Artwork on the side of a building in Yellow Springs, Ohio asks the question, “What is there to do?”
It doesn’t take much to lure us down to Yellow Springs for an afternoon. It’s only a couple of hours away from our home—an easy drive—and a great getaway.
Founded in 1825, it is home to Antioch College and, like many small college towns, has a distinct hippy vibe. The attitude is casual and laid-back. There’s an air of tolerance and a thriving artistic culture. Historic buildings in quirky bright shades of blue, purple, pink, and yellow line the streets. The downtown area is filled with unique boutiques, art galleries, and charming cafés.
Beyond the shopping area, the village is quiet, quaint, and walkable with Glen Helen Nature Preserve—1,000-acres of waterfalls, limestone cliffs, nature trails, and beautiful woodlands—less than a mile away.
It’s the captivating blend of art, community, and nature that defines Yellow Springs and makes it so appealing.
Ye Olde Trail Tavern on the main street in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Escaping for the day, we skipped the dull highway and took the scenic route through Ohio’s rich farmland and sleepy towns, arriving in Yellow Springs in time for lunch.
The village is famous for its bi-annual street fairs—all-day art and food festivals in June and October where people come from all around to shop, browse vendor tents, enjoy live music and street performers, and sample an international assortment of cuisine ranging from Vietnamese shish-kabob to Mexican empanadas to Thai wraps to the all-American hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries. Read more
A Quick Lunch
We had lunch at Ye Olde Trail Tavern. You can’t beat the atmosphere. It’s Ohio’s second oldest restaurant, built in 1827, with hand hewn log walls, a tin ceiling, rough plastered walls, and a cozy cabin style. The food is decidedly German with loaded bier cheese fries, sauerkraut balls, and bratwurst on the menu, but you’ll find salads, hamburgers, and hot wings, too, so you can’t go wrong.
Here are some items on the menu at the Olde Trail Tavern:
BBQ Chicken Pizza—barbeque base with chicken, bacon, red onion, Cheddar, and Mozzarella.
The Wedge—crisp iceberg lettuce topped with tomato, red onion, bleu cheese, and your favorite dressing.
Loaded Bier Cheese Fries—sidewinder fries and jalapeno slices smothered with ale bier cheese.
Tobi Burger and Sidewinder Fries—a burger loaded with Cherrywood bacon and Bleu cheese crumbles.
We dined alfresco on the patio at the side of the restaurant overlooking King’s Yard and the main street.
Dining alfresco at Ye Olde Trail Tavern. Beyond the patio is King’s Yard—a cluster of small shops and galleries grouped around a courtyard. (Photo: Ye Olde Trail Tavern)
But wait, there’s more . . . Yellow Springs has a diverse culinary scene with a healthy variety of places where you can go to indulge your taste buds. From farm-to-table restaurants to cozy coffee shops, there’s something to satisfy every palate.
- Bentino’s Pizza—casual indoor dining . . . pizzas, salads, pastas, wings, hoagies, and gyros.
- Calypso Grill and Smokehouse—authentic Latin-Caribbean cuisine.
- Current Cuisine—gourmet deli and international grocery filled with freshly prepared foods.
- Peach’s Grill—traditional American fare with a bar and live music.
- Sunrise Café—organic and natural minded cuisine made “from scratch” with a commitment to local, sustainable ingredients.
- Underdog Café—features an in-house book store, periodic LIVE music, community events, an espresso bar, kitchen and baked goods, organic free-trade coffee freshly brewed or in bulk, hot tea, and more.
- Winds Café & Bakery—gourmet dining at its finest . . . fine wines . . . organic and vegetarian selections.
Mural for Underdog Café. One of many murals located around Yellow Springs.
Shop ’til you drop . . . we always do!
We spent much of the afternoon shopping. There are over 65 unique shops, boutiques, and art galleries with anything you might want—woodworks, art, ceramics, quilts, sculpture, imports, handmade jewelry, vintage clothing, herbs, teas, oil, pottery, stained glass, books books and more books. Each place offers a delightful taste of the village’s diverse and artsy culture.
Next to Ye Olde Trail Tavern is Epic Book Shop, a small, independent book shop with new and used books, cards, and gifts . . . and Asanda Imports where you can find unique gift items, clothing, and jewelry.
Across the main street are Pangaea Trading Company, a unique boutique with imported gifts and carefully curated treasures, Dark Star Books, and Current Cuisine. Out of the picture, on the right, is Glen Garden Gifts and Flowers.
The 51-foot sectional mural above the storefronts is by villager Mandy Knaul, aka Mandy Sue. It features botanicals, Glen Helen scenes, and the Dark Star Books cat, Mr. Eko.
The cat in Dark Star Books acts like he owns it.
The interior of Dark Star Books is heaven for a bibliophile, like me. (Photo: Dark Star Books)
Creative and colorful storefronts and signage are everywhere in downtown Yellow Springs.
House of Ravenwood, a metaphysical rock and gift shop that also offers tarot readings.
King’s Yard is a three-shaded courtyard behind Ye Olde Trail Tavern where you’ll find a cluster of boutiques, shops, and art galleries, including:
Tibet Bazaar—gifts and clothing from India, Nepal, and Tibet.
