101 Cool Places And Things In Ohio (Part III 21-30)

Thank you to those who have returned to check out the third part of my very long list of Ohio attractions, you can skip the next paragraph! For those who missed the first two parts of my list,you should read the next paragraph. It explains what this list is all about. Thank you to you as well!

If you have been following me on instagram @krisofohio, you have seen my daily posts since the first day of spring. I have posted a month's worth of cool places and things in Ohio using #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio. These posts have included Ohio attractions that have made World and National best lists, places off the beaten path and exceptional Ohio brands. I have 71 days of posts left to go. This is where I plan to slow it down. I have posted a good portion of my favorite places and things in Ohio, but now I need to do some more exploring. On this post you will find the third group of ten attractions from my list and I will be adding to my list throughout the rest of the year. Feel free to help me with suggestions to complete the list. Leave your favorite Ohio attractions in my comments and they may just make my list. To the Ohio tourist, whether you are visiting from out of state or a resident exploring your home state, there is so much to do in Ohio. Use my list to start your Ohio adventure. I have posted only places I have experienced and all photos are mine unless otherwise specified.

Happy Exploring!

Kris, 

21. Hartman Rock Garden
 1905 Russell Avenue
Springfield, OH 45506 

This is my favorite garden and one of my all time favorite places. After Ben Hartman was laid off during the Great Depression he created the rock garden using hundreds of thousands of stones. The folk art creation is opened 365 days of the year and is free to the public. Donations are always welcomed. The garden is the most beautiful from Memorial Day to Labor Day when flowers are at full bloom. Follow their facebook page to learn about volunteer opportunities like helping plant this year's flowers in the garden.

22. African Safari Wildlife Park
267 S Lightner Rd
 Port Clinton, OH 43452
419.732.3606

We have some interesting drive-thrus in Ohio. One of them is the drive-thru safari at African Safari Wildlife Park. You can feed animals like zebras, bison, camels and kudu all from the comfort of your car. It is a cool experience if you don't mind the car getting a little dirty or having animals literally sticking their heads into your car. Animal lovers will enjoy it, I know I did. You can also watch pigs race and interact with other animals and staff through educational shows.

 
23. Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
1777 E Broad St  
Columbus, Oh 43203 
 614.715.8000

We have more than a few attractions on best lists in Ohio and a handful of them are in Columbus. One of those places is Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It was voted one of the best botanical gardens in the US by the Travel Channel along with botanical gardens in DC, New York and San Francisco. It features over 400 species of plant life and includes botanical environments such as a rainforest and desert. There are new exhibits quarterly but my favorite is the annual spring/summer exhibit, Blooms and Butterflies.

 


24. The Depot Rail Museum

921 Old Henderson Rd.

 Columbus, OH 43220 

 614.324.5945 

The museum is unknown to many because it is used mostly as an event venue. However, I am told that they will open for large tour groups if you call to make a reservation. I was given a private tour by a a friend of the owner a few years ago and fell in love with car 100. It was built in 1886 for the Ringling Bros. The rail car is gorgeous! It has cherry wood interior, antique Victorian style furniture and plenty of props and photos from the early circus life of the well known entertainment brand. The museum is a cool place to learn about rail road history or book your birthday party, wedding or work event.

25. Cedar Point
One Cedar Point Drive 
Sandusky, OH 44870

Most people who love roller coasters will tell you that their favorite amusement park is Cedar Point. It is another Ohio attraction ranked highly by the Travel Channel. It doesn't get any better than number 1. This place has the ability to turn adults into screaming children. It is a roller coaster enthusiast's dream, the Disney World for adults. New this year is the Rougarou, a floorless roller-coaster that dives down 137 feet and goes 60mph as your legs dangle. Opening weekend is just weeks away, May 9-10.

