May 2012 Issue

Small-Town Charms

On the northern outskirts of the Queen City are historic towns brimming with cultural attractions, quaint shopping and unique dining.

Kathy Witt

The past percolates in Northern Cincinnati. The region — stretching from Shandon, Oxford, Middletown and Hamilton west of I-75 to Waynesville and Lebanon on the east — has fascinating stories to tell.

Ohio’s first Welsh settlement is preserved in Shandon. Oxford, home of prestigious Miami University, exudes a hip vibe in its history and culinary haunts. In Middletown, the oldest continually operating stained glass studio in the United States continues to ply its trade. And historic Hamilton neighborhoods provide opportunities for connecting with the past.

Across the interstate, Waynesville, the “Antiques Capital of the Midwest,” boasts a pedigree that predates Ohio’s statehood, and Lebanon charms with its brick sidewalks, storefronts with alluring displays, old-fashioned ice cream parlor and collection of antique and specialty shops. To read more, click here to subscribe. >>