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Village in Ohio, United States
Photo: cdorobek from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tiny Gambier is a college town in Knox County, Ohio, centered around Kenyon College. The village of Gambier mostly consists of Kenyon's campus, which is quiet, pretty, and historic. The liberal-arts college has a student body of 1,900 (2023) in a village of 2,200 (2020).
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A small liberal arts college founded in 1824, the main attraction in Gambier. In addition to the charming campus buildings and outdoor sculptures, stop by Chalmers Library to see what's on display in their rotating exhibition space.
Art gallery named for Graham Gund, an architect closely associated with Kenyon.
Kenyon's athletic center. Free for Kenyon Inn guests.
BFEC
Nature preserve with 9 miles (15 km) of trails through multiple habitats, as well as educational programs about nature.
This paved, 14-mile (23-km) trail extends from Mount Vernon past Gambier to Danville. It's beautiful, especially in the fall, and good for biking or walking. You can see a 1940s-era locomotive and caboose on the trail near Gambier.
Inexpensive option with an extensive menu of bagels, sandwiches, salads, and standard deli fare. Good pancakes. Vegetarian and vegan options.
The fanciest option for dining in Gambier, where visiting scholars eat when they come to Kenyon.
A bar and restaurant popular with students and locals. Try the spinach and artichoke dip. Vegetarian options.
The coffee shop on campus, also serving bagels and other snacks. Usually full of students studying.
The longest continuously operating college bookstore in the US (or so it claims). A fun store, not just textbooks but also a good collection of trade fiction, Kenyon swag, and random products, as well as snacks like ice cream and coffee. Good for gifts.
A small market with snacks, staples, and plenty of booze. More expensive than your standard big-box supermarket, but convenient for quick purchases. The cafe in the back sells hot food including a hot dog, the "Market Dog".
By bus
By bicycle
The Kokosing Gap Trail (see below) connects Gambier with Mount Vernon, and forms part of the Ohio to Erie Trail which goes all the way from Cincinnati to Cleveland via Columbus.
As a college town, Gambier is very walkable, and everything is close together except for the slightly out-of-the-way BFEC.
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