 
26. Ye Olde Mill (Home Of Velvet Ice Cream)
11324 Mount Vernon Road
 Utica, OH 43080
740.892.3921 

As you can tell, I love ice cream since this is my third ice cream feature. Velvet's Ye Old Mill makes the cut because they offer a full experience. They have been serving ice cream from this historic mill since the 70s. They provide free tours during the week. There is a small museum on site that covers the history of the mill from it's original use in 1817. There is also information about the history of ice cream and the Velvet brand from it's beginning in the early 1900s. They throw an annual Ice Cream Festival at the end of spring. This year's dates are 5/23-5/25.

27.Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
4850 Powell Rd
Powell, OH 43065
 614.645.3400

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium frequently makes the top ten list of zoos in America. It was voted number 1 zoo by The USA Travel Guide recently. It is also the headquarters of Jack Hanna. It is home to 10,000 animals and 575 species. The recently added Heart of Africa exhibit offers patrons a chance to feed giraffes, take a ride on a camel and watch cheetahs and lions.

28.COSI (Center of Science & Industry)
333 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
614.228.2674

Another museum on a best list is COSI. It was ranked 10 of the top science museums by the Huffington Post. It is a great place to workout the brain with thought provoking and interactive exhibits.  I am excited that the planetarium is back! There are always new exhibits quarterly. I look forward to checking out 'Top Secret' a new spy inspired exhibit. There are also always cool movies showing in the National Geographic Giant Screen Theater.

29. Ohio State Buckeyes
 The Horseshoe 
411 Woody Hayes Drive 
Columbus, Ohio 43210



I don't need to say much about why the Ohio State Buckeyes made my list, so I will keep it short and sweet. History was made when the football team against all odds, won the first National Championship. They also have the best band in the land. This will be a hot ticket this coming football season.

30. The Honda Indy 200 At Mid Ohio
7721 Steam Corners Road
 Lexington, OH 44904

If you are a fan of car racing, this may interest you. In Lexington, Ohio, Honda hosts the annual Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. This summer will be the 31st Verizon Indy Car Series. Past winners have been Andretti, Castroneves and Unser. Patrons can camp out on the grounds. If you get tired of watching the cars race, you can find activities at the Indy Car Fan Zone. Sponsors give away free items. There are autograph sessions and driver Q&As. The year I went, I missed my opportunity to meet Patrick Dempsey, race car driver and (McDreamy aka Dr. Derek Shepherd of Grey's Anatomy). I am still pouting.

Look for my next ten cool Ohio features, coming soon. Thank you again for checking out my list! Follow me on instagram to get daily Ohio posts about restaurants, wineries and breweries. You can also get the next features from my list before I post them to the blog. Look for me @krisofohio  or search the hashtag #101CoolPlacesAndThingsInOhio.

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous! 

Kris,

Hello 2015!

photos: Amish Country, Beyonce & Jay souvenir book, my first pumpkin pie, Earth Wind & Fire concert, Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns, my nephew in the Ohio Village, my black and white cookies, The Lion King Broadway Play Bill, Me and Dr. Breakfast after the Columbus Food Adventure Breakfast Tour

I had an incredible 2014! I started this blog. I went to quite a few concerts. I saw Cher, Cyndi Lauper, K Michelle, 2 Chainz ,Beyonce, Jay-Z, Earth Wind & Fire and Aretha Franklin. I was introduced to a group called Foreign Exchange, when a friend invited me to their concert last spring. I realize my list is an odd combination of artists but I love music. I spent the summer exploring Columbus with my eleven year old nephew. We treated our city as if we were tourists and visited the normal places like COSI and the statehouse and not so known places like Krema Nut Company. I tried some new things like canoeing. I discovered the North American Pawpaw and tasted pawpaw dishes at the Ohio Pawpaw Festival. I introduced my sister to Ohio Amish Country.  Then I returned to Amish Country in December for The Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns. I traveled to several Ohio cities that I had not been like Portsmouth, Frazeysburg and Kingston. I got a free Columbus Food Aventures tour which I used to have Breakfast with Nick, one of my favorite local bloggers. I participated in a Room Escape Adventure where I was locked in a room with a zombie with just an hour to escape. My group made it out with just under two minutes to spare.  I saw the Lion King Broadway Musical and the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson show. I learned how to make pumpkin pie, paella and New York style black and white cookies. It was a busy year, I can't even name all the shows I saw, new restaurants or recipes I tried, things I did and places I visited.

