This post is sponsored by Ohio. Find It Here. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When you think of Springfield, Ohio what comes to mind? Maybe that it is John Legend’s hometown. Random, but true! Many know Springfield as the Champion City, but it also has two other nicknames: the Home City and the City of Roses.
The latter name comes from the fact that, in 1919, Springfield was home to 33 greenhouses that produced more roses than any other city in the world. The most common nickname used today stems from the name of the Champion reaper farming equipment that was produced in the city in the 1800s.
I always knew Springfield was home to Wittenberg University and that’s about where my knowledge ended. Turns out Springfield has rich history, incredible architecture, that special Ohio hometown feel, as well as one of the BEST and tastiest annual events involving mustard and wiener dogs. Just when you thought I couldn’t throw more randomness at you.
Get ready to dip your dogs in Ohio’s finest mustard!
Springfield, Ohio is a perfect last minute Summer getaway for family fun, a romantic weekend away for two, or just to soak in some rich Ohio history and architecture, it’s easy to #findyourunwind in Springfield.
Home to one of the country’s finest Wright house museums, Springfield offers all kinds of exciting activities to explore off the beaten path. Revered as a folk art masterpiece, the Hartman Rock Garden includes over 250,000 individual stones that combine a mixture of history, religion and depression-era pop culture is a MUST see for yourself! Cruise the Farmers Market collecting resident goodies or nom on the local cuisine. I’ve included everything you need to enjoy a last minute trip before Summer ends in Springfield.
What To Do in Springfield:
Hartman Rock Garden
What began as a modest concrete fish pond in H.G. (Ben) Hartman’s back yard is now revered as a folk art masterpiece. The Hartman Rock Garden includes over 250,000 individual stones that combine a mixture of history, religion and depression-era pop culture. Among the Hartman Rock Garden’s many unique attributes, the sheer scale of the work and its contextual location in a residential neighborhood, contributes greatly to its status as an iconic “outsider” art site. Fully restored by the Kohler Foundation in 2009, the Garden is open daily from dawn to dusk with no admission charge.
Springfield Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, June through September, the Springfield Farmer’s Market is held adjacent to the Heritage center on North Market Place. Shop dozens of local vendors featuring fresh, local vegetables, meats, dairy products and baked goods. Also enjoy live music on occasion!
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House
Completed in 1908, The Westcott House is Frank Lloyd Wright’s only Prairie Style home in Ohio and one of the country’s finest Wright house museums. The Westcott House underwent an inch-by-inch $5.3 million restoration in 2005 and each of its features—from art glass and original hardware to hand-decorated walls and massive urns—has been returned to its 1908 appearance. Call for 60-minute, docent-led times offered Tuesday through Sunday.
Springfield Museum of Art
Springfield is home to the only Smithsonian Affiliate art museum in the state of Ohio. The distinction celebrates the Springfield Museum of Art’s adherence to best practices and its exemplary permanent collection, which features artists such as Berenice Abbott, George Bellows and A.T. Bricher. The Museum’s dynamic schedule of changing exhibitions including self-taught and contemporary artists ensures there’s always something new to see.
Right around the corner about ten minutes from Springfield is Yellow Springs, Ohio another one of our favorite Ohio towns to visit. TONS to explore, do, eat and enjoy in Yellow Springs.
For more on Yellow Springs check out my previous blog posts:
Exploring Yellow Springs, Ohio
This 268-acre preserve protects one of the most spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges in the state. Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge encompasses a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State and National Scenic River, just east of John Bryan State Park.
Geologically, it is an outstanding example of interglacial and post-glacial canyon cutting. At one point, the river funnels through a deep, narrow channel, which was apparently formed by the enlarging and connecting of a series of potholes in the resistant Silurian dolomite bedrock. In other sections of the gorge, cliff overhangs have broken off forming massive slump blocks scattered along the valley floor.
Yellow Springs Brewery is about creating more than just great tasting beer. They’re about Crafting Truth To Power. It’s a pretty simple concept, one that holds within it the purpose of self-expression and the promise of a stronger community.
Where To Eat in Springfield:
Cecil and Lime Cafe
Great steaks and seafood in an intimate setting. The owner – Micah Berner – performs live at the piano on most weekends.
Stella Bleu Bistro
Stella Bleu is located in the heart of downtown Springfield and offers a wide variety of cuisine, including steak, seafood, Italian, French, South American, and Asian dishes. The stylish bar is a great place to enjoy a cocktail, and the outdoor patio provides ample space for dining.
Buckeye Sports Lodge
This is not your typical restaurant. Our top priority is to provide our customers with a fun, relaxing environment. We want them to feel comfortable and everyone to feel like family, not just customers.
