Call us predictable, but our go-to family activity on a nice weekend is the Loveland Bike Trail. We usually end up there at least once a weekend if the weather is good, especially in the fall, winter, and spring. Is there anything better than getting some fresh air, walking/ running/ biking, and ended up surrounded by good, family-friendly restaurants? I don’t think so.
The trail itself is awesome. It is 70 miles and runs along the Little Miami River. It’s paved and flat, which makes it is a great place to push strollers and allow little ones to bike. There are different places to get on the trail, but we love to hop on in Downtown Loveland, because there is a great playground for our babe to enjoy before/ after walking and great restaurants where we can grab a bite after. And if you have older kids, there are several Geocaches hidden in the vicinity (including one in the woods just behind Nesbitt Park) which makes for a perfect afternoon scavenger hunt.
Since this is our go-to weekend place, we’ve gotten pretty familiar with some of the restaurants. Below are my top four restaurants to go to after the trail. They are all affordable, all family-friendly, and all tasty.
Julian’s is a great place for sandwiches and salads. Homemade sides, like the macaroni and cheese and a huge outdoor seating area, make this option extremely family-friendly. Our little one loves sitting out there watching people on the trail. There is a small kids menu that even includes a nutella and banana sandwich. I’m not a kid, but how awesome does that sound?
Paxton’s Grill was the first restaurant we tried in the area after a 20 mile bike ride. Needless to say, we inhaled everything in sight. We’ve been back many times since then and the food is always that good! They have a full menu with salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc. and a kid’s menu with the classics. There is a small porch, but we like to get take out and head to the picnic tables by the playground.
The Trailside Smokehouse is hands down one of the coolest places I have been in the area and they could not have been more baby-friendly, even when our little one was sticking his hand into the sour cream that accompanied the nachos. They have a big smoker on site, where they make amazing chicken and pork. I cannot recommend the pork nachos enough. They also have a great selection of craft beers. Seating is all outdoors which is great for families with kiddos in tow.
The Works is a brick oven pizza restaurant. In a word, the pizza is delicious. The restaurant space is a former firehouse, which is also really cool. There’s a nice outdoor patio and a great kid’s menu where you can substitute fruit, broccoli, or applesauce for fries. Bonus for the kiddos – you can actually eat inside a train car!
So as the weather turns cooler and those leaves start to change, set aside a day for family fun on the Loveland Bike Trail. We promise you will love it.
