Follow Pip’s Path to explore Lancaster, Ohio with your family! You’ll be surprised at all there is to discover!
Thanks to Visit Fairfield County for sponsoring this post!
Pip’s Path Through Lancaster, Ohio is a book written and illustrated by local author Erin M. Burchwell. Proceeds from the book benefit Fairfield County non-profits. You can follow Pip’s Path through Lancaster, Ohio to learn more about the city and uncover all of the history, art and beauty that makes this city great!
Where to buy Pip’s Path Through Lancaster:
Pip’s Path Through Lancaster is available for purchase at the AHA! Children’s Museum and the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. Make sure to pick up your copy before embarking on the trail! It will make spotting all of the places Pip visited even more fun for your kids!
Your First Stop: Visit Fairfield County Visitor Center
- Address: 158 W. Wheeling St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
The first place you’ll want to stop in Lancaster is the Visit Fairfield County Visitor Center! You’ll find everything you could ever need to plan your day! Not only do they have cool historical information and displays, but they also have a flyer or pamphlet covering everything your heart might desire to do in Lancaster and the surrounding Fairfield County!
You can also download the Visit Fairfield County App (click the website link above to find it!) and from the app, find the Pip’s Path Through Lancaster, Ohio Tour under “Tours” and keep track of all the stops on your phone or device!
Stops on Pip’s Path through Lancaster, Ohio:
1. AHA! A Hands-on Adventure, A Children’s Museum
- Address: 1708 River Valley Cir S, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Though it makes sense for you to start at the Visitor Center, Pip actually starts his journey from his home at AHA! The book begins with a shy Pip being challenged to step out of his comfort zone and go on a journey around Lancaster.
AHA! A Hands-on Adventure, A Children’s Museum is the perfect place to take kids in Lancaster, Ohio! It’s geared toward kids aged 6 months to 8 years old, but my 11 year old enjoyed it, too! We’ve been visiting AHA! for a couple of years and it’s always been fun for my kids at all ages!
Inside are lots of hands-on activities for pretend play! There is a house, construction vehicles, a fire truck, a grocery store, a fishing pond and a water play area, just to name a few!
Make sure to head outside to the Nature Playscape if weather permits! Kids will love the outdoor activities like sand pits, tricycles, tunnel slides, a wooden boat to play in and more!
2. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio
- Address: 145 E Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Pip’s next stop is the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in downtown Lancaster. They currently have a really clever exhibit called OHIO: The Start of it All! It features facts about things that began in Ohio paired with illustrations from children’s books that correspond with that fact. As someone who used to work in the children’s department of a library, I LOVED it! That exhibit will be on display through December 31, 2022.
For the holidays in 2022, The Decorative Arts Center will be decked out in the theme of A Storybook Christmas featuring A Very Brady Holiday!
3. Sherman House Museum
- Address: 137 E Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
After Pip visits the Decorative Arts Center, he heads next door to General Sherman’s House! The Sherman family lived here in the 1800’s. William Tecumseh Sherman was a well-known Union general in the Civil War and his brother, John Sherman, is known for the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Pip is fascinated by the Civil War tent set up above so we made sure to take a picture!
4. Georgian Museum
- Address: 105 E Wheeling St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
The Georgian was home to an influential Lancaster family, the Maccrakens. It is restored to the period of 1832-1852 when they lived in the residence. You can tour the residence to learn about the families who have lived in this grand home!
5. Zane Square
- Address: North Broad St. at West Main St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Pip continues his journey through downtown Lancaster, and you can too! Make sure to stop in Zane Square which is home to City Hall and 3 city parks. Don’t miss the Sherman Statue, which will be of greater relevance after visiting his childhood home!
The fountain across from City Hall is beautiful! When we visited in the fall, the orange leaves made it even more stunning! My kids also loved the horse statue!
During his walk downtown, Pip spies a “magical place with a hundred shiny glass balls in the windows.” That would be the Ohio Glass Museum! Each year the Ohio Glass Museum offers the opportunity to make or sponsor a glass ornament that is added to a huge sphere they raise on New Year’s Eve!
You can tour the museum (which currently has an interesting exhibit called Earth, Hand, & Fire explaining how the earth’s minerals produce specific colors of glass). Make sure to time your visit with a glass blowing demonstration which take place daily.