The Buckeye is open to the public from 8:00 AM until close. It offers a full breakfast menu, lunch and dinner menu and a kid’s menu. We also offer a wide selection of beers on tap, including seasonal selections. We truly believe that our food and drink offerings have no equal in the area. Our chefs and cooks have many years of combined experience in various culinary fields and are able to offer many dishes that we think will please even the most discerning palates.
Mike and Rosy’s Deli
A Springfield institution – Boar’s head meats and the best deli sandwiches anywhere! Located immediately adjacent to the Wittenberg University campus. Features a full-service bar – Rosy’s Press Box – on the upper level.
Schuler’s Bakery
A Springfield staple. Purveyor of cakes, breads and all things sweet. Their doughnuts are the bees knees! When asking the must visit places in Springfield, Schuler’s was a resounding ABSOLUTELY MUST.
Other great places to dine in Springfield HERE
Where To Stay in Springfield:
Courtyard by Marriott Springfield Downtown
The Courtyard by Marriott Springfield Downtown balances an amazing sense of history with an urban location for the ideal business or pleasure travel experience. Located adjacent to the Heritage Center Museum and Clark State’s Performing Arts and Hollenbeck Bayley Centers, the Courtyard by Marriott offers beautiful displays of art, comforting fountains and a park-like setting.
Luxury Treehouses
Stay in a luxury Treehouse!! These are the newest edition to the Simon Kenton Inn and the pride and joy of the owner Theresa Siejack. It has been a vision of hers to build these cutting-edge tree houses and now they are finally here! The houses themselves stand on ten-foot posts. As you climb the stairs onto the lovely 16-foot deck you enter into a rustic and elegant space all your own. The room offers a wet bar, sink, refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot. The dual head shower adds a luxurious modern touch to compliment the handmade wooden furniture. The tree houses are 100 yards away from the main house. These all have Queen beds and are perfect for two! Romantic Ohio getaway anyone?
In 1905, Carl Woeber emigrated from Germany to Springfield, Ohio, and founded Woeber Mustard Company with only a handful of family mustard recipes, expertise in the art of mustard making, and the desire to succeed. Carl was making a variety of quality mustards in his own kitchen and selling them door-to-door by horse and buggy. It was just a matter of time before the demand for the Woeber products grew into a need for a manufacturing facility. New flavors and other ground horseradish products were introduced and expanding product lines gained popularity locally and regionally. In 1925 Woeber’s established roots on Madison Avenue in Springfield, Ohio. Carl’s son, Raymond, returned from World War II where he served courageously on an aircraft carrier. He was a skilled engineer and pioneered many of the machines used for tasks such as filling, capping and label printing. The equipment was cutting edge and was used for production well into the 1990s. In 1981 Ray and Richard Woeber joined the business as the third generation to work in the family owned and operated enterprise. Under their leadership, Woeber’s grew to be one of the largest suppliers of fresh horseradish and horseradish sauce in the United States. Growth initiated the need for a larger production facility. Construction was completed on new manufacturing plant on Commerce Circle in Springfield. With the most up-to-date technology and increased warehousing capacity, Woeber’s added new product lines and increased its capacity for its food service, commercial and retail customers. In 2009 a new 65,000 square foot distribution center was built on Urbana Road to house finished products that await transport. The facility allows Woeber’s to more efficiently service its customers, both domestically and internationally. The fourth generation of the family is actively involved in the company under the continued leadership of Ray and Richard. It is rare in today’s business environment that multi-generational family businesses survive consolidation. Woeber Mustard Company carries on the family pride and hands-on passion for making the best mustard, vinegar, and horseradish products.
A long time lover of Woeber’s, I had no idea their products were started and manufactured right here in Ohio until we visited Springfield. Every September Wober’s teams up with Mother Stewart’s Brewing and puts on an AMAZING MustardFEST. Not even kidding, one of the BEST days we’ve spent in Ohio. A truly hidden gem of a festival that everyone needs to taste their way through at least once, if not annually! You’re in luck too, because MustardFEST at Mother Stewart’s Brewing is back, taking place Saturday September 18, 2021. If you’re a wiener dog lover, I know you probably already know what’s up! I’ve never seen anything as delightful as a park full of happy dachshunds racing around. Dogs, a brewery and every flavor of Woeber’s mustard you can imagine. Practically heaven. (See my Springfield Instagram highlight reel for amazing videos of the wiener dog races!)
Mother Stewart’s Brewing is a family-owned production brewery in downtown Springfield, with a large tap room and spectacular outdoor beer garden. Food trucks and live entertainment are a regular part of the offering. The tap room is open Wednesday through Sunday.
