Located in the suburbs of Geneva, Ohio, SPIRE Institute is a one-of-a-kind sports performance training and education academy that offers training programs for a variety of sports. These include programs for soccer, track and field, basketball, volleyball, and more. Featuring over 700,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities, SPIRE Institute’s 175-acre campus is also often used as a venue for tournaments and other competitions. It has even been recognized as an official United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.
No matter what your reason for visiting SPIRE Institute is, it’s unlikely that you’ll be spending all of your time there. This is especially true if you’ll be visiting SPIRE Institute with a team of young children who get restless easily. If that’s the case there’s no need to worry. There are many fun attractions and sights to see just minutes from SPIRE Institute, as well as plenty of great team-friendly restaurants to go to when it’s time to grab a bite to eat.
Things to Do
Western Reserve Greenway
You and your team can kick off your visit to SPIRE Institute by stretching your legs on the Western Reserve Greenway. Spanning nearly 50 miles from Ashtabula to Warren, the Western Reserve Greenway is a trail that’s as lengthy as it is beautiful.
Mostly rural, much of the Western Reserve Greenway passes through farmland and densely wooded areas. The trail’s thick tree canopy provides shade for those traversing the Western Reserve Greenway on hot summer days. Although it’s located just over a five-minute drive from SPIRE Institute, the Western Reserve Greenway couldn’t be farther from the hectic hustle and bustle of team travel. Rt 45, Ashtabula, OH
Hidden Valley Park
If you’re looking for another place where you and your team can enjoy an hour or two of outdoor fun, look no further than Hidden Valley Park. Despite its name, you shouldn’t have any difficulty finding Hidden Valley Park, especially since it’s only a 10-minute drive from SPIRE Institute.
The park is situated along the beautiful Grand River and features a network of trails that offer spectacular views of the scenery. In addition to these trails, Hidden Valley Park also features amenities like a playground, picnic area, sledding hill, and more. Activities that can be enjoyed at Hidden Valley Park include biking, birdwatching, and fishing. 4872 Klasen Rd, Madison, OH 44057
Plum Crazy Adventures on the Lake
Wondering where you and your team can race RC cars, shoot at hordes of zombies with paintball guns, and watch a movie at a drive-in theater? Plum Crazy Adventures on the Lake, that’s where! Opened in 2017, Plum Crazy Adventures is one of the area’s newest and most popular attractions. It’s an outdoor family fun center located in the neighboring village of Geneva-on-the-Lake that’s open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
Even after Labor Day the fun doesn’t end at Plum Crazy Adventures however. That’s when zombies begin to run amok during Zombies on the Lake! If you and your team are visiting SPIRE Institute soon after Labor Day, arm yourselves with paintball guns and help to save the world from an impending zombie infestation. 4291 N Broadway, Geneva on the Lake, Ohio 44041
Geneva State Park
Located on Ohio’s northeastern shoreline, Geneva State Park offers visitors abundant year round recreation choices amid beautiful scenery. Spanning just under 700 acres, there’s much to see and do at Geneva State Park.
If you’d like to enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors with your team, Geneva State Park is home to the Crabapple Picnic Area, which features two shelter houses with restrooms, volleyball courts, and more. The shelter houses are available by reservation only, so be sure to plan ahead! Additional amenities offered at Geneva State Park include an archery range; a swimming beach on the tranquil shores of Lake Erie; miles of both paved and unpaved trails; a marina with a six-lane boat ramp; and more. 4499 Padanarum Road, Geneva, OH 44041
Adventure Zone
Since so many of the attractions around SPIRE Institute are outdoors, you might be worried that a rainy day in Geneva will wash away all of your group’s plans. Luckily this is not the case! That’s because the area is home to Adventure Zone, a seasonal family fun center where you and your team can enjoy hours of kid-friendly entertainment for a reasonable price.
