My Favorite Charming Main Streets Near Cleveland, Ohio

One of the things I like most about living in the Cleveland area is that you can easily escape the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a big national park, easy access to Lake Erie beaches, and easy access to several charming old-school Main Streets where you can shop and dine local. If you are seeking small town vibes, they are easy to find here.

In this guide, I will cover a few of my favorite small towns, all located within an hour drive at most. I have included 2 Lake Erie gems, Vermillion as well as Huron, which are perfect summer escapes. Chagrin Falls and Hudson shine during the summer and fall. Chagrin is well known for its’ beautiful waterfall and is also a great place to shop and dine local. Hudson is also home to more than a hundred independent businesses. There are a lot of events going on including a popular summer’s farmers market. it’s also super close to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Medina and Willoughby are 2 small towns which I like to visit during the snowy season. In Medina, you will find a great Main St. lined with independent businesses, as well as a number of indoor attractions including a massive antique mall and the country’s largest Christmas attraction. Willoughby is just minutes away from a wonderful winter playground (Chapin Forest) that rents cross country skis and snowshoes. And finally, Cuyahoga Falls is a great choice for all those who love winter sports like me as it is home to one of the area’s only outdoor skating rinks. Like Hudson, it’s also a quick drive to the national park.

Here’s a look at each town in detail and some of their best attributes based on my personal experiences. I have also included a nearby attraction, if available. Note: I have not included any city neighborhoods like Tremont, although this is another great area to shop and dine local.

Vermillion

• Distance from Cleveland: 45 minutes
• Highlights: Historic lighthouse, lively Main St. vibe, beautiful beach, wonderful chocolate shop
• Best season: Summer

Vermillion is my favorite easily accessible summertime daytrip from the city. With its’ scenic setting on Lake Erie and a charming New England style downtown, this is my number one choice when the weather is warm. I love the historic homes and little boutique shops.

One of the main benefits is a clean beach which is walkable from the downtown. Main Street is super vibrant during the summer season, and there is almost always something going on i.e. farmers markets in the park, festivals, book fairs, and concerts. There is a nice riverfront park (Exchange) where I like to grab a cup of coffee to go (I usually stop at Brewed Awakening) and watch the boats go by.

Dining options are diverse with everything from a retro soda shop (Big Ed’s) to a fancy French restaurant (Chez Francois). I really enjoyed the ambiance and food at Woodstock Cafe. If you grew up in the 70’s, you should appreciate the funky decor here. They offer paninis, pizza, subs, salads, and also a full coffee bar and craft beer.

The shops lining Main are pretty interesting. A few of my recommended stops include:

• Brummer’s: Awesome truffles and a huge supply of souvenirs and themed chocolate gifts.
• Ancient Celtic shop: Homey family-owned shop specializing in Irish themed gifts and apparel.
• Main St.: Souvenirs and Vermillion themed gifts.
• Swan Creek Candles: Soy based candles plus handmade soaps and garden decorations
• Crystal’s Treasure Box: Small shop specializing in handmade jewelry & decor. I love the seaglass collection!

The centerpiece in town is a gorgeous lighthouse built in 1991 as a replica to the original 1877 lighthouse. At one point, the town was nicknamed “the city of sea captains” Many captains and sailors lived here and the city was used as a port to illegally transport alcohol from Canada during prohibition. You can read more about the story here.

I love the colorful adirondack chairs set up for the public to enjoy the view! What a gorgeous viewpoint: it reminds me of living in New England (I lived in Massachusetts a few years back and really miss the vibe!).

There is a beautiful little park downtown called Victory which is the site of many summer events. I’ve attended numerous farmers markets and art festivals here. You can’t beat a mild summer day amongst the pretty trees, shopping for local art and produce.

Huron

• Distance from Cleveland: 55 min
• Highlights: Gorgeous nature preserves and beaches, a beautiful harborwalk, colorful seaglass hunting
• Best season: Summer

Huron is another of my top picks during the summer months as most of the amenities center around beaches and preserves which are obviously much more enjoyable this time of year. I tried to collect seaglass once in the winter and it was just a miserable windy and cold experience, not to mention impossible to pick up tiny pieces of glass with gloves on. For this reason, I stick to beachcombing only in the spring and summer season!

