When you book a trip to Hocking Hills, you’re probably expecting an amazing outdoor adventure. The beautiful scenery, hiking and natural wonders that await you landed the area on Forbes’ Best Places to Travel in 2023, with the publication calling it an “outdoor wonderland.”
What you may not know is how picturesque and delightful some of the nearby smaller towns are. These four small towns are the hidden gems of southeastern Ohio.
Lancaster - Lancaster is known as the gateway to the Hocking Hills region. Just 40 minutes south of Columbus, and 20-25 minutes away from most of the Hocking Hills natural attractions, it’s a great place to begin your trip to the area. Lancaster has a historic downtown with locally owned restaurants and a strong sense of community. Destination Downtown Lancaster has done a great job putting on events at all times of year and they’re well attended by locals. Stop at O’Huids Gaelic Pub for some authentic Irish fare and a good beer or cocktail, or pop into Ale House 1890 for a top-notch meal. Provisions Deli has bottles of wine and lunch items, as well as good coffee and dessert offerings. L City Coffee is another well-loved local coffee shop. The Well can’t be beat for healthier fare, with great gluten-free, dairy-free or meat options. Even stuff your kids will love! And you should take them - they have a really cool wooden fort inside! Double Edge Brewery is another local favorite, and Maria’s and El Parian will settle your craving for Mexican. Plan your trip at Visit Fairfield County.
Athens - Athens is a college town, home to Ohio University. It’s known for its eclectic restaurants and bars. The favorite local breweries are Jackie O’s, Little Fish Brewing Co. and Devil’s Kettle Brewing. Like many college towns, it has a vibrant arts culture. The university itself is known for its many festivals held over the course of the year. It’s worth a short drive to walk through the scenic downtown with the red brick buildings, wander the rolling streets, and visit the shops framed by the Appalachian foothills. Check out everything Athens offers at the Athens County Visitor's Center website.
Nelsonville - Nelsonville is sometimes seen as a side note to Athens but it boasts some really neat attractions. They have their own opera house! Stuart’s Opera House has been “the cornerstone of the historic public square” for 145 years. Every June they host a fundraising music festival (the Nelsonville Music Festival) that is something of a “best kept secret,” according to Billboard Magazine. The Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad Depot is in Nelsonville, a very cool way to explore the Hocking Hills area. In the fall, they offer train rides to see the beautiful foliage in the area and in the winter, they offer train rides with Santa! Moonville Tunnel is another cool spot in Nelsonville; a train tunnel that’s said to be haunted, its also being turned into a hiking and walking trail. It’s one of the last standing locations of the ghost town of Moonville, Ohio.
Logan - Logan is another cool spot to visit and it’s very near most of the attractions in the region. The cute downtown has some good restaurants and ice cream spots, as well as a fairly new children’s museum (lots of activities for little hands on a rainy day!). There’s a winery near the downtown - Hocking Hills Winery that boasts not only wine, but also a food menu. An unexpected treat, the John Glenn Astronomy Park boasts star watching and educational events from March through November. It’s worth checking out their website - jgap.info.
There are so many things to do around Hocking Hills, so if you’re finding yourself wanting to branch out (no pun intended!) from the usual outdoor activities, check out one of these charming towns for a new adventure! Which of these hidden gems near Hocking Hills Ohio will you visit during your stay at the Carpenter's Cabin, Twelve34 House, and GloCabin?
Written by Meg Fowler
EcoLuxe Vacations Laurelville Ohio Stay the Hocking Hills
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