10 Coziest Ohio Towns to Visit in 2024
Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland are charming and relaxing cities in Ohio. But sometimes, we need to snuggle up and feel cozy in a smaller place in a state whose name comes from the Iroquois word “ohi-yo” meaning “great river.” Fortunately, the Buckeye State is replete with dozens of cozy small towns worth visiting this 2024. From minor mirrors of Switzerland like Sugarcreek to towns near Lake Erie, such as Put-In-Bay, these cozy small towns will give you a grand appreciation of the homely atmospheres and rural countryside that Ohio promotes. In a state that made presidents like William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, and Rutherford B. Hayes, leave your discomforts and woes behind while you journey through the many cozy small towns to visit in Ohio.
Marietta
Formerly an Adena and Hopewell Native American settlement before pioneers rebuilt the site, Marietta has been the oldest settlement in Ohio since 1788. With its location on the confluence of the Ohio River and Muskingum River, visitors can find the remains of burial mounds, passageways, and embankments built by the Native Americans. At the Mound Cemetery and Marietta Earthworks, one can even admire Native American earthenware handcrafted by Adena and Hopewell. Those of you who might have read The Pioneers—written by Pulitzer-Prize-winning historian David McCullough—might know more about Marietta and its contributions to Westward expansion. Go for more explorations in Gunlock Park, Kroger Wetland, and the Wayne National Forest. After that, lie down on a comfy bed at either the Lafayette Hotel or the Hackett Hotel.
Chagrin Falls
Chagrined by the busy lifestyle and hectic days? Then, let those chagrins fall away by traveling 40 miles from Cleveland and into the town of Chagrin Falls. The Glass Asylum houses galleries and exhibits of glass-blown magnum opuses. The Chagrin Falls Society & Museum chronicles Chagrin Falls’ beginnings from 1833, and a more historical way to feel immersed in the past is to purchase sweets and other goodies at the Popcorn Shop, the oldest sweet shop in town. Lastly, go sightseeing at the waterfall of the Chagrin River Park, which gave the town its cozy name. No need to feel unwanted in Chagrin Falls because the Inn of Chagrin is among many accommodations that will keep you cozy and comfortable in town.
Granville
Have a grand and jolly time in Granville, a splendid town only 33 miles from the city of Columbus. Study the past of the Native Americans in the Salt Run Park and Infirmary Mound Park, the latter containing the Infirmary Mound, which is one of numerous Native American mounds the Hopewell people constructed. There is also a replica of a Hopewell settlement in the Raccoon Valley Park, as well as Newark Earthworks at the Licking County Area. More about the Hopewell people can be appreciated at the Circle Museum, whereas historic structures like the Robbins Hunter Museum, Bryn Du Mansion, and Granville Inn showcase how early pioneers used to live in Granville. If you are interested in visiting the town, then you ought to book a room at the Broadway Guest House, the Porch House Bed & Breakfast, or the Historic Buxton Inn.
Put-In-Bay
Put-In-Bay has been hailed as the “Key West of the North” due to it being the gateway to Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes of America. Among the sublime amenities in Put-in-Bay are the butterflies at the Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center and the vintage Kimberley’s Carousel. There is even a Blessing of the Fleet ceremony from May 5 - 6 each year.
For decades, Put-in-Bay has served as a premier resort village on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, though in the past, it was once the site of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorates that momentous battle, just as the Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum provides deeper insights into the war. There is one particular remnant you might be intrigued to see—the forecastle of a cargo ship, now called the Benson Ford Ship House, which previously belonged to Henry Ford. The Key West of the North will certainly open many doors to adventure, so you should definitely seek your comforts in Put-In-Bay’s awesome establishments like the Commodore Resort, Victory Station Hotel, or Bird’s Nest Resort.
