Antique shopping
With over 60 antique and boutique stores within the just over 2¼ square miles that Waynesville covers, there's no shortage of seriously unique and special items to find around town. Whether you're a seasoned shopper or new to the game, go "antiquing" while you're in town, especially at the Waynesville Antique Mall, 69 S. Main St., but don't miss the many small mom and pop stores including Cheap John's Country Store and Lilly's Corner Mall, or specialty stores like the Silver Spur Western Store. Plan your itinerary by checking out many of the village's stores via Ohio's Largest Playground here.
Make a stop at the Secret Garden
This particular shop is an adventure all on its own — how much more relaxing would all shopping be if you could stroll through a gorgeous garden while you did it? For garden needs and art-like yard ornaments, sculptures and fountains, not to mention plenty of small household gifts, do yourself a favor and explore The Secret Garden, 4107 E State Rt 73.
Take to the skies at Skydive Warren County
Go crazy! Take skydiving lessons and take a leap into the unknown at Waynesville's local skydiving spot at 4925 N. State Rt. 42. Dive into the unknown by yourself or go tandem jumping with a seasoned diver for comfort, both options are exhilarating!
Or just gaze up at them at Red Stewart Airfield
If you'd prefer to stay on solid ground, there's no better place to see old school planes like J-3 Cubs take off and land on a grassy strip. Named after its founder, Emerson "Red" Stewart, the Red Stewart Airfield, 4925 N. St. Rt. 42 (same place as Skydive Warren County), remains family-owned and operated by Stewart's son, Emerson Jr. "Cub" Stewart, and his wife Cathy, and it's more than an impressive site to visit and watch the old planes soar by.
Grab some noms
Waynesville has some seriously cute cafés to satiate your hunger after a long day of shopping and exploring: Cobblestone Village Café, 10 N. Main St., offers delicious sandwiches, entrees, brunch and more, much of it coming from its garden, like the grilled asparagus and cheese sandwich. Save room for homemade ice cream. For made-to-order coffee with pour-over and cold brew specialties, plus (more!) homemade ice cream, stop by Stone Town Coffee, 195 S. Main St.
Get spooked
Waynesville's not only known for its antiquing; if you're a fan of spooky stuff, you'll be in the right place. Make a reservation for a Ghost and Goblet dinner at the Hammel House Inn, 121 S. Main St. — long said to be one of Ohio's most haunted places — where you'll enjoy several courses of fine dining and throat-catching haunted tales, and end the night with a guided tour of Waynesville's creepiest spots.
Or, skip the dinner and take a tour during the day with Waynesville's lead haunted authorities, guides from the Museum at the Friends Home.
Stay in a rustic B’n’B
You've got your pick of either a cozy, intimate bed and breakfast at the Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast, 102 N. Main St. which has space enough for two couples or four friends only, or the historic Hammel House Inn, 121 S. Main St., an 1822 restored inn, if you're looking for a romantic and periodic getaway.
Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village
Experience life as southwestern Ohio's first settlers experienced it by exploring Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village, 3999 Pioneer Village Road, an historically recreated community that houses over 15 original buildings from the 18th and early 19th century, including a Quaker meetinghouse, a pioneer school house, and a blacksmith shop. You can view the buildings from the outside anytime of year, but it's a special treat to check out their rotating events and get a closer look and understanding of these carefully preserved homes.
Buff up your history knowledge
Whether you go on a ghost tour with them or not, take a tour of the Museum at the Friends Home, 115 S. Fourth St., whose nonprofit mission is to preserve the history of Waynesville and its surrounding villages in the 1905 former Quaker schoolhouse. Get to know the Quaker history of the area, along with many other historic tidbits.
Go on a unique outdoors adventure
Not only is Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E. State Rt. 73, the perfect spot for your fishing, camping, biking, hiking and more activities, but you can even go for a glider ride at their very own Gliderport. Also just out of town you can also jump on a horse at either the Lochmoor Stables, 1834 Oregonia Road in Lebanon, or Skipping Rock Stables, 2247 Corwin Road in Oregonia (call (513) 934-4520).
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