Local Favorites: Ohio's Oldest Inn, a Broadway Bagel Shop, Smoked BBQ, a Heritage Railroad & a 311-Acre Lake Park in Lebanon

On South Broadway, The Golden Lamb is Ohio's oldest continuously operating business and the state's oldest hotel. It began as a log tavern licensed in 1803, and the four-story brick inn that stands today was built in 1816 as a hotel and stagecoach stop on the road between Cincinnati and Dayton.

Twelve United States presidents have slept and dined here, along with Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and every one of the 18 overnight rooms is named for a famous guest. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in rooms full of history, and in 2026 the family that has owned it for a century is still pouring the welcome. It is the heart of Lebanon, and a must-visit for anyone who loves American history with their meal.

Right on South Broadway, Broadway Bagels and Coffeehouse is the kind of independent shop locals choose over the chains. They bake fresh bagels daily with gourmet spreads and cream cheese, build breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and pull espresso drinks, lattes, teas, juices, and smoothies with an emphasis on quality, local ingredients.

It is a friendly, cozy gathering spot in the middle of Lebanon's historic district, open daily from 7 a.m., and the reviews keep coming back to the same thing: warm service and really good food. Grab a jalapeño bagel with veggie cream cheese and a latte, then wander the brick sidewalks of downtown Lebanon. It is the perfect way to start a day in this town.

On East Mulberry Street, just off the downtown square, Woodshed Smokehouse and Grille is a casual smokehouse that bills itself as the best barbecue in Lebanon, and the locals largely agree. The kitchen turns out brisket, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, and wings, served cafeteria-style with homestyle sides like baked beans, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, and mac and cheese.

The tender brisket and burnt ends get the most love, the prices are fair, and weekend live music and a Tuesday open mic keep the room feeling like a neighborhood gathering. It is the kind of place where you order at the counter, find a seat under the wood beams, and leave full and happy. For a no-fuss, genuinely good dinner in Lebanon, Woodshed delivers.

From a replica Victorian-style station on South Street, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad has been running heritage train rides since 1985, about six miles of track connecting Lebanon, Mason, and Monroe. Passengers ride in vintage 1930s open-window coaches pulled by a historic diesel locomotive, one of the oldest of its kind still operating.

The lineup runs from the standard scenic Turtle Creek Valley Flyer to themed excursions like the Pumpkin Express, the Easter Bunny Express, the Great Train Robbery, and even a Day Out With Thomas. It is the kind of family tradition that kids remember for decades, and it is right in Lebanon's backyard. If you are looking for a memorable afternoon, this is it.

Just north of downtown on State Route 741, Warren County Armco Park spreads across 311 acres around a 110-acre lake. Originally developed by Armco Steel, the park is now a Warren County Park District gem, and locals have voted it one of the best parks in the county.

You can rent a kayak, canoe, or pontoon boat and paddle the lake, fish from the dock, play a round on the executive golf course or the 18-basket disc golf course, and let the kids loose on the nature-themed playground with its rope bridge and mounds. Add tennis, pickleball, sand volleyball, hiking trails, and picnic shelters with grills, and it is easy to spend an entire day here. In October, the shoreline turns gold and orange, and it is simply beautiful.