During the fourth week of Listen to America, HuffPost’s 25-city tour around the U.S., we stopped in Akron, Ohio.
The Ohio city is full of surprises. In addition to being the “rubber capital of the world,” it’s where the hamburger was supposedly invented, the hometown of NBA great LeBron James, and, during the 1940s and 1950s, it boasted the “jazz corridor” of the Midwest.
Visitors might want to take in Akron’s lively nighttime scene, which flourishes in its Historic Arts District, or head on over to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the 11th-most-visited national park in the country. HuffPost spent some time in Cascade Plaza talking to locals and enjoying the Akronites’ kindness.
The HuffPost bus parks in front of the Akron Civic Theater in Ohio during "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip." The news outlet will visit more than 20 cities on its tour across the country.
Akronites sign up to be interviewed.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, right, is interviewed by Jo Confino on the HuffPost bus.
Lilly and Rory Owen wait for their owner to be interviewed.
The 85-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail winds through the northern Ohio city.
Hannah Wile signs up to be interviewed.
People check out the HuffPost activation site in Cascade Plaza.
Scenes from along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
Zac Kohl and Rob Moore sign up to be interviewed.
Zac Kohl of Citizens Akron, left, Ace Epps of Akron BMe Community, HuffPost's Isabella Carapella and Denny Wilson of FI Community Housing take a selfie.
HuffPost associate producer Susannah Gruder plays a game of cornhole.
The HuffPost tour bus sits in Cascade Plaza during HuffPost's visit to Akron, Ohio.
Cascade Plaza, created in the 1960s, includes walkways, open spaces and sculptures.
Canada geese along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
HuffPost interactive designer and multimedia producer Isabella Carapella and Michael Pace of Michael Pace Interactive conduct an interview.
The historic Akron Civic Theater downtown.
The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail winds past downtown.
Moderator Andrew Meyer of Akron Children's Hospital speaks during the "Building a New Vision for Downtown Akron" event at the Akron Art Museum on Oct. 2.
Jim Allen asks questions of Dr. Andrew Meyer and panelists -- Deputy Mayor Marco Sommerville, Kyle Kutuchief of the Knight Foundation, Akron Director of Planning and Urban Development Jason Segedy and Akron Beacon Journal Metro Editor Cheryl Powell -- during the "Building a New Vision for Downtown Akron" event.
Moderator Andrew Meyer speaks to panelists Marco Sommerville, Kyle Kutuchief, Jason Segedy and Cheryl Powell during the "Building a New Vision for Downtown Akron" event at the Akron Art Museum.
The Knight Foundation's Akron program director, Kyle Kutuchief, speaks during the "Building a New Vision for Downtown Akron" event.
