Fairfield: Nature, Culture and Unusual Discoveries
Accommodation in Fairfield
Fairfield County combines impressive landscapes with museums, historic buildings and special experiences for families. Between forests, sandstone cliffs, waterways and covered bridges, you will find a variety of ways to shape your trip. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Fairfield, it therefore helps first of all to consider whether you would like to focus on nature, culture, family time or regional culinary experiences.
Experience Forests, Cliffs and Water
Clear Creek Metro Park encompasses 5,470 acres of forest, with Blackhand sandstone cliffs, ravines and streams. Access points are located along Clear Creek Road. If you would like to include fishing in your travel plans, this is possible at the 5-acre Lake Ramona and from the dam at Lake Emily. The Allen F Beck State Nature Preserve covers 4,729 acres and is the largest state nature preserve in Ohio.
Shorter nature experiences can also be included in your plans. The Hickory Trail (West Loop) in Mambourg Park is approximately 1.33 miles long; the first 0.25 miles are accessible. This offers a different type of outing from an extended stay in the forest. When choosing your accommodation, you can take these differences into account and choose the daily rhythm that best suits your travel plans.
Glass Art, Houses and Architecture
At the Ohio Glass Museum, guided tours provide insight into the history of glassmaking, from early methods to modern production techniques. Glassblowing demonstrations take place during regular museum opening hours. Practical classes are also offered, where participants can create their own works of art. The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio complements this cultural offering with public programs, lectures, workshops, gallery talks and art classes for children and adults.
Historic buildings give Fairfield a distinctive regional character as well. The Sherman House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Civil War Preservation Trail. Its gardens include a kitchen garden, a medicinal herb garden and a garden with native Ohio plants. The Georgian Museum was built in 1832 for Samuel and Sarah Maccracken by local builder Daniel Sifford. Tours of three restored floors tell the story of the family, other influential families and Lancaster’s development from a frontier town into a city.
In the Square 13 Historic District, you can see historic houses and buildings in more than a dozen different architectural styles. Other notable structures include the George Hutchins Covered Bridge from 1865, the Mink Hollow Covered Bridge from 1887 with a span of 54 feet, and the Rock Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1901, with a span of 30 feet. Fairfield County is home to many original covered bridges.
Ideas for Families and Food Lovers
AHA! features more than 60 interactive exhibits for children aged 6 months to 8 years. Another recurring highlight is the Fairfield County Fair, an annual tradition and a seven-day fair held in October. This allows families to combine cultural discoveries with activities that appeal to different age groups.
On the Canal Heritage Trail, you can paddle in Millersport along a tranquil, tree-lined section of the preserved Ohio-&-Erie Canal. This historic waterway is one of the few places in Ohio where this is still possible. For regional culinary experiences, the Route 33 Brew Trail is a good option. You can obtain the pass at a participating brewery or at the Fairfield County Visitor Center, 128 N. Broad Street in Lancaster. The Route 33 Brew Trail allows you to explore the variety of craft beers at breweries south of Columbus and sample beer there.
Choosing the Right Base
When choosing your holiday apartment in Fairfield, you can first decide on your preferred type of trip: days in nature lead to forests, cliffs, lakes and waterways, while museums, historic houses and architecture provide a cultural focus. Families will find dedicated points of interest at AHA! and the Fairfield County Fair. For additional destinations to include in your travel plans, you can also discover Pickerington and Lancaster.
For the overarching travel overview: Ohio.
More Destinations
Other places within the same destination:
