15 Highlights for Your Trip to Sidney, Ohio
About Sidney, Ohio
Sidney offers a historic downtown featuring the famous Louis Sullivan designed People's Savings and Loan building, the Monumental Building (erected as a monument to those Shelby Countians who died in the Civil War), and the Shelby County Courthouse. The Courthouse, which occupies one city-block known as Court Square, was recently named as one of the Great American Public Places
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Sidney is situated in west-central Ohio, approximately 40 miles north of Dayton and 90 miles north of Cincinnati. It is the northernmost Great Miami Riverway community.
Below we will highlight the absolute best and must-see things to do and try in Sidney, Ohio.
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Best Coffee Spot In Sidney
Greenhaus Coffee treats guests to a wonderful selection of Purebred Coffees (locally roasted small batch coffee brand), made to order seltzers, lattes, expresso, natural fruit sodas, teas, toasts, pastries, salads and more. The retail side of Greenhaus Coffee offers indoor plants, home décor items, and locally crafted gifts. |
Top Wine Bar In Sidney
Austeria Wine Boutique is a beautiful upscale experience in the historic Court Square District of downtown Sidney. The family-own establishment offers the very best of local, small-batch, and natural production wines paired with a curated selection of meats, cheeses, conserva, and other locally sourced products. You'll find fun events like wine tastings and unique experiences like a heated igloo for outdoor sipping in the winter. |
Best Restaurants To Try in Sidney
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The Bridge |
Murphy's Craft Bar & Kitchen |
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The Spot |
Alcove Restaurant |
About DORA
The State of Ohio has a unique law allowing for the creation of "designated outdoor refreshment areas", or DORAs. This allows you to buy alcoholic drinks from participating bars and restaurants and carry them with you as you explore the downtown area, shop, or enjoy an ongoing event. Each community's rules may vary -- ask your server or bartender for more information.
Top Historical Attractions In Sidney
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The Historic Sidney Theatre features an original 1930's marquee and has live performances and events all year long.
Best Parks & Nature Near Sidney
When the City's first comprehensive plan was being developed in the mid-1950s, the City decided that it would be an attractive feature to have a park or recreation area within a half-mile of every residence. This goal has resulted in a system of 14 neighborhood parks, a baseball complex, softball complex, soccer complex, municipal swimming pool, and the 180-acre Tawawa Park, nature and picnic area.
Photo-Op: It's popular for visitors to climb the 'Big Rock' at Tawawa Park
Best Annual Events In Sidney
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The Shelby County Fair in July attracts thousands of visitors from all over who come to enjoy the food, family friendly activities, and live entertainment. |
The Great Sidney Farmer's Market season is mid-May through early-October. |
History of Sidney
The City of Sidney, named after Sir Philip Sidney, a well-known poet and member of British Parliament, was originally a 70-acre parcel of land located along the west side of the Great Miami River. This land was donated by Charles Starrett to be used as the site of a new town which was to become the county seat of Shelby County. The area around Sidney was once the richly-forested hunting ground of the Shawnee and Miami Indian nations. This fertile area was developed as agricultural lands over time
The construction of the Miami-Erie Canal between 1825 and 1837 connected Sidney in a north/south direction with the major trade centers in Ohio. In addition to opening the first significant outside
trade for Sidney, the construction of the canal also attracted an influx of settlers to the area.
As the influence of the canal declined, another transportation element, railroads, began to develop in Sidney. East-west rail began to be laid in 1851, followed by north-south rail in 1856. Sidney is still served by these railroad lines today.
Learn more: Shelby County Historical Society
More Resources
Official City of Sidney Website
Sidney/Shelby County Visitor's Bureau
Sidney Alive! - Visitor's information & events
For more than 100 years, the Miami Conservancy District's flood protection system has helped reduce flood risk throughout Southwest Ohio, allowing communities to safely develop the riverfront parks, trails, downtown destinations, and recreation amenities of the Great Miami Riverway. The vibrant riverfront experiences visitors enjoy today are possible because generations of leaders invested in protecting both communities and the river corridor.