While the kids were away, the moms went to play. My friend Suzie and I took advantage of some kid-free hours with a Daycation in Butler County.
You don’t have to go far or away for a night to pack in a LOT of FUN!
1. Take A Hike on the Butler County Donut Trail
Our first adventure in Butler County, Ohio was getting stamps on our Donut Trail passport.
There are 12 local donut shops and 80 miles of trail to choose from located throughout the county. Get your Donut Trail Strategy tips here.
The Donut Spot
5148 Pleasant Ave, Fairfield, Ohio
We stopped at the Donut Spot for an “orange juice” donut and took a few specialty donuts to go.
The Donut House
8268 Princeton Glendale Rd., West Chester, OH 45069
At the Donut House, we selected “made to order fillings” for a few donuts along with a petal glaze donut and apple fritter to go.
2. Exercise on a Hiking Trail
My friend and I regularly hike together so it made sense to hit a local hiking trail while we were in the area.
With a few donuts in our bellies, we decided to burn off some of those calories on the trail at Rentschler Forest MetroPark.
This 400-acre park has hiking trails, paved bike paths, playground, and a picnic area near the Great Miami River.
We enjoyed several of the hiking trails and the scenic views for about 1.5 hours during our visit.
3. Check Out Downtown Shops and Murals in Hamilton
Downtown Hamilton has lots of great shops and murals to see.
You can read an extensive list of places to visit in Hamilton here.
I purchased a custom “Not all who wander are lost” tank top screen printed on demand at Unsung Salvage and my friend found a gift for her husband at Fleurish Home.
We would have definitely explored more shops but we still had a lot of fun to cram in.
4. Get Creative at Petals and Wicks
Create your own scent or take a paper flower making class at Petals and Wicks.
You start by grabbing a clipboard and making a list of the scents that you like.
Next, you narrow down your selection for a home fragrance to your top 3 max favorites per pour (candles, wax tarts, fragrance oils, tea lights, room spray)
My friend opted for a candle and I opted for the tea lights (Lemongrass, Georgia Peach, and Ginger Ale) because I haven’t seen the tea light option before.
Petals and Wicks also sells custom flower arrangements that are really creative. I love the bouquet pictured above using real baseballs as flowers.
The paper flower making classes do take more time than the candle pours so plan accordingly. I recommend calling ahead if you have a larger group.
5. Pick Fresh Flowers at Two Little Buds Florist
We made another downtown stop at Two Little Buds Florist for local, organic flowers that are fresh from the farm.
I visited Mourning Sun Flower Farms on a previous visit and it was really cool to see the shop where the flowers are available for customers to purchase.
You can arrange a bouquet yourself, order a custom arrangement or take a hands-on floral workshop.
6. Eat Outside of Your Comfort Zone at Dai Trang Asian Bistro
Using fresh ingredients to create menu items inspired by Filipino and Vietnamese dishes, Dai Trang Asian Bistro is the perfect spot to get out of your culinary comfort zone while you are kid-free.
We leaned on our waitresses’ expertise and just had her bring her recommended menu items to our table to try because we had no idea what to order.
We were happy with all of the selections. My main dish, the Bicol Express is a dish that I still think/dream about. It’s definitely for the fans of spicy food.
The dish is simmered in coconut milk with spices, spicy hot peppers, garlic, and ginger and it’s generally eaten insanely spicy (which I LOVE), so let your server know if you prefer a milder version.
If you are feeling extra adventurous, try the “Halo, Halo” for dessert which means “Mixed Together.” This popular Filipino dessert is layered with sweet red beans, fruit, tapioca, caramelized bananas, palm fruit, nata de coco, macupuno strings, leche flan, ube ice cream and shaved ice.
You mix all of the ingredients together and the texture is definitely something to get used to. It reminded me of how a bowl of cereal tastes with icy milk.
7. Try Axe Throwing at Cincinnati Axe Throwing
I was SUPER EXCITED to cross this adventure off of my bucket list.
With names like “Smart Axe” and “Wendy Torrence,” you knew we were destined for ax throwing greatness at Cincinnati Axe Throwing!
We were given the safety instructions and then we were each shown the proper ax-throwing technique with a few friendly competitions.
It took a little while to get the hang of it…but nothing was more satisfying than seeing our axes on the board…. and trust me when I say you will be a little sore the next day….unless ax-throwing is part of your everyday arm movement.
We both have a competitive side so it was a battle that came down to the wire…but only one of us could be given the title and branding of “Lumberlord.” I got the Lumberlord title but Susan got the coveted blue dot with her throw.
You need to be 15 years old to throw an ax but there is a room for kids with video games set up if you need it. There are also two escape rooms on site if you want to cross off another adventure while you are there.
We had such a great time during our daycation adventures in Butler County. Our ladies day out proved that you can cram in a lot of fun in a little time.
Thanks again to Bulter County, Ohio for hosting our visit. All opinions are my own.
Find more adventure ideas in Butler County, Ohio below
5 Fun Things to Do in Middletown
There is something special going on in Hamilton
5 Fun Indoor Adventures North of Cincinnati
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