New trail encourages visitors to explore Miami County

Something sweet and spirited is happening in Miami County. And it’s making exploring Miami County better than ever before.

It’s the Miami County Sweets & Spirits Trail, which takes visitors to more than 20 locations so they can try the county’s best candy, cocktails, craft beer, baked goods, ice cream and more.

“The Sweets & Spirits Trail was launched in March 2023. Miami County has a long-standing candy shop in its sixth generation, and it has three vintage candy shops, one in each of its largest three downtown communities,” says Leiann Stewart, executive director of the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau. “Over the past few years, we have also run a Lift Your Spirits marketing campaign. This campaign marketed our growing wineries, breweries and distilleries. As we were discussing trail ideas back in 2022, we brought the two together, and Sweets & Spirits just fit. In March 2024, we added ice cream stops to the trail.”

Participating locations include candy shops Winans Coffee + Chocolate (which has locations in Troy and Piqua), Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop in Troy, This & That’s Candy on Main in Piqua and Rad Candy Company in Tipp City; ice cream shops like Susie’s Big Dipper in Piqua and Ducky’s Snowballs & Ice Cream in Troy; and breweries, distilleries and wineries, such as A.M. Scott Distillery in Troy, Crooked Handle Brewing Co. in Piqua and Old Mason Winery & Vineyard in West Milton.

“Miami County has some really great history and businesses with a story to tell. This is why we created the trail, so our residents and visitors could experience places they had never been and so we could help build visitation, engagement and hopefully increased sales for the businesses along the trail,” says Stewart. “There are only a few locations that are off the beaten path… The majority of the stops are located right in the hearts of Miami County’s downtown communities, so there is much to do while enjoying the trail. The downtown communities are filled with great restaurants, local museums and unique shops.

To participate, one only needs to download the mobile exclusive passport, which is available for free at homegrowngreat.com. When visiting participating businesses—the list of which is also available at the same website—you can check in and purchase items to earn points. Many of the businesses are offering discounts to those traveling the trail.

After visiting several locations, you can then turn in your points for a prize, such as a commemorative pint glass or a T-shirt.

The trail is relatively new, but it’s already attracting people to the county.

“We feel the trail was very successful in its first year with almost 400 passholders. It takes some time to build a trail like this, so we hope that we will see even more engagement this year. It’s not enough for people to sign up for the trail, we want to encourage passholders to use it, visit businesses and support those businesses by making purchases,” says Stewart. “We have heard some great feedback from trail users about how they have had the opportunity to visit destinations and businesses in Miami County that they have never heard of or been to before. And, they have had the opportunity to revisit those locations that they have come to know and love.”