Hidden Gems You'll Love Around Plain City, Powell, Dublin & Columbus, Ohio
Hidden Gems You'll Love Around Plain City, Powell, Dublin, and Columbus, Ohio
By Amy Warren, Ohio REALTOR®
The best things about Central Ohio rarely show up on the first list you find. Plain City has an Amish farm producing some of the best donuts in the state. Powell has a hiking preserve with shale cliffs and creek crossings that feels nothing like the manicured suburbs around it. Dublin has public art tucked down alleys most people walk right past. And Columbus has a whole creative neighborhood west of downtown that most newcomers do not discover for years.
I have spent a lot of time in these communities helping families find homes, and along the way I have learned what makes each one worth staying in. These are the places I actually recommend.
Plain City, Ohio: Farm Charm and Scenic Rides
Plain City surprises people. You drive out from Dublin or Powell expecting another suburb and instead find country roads, farm stands, and a pace of life that feels genuinely different. That contrast is part of what draws buyers here, and it is what keeps residents from leaving once they arrive.
Jacquemin Farms is the anchor of the Plain City experience for most locals. Their donuts are legendary in Central Ohio, and the pumpkin patch and seasonal produce keep people coming back across every season. Spring strawberries, summer sweet corn, fall pumpkins, and the kind of farm stand that reminds you food actually comes from somewhere. Arrive early if you want the donuts warm.
For outdoor lovers,Plain City's bike trails wind through countryside that feels miles away from the nearest highway. These are peaceful, quiet routes, the kind you take when you want to clear your head rather than log miles. Families with kids appreciate the low traffic and flat terrain. It is a side of Central Ohio that does not make the highlight reels but that residents hold onto.
Powell, Ohio: Rugged Trails and Local Flavor
Powell has the reputation of a polished suburb, and in many ways it earns it. But dig a little and you find the kind of outdoor experience and local food scene that most people do not associate with the area.
Shale Hollow Preserveis the best example. This is not a paved loop around a retention pond. It is a genuine hiking destination with rocky outcrops, creek crossings, and natural play areas that kids and adults both actually use. The shale cliffs are unusual for Central Ohio and worth seeing even if you are not a regular hiker. It is a favorite among locals who want something more interesting than the average metro park trail.
The parks and green spaces near Powell's downtownare worth exploring too, especially on weekday evenings when they are quiet. And when you are done, Local Rootsin downtown Powell is exactly what a farm-to-table restaurant should be. The menu rotates with what is in season, the sourcing is genuinely local, and they bring in live music on weekends. It is the kind of place you go once and immediately want to bring someone back to.
Dublin, Ohio: Art, Walks, and Things You Walk Past Without Knowing It
Dublin gets a lot of attention for Bridge Park and the restaurants along the river, and that attention is deserved. But Historic Dublin rewards slower exploration in a way that the newer development does not.
Walk down the alleys and side streets off Bridge Street and you will find murals and public art installations that most visitors miss entirely. The Dublin Arts Council maintains an active public art program throughout the city, and pieces are tucked into places you would not think to look. It turns a walk through Historic Dublin into something worth slowing down for.
Locals also know that the area golf courses and walking trails often have paths accessible during off-hours. An evening walk through one of the greens-adjacent trail connections is a different kind of Dublin experience, quiet in a way the restaurants and retail are not. It is the kind of thing you find by living here, not by searching for it.
Columbus, Ohio: Culture and Calm Just Outside the Spotlight
Columbus gets most of its attention for the Short North and the Arena District, but some of the most interesting things happening in the city are in neighborhoods that take longer to find.
The Franklinton Arts District, just west of downtown, is where a lot of Columbus's working artists actually live and make things. Small galleries, studios, and pop-up events give you access to local talent outside the more commercial corridors. It has a different energy than the Short North, grittier and more community-driven, and it is one of the more honest parts of Columbus if you want to understand the city beyond the highlights.
The Olentangy River Trail is well known, but the stretches north of campus and through the quieter residential sections see a fraction of the traffic the popular segments do. If you want the river without the crowd, that is where to go. And in Clintonville, neighborhood community gardens pop up in ways that give the area a grounded, lived-in character that newer developments are still trying to manufacture. These are the details that make a neighborhood worth living in, not just visiting.
Why the Hidden Gems Matter for Buyers
When I work with buyers, I always ask what they actually want to do on a Saturday. The answer shapes the neighborhood search more than almost anything else. Someone who wants farm stands and quiet trails is going to be happiest in Plain City. Someone who wants walkable restaurants and river access is going to be happiest in Dublin. Someone who wants a creative, evolving neighborhood scene is going to look at Columbus differently than someone focused entirely on schools.
Real estate is about more than square footage. The hidden gems are part of what makes a community worth buying into, and knowing them before you buy is part of how you end up in the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some hidden gems in Plain City, Ohio?
Jacquemin Farms is the local favorite for donuts, seasonal produce, and a pumpkin patch that draws families from across Central Ohio. Plain City's bike trails offer quiet countryside routes that feel far removed from the busier suburbs nearby. The area has a slower pace that surprises people who expect another Columbus suburb.
What is Shale Hollow Preserve in Powell, Ohio?
Shale Hollow Preserve is a hiking destination with rocky outcrops, creek crossings, and natural play areas. It is more rugged than most Central Ohio parks and a favorite among locals who want a genuine trail experience. Pair it with a meal at Local Roots in downtown Powell for farm-to-table food and live music on weekends.
What are the best local spots in Dublin, Ohio that tourists miss?
Historic Dublin has murals and public art installations tucked down alleys and side streets that most visitors walk right past. The Dublin Arts Council maintains pieces throughout the city. Off-hours walking paths near the area's golf courses offer a quiet side of Dublin that regular visitors rarely find.
What is the Franklinton Arts District in Columbus?
Franklinton is a creative neighborhood just west of downtown Columbus with small galleries, working artist studios, and pop-up events. It has a grittier, more community-driven energy than the Short North and gives you access to Columbus's arts scene outside the more commercial areas.
What makes Central Ohio a good place to live beyond the well-known suburbs?
Central Ohio has more variety than most people realize. Farm country in Plain City, rugged hiking in Powell, public art in Dublin, a genuine arts scene in Franklinton, and quiet river trail stretches in Columbus. The hidden gems are layered into each community and are part of what makes the region worth planting roots in long-term.
Looking for the Right Neighborhood in Central Ohio?
Finding the right community is as important as finding the right home. Whether you are drawn to farm country, walkable restaurants, outdoor trails, or a creative neighborhood scene, I can help you figure out where you actually belong. Start with my Buyer's Guide and Seller's Guide, or reach out directly at [email protected] and let us start the conversation.
Amy Warren is a licensed Ohio REALTOR® serving buyers and sellers across Plain City, Dublin, Powell, and Central Ohio. She started her real estate career in 2016 as a Transaction Coordinator in Denver, where she helped close over 650 transactions before relocating to Central Ohio in 2022 and earning her Ohio license in 2025. Visit amywarrenohiorealtor.com.
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