11 Most Inviting Towns in Ohio
Brave the winding rivers of a state named from the Iroquois term "ohi-yo," translating to "great river." While there are numerous destinations to enjoy in Buckeye State, such as the cities of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, the most inviting towns in Ohio have many features and enticements that will give you an excellent river rafting tour of the land. Dive into the immersive majesties of Chagrin Falls and Yellow Springs for a rejuvenating escape. Revisit the past in history-preserving locales like Marietta, Mount Vernon, and Loveland. Sample the riveting culture of Put-In-Bay, Athens, and Ashtabula. But most of all, cherish all the invaluable and unprecedented moments you will experience in the most inviting towns in Ohio.
Yellow Springs
Summer comes alive in the vivacious town of Yellow Springs. Only around 30 minutes from Dayton, visitors can brave the woodland trails of the Glen Helen Nature Preserve or down the 752-acre limestone gorge of John Bryan State Park. From there, you can capture scenic moments of the Little Miami River and even spot some hikers and bikers along the Little Miami Bike Trails. At the Clifton Mill, you can be treated to history lessons on grist mills and their importance to the community, and on April 20, celebrate the annual Earth Day by harvesting as many fruits as possible. For those who need a place to stay to sample some of your scrumptious harvest, the Mills Park Hotel, The Owl’s Roost, and Jailhouse Suites are some of the many lodgings you can savor Yellow Springs’ delicacies.
Chagrin Falls
Approximately 40 miles from the city of Cleveland, Chagrin Falls is not the kind of place to feel chagrined. Indeed, the waterfalls in the Chagrin River Park are among the many attractions that will surely keep you elated in town. There are also the glass-blown exhibits and masterpieces at the Glass Asylum, whereas the Chagrin Falls Historical Society & Museum the town’s turbulent inception from 1833 to the modern milieu. The historic Popcorn Shop, the oldest sweet shop in town, is a perfect place to purchase a taste of the past. And when it comes to accommodations, the Inn of Chagrin is one of the finest establishments you can call a temporary home.
Marietta
Since 1788, Marietta has remained the oldest settlement in Ohio along the confluence of the Ohio River and Muskingum River. It was first a settlement of the Adena and Hopewell Native Americans before early pioneers occupied the territory. The remnants of these great Native Americans can be found among the burial mounds, embankments, and passageways the pre-pioneer tribes left behind—there are even Native American earthenware at the Mound Cemetery or Marietta Earthworks. Marietta is notably mentioned in The Pioneers, a novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough about Westward expansion. You can explore for yourself the arboreal beauty of Marietta at the Gunlock Park, Kroger Wetland, and the Wayne National Forest. There is more to see and experience in Marietta, and opulent lodgings like the Lafayette Hotel and the Hackett Hotel have a number of necessities to keep you staying.
Granville
Around 33 miles from Columbus, Granville is a grand location to admire the Native American history of Ohio. Infirmary Mound, located in the aptly named Infirmary Mound Park, is one of many Native American mounds that the Hopewell people created. More can be found in Salt Run Park, while an early Hopewell settlement can be explored in the Raccoon Valley Park. Additionally, Newark Earthworks can be gleaned at the Licking County Area. You can better understand the Hopewell tribe and other Native Americans in the area at the Circle Museum. Meanwhile, the Robbins Hunter Museum, Bryn Du Mansion, and Granville Inn are living museums that reveal what pioneer life was like. For accommodations, look to the Broadway Guest House, the Porch House Bed & Breakfast, or the Historic Buxton Inn for your daily needs.
Put-In-Bay
Put in your free time by visiting Put-In-Bay, the “Key West of the North.” As a premier resort village on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, Put-In-Bay commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 with Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. The Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum exhibits many martial and maritime memorabilia during the war, whereas the Benson Ford Ship House shows the former forecastle of a huge cargo ship which Henry Ford’s company owned. Enjoy the flight of butterflies at the Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center, or ride on vintage horses at Kimberley’s Carousel. Every year from May 5 - 6, Put-In-Bay celebrates the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony. And if you require a place to spend your evenings, you can always find safety and comfort at the Commodore Resort, Victory Station Hotel, or Bird’s Nest Resort.
Loveland
Nearly 24 miles from the city of Cincinnati, Loveland invites travelers with a bevy of beautiful delights. Being the "Sweetheart of Ohio” means upholding a standard of attraction, and Loveland’s ties with the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trails has designated it as a Buckeye Trail Town suitable for bikers and hikers. To learn the town’s background, tour the Loveland Historical Society & Museum. To appreciate the modern culture and heritage of Loveland, watch live performances at the Loveland Stage Company and the Loveland Art Studios on Main. And if you really want to fall in love with Loveland, then travel to the medieval-looking castles of Loveland Castle, aka Chateau Laroche, or Castle Skateland. Should you want a place to stay, you can book a room at the Loveland Lofts.
