Amish country is just a short drive to the northwest corner of Trumbull County. A self-guided driving tour will take the family along the same roads the Amish travel by horse and buggy, past the farms that exhibit the modest lifestyle and strong work ethic of Amish folk. The End of the Commons General Store is one of Ohio's oldest operating general stores, offering penny candy and bulk foods. Quality Amish crafts can be found at Country Side Furnishings, Yoder's Furniture, Eli Miller's Harness Shop, the Middlefield Cheese House and Ohio Gifts.

Visit www.trumbullcountrycvb.org for more information about the Amish region.

For more modern family fun, there's Creekside Golf, a huge indoor driving range and entertainment facility in Girard. Or play indoor-outdoor baseball at Thunderplex. Visit www.thunderplexsports.com, or call (330) 539-6186. Both places offer miniature golf ranges.

Another indoor possibility is Jester's Court, where laser tag and bowling are available. Pick up the pace with a visit to the New Sharon Speedway, a dirt-track course co-owned by Dave Blaney, NASCAR driver and Trumbull County native.

Take the kids to an old-fashioned drive-in movie at the Skyway Drive-In or the Elm Road Twin Drive-In. There are only 433 drive-ins left in the country, so if your family doesn't visit one soon, it could be too late!

The Skyway Drive-In can be reached at (330) 898-3059; contact the Elm Road Drive-In by calling (303) 372-9732.

At Alcraft Egg Artistry, the family can visit the only store in the eastern part of the country dedicated exclusively to the art of decorating Faberge-style eggs. Call (330) 448-1573 or visit www.alcrafteggartistry.com for details.

For animal enthusiasts in the family, nothing will top a visit to Wagon Trails Animal Park, where horse-drawn wagon rides take guests through the 62-acre park for a glimpse of more than 300 animals from around the world. There are also a petting zoo, an aviary and a gift shop. Call (330) 539-4494 or visit www.wagontrails.com.

For a truly unusual round of golf, visit Young's Run Disc Golf Course in Champion Township. Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, except that Frisbees are used instead of clubs and balls, and special metal-basket assemblies serve as the "holes." Call (330) 675-2480.

Or take in a game at Cafaro Field in Niles. The state-of-the-art, 6,000-seat stadium is home to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a Cleveland Indians Class-A-affiliate team.

For more family fun just a short drive away, there's Six Flags in Aurora, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Keep an eye on the sky at the Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University, or in Austintown, get airborne at the Gravity House Extreme Skate Park.