6. The Mithoff Building
- Address: 162 West Main St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Pip stops into The Mithoff to take a peek inside, so we did, too! This building was a hotel in the 1820’s. Stop into the middle door to view the grand lobby and the timeline of Lancaster history on the wall!
7. Lancaster’s Center Alley
- Address: 137 West Main St., Lancaster, OH 43130
Center Alley has been home to various murals over the years and, in the book, was once covered with umbrellas. It’s currently home to murals celebrating Gay Fad Studios, a shop next door.
Gay Fad Studios was led by Fran Taylor, who was a female CEO during a time when there were very few female CEOs. She started the business with $30 and was eventually most well-known for her hand-painted glassware. It’s definitely worth stopping in the store – it is stunning!
8. Keller Market House
- Address: 134 S. Columbus St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Keller Market is Pip’s next stop on his journey. It’s a great spot for local treats, produce and handmade goods! I bought a pair of earrings that I love and my kids picked out some tasty baked goods! The market is full of a variety of goods – something for everyone!
9. The Mill Event Center
- Address: 431 S. Columbus St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Pip stops at The Mill Event Center which was a former grocery and feed mill. This space is available for rent for special events!
10. Fairfield County Fairgrounds
- Address: 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Pip is lucky to be stopping at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on the annual Lancaster Festival Fair Day! The Lancaster Festival takes place annually and is a 10-day music and arts festival that features well known artists and special demonstrations and performances! My family has attended multiple times and we have always enjoyed the family-friendly programming!
While he’s at the Fairgrounds, Pip gets a glimpse of Rising Park, and you should, too! It’s a really beautiful park that’s home to a great playground AND Mt. Pleasant. You can hike to the top of Mt. Pleasant – it’s a steep hike but the views from the top are fantastic!!
11. Stebelton Park at Rock Mill
- Address: 1429 Rockmill Place NW, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Rock Mill is currently closed for repairs but this stop is one we have on our list to come back and visit when it reopens!
12. Wahkeena State Nature Preserve
- Address: 2200 Pump Station Rd SE, Sugar Grove, OH 43155
- Website
At Rock Mill, Pip is picked up by a large bald eagle named Alice and flown over Wahkeena Nature Preserve on his way back home!
Wahkeena State Nature Preserve is such a hidden gem in Ohio! We had an amazing hike here on a beautiful fall day! There is a Nature Center and several hiking trails. Make sure you don’t miss the floating boardwalk trail and the two raptors that are being rehabilitated and housed behind the Nature Center.
Where to Eat in Lancaster, Ohio:
Downtown Fruit Passion
- Address: 207 W. Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Downtown Fruit Passions made for a great, light lunch stop! They offer salads, smoothies, smoothie bowls and crepes! The boys enjoyed smoothies and my husband and I ordered salads and split a crepe! Yum!
O’Huids Gaelic Pub
- Address: 167 W. Main St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
O’Huids offers a classic pub experience with fish and chips, cottage pie, beers on tap and chicken fingers for the kids, if that’s how they roll. They also have a patio if the weather allows!
Provisions Bakery and Deli
- Address: 135 W Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
Provisions Deli and Bakery is a great stop for a deli sandwich, baked good or cup of coffee! The atmosphere is bright and modern! Make sure to check out the other things they sell from local makers, their wine selection and the baked goods counter!
The Downtown Bistro
- Address: 123 N. Broad St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
The Downtown Bistro is great if you’re looking for an upscale option for dinner! We actually happened to be visiting on our wedding anniversary, so we considered this a special anniversary dinner, even with the kids in tow! They do have a kids’ menu as well, though my kids enjoyed ordering off of the appetizer menu!
Donut World
- Address: 601 N. Broad St., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Website
If you get a donut craving, Donut World is open 24 hours a day to satisfy that hunger! The donuts are so good! You won’t be disappointed no matter the time of day!
Where to Stay in Lancaster, Ohio:
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
- Address: 1861 Riverway Dr., Lancaster, OH 43130
- Booking
Holiday Inn Express and Suites is a convenient hotel in Lancaster! It’s a hop, skip and a jump from the AHA Children’s Museum and the River Valley Mall. Our room was clean and comfortable and we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast with lots of options!
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