Admission to Canton Museum of Art is $8/adult; $6/senior (60+), student, military; children 12 and under free; group discounts available.

• Open: Tuesday –  Thursday from 10am – 8pm; Friday & Saturday from 10am – 5 pm; Sunday from 1pm – 5pm; Closed most major holidays
• Location: (Map It) 1001 N. Market Avenue in Canton, Ohio
• Phone: 330-453-7666
• Web: https://www.cantonart.org/

The Canton Museum of Art is located inside the Cultural Center for the Arts, just north of downtown Canton, OH.  The museum’s permanent collection is extensive and focuses on American watercolor and contemporary ceramics.  Traveling national and regional exhibits are frequently featured.  Past exhibitions have included  Art of the Rainforest, Andrew Wyeth’s Helga Paintings, Bing Davis: On the Shoulders of Ancestors, Clyde Singer’s America and Kimono As Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota.  The Canton Museum of Art presents a number of different programs and art classes for all ages, as well as special events.

Admission to Cleveland Botanical Garden is $15/adult, $10/child (ages 3 – 10).

• Open: Tuesday – Friday from 10am – 5pm, Saturday from 10am – 8pm, and Sunday from 12pm – 5pm
• Location: (Map It) 11030 E. Blvd. in Cleveland, Ohio
• Phone: 216-721-1600
• Web: click here

Cleveland Botanical Garden:  Step into a world of beauty and wonder.  Cleveland Botanical Garden boasts some of the finest Gardens in the entire Midwest.  Here are 10 beautifully landscaped acres of formal and natural gardens – each one a gem, each with its own distinct personality.  The Rose Garden is a delight.  The Japanese Garden is enchanting.  The Children’s Garden is fun.  And the terrace – with its fountain and lily pond – is an inspiring location for al fresco dining during the warm months.

The botanical garden’s Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse is an 18,000 square foot, crystalline conservatory – the only one of its kind.  Open year-round, the Glasshouse is home to two of the world’s most exotic, fragile and unique environments:  the spiny desert of Madagascar and the lush, butterfly-filled cloud forest of Costa Rica. The Glasshouse may be the best butterfly house in Ohio!  It features hundreds of exotic beautiful butterflies flown in directly from Costa Rica every week of the year. The butterflies will make you and your friends of all ages smile with delight. With more than 350 species of plants and 50 species of animals, the Glasshouse is a dazzling journey across continents and an immersion in the unusual.

Admission to Columbus Museum of Art is $18/adult, $9/senior (ages 60+), $9/student (ages 18+), and free for children age 17 and younger. Thursday from 5pm – 9pm is $5 and Sunday is free.

• Open Tuesday – Wednesday and Friday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm, Thursday from 10am – 9pm, Closed Monday
• Location: (Map It) 480 E. Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio
• Phone: 614-221-6801
• Web: click here

The Columbus Museum of Art features works from its excellent collection of impressionists, German expressionists, cubists, American modernists, and contemporary art. The museum also includes works by Degas, Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Cassatt, Bellows, Demuth, Hopper, Marin, and O’Keeffe. Visitors may also take a stroll through the Russell Page Sculpture Garden or explore the world of photography in the Ross Photography Center. Families with children may also want to visit the interactive exhibit Eye Spy: Adventures in Art. In addition, there is a continuous program of national and international traveling exhibitions displayed at the museum.

Admission to Dawes Arboretum is $10/adult, $5/child (ages 5 -15), free for members and children younger than 5.

• Open: (Park) daily from 7am – 8pm, (Visitor Center) Monday – Saturday from 8am – 5pm, Sunday and holidays from 12pm – 5pm
• Location: (Map It) 7770 Jacksontown Rd. SE in Newark, Ohio
• Phone: 800-44-DAWES
• Web: https://dawesarb.org/

Dawes Arboretum covers over 1,800 acres of trees, history and nature. What was begun in 1929 by Beman and Bertie Dawes to demonstrate the value of woody plants grown in epic proportions to become a showcase of plant collections and a plethora of educational experiences. Some of the collections visitors will find are crab apples, conifers, oaks, azaleas, and hollies. The grounds are accessible by an almost five-mile autoroute and more than eight miles of hiking trails. Some feature attractions and visitor favorites include the remarkable cypress swamp, renowned Japanese Bonsai Garden, and hedge lettering that spells out “Dawes Arboretum.”

Admission to Dayton Art Institute is $15/adult, $10/senior, and $5/child.

• Open: Wednesday – Saturday from 11am – 5pm, and Sunday from noon – 5pm.
• Location: (Map It) 456 Belmonte Park N. in Dayton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-223-4278
• Web: click here

Dayton Art Institute is one of the nation’s finest mid-sized art museums. It features an encyclopedic collection of more than 27,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of art history. Highlights include the museum’s outstanding Asian collection, 17th-century Baroque paintings, 18^th, and 19th-century American art, and contemporary art collection. In addition to its diverse collection, the museum features world-class special exhibitions, a wide variety of educational programs, and an interactive, family-oriented Experiencenter gallery.