I hope to do so much more in this year. I want to facilitate the expansion of my business and travel more. I want to organize my closet and the rest of my life. I want to also inspire you and the people around me. I know I am one blogger in a sea of more established bloggers so thank you for your time and interests. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

Be blessed Be free! Be adventurous!

Kris,

My Summer In Columbus/ 20 Places You Should Check Out If You Haven't

 When I was a child, my sister and I spent summers in Fort Lauderdale. For those who don't know me well, my sister and I were born in Broward County hospital in Fort Lauderdale, many moons ago.  We moved to Columbus when were in elementary school. Our parents were separating so we lived with mom and visited our dad and relatives during summer break. Though we were normal kids, wanting to keep our parents together, we were okay with the extra attention. Going to Florida was going home again but it was also vacation. We went to Disney World and Epcot every year. We spent days at the beach. Family and friends scheduled time with us to shop, go to cookouts and do other fun activities. Those were great summers.

As an adult things change. Summers become just another season. You have to work and pay bills. You can't completely equate the season with fun. You have to fit the fun in, scheduling it around the day to day activities that have to be taken care of first.  For me, it is a little different because I am an artist. I don't have a 9 to 5, so I am a lot freer than most people. I had not had a summer like those I spent in Florida for many years until this one. There were no trips to Disney World or Epcot. No playing in the ocean or sand. It was me and my nephew two days a week all summer, exploring the places in our own backyard. We made a huge dent in the movies that came out this Summer including the newest Transformer movie. We bowled and battled it out in laser tag. We tried new foods and checked out places that offered revamped oldies like gourmet grilled cheese at Melt and Peanut butter sandwiches at the oldest peanut butter company in the world, Krema Nut Co.  I have posted some of our adventures this summer but I wanted to create a guide for entertaining kids, out of town guests or just for a day of exploring the city yourself.  The summer is coming to an end and my nephew has been back to school almost a month. I love sharing so I had to create a list. This is a guide that can be used for next summer or for weekend activity ideas. I am hoping it will be a great source for out of town tourists or for inspiration to those in other cities. Most important, I am only listing places that I have personally visited.  This is a list of places and things I stand behind because I enjoyed them with my nephew or other loved ones this summer.

History, Science & Nature

These are places most of us already know about so I will quickly get them out the way. Most of these places are also full day adventures. There are plenty of things to see and do at most of these places and when it's time to eat, you can purchase prepared meals at decent prices. I will specify when there are any exceptions.

1.COSI (Center of Science & Industry)- Not just for the kids and family, they have adult only nights once a month.  I am also excited that the planetarium is returning in just weeks. My tip for optimum enjoyment, arrive early to see and participate in as much as possible! There is a café on premises with lots of options. 

2.The Ohio History Center & The Ohio Village- Ohio history at it's finest!  However, the summer is the best time to go because the Ohio Village is open and you can see what things were like in the 1800s including people dressed in period clothing. There are picnic tables in the village. Pack a lunch.

3.Franklin Park Conservatory- I love the Blooms and Butterflies! The botanical gardens are beautiful! Other smaller exhibits change!  I am looking forward to 'Scary Plants', a fall exhibit coming in a couple weeks. Great Café on premises! Menu items change and food is often made with fresh items grown on the premises.

4.The State House- Not an all day experience. 45 minute tour + time to explore the small museum and gardens. The tour is free! Café on premises. 

