State of the week: Ohio

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Where are we? The Buckeye State. You probably all know someone from Ohio. It seems no matter where you live, work or go to school, you will end up meeting someone from Ohio. So you might wonder why, with so many displaced natives of the state, you should pay a visit to Ohio yourself. Well, read on to find out why there's more to Ohio than the Drew Carey Show.

Ohio history: European exploration of the land now known as Ohio began in the mid 17th century first by the French and then by the British. The eventual clash between the two nations, which led to the French and Indian War, was won by Britain, which quickly claimed the Ohio land for itself. After the American Revolution, Ohio fell into the control of America and officially became the 17th state in the Union in 1803. The first 50 years of the state's history saw its growth from a frontier land to an agricultural moneymaker, and -- with over two million residents by 1860 -- an advanced and developed state. Ohio remained a Union state during the civil war, and many influential Civil War generals called Ohio home, including the Ulysses S. Grant and the infamous (at least in the South) William Tecumseh Sherman.

The Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park is a great way to spend an evening in the Buckeye State. (Special to PGATOUR.COM)

Ohio on the course: The private Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio, garners top honors for courses to play in the Buckeye State. Host of the 2009 Senior PGA Championship, Canterbury's Scottish style par-72 layout plays over 6,960 yards from the black tees and is known best for its finishing holes of 16, 17 and 18. A par 5, par 3 and par 4, respectively, holes 16-18 intimidate at first with strong winds playing into an uneven fairway followed by the longest par 3 on the course with a two-tired green and ending with a dogleg right fairway, big bunkers and an uphill shot to the flag. If you can wangle your way to a tee time at Canterbury GC, you might be frustrated with your game, but you won't be disappointed with the course.

Ohio off the course: Ohio lays claim to some of the oddest and most interesting "attractions" in America -- including but not limited to the world's oldest traffic light, the oldest concrete street in America, the shortest street in America, the Pencil Sharpener Museum, the Paperweight Museum, the world's largest rubber stamp, the world's largest cuckoo clock and the world's largest washboard -- but if none of those make you want to hop on a plane, don't worry. The state's southern city of Cincinnati, which borders Kentucky on the banks of the Ohio River, is a really fun place to spend a weekend. There's baseball in the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park, there's history in the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, there's art at the Taft Museum, there's awesome food and entertainment at Newport on the Levee (technically, this is in Kentucky, but it's super close), and -- because of the proximity to the Bluegrass State -- there's easy access to horse racing and casinos in nearby Louisville and Lexington. Side note: If you go to Cincinnati on Labor Day weekend, make sure to find a good spot on the riverbank to watch the July-4th-worthy fireworks display complete with spinning wheels and rockets launched off the Roebling Suspension Bridge. It's really quite a show.

Ohio resort: For a four-star experience on Ohio's Great Lake -- Lake Erie -- then book a getaway at Erie Islands Resort and Marina. This Victorian-style lakefront hotel in Port Clinton also has cottages for rent as well as an RV area and a marina for guests who wish to bring/stay on their boat. It's a vacation spot for outdoor lovers with easy access to Catawba Island State Park, the islands of Lake Erie and Put-in-Bay, among other attractions. It's also a drivable distance from many major Midwestern cities such as Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind., and Pittsburgh, Pa. The resort also has indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, canoeing, fishing and a par-3 golf course to keep you amused during your stay. But don't forget to relax, too.

Ohio eats: For a truly original Ohio dish, you have to return to Cincinnati. Famous for Skyline Chili 3-Ways, Cincinnati knows how to do a meat lover right. A Cincinnati 3-Way consists of a bowl of spaghetti smothered with Skyline Chili and topped off with shredded cheddar cheese. Some people like to add onions on top of that, while others even enjoy some red beans thrown onto the mix as well. But whichever way you eat it, make sure it's genuine Skyline Chili. What gives the chili its unique taste (and cult-like following) are the subtle hints of chocolate and cinnamon flavors in the meat sauce. Before you screw up your nose and push the plate away, give it a try. A meal doesn't get to be this famous by tasting terrible. If you are a little scared to dive right into the 3-way, then try a Skyline Chili hotdog, which, obviously, uses a frank as the base instead of spaghetti. These days in Cincy, you can get Skyline Chili served up a million different ways, so give at least one dish a chance.

Ohio culture: Pennsylvania seems to have all the reputation for Amish Country, but Ohio is home to the traditional lifestyle also. Ohio's Amish Country comprises eight counties just south of Akron in the northeast region of the state. A trip to Ohio Amish Country will not only give tourists the opportunity to enjoy the various talents of the community -- food, crafts, furniture, quilting, wineries etc. -- it also provides an inside look into the lifestyle of these peaceful, conventional people and what the world might be like if everyone slowed down a little bit.

Jack Nicklaus played in the par-3 tournament in Augusta this year with fellow golf legends Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. (Cannon/Getty Images)

Ohio golfer: You probably don't need to keep reading to know who gets the mention as the state of the week golfer this week. The Golden Bear -- the world's greatest golfer (until a certain someone overtakes those 18 major titles) -- and one of the most known and adored faces in golfing history, Jack Nicklaus, was born 68 years ago in Columbus, Ohio. The 73-time TOUR winning champion grew up in Arlington, Ohio, and played college golf at The Ohio State University, where he won the U.S. Amateur title twice. He went on to become the greatest golfer America has seen with Arnold Palmer as his mentor -- and eventual adversary -- before settling back into friendship with the King. The two are still fiercely competitive, though. Nicklaus' 18 majors are composed of three Claret Jugs, four U.S. Open titles, five PGA Championships and six Green Jackets. He won his last major in a shocking victory at Augusta National in 1986 when he was 46 years old. But then, you already knew all that, right?