Play the Stan Hywet Way

About the Sampler

Estimated Time: Day Trip
Travel Components: America's Byway
Special Interest: Families
Starting Point: Summit
Ending Point: Summit
Cost: Fee: Stan Hywet Entry; Optional: Lunch, Dinner
Submitted By: Alex Klukaszewski, Questing Intern, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

About a hundred years ago, wealthy businessman F. A. Seiberling created a gracious home where his family and friends could escape bustling city life. F.A. and his brother made their money founding The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The Seiberlings loved outdoor games and sports, and their children and grandchildren scampered all over their Akron estate. Today, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is open to the public and offers many family-friendly activities. Follow this sampler to get the most out of your visit!

Step by Step

Go Canalway Questing: Rhyming Clues Lead the Way

Start your day by buying tickets at the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Carriage House. Pick up a Canalway Quest brochure near the front desk. There are two quests to choose from; each taking about an hour. I Spy at the Manor Quest circles the Tudor Revival mansion, challenging you to spot carved animals, unusual windows and chimneys, and other cool architectural features. Designing the Landscape Quest showcases the delightful gardens and is written by Warren Manning who designed the grounds. In both Quests, rhyming clues help you search for a hidden box. Questers then sign the logbook hidden within the box and collect a unique stamp impression.

Find Hidden Geocaches

If you have a smartphone or other mobile GPS device, download the free Geocaching app to find at least one of the hidden Stan Hywet boxes. Inside are collectible cards with fun, historical facts about the estate. Some of the locations are close to the Carriage House and others are farther away. To learn more about this popular worldwide activity, visit the geocaching website.

Grab a Bite

Ready to catch your breath after all the treasure hunting? Grab some chow back at Molly’s Shop & Café where you can munch lunch inside one of the old stable stalls. Once you have your energy back, prance over to the Corbin Conservatory. It’s the domed building with over 4,000 panes of glass.

Visit Beauty in Flight: Butterflies of North America

Float into the hoop house next to the Corbin Conservatory. From late June through early September, native butterflies flit and flutter among the flowers. Check out the interactive exhibits and feed the butterflies using a Q-tip coated in nectar.

Experience the Playgarden

After a delicate dance with your new flying friends, climb into the giant animal homes outside on the lawn. There is a swinging spider web, cozy bird nest, busy beehive and more. Next, charge on over to the nearby Playgarden. In the Motion Garden, peddle beside a 1929 blue Model A Ford truck planted with flowers. The organ pipes in Harmony Hall spout a shower of bubbles. The Playgarden also features a climbing wall, sand pit, spiral slide and amazing marble chase.

Traveler's Tips

Make sure to visit the Stan Hywet website before you go, as hours and activities available vary season to season.

Play the Stan Hywet Way

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Along the Trail

cleveland/cuyahoga county

summit, stark and tuscarawas counties