5.The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium  - We happen to have one of the best Zoos in the world which includes a great relationship with our own Jack Hanna. Check out the new Africa Exhibit! There are many food options available but packed lunch can be brought in to save money.

6.Slate Run Living Historical Farm-Technically this is located in the Canal Winchester area.  You can get a feel of what it was like to live and run a farm in 1880. There is no electricity and everyone is in period clothing. There is also no running water so that means out houses. Hand sanitizer is a must! It is part of a metro park system so pack a picnic style lunch. Check online for scheduled activities for kids. My nephew got to do farm chores, play games and even helped prepare cookies that were part of his snack during a program called "Cheers and Chores". You can just show up but to participate in programs you must register.  Registered or not, it's free.
 

Off The Beaten Path

These are places that even the locals didn't know about or know about but have yet to visit. You pass by these places every day and say," I will stop in one day and the next thing you know", it's been years and years of "one day".

7.Early Television Museum- This place is located in Hilliard, Ohio. It is well worth 45 minutes to an hour of you time. It shows you how far television has come. We went from watching television screens the size of the screens on our smart phones to watching television on our smart phones. Check out the first television sets in black and white and color.

8.Central Ohio Fire Museum-Need some fire safety information or a refresher course? You will get that along with plenty of Ohio fire and general fire history. Take photos of the beautiful antique engines and make sure to ask about the resident spirits.

Visual Art

Art has always been a big deal to me, so my list would not be complete without some of the best places to view some of the greatest examples of visual art we have to offer in the city. There is the normal city art museum but there is also great places to see crafts and cartoons.

9.The Columbus Museum of Art- Permanent and Changing Exhibits. To feel like more of an experience, bring a drawing pad to sketch things you see. There are lots of interactive activities through out the museum. There is a cafe on the premises.

10.The Wexner Arts Center- A great place to see some wonderful pieces. When I went over the summer with my nephew, we checked out the Modern Cartoonist exhibit that included some modern cartoons with lots of really edgy topics, another exhibit with some familiar comic strips of the past, and a comic future exhibit with some 3d concepts that were amazing. Exhibits change. Cafe on the premises.

11.The Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum-  If you are a fan of comic strips, you will love this place. See classics like Calvin & Hobbes. It takes about an hour, more if you choose to read everything. The museum is free!

 12.The Ohio Craft Museum- One floor of beautiful handmade pieces and a gift shop. This only takes about 20 minutes or less to check out. Visit if you are in the area. It's free!

 

Foodie Adventures

Let's start with interesting takes on oldies but goodies!

These places are great for kids and adults because it is familiarity with a twist. You can get the old school versions or be adventurous and try something interesting and fun.

13.Melt  Bar & Grilled - gourmet grilled cheese (Try the Cleveland Cheese Steak or the Cuban War Pig featured below)

14.Dirty Franks- hot dogs with fancy toppings ( My favorites are the Ohioana and the Seoul Dog. Get some tater tots and a slushie drink)

15.Kerma Nut Company- gourmet peanut butter sandwiches ( The oldest peanut butter company in America is in Columbus. Sit down for a sandwich and a milkshake. Try the Classic Old Timer with a PB & J shake. Browse the shop for nuts, candy or a jar of peanut butter to go.)

  Foodie Wonderlands & Tours

16.Anthony Thomas Factory-The tour takes about 45 minutes. The very small fee can be applied to a purchase at the end of your visit. No photos are allotted because they do work for other companies. The smell is intoxicating, it even takes over the elevator you take to the catwalk where the tour mostly takes place. You get a free chocolate buckeye at the end of your tour.

17.The North Market-This is one of my favorite places in the city. I just recently picked up some burrata, olive oil and some great pepper corns from there last week. The market is a place to find things you cant find anywhere else. It is a great place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is also a great place to take a guest or child. Most vendors offer unlimited samples. Literally, you can sample just about every item a vendor carries in most cases. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is one of the best places to sample everything. There are also popcorn samples at Pam's, and salsas and hot sauces at CaJohs's Flavor & Fire. The prepared food vendors let you sample also before you make a purchase. 

