Is there a city today that still has a small-town feel?
Yes, there is, and that’s Brunswick, Ohio, the largest city in Medina County that has managed to keep its small-town feel.
Having started as a quiet farming community, it has now become a lively city where you can find one of the Western Reserve’s oldest churches.
Thanks to the city’s convenient highway access to the Ohio Turnpike, Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland, and Akron, Brunswick is now a popular choice for homeowners and businesses.
One proof of its small-town feel that makes it an ideal place for families is the 2008 Family Circle 10 Best Towns for Families Award, which names Brunswick as a city with great spirit, pride, and community support.
And if that’s not enough, it is ranked 2nd in the country in terms of livability.
In Ohio, it’s the best city to live in due to its affordable housing developments, among others.
Because Brunswick is the perfect place for families, it brims with sights and things to do for everybody.
Ready to discover the city more?
Here are the 15 best things to do in Brunswick, OH:
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If you haven’t visited a real working farm yet, then you shouldn’t miss spending a day at Mapleside Farms.
This spectacular site is located on Pearl Road and is a 122-acre orchard.
What makes it unique is that it is situated in a valley and sits below a ridge, offering a fabulous 50-mile view over the countryside of Northeast Ohio.
Take your family here where you can ride the horse-drawn hayrides, going through the apple orchards where you can munch on some freshly-picked apples while sipping hot cider.
That’s not all because you can also try the Harvest Hideout Playland, do the pick-your-own pumpkins, or explore the exciting corn maze.
One of the must-see events is the Winter Concert in the Barn, where you can sway to the music of some of the area’s best bands.
You can also opt to see the Fall Festivals to experience some time-honored events that both locals and tourists will love.
Located on Parschen Blvd., this Brunswick lake city park sits on a portion of land that was spared from development.
Therefore, you can experience nature at its best in this 79-acre park with a 13.2-acre lake brimming with ash, oak, maple, and beech trees.
Many of these trees are over 200 years old, creating a wooded area where visitors can follow a half-mile trail that winds through the forests, revealing wood ducks, frogs, and turtles that inhabit the area.
If you come here during the spring, your eyes will feast on the sight of a wide array of wildflowers and more.
Inside the nature center, you can relax while reading a book in the library, watch the deers and birds, and even make a craft in the children’s area.
There’s definitely something for everyone at the Susan Hambley Nature Center.
What makes Laurel Rd in Brunswick special is the existence of the Brunswick Area Historical Society – Heritage Farm Museum & Park.
Founded in 1992, the place is dedicated to research and public education through its museum collections.
Come here and be lost in its wide variety of museum exhibits or attend one of its many events at the museum.
No moment is boring since there are also educational programs that help support the site’s operations.
A cool and relaxing ambiance waits for you at the Princess Ledges Nature Preserve, a heavily-wooded park where an abundance of wildflowers and exciting wildlife thrive.
The area features several sandstone ledges where the daughter of the property’s previous owner, named Princess, loved to play at.
So the name Princess Ledges was coined.
In the winter, the sandstone ledges look even more fascinating because of the ice that forms from the springs that flow from the rock formations.
The ledges that extend more than 1,100 feet in length have a significant influence on the plant and animal life in the area.
This can very well be considered any photographer’s heaven because of the scenic sights it offers, including mature oaks and tulip poplars.
Located on Spruce Avenue, it is definitely one of the best sights to visit in Brunswick.
Plum Creek Park is not your average park because it serves as one of the country’s best examples of recycling.
Coming here, you wouldn’t even begin to imagine that it used to be the Brunswick Township landfill that has been converted into a scenic park.
More than 160 acres have been added to the original 30-acre landfill that now welcomes visitors from all corners of the world.
Located on Plum Creek Parkway, the park features a mature forest as well as a loop trail that connects the park’s south and north sections.
You can reserve an enclosed picnic section on the north side, which is heated or air-conditioned for your meetings or family reunion.
On the south side, there is also an open-air shelter that’s available by reservation for groups.
The children can have fun in the playground, while adults can use the tables and grills for their picnic.
Complete your visit here by exploring the park’s two fishing ponds, allowing the entire family to enjoy and bond.
Head to Nationwide Parkway to visit the West Branch Malts, a local brewery in Brunswick.
Go on a tour around their distillery and discover the inner workings of a modern malt house where locally-grown barley malts are used for their product.
The malts are truly aromatic and produced in small batches using a specific technique.
During the tour, you will cover the different processes in spirits making, including mashing, milling, malting, distilling, and fermenting.
Spirits enthusiasts will surely love the experience as they begin to understand how their favorite malt is made.
The West Branch Malt is proud to combine their passion for spirits and beers with their desire to help build the local economy.
Whether you have kids or are kids-at-heart yourself, Scene75 Entertainment Center, located inside the Brunswick Market Center, is a can’t-miss spot.
