Summer Road Trip 1 ( Tie Dye & Rocks)

Tie Dye & Rocks

Yellow Springs & Springfield   

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer and my road trips usually begin with the holiday weekend.  The last two years my guy and I just got in the car with no destination in mind. This past weekend I decided to check out a place close to home, Yellow Springs, Ohio.  I have been to the city for Young's Jersey Dairy ice cream but never made it downtown until this past weekend. I heard so much about the city. So curious with wanderlust I vowed to check out the many details of a few friend's stories.  It was everything I was told, a place where they decorate trees, people wear tie dye and walk the streets smiling and barefoot. The buildings were just as colorful as the people who worked and shopped in them.

I saw all of these things and more. The truth is the people in Yellow Springs mostly came across as friendly and relaxed but just like most towns I have explored, there were some of the same issues that bothered me a little. I planned to do a 'Style Adventure' where I select stores to feature where you can find fun and unique items. We do this post on the ChristinaKristin blog. Unfortunately, I ran into lots of store owners and employees who didn't greet or didn't seem happy to be at work. That kind of takes me out of the mood to offer up free advertising. Though I did find a few earrings I could not pass up at one store. I included photos from that shop.  I plan to return in the near future to browse downtown shops as well as check out the public art they have all over the area. With so many plans for my day, I allotted myself a certain amount of time to do everything and it ran out quicker than expected.

Felt butterflies on a tree in Yellow Springs.

 

Ribbons hanging from a tree in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

My plan was to check out downtown, have lunch at The Golden Jersey Inn at Young's Dairy Farm then go hiking at a nature preserve near by. I brought jeans and shoes to change into but did not get to hike because it was getting late. I did however, get to have some delicious Young's ice cream and cutting the hike made time to visit one of my favorite places in Springfield on my way home.

Where to Shop in Yellow Springs

Me in Yellow Springs

After browsing shop to shop full of incense, flowing long skirts along with bracelets and other pieces that were once eating utensils, I came across Urban Hand Made. It was the only store of it's kind. The store housed collections of urban graphic tees, funky jewelry and a great handbag made out of a vinyl record. The items appeared to be collections of artist, local and further away.  It was one of the smallest stores I came across, yet they had the most items that personally appealed to me. The prices were also so reasonable. I bought three pairs of earrings at $10 a pair. 

 

Urban Hand Made store front

The earrings I fell in love with minus the three pair I snatched for myself.

My purchases from Urban Hand Made

Vinyl record handbag at Urban Hand Made

 Young's Dairy Farm

6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
(937) 325-0629

 

I have been to Young's a few times but I wasn't interested in eating at The Golden Jersey Inn until I got my hands on Karen Patterson's 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'.  Since then I have tried to visit as many of the featured restaurants as I can.  Well, I am happy that I took Karen's advice on this one. The menu is extensive and full of items that make you think a gang of grandmas are in the kitchen whipping up meals. Before we even ordered we were presented with homemade sweet potato bread, apple sauce and coleslaw. All were very good. I ordered the chicken and dumplings that came on top of a mound of mashed potatoes. Not very healthy I know, but not many places offer this kind of fare. I take it where I can get it. After the meal I headed over to the dairy building to get my ice cream fix, this time I tried the 'White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl'. It was good but not one of my favorites so far. The cream comes from Jersey cows and is made with a higher percent of butterfat. This produces a richer tasting product that I have never tasted anywhere else. My favorite flavors are their 'Chocolate Fudge Brownie' and 'Chocolate P-nut Butter'.

 Before I could leave I had to visit the petting zoo. That is my second favorite thing about this place. The goats have so much personality. This is a great place for a date or to take the family. You could spend a day here with so many activities to do. Other than the main restaurant, they sell hamburgers and other sandwiches in one side of the dairy building. There was a mini carnival on the location just for this past weekend but the normal activities that are offered daily are miniature golf, batting cages, a driving range, kiddie rides and a big slide.  

Young's Jersey Farm with Memorial Day Weekend Carnival

The front of The Golden Jersey Inn

An old ice cream freezer in The Golden Jersey Inn

Enjoying some Young's ice cream.

Young's Jersey Cows

 

Feeding the goats at Young's Jersey Dairy.

Hartman Rock Garden

1905 Russell Ave

Springfield, Ohio 45506

The sign in front of the old Hartman House and Rock Garden

I have been to Hartman Rock Garden a couple times but never during this time of year. It was usually cold outside. The grass was usually dead and there was no vegetation what so ever. I was happy to know that flowers were planted the weekend before via facebook and I looked  forward to seeing the garden in a whole new way. This time I got to meet Rod, an artist/the grounds keeper who lives on the property. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the creator of the garden, the Hartman family and other destinations in Ohio and beyond.  We had a long conversation about the history and future of the  garden. We also spoke about ' Weird Ohio' a book the garden is featured in as well as other references that offer roadside gems like the Hartman Rock Garden. 

It's funny that many people including people who live in the city of Springfield aren't familiar with this property. If you live in Ohio or are coming to visit the state, in my opinion this should be in your top five places to visit at least once. If you love American folk art, this is one of the best representations of it in the country. Plus, the best part is that this beautiful attraction is free.

If you are interested in visiting the garden they have an event coming up at the end of next month. I hope to be there to see the flowers at their prime and check out some of the Hartman statues that aren't available for viewing but one time a year. Look for more information on their facebook. If you decide to stop by before then, tell Rod, Kristin says hello.

The Hartman Rock Garden

Hartman Rock Garden Springfield, Ohio

Hartman Rock Garden Memorial Day Weekend

Taking in the Hartman Rock Garden

Happy to see the Hartman Rock Garden again!

Until next time

Be blessed! Be free! Be Adventurous!

Kris,