Plain City: Nature, Cycling Route and Family Experiences

Plain City combines outdoor experiences along Big Darby Creek with a distinctive cycling route, family activities and insights into local history. As you plan your trip, you can choose whether to focus on spending time outdoors, planning activities for children or learning about the town’s history.

Nature Along Big Darby Creek

McKitrick Park is a scenic 5.18-acre park along Big Darby Creek. It is on East Main Street, just east of Uptown Plain City. The park is also the starting and ending point of the Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway Tour at the eastern edge of Plain City.

Another side of the area’s natural landscape can be seen at McKitrick Meadows Nature Preserve, which lies in the floodplain of Big Darby Creek. New informational signs explain the importance of the river and its surrounding watershed. If you’re interested in the landscape and the river corridor, the preserve offers a dedicated way to explore these themes; McKitrick Park connects nature with the start and end point of the Scenic Byway Tour.

Cycling the Scenic Byway Tour

The Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway Tour is 52 miles long and begins and ends at McKitrick Park. Information is available for cyclists about using public roads. The route follows roads under state, county and municipal jurisdiction. Anyone wishing to ride the tour by bicycle must be prepared and experienced enough to ride on public roads. These requirements are worth considering when deciding whether the route suits your travel plans.

Family Experiences

The Plain City Aquatic Center has a zero-entry water access area with a gradual slope and a winding water slide. At Pastime Park, the StoryWalk® displays pages from children’s books in cases along the walking path. In summer, the Plain City Public Library also holds Storytime there for children of all ages. These offer several different options: a visit to the Aquatic Center, a story along the path or a summer reading activity.

Events are another part of what Pastime Park has to offer. The Music in the Park series runs from June through September and offers free, family-friendly entertainment. The Plain City Easter Egg Hunt is a family-friendly spring event in the park. These seasonal dates may be useful if you want to plan your trip around a particular experience.

Local History and Gathering Places

At the Plain City Public Library, the Pictorial History of Plain City Collection comprises 28 volumes of historic images and information about family and local history. The library also offers digital resources on local history and genealogy. Those who enjoy browsing photographs and family stories can find a different way to explore the town’s past here than by taking a walk through Uptown.

Public Square is the historic center of Uptown Plain City’s redesigned public gathering space and the new location of the Plain City Farmers Market. As part of the Public Square project, the restored 1880s railroad depot was relocated and rebuilt to honor Plain City’s railroad history. The historic Plain City clock tower also stands at the town’s main streets.

Plain City’s historic traditions include the Plain City Corn Carnival, originally held from 1914 to 1919 and revived in the 1980s. The Miami Valley Steam Threshers Show takes place every July at Pastime Park. Bluegrass & BBQ kicks off Plain City’s summer festival season with an afternoon of music, food and community entertainment.

Whether you’re focusing on the 52-mile cycling tour, nature along Big Darby Creek or family activities, these interests can help guide you as you choose a vacation rental in Plain City. Also explore the town pages for Marysville, Milford Center, Richwood.

For the broader travel overview: Union.