The Mid-Ohio Challenge is an especially exciting race here at LeafFilter Racing, as its held in our home state! The sports car course is a tricky one, with 13 turns spanning 2.4 miles. All that excitement is sure to have fans ramped up and ready to explore after the race. So, to help you find fun things to do close to the track, we’ve put together this list of the top 9 hot spots around Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
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Paul Revere Restaurant
Lexington, Ohio
With friendly service and tasty food, you’ll certainly enjoy a trip to this Revolutionary War-themed restaurant. A stack of their tender, buttery pancakes will surely fuel you up for an exciting race day, but past customers also rave about the walleye dinner. Whether you chose to go for breakfast, dinner, or both, you’ll find a dish to love. As if that weren’t enough, Paul Revere Restaurant is also the closest hot spot to the track. It’s can’t get more convenient!
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Buckeye Express Diner
Bellville, Ohio
The Buckeye Express Diner will give you a taste of Ohio hospitality and good, old fashioned comfort food. This diner is truly unique. In addition to the traditional brick and mortar dining area, there is also room to dine in an authentic train car. It’s also jam packed with Ohio State memorabilia, which is a plus for any Buckeye fan. If you’re famished after the race, don’t worry – the portions at this place will more than fill you up. The kids can also blow off a little steam (pun intended!) in the kids’ play area, which even has a mini train replica to climb on!
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Der Dutchman Bellville
Bellville, Ohio
You simply can’t take a trip to Ohio without experiencing Amish cooking, and Der Dutchman is just the place to get your first taste. Of course we’re going to tell you about all the tasty foods they serve, but first, a fair warning – you will not want to come here without an empty stomach. And we mean totally empty, because you’re going to want to try all their delicious home cooked foods. They have a giant selection of traditional dishes, but if you want to get a taste of a lot of different things, order the Amish Country Sampler. They’ve also got a deliciously fresh, locally sourced, all you can eat salad bar, which we definitely recommend trying out. Just don’t forget to leave room for dessert, which is what they’re most known for. They have a seemingly endless selection of pies and other sweet treats, so you’ll have plenty of options to indulge your sweet tooth.
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Little Buckeye Children’s Museum
Mansfield, Ohio
If you’ll have little ones in tow this weekend, you’ll certainly want to make a special trip to the Buckeye Children’s Museum. Their hands-on play stations and live puppet acts will entertain little minds for hours on end. For avid race fans, they even have a mini model car. Of course this is just a display, so little ones can sit behind the wheel and pretend like they’re competing in a NASCAR race, or they can check out everything under the hood and tinker with the mechanics. The whole family is bound to love this place.
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Kingwood Center Gardens
Mansfield, Ohio
With gorgeous gardens spanning over 47 acres of property, Kingwood Center Gardens is a fantastic place to go for some sightseeing. It looks like the dog days of summer have arrived, so if you’re not in the mood to be outside more than you have to be during the race weekend, you should still check out the mansion itself, in addition to the greenhouse and garden shop. You’ll find a new appreciation for beauty at Kingwood Center, we guarantee it.
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Smokin’ Bros Barbecue
Mansfield, Ohio
How does a rack of hot, juicy, tender barbecue ribs sound as a celebratory meal after your favorite driver wins the race? Yeah, it kinda makes your mouth water, doesn’t it? Smokin’ Bros Barbecue should be your go-to for barbecue done right. If you’ve got a hankering for the full barbecue menu, order their new BBQ Cup, which is filled to the brim with savory meat, baked beans, and coleslaw. A side of cornbread and banana pudding for dessert are also in order.
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Old Bag of Nails Pub
Mansfield, Ohio
Don’t let the name fool you, the food and drink here is much tastier than an Old Bag of Nails. This pub has several locations in Ohio, so depending on where you’re coming fro, you could stop at any of the locations along the way. But, the pub in Mansfield is closest to the sports car course. The buzz around their famous fish and chips is no fish tale – it’s seriously the best you’ll find, short of traveling to Europe. Pair it with a homemade chocolate milkshake for a truly decadent addition to your meal.
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Apple Hill Orchard
Mansfield, Ohio
The best Ohio apples aren’t quite in season yet, but that doesn’t mean a trip to the apple orchard isn’t merited. You can still get some apples perfect for making homemade applesauce. The orchard has a farmer’s market which offers the absolute best local produce in the area. In addition to the product, Apple Hill also sells Amish baked goods, honest to goodness maple syrup, local honey, candy, and preserved goods, and much more. Best of all, the Orchard sells some goods of their own, like their locally famous Apple Hill Apple Donuts, apple-walnut bread, fritters, and more. Take the opportunity to stock up on all the yummy Ohio goods before you go home!
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The Blueberry Patch
Mansfield, Ohio
Ohio blueberries are finally ready for picking, making this race weekend the perfect time to stop by The Blueberry Patch. In addition to getting your fill of sweet berries, you’ll also find a cafe, coffee beanery, and even a winery on the property. The winery, which is a more recent addition to The Blueberry Patch, offers some truly delicious wines, but you should not pass up the opportunity to taste the sweet blueberry wine. Oh, and grab a homemade blueberry donut before you go too!
Come cheer on Blake in the Mid-Ohio Challenge, and don’t forget to check out these awesome local businesses while you’re in the area!
What are your favorite places to visit around the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course? Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!
