Everyday Akron Stories

Top 11 Reasons to Read the Everyday Akron Blog 

Rachel Whinnery, creator of Everyday Akron

I recently asked my friends and followers what kind of information they wanted us to add to the Everyday Akron blog. Nearly every response included topics and guides we already had on the blog. Which made me wonder …

Y’all know we have a blog, right? You must if you’re reading this at the moment. But do you know the blog’s depths? 

I’ve been posting articles since 2016. And when I grew the Everyday Akron team in 2023, the amount of content about Akron grew even more. That’s 10 years(!!) of content to comb through. 

So, I figured I’d help you all out and give you the top 11 reasons to read the Everyday Akron blog, along with some key examples. 

I’ll touch on this more, but if there’s ever any information, guides, topics, interviews and whatever else you feel is missing from the blog, reach out! We’d love to work on it or invite you to be a guest writer. (See #3.)

11. Meet new people  

I’m starting with the most obvious reason to check out the Everyday Akron blog. Every Sunday we announce who’s hosting the Instagram account for the week. Depending on the timing, you’ll get a sneak peek at what’s to come. 

Plus, we have all sorts of stories and features with Akronites doing amazing things like running nonprofits, starting local businesses, and just being damn cool.

These folks are essentially your neighbors. Meet someone new! 

10. Get exclusive guides to the city 

We’ve created a bunch of guides to Akron over the years with a variety of things to do, try, eat, experience, and more. There’s something for everyone! Try one of the following.

These examples aren’t exhaustive of their categories. Be sure to check out all our guides to Akron and the surrounding areas. And tell us what guides you’d like to see added! 

9. Discover new businesses to support 

Have you ever noticed an Everyday Akron Instagram host will share one of their favorite small businesses and then someone will comment, “Where is this? I’ve never heard of it!” Yeah … I see that all the time in relation to both newly opened businesses and ones that have been around for what seems like forever. 

Check out our owner-submitted small business features (and submit yours!).

In addition to our gift guides chock-full of local businesses, we have stories on where to find Akron souvenirs, community favorites, vintage shopping tips from a small business, businesses related to home renovations and more. 

8. Learn about the video series we produce 

We’ve created two mini series centered around small businesses. 

In 2024, we produced four videos on how supporting small businesses makes a big impact. Learn more on the blog and watch videos featuring Akron Coffee Roasters, India Ink Tattoo Co., Gardener of Bath, and 24 Karat Posse. 

In 2025, we began the Behind the Menu series to go behind the scenes of local food businesses and meet the folks who cook up delicious eats in the Rubber City. Learn more on the blog and watch videos featuring Best Damn Smoked Meats, Majestic Tails, Jilly’s Music Room, and Taste of Bangkok.

7. Discover nonprofits to get involved with 

We have a bunch of non-profit features on the blog submitted by those who run and are involved with them. Check them out and find one that resonates with you. Then research that one a little more and get involved. Whether you donate time, money, or other resources, I’m sure they’d love the support. 

Be sure to submit your own non-profit feature too!

6. Good-quality, non-AI content written by Akronites 

As we learn more and more about AI – especially generative AI tools – it seems as though companies are more concerned about profits than negative environmental impacts, false information and the erasure of critical thinking. And we are noticing. So it’s more fun to do things the hard way. The old school way. The more community-based, creative way. 

Granted, a few old posts may have had a heavy assist by a generative AI tool, but when we know better we do better. When we learn more, we adjust more. So stick around, because we have more good quality content coming at ya!

5. Learn more about Akron’s history 

The city of Akron and the surrounding area have incredible history that goes beyond rubber.

Check out a few of our first blog posts on the site about the sheep on Mutton Hill and a guest post about Akron’s impact on the sports world. You can also learn about Akron’s out-of-this-world astronaut connection, which includes opportunities to learn more about space and STEM-focused disciplines.

Plus, we have a popular guide to the 12 must-see historical places in the Rubber City. Explore the blog, then head into the past in person across Akron. 

4. Discover a new-to-you neighborhood

It’s easy to get siloed into the neighborhoods in which you live and work. You know them well and they’re a comfort. Sometimes we feel like we have to travel out of town – or even out of state – to put on our adventure hats and explore a new place. But have you ever tried going to a different Akron neighborhood? 

Each one is unique, with different small businesses, parks and green spaces, organizations, recreation activities, and so much more to check out.

Right now we only have a guide to Merriman Valley and a guide to spending a day in Barberton (yes, I’m counting that as a neighborhood for this). But, you’re sure to find gold nuggets on other neighborhoods throughout our content. Try searching the site for a specific neighborhood and see what comes up.

And hey – if you’re interested in creating a guide to your neighborhood, please reach out! 

3. Read guest blog posts

As much as we’d like to, the Everyday Akron team can’t cover everyyythinggg. That’s why we welcome guest writers! They’ve created posts about mocktail adventures in Akron, a local book club, and more. 

Want to submit one? Send us your ideas! We’d love to hear from you. Any topic is on the table: a guide to your neighborhood (see #4), a reflection on moving back to Akron after 10 years away, tips for the perfect no-phone day around the city, a recipe for your favorite local dish, and really anything else you can dream up.

(Please start by sending us your topic and a short outline so we can approve before you write. New work only – we don’t want to cannibalize traffic from the content’s original location.)

2. Get in-depth stories about Akronites

Want to really get to the heart of an Akronite’s story? Well you’re in luck! We have blog posts that range from team member Brittany sharing her Akron Roller Derby journey to Sabertooth’s Marissa and Elisa sharing why it’s important to create a stronger sense of community through public art.

You never know who you’ll meet on the blog that you haven’t yet met on from an Instagram takeover! 

1. Support the work done by the Everyday Akron team 

Everyday Akron team

Finally, reading the blog helps the Everyday Akron team. We do all this for the love of Akron, so seeing the stats move up on the backend of the website shows we’re doing something right. For you. For other Akronites. For Akron as a whole. 

It shows you care about the city in the sense that you want to learn more about it. Plus, more eyeballs on the site means less ads on the site – so you can read and learn more faster. You can also throw a few dollars our way and get an Everyday Akron sticker in return!

If you’re not visiting the site because the information you’re looking for isn’t there, please let us know! Like I said before, we’d love to research and write it or invite you to write a piece for the blog. Send us your thoughts and feedback!

If you made it to the end of this blog post, you’re our true #1 reason. Thank you for being here! Help us spread the word about Akron via the Everyday Akron website by telling a friend to read the blog and sign up for our newsletter.