Tucked away in Ohio’s moving Amish Nation– southern of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus– Wooster looks from the map to be a homespun place. But when I see, I discover something much different: a painstakingly preserved midtown with captivating brick-walled shops, diverse dining establishments and an elegant little hotel.
The ambiance feels surprisingly city. The community was started in 1808, and standing under skyrocketing oaks on the University of Wooster school, I’m struck by the luxuriant 19th-century architecture (along with the resident black squirrels). Add a stroll in a serene arboretum, and all of it makes for a pleasurable weekend away.
12 p.m. Lunch Day
Regional components (this is Amish Nation, besides) and an all-scratch cooking area makes Broken Rocks Cafe and Pastry shop a home town favorite. Settle right into the cozy, washed-in-wood interior for brilliant, strong flavors– like seasonal veggies on pizzas and a peach-glazed pork slice. Strike the bakeshop in back for a take-home loaf of the signature sourdough.
1 p.m. Look around
Wooster’s quaint downtown has actually been recharged via imaginative remodellings and thoughtful design. Have A Look At Neighborhood Roots Market and Coffee shop for artists’ items and regional foods; Books in Supply for utilized and rare finds; Procedure: Fandom for pop culture antiques; and farmhouse-fancy Blue Spruce Boutique for women’s clothing and housewares.
3 p.m. Winter Walk
Secrest Arboretum, a 110-acre arboretum open 365 days a year from dawn to sundown, includes greater than 3,500 samplings. Twisting along smooth paths through looming trees and themed gardens brings getaway and serenity, specifically if you enter upon snow.
4:30 p.m. Faucet Out
This is serious beer and there’s a wall of medals to verify it. The suds at JAFB Wooster Brewery array from hop-heavy to malty abundant to traditional European styles like the gold-medalist Hefeweizen. The historic-meets-industrial setting feels like a friend’s rec area, however with enormous live-edge picnic tables.
6 p.m. Check InIn a building more than a century old, the 16-room St. Paul Resort has a smooth, innovative air. Clean-lined, modern-day furnishings festinate versus initial block wall surfaces, and reclaimed tin ceilings embellish the entrance hall. Thoughtful details include in-room English breakfast, comfortable robes and heated restroom floors.
7 p.m. Prime Time
An intimate setting that murmurs love establishes the phase for supper at The City Square Steakhouse. Deftly ready steaks, chops and fish and shellfish couple with refined service, timeless alcoholic drinks, an outstanding white wine listing and craveable desserts– think abundant, cozy butter cake– to round out a high end evening.
8:30 p.m. Next-Door Nightcap
Easily located two doors down from the St. Paul Resort, Grigio crafts skilled alcoholic drinks like a cherry Old-Fashioned or a spiced rum martini. Sip your beverage in the softly lit lounge or tote it back to your room– the street remains in a marked outdoor drink location.