Admission to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is $19/general (ages 13 – 59), $16/senior (ages 60+), $12/child (ages 3 – 12), children 2 and under free.

• Open: Daily 10 am – 5 pm
• Location: (Map It) 1777 E. Broad St. in Columbus, Ohio
• Phone: 614-715-8000
• Web: www.fpconservatory.org/

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus blooms with beauty at every turn. Indoors and out, the vast biomes, nooks, and crannies are a delight to explore. The worldwide plants mixed with the intricate Chihuly glasswork bring nature and art into harmony. Then there’s the Bonsai collection that’ll drop your jaw, a light show beginning at dusk that’ll pop your eyes, an outdoor model railway that chugs a long way, butterflies galore that’ll make any heart flutter, and a children’s garden grown with fun.

This premier horticultural and educational institution showcases more than 400 plant species and special exhibitions. The Conservatory offers beautiful and diverse climates including an arid desert, a tropical Rainforest, a cool Himalayan Mountain, and a lush Pacific Island Water Garden. Franklin Park surrounds the Conservatory and provides 88 acres of landscaped gardens and green space.  The Conservatory owns a signature collection of Dale Chihuly glass artwork and its annual exhibits include Blooms and Butterflies, the Orchid Forest, and Holidays at the Conservatory. The Conservatory also offers a gift shop and café. Parking is free.

Admission to Holden Arboretum is $15/adult and $10/child (3- 12).

• Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 9am – 5pm,
• Location: (Map It) 9500 Sperry Rd. in Kirtland, Ohio
• Phone: 440-946-4400
• Web: https://holdenfg.org/

Holden Arboretum houses a variety of themed gardens both for display and research.  The Butterfly garden is stocked with many colorful flowers, such as the purple coneflower, bee-balm, and catmint, which will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  The park offers many different guided tours that give visitors the opportunity to follow trained horticulturists through one-of-a-kind gardens, special collections, and natural areas.  The arboretum also offers a variety of historical tours throughout the grounds.

Admission to Kingwood Center Gardens is $5/person and children 12 and under free.

• Open: April 1 – October 31 daily from 10am – 7pm
• Location: (Map It) 50 N. Trimble Rd. in Mansfield, Ohio
• Phone: 419-522-0211
• Web: kingwoodcenter.org

Kingwood Center Gardens visitors will enjoy the elegant gardens, grounds and historic buildings of this former estate of industrialist Charles Kelley King. A massive spring flower display begins the season with tulips, daffodils, flowering trees and much more. Gardens of all sorts entertain visitors throughout the growing season and a large display of annuals brings abundant color to the gardens throughout the summer. A greenhouse offers unique displays and a special plant buying opportunity. The gardens are intertwined by woodlands with relaxing walking trails throughout the 47-acre estate. Kids love to feed the ducks a the duck pond and the peacocks that roam the property. Kingwood Hall, the 20,000 sq. ft. French provincial mansion is open for self-guided tours daily. Kingwood offers several events throughout the year as well as educational workshops, weddings, and rentals. Christmas at Kingwood is a must-see event.

Admission to Krohn Conservatory is $10/adult and $7/child (ages 5-17).

• Open: Daily from 10am – 8pm
• Location: (Map It) 1501 Eden Park Dr. in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Phone: 513-421-4086
• Web: click here

Krohn Conservatory is one of Cincinnati’s treasures. It features Bonsai, Conservatory, Orchid, Tropical, and Perennial gardens and nature collections. The total collection represents more than 1,000 different species of plants from rainforests to deserts.  Floral shows are free of charge with the exception of the butterfly show.   Every spring, over 10,000 butterflies are invited to invade the Conservatory and fly freely around for visitors to get an up-close and personal look at a remarkable collection of butterflies. The Butterfly Show has a different theme every year such as “Flowers with Wings, The Butterflies of India” featuring butterflies from around the world.  Click here for the annual Butterfly Show information.

Admission to the Ancient Sculpture Museum at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park is included with park admission, which is $8/adult, $3/child (ages 6-12), and children 5 and under free.

• Open: Daily from 12pm – 5pm; During gallery opening receptions from 5:30pm – 8:30pm
• Location: (Map It) 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd. in Hamilton, Ohio
• Phone: 513-868-1234

Ancient Sculpture Museum at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park: The 10,000 square-foot museum features four galleries showcasing 70 original pieces from ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. The Museum will place visitors in “ancient” surroundings with its unique architecture resembling ancient Rome and Greek villas. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is a 265-acre park with over 80 pieces of monumental art. Visitors, picnickers, and art-lovers are welcome to roam the park by foot, in an “art cart”, or by car. Butler County, located in Southwest Ohio in the Cincinnati-Dayton corridor, is The Destination Designed for You !

