Glorious Granville

Given my love for exploring small towns, Granville, Ohio was the perfect destination for my pre-birthday celebration with my husband.

Dubbed the Cape Cod of the Midwest, Granville was already piquing our interest. A getaway to Cape Cod sounded marvelous, but not particularly practical for a 3 day weekend. So we got in our Subaru and drove the 3 1/2 hours to Granville.

We were thrilled to stay at the Granville Inn where Chef Chad and the entire staff gave Traveling Tanya and her handsome husband the royal treatment!

While we could have relaxed and been content just locking ourselves away in this historic and luxurious Inn, we were excited to see what the town of Granville had to offer.

Given that our trip was in early February, the weather was chilly, but the sun was shining on us! So we enjoyed the short stroll from the Inn to the main strip of shops and eateries along Broadway Street.

Based on photos we saw online during our trip planning, Granville really comes alive during warmer weather, with outside tables at restaurants filled by locals and tourists alike. Even with the chilly temperatures, we found plenty of people milling about town and most of the shops were open. And we were ready to explore!

Shopping

I gave myself permission to buy a few of my own birthday presents and had a fabulous time perusing through the boutique clothing and household decor in Green Velvet. Happy Birthday to me!

Never one to pass up a quaint bookstore, we took a peek inside the Reader’s Garden Book Store. And just off the beaten path, we stumbled upon Just Write, which was full of darling stationery items and unique gifts.

Everest Gear is the store to hit if you want to stock up on clothing to show off your Denison University pride. (More on Denison University coming up!)

Broadway and several side streets are also dotted with small shops selling works from local artists and souvenirs to remind you of your time in Granville.

And of course there are lots of tasty treats to eat!

Eating

We did not have nearly enough time to try out all the local restaurants, but Granville does offer an eclectic variety of dining options. There is Aladdin’s Diner, Day Y Noche, The Pub on Broadway, and Steamroller Bagel Sandwiches, just to name a few.

We actually did more snacking than actual dining!

Although Granville is not an especially large town, there are two Goumas chocolate stores. We found this interesting, and one local shop owner gave us the inside scoop.

 

Apparently the Goumas Family has been in the chocolate business spanning 4 generations, but there was a falling out among the Goumas clan in 2008. The result…part of the family owns the storefront named Goumas Candyland and the others operate Goumas Confections.

We were told Goumas Candyland is known to make the best truffles and Goumas Confections is where we should go for any other chocolatey treats. So we did as instructed and went home with some decadent truffles, and then picked up buckeyes and a few other chocolate delights from the competing Goumas store.

I must say it was all heavenly…and didn’t last long in our house of chocolate lovers!

Adjoining Goumas Confections is a shop selling another one of my family’s favorite food groups…popcorn!

Of course, I had to sample a few sweet and savory options at Weathervane Kettle Corn.

And I picked out the perfect valentine’s treat for one of my popcorn lovers.

To warm up from the cool February air, we ducked into the Village Coffee Company on Saturday morning. This place was hopping with plenty of locals catching up with their neighbors.

We took in the congenial vibe while enjoying some liquid warmth and a berry scone.

History

Of course, Granville has more to offer than food and shopping! We learned quite a bit of history about the Granville Inn during our tour with Chef Chad, but the town itself is also full of historical markers and reminders of days gone by.

Throughout the town, you can read decorative signs detailing the early settlement of Granville and the landmarks still standing from that time.

History buffs will want to allocate time to explore the sights that tell Granville’s story, such as the Granville Historical Museum, the Bryn Du Mansion, and the Alligator Mound.

Read all about Granville’s fascinating history, and then plan a visit to see this remarkable town for yourself!

Denison University

You can’t talk about Granville without mentioning the prestigious liberal arts college sitting atop the town’s hill.

Denison University has an enrollment of just over 2300 students. But you may be familiar with a few of its prestigious alumni…Jennifer Garner ’94, Steve Carell ’84, Michael Eisner ’64, and Richard Lugar ’54. I hear Jennifer Garner is delivering this year’s commencement speech!

When you visit Granville be sure to take a stroll through campus, and maybe take in a lacrosse game and cheer on Big Red. And if golf is your passion, make time for a round of 18 at the Denison Golf Club.

Nearby Newark

When I heard there was a Speakeasy-themed winery not too far outside of Granville, I had to add that to our weekend itinerary.

Sand Hollow Winery has a few locations, but we opted for the Speakeasy in Newark, about 8 miles east of Granville.

We had to text the winery before arriving to get the passcode. At the winery, you must give the passcode through the tiny opening in the door before you are granted entry.

I love wineries already, but the added intrigue of a Speakeasy made it even more fun!

I enjoyed a flight of wine so I could sample a variety of Sand Hollow’s offerings.

But my favorite part of the winery was the décor and the selfie station, complete with a porcelain tub and Speakeasy props.

Brent and I had fun with the gangster theme!

After wine tasting, it was time to fill our bellies.

With a recommendation received at the winery, we headed to Newark’s Town Square and got a table at Barrel and Boar. After ordering a couple of cocktails and some tasty burgers and fries, we were ready to relax and enjoy the restaurant’s live music. The perfect end to a perfect day!

Back in Granville

Between our deluxe accommodations at the Granville Inn and all the fun we had strolling through the quaint shops and eateries, it was an amazing weekend. We definitely plan to find our way back to Granville again, next time when the temperature is a bit more conducive to outdoor activities.

I hope you will also be adding Granville, Ohio to your upcoming travel plans!

Have you visited Granville, Ohio? I’d love to hear about your favorite things to do in this quaint New England-style town!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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