Hike Through A Hidden Forest Then Dine At A Small-Town Cafe On This Delightful Adventure In Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 11, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Looking for a fun, off-the-beaten-path adventure in Ohio? Come with us to Southwest Ohio for a day exploring two hidden gems. First, we’ll hike through Miami Whitewater Forest, a hidden gem of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. After that, we’re fueling up at Ari & Mia’s, a small-town cafe in Miamitown that might just be the best-kept brunch spot secret in Ohio!
In Southwest Ohio along the border of the Buckeye State and the Hoosier State, Miami Whitewater Forest is the largest of the Great Parks of Hamilton County.
It's also, sadly, one of the most overlooked. The 4,670-acre park is an outdoor enthusiast's playground, featuring hiking and equestrian trails, disc golf, camping, and both a dog park and a dog agility course!
It's a veritable "choose your own adventure" of hiking trails: there's the paved 7.8-mile Shaker Trace trail, 1.7-mile Badlands trail, 0.8-mile Oakleaf trail, 0.6-mile Tallgrass Prairie trail, and (our personal favorite) the 2.1-mile Timberlakes trail.
As you explore this beautiful Ohio park, be on the lookout for native species: geese, mallards, woodpeckers, wild turkey, deer... even bobcats from time to time!
After a morning of hiking one of the most beautiful forests in Ohio, it's time for lunch. Whether you've a hankering for a soup and salad or big, ole burger and fries, you'll want to head to...
Open for breakfast and lunch (visit the Ari & Mia's website for specific hours of operation), this cafe serves up delicious brunch staples like pancakes, omelettes, "sammiches," and sliders. If you're feeling virtuous, you can order a hearty salad... with these loaded fries on the side! Balance, friends.
Of course, nothing's stopping you from heading to Ari & Mia's before your adventures at Miami Whitewater. Can you imagine a better way to fuel up for a hike? Oh -- and they have goetta, too!
Have you visited either of these Ohio hidden gems before? We think you’d be hard-pressed to find a more delightful day trip duo in the Buckeye State! For more information, please visit the websites for Miami Whitewater Forest and Ari & Mia’s.
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