Admission to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is $8/adult and $3/child (ages 6-12).

• Open: Thursday – Saturday from 9am – 7pm and Sunday to Wednesday from 9am – 5pm.
• Location: (Map It) 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd. in Hamilton, Ohio
• Phone: 513-868-1234
• Web: https://www.pyramidhill.org/

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum combines the lure of nature with the dynamic presence of monumental art. Located on over 300 acres of woodlands, gardens, and lakes near Hamilton, Ohio, Pyramid Hill is a unique experience where you explore the countryside and marvel at over 60 pieces of outdoor art. You can also go back in time at the indoor Ancient Sculpture Museum housing Greek, Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian pieces. Drive through the rolling landscape, walk up to experience the sculpture, find a secluded picnic spot or hike a quiet trail through the forests. Pyramid Hill is a relaxing way to spend a day with art and nature.

Admission to Springfield Art Museum is $5/adult, and children under 17 free (except for special exhibitions) 

• Open: Wednesday – Saturday from 9am – 5pm and Sunday from 12:30pm – 4:30pm.
• Location: (Map It) 107 Cliff Park Road in Springfield, Ohio
• Phone: 937-325-4673
• Web: https://www.springfieldart.net/

The Springfield Museum of Art has seven galleries. Its permanent collection includes paintings, drawings, and sculptures featuring 19^th and 20th-century American, European, and Ohio artists. The museum also has about 12 changing exhibits annually. These exhibits address contemporary and historical issues and encourage a critical understanding of the visual arts.

Admission to Zanesville Museum of Art is $6/adult (ages 18 – 60), $4/senior (ages 60+), $4/student (ages 10 – 18), active duty military (plus family) free, and children 9 and under free. Thursday is free from 5pm – 7:30pm.

• Open: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 5pm; Thursday from 10am – 7:30pm
• Location: (Map It) 620 Military Road in Zanesville, Ohio
• Phone:  740-452-0741
• Web: https://www.zanesvilleart.org/

The Zanesville Museum of Art offers a variety of programs for both children and adults. It houses over 8,000 works that span 5,000 years, numerous awe-inspiring exhibits, and major traveling and temporary exhibits.

Admission to Columbus Topiary Garden & Park is free.

• Open: Daily from sunrise to sunset
• Location: (Map It) 480 E. Town St. in ‎Columbus, Ohio
• Phone: 614-645-0197
• Web: click here

Columbus Topiary Garden & Park at Old Deaf School Park in Columbus, Ohio.

Article from a past edition of OhioTraveler by Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler

Wouldn’t it be really cool to walk into a painting and be a part of it? You could check things out three-dimensionally to see what the other side looks like.

How about a famous painting? Let’s say, for example, Georges Seurat’s 1887 A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grand Jatte, which is a depiction of people gathering on a Sunday afternoon at the Seine River in Paris. The original is shown at the Art Institute of Chicago. But the version in downtown Columbus, Ohio offers a totally different experience.

In downtown Columbus’ Old Deaf School Park, artist James T. Mason created the only topiary garden in existence based on a work of art. Elaine Mason was the first of many topiarists to trim and meticulously maintain the living topiaries of 54 people, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey, and a cat. The seven-acre sanctuary is not only a destination for art and nature lovers, but it is perfect for picnics, walks, playing board games, or even tossing a little Frisbee.

Take a stroll to the top of the hill overlooking the masterpiece. There, you’ll see a bronze easel and picture of the original painting by Seurat, who invented the technique of pointillism, using dots of color to create light. Take a step back and see the 3-D version of the picture unveil itself before your very eyes. The tallest topiary is 12-feet. This provides depth from the vantage point atop the hill to keep all the figures in proportion as seen in the bronze relief.

Walk around the landscape and take pictures. Roll out a blanket and catch a nap. This park is everything a park should be. It is meant for a lazy afternoon. Find a shade tree or tall topiary and be still. The breeze, the birds, the flowers will all take hold as you breathe deeper until you feel cleansed.

The Topiary Park Museum Shop and Visitors Center is housed in a chateau-style building. It offers restrooms, drinking fountains, and a museum store. It is furnished in period décor. It is open April through December on Thursdays 11 am – 3 pm, Fridays 11:30 am – 3 pm, weekends 11 am – 4 pm.

The park and Topiary Garden are always free and open daily from dawn to dusk. You may enter at 480 E. Town Street, which is a block south of the Columbus Museum of Art. More information is available by calling 614-645-0197 or visiting topiarygarden.org.

The neighborhood around has beautiful grand old mansions with lovely architecture. But to park on the street requires feeding the meter unless it’s an evening or a Sunday afternoon on the isle of topiary.