Exploring the state of Ohio gives you a well-rounded look at what the Midwest has to offer. And, when it comes to places in Ohio that have plenty to offer, Butler County, Ohio has recently made my short list. From an art park complete with golf carts to go carts, here are six of the best things to do in Butler County, Ohio!
- Butler County Donut Trail
- Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
- The WEB Extreme Entertainment
- Miami University Art Museum
- Jungle Jim’s International
- Butler County Historical Society
I know I’ve written it before, but having the pleasure of exploring my own backyard (AKA Ohio) is always fun. If you live near the Buckeye State, you know there’s everything from beaches to big city entertainment. And Ohio is particularly special in that is has plenty to offer both its residents and visitors.
So, when you’re on the west side of the state, where do you go and what should you see? Just north of Cincinnati sits Butler County, Ohio – and it’s filled with family and adult fun! Here are the six must-see things to do in Butler County, Ohio, that I’d definitely make a return trip for.
1. Butler County Donut Trail
When it comes to sweet treats, Butler County, Ohio has definitely put its mark on the map with a Donut Trail. The trail, just like a full box of donuts, has a dozen locations that folks are flocking to.
Heres the scoop: grab an official Donut Trail Passport and, once you’ve visited all of the locations, you’ll get a cute reward. Each shop has its own particular hours of operation, so please check out the official Butler County Donut Trail website to get the full scoop.
Three locations that I really enjoyed:
Ross Bakery in Hamilton, Ohio – What you’ll get is a classic, no-frills style of donut shop experience. What you won’t get are high prices.
Kelly’s Bakery in Hamilton, Ohio – Kelly’s Bakery is just lovely. It’s light and airy with a few window tables.
Mimi’s Donuts & Bakery in Hamilton, Ohio – Yeast, cake, donut holes, minis – you name it, it’s on the menu. My picks are definitely the Lemon Glazed and Triple Chocolate. Prices start at 50 cents for minis.
2. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
Golf carts and 60 monumental sculptures in a 300+ acre park? If you find it hard to believe (I know, I did when I heard of it!), you’re not alone. But, it truly does exist at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum.
The park is open year-round, but if you visit during warmer weather, you can rent a golf cart to whisk you way around the beautiful property. What’s even funner is that you’re allowed to take your cart off the paved path and close to the sculptures.
The Kid and I visited a couple of months ago and it was a hoot! I mean, we always actively hunt out art museums when we travel, but this one is especially fun in that it’s unique.
Parking the golf cart and actually getting out and exploring was refreshing and having a teen that smiled for hours was an ideal day for this mama.
3. The WEB Extreme Entertainment
Take a Dave & Buster’s and Chuck E. Cheese’s and combine it together and you’ve got The WEB Extreme Entertainment. It’s a giant, indoor space that has everything from go carts to laser tag. There’s also mini golf, mini bowling, arcade games, and, what we loved, an Escape Room.
When we visited, we test drove the go carts (Sorry, I had to!), and they were so much fun. We had plenty of laps to satisfy our need for speed and the carts use a zero emission engine so there’s no stinky smell when you’re visiting.
There are also single and double carts (kids 10 and over and 56″ or taller may drive alone), so if you have younger children, they can ride with you.
As for the Escape Room, it was so much fun! The Kid and I were the only ones in the room at the time we tried it, but more folks is definitely better. The theme is Escape from Alpha Station, and the spacey theme is a challenge, for sure.
4. Miami University Art Museum
In the quaint town of Oxford, Ohio, Miami University is what brings the town to life. Filled with college students, the town’s main drag has everything from shopping to dining – not to mention hipness.
But, right on university property is its hidden gem, Miami University Art Museum. Yes, it’s technically a teaching museum for its college students, but anyone may check out the impressive collection.
The real highlight? The temporary exhibitions. During our visit, I was absolutely fascinated by Hans Gindlesberger’s I’m in the Wrong Film. If you’re a fan of Americana and middle American art and photography, you need to make a beeline for the free museum by December 15, 2018.
5. Jungle Jim’s International Market
What started out as a roadside produce stand in the 70’s has grown into a grocery store on steroids. Fast forward to today where its two locations offer more than 500,000 square feet of shopping.
Honestly, I’ve never been to anything like Jungle Jim’s International Market. It’s like Walt Disney World and Walmart had a baby, so we found everything from a giant international foods area to animated characters and larger than life product displays.
If it’s your first visit, plan on spending at least two hours moseying around the property.
When we walked through the doors, we were asked if we needed a map – it’s that large. And here’s the thing: kids will love shopping there because of its whimsical ambiance. Honestly, if I lived closer, Jungle Jim’s would probably be the only place I’d grocery shop.
6. Butler County Historical Society
I’m all about historical road tripping, so a visit to Butler County Historical Society was a must. I’m also well aware that I’m a lucky mom in that I have a teen daughter that loves American history. So, the last stop on our visit was a fun way to round up what we’d been seeing.
Since 1924, the society has met with the purpose of preserving Butler County’s history. These days, its location is in the Benninghofen House in Hamilton, Ohio and is filled with antique dolls and furniture. Personally, I loved our docent’s knowledge of what’s inside the museum.
Have you ever visited Butler County, Ohio? Have a favorite spot? Please let us know in the comment section below!
Disclosure: I was hosted by the fine folks at Visit Butler County, Ohio to give you the scoop on what makes it so fun! All opinions are my own! #GetToTheBC
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