Discover Fairfield: Nature and Culture

Fairfield County’s tourism offerings combine outdoor recreation with cultural experiences. This gives you different options to focus on as you plan your trip: forests, cliffs, and water on one hand, and museums, architecture, and covered bridges on the other. The places and activities offer concrete ideas for planning your stay.

Nature, Trails, and Water

Clear Creek Metro Park encompasses 5,470 acres of woodland with Blackhand sandstone cliffs, gorges, and streams. Its access points are along Clear Creek Road. Fishing is possible at 5-acre Lake Ramona and from the dam at Lake Emily. These fishing spots are therefore clearly defined. Allen F Beck State Nature Preserve offers a different scale of landscape: at 4,729 acres, it is the largest state nature preserve in Ohio.

At Mambourg Park, the Hickory Trail (West Loop) is approximately 1.33 miles long; the first 0.25 miles are accessible. This description explicitly distinguishes the accessible section from the length of the entire trail. When planning, you can keep the two distances separate rather than treating the section as the full loop.

There is also a special option on the water: in Millersport, you can paddle the Canal Heritage Trail along a quiet, tree-lined stretch of the preserved Ohio-&-Erie Canal. This historic waterway is one of the few places in Ohio where this is still possible. Its location in Millersport and the preserved canal stretch make this a distinct option alongside the fishing spots at Clear Creek Metro Park.

Museums and Hands-On Activities

Tours at the Ohio Glass Museum explore the history of glassmaking, from early methods to modern production techniques. Glassblowing demonstrations are also offered during regular museum hours. Hands-on classes let you create a personal work of art. Together, historical context, demonstrations, and making your own art offer different ways to explore the subject of glass. For specific tour details, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio offers public programs for children and adults, including lectures, workshops, gallery talks, and art classes. At AHA!, more than 60 interactive exhibits are designed for children ages 6 months to 8 years. The offerings differ in subject and format: one venue combines decorative arts with talks and classes, while the other focuses on interactive exhibits for a clearly defined age group.

Architecture and History

The Georgian Museum was built in 1832 for Samuel and Sarah Maccracken by local builder Daniel Sifford. The house is made of brick and regional sandstone and features elements of the Federal and Greek Revival styles. Tours of three restored floors explore the history of the Maccracken family, influential families who lived there, and Lancaster—from its development as a frontier town into a city. This makes it possible to explore architecture and local history during the same museum visit.

The Sherman House includes a kitchen garden, a medicinal herb garden, and a garden featuring native Ohio plants. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Civil War Preservation Trail. Lancaster offers another architectural highlight in the Square 13 Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Visitors can see historic homes and buildings there in more than a dozen different architectural styles.

Covered bridges add to the historic character of Fairfield County, where many original examples remain. The George Hutchins Covered Bridge was built in 1865 using multiple Kingpost trusses. The Mink Hollow Covered Bridge was built in 1887 by Jacob “Blue Jeans” Brandt and has a span of 54 feet. The Rock Mill Covered Bridge is dated to 1901 and has a span of 30 feet. The three construction dates and two recorded spans provide concrete points of comparison without reducing the bridges to the same construction period or size.

Events and Local Flavors

The Fairfield County Fair is an annual tradition and a seven-day fair held in October. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the specific event dates before making plans. Another way to explore local offerings is the Route 33 Brew Trail. It introduces visitors to the variety of craft beers at breweries south of Columbus and offers an opportunity to sample them.

Visitors can get a pass for the Route 33 Brew Trail at a participating brewery or at the Fairfield County Visitor Center, 128 N. Broad Street in Lancaster. This gives visitors two clearly identified places to pick up a pass. Whether you want to focus on nature, history, hands-on activities, or local breweries, you can choose among the experiences listed to suit your interests.

Discover more destinations: Pickerington, Lancaster, Hamilton, Washington, Lake, Jefferson, Pickaway County, Auglaize County.

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