a healthy mix of college bars and other establishments depending on what you're looking for in your night time entertainment. If college bars are your scene, the Loft on W Main (Route 43) may be perfect for you. Offering cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere with pool tables, and darts, it is perfect for a cheap night out with friends as you re-live your college years. From the Loft, you can easily walk to your choice of other bars, notably, the Zephyr, Water Street Tavern or Paninis, all in the same college spirit. For drinks of the softer variety, Kent has local coffee houses on almost every corner, the perfect relaxed location for an afternoon cup of espresso or an evening escape.

If you are starting the evening with dinner, Ray's Place is the place to be. Ray's has been serving Kent since 1937 and has become a staple of the local restaurant and bar scene. With a traditional bar menu as well as a wide selection of sandwiches and specialty entrées, you are sure to find something that will impress at Ray's. The Mo-Fo Burger and Ray's Stir Fry are a must. To wash down your dinner, Ray's offers a rotating selection of monthly beers as well as a permanent selection of bottled beer, draft beer and wine.

Biking is a popular way to get around Kent due to its somewhat small town feel and centralized entertainment locations. Bike lines are present on most main roads, making two-wheeled transportation safe and easy. Biking has become so big in the area that the city has commissioned a bike rack project encouraging local members of the community to design visually appealing places for riders to park their bikes.

Public transportation is easy available via the PARTA bus system. PARTA runs various loops around campus and the city frequently throughout the day, making it cheap and easy to ride around town. Uber is not yet available in Kent itself, but it is well established in Cleveland, so while it may not be able to get you downtown, it can certainly get you home. Taxis patrol the bar/downtown area during heavy volume hours, but if you need a taxi outside of these hours you will need to call a cab company.

Kent is almost directly in the middle of a triangle of major express ways, I76, I77 and I80. These three highways can take you anywhere you need to go in Ohio - once you get to them that is. It central location means it will take you a bit of time to get to any of the three.

Kent houses and maintains 17 parks within city limits, each of which has varied features, offering something for every type of outdoors lover. To enjoy our furry and winged friends in the area, visit Jesse Smith or Forest Lakes Wildlife Preserves, or if a relaxing day of fishing is more your scene, the Middlebury Road Fishing Park may be for you.

For a structured park experience, the Kent Parks and Recreation department facilitates various adult, children and athletic programs for small fees. Annual events in the Kent parks include Shop with Santa, Art in the Park, Tree City Turkey Trot and other fun, holiday inspired events.

The cost of living in Kent is slightly higher than that in the Cleveland metropolitan area. Public transportation isn't the best option to get to Cleveland from Kent due to a relatively long distance in between, almost 40 miles. For a one-bedroom rental, expect to pay around $630 per month. This is the biggest discrepancy between Kent and Cleveland in the cost of living sphere, with Kent falling on the more expensive end. The cost of gas is generally a few cents per gallon higher in Kent than it is in Cleveland.

The prices of a night out depends wholly and truly on where you go. Kent has a nice blend of college and dive type bars that will offer a cheap night out while also offering more upscale and expensive options.

For shopping in Kent, look no further than Acorn Alley . This brick-laden corridor off Main Street is full of one of a kind shops and boutiques. Make it a day of shopping delight by visiting one of the many clothing, media or gift shops and stop by a coffee shop, bakery or creamery for that perfect snack to get you through the day.

Visit The Works Boutique for items that can't be found anywhere else such as jewelry, art and handmade clothing and home decor. At Off the Wagon Shop, find toys and entertainment for children of all ages.

The shopping experience doesn't have to end with boutiques and novelty shops. Kent offers two quality farmers markets that provide year round opportunity to purchase organic and home grown items from around northeast Ohio. If the weather allows, find the Haymaker Outdoor Farmers Market on Franklin Ave, but if not, the Haymaker Winter Farmers Market provides an indoor environment for the same experience. Kent also provides all of the usual northeast Ohio shopping options for general groceries - Giant Eagle and Marcs.