Kent is a small college town in northeast Ohio, about 15 km east of Akron. It is the home of Kent State University, which shapes much of the town's character — the restaurants, bars, and bookshops along East Main Street cater to the student population, giving the town more cultural energy than its size would suggest.
The university campus is also the site of the May 4, 1970 shootings, when Ohio National Guard soldiers fired on students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four. The May 4 Visitors Center on campus is a sober and well-done memorial that draws visitors from across the country.
Beyond the campus, Kent has a pleasant downtown with a scattering of independent shops, a good farmers' market on Saturday mornings, and easy access to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Portage Hike and Bike Trail.