Growing up, one of my favorite things my family and I did was venture down to Troy, Ohio for an evening. I remember walking around the quaint downtown, going into the local bookstore, and having a delicious meal at La Piazza (BTW: any leads on how to make that AMAZING garlic dressing would be appreciated). So when presented with the opportunity to come back and visit Miami County, including Troy during their Annual Strawberry Festival, it was an easy yes.
Miami County is just North of Dayton and has cute, quaint towns that make for a relaxing weekend getaway. My friend, Kathryn, and I traveled from Akron and it was about a 2 hour, 45 minute drive from downtown to Tipp City.
FUN FACT: Tipp City was originally named Tippecanoe in 1840, the year William Henry Harrison was campaigning for his presidency under the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too". The town name was changed to Tipp City in 1938.
My visit to Miami County mainly revolved around the Strawberry Festival in Troy. This event takes place the first weekend of June in downtown Troy. Each year, the Strawberry Festival draws in over 175,000 visitors, and it’s well worth a visit! There are tons of local vendors and shops—everything from hand-poured candles to delicious sweet tea to your classic fair food and more. The strawberry- themed food is obviously the main draw, and I made sure to eat a TON of chocolate-covered strawberries and enjoy a strawberry cold brew at Winans. The strawberry donuts and strawberry bratwurst are, in my opinion, the best things to get at the festival.
In addition to the amazing food, the strawberry festival has three stages with different entertainment offered throughout the weekend. There is live music, pie-eating contests, dance parties, and more offered! The ENTIRE town gets involved for the Strawberry Festival—even the fountain in the town-square is dyed pink! I highly recommend visiting the Strawberry Festival in June 2024, and I can’t wait to return!!
What To Eat in Miami County:
Tipp City Pizza
Located in downtown Tipp City, this Pizzeria boasts a classic Dayton-Style PIzza, a Full Bar, and Duck-Pin Bowling! Dayton-Style Pizza is thin, flat crust pizza cut into tiny, square slices. Kathryn and I enjoyed a gluten free Pepper Potts Pizza: loaded with mozzarella, fennel, Italian sausage, Calabrian peppers, ricotta, basil, and hot honey! The flavor was fantastic! We also split a cheese garlic bread and house salad before heading to the lanes for some bowling. For one hour of bowling, the cost is a modest $7 per person.
Crooked Handle
Located In Piqua, the Crooked Handle was a great location for a casual dinner. They have quite a few beers that they brew in house coupled with Dayton-Style Pizza, Wings, and sandwiches. The Crooked Handle is a great option for large groups of people and they have quite a bit of outdoor space too. I recommend getting the Pizza!
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Miami County. Strawberry Festival aside, the county has grown and I love seeing all the new business that opened since I was a kid. Troy is an adorable, quaint town that has a ton of pride and a thriving community. I recommend visiting Miami County if you have not already--it's a great place to stay, dine, and relax for an evening or two if you live in Ohio or Eastern Indiana!
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