Opt outside in Youngstown
Plan a weekend getaway close to home in Youngstown and enjoy plenty of safe, outdoor recreational options.
Mill Creek MetroParks offers an abundance of wide-open spaces. Explore 45 miles of trails, from rustic to paved, where you’ll find hidden waterfalls, numerous species of birds, and incredible scenery. A downloadable trail map is available at www.millcreekmetroparks.org. Pedal the 11-mile Bikeway. Parking is available at the MetroParks Farm Bikeway Trailhead or Kirk Road Trailhead.
Is mountain biking more your thing? Head to Lake Milton State Park and ride the highly-rated, twisty 9-mile Lake Milton Mountain Bike Trail. The Trail is completed as a full loop, and it features tight turns around trees and very minimal rocks and roots, so it’s great even for a beginner.
Lake Milton is also a great place to spend a day on the water. Pontoon boats, jet skis and kayaks are available for rental at the marina located on the east side of the lake in the Meshel Park area. The fishing is great; you’ll find large and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish and bluegill.
Walleye and muskellunge are stocked by the Division of Wildlife. The 600-foot beach on the west side of the lake is a great place to relax.
A 9-hole disc golf course should be ready for play in June, with the remaining 9-holes slated for a fall opening.
The Youngstown area is also known for its challenging golf courses. So many people took up the sport during the summer of 2020, as it was deemed a safe activity. Take a look at www.golfyoungstown.com and start planning your golf getaway. Stay-and-play packages are available at local hotels.
The Youngstown area has been ranked #4 in the U.S. for top-quality, affordable public golf courses. Whether you’re up for the test of a Donald Ross-designed course, or want to try a links-style course, you’re guaranteed to enjoy well-maintained, scenic courses that will challenge golfers of all skill levels.
Exciting things are happening in Downtown Youngstown. The Phelps Street Gateway is now open. Restaurant and bar options abound in this new pedestrian-only plaza, right in the heart of the downtown entertainment district. The City of Youngstown is hoping to have a DORA in place sometime this summer.
Head south on Phelps Street and you’ll find yourself at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre. One of Northeast Ohio’s newest outdoor concert venues, this facility can accommodate 4,800 people under normal circumstances. A 2021 event season is being planning following all Ohio health and safety guidelines. The Amphitheatre is part of Wean Park, a beautiful 20-acre recreational green space with walking paths. It is home to the iconic ‘Youngstown’ sign (great for selfies), and this July, the Jackie Robinson-George Shuba “Handshake for the Century” commemorative statue will be unveiled there.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. In 1946, when he played for the Montreal Royals (minor-league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers), Jackie hit a home run during his second at-bat. None of his teammates came to the plate to congratulate him. However, teammate and Youngstown-native George Shuba was on-deck. He did not hesitate to do the right thing and met Jackie with a congratulatory handshake as he crossed home plate. This simple gesture and significant moment was captured in a famous photograph, and became known as “A Handshake for the Century.”
Wean Park will also be the home of the Summer Festival of the Arts on July 17 and 18. Youngstown State University has moved this popular event to this new location for 2021. Since 1999, the Summer Festival of the Arts has welcomed more than 80 artists and 15,000 visitors annually. Admission is free.
At the eastern edge of Downtown, The Youngstown Flea has moved into their new home at 365 E. Boardman Street. Now in its sixth season, this market-for-makers is held once each month from April through October, and features the region’s finest artisans selling their hand-crafted specialties. Come and shop safe while supporting locals. Future dates are June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11 and October 9.
Right across from Youngstown Flea, Penguin City Brewing Company is working towards an October timeframe to open their new tap room and brewery. Their plans call for a total renovation of the former Republic Warehouse, and will feature two patios. One will serve Penguin City and the other will belong to Dope Cider House & Winery, which will be a tenant in the building.
Intrigued? Plan your weekend getaway today. Award-winning, comfortable lodging choices abound. Visit www.youngstownlive.com or call 800-447-8201 for a complete listing of our upcoming seasonal and special events.
Youngstown Outdoor Recreation
