Near Lake Erie Is The Midwest's Underrated 'Maple City,' A Walkable Gem With Shops, Trails, And Local Eats

Ohio is a state replete with charming places to visit, and one of those is the town of Norwalk, which lies just south of Lake Erie. While Norwalk is not right on the water, it contains a great deal to recommend it as a place to visit. Its downtown area is home to an urban forest with gorgeous maple trees, some of which date back to the early 19th century, earning the town its nickname of the "Maple City." 

Norwalk is wonderfully walkable and a great place to stroll around and explore local shops. Head to historic Main Street for the cream of the town's boutiques, including Belleza, a family-run store focusing on the latest trends in women's fashion, and the The Celestial Black Cat Apothecary, which is brimming with crystals and other metaphysical wonders. Meanwhile, the Common Good Collective is a community market dedicated to sustainable and healthy living, featuring a refills store, thrifted clothes, and products created by local makers and artisans.

But if you're looking to spend a good portion of your vacation on your feet, you don't have to keep to casual city walks. Norwalk is blessed with a number of scenic hiking trails, which take you out of the city and into pristine parcels of Midwest nature. And after you've thoroughly worked up an appetite, be sure to sample the area's restaurant scene, which is surprisingly diverse for a small town with a population of less than 20,000. 

When it comes to hiking, there are countless trails that you could explore during your stay in Norwalk. Much of this is thanks to the work of Fireland Rails to Trails, Inc., a non-profit group that converts former Penn Central railroad property to walking and cycling trails in Ohio's Huron County as part of the North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT), which extends for 100 miles in northern Ohio from Lorain to the outskirts of Toledo. 

This wide, asphalt multi-use trail travels through pastoral and forested landscapes along boardwalks and over bridges and passes right through Norwalk. To access the trail, head to the parking lot and trailhead on Northwest Street. From there, going in either direction, you can explore the lovely landscapes along the trail. One particularly lovely spot along the trail is the NCIT scenic overlook just west of town. 

Another lovely area for walking is the Milan Wildlife Area, just three miles north of town. The 300-acre reserve offers wonderful walks through oak forests and along the Huron River and Christiana Creek, as well as hunting and fishing opportunities. 

Once you've experienced Norwalk's charming shops and trails, you'll want to get your fill of local food. And there are plenty of great-quality eateries to choose from. Among the top eateries in Norwalk is the Freight House Tavern, a cozy, wood-lined establishment focusing on cuisine prepared with farm-fresh ingredients. Suki Asian Cuisine is another gem, with authentic Japanese sushi and dishes from around Asia prepared for dine-in or take-out. Meanwhile, Berry's on Main is a downtown institution, a classic American diner with great retro signage and decor.

Norwalk is around a one hour drive southwest of Cleveland, which is also where you will find the nearest major airport. It's also around two hours south of Detroit. If there's availability, stay at Graham's Crossing Bed & Breakfast on West Main Street is housed in a sumptuous Queen Anne mansion that dates from the 1890s. It has been fully renovated but is full of delightful period details that summon up the spirit of the age.

Looking for more great places to visit in the Lake Erie region? Lakeside is an underrated community with great shops and historic cottages. Also on Lake Erie but a few hours farther east in Pennsylvania, you can find Waldemeer Park, one of Pennsylvania's best amusement parks, and it has free admission, so you only have to pay per ride.