A day trip to Harrison, Ohio

Looking for that Mayberry feeling when planning a day trip? Well look no further, because there is a town close by in the Southwest Ohio/Indiana border called Harrison.

In Harrison, there are a variety of shops, dining, local attractions and parks that will appease everyone!

Upon my visit to this town, I stopped over to the Harrison Library for their morning interactive story time. The room was filled with excited children. This story time is so much fun as the story teller makes the story come to life and the children get to help!

I then visited the Hiatts Flower and gift shop. Here the store owners proudly offer “Free Flower Friday” and make fun Friday live broadcasts announcing bouquet winners that like their Facebook page!
They have a really cool history and have a business that is still thriving that all started on a handshake deal (In true Mayberry fashion) If you stop in check out their awesome shop that is filled with a large variety of décor and gifts as well as fresh flowers! 

If you are looking for a little Greek flair to your day, I HIGHLY suggest visiting the The Big Greek Café! The owner is a first generation immigrant that makes all of his mother’s traditional Greek comfort food meals! No imitation here! It is authentic, homemade and tastes amazing! Dimitri is a fun loving restaurant owner that really enjoys what he does. He has some AMAZING desserts as well that he also says he sells out of all the time! He has patrons that travel as far as 1.5 hours away to dine here! The café is known for its large portions, great prices and being considered the “Best Kept Secret in Harrison!”
If you stop in, tell him I sent you! You won’t regret it!

I took a small drive to Willow Park. This park is off of Campbell Rd. and is a really nice quiet space that overlooks the Whitewater River! This beautifully manicured space is now also being visited by a few bald eagles that are now residing somewhere in the vicinity! This is a great place to unwind and take in the scenery for sure!

When you trek downtown, you’ll see The District. Here, you will find a variety of shops, bars, coffee shops, and attractions! At various times of the year the town hosts festivals, and other community events.
One year I even partook in a Civil War reenactment where the town of Harrison was once the victim to a 6 hour long raid by Confederate John Hunt Morgan and his army! This raid has taken its spot as the longest raid in the history of the Civil War!

I stopped over to the new 1860 Tap Room & Bottle Shop to try some craft beers! This bar, has a warm inviting feel to it and is adorned with local historical flare. It is a great place to meet up with friends! The Bar itself offers a wide variety of full flavor spectrum of local and national craft beer The keg offerings change regularly so there is always something new to try! On Tuesdays they offer trivia nights also!

If you’re crowd is looking for a nice quiet place to relax and have a coffee, The Coffee Peddlar is your next destination of choice! They have an amazing selections of coffees, sandwiches and soups and now offer a selection of beer and wine. I tried the Caramel Kiss latte –AMAZING it’s a dessert coffee for sure! This coffee shop hosts story time on Thursday and bands on Friday’s. There’s an art show on the first Friday of every month as well!  
While they have an inviting area to sit inside, there’s an equally inviting courtyard out back to sit and enjoy the day. If you would like to follow this shop to see what is up and coming next, I highly recommend following them on facebook or Instagram at @TheCoffeePeddlar 

If you’re looking for a casual dining experience Market Street Grille is just down the street. The restaurant’s Chef Chuck Huckleby boasts about the meals offered and says some of the locals most favorite dishes offered on the menu is the Jambalaya, gourmet mac and cheese, and crème brulee. The Restaurant has won the right to be considered “One of the Best Brunches in the Nation.” Here you will receive personalized treatment and “made from scratch” meals every time you visit.

The Parlour on the Avenue offers a one of a kind experience when you step in their full service salon!
Here you can get a head to toe make over with the services they offer. From hair to nails, massages to facials and makeup artists… you are in good hands at the Parlour on the Avenue!

Aside from food and drinks there are a variety of eclectic shops and antique stores to visit! All of which offer something special and unique to the town! There is even now an Ax Throwing and Escape room for a little fun and mystery!

Before the day ends I highly encourage you to visit the Miami Whitewater Park. It is an extension to the Hamilton County Parks. This is the crown jewel of all the Hamilton county parks (In my opinion) as it not only a beautiful park, it is very well maintained, offers a large playground for the kids, boating and fishing at the harbor. Excellent paved and unpaved walking/hiking trails, abundant wildlife, camping, and more! There’s great opportunities for educational experiences as well for the whole family to enjoy!

I hope you visit Harrison soon! For a list of events to watch out for, visit the link here!

Harrison Events