9 Stunning Small Towns In Ohio
In the Midwest territory of the US, the Buckeye State of Ohio is home to some of the most charming and beautiful small towns worth visiting this year. From the shores and international waters of Lake Erie to the rolling hills and historic landmarks of the region, travelers will be smitten by the storybook villages in Ohio. At Sugarcreek, one can immerse themselves in the compelling German and Swiss heritage of the land. At Yellow Springs, you can soak in the splendid Ohio landscapes and riverside wildernesses from a state so named after the Iroquois word ohi-yo', meaning "great river." Most importantly, you will be enamored by the Midwest hospitality and charm that towns like Put-In-Bay and Granville are famous for. No matter the destination in Ohio, you will be absolutely amazed by the most stunning small towns in the Buckey State.
Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs is a lovely and spectacular little village just 20 miles east of the city of Dayton. Founded in 1825, the town was named after a natural spring rich in iron, which early settlers believed had healing properties. Over the years, Yellow Springs has grown into a picturesque small town that embraces creativity, outdoor adventure, and a strong sense of local identity. One of Yellow Springs’ most incredible attractions can be found within the Glen Helen Nature Preserve, a 1,125-acre sanctuary brimming with scenic trails, waterfalls, and the famous yellow-colored spring that gave the town its name.
Right next to the Glen Helen Nature Preserve are the John Bryan State Park and the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, both affable and amazing regions where travelers can walk beside the Little Miami River. Additionally, the town is home to Antioch College, renowned for its progressive educational curricula and its fostering of the town’s youth. More importantly, Yellow Springs is well beloved for its Yellow Springs Street Fair, an outdoor festival held each year on the second Saturday of both June and October, which you can attend downtown. Those of you who are enthusiastic about seeing more of what Yellow Springs has to offer can always feel welcome and accommodated at either the Mills Park Hotel or Three Ten Bed and Breakfast.
Put-In-Bay
On South Bass Island and about 54 miles east of Toledo, the enchanting small town of Put-In-Bay is a venerable gateway to the stellar splendors in Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes of America. During the War of 1812, Put-In-Bay was the site of a fierce naval battle, which is commemorated by a Greek Doric column known as Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. The Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum elaborates more on the history of Put-In-Bay and how the town was originally called Pudding or Puden Bay because the shape of the harbor resembled a pudding bag. Elsewhere, you can venture into Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center for its butterfly house and limestone cave in addition to the Crystal Cave, which is a massive celestite geode right next to one of Put-In-Bay’s critically acclaimed wineries. Finally, you can tour the Benson Ford Ship House, a refurbished forecastle from a huge cargo ship that Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company once used to haul iron ore around the Great Lakes.
From the South Bass Island State Park, visitors can go exploring through the Jane Coates Wildflower Trail and see the distant ruins of the Green Island Light Station from the 19th century. From the Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve, one can get a grand and unspoiled view of Lake Erie’s vast expanses and, with it, the 3,987-mile boundary between the US and Canada, which also happens to be the longest unguarded international frontier in the world. Newcomers to Put-In-Bay can also chart a boat trip to other nearby islands like Middle Bass Island, Isle Saint George, and Pelee Island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. Most of all, travelers eager to open more doors of opportunity at the “Key West of the North” will find lodgings like the Commodore Resort Hotel, Put-In-Bay Resort Hotel, or Niagara Guest Hotel suitable establishments to spend a long and comfortable vacation in Put-In-Bay.
Granville
Deep in the Welsh Hills of Ohio and approximately 35 miles from the city of Columbus, travelers will be smitten by the stunning attractions and landmarks worth seeing in the small town of Granville. Although immigrants from Wales and settlers from Massachusetts were the ones who founded Granville in the early 1800s, the town is famous for its Fort Ancient culture's Native American burial mounds, which you can go sightseeing in several destinations, among them Infirmary Mound Park, Alligator Mound, and another one in Salt Run Park.
