1. Marcum Park
If you haven’t been to the new Marcum Park, which was dedicated last spring and is still getting additions, it’s worth a visit.
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Marcum Park is located three blocks north of High Street, on the eastern shoreline of the Great Miami River.
Among its newest features is a sculpture with a fountain.
Its biggest draw is the RiversEdge amphitheater, which each summer hosts outdoor concerts, most of them free.
2. The Hamilton Flea
This curated flea market, recently relocated to Marcum Park, and happens the second Saturday of each month, from May through September, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3. Plenty of places to eat and drink
There are many eateries and other businesses along High and Main streets, and within a couple blocks of each other.
They include: ALL8UP (pizza place, 23 N. 3rd St.); Neal’s Famous BBQ (202 N. 3rd St.); Basil 1791 (Asian cuisine and more, 241 High St.); Municipal Brew Works (microbrewery, behind 20 High St.); and Quarter Barrel Brewery + Pub (103 Main St.).
4. Stroll the streets with a beer
Many of the various businesses participate in Hamilton’s new Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Program, where people can buy adult refreshments and stroll around the streets with them, as long as they don’t go beyond the boundaries, every day from noon to midnight.
5. Contemporary spaces to live and work
While the street-level shops are opening, the offices upstairs are filling up, just like in years past, but with even cooler workspaces than in the past.
6. Plenty of unique shopping
Shopping is a growing thing along High and Main streets, with such businesses as: Sara’s House (home decor and gifts, at High and 3rd streets); LahVdah (cosmetics and beauty supplies, 408 Main St.); Fleurish Home (135 Main St.); Main Street Vinyl (music, 227 Main St.); and Future Great Comics (528 Main St.).
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Hamilton’s growing Main Street corridor is undergoing a transformation to more attractive sidewalks and lamp posts, in preparation for the massive indoor Spooky Nook Sports at Champion Mill planned for North B Street.
City leaders envision the Main Street area and downtown as an entertainment district that can serve more than 10,000 visitors — athletes and their families — on weekends.
7. Beautiful bikeways
Officials in Hamilton and the region hope the Great Miami River, and bikeways along it, can become a big tourist draw in coming years, luring people interested in exercise, history and shopping to cities like Hamilton along what is called the Great Miami Riverway.
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