10 of the Most Charming Towns in Ohio

Ohio may be known for big cities like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, but scattered around those metros are mini-communities with a significant appeal. Those are where you can find attractions that you cannot readily find in cities, such as a castle museum, hilltop university, covered bridge, canopy ziplining tour, and a downtown that doubled as a Hallmark movie setting. Mine such charms and more in these 10 Buckeye State settlements.

Marietta

Let yourself eat cake in Marietta, a town of about 13,400 people named after Marie Antoinette. The Levee House's crab cakes are far from the only treats to sample in this community along the Ohio River, which also provides natural sights and historic sites. Tour the Campus Martius Museum and learn about Marietta's history as a waterfront hub and the first permanent US settlement in the Northwest Territory, or get a deeper dive by hopping on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, a classic towboat that chugs through the river. You can chug on land through Marietta College, which supplies academic charm to historic and scenic Marietta.

Chagrin Falls

Do not let its name fool you. Chagrin Falls is a decidedly stress-free village in Ohio. It boasts roughly 4,200 residents and quaint attractions like the Fireside Book Shop, Spice & Tea Exchange, Blind Squirrel Winery, Sleepy Rooster, Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop, Crooked Pecker Brewing Company, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, and the small waterfalls that inspired the latter part of its name. Despite its low population and low-stress environment, Chagrin Falls is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area, so residents are close to big city charm if they desire it.

Oberlin

Oberlin is another small, picturesque community with a small, picturesque college. After touring Oberlin College, especially its art museum and conservatory, visitors can walk through Tappan Square, a historic stamp of greenery that connects the college to the rest of Oberlin. Then, upon entering the downtown district, they can stop for pizza at Lorenzo's Pizzeria and tacos at Lupitas Mexican Restaurant before heading south to the Oberlin Arboretum, which is owned by the college but exists as an isolated oasis full of lakes, creeks, bridges, hills, trails, woods, and flowers.

Lebanon

Home to over 20,000 people, Lebanon is larger than the other places on this list. However, it sits in the shadow of Cincinnati, whose 300,000ish-person population makes Lebanon a comparably compact retreat. Cincinnati escapees can find hospitality and history in Lebanon via the Golden Lamb, which opened circa 1803 and is considered the oldest hotel in Ohio; Irons Fruit Farm, a fourth-generation produce market; pretty juniper or eastern red cedar trees, reminiscent of the ancient cedars of Lebanon, after which the city was named. Lebanon is so charming that it was used for a Hallmark Channel Original Movie: 2013's The Christmas Spirit. The Golden Lamb portrayed the Laurel Springs Inn.

Loveland

Loveland is an easy land to love. It has just over 13,000 residents, sits just outside of Cincinnati, and boasts just enough attractions to keep the spark alive. These include the Loveland Dairy Whip, Blooms & Berries Farm Market, Loveland Bike Trail, and Nisbet Park & Amphitheater. Loveland's most romantic site is Château Laroche, AKA the Loveland Castle, which is a Medieval-style castle that was built in the 1920s and now operates as a museum. It almost certainly inspired a nearby romantic roller rink called Castle Skateland.

Granville

Granville has been described as everything from an ABC Family Christmas movie town to a Norman Rockwell painting to a Bavarian village from a fairy tale to the quintessential American small town. Make your own comparison as you walk along the downtown storefronts, stroll through the Bryn Du Mansion estate, hike Infirmary Mound Park, tour historic homes, attend the HotLicks Bluesfest, or look over the village from Denison University, an esteemed liberal arts institution set on a hill. Denison has its own spectacular sights, like Swasey Chapel and the 350-acre Biological Reserve.

Yellow Springs

Many Ohio villages owe much of their charm to rural colleges, and Yellow Springs is no exception. This 3,700ish-person community is home to Antioch College, whose 100-acre campus contains bright students, beautiful buildings, stunning scenery, and even a working, sustainable farm. Moreover, it straddles the Glen Helen Nature Preserve, which spans over 1,000 acres and 20 miles of trails. After exploring Yellow Springs' greenery, one can relax at colorful commercial haunts like Super-Fly Comics & Games, Peach's Grill, Yellow Springs Pottery, Tuck-N-Red's Spirit & Wine, and the Yellow Springs Toy Company.

Geneva-on-the-Lake

Geneva-on-the-Lake is a resort village on Lake Erie. Tourists come for aquatic activities and dry off at a range of natural and commercial retreats. On the natural side are Geneva State Park and Geneva Township Park. On the artificial side are Sportsterz Bar and Grill, Madsen Donuts, Whips Magic Shop, the Noble Art Dinner Theater, and the Pucker Up Candy Shoppe. In between is Lake Erie Canopy Tours, an aerial adventure park at a resort hotel called The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake. One can go zip lining and rope climbing through the treetops.

Milford

Milford sits on the outskirts of Cincinnati. It has an abundance of trails that take walkers, hikers, and bikers away from the sprawl. In fact, Milford is an intersection of several long-distance trails. But such paths wind through more than just nature. Some pass by Milford's most charming shops and eateries. They include the Little Miami Brewing Company, Nation Kitchen and Bar, Cincinnati Distilling, and Bookmatters, the last of which is a highly-rated independent bookstore.

Peninsula

"Nestled" is an overused word in travel articles, but it is appropriate for Peninsula. This tiny village is nestled in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a 33,000ish-acre preserve that receives millions of visitors per year. It is rare for a community to be a retreat from nature, but the Peninsula maintains quiet charm amidst the bustle and bramble of one of America's most popular national parks. Among the quaint sights to see are Peninsula Village Antiques, the Peninsula Coffee House, and, though far from the main drag, the Everett Covered Bridge.

Explore Ohio's Charming Small Towns

If planning a visit to The Buckeye State, eye Marietta, Chagrin Falls, Oberlin, Lebanon, Loveland, Granville, Yellow Springs, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Milford, and Peninsula. Those small communities are where you can find some of the biggest charms in the state. They have an array of colors, shapes, and purposes, but they are all bound to transfix you during your rural Ohio vacation. Although it might be your first trip, it likely will not be your last.