Location: Mentor
Top Things to do in Mentor
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Mentor, United States
Mentor (/ˈmɛntər/ MEN-tər) is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States. Mentor was first settled in 1797. The population was 47,159 at the 2010 census. In July 2010, CNNMoney.com ranked Mentor 37th in a list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.
Restaurants in Mentor
1. James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 263 reviews
The site is made up of a visitors' center, as well as the 20-room farmhouse Garfield lived in with his wife and five children.
Reviewed By Edward Hobart T
This is a great gem of a place. A self made man, last log cabin President, rock star of politics, death was more grieved than Lincoln's, and an incredible wife, Lucretia. Tour wonderful, tour guide, Barbara was just terrific. Spent two great hours and could have spent longer. Go. Go now.
2. The Holden Arboretum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
The Holden Arboretum is 3,600 acres of the most beautiful gardens and natural areas in Northeast Ohio, including the Holden Wildflower Garden, featuring Ohio native plants; the Holden Butterfly Garden, which attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; the 20-acre Layer Rhododendron Garden and the 4.5 acre Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden; and collections of lilacs, viburnums, crabapples and conifers. The Arboretum includes the Murch Canopy Walk and the Kalberer Emergent Tower, which are open from April 1 through Nov. 1. Guided walking tours of the grounds are available from April through May, and tram tours are available May through October. Winter activities include snowshoe hikes in January and February, weather permitting.
Reviewed By haridas88 - Ohio
Lovely place to go for a hike . The tower and canopy tree walk were fun . Felt the canopy tee walk was a very short one . Don't forget to pay at the entrance if you would like to go to these two places . If you don't pay , you can go around the place and hike but I suggest paying and going to the two places .
3. Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Paul S - Marion
The Fairport lighthouse and museum is easy to find on High Street just before the beach. We had to drive around a little to find an open parking place on a weekend afternoon but it was worth it. The museum was quite interesting and very well done, and the lady was very helpful and friendly. Unlike a lot of lighthouses, you can climb to the top and walk out on the top deck for great views of the town, harbor, beach and lake. You get a ribbon in the gift shop for completing the climb. When we were there one couple had the brilliant idea to take their Airedale terrier to the top. It made it up just fine but would not go back down. Maybe it was scared of the cat ghost. Ask about that story in the museum. Anyway, it was a nuisance because there is not room for several people and a large dog at the top of the stairs. They finally carried the dog down so it made it out okay..
4. Classic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Classic Park is the home of the Lake County Captains, the Single A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The Captains play 70 home games at Classic Park from the beginning of April through Labor Day weekend. Tickets are only $8 for children and seniors and $9 for adults. Catch one of the 20+ fireworks show at the ballpark on Fridays and Saturdays and have a blast with fun and affordable family fun.
Reviewed By 930joycew - Cleveland, Ohio
Fun place for the entire family. This is the minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Good variety of food, kids play area & outfield lawn seating so smaller children do not have to stay seated. Minor league baseball rules ban outside food or drink being brought into the stadium.
5. Eastside Relics
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By YoAdrian99 - Denver Colorado
This place is remarkably clean and organized for an antique shop. It actually appears more like a museum. The relics here are geared slightly more towards men, which of course I enjoyed very much, although there really is something for everyone. You could easily spend 3-4 hours taking it all in. Highly recommended
6. Kirtland Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Kirtland Temple and Museum:http://www.kirtlandtemple.org/history.htmlhttp://www.kirtlandtemple.org/tourinfo.htmlThis is one of the most historic buildings in Ohio and an amazing example of pre-Civil War carpentry.
Reviewed By BLTurpin - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Kirtland Temple, owned and administered by The Community of Christ, is most attractive to anyone interested in religious history. There is certainly reason to visit if one is interested in architecture or local history, but this site is primarily about religion, those who believed Joseph Smith to be a prophet, and the community that built up around Smith's believers.
It is possible to walk around the temple without a guide, but in order to go inside you must be with a tour group. Thus, it makes more sense to start your visit at the Visitor's Center. The Visitor's Center has a small museum which explains the temple and which presents artifacts, documents, and history relating to the temple's construction. The original finial is also on display in the lobby as well. Visitors watch a short film and learn about the temple as well as The Community of Christ, the church which owns and operates the temple today.
After the film concludes, a guide will walk with your group the short distance to the temple (approx 100-150 meters.) The day we visited it was raining heavily, but the guides are well equipped and will provide umbrellas.
Once you arrive, the guide will lead you up the stairs to the second floor. The stairs are steep and there are a lot of them. This building upper floors of the building are not accessible to anyone who cannot climb stairs. The unusual architecture, features, and detailing of the hall are explained - visitors may sit down in the congregation area but are not allowed into the pulpit areas. Columns are open to show the ropes and pulleys that controlled the curtains (veils).
After the second level, visitors are guided back downstairs to the ground level. The third floor is not available to visitors on the current tour. On the ground floor, more is explained about the religious history including the building's dedication and first-hand accounts of those in attendance. The guide closes by having the group sing "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning," Hymn #2 in the LDS hymnal which is sung at every Latter-Day Saint temple dedication.
