James A Garfield National Historic Site

You can dive into the 20th president's wonderful world here in less than an hour.

Start at the Visitor Center. There you can check out an informative 20-minute movie about Garfield's life. The center also has artifacts arranged in order from his childhood to death. There are audio-based displays and things like horse stalls, photos, and documents to take in.

Next, there is a guided cell phone tour map of the Garfield grounds. There's also information about his granddaughter's Mentor Farm that's just down the road.

The extended part of the tour guides you through Garfield's carefully restored home and campaign library. This section requires a fee or pass except on certain holidays. Here you can walk through the home's impressive staircases, admire its Victorian-style (furnishings), and sit on his famous porch.

Scouts can earn merit badges here at no charge. There are a lot of interactive programs with certified badge counselors to sign off Scout work cards.

Wheelchairs, golf carts, and chairs are provided. A lift can also be used to get up to Garfield's porch and campaign office.

There's bottle filling stations throughout the park and an outside water fountain that's closed in the winter. For eats, you can grab fresh produce, a sandwich, or baked goods from the nearby Mentor Farm.

There's no lodging, but you can stay in a historical mansion called the Glidden House less than a mile away. There's also 4-star hotels no more than 2 miles away.

This park is open daily May- October and closed on weekdays during November-April. It gets harsh in Ohio during the winter, so most people come here during milder seasons.