Transplant here because of wife (who also happens to work at U of A) and can say that while apathy towards the team is at an all time high (doubt the stadium will be half full Saturday despite an attractive non-conference opponent) usually I find people who smear the other aspects of town are people who barely leave their car and comment about the views from the turnpike and I’m sorry but I don’t take kindly when people talk ill of this great country of ours. Rock Hall 30 minutes in one direction, Football Hall 30 minutes the other, CVNP located here, major outdoor music venue called Blossom, home of Goodyear blimp, Soapbox derby, original Loews Theater, Black Keys are back in town, Guardians AA farm team, and always something going on and full of history (our house is a mile from one of the oldest continuously used trails in the WORLD and makes up what was once the westernmost boundary of these United States) if you can appreciate any of that sort of thing. But you’re right, no mountains. Although if you’re familiar at all with US geography you’ll notice the Alleghenies are only 2.5 hours east of NE Ohio. People are friendly like you said and down to earth though like back home (although now I guess there are always some exceptions). Bless the USA! Go Pokes! O-H!
I will now be taking dining suggestions for anyone making the trip to this place that produced my lovely wife and that I now call home.