Gathering Grounds is a cozy local coffeehouse if you need to fuel up before exploring. The ambiance is very comfy and the place is nicely decorated. We enjoyed the coffee and pastries (the spinach cheese croissants were decent), although the service was rude. I later learned that sub par service is unfortunately a common theme in this town.

One of the highlights here is the Huron Harbor and pier – a walk of just under a mile to a great viewpoint of a historic lighthouse. There is also a nice little lakefront park and beach where you can swim, fish, and picnic.

Last summer, we stopped for lunch at a place called Huron Harbor Bar and Grill. The patio seating facing the water was scenic, although I have to say the service was the surliest I’ve ever experienced. We enjoyed our food including some tasty pierogies but likely wouldn’t return again due to the rude waitresses.

You will find a few shops and restaurants but not as many options as some of the other towns mentioned on my list. The real highlight here is access to beautiful Sheldon Marsh Preserve, one of the gems of Lake Erie, Most tourists head over to Nickel Plate beach but I prefer the low-key nature vibe here. Plus, it’s an amazing place to bird watch and collect seaglass (really the entire Lake Erie region is great for collectors).

Old Woman’s Creek is another wonderful preserve in this area. Here, you can enjoy 3 miles of trails plus an incredible beach which is also loaded with seaglass (basically former trashed glass transformed into smooth tumbled “gem-like” pieces). I’ve found some pretty big and colorful pieces here without much effort.

I was lucky enough to find out about this gem from a local soon after moving here. Love the nature, bird watching, and amazing glass here! On a side note, I recommend getting to the beach really early if you are seeking seaglass because many locals are super passionate and willing to get up as soon as the sun rises to find these frosty gems.

Chagrin Falls

• Distance from Cleveland: 30 min
• Highlights: Beautiful Main Street waterfall, Cute downtown with local shops and restaurants
• Best season: Summer and winter

Soon after moving here, I knew we had to take a trip out to Chagrin because we love seeing new waterfalls. We have seen many beauties since moving to the Cleveland metro which is quite surprising to me as I didn’t even know there were any here before relocating. With the Main Street waterfall and numerous independent businesses, this town gives me Greenville, SC vibes: a gorgeous town in the Southeast well known for its’ charming downtown. I see many similarities, although on a much smaller scale.

Not only is the waterfall beautiful, but there is a lot to do and see here to justify a daytrip. I recommend starting your day off at Yours Truly, a local breakfast diner chain serving your standard staples. One entree I enjoyed here was the Monster Hash, which is basically hash browns with grilled peppers and onions smothered in cheese. Or, if you prefer a simple cup of joe, Heartwood Roasters and Even Starbucks both offer an attractive setting where you can people watch. Heartwood serves some delicious pastries: I recommend the chocolate croissant and coffeecake! I love the historic brick wall setting in both shops!

I also like visiting this charming town in winter. There is a beautiful little gazebo and a walkway of trees decorated by local businesses. The waterfall and gazebo both look really pretty after a storm. Hopping in out and out of the shops and stopping for a cocoa or coffee is so much cozier in winter. Plus, there is barely anyone around, so it gives the town that romantic wintry small town ambiance.

Lots of cozy shops to check out. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Fireside books: Great place to find used books and puzzles. I also love their day planners.
• Off the Wagon: Find toys, games, puzzles, etc.
• Chagrin Popcorn shop: 70+ year old shops selling a variety of creative flavors plus gift sets.

Although it’s a bit touristy and pricey, 17 River Grille offers a really nice dining ambiance with a picture-perfect view of the waterfall. The menu offers a bit of something for everyone from, a Hummus Plate, to a Classic Turkey Sandwich, to Atlantic Salmon. Whatever you do, start with the heavenly biscuits (seriously, they are so amazing!).