Loveland
Loveland is, naturally, the “Sweetheart of Ohio.” Whether you are biking along the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trails—Loveland is a certified Buckeye Trail Town, meaning it is suitable for bikers and hikers alike—or exploring the Loveland Historical Society & Museum with its many exhibitions, you will not feel disappointed by Loveland’s cozy charms. More importantly, there are live performances at the Loveland Stage Company and the Loveland Art Studios on Main. Perhaps the most amazing features of Loveland are its two castles, Loveland Castle, aka Chateau Laroche, and Castle Skateland. Only 24 miles from the city of Cincinnati, you will fall in love not only with Loveland but also with its many lodgings like the Loveland Lofts.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, situated beside the Kokosing River, is a town with deep ties to the past and a firm connection to the present. It was named after the original home and plantation house of George Washington and was the birthplace of two prominent individuals—first, Daniel Decatur Emmette, who composed “Dixie,” and second, Mary Ann Bickerdyke, a war nurse who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. These days, Mount Vernon is renowned for promoting the Woodward Opera House, the oldest known free-standing opera house in the US. Mount Vernon celebrates its lively attitudes during the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival every August in addition to the Knox County Fair on July. So, if you want to see more of this cozy small town, then you can seek your comforts at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel, the Mount Vernon Inn, or the Coleman Family Gallerie Suite.
Milan
The majestic town of Milan on the Huron River is a dynamic place of much cultural and social renown. It was within the cozy domiciles and dwellings in the town that the great American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, was born. His childhood home can be found at a red brick house on the aptly-named Edison Drive. Milan is also renowned for the Milan Historical Museum, which, aside from chronicling Milan’s origins in 1804 by Moravian missionaries from the Czech Republic, contains a toy and doll museum/blacksmith’s workstation called the Sayles House. More strange and unusual tidbits can be gleaned in this town only 36 miles from Put-In-Bay, but you need not feel so unwanted when staying in the White Dog Bed & Breakfast, Alto Inn, or Milan Inn-tiques.
Athens
The town of Athens along the Hocking River in Ohio is almost as enlightened as the real Athens in Greece. It is within the comfortable abodes of the town that one can find the illustrious Ohio University, whose students and locals alike can find tranquility and inspiration at the Wayne National Forest. The Lake Hope State Park and the Zaleski State Forest are also bucolic destinations for those seeking the pleasures of nature. Not everything in Athens is focused on the artistry of nature, for human genius and mastery are on full display in several museums and galleries, such as the Dairy Barn Arts Center, the OHIO Museum Complex, and the Kennedy Museum of Art. Want to unravel more of Athens’ invigorating attractions and destinations? Then allow the accommodations of the Athens Central Hotel, Ohio University Inn, or Hometown Inn to care for your person in your adventure through Athens.
Sugarcreek
Approximately 53 minutes from Akron, Sugarcreek has often been called the “Little Switzerland of Ohio” due to its abundance of cheese factories founded by the original Swiss and German settlers in the past. There is also the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock in Sugarcreek’s main square, a monument to Swiss culture from 1972 which measures 23 feet tall and 24 feet wide. Visitors ought to attend Sugarcreek’s yearly festival, the Ohio Swiss Festival, which has been around since 1952 and begins every September. Railroad enthusiasts might also want to check out on the Age of Steam Roundhouse to learn all about Ohio’s railroads and locomotives. See more from this exciting entranceway to Ohio’s Amish Country, and give yourself nightly rests at the Weaver Barns, Sugarcreek Village Inn, or Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek.
Yellow Springs
Feel mellow like any fellow in the pleasant town of Yellow Springs. About 30 minutes from the city of Dayton, Yellow Springs provides travelers access to the 752-acre limestone gorge of John Bryan State Park as well as the beautiful habitats of the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. Bike or hike through the Little Miami Bike Trails, stroll along the banks, and paddle down the Little Miami River. Perhaps you might be invested in the grist mills of Yellow Springs at the Clifton Mill, which contributed much to the town’s development. On April 20, the townsfolk of Yellow Springs host the annual Earth Day, which encourages people to pluck as many fruits as humanly possible. There is no deficit of destinations to enjoy in Yellow Springs, so you ought to book a room at either the Mills Park Hotel, The Owl’s Roost, or Jailhouse Suites for a more riveting stay in Yellow Springs.
Comforts come a long way, but in Ohio, many of these comforts can originate from the cozy small towns to visit in the Buckeye State. Relish the bucolic swathes and forests of Athens or Granville. Relive the deep and intricate histories and Native American cultures in Granville, Mount Vernon, and Milan. Finally, give yourself a chance to soar in a state where the Wright brothers flew the first aircraft. Where great rivers flow and greater moments and opportunities keep going, Ohio’s cozy small towns are certainly vacation spots worthy for the weekends, the holidays, or any day you are in need of relief.
