I’m a Midwestern girl through and through. I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, went to college 45 minutes away, and bought my first home 15 minutes away from my alma mater. When I say I love Northeast Ohio, I mean it. But as of late, life has gotten downright boring here in my little corner of the state. I felt like I’ve seen it all and done it all and I just want more to do.
But a recent trip to nearby Mansfield, Ohio, has convinced me that I have seen very little of the state I claim to love. In working with the Mansfield and Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau, they helped arrange a fun little weekend getaway trip for my family, giving us a new perspective on life right outside our backdoor.
A mere two counties west from us was Mansfield, an older former industrial town that, much like the rest of the cities in the Rust Belt, used to be vibrant with blue-collar workers and booming factories. After a few decades of decline, these cities are bouncing back in a big way. I admit I didn’t know what to expect from Mansfield, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun we had in small town Ohio.
The Blueberry Patch
Since we were visiting in the fall, we weren’t able to actually pick blueberries at the Blueberry Patch, which is the largest blueberry farm in Ohio. But we had an amazing time anyway. We got there around lunchtime, so we ate at Blossoms Cafe, right at the front of the farm. It’s called a cafe, but I was really impressed with the hearty selections and portions. My husband and I ordered the stuffed pepper soup (so good it inspired me to make my own recipe once we got home) and my son ordered pizza, with my daughter eating the chicken and apple salad.
The gift shop was good for browsing, with me looking at essential oils and specialty teas and my kids looking at anything that looked like a toy. We got to go out to the fields, even though the blueberries were already harvested and frozen for customers. But it was a beautiful fall day and we got “attacked” by ladybugs, which made my kids squeal.
I’m looking forward to going back in the summer, when the blueberries are ripe and ready to be picked. Blueberry pie, anyone?
Hours: May Through End of Blueberry Season: Monday-Saturday 9 am-7 pm, Sunday 11 am-5 pm. Blossoms Cafe Open Daily till 4 pm
Little Buckeye Children’s Museum
This is one of the best children’s museums I have ever been to. It is deceptively small from the street, but once you walk in, there’s two floors full of hands-on, interactive exhibits, all built to capture the imagination of children up to age 12. Admission is cheap at $7 for everyone ages 2 and up and there’s easily hours of fun inside.
What I loved most was how dense the space was. I was a bit overwhelmed at the number of exhibits and “things to do” they packed into the space. They have a life-size building block room, water tables, tree house, grocery store, pretend dentistry room, and more. In talking with the executive director, I learned there is even more to come. My children especially loved the “Deconstruction Area,” where (with parent supervision) they can deconstruct electronics like computers and vacuums. How cool is that?
Hours: Wed-Saturday 10am-6pm & Sundays 1pm-6pm
Admission: $7 for 2 and up.
Mansfield Fire Museum
I don’t know how excited my kids were to go to the fire museum, particularly since they don’t know what a fire museum is. (Do you?) But this museum gave us all an up-close look at how firefighting has evolved over the past couple of centuries, from the horse-drawn wagons toting buckets (and neighbors pitching in with their own) to the bright red trucks we know today, the Mansfield Fire Museum is a nice weekend visit to see the beauty and wonder of something we all take for granted.
They also have a “Safety House,” a replica of a two-bedroom house in order to teach children fire safety. The children go into one room and the hallways fill with “smoke.” They’re taught how to find the exit, where to go, and how to get there (get low, get out and stay out). It was an educational experience that I’m glad my children got the chance to see.
Hours: Mid May through mid-October, Saturday and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Comfort Inn Splash Harbor
Again – WHO KNEW? My kids had a great time at the mini “splash park” located inside an unassuming Comfort Inn. With two hot tubs, a twisting water slide and splash pods, my kids swam and played for over an hour. For families traveling through the area, I highly recommend Comfort Inn Splash Harbor. It was clean, the front desk staff was amazingly friendly, the splash park was a wonderful bonus and it is right next door to the Der Dutchman Restaurant, which had some amazing down home food (the strawberry cheesecake was so good!). Follow them on Facebook to stay abreast of some great deals.
Richland Carousel Park
Located in the Carousel District in downtown Mansfield is the Richland Carousel Park. I will say that I thought it was kind of pricey, at $1 per ride, but man, the ride is long! I sat and waited for my kids to get done…and waited…and waited. I see that they priced it high, but you get more bang for your buck. It is a four-season carousel, so you can come downtown in the winter and ride. But I bet it’s really spectacular in the summer, when they open the doors (kind of like garage doors) and let the wind in.
Two Cousins Pizza
I’m not even going to use a bunch of words on this one. Just look at the pizza.
Delicious and we had perfect service. Definitely stop by if you are in town.
Nothing like getting out and exploring to renew your love for your state or city. That pizza looks delish. If we’re ever in the neighborhood, I will definitely pick up a slice.