Toxic Beauty Record Gallery—large selection of vinyl and music posters.
Village Herb Shop—Herbs, teas, tinctures, and essential oils.
We always find amazing items in the most unexpected places.
One of my favorite finds in Yellow Springs was a framed/ signed/numbered print of “The Sun Sets Sail” by Rob Gonsalves.
A special find
One of the art galleries had prints by Canadian artist Rob Gonsalves. I first saw his work a couple of years ago on a visit to Yellow Springs, but couldn’t remember which gallery I had seen it in. Every visit to YS had me searching. His work is part Salvador Dali, part René Magritte, and part M. C. Escher. At first glance and from afar you see one thing . . . taking a closer look, it’s a whole other story. We bought a framed print of “The Sun Sets Sail.” So clever, creative, beautiful. It hangs in our dining room. See more of the art in our home.
Founded in 1929, the Little Art Theater is a beloved landmark in Yellow Springs and presents an eclectic mix of films that include first-run, indies, and foreign films; documentaries; cinema classics; and special film events. Next to the theater is Kismet with a lovely selection of carefully curated and unique women’s clothing and accessories.
Other things to do
Wandering through the streets is a great way to experience the vibrant charm of Yellow Springs.
On a side street, the sidewalk takes you through a natural tunnel.
Stained glass window.
A banner expressing my thoughts.
A colorful house on Dayton Street in the heart of Yellow Springs Historic District.
A bike ride down the Little Miami Scenic Trail is exhilarating. The trail is 78 miles of paved route from Springfield to Milford. It runs alongside the eastern edge of town. We rented recumbent bikes and went about 4 miles south towards Xenia before turning back due to time constraints. You can pick the trail up at the Yellow Springs Station—a replica of the original train station built in 1880. The replica was rebuilt as close to historical dimensions as possible and has the original station’s windows and ticket counter that separated the office from the freight storage.
Yellow Springs Station, located downtown on the bike path, has public restrooms and houses the Chamber of Commerce. (Photo: Jamie Holly)
The Little Miami Scenic Trail is the longest single trail in the Miami Valley trail network.
If you love nature as much as we do, you’ll find solace in the lush surroundings of Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The Glen was donated to Antioch College in 1929 by Hugh Taylor Birch after his daughter, Helen Birch Bartlett, died. There are 1,000 acres of ancient trees and streams with 25 miles of hiking trails. Take a short walk or a long hike. The 1.2 mile Inman Trail is moderately challenging and takes about 29 minutes to complete. On it you can see quite a few sites:
The Cascades
Orators Mound
The Yellow Spring
Grotto Falls
Pompey’s Pillar
Helen’s Stone sits at the foot of an ancient oak tree. It has a memorial plaque on it etched with an excerpt from a poem written by Helen Birch Bartlett.
Helen’s Stone
This is the inscription:
By Helen Birch Bartlett, 1882-1925, in memory of whom this glen was presented to Antioch College in 1929 by her father, Hugh Taylor Birch, class of 1869.
Adjacent to Glen Helen is John Bryan State Park—a spectacular 755-acre wooded park that encompasses the narrow and rugged gorge of the Little Miami River. Many consider it to be Western Ohio’s most beautiful state park. The park offers overnight camping as well as fishing, boating, canoeing, bow hunting, rock climbing and rappelling, and picnicking. There are 7.5 miles of mountain bike trails and some of the most scenic foot trails in the region.
Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is also nearby and perfect for a quick adventure. This 268 acre park has hiking trails through ancient rock formations, scenic waterfalls, and the most spectacular views of the Little Miami River.
Where to stay
To take in everything Yellow Springs and its surrounding area has to offer, you might want to stay for a couple of days. These options are right in town, providing maximum convenience.
Whether you’re seeking artistic inspiration, a vibrant cultural experience, reconnection with nature, or a peaceful retreat, Yellow Springs always delivers on its promise.
Just north of downtown . . . a field of a gazillion sunflowers.
Tecumseh Sunflower Field in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
But no trip to Yellow Springs is complete without a stop at Young’s Jersey Dairy. Established in 1869 as a farm, it has grown through the years into a popular Yellow Springs attraction. With farmstead tours, a farm animal petting area, miniature golf, batting cages, a driving range, kiddie corral, and more, Young’s Jersey Dairy has become a playground paradise for kids and kids at heart. In the Dairy Store you can get sandwiches, salads, sides, and ice cream. Their homemade ice cream is to-die-for. It’s made from a 15% butterfat mix of milk, cream, and sugar. Very rich, very creamy. It comes in every imaginable flavor, including Cow Patty—a double dark chocolate ice cream loaded with broken cookies, bits of toffee, and chocolate chips. We had a cheeseburger, buttermilk chicken sandwich, deep fried cheddar cheese curds, and we both had one scoop each of strawberry and butter pecan ice cream in chocolate dipped nut cones.
Tomorrow we diet.
Rich-and-creamy homemade strawberry and butter pecan ice cream in chocolate dipped nut cone from Young’s Jersey Dairy.
Night falls on Young’s Jersey Dairy.
Any time is a good time to visit, but if you can get there for the Yellow Springs Street Fair, GO!
Copyright © 2023 Patricia Petro/Tom Schmidt. All rights reserved.
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