Leafy Dell - Johnstown, OH

Laid out as a village in 1813 and surrounded by agricultural farmland, Johnstown experienced important changes in 1880 with the arrival of a railroad, a newspaper, an opera house and telephone lines. Following World War II when automobile availability, improved roads and industry began moving to the area, the shift to a less dependent agricultural culture began, and the area continues its growth as more businesses establish a presence on "the hill." Bigelow Park hosts festivals, events and celebrations throughout the year on lovely grounds that feature a gazebo with bandstand, green space and brick seating surrounding a clock.

Living in Leafy Dell affords you a number of excellent choices in casual or sophisticated dining, as well as several watering holes where you can hang with your friends and relax. One of the most acclaimed, Route 62 Barbecue, draws patrons from miles around who love the cheesy potatoes and proclaim the wings "the best ever", just as they do the smoked-on-site pulled pork and rib platters. Customers love the large portions and the relaxed dining room or outdoor seating. This eatery continually receives a 5-star rating from its satisfied followers.

The Hot Spot Coffee House is a great place to take a book or your laptop, enjoy a variety of iced or cold drinks such as chocolate and caramel iced mocha, frozen hot chocolate or the spicy Mexican mocha, have a sandwich and enjoy people-watching in a friendly environment that keeps hustle and bustle to a minimum.

Johnnie's Villa Pizza, a family business celebrating more than 40 years in the neighborhood, has over the years employed area youth to serve up its pizza, spaghetti, subs, sandwiches, grilled chicken salad and wings, much to the delight of the regulars. Gluten-free, bake-at-home and mini-pizzas demand attention, especially the house pie laden with pepperoni, bacon, ham, sausage and hamburger.

Treat yourself to an amazing romantic dinner or overnight getaway at Elizabeth on Main, an elegant turn-of-the-century Victorian bed and breakfast. Enter through the rose arbor and enjoy the lovely gardens while meandering up the old brick and stone walkway. Guests can relax on the sitting porch swings, lounge in a deep cast-iron tub filled with bubbles or soothing oils in the vintage bathrooms and wake up to a hearty home-cooked country breakfast.

Two major highways intersect the center of Johnstown and present an easy commute to Columbus, the county seat in Newark and the nearby cities of Mount Vernon and Delaware. Cabs and Uber service the area for private transportation, but paid public parking areas are not available. There neighborhood is not very walkable, making it extremely car-dependent. The streets of Leafy Dell, although paved with sidewalks, retain the feeling of country lanes, and biking in the area must be undertaken with caution.

Although Leafy Dell sports no parks within its modest confines, the Johnstown trailhead and bike path is minutes away. The T.J. Evans bike path within features new paving, a generous parking lot and great landscaping that leads the locals to describe the path as "riding through a long, green tunnel." This recreational trail also runs through 14 miles of Licking County with historical markers along the way that commemorate the passage of the Penn Central Railroad through the area.

A short, half-hour drive brings you to the Wolf Run Regional Park that features 260 acres of contiguous open space that include 10 miles of nature trails, wetlands, ponds for fishing and natural habitats for Ohio's endangered yellow-bellied sapsucker and small woodpecker. The kids can explore the "bouldering" area where a large rock allows them to utilize problem-solving abilities and display agility in climbing. A fenced, off-leash 2-acre dog park includes plenty of room for your dog to romp and show off his skills in the agility playground.

The cost of living in Leafy Dell equals that of Columbus. Transportation via COTA requires an express bus ticket, which runs approximately $85. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $664, and the typical price of beer in a local pub is less than $3. Gas prices run 1 percent lower than the national average.

The Kyber Run shopping center, anchored by Kroger, also features a CVS pharmacy, Great Clips hair salon, Auto Zone and Burger King. For specialty food shopping, check out Troyer's Country Market for featured items such as Amish Wedding's "Hoppin' Frog Jam," black bean salsa, old-fashioned garlic mustard and asparagus with jalapeño peppers. Chipotle habanero beef jerky, bologna, summer sausage and canned meats line the shelves, along with wheels of cheese and rolls of butter. Don't miss out on the tempting array of candies that include English toffee, French mint and chocolate caramels from Giannios, or Bali's brand featuring citrus green tea, black taffy or espresso.

When your motorcycle needs attention, call on Quicksilver Cycleworks for repairs by a Harley-Davidson master mechanic. This handy shop provides winter storage, extends customer loyalty discounts, and does powder coating and metal polishing to spiff up your ride.

For home-related necessities, head over to Shull's Hardware, a locally-owned, long-time neighborhood store to pick up farm and ranch supplies, small appliances, tools, and window and screen repair. When it's time to have that deer you hunted dressed, A'mays'ing Meats processes the meat to your specifications, whether as steaks, snack sticks, roasts or hamburgers. Troyer's Country Market sells a variety of Amish foods and spices. From bakery to Amish wedding foods, this market can keep you browsing for hours. Find Troyer's along Route 39 and enjoy great prices on bulk food. The local farmers market opens from June through September in the Johnstown square.