Honestly, if you think New Miami is just another point on the map of Ohio, then you completely missed the story of this little spot. Founded in the late 1860s, when the railway line cut through the then wild Saint Clair Township, the village grew thanks to a mixture of coal mining and agricultural zeal – a real melting crucible of the working class, which is still felt today in the old brick houses. I usually go down the I‐75 because the traffic here is rarely a drama, and suddenly the sign “Welcome to New Miami” appears as if it invites you personally to rethink the everyday.
People here have a dry humor that is almost a local landmark: They like to talk about the weather while at the same time they sneak over the latest project of the city administration – a bit like a daily play without entrance fee. And that's what makes the New Miami sights so charming: they are not packaged in shiny brochures, but live in the small cafes where you listen to a black coffee from an older gentleman as the old post office once was the heart of the community.
If you want to get away from the highway, take the local bus to Hamilton and then get to the Mini-Van, which takes you directly to the center of New Miami – don't worry, that's not an adventure, that's just practical. And while you are there, you will realize that the real attraction here is not a museum, but the feeling of being part of a story that is still written.
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Advantage:
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The first place I'm always taxing is that Miami‐And‐Erie Canal Route. The old transport path, which once flooded the region with goods, is today a narrow, slightly conscious path that stretches through fields and small villages. I have observed the sunrise several times, while I walked over the pebbles with my old mountain bike – the noise of the water is almost meditative, and the parking is a klack as long as you do not collide with the weekly market visitors on Saturday night.
A short detour to the south leads directly to Hueston Woods State Park. Whoever believes that a state park is made up of boring hiking trails has never climbed the bear rocks, from which I almost lost the stop at the first time. The lake is crystal clear, perfect for a spontaneous bath, and the visitor centre has more information about the local flora than I ever thought necessary. I have to admit that I don’t understand the hype around the “secret” photospots there – most of them are just a piece of forest that you can photograph with a mobile phone.
Back to the vicinity of New Miami lies the Great Miami River Trail, a 30-kilometre long asphalt strip that runs along the river. I use it regularly for long runs, because the flat terrain keeps the pace, and because the bridges over the river always offer small, unexpected views. Parking is usually easy, except for the weekends when the families with strollers flood the route.
There is a bit of culture Butler County Historical Society Museum in Hamilton. The museum is a collection of ancient land machines, photos from the 1900s and a small but fine collection of local works of art. I have once experienced a guided tour with an extremely enthusiastic historian who explained to me why the old barn wheel is actually a symbol of the “unsettling working morale” of the region – a sentence that I still repeat today with a chimney.
Only half an hour away is the charming town of Oxford, where the College of Wooster not only has to offer academic, but also architecturally. The campus is spiced with historic brick buildings, and the small art museum in the heart of college has a surprisingly good collection of contemporary works. I met a student there who told me that the famous “Wooster-Motto” was actually an inside joke – that made me laugh more than any official lead.
If you're in Hamilton, it's worth a trip to Hamilton Farmers Market. The market is a wild mix of fresh vegetables, homemade jams and occasional live music acts that originate more from the region than you would expect. I once met a local beekeeper who gave me a glass of honey because he thought I was a “honey lover”. Parking is a little adventure here: Most places are occupied, but a short walk from a few blocks to the market is almost always feasible.
Whether you prefer the quiet paths of the canal, the woody heights of Hueston Woods or the cultural corners of Hamilton and Oxford – the surroundings of New Miami offer a colourful mix of nature, history and local lifestyle. And that's exactly what makes New Miami Attractions to an underestimated treasure for those who want to travel off the beaten paths.
I have to admit that I always start the first stop in New Miami with a slightly spidy grin: New Miami Park. Yes, a park – and yet the heart of this tiny spot in St. Clair Township. I made a picnic there once, while a few teenagers wore loudly “Old Town Road”, and that was somehow the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in a public space. Parking is usually a Klack, except Saturday night, as the field turns into an improvised car park chaos because the local baseball team has a tournament. So if you are looking for a place where you can easily raise your feet without being overrun by tourist crowds, it is gold right here.
A short walk (about five minutes if you don’t want to drive around the “park-snake”) leads you to St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The building is a real relic from the 19. Century, with a stone facade that seems to tell more stories than an average guide would ever create. I don't always understand the hype about historical churches, but here the creeping wood of the benches and the weak light through the stained glass windows has something calming – almost as if the time here was slower. And yes, the piano in the choir is still tuned, although no one plays there anymore.
If you have enough of sacral silence, look at this St. Clair Township Hall on. This is not some boring community hall, but a place where the whole village gathers to the crazyest events – from bingo nights where the winners have more luck than understanding, to the annual “Fall Festival” celebrations where you can grill corn pistons and at the same time marvel at the latest model of a tractor. I once experienced a local band-battle there; the music was so loud that I thought the roof could take off any moment – a real highlight you should not miss.
A little further Miami River easy by. I spent a few hours there to just fish – and yes, the water is clear enough that you can almost see the fish before they bite you. The river is not just a hotspot for wildwater rafting, but it offers a quiet backdrop for a bit of relaxation if you have enough of the loud festivals. And if you're lucky, you'll see one of the rare rowers that float around here.
Another, more underestimated jewel is that St. Clair Township Historical Society Museum. The museum is located in an old school building that used to actually teach – a place where you can see old school books, yellowed photos and a few dusty tools from agriculture. I found an old typewriter there that still works, and I've tapped a few lines just to feel how it was when you wrote without a keyboard and auto correction. No joke, it was almost therapeutic.
And because I don't just want to list sights, I still have to New Miami Community Garden mention. This is a small piece of soil cultivated by the locals, and there grow tomatoes, peppers and a few surprisingly big pumpkins. I met an old neighbor there who told me that he has been working there for over thirty years and wins a prize for the biggest pumpkin every year. The conversation was short, but the passion he radiated was contagious – a real insight into what New Miami is.
If you now think that this is too little to New Miami Attractions to describe, then you probably haven't spent enough time here yet. Each of these places has its own, slightly slanted history, and this makes the whole village a place you can't just fly over. So, grab your curiosity, leave the phone at home (or at least in flight mode) and experience why I always come back – despite all the small macks that make life here so charming.
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