MACEDONIA: They say location is everything, and Macedonia is 23 miles north of Akron, 23 miles south of Cleveland, and strategically positioned between interstates 271 and 480 and state routes 8 and 82.
Little wonder it calls itself “The Crossroads of Northeast Ohio,” a motto it registered with the state of Ohio.
But sometimes being a crossroads means most people are zipping through on their way to somewhere else. So what will you find if you slow down and hop off the highway?
To help our readers take better advantage of the amenities in our region, the Beacon Journal is spotlighting a different community each week. We’ve made some obvious picks, but also enlisted local officials, residents, Facebook fans and our own expert staff writers to round out our list.
This week: 10 things to do in Macedonia.
• Fun ‘n’ Stuff is a year-round amusement park. Located at 661 Highland Road, you can spend a casual day, or use it for your next birthday party, fundraiser, even company team-building exercise. Indoor attractions include Lasertag, crazy cars, roller skating, rock wall climbing and bowling. Outdoors, the options include go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, human hamster balls and a stunt jump. Check hours before you go, as they change with the season: https://fun-n-stuff.com, or call 330-467-0820.
• At 292 acres, the city says its Longwood Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Ohio. It features ballfields, a playground, picnic areas with shelters and grills, a stocked fishing pond and three short hiking trails that are good for youngsters or can be combined for a longer 3-mile walk. Visitors will also see Longwood Manor, the 1924 Tudor revival home of Macedonia’s mayor that has been undergoing renovation. Enter the park at 1566 E. Aurora Road.
• Shop Hop, by our home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge: Long Tail Knits, 9838 Valley View Road, will help you get started in the fiber arts or feed your addiction to your hobby. “More than just a yarn shop, this business is a learning center and gathering place for folks who knit, crochet, spin, weave or engage in other fiber pursuits.” The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Its website is www.longtailknits.com.
• If you want to work on your golf game a bit, visit Windmill Golf Center. Located at 1511 E. Aurora Road, it’s a 40-acre practice/training facility that offers 25 heated and covered driving range bays and grass tees capable of handling 100 players, chipping greens with sand traps and putting greens. Trained professionals can do custom fittings for all major manufacturers of golf equipment, and staff offers golf lessons for youths and adults. Check out www.windmillgolfcenter.com for more information.
• Blue Willow Lounge, operated by the Chesla family since 1987, serves up homemade cooking that includes chicken paprikash, jumbo perogies, potato pancakes and homemade wing sauces. Specials include “build a burger day” on Wednesdays and homemade meat loaf on Tuesdays. They have also been big supporters of the Nordonia High School football and wrestling teams and have helped out with many local fundraisers. Visit them at 9862 Freeway Drive or check out their Facebook page.
• The Macedonia Family Recreation Center offers swimming, meeting rooms and fitness programs from youth sports to Silver Sneakers at 1494 E. Aurora Road. In addition to memberships, visitors can purchase a daily pass for $7 (residents) or $9 (non-residents.) Find more details at http://macrec.com.
• Social Media Shout-out: Facebook fans say they never miss a chance to stop in at Casa D’Angelo, an old-school Italian kitchen with a full bar and classic menu that includes pasta, seafood and sandwiches. Located at 893 E. Aurora Road, it’s open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. Check out the whole menu at http://www.casadangelo.com.
• The Great Escape is a Midwest chain store, but Macedonia is home to the only one in Summit County. If you love making plans for your home and yard, you’ll enjoy strolling the showroom of leisure-time products, from pools and grills to bars and game tables. Located at 8163 Golden Link Blvd., you can learn more about the store’s products at http://www.shopthegreatescape.com.
• There are plenty of restaurant choices in Macedonia, but a popular breakfast/brunch/lunch stop is First Watch, a chain that added Macedonia to its stable of seven Northeast Ohio locations last year. It specializes in the first meals of the day, open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cafe focuses on freshly prepared orders of omelets, pancakes, crepes, sandwiches and salads. No deep fryers, no heat lamps. Find it at 463 E. Aurora Road,
• Harwood Motors, at 9100 Valley View, likes to think of itself as a matchmaker rather than a mere car dealership. Its speciality is buying and selling vintage automobiles. The family-owned company started in 1973 when founder and co-owner Matt Harwood’s father, Peter, purchased his first old car. That 1934 Ford deluxe four-door sedan was the first of many. The company offers showroom hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by special appointment. You can also see Harwood Motor’s inventory at http://www.harwoodmotors.com.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.