SCENIC BYWAYS

Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway

Travelers along the 27-mile main route of this scenic byway that runs through Milford Center, Unionville Center and Plain City, can enjoy the serenity of Big Darby Creek as it flows through Union County to the Scioto River. Along the way, travelers will see six covered bridges, including the Bigelow, Culbertson and Buck Run bridges.

“There are some modern bridges built in the 2000s and some historic bridges built in the 1800s,” says Corrie Bott, Union County Tourism’s welcome center and design manager. “The man who built the historic bridges was from Marysville, and he built bridges all over the state.”

Get out of the car and stretch your legs at the historic Pottersburg Bridge, a scenic footbridge that leads to a 3.5-mile walking trail with views of the central Ohio countryside. From June through October, the Pottersburg Bridge hosts Dine on a Covered Bridge. These five lunch or dinner events feature live music and locally sourced food as part of the experience.

Wind your way into Milford Center, once the Union County seat and now home to a replica of the first county courthouse. In the village of Plain City, the Plain City Clock Tower stands as one of the last two public timepieces of its kind crafted by re- nowned 19th-century clockmaker Seth Thomas. Stop along the route for a look at the Old Indian Trail historic marker. The area is home to trails blazed by Shawnee leader Tecumseh and were later used as part of the route of the Pony Express.

120 + Mile Route Through Scenic

State Route 78 at Clarington Ohio crosses through Monroe County into Noble County and continues along SR 78 into Morgan County ending in Nelsonville, Ohio (Athens County)

Drovers’ Trail Scenic Byway

Southeast Ohio heritage runs deep on this 37-mile route through Belmont County. Named for the days when drovers would bring their livestock to market along the path, the byway follows state Routes 800 and 147 from Bellaire to Hendrysburg while also connecting with the Historic National Road and Ohio River Scenic Byways.

Start the journey in Bellaire with a walk by and across part of the top of the Great Stone Viaduct, an impressive structure that offers views of the Ohio River. Also in town is the Unofficial Lego Museum, home to a vast collection of creations built using the timeless toy block. The National Imperial Glass Museum features pieces of fine glassware from the now-defunct Imperial Glass Co., which was based in Bellaire.

Along the way, a handful of Ohio’s wellknown quilt barns dot the landscape, including a handful of Scott Hagan Ohio Bicentennial Quilt Barns Stop and spend some time in nature at Barkcamp State Park in Belmont. Go for a hike through this scenic corner of Appalachia, take a dip in Belmont Lake or bring the family for a night of camping.

Step into the past in downtown Barnesville at the Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum, a 26-room home that shares what life was like for those who lived here in the 19th century. Antique hunters will enjoy the Barnesville Antique Mall with its three floors of secondhand treasures.

Get a feel for the cowboy lifestyle at the Dickinson Cattle Co.’s Texas longhorn ranch, and then head over to Hendrysburg, the hometown of William Boyd — the actor who brought classic Western hero Hopalong Cassidy to life.