Social Distancing Ideas – Top Indoor and Outdoor Activities near Youngstown, Ohio

With the temperatures warming up, more and more people are ready for some fresh air and physical activity! As of June 2, 2021, Ohio’s Health Orders have been lifted. If you’re looking to get outdoors this summer and enjoy wide-open spaces in the Youngstown area during the COVID-19 pandemic, check out these great indoor and outdoor activities and upcoming events.

Explore Outdoor Activities Near Youngstown

Outdoor spaces are a great way to stay safe while focusing on your health and enjoying the sunshine (whether by yourself or with your whole family). Here are some fun ideas located in and around Youngstown, OH!

Mill Creek MetroParks

Encompassing more than 2,800 natural acres, Mill Creek MetroParks offers 45 miles of trails to explore. For an easy and scenic 0.25-mile loop, hike the Lily Pond Circle Trail. For a more difficult hike, opt for the 1.5-mile East Cohasset Trail. Download the Mill Creek MetroParks Trail Guide for more information.

Enjoy biking on the Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway or explore the beautiful lakes in Mill Creek while boating, kayaking, or canoeing. The Wick Recreation Area is home to a variety of activities with batting cages, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, a dek hockey rink, and playgrounds (great for younger and older kids alike).

Celebrate the arrival of summer at Fellows Riverside Gardens with the roses in bloom in June. The Davis Visitor Center has reopened with added safety precautions. Check out their upcoming Wine & Jazz at the Kidston Pavilion events. Lanterman’s Mill has also reopened. Individuals and small groups can tour this historic 1846 gristmill while enjoying the scenic overlook of Lanterman’s Falls.

Lake Milton

Set in Youngstown’s own backyard, Lake Milton is a fantastic way to increase your vitamin D and enjoy the outdoors.

Nearly 1,700 acres of the best recreational waters in Ohio are found at Lake Milton State Park. Boating, fishing and swimming are extremely popular, as are stand-up paddleboards, kayaking, canoes, pontoon boats and wave runners (which are all offered for rental in season at the Meshel Park area on the east side of the lake).

Outdoor enthusiasts interested in biking can try the obstacle-free Lake Milton Mountain Bike Trail, which features tight turns and short, punchy climbs and descents.

After enjoying a day at the Lake, stop by Lake Milton Brewery and enjoy a craft beer on their outdoor patio. Plan your next outdoor adventure with our Outdoor Recreation Guide.

Play a Round of Golf!

Golf is a great way to social distance. Schedule your summer tee times at the Youngstown area’s top-quality, affordable public golf courses.

A favorite since 1928, the historic Mill Creek Golf Course in Boardman features two 18-hole championship courses designed by the legendary Donald Ross. Just two miles away, Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield features scenic ravines, tree-lined fairways and lakes. Or, try out the new full swing golf simulators at the adjacent Waypoint 4180 and play over 80 iconic championship courses! Reserve Run Golf Course in Poland has been hailed as one of Ohio’s top public golf courses. Designed around an old quarry by architect Barry Serafin, Reserve Run was rated as a 4-star Ohio course by Golf Digest. The Links at Firestone Farms in Columbiana also offers a challenging links-style course designed by Brian Huntley.

Learn more about our courses in our Golf Guide.

Family Fun—Spending Time with Loved Ones!

Keep a safe distance while enjoying quality time with the whole family, whether you have younger children or older kids with a young heart!

Family Fun Golf Nights

Every Friday and Saturday night, Mill Creek Golf Course offers families a special opportunity to play a round of golf to groom their skills in a fun setting. Ages 15 & under are encouraged to take advantage of the kids’ tee markers and receive a prize each time they participate. The Family Fun Golf Night special is $25/family of four and includes two golf carts and green fees for the group. You can call 330-740-7112 for tee times.

