Honestly, if you think that Ohio only has endless cornfields and industrial parks to offer, you haven't experienced Dunlap yet. This small village, which was founded in 1815 as a “Dunlap’s Station” at the old Ohio & Erie Canal, has since become a unique corner in the heart of Colerain Township, Hamilton County. The first settlers came here because the country was favorable and the railroad later facilitated the “surrounding” – a bit like an unintentional hipster spot, before the hipster had a word at all.
I usually drive the I‐275, then a short trip to Route 129, and suddenly the sign “Welcome to Dunlap” appears as if it invited me personally to enjoy the tranquility that still exists here. People here are friendly but not exaggerated – a short small talk at the gas station, then it goes on. What I particularly like is the unpretentious flair: no bright luminaries, only a few old half-timbered houses whispering from history, and a small park where the locals run their dogs on Sundays.
If you're wondering why I'm talking about Dunlap Sights at all, it's because, despite its size, the village has some hidden jewels that you only discover when you're ready to stroll a little off the highway. No joke, that's a place where you get the feeling that time here is a bit slower – and that's sometimes exactly what you need after a hectic trip.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Dunlap, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first step out of the daring Dunlap leads you to Great Miami River Trail, a narrow strip of asphalt that pulls through the green like a red thread. I have straightened there at sunset, while a few anglers spoke loudly about the “good old time” – an image that you don’t forget, because the water was so quiet that you could hear almost the puffing of the carp. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole city unpacks its bikes.
A couple of miles further Miami Whitewater Forest, a huge forest area that has more streams than one would expect in an average urban park. I made a picnic there that was almost stolen by a curious raccoon – he was clearly a gourmet, but I kept him the sandwich because I felt he was a local ambassador. The trails are well marked, and the visitor center has enough seats to employ the whole family as long as you don't wait too much for the toilets.
If you feel that Ohio doesn't have castles, then you have the Loveland Castle not yet seen. This ruthless building, built by a German immigrants in the 1920s, looks like a mini lock from a fairy tale book, only that the towers are made of concrete and not of stone. I remember hosting an improvised knight's tournament with a group of friends – we had no armor, just a few old garden scissors, but the laughing came through the halls when a squirrel suddenly stole the flag.
A short trip to Clifton leads you to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. The gorge is deep enough to hear the echo of your own voice, and the water of the Little Miami River is so loud that you almost forget that you wanted to take a walk. I once tried to shoot a photo of the rocks, just to realize that my phone was in the mud – a small price for the grandiose view you get there.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail extends over 70 miles and connects small cities like a silent witness of the past. I spun the route from Loveland to Morrow, and every village I passed had its own little story: an old diner that still serves pancakes, and an antique shop where the owner claims he found the original coin from 1901. The trail is well developed and parking at the accesses is usually easy as long as you don't get to the main traffic time.
A bit further south, near Milford, this is Cincinnati Nature Center. There are not only hiking trails, but also a natural house that surprises you with interactive exhibitions about the local flora and fauna. I took part in a guided night hike where we observed glowworms – a rare spectacle that reminded me that Ohio has more to offer than industry.
For those who want a little story with a shot of drama, this is National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati a must. The exhibition is impressive, and I was particularly moved by the installation “The Freedom Wall” where visitors can leave their own messages. The way there is well signposted, and parking in the city centre is not a nightmare thanks to the many public garages as long as you arrive early enough.
A short detour into the heart of Cincinnati leads you to American Sign Museum. The museum is a shrill shrine for neon lights and old advertising signs, which are otherwise only found in dusty warehouses. I spent an evening there while a DJ retro hits from the 80s set up – a strange, but somehow liberating experience that reminded me that advertising can also be art when you look at them correctly.
Whether you're looking for a quiet river bank, a fairy-tale castle or a serving of American pop culture – the Dunlap environment offers a colorful range of experiences that go far beyond the city's borders. And that's exactly what makes Dunlap Attractions to an unmistakable mix of nature, history and a bit of shiny charm you don't find every day.
I must confess that my favorite place in this inconspicuous corner of Ohio the Dunlap Community Center is – an old school building that now tells more about life here than any brochure. I came by the first time, because I thought that was just another place for bingo finishes, and was immediately tied by the high ceilings and the cracking wooden floors. The center is practically the heart of Dunlap, because here every kind of event is held, from yoga courses to local art exhibitions. Parking is usually a Klack, as long as you don't get to the whole football team of the neighborhood on Saturday night – then the field before the entrances becomes a small battlefield from parked cars.
A short walk further (approximately five minutes if you don't stop to take photos) leads you to Dunlap Park. There is a playground, a few baseball diamonds and a small lake populated in the summer by ducks who seem to know more about life than most visitors. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, who told me he's been fishing here since his childhood – a hobby he never gave up completely, even though he now wears a suit. The park is freely accessible, and the only “ticket” you need is a bit of patience when you test the children while swinging, screaming louder than a concert in the city centre.
If you're looking for a place where you can move back with a book without a café with a loud indie playlist disturbing you, then this is Dunlap Library That's right. I spent more hours there than I want to admit, because the library offers not only books, but also free computer use and regular lectures. The staff is friendly, but not excessively polite – they know that you are here to read, not to guide small talk. Parking is right next to the building, and you just have to make sure you don't drive into the delivery zone for the weekly parcel business.
A bit further down the road, almost hidden between the shops, stands the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The building is a real piece of history, built at the beginning of the 20. Century, and the stained glass windows cast a warm light that almost lets you believe you would be in another time. I took part in a fair there, just to see if the acoustics are really as good as the locals say – and yes, the organ actually sounds like a small sky. The entrance area has enough space for a car, but parking is close when you are there on Sunday morning, because the municipality is full.
A little less known, but for me a real treasure, this is Dunlap Historical Society Museum. The small building at the end of the main road houses exhibitions about the early settlers, old tools and a few yellowed photographs showing how the village once looked. I found an old map there, which has occupied me for hours because I tried to overlay the old field boundaries with today's roads. The museum is free, and parking is practically right outside the door – a rare luxury in this area.
If you ask yourself why I'm talking about these places at all, then it's because it's to the Dunlap Attractions are not found in any guide. They are not spectacular in the sense of “Instagram Wonder”, but they have character, and that is something you cannot buy. For example, I have the old Dunlap House discovered, a Victorian mansion that today serves as an office for local events. The facade is still impressive, although the interior is more functional – a bit like a hip co-working space in a museum.
Finally, a short note: if you are looking for a quick snack, see the little one Dunlap Plaza where you get a pizza at “Miller’s”, which is surprisingly good, and a few local crafts stands selling handmade soaps. Parking there is a bit chaotic because the places are quickly occupied, but if you get early enough, you get a place without too much stress. And that’s it – this is my personal tour through the corners that make Dunlap a strange, but lovable spot of earth.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
