10 Most Breathtaking Towns In Ohio
Few states match the natural beauty of Ohio. Small towns with wide water views sit along the shores of Lake Erie, and the Ohio River brings its own kind of scenery downstate. Put-in-Bay sits on an island in Lake Erie, where impressive architecture meets the shoreline at South Bass Island State Park. Across the state, Marietta pairs a long heritage with unforgettable views of the Ohio River. Ten Ohio towns make the strongest case for the state's scenery, and each one makes it differently.
Put-In-Bay
Ohio rarely registers as island country, yet Lake Erie holds several, each reachable by ferry. Not far from Toledo is the small town of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island. Only about 150 people live there, on an island with some of the best vistas in the state and an unusual environment to explore.
The tallest thing in town is Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, a tribute to Oliver Hazard Perry's victory in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. It is also a monument to the lasting peace between the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom since the war. South Bass Island State Park has trails, a beach, and a campground. Every June, costumes and a pirate parade take over the streets for the annual Pyrate Fest.
Marblehead
Back on the mainland, across the water from Put-in-Bay, is Marblehead. The village stands on the shores of Lake Erie with some impressive sights. Its main landmark is the Marblehead Lighthouse, lit continuously since 1822 and the oldest working lighthouse on the American side of the Great Lakes. Tours are available, and the guides explain the lighthouse's purpose and architecture. Every October, local vendors set up near the lighthouse to sell crafts at the annual Lighthouse Festival, alongside several events for kids.
Marblehead also has excellent outdoor recreation centered on East Harbor State Park. The park covers wetlands and has miles of trails for hiking and biking. Anglers get access to Lake Erie along a stretch of shoreline that neighboring Port Clinton bills as the walleye capital of the world, good for anyone who wants to fish.
Vermilion
Farther down the coast is Vermilion, an incredibly photogenic town, and the Vermilion Lighthouse is the reason. The lighthouse is a replica of the original and the town's most famous landmark. It sits right beside Main Street Beach, a good place to swim, fish, or launch a boat into Lake Erie. The Vermilion River Reservation has more outdoor ground, with trails good for spotting small birds and mammals. There is even a disc golf course.
Vermilion fills up every fall for its famous annual Woollybear Festival. It is a tribute to legendary meteorologist Dick Goddard and the woollybear caterpillars that legend says can predict the weather. It is a quirky affair with caterpillar costumes, a massive parade, and the Woollybear 500 caterpillar race.
Geneva-On-The-Lake
Near the Pennsylvania border is the beautiful resort town of Geneva-on-the-Lake. The town sits beside Geneva State Park, one of Ohio's finest natural areas. Overnight accommodations are available in the park, and a few days there are worth the effort. The trail system runs six miles, with beautiful views of Lake Erie. Anglers get plenty of opportunities to cast a line, thanks to the park's spot near the lake and a boat launch.
Back in town, the retro strip is the draw. Eddie's Grill, open since the 1950s, still has hot dogs and root beer on the menu, and the setting looks the part. Motorcycle enthusiasts arrive in September for the annual Thunder on the Strip bike rally. Thousands of motorcyclists come to town to show off their rides and enjoy live music.
Chagrin Falls
Waterfalls usually mean a state park, but Chagrin Falls has one downtown. The town lies just outside Cleveland, and people come from across the state to see the Chagrin Falls Waterfall. The waterfall is a beautiful sight, and the streets around it hold the local restaurants, small stores, and art galleries at the heart of Chagrin Falls' character.
The local arts scene centers on two main spots. At the Glass Asylum, visitors can see glass artwork and glass-blowing demonstrations of how the artists work. Local actors perform musicals and plays throughout the year at the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre.
Salem
Salem occupies a handsome part of Ohio, with a close-knit community set against that backdrop. The Bricker Homestead Walking Park runs through the surrounding countryside on a trail walkable at any skill level. Golfers get a challenging course at Salem Hills Golf, with reasonable rates, discounts for seniors and juniors, and reduced rates on Mondays.
Race fans have their own reason to stop, since one of the best racetracks in Ohio is here, set against the natural beauty of northeast Ohio. Quaker City Motorsports Park has a quarter-mile drag strip where the future stars of motorsports compete.
Sugarcreek
Sugarcreek is one of the most distinctive towns in all of Ohio. In the heart of Amish Country, Sugarcreek is a nod to its European heritage, with a downtown built to look like Switzerland. The architecture stands apart from anything else in the country, most notably the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock. The clock is over 23 feet tall, and every half hour the bird pops out to a song of Swiss polka music. A small crowd gathers for it every time.
There is more to Sugarcreek than its Swiss influence. The local Amish culture is a big part of the town too. The Dutch Valley Restaurant has Amish favorites all-you-can-eat or à la carte, so the portion matches the appetite. Real Amish goods turn up at Walnut Creek Marketplace, with handmade crafts, fresh food, and vintage antiques.
Marietta
Marietta stands on the Ohio River at the border with West Virginia, combining old architecture with an unspoiled landscape. The town is older than the state, being the first permanent US settlement in the Northwest Territory, and some of that history is still on display on its streets. The Castle, an 1855 Gothic Revival-style home, is open for a tour back into the 19th century, with guides who explain the home's history and how people lived in those days.
The Ohio River is also an important part of Marietta's local culture and beauty. The Campus Martius Museum holds exhibits on the early days of the town and on how the river shaped both its growth and the country's expansion west. The Valley Gem Sternwheeler is a riverboat with sightseeing tours of the Ohio River and the surrounding communities.
Granville
Not far from the state capital of Columbus is the historic town of Granville. The town holds many old homes and buildings that bring the past to life. The Bryn Du Mansion is now an event venue for concerts, sporting events, and art classes. It began as an Italianate villa in 1865 and took its current Georgian-Federal form in a remodel commissioned after 1905. The Robbins Hunter Museum is the place for Granville's past and the many characters who shaped it, all inside a beautiful Greek Revival building dating to 1842.
Granville also sits in a gorgeous part of central Ohio, with plenty of natural wonders. Sugarloaf Park has a hike through forests and excellent photos at the peak of fall foliage. Lake Hudson, a swimming lake on the south side of town, handles the hot days.
Yellow Springs
Nature lovers already likely know about Yellow Springs, a small town with access to several parks that highlight the area's natural beauty. The town sits beside John Bryan State Park and its 10 hiking trails, with excellent vistas along the way, including the famous Storybook Trail popular with younger hikers. The park also has excellent fishing and rock climbing for adventurous travelers. Right next door is the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, a 268-acre park set aside for the natural environment and animals. Its trails pass rare trees, spring wildflowers, and photogenic cliffs and rivers.
A full day in the parks finishes well at Young's Jersey Dairy, where the ice cream and artisanal cheeses make a perfect souvenir of Yellow Springs.
See the Beauty of Ohio in These Breathtaking Towns
Ohio rewards anyone paying attention, with awe-inspiring vistas across the state. Historical architecture, wide lake views, and expansive state parks all turn up in these ten towns. Chagrin Falls has a waterfall downtown, and Sugarcreek has Swiss architecture in the middle of Amish Country. In Yellow Springs and Geneva-on-the-Lake, the draw is the parks instead. The common thread is that no two of them look much alike.
