On our first full day in Springfield, Ohio... we spent the morning exploring their downtown! Thankfully the weather was beautiful and sunny, and we were able to walk almost everywhere! I loved how walkable this area was. It's always a great way to take in a new city and get a little fresh air! Plus, it's fun to find different things that weren't necessarily on your itinerary. Do you guys make itineraries when you travel? When we're heading to new places, I love making itineraries. Planning for a trip is almost as fun as taking it sometimes! Other times, it's nice to just relax and let the day take you where it may. We stopped to all of the places we wanted to visit, but we also found a few surprises along the way!

Our first stop in the morning was to Winans Chocolates & Coffee! I had no idea what to expect before coming here... but I was so pleasantly surprised. It was adorable! They had a big garage door that was open, and the interior was super cute. I loved the "coffee" sign and all of the wood shelving. Really fun little part of downtown! We snapped a few pictures outside, and headed in for iced lattes. I got a soy iced chai latte (my go-to) and this was one of my favorites by far. They also had a huge assortment of chocolates. Everything looked so yummy! We sat at one of the tables and enjoyed our drinks for a while, chatting and people-watching!

After coffees at Winans, we walked next door to a bakery called Le Torte Dolci. This wasn't on our itinerary... but one of those nice surprises! Since we didn't have meal plans until lunch, this was the perfect place to get a small breakfast that wasn't too filling. When we travel, we try to pace ourselves so we can eat at MORE places. Haha! But this place was delightful. They are a European style bakery with an American flair. They had small batches of fresh-baked goods. (All of which looked delicious.) Eric went for a cream puff, and I went for a pecan cinnamon roll. We sat inside and enjoyed our pastries before heading off on our walk!

We met up with the super nice folks at Springfield CVB. They have an awesome store called Champion City Guide & Supply where their offices are located... and they have so many amazing Springfield items, clothing, and gifts. I loved checking everything out! Michigan really needs one of these places! I would buy everything! But we got a super nice swag bag full of cute items, and Eric got a Springfield t-shirt and a mustache comb. (Can you tell he's growing his mustache out? Hahaha.) But it was great to meet Chris and Kelcie and to learn a little bit more about Springfield! I was so flattered and excited they asked me to come and explore their city!

Next up, we drove over to The Westcott House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This was such a unique and interesting tour. One of our favorite parts of the trip! I love old historic homes though, and learning more about the history of an area. Plus, this home was so beautifully restored. We had a little private tour and the guide was super friendly and knowledgable about the home. It was built in 1908 for Mr. Burton J. Westcott, his wife Orpha, and their family, who were well-to-do people in Springfield at the time. Their family history was so interesting to learn about. I'd definitely recommend paying a visit if you're in the area. Plus, the pergola and rooftop garden were stunning!

Our last stop before the afternoon... was to Mike and Rosy's Deli! I heard a lot of great things about this local deli, so Eric and I were excited to try it out. I always love a good mom and pop shop like this! Mike and Rosy’s Deli is one of Springfield’s oldest locally owned and operated restaurants. Eric went for a turkey sub, and I went for a classic – the reuben. It was delicious! Definitely a welcome treat after a morning of walking around and exploring. I'll be back with our time spent in Yellow Springs, Ohio... so stay tuned!