Honestly, if you think Ohio is just corn fields and endless suburbs, then you haven't experienced Seven Mile yet. The city was named “Seven Mile” after Hamilton’s seven-mile-away post office in 1841 – a bit like an old insider joke that only the locals still understand. Wayne Township, which embraces the town, was once a wild border where livestock and railways fought for the domination; Today it is a quiet residential area that still radiates the charm of a long past era. I usually drive over the I‐75, Exit 30, and then grab the quiet road that leads directly to the heart of Seven Mile – no joke that is almost like a small road trip back to the 50s, only with better Wi-Fi.
If you're wondering what to see here, don't be fooled by the word "sights" – I don't understand the hype about some small town attractions, but the Seven Mile sights I personally love are the old brick buildings on Main Street, the tiny, but charming town hall and the small, local parks on the river, where you can enjoy a cool beer during the summer. And yes, the local bus from BCRTA is only driving twice a day, so better take the car if you don't want to stand in the rain.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey was Hueston Woods State Park – a huge forest piece with a lake that is so clear that you can almost recognize your own mirror image in it if you are not being persecuted by ducks. I spent there a weekend with my old mountain bike, and the only thing that asked me more was the constant ringing around the last free parking lot at the main trip, because parking there is almost a national sport on weekends.
A short detour to the east leads to Cincinnati Nature Center in Rowe Woods. There are more than just a few hiking trails; the treetop platform lets you have the feeling of floating over the city, while the children in the natural playground loudly discuss whether a squirrel is a better friend than a dog. I have to admit, I almost got involved in a picnic with a homemade sandwich from the local peasant market – a culinary highlight that I will never forget again because I was almost disturbed by a horde of curious beavers.
Back to the vicinity of Seven Mile, but not to the city itself, the Great Miami River Trail along the river. I tried the trail on a lukewarm Saturday morning when the joggers were still half in sleep mode and the cyclists already loudly tuned their playlist from the 80s. The path is well-developed, but woe, you want to find a quiet place on a sunny Sunday afternoon – then you have to share with a group of families that unpack a picnic that contains more plastic cutlery than food.
A short trip to Hamilton brought me to Butler County Historical Society Museum. The old court building, which is located there, has more stories to tell than an average podcast host. I was standing in front of an old judge's chair and thought: "I think someone here liked more judgments than I ever filled my tax return properly." The exhibition is not huge, but the lovingly restored furniture and the old photographs give you the feeling of walking in a different time – and this, without booking a jump in time.
Directly next to the museum lies the Miami and Erie Canal Towpath. I took a walk there while I tried to reconstruct the old picture of a canal ship I knew from a book from the 70s. The path is a bit like a silent witness of past trade routes, and if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the water's whistle and the distant reputation of ducks – an acoustic souvenir that you can't buy.
A little further south, in the heart of Hamilton, is the Hamilton Farmers Market. There are fresh strawberries that taste sweeter than any Instagram story, and honey that is so viscous that it could go through almost as an adhesive. I had a conversation with an older lady who told me she's been here every Saturday for over 30 years – a real proof that some traditions are better than some relationships.
If you have enough fresh products then the path leads to Butler County Fairgrounds. The site is the epicentre of all local festivals, from market carousels to cattle shows that offer more drama than any reality show. I was there during one of the annual fairs and watched how a young bull almost overlisted the jury by suddenly jumping into the crowd – a moment that showed me that the country life is not always as vivid as it affects postcards.
A small but fine treasure is that Hamilton & Rossville Railroad Museum. The miniature trains that are exhibited there remind me of my childhood when I drove over the living room floor for hours with a remote train. The exhibition is small, but the passion of volunteers is huge – they tell every visitor why the steam locomotive is the heart of the American railway history, and that with an enthusiasm that looks contagious.
So if you're looking for an authentic piece of Ohio, which lies away from the usual tourist paths, I recommend that Seven Mile Attractions to explore – from quiet forest paths to historical museums to lively markets that capture the true nature of the region.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Seven Mile is not some hipest café, but the old one. Seven Mile Historical Society Museum. Hardly a visitor comes here, because the shield hardly shines, but once you have the creeping wooden door behind you, you feel the crunching of centuries – and that's exactly what I love about this city. The museum is conveniently located on the main street – Kreuz, parking is almost always a Klack, except on Sundays, when the whole community takes off their family photos there and parking suddenly becomes a small battlefield.
A short walk on (I mean, you can't run much more than five minutes before you get back to the air) St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The building is a real relic from the 1860s, with a facade that has more stories to tell than so many guides. I once experienced a Sunday service concert there – no joke, the organ sounded like someone turned an old steam locomotive engine into an instrument. If you ask yourself if you are allowed to photograph in there, be warned: The municipality isn't exactly thrilled with selfie sticks, so it's better to leave the phone in the back.
Now comes a place I almost always look over because it seems so inconspicuous: the Seven Mile River. Yes, a river that swells through the village, but not some broad stream, but a narrow, clear stream that invites to fishing in summer. I once tried to catch a pike, and the result was a wet shoe and a laughing angler who explained to me that this is more of a “absorption spot”. The shore is freely accessible, and parking at the small public car park at the end of the River Road is usually easy – only on weekends when the local picnic takes place, it can become narrow.
A bit further, almost on the edge of the village, this is Seven Mile Community Center. Most events take place here, from bingo to art exhibitions of local hobby artists. I was there at a “retro movie night” where you got popcorn from an old popcorn machine that made more noise than an old tractor. The center has a small parking space that is usually empty as long as you are not there on the first Friday of the month when the “Senioren caraoke” starts – then parking becomes a real challenge.
If you're looking for a place where you can move back with a good book, then it's Seven Mile Library That's right. The library is small but cozy, with a window that opens the view of the main road, and an old reading chair that seems to tell more stories than most guides. I once borrowed a book about the history of Wayne Township and met almost the entire staff – they are so kind that they almost give you the book before you read it at all. Parking is right in front of the building, and this is usually a free space as long as you are not there on Monday morning when the school class uses the library for a project.
A culinary highlight that I cannot conceal is that Seven Mile Diner. The diner is a relic from the 1950s, complete with neon signs and a jukebox that still plays “Rock Around the Clock” when you open the door. I tried the “Mile-Special” there – a burger that is so big that you almost have to share it with a friend, although the staff insists that you eat it alone. The diner has a small parking space behind the building, which is usually free, except when the weekly “Family Night” event runs and the whole city comes together.
A last but not less important place is the Seven Mile Park. The park is small, but it has a playground, a picnic pavilion and a small lake where ducks swim – yes, ducks who judge you with their shining looks when you unpack your sandwich. I once organised a picnic with friends and we talked about the “Seven Mile Sights” while a little boy “protected” us with a plastic sword. The park has a free parking space on the edge, which is usually empty as long as you are not there on Saturday night when the local orchestra gives an open-air concert.
So, next time you ask about Ohio and ask yourself if you should make a trip to Seven Mile, remember that the city may be small, but it has more character than some big city hotspot – and that's exactly what I appreciate about it.
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