18.German Village-This area of town has so much history. I learned what I learned about it during a Columbus Food Adventure tour a couple years ago. It is a great place to visit, take a guest or child because there is so much culture there along with good food. Not to mention The Loft, the best book store in Columbus. For food, you have to check out Schmidt's for authentic German dining. Don't forget your cream puff for dessert!

19.Columbus Food Adventures- This I know plenty about because I have done four of their nine tours. I love this company because they offer an opportunity to get a taste of the best restaurants and food trucks the city has to offer. They also offer a free tour after your fourth tour. I am trying to decide between the Food Truck Tour and a the newest walking tour in Grandview. I have done tours in the Short North and German Village. I have also done the Taco Truck and Dessert tours. I have never left hungry or disappointed. I recommend these tours for out of towners and locals. For locals it gives you a chance to try restaurants with no risk. The taste you are offered during a tour may send you back to a restaurant that you would never have stopped in, that could become a new favorite.

Update! They added another new tour in September! They partnered with breakfast blogger and book author, Nick Dekker from Breakfast with Nick, to create a Breakfast Tour. It starts running October 11th.

Sports & Family Fun Bonus!

20.Huntington Park-A Clippers game was on my to do list for the summer and I finally made it. It is a great family night or date night. It may not be the best tourist attraction for someone visiting from a big city who has a big league team but it is definitely something all locals and small town folk should check out. I hope not to offend anyone. I found it to be a blast. I actually watched the game and participated in mascot activities. The hotdogs aren't too bad either. 

21.Zoombezi Bay-I can't swim so I loved this place because there was plenty I could still enjoy with shallow water. I went for the first time this summer but didn't get to enjoy it as much as I'd planned because of rain. However, it is lots of fun for both kids and adults. The food is a little expensive but you can bring your own and picnic in the zoo/water-park picnic area. There are a lot of food options available if you choose to eat at the park.

photo courtesy of blooloop.com

I hope you enjoyed my list! If there are places you feel I need to visit on your must see list, let me know. I will make it my next adventure.

Be Blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

BE ADVENTUROUS!

Kris,

The Cure To Boredom Part III/ Exploring My City

Exploring My City

by Kristin

Franklin Park Conservatory Butterfly Garden

I was in New York last September for Fashion Week. My partner, Christina and I were showing a portion of our Spring 2014 Global Gal Collection at an accessory showcase in the city. After the show we went to a late night diner to grab some food with a friend of Christina's who lived in New York. Christina and I were both excited about being back in the city. We were also there together for the very first time. We were discussing the things we wanted to see and do since we were finished with our work. We talked about taking a boat tour that went by Lady Liberty or getting on one of the sightseeing tour buses. We invited Christina's friend to hang out with us and he replied, ''New Yorkers don't do things like that." Christina asked him why and he replied, "We just don't", and shrugged his shoulders. Well I wondered myself why one wouldn't explore a city like that even if they had lived there forever. New York has so much to see and do.That got me thinking about my own city. While I am all over the food scene and have done a few touristy things, I realized I had not been to the State House, the Santa Maria or gone to Columbus Clippers or Columbus Crew game.  Being a crafty person, I  wondered about the Ohio Craft Museum. I love a good ghost story, so I was  interested in visiting Central Ohio Fire Museum. I ride past both of these museums often. I decided it was time for me to take some time to explore the city that I live in.  I was going to stop riding past these places  and actually go inside.  I started exploring some of the places on my hometown list this month with my eleven year old nephew. Welcome to the beginning of our Columbus adventure.

Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

The best thing that could have happened to me this summer was being given the job of entertaining and educating my nephew. I jumped at the opportunity because I love to explore and learn new things. I love spending time with my nephew! I also had plans to take a few days to check out some places in the city on my own but now I would have company. We started our city exploration a couple weeks ago with Franklin Park Conservatory. Though I had been there many times for cocktail parties, I had not had the opportunity to visit the place as a tourist. It was even better exploring it with a young man and seeing things through his eyes. I was more excited because he was excited. I held my first butterfly and found myself more in tune with nature. 

Franklin Park is the perfect combination of natural and man made art. There are plenty of photo opportunities. We took many photos of butterflies, plant life, Chihuly pieces and the Tasha Lewis's Traveling Butterfly Swarm. Our favorite exhibit was the Blooms and Butterflies. We got to release new butterflies into the room and spent time holding them. We also really enjoyed the food at the cafe. It is made with fresh ingredients grown on the grounds when ever possible. I couldn't keep my nephew off my sandwich and it contained no meat. 

Franklin Park Conservatory

Franklin Park Conservatory Blooms and Butterflies

Butterflies breaking out of their cocoons at Franklin Park Conservatory

Franklin Park Conservatory Blooms and Butterflies, Chihuly Glass Art, Plant life in the Botanical Gardens, Food from the on site cafe

The Ohio Statehouse

I was told I had been to the statehouse when I was younger, yet I can not recall the memory. I may not have been interested at the time so it was nothing worth remembering I guess. In this case it was safe to treat the experience like it was brand new because that is how it felt. This time I was interested and surprisingly so was my nephew. We started the guided tour in the map room, a room with a large map of Ohio on the floor containing all 88 of the state's counties. Our tour guide was an elderly woman who walked us from room to room feeding us the history of the building and the contents in it. My favorite place was the house chamber. It is such a beautiful collection of beautiful Greek and ornate details.  The place is definitely worth an hour of your time. It also doesn't hurt that it's free. Don't forget to check out the gardens and statues around the building. I loved the United States and the Ohio state flags created using flowers.

The Ohio Statehouse

The Ohio Statehouse Rotunda

The House Chamber

Greek Architectural Details in The Ohio Statehouse

The Ohio Statehouse Garden

The Central Ohio Fire Museum

I have passed this museum many times and didn't even realize exactly what is was. I learned of it through research and my guy who is into haunted places. This place is said to be one of the most haunted places in the city. Paranormal investigators are often known to show up to try to communicate with the ancient residents.  My nephew and I just wanted to learn a little Ohio firehouse history and brush up on our fire safety information but if we were met with a paranormal experience, well that would have been a welcomed bonus. No ghosts, but we did have a great time. There was more to do than I expected. We had a tour guide who walked us through the whole museum and demoed a few old pieces of fire equipment. My nephew also got to touch and demo a few things which included participating in a practice fire escape plan using the mock bedroom they have set up. The guide instructed him to lay in the bed as if it were his, pretend he smelled fire then get down and crawl on the floor to the door. He instructed him to feel the door with the back of his hand and if it was not hot he could open it and go outside. If it were hot there was a window to escape through. My favorite thing strange enough, was a mock burned bedroom. It showed the worst possible scenario using a kids room. Everything was charred and half melted. There was even an imprint on the bed showing where a child may have laid. This place is a little off the beaten path, so I realize not many know about it. It is worth a trip. Even I learned I was not where I needed to be on my fire safety knowledge. For those with young kids looking for a unique place to have a birthday party, they provide a great option.

The Central Ohio Fire Museum

The Hose Tower at The Central Ohio Fire Museum

A steam fire engine at The Central Ohio Fire Museum

The Burned Bedroom at The Central Ohio Fire Museum

I have many more places in the city still to visit and the rest of the summer to get it done. This is definitely a great start though. I look forward to sharing the adventures of my nephew and I as the weeks go on. This is just the first two weeks of June. Our list goes on and so shall we.

Until next time!
Be blessed! Be free! Be Adventurous!

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,