Sleepy towns are awake and waiting to show you what they got

Karaoke, ballet and friendly folk in Mt. Vernon, OH

As the holidays were approaching last year, we decided to get in one more empty nester weekend trip in the books before both of our kids would be home for Christmas. We had heard amazing things about the holidays at Yellow Springs, OH and French Lick, IN, but we begrudgingly found out that all the hotels were booked. We had to alter our plans. We searched the Ohio Road Trip Facebook page for ideas on where to go instead, and low and behold, Mt. Vernon, OH popped up several times and had plenty of lodging available. Done!

Just 3 hours north of Cincinnati, this tiny town delivered the perfect combination of charm, culture and crazy capers. Somehow when we show up, sleepy towns wake up and show us what they got. Experience this 3-day weekend trip through our eyes:

On the way

Bridge of Dreams  - As we made our way to Mt. Vernon, we stumbled upon the 3rd longest covered bridge in the U.S. Albeit the very cold weather, we walked across the bridge and followed the peaceful river for a bit. Note to self: This stop would have been even more enjoyable in the spring. But, it was so beautiful that it sparked an entire weekend adventure 5 months later of 5 Greene County, OH covered bridges.

Kokosing Trail - This is a very long trail that runs through Mt. Vernon. We walked it for a few minutes, but it was just too cold, so we returned to our car.

Kenyon College - Another surprise! Who knew that nestled in Gambier, OH, would be one of the most beautiful colleges we have ever seen? And for the record, we have visited a TON of colleges over the years. Walk the campus and step into a free art exhibit at Horitz Hall for some eclectic but thought-provoking collections from students and alumni.

Things to do in Mt. Vernon

The Mt. Vernon Grand Hotel: There are a few places to choose from in this small town, but this is THE quintessential place to stay. The room was nicely appointed and stately, as was the entire hotel and the service was impeccable. It’s centrally situated off of Public Square above Main St., so everything is walkable.

South Main Plaza Dog fountain: This is a must-see when in Mt. Vernon. See the photo below when the fountain froze over in December.

Outside the Woodward Opera House

Woodward Opera House: America’s Oldest Authentic 19th Center Theater. We spontaneously bought tickets to their evening production of The Nutcracker partially so we could set foot in the vintage theater. It was impressive. An old-time feel but with more comfortable seats. And, while this is a small town, it was no small town ballet production. The principal dancers were from the Indianapolis Ballet! A real treat. Bravo!

Woolson’s: Step into the oldest operating general store in Ohio. The pink facade was a definite indication of a bygone era, but the inside was nothing but a hodgepodge of gift shop-type items. Worth a step inside for a minute.

Schnormier Art Gallery:  This was a short walk from our hotel on Main street. We were pleasantly surprised by a small Mount Vernon Nazarene University student art exhibit on display. These students were incredibly talented. I encourage everyone to stop it to see what they might have on display at that time.

Ariel-Foundation Park

 Ariel-Foundation Park:  This is the site of an old glass factory—250 acres they dub as ‘adaptive reuse’. We walked the pathways to visit a building that was still intact, but used for events, as well as stopped at various ruins and glass formations. The grounds are spacious and green. In the spring and summer I imaging picnickers everywhere.

Coleman Gallery Galerie Suite: This charming galley-style art shop sells unique artwork and glass and the owner is super friendly and knowledgeable about the area. She even has Parisian-style rooms available for rent above the store. Stop in to see her creations from paper dollhouses.

Food and Drink in Mt. Vernon:

Day 1 (Friday):

Gambier Deli (Gambier, OH, Gaskin Ave): While on the Kenyon College campus,  we grabbed a bite where they make legit New York-style deli sandwiches.

Baxter’s Wine and Whiskey (Mount Vernon Main Street - Sold and not currently open): After a mellow day of exploring all that Mt. Vernon had to offer, we decided to set foot into this charming and well-stocked wine and whiskey bar. The bartender was a friendly as they come and knew everyone in town, which is how we got the recommendation for Bickerdyke Table and Tap (see next section).

Bickerdyke Table and Tap: (Mt. Vernon, Main Street): This was an upscale dinner spot and a staple for locals. This is a the perfect stop before or after a show at The Woodward Opera House. They boast a wide variety of beers on tap and an extensive menu. We got the Creole Shrimp pasta and the Fish and Chips—both very good and hearty for winter. 

Flappers Bar and Grille (Mt. Vernon, W. High Street) Round 1: Close to the hotel, we decided to check this out for a nightcap. This is Mt. Vernon’s version of Cheers—where all the locals hang and where ‘everyone knows your name’…and it’s mostly bar than grille. They turn the grill off at 9 pm. More about this eclectic join on Day 2.

Day 2 (Saturday):

Southside Diner (South Main Street): We skipped the breakfast at the hotel because all the locals we encountered the previous day recommended this place. We were not disappointed. The food was really good and the servers were even better. This restaurant was an ‘everybody knows everybody’ kinda place, so it was really friendly and felt like home.

Dave’s Cosmic Subs (Main Street): Stopped in for a quick bite at lunchtime. The place was packed which is always a good sign. They deserve a shout-out for their delicious subs.  

Happy Bean Coffee Shop (Main Street): This coffee shop was just what we needed after a bunch of sightseeing in the cold. They had an extensive coffee and tea menu as well as baked goods. We got two hot teas to defrost, plus a muffin to share, and planned what we would be doing next. Lots of seating, very cozy and cool vibes.

Fiesta Mexicana (W. High Street): After exhausting most of the places on Main Street at this point, we decided to try a local Mexican spot a few minutes away. This meant we had to get in our car, but was totally worth it. The inside of the family-owned restaurant looked exactly like what you would expect of a Mexican restaurant—laden in fiesta décor and Mexican murals—and very inviting. And, their 723-page menu was also what you would expect. Lots of ‘especiales’ and ‘combinaciones’ to peruse. We honed in on the à la carte enchiladas and Camarones al Chipotle. And it was exactly what we needed, coupled with a very tasty frozen margarita. We also got to meet the woman owner of the restaurant and she was delightful. She loved my serape. Win-win!

Flappers Bar and Grille - Round 2: Turns out this is the only late-night hangout in the area and we are SO glad we stopped in again. Saturdays are apparently the local Karaoke hot spot hosted by Krooners’ Karaoke Entertainment Co. We had a blast watching the same locals go up all night long to sing their hearts out. Bonus, we heard Honky Tonk Badonkadonk for the first time in our lives. We’re not country fans, but this quickly became our signature song on the drive home and in the days to come after our trip. The locals are really spirited and love their karaoke. Highly recommend.

Day 3:

Arch City Tavern (Columbus, OH): On our way home to Cincinnati, we stopped for lunch in Columbus on Short North. We ordered the Arch City Tavern iconic Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup and the Tavern Club with a side of the most amazing truffle fries. This is exactly what the doctor ordered on a cold wintery day.

Mt. Vernon, OH not in your neck of the woods?

Find a social media group for your area of the world and search for keywords like small city, quaint town, sleepy town, etc. and see what you can come up with that is similar to what we described above. Alternatively, go to your local bookstore or library and peruse the travel books for your state. We’re sure you’ll find something magical that suits your style and budget.