Try Disc Golf

Disc golf is widely popular in the Youngstown area and can be enjoyed by all age levels. Bring your discs and play on one of our local courses:

• MetroParks Farm Disc Golf Course – The 9-hole learn-to-play course and an 18-hole championship course is set among wooded areas, meadow and pond landscapes.
• Boardman Park – 18-hole course that runs through both open space and woods.
• Austintown Township – 18-hole course with holes ranging from 161 feet to 488 feet.
• Mauthe Park – A great beginner-friendly course for new players.
• Wick Park – 9-hole, par 31 course through the mature trees of historic Wick Park.
• Lake Milton State Park – The new Osprey Disc Golf Course will open Summer 2021.

Outdoor Patios with Social Distancing

Outdoor patio dining promises to remain popular during the warm weather months. Lucky for us, Youngstown and the surrounding areas are jam-packed with amazing patio options!

Award-Winning Wineries

The Mahoning Valley is home to five beautiful wineries, each with its own ambiance…and they’re ready to welcome you! Enjoy scenic outdoor patios (The Vineyards at Pine Lake recently finished their new patio enclosure), glistening lake views, stunning sunsets, and sprawling vineyards.

Local Craft Breweries

Our local craft breweries offer their own unique atmospheres and outdoor patios. Noble Creature Cask House is an old church turned brewery and tap room. And, have you heard of Penguin City Brewing Company? They will be opening a new brewery and taproom this fall and are in the process of renovating The Republic Warehouse in downtown Youngstown!

Learn more about our wineries and breweries in our Wineries & Breweries Guide.

The New Phelps Street Gateway

The Phelps Street pedestrian walkway is now finished in downtown Youngstown. The restaurants on the block include Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts, Gringo’s Tacos, V2 Wine Bar, and the new West 34, and each one will add patio seating in front of their locations in the coming months.

From Phelps Street Gateway, it’s an easy walk down to nearby Wean Park and The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre. Check The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre’s website for summer concert dates and information.

Rainy Day Activities for All to Enjoy

While we all love outdoor activities, sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate OR we’re searching for a new, fun (indoor) outing for the whole family. Here are a few great ideas!

Butler Art Exhibitions

The world-renowned Butler Institute of American Art is opening an exhibition of baseball paintings just in time for summer! Max Mason: Painting the Game will be on exhibit June 13-September 5, 2021. The paintings of Max Mason are impressive on a variety of levels. He is a masterful draughtsman who can lay down paint in the manner of the old masters. Staying with the magical theme of baseball he presents a virtual clinic on composition and color usage. In a museum filled with exquisite paintings, the works of Max Mason more than hold their own. View all current and upcoming exhibitions.

Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm.

OH WOW! Children’s Center

OH WOW! Children’s Center has reopened. The museum’s new entrance is on Central Square. Museum hours are Thursday-Sunday from 9:00-11:00am and 12:00-2:00pm. They close for an hour each day to sanitize and prepare for the afternoon’s session. To maintain regulations, they are limiting the number of explorers at the museum and requiring a timed-entry. All visitors will need to reserve their tickets before their visit.

Arms Family Museum & Tyler History Center

 The Mahoning Valley Historical Society reopened the Arms Family Museum and Tyler History Center on Tuesday, July 6, 2021! Hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 12-4pm. Safety precautions and policies will be updated on their website.

Escape Rooms

Escape Boardman and Escape Boardman Hotel offer escape room experiences with safety precautions in place. The adventure games allow a small group of people to be put in a themed room to solve a series of puzzles in a set amount of time. Reservations can be made up to two months in advance. Private bookings are also available.

Upcoming Events Near Youngstown, OH

Several indoor and outdoor events are being scheduled for 2021, including the monthly Youngstown Flea (which is officially in its new downtown Youngstown location). The YSU Summer Festival of the Arts at Wean Park is also a great opportunity to social distance while enjoying an amazing juried art event, and our events calendar will continue to be updated with the latest event news.

For more fun social distancing activity ideas throughout the Youngstown area, download our Travel Guide, visit our Facebook page or check out our website!