Brady Lake, OH

Tucked between Kent and Ravenna, Brady Lake is a quiet lakeside community with a laid-back, historic character. In the late 1800s, the area was a popular summer getaway that drew visitors from across northeastern Ohio with dance halls, a roller coaster, and waterfront cottage rentals. Today, many of those historic cottages have been converted into cozy year-round homes, giving the neighborhood of about 1,200 residents a relaxed, friendly feel right along the water.

ATTRJonRidinger / CC BY-SA 4.0

Now part of Franklin Township, the community still gathers around Brady Lake Park, which features paved walking paths, a picnic pavilion, sports fields, and courts for bocce and cornhole. Families here are served by the Kent City School District, and residents get to enjoy peaceful lakeside living while staying only minutes away from the shops, restaurants, and conveniences of downtown Kent and Ravenna.