Things to Do in Tiffin, Ohio: My 6-Day Stay in This Small Town

Sometimes the best trips aren't packed with tourist attractions and carefully planned itineraries. Sometimes you stay awhile, walk the streets, find your favorite coffee spot, try the local restaurants, and simply get a feel for a place.

That was Tiffin, Ohio, for me.

I recently spent six days in Tiffin while helping my 18-year-old son move into Tiffin University. Since this would be the place he'd call home for the school year, I wanted to familiarize myself with the area, see what was nearby, and get a feel for the community surrounding him. Instead of staying at a hotel, I booked an adorable Airbnb right in the heart of town, which ended up being the perfect way to experience Tiffin.

Getting to Know Tiffin, Ohio

Tiffin, Ohio

Tiffin is a cute, sleepy little Ohio town that almost immediately made me slow down. One of the first things I noticed was that parking was free pretty much everywhere. Coming from the Houston area, where finding and paying for parking can be an experience of its own, I definitely appreciated that.

Downtown was also pretty clean, and I felt very safe walking around and sightseeing by myself. Staying right in town made it easy to leave the Airbnb and wander without necessarily having a destination in mind. Over the course of six days, I started finding the places I'd return to, the streets I recognized, and the little businesses that gave Tiffin its personality.

Where I Ate in Tiffin

I tried quite a few local spots while I was there, but my favorite place to eat and grab a drink was Wall Street Pub & Grille, located right by the Tiffin University campus—and conveniently right across the street from my son's dorm. The food was good, the bartenders were great, and I ended up meeting and chatting with a few locals while I was there. It quickly became one of those places that felt comfortable and familiar, and I can already see myself stopping back in whenever I'm visiting my son.

MST Pub Tiffin/Sauce Company was another standout, especially the waffle fries. They were easily one of my favorite food finds of the trip. Hunan King was also a good find—a classic neighborhood Chinese restaurant with delicious, comforting food that hit the spot.

I also stopped at Reino's Pizza & Pasta. What I ordered wasn't really for me, but my waitress was incredibly sweet and made the experience enjoyable. I wouldn't write the restaurant off based on one meal, either. I'd try something different and give it a second chance the next time I'm in town.

And then there was Bailiwicks Coffee Company, which deserves its own mention. The coffee was delicious and full-flavored, and the shop had a clean, cozy atmosphere that made me want to stay awhile. It's exactly the kind of local coffee shop I hope to find when I'm traveling, and one I'll definitely visit again.

Exploring Downtown Tiffin

A few of my favorite experiences had nothing to do with food. Tiffin Art Guild & Gallery was probably the most unexpected. Walking through the gallery was incredibly calming and peaceful, and apparently exactly what I needed that day. They had a "leave a piece, take a piece" art wall near the front, and I ended up bringing home a cute little piece someone had left behind.

I only wish there had been an option to ship some of the artwork they had for sale. Traveling back to Texas made buying a larger piece difficult, and there were definitely pieces I would have considered purchasing if I could have shipped them home.

I also found Simply Susan's, the cutest little boutique on the strip. I already know I'll be stopping back in the next time I'm in Tiffin—and probably leaving with a few more things.

Saturday morning brought another little surprise when a section of South Washington Street was blocked off in front of the courthouse for the Tiffin-Seneca Farmers Market. Local vendors lined the street, and it was one of those experiences I hadn't planned but was glad I happened to be there for. Staying downtown gave me the opportunity to stumble across things like this instead of having to know about them ahead of time.

A Little Nightlife in Tiffin

I also got a taste of Tiffin after dark at Bear's Den, which was every bit the classic local dive bar. It was super busy Friday and Saturday night, the bartender was a sweetheart, and there was karaoke literally every night I was there.

It wasn't fancy, and I don't think it's supposed to be. It felt local, familiar, and like the kind of place where everyone eventually knows everyone. That's part of what made it fun.

Finding a Little Piece of Texas in Findlay

One day I ventured over to nearby Findlay, Ohio, for brunch and unexpectedly found a little piece of home: The Toasted Yolk. IFYKY #Favoritespot

The Toasted Yolk started in Conroe, Texas, right outside my home city of Houston, and it's one of my favorite brunch spots back home. It was crazy to be so far from Texas and find something so familiar sitting right there in Ohio. Of course I had to stop—and it just so happened to be half-price mimosa day, which made the discovery even better.

It was a funny little full-circle travel moment and a reminder that sometimes familiar places can be just as fun to find as completely new ones.

Things to Do in Tiffin, Ohio: My Takeaway

By the end of the six days, Tiffin didn't feel quite as unfamiliar anymore. I knew where I wanted my coffee, had restaurants I'd visit again, knew where to wander downtown, and knew there was a pretty good chance I could find karaoke happening somewhere - there were things to do in Tiffin, Ohio!

More importantly, I had a better sense of the place my son would be calling home during the school year. That was really the purpose of this trip. As a mom dropping off her 18-year-old in a new town more than a thousand miles from home, spending those extra days getting to know his surroundings gave me something I wouldn't have gotten from simply moving him into his dorm and leaving.

Tiffin isn't flashy or packed with major tourist attractions, and I think that's part of its charm. It's a cute, quiet Ohio town where you can slow down, walk around downtown, support local businesses, and settle into the community for a few days.

If you're visiting Tiffin, especially as a Tiffin University parent, I'd recommend doing what I did: stay in an Airbnb or local rental near downtown and give yourself some time to explore. Walk around, grab a cup of coffee, browse the shops, try a local restaurant, and see what's happening that weekend.

You don't always need a packed itinerary to experience a destination. Sometimes you just need a few days to live there.

Plan Less. Experience More.

— etc.travel™