The Community of Christ is welcoming to all people of all faiths. They are used to getting bus loads of LDS visitors and are perfectly at ease conversing with everyone. The Community of Christ are careful caretakers of the temple, using it both to tell the story of how it was built and what it meant as well as use it for some of their contemporary services. The day we visited there was a performance of hymns in the evening.
I highly recommend a visit to the Kirtland Temple. It won't take long and will provide significant insights into the people who lived, worked, and worshipped in the area in the 1830s as well as the legacy of their sacrifices.
7. Headlands Beach State Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 321 reviews
Reviewed By Teri P - Perry, Ohio
Very nice place. Huge stretch of beach. There are life guard stations most of the beach. The farther down toward the end, there are not any stations and it is usually less crowded. They have concession stands scattered along the beach but the ones at the far end aren't open as often as the more crowded part of the beach at the opposite end. They have plenty of parking and grilling areas with picnic tables. There is even a Wind Surf and Kayak rental place. The park closes at dusk. The bathrooms aren't the cleanest and are very outdated but they are usable. No flotation devices allowed here. The park tends to have scattered litter...so many people that use this beautiful place do not take care of it. Sad but true. They have a sign posted at the entrance to the park that lets you know what the water quality is for swimming. If you have little kids, I would highly recommend Fairport Beach just down the road..they have a newer, cleaner place. The beach is smaller but much more kid friendly with plenty of play equipment for the little ones.
8. Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By christinekW9766NE
We absolutely love this beach. It is clean. Parkin is close to the beach and the beach is small enough to keep track of the children. The swimming area is also small enough that the lifeguards are able to actually see what is going on. There is plenty to do. Paddle boards and kayaks are available at a cost by the hour. The is a nice playground right in the sand for the kids to play on. The condescension stand is close by and prices are very reasonable. The rest rooms and changing rooms are also close and clean. Really just a nice family place to go for the day. Parking is $2.00 for Lake County Ohio residents and a bit more for out of country residents.
9. Historic Kirtland
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By SnowyShasta - Portland, Oregon
This area of Kirtland was settled by early members of the LDS/Mormon church. The area has grown in recent years as the church has acquired more land and buildings. There is a nice Visitor's Center, where we browsed a little and then watched a video about the history of the LDS church members in the area. Parking, entry, and the tour are all free. We then took a guided tour of the various buildings that have been restored to the way they were in the 1830's. The buildings included a general store, a house, an ashery, and a sawmill. The ashery was very interesting in terms of being unique in the US, and we learned a lot about what an ashery is and how it was operated. The Newell Whitney store portion contained several stories about the Mormon owners and occupants, including the Whitneys and Joseph and Emma Smith. We spent a couple hours browsing and on the tour and enjoyed our visit.
10. Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
It's a natural destination! Escape to the tranquility of nature and explore the beauty of an unspoiled beach and miles of hiking and water trails. Located on the shores of Lake Erie, just 30 minutes east of Cleveland, you'll find 450 acres of green space with 1-1/2 miles of shoreline with rare dune plants, a riverine marsh and mature oak bluff. Over 150 species of birds have been recorded, making this a top birding location. Electric carts are available on a first come basis for the handicapped. Call 440-205-3625 in advance to reserve.
Reviewed By ElaineAndGreg - Chesterland, Ohio
We visited national parks, state parks, and other preserves, and for a city park the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve is astonishing. It's a little less than a square mile in size, but boasts a nature preserve, excellent walks, forest paths, a marsh, and great views on a Great Lake.
Mentor Lagoons is, paradoxically, both easy to get to and a little hard to find. You basically want to take State Route 615 north from Route 2 or Interstate 90. About 2 miles north of route 2, you'll go straight north instead of to the west and you'll more or less snake your way through a nice residential neighborhood. I had no trouble finding it based on the signs and dead reckoning, but use your GPS in a pinch.
When you get there, there are essentially two parts. You'll cross over a small bridge and see a marina to your left (west) and a smaller parking area along the marsh to your right. I though I might be in the wrong place as it almost looks like a small industrial park, but don't worry, you'll be in the woods shortly. Go to the right and park. There's an excellent, smooth path along with a stand with a map of sorts. Take the path north.
From there you have lots of options. I wanted to see the lake on a nice fall day. The path isn't paved, but it is very, very well-maintained and level, although there is a slight incline. From there you can go to the lake, take forest trails, or walk along the edge of the huge marsh. It isn't crowded, but I came across a number of nice dog owners and other out just for a nice walk.
The park is light on amenities - there are a few picnic tables, and not much else, but the paths are very nice. I walked along the lake, which was fun although a little difficult with the sand and stones. If you want an easier lakeside walk, there is an excellent path about 100 feet inland. You can also walk through some woodland trails, which I liked, although they can be a little muddy (this is a wetlands area, after all).
This is beautiful park and amazing for one that is essentially one of a suburban town. If you want a pleasant walk and some nice views (and don't need lots of amenities) this is for you. If you want to grab something to eat either before or afterwards, you are only 10 minutes or so from countless restaurants in Mentor itself.
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