Between Columbus And Pittsburgh Is A Midwestern Escape With Quirky Shops, Local Eats, And Ancient Earthworks

If you want to explore Ohio's past, the city of Newark is well worth a spot on your itinerary. This historic seat of Licking County was founded before Ohio gained official statehood and was a stop along the Erie Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad, key 19th-century commercial transportation lines that helped Newark grow into an industrial hub. What really makes Newark unique, though, is that its history stretches back hundreds of years before the first settlers of European heritage arrived. Although little is known about these ancient inhabitants, the monumental earthworks they left behind are the only UNESCO World Heritage sites in the state of Ohio.

Today, Newark is a small city of just over 51,000 people in central Ohio, about 40 miles east of Columbus. This also puts it within day-trip range of other urban areas like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (about 150 miles east), and Cleveland, Ohio (130 miles north). If you're visiting from outside driving distance, you can fly into Columbus' John Glenn International Airport (CMH), about a 40-minute drive away.

The best time to visit Newark is from April through October, when the weather is warm enough to enjoy outdoor attractions, like the Great Circle and Octagon Earthworks, as well as the trails and gardens of the Dawes Arboretum. This is also the season when you can check out events like the annual Newark Strawberry Festival or Newark Summerfest, a music and food festival put on by the historic Midland Theatre. But whenever you're traveling through Ohio, the independent shops and 19th-century architecture in Newark's revitalized downtown make it a fascinating place to explore.

Well before the town of Newark was officially founded in 1802, several Indigenous groups lived in the area. The earliest people known today are referred to as the Hopewell Culture, who lived in the region from the first to fourth centuries A.D., building several mounds that can still be seen today. The full UNESCO-designated Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks sites span multiple locations across Ohio, two of which are in Newark. The Great Circle Earthworks is a geometric enclosure roughly 1,200 feet in diameter, centered on the large Eagle Mound, while Octagon Earthworks, about 2 miles northwest, is comprised of two enclosures connected by an avenue. Along with the mounds themselves, a free museum at the Great Circle Earthworks is open Wednesday through Sunday, where you can also pick up maps and a guide for the sites.

Newark also has more recent history to discover. The Webb House Museum is a 1907 Arts and Crafts-style home, containing the antique collection of the Webb family. It's open to the public on Thursday afternoons from April through December. The Daweswood House Museum is another preserved historic home you can tour. In the early 20th century, it was the Dawes family's country retreat, and they also established the Dawes Arboretum that surrounds the home. Guided house tours are offered on weekends from May through October, while the arboretum grounds are open year-round, as well as the historic Beard-Green Cemetery, where you'll find graves of Revolutionary War soldiers. Nature lovers can explore a variety of landscapes in the arboretum's almost 2,000 acres, including one of the few northern cypress swamps, as well as wooded trails, Dawes Lake, and a Japanese garden.

While Newark's population officially makes it a city, its downtown has the charming feel of a small town. It's anchored by the 1876 Licking County Court House, and historic buildings like the Louis Sullivan Building and Midland Theatre dot the surrounding town square. This is a great area to find independent, family-owned shops and restaurants. For unique souvenirs, check out handmade items from local artisans at Couple of Crafty Creations. The Kicks Mix Bookstore also sells handcrafted gifts, along with both new and vintage records and books, including titles from local authors. For a sweet treat, Goumas Candyland has been selling candy made from family recipes since 1911.

Columbus has become a hot foodie destination for international cuisine, and Newark boasts a vibrant restaurant scene, too. Elliot's Wood Fired Kitchen & Tap is a local favorite for gourmet pizzas and craft cocktails. 1922 On The Square serves a refined menu of steak and seafood inspired by Natoma Restaurant, a fine dining establishment started by chef Alex Athan's great-grandfather in 1922. Wine aficionados can enjoy a glass of locally made wine at Buckeye Winery, which also has an in-house restaurant, Uncorked, and offers DIY winemaking experiences.

If you visit on a Friday, make sure to check out the year-round weekly farmers market at the Canal Market District, which you'll find at 36 East Canal Street from May through October and a couple blocks away inside the Newark Historic Arcade from November through April. Along with craft and food vendors, the outdoor market also features local food trucks and live music. For even more quaint shops, you can drive about a half-hour east to the picturesque village of Dresden, with river trails and a quirky landmark.