Although most of their attractions are located outdoors, Adventure Zone also features an indoor area with a giant arcade, the Kids’ Krawl playground, and a snack shop offering a wide selection of both sweet and savory treats. Outdoor attractions at Adventure Zone include go-karts, bumper boats, climbing walls, miniature golf, and more. 5600 Lake Rd E, Geneva, OH 44041
Allison’s Mini Golf
You might be surprised to discover that while at SPIRE Institute, you and your team will be just a short drive from the oldest miniature golf course in the country in continuous play. Established almost a century ago in 1924, Allison’s Mini Golf is a course that’s fun for all ages, including young children and those who were once children when they first played there. The course is exceptionally well-maintained, featuring an abundance of colorful gardens and shady trees.
After you’re done playing, treat everyone to a hot dog and an ice-cold lemonade from the stands located right next door. 5456 Lake Rd E, Geneva, OH 44041
Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse
If you’ve got the time, take your team to the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse during your visit to SPIRE Institute. While this popular historical attraction is located a bit far from SPIRE Institute at just over 30 minutes away, it’s definitely worth the drive. Founded in 1945, the Fairport Harbor Museum houses a variety of fascinating relics, such as navigational instruments, marine charts, tools used by ship carpenters, a Fresnel lens, and much more.
Some of the most unique objects on display at Fairport Harbor Marine Museum include the main mast of the USS Michigan, the Navy’s first iron-hulled ship warship, which is located outside near the museum’s entrance, and the mummified remains of Sentinel, a cat who some believe still wander the lighthouse as a ghost. 129 2nd St, Fairport Harbor, OH 44077
Places to Eat
Pizza Roto
Does a food more kid-friendly than pizza exist? Probably not! If that’s what your team is craving while at SPIRE Institute you’ll be glad to know that you’re just minutes from Pizza Roto, one of the best pizza places in and around Geneva. What makes Pizza Roto so standout is the way they cook their pies. They use a state-of-the-art rotating brick oven to ensure that each pizza they serve is cooked evenly every time. Since it only takes about three minutes to cook a pizza in their oven, you won’t have to wait long either.
The menu at Pizza Roto includes both specialty pies as well as a build your own option if you’re feeling particularly creative. Make your meal complete with a salad or breadsticks available in both sweet and savory varieties. 560 River St, Madison, OH 44057
Mary’s Diner
Although their atmosphere and décor harkens back to the classic neon-tinted eateries of the 1950s, Mary’s Diner opened in Geneva just over a decade ago. You probably wouldn’t be able to tell that from looking at their menu however.
Mary’s Diner offers an eclectic selection of diner staples for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their menu includes everything from corned beef hash and pancakes to a towering, three-layer club sandwich and meatloaf served atop creamy mashed potatoes. They’ve also got a kids’ menu with smaller portions of favorites like grilled cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken fingers. 666 E Main St, Geneva, OH 44041
Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor
While the Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor doesn’t have a rotating brick oven like the one at Pizza Roto, their pies definitely don’t lack in flavor. This quaint pizza joint is named for the restored section of an actual covered bridge which houses its Andover and North Kingsville locations. The Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor near SPIRE Institute in Ashtabula doesn’t feature its namesake façade but their food is still just a delicious.
At Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor you and your team can enjoy pizzas made with dough prepared fresh daily, as well as salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and more. 4861 N Ridge Rd W, Ashtabula, OH 44004
Yun Tung Chinese Restaurant
If you and your team prefer more exotic eats, treat everyone to a meal at Yun Tung Chinese Restaurant. There you can enjoy a wide variety of classic Chinese dishes like fried rice, lo mein, General Tso’s chicken, steamed dumplings, and more.
If you’re all feeling extra hungry, Yun Tung even offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for a surprisingly affordable price. With a big menu, big portions, and an even bigger buffet you definitely won’t be leaving Yun Tung hungry! 6592 N Ridge Rd, Madison, OH 44057
From the time you and your team spend at SPIRE Institute to the time you spend visiting all of the sights there are to see in and around Geneva, there won’t be a dull moment during your trip. This is especially true for teams that enjoy spending a lot of time outside, since this area of Ohio is home to a variety of beautiful parks, trails, and other outdoor attractions. So, if you really want to make the most of your visit to Geneva, pack your most comfortable walking shoes and be ready to explore!