Mount Vernon
Sing along the Kokosing River towards the town of Mount Vernon. Named after George Washington’s former plantation house, Mount Vernon contains the Woodward Opera House, the oldest known “free-standing opera house in the United States. It is also the birthplace of Daniel Decatur Emmette, the composer of the music genre known as “Dixie”, and Mary Ann Bickerdyke, a military nurse during the American Civil War. Close to these cultural attractions is the Kokosing Gap Trail, a 14-mile trail replete with leisurely trails and treks. In August, you can attend the wonderful Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival, while on July you can watch the Knox County Fair. Lastly, Mount Vernon Grand Hotel, the Mount Vernon Inn, and the Coleman Family Gallerie Suite are among the many establishments you can refreshen and recharge in Mount Vernon.
Milan
As cultural aesthetic as Milan in Italy, the inviting town of Milan in Ohio on the Huron River is the birthplace of the great American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison. One can tour his childhood home—a redbrick house on Edison Drive. In addition, visitors can explore the Sayles House inside the Milan Historical Museum, which illustrates the town’s conception in 1804 thanks to Moravian missionaries from the Czech Republic. The Sayles House is, oddly enough, a toy and doll museum as well as a blacksmith’s workstation. Only about 36 miles from Put-In-Bay, stay a while in pristine accommodations such as the White Dog Bed & Breakfast, Alto Inn, or Milan Inn-tiques.
Athens
As culturally refined as the Greek acropolis of Athens, the town of Athens in Ohio along the Hocking River is home to the prestigious Ohio University. Many of the state’s students and the townsfolk gain clarity and exercise when traipsing through the Wayne National Forest. They also peace and satisfaction when exploring Lake Hope State Park in addition to the charming Zaleski State Forest. Being a sophisticated locus of Ohio’s class and culture, Athens embodies the aesthetic appeals of humanity with artworks found in the OHIO Museum Complex, the Kennedy Museum of Art, and the Dairy Barn Arts Center. Once the societal marvels of Athens hook you into staying, you ought to purchase a room at either the Athens Central Hotel, Ohio University Inn, or Hometown Inn.
Ashtabula
On the shores of Lake Erie sits the humble town of Ashtabula. Travelers can go fishing at Walnut Beach Park and Ashtabula River Trail along Lake Erie, considering the town was named after the Algonquian phrase for “river of many fishes”. When it comes to history, the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum is filled with victories and sacrifices of the abolitionist movement. In the rural areas of Ashtabula, make sure to visit one of the 30 wineries in the fertile Grand River Valley, where you can sample the finest wine in Ohio. Indeed, Ashtabula contributes 50% of Ohio’s aggregate grapes specifically in the wineries of the Grand River Valley. Come explore this astonishing town only 53 miles from Cleveland.
Sugarcreek
Hailed as the “Little Switzerland of Ohio,” Sugarcreek is a 53-minute away getaway from the satellite town of Akron. The town is also a gateway to Ohio’s Amish Country, where small cheese factories and industries dominate the region due to the dedication of the descendants of Swiss and German immigrants. Amidst the alpine- and Swiss-architecture of Sugarcreek awaits the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock in the main square, built in 1972 and measuring 23 feet tall and 24 feet wide. The Age of Steam Roundhouse serves as a museum preserving many of the locomotives that improved American lives in Ohio. And every year since 1952, the jolly folk of Sugarcreek celebrate their heritage with the Ohio Swiss Festival, soon to occur on September this 2024. Say cheese in your photos while tasting the exquisite cheese of Sugarcreek, and do not forget to find accommodations at the Weaver Barns, Sugarcreek Village Inn, or Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek.
In Conclusion
Ohio embodies many qualities that are welcoming and enticing, especially in the most inviting towns in a state filled with great rivers. From resplendent abodes and settlements such as Yellow Springs, Sugarcreek, and Put-in-Bay to locations continuing to both preserve and honor the past like Milan and Granville, these small towns of the Buckeye State have numerous qualities in high quantity. It is not enough to simply hear about these towns—you ought to visit these awesome dwellings for yourself. Because in a state where many American presidents—like Rutherford B. Hayes, William Henry Harrison, and Ulysses S. Grant—were born, and where Orville and Wilbur Wright perfected aviation, you will be soaring down many great rivers to a handful of the hometowns great men and women once called home.
