Located beyond the bustle of the Queen City (and yet just off major highways), the City of Mason has become a premiere place to build a custom home, and for some very good reasons. Not only are Mason schools top-notch, the city features gorgeous community parks, great restaurants, wonderful shopping, and is in close proximity to excellent hospitals.

With Cincinnati and Dayton nearby, not to mention its reputation as a friendly, diverse city with a small-town feel and all the amenities of a big city, there’s so much to love about Mason. Here’s just five reasons to give Mason a closer look when you’re considering building or buying a home.

Mason schools get an A+

If you’ve got school-aged kids, living in a community with top-notch schools is probably a high priority. Students in Mason are consistently high-performing, which makes sense considering that the student-teacher is just 23 to 1. As far as public schools go, the Mason City School District is ranked as one of Ohio’s best, and Mason takes pride in its schools and faculty. Families in Mason hail from all across the globe, and that diversity is reflected in its schools, where languages, learning about other cultures, and the arts are emphasized.

Great Restaurants 

Downtown Cincinnati, Over-the-Rhine and Dayton’s Oregon District aren’t the only places you’ll find amazing restaurants. You’ve got all kinds of excellent dining options in Mason, too. In fact some restaurants in OTR are opening second restaurants in – you guessed it – Mason.

One of those restaurants is Maplewood Kitchen & Bar, known for its rustic California cuisine that’s simple, healthy and delicious.

If you want to a burger with a side of Mason history, check out Quatman Café. Founded in 1966, this cozy café is located in historic downtown Mason, and serves one of the Cincinnati’s top-ranked burgers. Bring your appetite to Quatman because the burgers are huge. We also love their mock turtle soup and their veggie burger.

Since people from many nationalities call Mason home, there’s plenty of great ethnic restaurants, too. A must-try is Sichuan Bistro. This small Chinese restaurant offers both Chinese and an American/Chinese menu. Both are extensive and feature authentic Sichuan cuisine, which is a little (or a lot) on the spicy side. They also serve a great dim sum on the weekends.

Other favorites include the Wildflower Café, Pitrelli’s, and the historic Golden Lamb, located about seven miles from Mason in Lebanon, Ohio.

Gorgeous Parks 

Mason features lots of green spaces thanks to acres of farmland nestled between and throughout neighborhoods. It’s a picturesque community, made even more so by the myriad of city parks that are open year round to the public.

Most of the parks offer activities for the whole family, including running trails, playgrounds and sports facilities for a game of hoops or a round of golf. You can even fish in Pine Hill Lakes.

Currently, there are 301 acres of city parks in Mason, including nature preserves for birds and other wildlife. And you are welcome to bring your dog or cat with you to the park, provided they’re leashed at all times.

Proximity to hospitals 

Heath is wealth as they say, so it’s important to have medical care within easy access to keep you and your family feeling your best. Mason is located close to several of the region’s highest ranking hospitals including the nationally-renowned Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the Christ Hospital, and University of Cincinnati (UC) Hospital.

What’s even better is that all of these hospitals are new and feature state-of-the-art technology. They also feature ample free parking, emergency services, and diagnostic services that make routine checks (almost) stress-free.

Excellent shopping   

One of our favorite ways to spend an evening in Mason is at Liberty Center, which features both indoor and outdoor shopping. Designed to look and feel like the kind of cozy main street, city center or square you’d find in small town, Liberty Center offers a wide selection of restaurants and popular shops. And while not technically shopping, you’ll find a great movie theater at Liberty Center. The seats even recline.

We also like Deerfield Towne Center, that’s smaller than Liberty Square but has several big chains like Dick’s, Walmart, and Bed, Bath & Beyond close together, making it convenient and quick to get everything you need from several stores. And if you’re a fan of higher-end grocery stores, Mason offers both a Whole Foods Market and The Fresh Market.