Hudson

• Distance from Cleveland: 40 min
• Highlights: New England style charm, historic clock tower, many independents shops, easy access to parks
• Best season: Summer

If you love the laid-back charms of New England towns, then you should definitely put a daytrip to Hudson on your bucket list. The old architecture, ample green space, and walkable downtown definitely give it that East coast appeal. The centerpiece is a 100+ year old clock tower built in 1912. Overall, I would say this is one of the more attractive towns to stroll around, especially during the leafy summer season.

It’s also one of the more lively communities with a number of fun summer events like concerts and farmer’s markets taking place in the parks.

You will find a lot of local shops like The Learned Owl, a 3 story independent bookshop. There are a number of cafes too including Your Truly and Heartwood which are also in Chagrin as I mentioned above.

I like this funky little coffeeshop called the Open Door. It’s one of those coffeehouses which has a nice old-school, mismatched decor vibe. I particularly liked the nostalgic record clocks. I find it a nice place to hang out and enjoy the eclectic decor in an age where every business is trying to be too sterile and modern.

For lunch, I recommend The Tomato Grill, a great local Italian establishment. The ambiance here is really nice and I thought the Eggplant Parmesan was terrific. This is an underrated gem worth checking out if you like Italian food.

Bonus: This town is located pretty close to the wonderful Cuyahoga Valley National Park, so a great stop before or after hiking the beautiful Brandywine Falls trail or the underrated Blue Hen Falls trail. The prime benefit of living in this area is access to so many beautiful trails!

Medina

• Distance from Cleveland: 40 min
• Highlights: Great Main Street with local restaurants and eclectic shops, massive antique mall
• Best season: Winter

Medina is one of the small towns I come back to most often because there is a great fandom collectible shop right next to a record shop. Plus there is a antique mall that is so massive you can literally spend hours browsing (52,000 square feet according to their website!). I have found a lot of cool stuff here including clocks, household knick knacks, old basketball cards, action figures, Christmas decorations, books, and a lot more.

It is most known for being home to the largest Christmas attractions in the US, Castle Noel. I’ve never been here but tourists line up here every winter to take their pics next to famous holiday scenes like the slide from A Christmas Story (did you know that this classic was filmed in the Tremont neighborhood?).

I actually like visiting this town more in winter as the park gazebo looks pretty with snow, there are lots of holiday lights, as well as numerous cozy cafes and shops to enjoy. Also, there is a really cool event to look forward to called the Medina Ice Festival where you can watch live ice carving demos. I definitely recommend checking it out!

I usually start my day at this local coffeeshop called Cool Beans. They decorate really nicely for the winter: last year was a Frosty Vibe, this year was a candy cane theme. The coffee is great and so are the pastries. They offer creative coffee and cocoa flights and even soup flights for lunch. I love their tasty breakfast burritos – usually I order the veggie version which includes sauteed peppers.

Next, I typically stroll down Main Street, popping in this little bookshop called Author’s Note, Blackbird Records, and Operation Fandom, plus a variety of little gift/home decor shops. Other interesting stores including Something’s ‘ Popping and Polish Pottery. Medina Brewing is a pretty cool place if you are into craft beer.

For lunch, Mike and I typically head over to Dominic’s, a nice casual choice for hearty authentic Italian fare. It’s a wonderful winter choice because the ambiance is nice and darky and cozy and the food is filling and savory. I typically order the Baked Cavatelli. Their complimentary breadsticks are delicious and each entree comes with a mini salad. They frequently offer specials – we once ordered a delicious all-you-can-eat marinara pasta deal.

Willoughby

• Distance from Cleveland: 45 min
• Highlights: Old School Main St., Festive winter light display in the park, Close to a great park for skiing
• Best season: Winter

I wouldn’t necessarily go out of your way to visit Willoughby as the Main Street is a bit smaller than others on this list, however, it’s a good stop if you plan on hiking/skiing at Chapin Forest or North Chagrin Reservation. In the morning, I recommend stopping at Kleifelds, an old-school diner serving your standard breakfast fare. It’s rare to come across these cozy throwbacks to the past today, so a fun experience. If your visiting later in the day, there are a number of New American and Italian restaurants to pick amongst for dinner.

Other gems on Main include a local bookstore called Veridian Bookshop and Finestra which specializes in unique gifts for your home.