The Granville Historical Society Museum delves more into Granville’s history, particularly how the town is built on "Military Lands," which are territories that the US government had seized in the Northwest Indian War in the 1790s and given to veterans of the American Revolutionary War after forcefully ousting the original Native American inhabitants of the land. Individuals interested in the architectural past of this Midwest town can tour the lofty vestibules and grounds of the Bryn Du Mansion. On the other hand, those who wish to go on long and leisurely walks through the area can do so at the Raccoon Valley Park and the Spring Valley Nature Preserve. If you should ever wish to spend a longer vacation in the grand town of Granville, then you ought to book a room at either the Granville Inn, the Historic Buxton Inn, or The Loft.
Peninsula
Even though it is technically in a landlocked region rather than in a peninsula, the small town of Peninsula is nevertheless an exhilarating and remarkable destination right between the cities of Akron and Cleveland. It is the best and most charming community beside the Cuyahoga River and is surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a 33,000-acre wilderness landscape thriving with scenic routes and vast arrays of fauna and flora for outdoor lovers to adore. You can expect more forested scenery in desirable areas like the Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park and the Riding Run Conservation Area, the latter of which contains the Historic Everett Covered Bridge, which you can traverse.
To the south of the Peninsula, you can partake in a handful of musical performances and events at both the Blossom Music Center and the Porthouse Theatre. Trekkers might want to traverse the historic Lock 29 Trailhead for both the natural sights and splendors worth gazing upon and for the historic bridge that spans across the Cuyahoga River. You might also appreciate more musical and theatrical venues at the nearby G.A.R. Hall, formerly a meeting place for veterans of the American Civil War. Whether you are intrigued by the outdoors or by the laidback ambiance of the Peninsula, there are many more extraordinary surprises worth being excited for in this stunning small town in Ohio.
Geneva-on-the-Lake
Geneva-on-the-Lake is on the southern strands of Lake Erie and about an hour east of Cleveland. During the early 1900s, John D. Rockefeller, Harvey Firestone, and Henry Ford took a sabbatical in Ohio and spent much of their vacation time at the site where the lovely small town of Geneva-on-the-Lake would one day be built. Since then, the town has thrived as Ohio’s First Summer Resort and is popular because of The Strip, the local term for the mile-long stretch of Lake Road that resembles a vintage boardwalk flanked with dozens of businesses and local attractions.
Geneva-on-the-Lake promotes its beaches and lakeside amenities that have been around since the early 1900s, and one can certainly go camping and swimming and basking in all sorts of fun activities at the Geneva State Park or at the Geneva Township Park. Should you ever feel exhausted and spent from all your merrymaking adventures in Geneva-on-the-Lake, then you must rest and relax at one of the town’s resplendent lodgings such as the historic The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, The Lakehouse Inn, or Linda’s Beach House.
Sugarcreek
Sugarcreek is a sweet and superb village in Ohio’s Amish Country. When visitors to this humble little village see the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock in the town square, they will come to recognize Sugarcreek as “The Little Switzerland of Ohio.” Most significantly, travelers will be delighted by the cheese-making heritage that Sugarcreek acquired when immigrants from Switzerland and Germany moved to America to live with Amish neighbors. You can learn more about Sugarcreek’s savory history at the Alpine Hills Museum or from the 13 sculptured brick panels in downtown Sugarcreek, known as the Brick Wall Sculpture. You might also be intrigued by the Age of Steam Roundhouse, a museum with a collection of vintage steam engines and locomotives from the old days of the rail system.
There is also Erb’s Coleman Lantern Museum, which showcases the Coleman company’s well-regarded lanterns, lamps, camping equipment, clothing, and motorcycles that have contributed much to Sugarcreek’s economy. Undoubtedly, the best time to visit Sugarcreek is from September 25 to 27, when the annual Ohio Swiss Festival fills Sugarcreek’s streets with wine and cheese samplings, races, contests, and parades that have been around since 1953. When it comes to accommodations, you can expect a warm and pleasant evening from some of Sugarcreek’s lovely lodgings, like the Sugarcreek Village Inn or the Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek.
