Quaint Cottages with Views of Surrounding Countryside

Set amid the rolling hills and woodlands of Ohio’s countryside, Spruce Hill Inn & Cottages is a peaceful spot for a recreational retreat. In addition to hiking and biking opportunities, guests are close to golf courses, equestrian centers, and canoeing on the Black Fork Mohican River—or they can simply enjoy the scenery from their cottage.

Spruce Hill’s 28 private cottages sit along winding paths on a hilltop. They all feature sitting areas with windows or private decks that look out to the countryside. Some face the neighboring mountains, and others look out onto a tranquil pond. Though the views vary from cottage to cottage, each A-frame dwelling comes stocked with similar homey amenities, including dining areas, fireplaces, and hot tubs.

Mansfield, Ohio: Rural City with Family-Friendly Attractions and Countryside Trails

Mansfield is located about halfway between Columbus and Cleveland. In a region covered with flat farmland, the city stands out: it has many peaks that reach 1,400 feet. Even more unusual, this rural midland spot has been the setting for a number of major motion pictures, including Air Force One, Tango & Cash, and The Shawshank Redemption, which filmed its famous prison scenes at the Ohio State Reformatory. Built in 1886, this Gothic-style penitentiary no longer houses inmates, but it’s still open for overnight ghost hunts as well as ghost tours, which Frommer’s called among the country’s best.

The town’s Historic Carrousel District, located about 7 miles from the inn, is home to the charming Richland Carrousel Park. It’s an indoor merry-go-round adorned with 30 horses and 22 other intricate animal figures that were designed, hand-carved, and painted at the world’s largest wooden-carousel manufacturer, less than 10 minutes up the road.