Fiona’s is a local coffeehouse with a cozy vibe: they serve coffee, donuts, and pastries. They serve coffee from Rising Star, one of the best roasters in the region. I love that they make their own bagels on-site. A bit too heavy on the cream cheese (def order it on the side), but very delicious. They serve mini donuts for a dollar if you are looking for a small treat without as much sugar.

The vibe is so unique with eclectic decor, brick walls, and large windows looking out upon Main Street. They decorate nice for the holidays and offer a lot of seasonal drink and food specials too which is nice. It’s one of my favorite coffeeshops in the Cleveland metro.

For lunch, you will find a number of local options dotting Main Street including a few Italian restaurants, Mullarkey’s Irish Pub, and The Wild Goose featuring stone oven pizzas. I like Chagrin River Diner where you can enjoy a big menu of American, seafood, and local entrees. They offer a full day breakfast menu too which is nice. From a quiche with a side of soup, to Fish and Chips, there is something here for everyone. On our last visit, I really enjoyed their Portobello and Truffle Ravioli.

I really love strolling Main Street over the holidays. It’s got that old-fashioned vibe with wreaths stretched from lamppost to lamppost, high likelihood of snow on the ground, and a town park which puts on a big Christmas light show. It’s a cute place to stroll around during the winter months.

Also, there’s a nice antique mall about 10 minutes away in the small town of Wickliffe. Not as big as the Medina mall and a bit pricier, but worth a browse around if you like shopping for vintage goods.

Best of all, this town is located near two of my favorite recreational hotspots: North Chagrin Reservation (great for summer and fall hiking) and Chapin Forest (a gorgeous place to ski and snowshoe). Cleveland really is home to an amazing Metroparks system and I highly recommend checking out a few of these wonderful parks during your time here.

North Chagrin is home to the historic Squire’s Castle, a small waterfall, and several miles of hiking trails. I love leaf peeping here and the nature center is quite nice too. I really love snowshoeing and cross country skiing at Chapin Forest (and it’s awesome that they have rentals available right on-site!).

Cuyahoga Falls

• Distance from Cleveland: 40 min
• Highlights: Laid-back, quiet Main St. vibe, Nice historic architecture, close to CVNP, Seasonal ice rink
• Best season: Summer and winter

Cuyahoga is probably my least favorite small town on this list, but I included it nevertheless due to its’ close proximity to the wonderful national park. I also give it a few bonus points for being the only town with a real outdoor ice rink.

There is a decent Main Street with a number of local restaurants where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch before or after a day of hiking. There isn’t much to eat around the park, so stopping in this town is probably your best bet.

You will not find as many shops here because the Main Street is pretty small although you will find a few interesting selections such as: Reverie (selling unique gifts), Natural Wonders (a quirky gift shop), and Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop (a massive shop dedicated to sweets of every kind).

For breakfast, you can either go casual with a stop at Flury’s Diner or go higher end with the award-winning Blue Door Cafe and Bakery or Beau’s on the River featuring a scenic viewpoint. For dinner, check out Leo’s Social or a more casual pub like On the Tap.

Because I am a fan of outdoor ice skating and Cleveland has few rinks (besides the downtown rink which is a hassle and hard to find parking), this is pretty much my only recommendation for real ice skating. The rink is not maintained well but it is free admission if you have your own skates. Mike fell pretty bad once because the ice is pretty rough so keep that in mind if you are a novice skater.

The historic courthouse looks pretty around the holidays. You will also find festive storefront windows, decorated parking meters (they host a competition each year), and mini planted trees. Asterisk coffee bar serves hot cocoa if you need to warm up after a skating session.

Like Hudson, this town is also located quite close to the national park, which I love visiting most of the year. Summer is prime hiking and tourist season, although fall is quite scenic too when the colorful foliage encompasses the forest.

I also recommend biking the wonderful Towpath trail which runs for ~20 miles through the park (you can also participate in the wonderful Explorer Program where you can bike one way and take the train back (at a discounted price) to the station at Boston Mills. I also don’t mind hiking here in the quiet winter months (assuming no snow) as I can enjoy the scenery and get lost in nature by myself.