Logan
Approximately 43 miles southeast of Columbus, the humble small town of Logan is named after a Mingo Native American chieftain whose people once inhabited the Hocking Hills by the banks of the Hocking River until a more permanent and European-style residence was established in 1816. At the Logan, Ohio Historical Society, visitors will be impressed by the various artifacts in the museum, among them an 1898 Steam Auto, a Conestoga wagon brought from Pennsylvania in 1837, a black walnut piano from New Orleans in the year 1880, and a large collection of furniture, pictures, books, and artifacts representing different moments in Logan’s history.
Outdoor enthusiasts can traverse the wide breadths and depths of the Hocking Hills State Park, which is filled with evergreen and ever-beautiful wonders like Cedar Falls and Cantwell Cliffs. At the Hocking Hills Canopy Tours, you can go ziplining through the tree line and reach other picturesque regions, such as the Clear Creek Metro Park. To the west, you can venture deep into the forested landscapes of the Wayne National Forest. Finally, within the town confines, you can find a number of notable accommodations from fine establishments like Worthington of Logan, Lake Logan Inn, and Hocking Hills Cabin & Resort.
Loveland
Popular throughout the state for being the “Sweetheart of Ohio,” the beloved small town of Loveland is a 15-mile away getaway from the city of Cincinnati. First settled in 1795 by Colonel Thomas Paxton, Loveland was named after James Loveland, who operated a general store and post office near the downtown railroad tracks. The town’s location on the Little Miami River and by the Little Miami Railroad made it an ideal stopover between the cities of Cincinnati and Xenia. Undoubtedly, the best attraction you can explore in Loveland is the Loveland Castle Museum, formerly known as Château Laroche, where one can go traipsing through an arboreally beautiful garden, enter a medieval-themed dungeon, and admire an extensive gallery of swords.
A close yet dissimilar rival to the Loveland Castle Museum is the Castle Skateland, which, instead of bygone amenities, promotes opportunities for skating, rollerblading, and other exhilarating sports in its medieval-style rink. Travelers can immerse themselves in Loveland’s admirable culture thanks to the Loveland Stage Company, a local theater group that puts on several shows throughout the year in the Historic Downtown area. Most of all, you can enjoy a pleasant and dreamful evening at one of Loveland’s adorable establishments, like the Loveland Lofts.
Tipp City
Tipp City is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the most enchanting small towns to visit in Ohio. Even if Tipp City is one of the many spectacular destinations worth visiting this year, it is lauded for its friendly ambiance and for its proximity to the city of Dayton, which is only about 15 miles away. It was initially called Tippecanoe or Tippecanoe City, but it was renamed Tipp City in 1938 since another town in Ohio was likewise named Tippecanoe. One of Tipp City’s most notable landmarks is the Historic Downtown District, where visitors can explore unique shops, restaurants, and architecture that hail from the 19th century.
In this particular district, you can enter the historic mill known as the Tipp Roller Mill, where one can watch live music and events. Speaking of events, you can participate in the annual Tipp City Mum Festival on September 27 and 28, when large crowds gather to purchase goods and wares from several merchant displays in Tipp City. For outdoor recreation, you can take the Great Miami River Recreational Trail towards splendid natural areas such as the Honey Creek Preserve and the Charleston Falls Preserve, the latter having a scenic 37-foot waterfall. These are just the tip of the tourist iceberg in Tipp City.
Rich History and Scenic Beauty Await in Ohio’s Small Towns
The charming small towns in Ohio are replete with cultural relevancy and natural charm suitable for everyone everywhere. Whether you are exploring the Swiss village of Sugarcreek, admiring the scenic views and vistas of Hocking Hills from Logan, or journeying through the watery wonderland that is Put-In-Bay, each town offers something special and memorable for your vacation throughout the Buckeye State. There is love and laughter to be made in a town like Loveland and adventures and memories to formulate in places like Geneva-on-the-Lake and Peninsula. Ultimately, you will have an unforgettable and exquisite experience from the stunning small towns worth visiting in Ohio.
