I grew up in Stow, Ohio. It's a small town outside of Akron, right next to Kent (of the famed Kest State University) and Cuyahoga Falls (of the famed Cuyahoga river). As for Stow itself, probaby our biggest claim to fame is Larry Czonka, former running back with the Miami Dolphins and Stow High School alumni. While I highly enjoy living in Colorado now, there are some things back in Stow, and Ohio in general, that I just can't seem to find out in the Rockies.
1. Bodies of Water
Beyond all but growing up in a pool, I lived the first 16 years of my life always within a short drive of some significant body of water, be it Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga river, or the beach across from my grandparents condo in Florida (although I would only recommend swimming in one of those). I hardly even thought about it until I moved to the desert and was suddenly devoid of anything like that. Man-made lakes are all well and good, but there's something special about the natural ones.
2. Cedar Point
You don't really appreciate living so close to a world-class amusement park until you don't anymore. Even though I preferred Geauga Lake, which closed in 2007, my favorite ride is still the Maverick at Cedar Point (I wonder if that had some subconcious effect on my choice of school, seeing as CMU is the Mavericks).
3. The Goodyear Blimp
It seems an odd thing to miss, but idly watching the Goodyear blimp pass overhead (sometimes multiple at once) and regarding it as just another Thursday is certainly an experience unique to the greater Akron area.
4. Marcelita's
It's closed now, unfortunately, but the little family-owned Mexican restaurant remains my all-time favorite. Yes, even the giant spider they hung from the ceiling in the lobby around Halloween that scared me half to death as a child is now remembered with a (tiny) bit of fondness.
5. Handel's
Anytime I get a chance to go back to Ohio, I insist on at least one visit to Handel's ice cream. Everything there is delicious - the ice cream, the cake pops, the milkshakes, and while I haven't tried their pies myself, I've only ever herd good things. Especially the seasonal ice cream flavor Graham Central Station (graham cracker flavored ice cream is about ten times more delicious than you think it would be). Mmm...
6. Swensons
Another request any time I go visit, it's a drive-up burger joint with excellent... well, everything, really. I highly recommend the pineapple milkshake, with chunks of real pineapple that are the perfect size for spearing with the end of your straw.
7. SKiP Park
Located near City Hall, it's a maze of wooden towers, tunnels, and bridges with old tires acting as stepping stones in one area and swings in another. A community project back in 1991, it seemed a lot bigger as a kid... and the dark little niches under the slides a lot more terrifying!
8. Cathedral of Tomorrow
It's a local landmark with an unsavory nickname, which I will not be printing here. Rex Humbard's unfinished tower makes pretty much everyone snicker a little when it's brought up, though.
9. The Safety Village
While I never played here as a kid, I did help with its construction in a small way! A miniature version of Stow, the area is meant to help children learn about how to safely cross the street and ride their bikes. All of the buildings are tiny replicas of real locations in town, including my old elementary school. While it was being built, my class was given the opportunity to head over and leave our handprints and names on the back.
10. Friends and Family
I couldn't make a list of this nature without bringing up what I miss the most about my hometown - the people! Although most of my peers have moved on to various universities, some are still local and more come back in the summer. Facebook is great for keeping in touch, though. Most of my family isn't in Ohio all of the time either, but at least they're closer to there than to Colorado.
