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Named for being the first safe fording spot north of the Ohio river at the little Miami River where the crossing led to the grist mill (mill-ford, get it?), Milford is rolling forward with the times and still an easy place to visit.

Coming in off the highway really just starts you at the outskirts of Milford, to see its heart and soul, you have to get down to the river in old Milford. Milford, in its infancy was homesteaded by revolutionary soldiers who were land grant holders in the late 1700’s. As acreage was sold and more settlers moved in, new ventures started by necessity (invention’s mama) shot up, including preaching, cooping, tanning, farming, milling, distilling, and pork-packing. Now a concentrically sprawled suburb, the heart of the town is still the river where the waterway topography dictates the flow of the street grid and the brick-clad main street winks with river town charm.

Milford is 16 miles east/northeast of Cincinnati and is tucked on the river side between the blink of Camp Dennison (formerly New Germany) and the road to Newtown, with glimpses of history as you go. In the 1850’s, the Little Miami Railroad followed the river’s banks from Cincinnati heading north, and the resurgent popularity of Milford and other little Miami riverfront towns is now vastly influenced by its replacement, the Little Miami Bike Trail. The 78-mile flat and scenic riverside trail goes north from Anderson township to Springfield (where the Simpsons live), skirting by many cute towns with brewpubs, restaurants, parks, shops and bike repairs as it goes.

With the river as old Milford’s nexus, kayaking and tubing the gentle Little Miami is a main attraction as well – you can literally float directly up to the Little Miami Brewery in Milford. Cheers to that.

Over the past decade, Milford, ever the adaptable village, has made a concerted effort to revive the downtown area and bring in new business, encouraging the local tourism economy. With new businesses thriving, real estate prices skyrocketing, fun things to do, and a DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area – read: legal street drinking) to boot, Milford is easy to visit and re-visit.

First stop: Sidewalk Cocktails with The Governor

John and I have joined the Governor before for brunch at the bar. So delicious. I still marvel at the gorgeous, decadent, creative truffle foam that graced my eggs that morning, offset nicely by a mimosa.

This night our goal was a patio cocktail and so we snagged a sidewalk table for 2 and explored their fall drinks menu. Styled as a Modern Diner (local, curated, seasonal and creative menu but at a medium price point) by the Barraco Brothers (who both worked previously just down the street at other great Milford restaurant mainstays), it is bright and spare, smallish on the inside, with the ability to open up to the street in fine weather, and with a really good, creative menu.

This Friday, I sucked down Sage Advice (don’t we all when delivered with tequila?), a super good balancing act of grapefruit, sage, burnt honey and peppercorn. So, so nice. John had the seasonal bourbon slush with a cidery-cinnamon spin that was yummy, if a bit on the sweet side (but when it’s called a slush, and served with a straw, I think they all are). With the sweet, sweet nectar in our plastic outdoor-safe cups, we were besieged by the common late summer wasps desperate for the last call for alcohol, and decided to duck for cover next door for another pre-dinner cocktail at…

Next Stop: Indoor wasp-dodging cocktail at Chez Renee French Bistrot

At this funky little spot doesn’t seem overly french on the interior but rather a colorful clash of modern/antique decor with a decidedly french-leaning menu (croque, monsieur?). The bar side has live music, friendly staff and patrons and here we shared the blackberry margarita (not french). We got a kick out of the contrasts of this place, homey like its name would imply, it just made us smile… and also my mouth hurt from how sweet the drink was. Side note: we came back to the bar after dinner to join friends for the live music. Still sweet, still fun.

Last Stop: Dinner at 20 Brix

20 Brix is the unassuming Grand Dame of old Milford, an institution to date nights and celebrations and really good food, but it doesn’t rule out a great burger and glass of wine in jeans on a Thursday. It is a smallish, corner treasure with a sweet sidewalk patio, lovely ambience and, as mentioned, really good food… and great wine. Cleverly named by the sommelier/restauranteur (who also owns Padrino up the street… and Dark Star Hot Sauce! – get it at Lehr’s Meats) for the ever-palatable level 20 on the Brix scale (the percentage of sugar by weight in a liquid with which wine is graded), it is slightly southern, slightly french, seasonal and classic. It’s always a pleasure to get a table and enjoy a meal at 20 Brix. Btw, you can also buy wine there, and should.

This Friday, I had the Elderflower Margarita (because I cannot say no to the Saint (Germaine) when it is passing on a blessing of grapefruit and lime (and tequila)), and John went straight toward their wine list – where I joined him right after I bid adieu to the Saint. We shared the heirloom tomato salad and lamb meatballs (in summer we can be predictable in that way) and then I had the salmon, John the shrimp and grits. Yes, we cleaned our plates. All of them. Delish.

4 season-friendly and equally good for date night, antiquing day, bike trail lunches, kayaker rest stops, or all-day riverfront-porch beer Saturdays, Milford is ever-humble and kind with a lot to offer.

Until next Friday, Cheers!