12 things to see and do in Akron, Cleveland if you're visiting for the Soap Box Derby

Are you in town for the 87th FirstEnergy Soap Box Derby Championships and have some time to kill in between events? Here are a few things to check out while you're in Northeast Ohio that you can only find here.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

First, let's start with some Akron history. Stan Hywet is the estate of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company co-founder F.A. Seiberling, his wife Gertrude and their seven children. The couple named it Stan Hywet — Old English for stone quarry — after the property’s most prominent natural feature, according to the museum's site.

For those who aren't familiar, the business of rubber and tire manufacturing is what put the city of Akron on the map, earning it the nicknames of "Rubber City" and "Rubber Capital of the World." Besides Goodyear, Akron was also home to rival Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and competitors General Tire and Rubber Company and B.F. Goodrich Company.

Construction began at Stan Hywet in 1912 and it was completed in December 1915. Christmastime at the estate is still a momentous occasion that attracts numerous visitors. The family lived there for 40 years and after F.A.'s death in 1955, it became a non-profit historic home museum "opening for tours so that the public could benefit from the cultural, educational, and inspirational riches of one of the most significant achievements in architecture and horticulture to come out of America’s Industrial Age."

The 70-acre estate includes five historic buildings, 10 fully restored historic gardens and collections and furnishings with 95% of them original to the estate.

Stan Hywet is the Akron's first and largest National Historic Landmark and the sixth largest historic home open to the public. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. stanhywet.org.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Call yourself a music fan? Then the Rock Hall is simply an attraction that cannot be bypassed.

The Rock Hall museum, which first opened in 1995, features exhibits and artifacts including clothing items, stage costumes, instruments and hand-written lyrics from music legends like Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles, to name a few. But that just scratches the surface of what the museum has to offer. With more than 14 million visitors since its opening, the Rock Hall is a must-visit for music fans. See the list of inductees here. 1100 E. 9th St, Cleveland. rockhall.com.

LeBron James Museum

If you're a sports fan, you must check out the LeBron James' Home Court museum at House Three Thirty in Akron. Located down the street from James' high school St. Vincent-St. Mary, the museum delves into the humble beginnings and rising of the ranks of arguably the greatest NBA player in history. Tickets can be purchased online at eventbrite.com.

House Three Thirty is in the former Tangier event space and the name is a nod to the area code for the superstar's hometown, 330. In addition to the museum, it holds venues for dining (Starbucks, a taco shop, a sweets shop and more), entertainment (a cabaret theater) and other spaces that can be reserved for gatherings big and small. There's also a retail shop where visitors can purchase "I Promise" and "Just A Kid From Akron" items, common slogans James has used during his career. The facility is run by the LeBron James Family Foundation and also creates training opportunities for I Promise School students, parents and their families. 532 W. Market St., Akron. housethreethirty.com.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

If you're more into football than basketball, check out the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Opening in Canton in 1963, the museum "pays tribute to the talents and triumphs of pro football's greatest legends," its website says. 2121 George Halas Dr. NW, Canton. profootballhof.com.

Akron Art Museum

See artwork from the 1850s to the present in a range of different media including paintings, glass, photography, sculpture and more.

One of the current exhibitions includes "She Said, She Said," a gallery of contemporary work from female artists that portrays the "valuable contributions that women have made to contemporary art." The title of the exhibit, a play on "he said, she said," doubles down on what women say their experience is is in fact valid, rather than suggesting if a man and woman disagree, the notion is canceled out. The exhibit runs through Aug. 10. 1 S. High St., Akron. akronartmuseum.org.

Cleveland Museum of Art

Founded in 1913, the Cleveland Museum of Art boasts more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts, its website states. From African art, Chinese art and Egyptian and ancient art to American painting and sculpture, those are just a few collection areas the museum has to offer. General admission is always free. 

One of the current exhibitions includes "Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow" featuring the colorful works of artist Takashi Murakami. The exhibit runs through Sept. 7. 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. clevelandart.org.

Akron Zoo

Visit the Akron Zoo, home of several exotic and endangered animals including Humboldt penguins, African lions, Sumatran tigers, white-cheeked gibbons, Grizzly bears, North American river otters and more. 

There have been exciting things happening there lately with the recent birth of a new baby white-cheeked gibbon and the opening of the new DinoTrek exhibit, which runs through Sept. 14. 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron. akronzoo.org.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

See even more animals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It is part of the Cleveland Metroparks system and is said to be Northeast Ohio's most visited year-round attraction, according to its website. With 183 acres, visitors have the chance to see animals from all over the world like elephants, giraffes, snow leopards, red pandas, koalas and more. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland. clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo.

Cleveland Metroparks

If you like the great outdoors, the Cleveland Metroparks is a great place to embrace it. The park covers more than 25,000 acres in 18 reservations throughout Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. "From golden sunrises over Lake Erie, to trail hikes through wooded countryside, animal adventures at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and golf with friends at any of our nine courses, Cleveland Metroparks offers recreational and educational opportunities year-round," its website states. A list of reservations can be found here where specific addresses and directions are listed. clevelandmetroparks.com.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Similarly, CVNP covers more then 32,000 acres and is home to over 200 species of birds, 43 fish, 32 mammals, 22 amphibians and 20 species of reptiles. When you explore it, you'll be able to check a national park off your list. You'll also happen to be visiting during a special time as the park celebrates its 50th birthday this year. nps.gov/cuva/index.htm.

'A Christmas Story' House

Cleveland is home to lots of movie history, and one such landmark has been a lasting tourist attraction. The iconic "A Christmas Story" House is a famed spot in the city that served as the setting for the beloved holiday movie. The house, along with the Bumpus House next door, is a museum and a bed and breakfast. Tickets can be purchased in person or online and shipped via First Class mail. 3159 W. 11th St., Cleveland. housefromachristmasstory.com.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has been around for 100 years. It has been recognized as one the finest natural history museums in North America, according to its site. It's the largest museum in Ohio dedicated to natural sciences with collections that encompass approximately five million specimens. 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland. cmnh.org.