It boasts attractions and the best of arcades, all under one roof.
Imagine a giant indoor entertainment center of massive proportions where all kinds of fun await you.
Totaling an 85,000-square feet area, various fun and games happen all year round.
Conquer the electric go-kart, play in the two-story laser tag arena, or try the more than 130 arcade games all you want!
Make sure to visit the Food Truck Alley and behold all types of food you can ever think of.
At the Scene75 Entertainment Center, there’s never a dull moment.
Whether you want to spend an entire day here or if you just want a place for the kids to do what they love to, you’ll surely have a great time nonetheless.
Cossett Creek was first established in 1965 as Bramblewood, which was later changed to Brunswick Hills Golf Course and then to its present name.
Located on Center Road, the golf course boasts a creek that winds through the course and provides irrigation during the dry months.
Whether you are a novice or an expert at golf, the property offers a scenic and challenging layout for all skill levels.
Its 130-acre land area has a full-service clubhouse, picnic pavilion, and outdoor patio that offer a great and refreshing experience post-game.
A favorite of many locals, it is also a must-see for visitors who want to have an experience they will not ever forget.
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Are you into fitness and outdoor activities?
Then Mill Stream Run Reservation is the place to visit, and it’s just a 14-minute drive from Brunswick.
Hike, bike, birdwatch, walk, picnic, fish, or just sunbathe in this extraordinary park.
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Make sure to experience the Go Ape, the reservation’s biggest summer attraction.
This tree-top adventure course features five adrenaline-pumping zip lines and 42 obstacles that offer scenic views.
On average, the adventure takes about two to three hours, depending on daylight hours, weather, and availability.
You can also try the Royalview Red Loop Trailhead, Strongsville Wildlife Area, and Wallace Lake Beach.
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You don’t even have to be an artist to enjoy Maggie & Ellie’s Pottery Studio.
There is more than 150 unfinished pottery for you to design using stamps and stencils.
You can also opt for glass fusing and choose from the site’s wide array of high-quality glass materials.
There is also the canvas painting activity wherein you simply pick the design you want, and the staff will give you a canvas and a template for you to trace on the canvas.
Choose from more than 200 designs, which you can finish in nearly two hours.
This place is a favorite not just among the locals but also among tourists because it is a breather from the usual outdoor experiences offered in Brunswick.
Family time is always time well spent.
While on vacation with the family, going to a place where the children can have their own kind of fun is always a good idea.
The only thing that can be better than that is going to a place where both children and adults can have the fun they want.
Go to Island Time Family Fun Center and bring out the child in you as you try its various features.
Try their 18-hole miniature golf as well as their batting cages.
These activities will surely enhance the bonding moments with the kids, who will also love the activities themselves.
After trying out the games, you can proceed to indulge in some delicious ice cream to help you cool down.
Your kids will have the best fun ever when you take them to the Rockin-R-Ranch!
There’s so much to do here, and the activities are for all ages.
From pony rides, family funhouse, and a kids activity area to the animal petting farm, face painting, and picture spots, Rockin-R-Ranch guarantees fun for the entire family.
Each admission treats you to unlimited excitement with free prizes and costume characters.
This is one place that your kids will definitely love to go back to!
Enjoy a 16-minute drive to Columbia Reservation, a 405-acre reservation that hosts a number of ponds built around waterways.
It features trails made from crushed limestone and asphalt that wind through open and wooded areas.
Like most parks in Lorain County, Columbia Reservation boasts experiences that are fit for all ages.
It is still undergoing further development, but it doesn’t make it any less beautiful and scenic.
Just less than 15 minutes away from Brunswick by car, Lake Medina is a true hidden oasis where visitors can enjoy biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing, and skiing!
Its main feature, the 1.4-mile Greenway Trail, is an asphalted 10-foot-wide path that runs along the bottom of the dam.
If you’re not into outdoor activities, you can always choose to simply laze in the park and admire the migratory birds such as the ducks, geese, swans, and loons.
A stay in Lake Medina will surely bring a fresh breather to your vacation’s itinerary.
A little spook won’t hurt or destroy the fun.
In fact, it may as well add to the fun!
Bring the whole gang to the Spooky Ranch at Rockin-R-Ranch, a mere 13-minute drive from Brunswick.
Explore five different attractions and five varying fright levels, perfect for all ages.
If you think your fright tolerance is not that high, go for the famous Haunted Hayride.
Simply hop on a wagon with your family and wait for the monsters to scare you from the ground.
Other experiences include Crazy Clowns 3D, the Funny Funhouse, and more.
You see, Brunswick has always kept its small-town feel as reflected in its sights.
It’s not just the perfect place to raise a family but also to make memories with the family.
Its accessibility to the different towns and cities makes it convenient and a nice place to bond with the people you love.
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