Now that the weather is warm, we love to spend as much time outside as possible. One of our favorite activities is biking. You can see so many things and go so many places on a bike.
The Little Miami Bike Trail is one of the best places for a long ride, and it‘s expanding! The trail is already 78 miles long and runs from the Village of Newtown up through Loveland up to Springfield, connecting to other trails along the way. The 3.15 mile extension will bring the tail from Newtown to the Beechmont Avenue/S.R. 32 interchange in Anderson Township. Eventually, a bridge is planned to connect this portion of the trail to the Otto Armleder Memorial Park Trail, the Lunken Loop Trail, and, eventually, the Ohio River Trail which continues into the City of Cincinnati.
There are tons of towns along the trail and plenty to do for kids of all ages. We’ve put together a few ideas for your next ride:
- 50 West Brewery – Down in Newtown on the border of Mariemont is 50 West Brewing. They just opened their new brewing location in the old Hahanna Beach facility, and kept the sand volleyball courts. While mom and dad grab a drink the kids can play a game of volleyball or soccer and everyone can grab some food.
- Camp Dennison – While on your ride, stop by this 12-acre park and Civil War museum. The site, at 7567 Glendale Milford Road between Indian Hill and Milford, was a military recruiting, training, and medical post for the United States Army. If you want to tour the Christian Waldschmidt Homestead, time your bike ride for a Sunday afternoon between 1-5pm. If you’re hungry on your ride, stop by the Schoolhouse Restaurant in Camp Dennison. The building used to be the Camp Dennison School, in operation from 1864-1954. Today, the restaurant features family style dining, as well as goats and geese roaming the backyard. https://www.facebook.com/CWHMuseum/ http://www.theschoolhousecincinnati.com/
- Miami Riverview Park – The Miami Riverview Park in Miami Township is another great place to take a quick break. The 35-acre park has fields, a picnic shelter, restroom facilities, walking trails, a playground, and much more. Stop here for a picnic lunch and some time on the swings.
Loveland – As the bike trail goes through Loveland, it is called the Loveland Bike Trail. Downtown Loveland is a cute small town on the banks of the Little Miami River. There are plenty of great places to stop for a bite or a drink in Loveland. Loveland Sweets is great for a sugar burst, and Paxton’s and Julian’s Deli have delicious lunch options. Make sure to explore the downtown area around the river and trail.- Miranda’s Old Time Ice Cream Shop – If you want a sweet and cool treat while on your ride, stop by Miranda’s Old Time Ice Cream Shop in Morrow. Enjoy the step into small-town life while cooling down with an ice cream cone.
- Fort Ancient – Fort Ancient is another great educational stop on your ride. The site includes a museum exploring Native American culture including shelters, drums, and an outdoor garden. You can also explore the SunWatch Indian Village and Archeaological Park, which brings to life the Fort Ancient culture through a partially reconstructed vllage.
Jeremiah Morrow Bridge – Just beyond Fort Ancient the trail runs below the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge. Look up to see the huge bridges carrying I-71 239 feet overhead. They are the tallest and longest interstate bridges in the state of Ohio.
There are so many more gems along this bike trail. Do you have any secret spots along the trail that your family loves to visit?Little m
