Mount Carmel - Cincinnati, OH

At the turn of the 20th century, several clergy members both Protestant and Catholic listed 10 places on the planet where the Garden of Eden might have been located, and Mt. Carmel’s Clermont County made the list. The rationale took into consideration its many fruit trees and ancient native tribes who built mounds shaped like serpents.

The nearby Tri-State Warbird Museum preserves the aircraft of World War II with a focus on educating visitors about America's role in the last World War, while honoring the veterans who fought.

On the east side of town, the annual Old West Festival showcases live action scenes straight out of your favorite movies. This festival, unlike any other, converts the premises into an authentic replica of Dodge City, a Wild West town from the 1800’s. Visitors arrive in costume, as the festival holds a daily contest with prizes.

Most of the restaurants lie along route 125 to the south of Mount Carmel, but Rincon Mexicano Restaurant and Cantina sits to the northeast over by Jungle Jim's. Entering to walls adorned with original art work, Rincon's patrons find themselves drawn into a sensory experience that goes beyond flavor. This restaurant also provides catering and the facility makes a terrific venue for private parties.

Take Clough Pike west a few miles and you encounter the ever charming and inviting Clough Crossings. Steeped in history and located within a former schoolhouse, the walls here contain old photos of events and scenes from around Anderson Township. The tavern, road, and township were all named after the area's surveyor, John Clough Anderson. Make your reservations early, as this restaurant stays well-booked.

Another longtime local favorite, the Pelican's Reef, capitalizes upon its reputation for top-quality seasonal seafood acquired fresh on a daily basis. With its island atmosphere, this restaurant's ambience can give the impression of a tropical vacation. Start off with some oysters or mozzarella sticks, and follow that with grilled fish tacos or a grilled swordfish sandwich, all while enjoying an ice-cold beer or two.

A highly rural area, much of the nightlife here revolves around seasonal outdoor activities like bonfires. Sometimes residents travel into the city or even across the river into Kentucky for entertainment, often gathering to carpool in groups.

Bobby Mackey's Haunted Nightclub, just a few miles down 275 in northern Kentucky, attracts visitors from around the globe due to the owner's well-known involvement with the paranormal. This club, billed as the world's most haunted honky-tonk, provides ghost tours to the public. Karaoke night draws a good crowd here, and it also has live country music and line dancing.

Most residents find it most convenient to drive or carpool here, although some use Uber to get around. Public transportation such as buses and taxicabs don’t serve this region as it's far from the major cities. Parking costs nothing, anywhere you need to go, although if you travel into the city, expect to find parking to be sparse and expensive.

Mount Carmel has easy access to nearby Interstate 275, a loop that runs through parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. This expressway can take you to Interstates 71, 75, and downtown Cincinnati, among other places.

Residential areas may or may not have sidewalks, and bike lanes have not been provided here, so walking and bike-riding can be risky. Local parks provide a safe alternative for outdoor exercise and activities.

While numerous small parks contain children’s playgrounds, paths for walking and biking, or ponds and lakes to fish in, the nearby Cincinnati Nature Center provides a full-immersion learning experience. Several philosophies support the center’s educational principles, including the belief that children should spend time outside frequently, from an early age. The largest member-supported nature center in the United States, CNC has over 100,000 visitors each year. Winding pathways take hikers through breathtakingly beautiful forests and fields alongside gurgling streams and placid ponds. It charges exceptionally reasonable admission fees, and children under the age of 4 enter for free. Groups larger than 12 must register prior to entering the park.

For off-leash fun, you can take Fido to the Otto Armleder Memorial Park, which also has popular exercise paths. This 10-acre dog park provides separate areas for large and small dogs, as well as drinking fountains and a canine shower.

Not far to the north, Ohio's annual Renaissance Festival transforms 30 acres into a 16th-century English village for about six weeks. Costumed visitors come for the shows and rides, arts and crafts, and delectable food and beverages. Some people even choose to hold their nuptials in costume at the festival, complete with all of the pomp and pageantry associated with a 16th century wedding.

Significantly lower than the city average, the cost of living here can be offset a bit by the distance to work opportunities and entertainment. Gas prices run about 5 percent below the national average. Out here on the east side you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for around $533 per month, and a draft beer can be had for $2.

Route 32 burgeons with stores, including Eastgate Mall, near which you can find both Kroger and Meijer for ordinary groceries, and Jungle Jim’s for both American and international items. For fresh locally grown organic fruit and vegetables, locals visit the Newtown Market as well as the Country Fresh Market & Wine Depot.

The Fashion Up boutique, for consignment of clothes and décor items, may yield an exciting find or two, and Sequels boutique also holds hidden treasures. Both shops concentrate on providing designer fashions and couture at an affordable price.