We were given five free passes to attend AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children’s Museum, a gift card to The Well and Square Seven Coffee Shop in exchange for our honest opinion. #sponsored
When we found out Stephen had a weekday off from work, we instantly started figuring out how we could take advantage of the time and go on an adventure with the girls. We knew we wanted to get out of Columbus, but didn’t want to travel too far as we would have all three girls with us.
A few months go, I had shared something about Lancaster on Facebook and remembered thinking how family friendly the area seemed. After checking out a few websites, getting connected with Visit Fairfield County and realizing it was just 30 minutes Southeast of Columbus, I knew this would be where would spend the day.
While I love exploring on our own and stumbling upon hidden gems, I always suggest visiting the towns visitor center – if they have one. This is where you get the inside scoop (and sometimes great deals) on what to do and where to go. Maybe you don’t want a full day planned, that’s okay. They can always point in a good starting direction.
Now. On to what we did with three toddlers in Lancaster, OH.
A full day of adventure must start with coffee. Don’t you agree? One of my favorite things to do when in a new town is to seek out a local coffee shop. It’s a great way to learn about the local culture + get tips on where to go while in town and typically, try out a locally-roasted coffee bean or try a drink featuring local ingredients.
With that in mind, we stopped at Square Seven Coffee House, located right on Main St. I quickly found out they offer a true European barista menu, which is made up of locally-roasted coffees and hand-crafted espresso drinks. Just what we were looking for.
Something I found unique was their space. They share it with Art & Clay on Main, which is an accessible art studio featuring Paint Your Own Pottery, a wheel throwing studio and summer art camps for kids. I thought this was such a neat concept. You could grab coffee with a friend, chat and look out to the historic downtown streets or grab coffee and paint your own pottery. The barista even mentioned some nights (I think Friday) they bring in local musicians. That sounds like such a fun date night!
We both went with their Vanilla Nut Spice latte. Iced for me. Hot for him. I thought it was great. Nothing fancy. Very simple. A delicious combination of vanilla and nutty flavor.
I can’t explain it, but the shop just had such a great vibe to it. If I lived closer, it would probably be a weekly staple spot for me.
After we were fueled up on coffee, it was time to take the girls to AHA! Hands-On Adventure, A Children’s Museum. Located less than ten minutes from the coffee shop, it felt like we were there in no time. We actually arrived a few minutes before opening, giving us time to finish our coffees and get our stuff together. I mentioned to Stephen how surprised I was there weren’t more people in the parking lot, waiting to get in. Then. Five minutes before opening, they swarmed in out of nowhere!
If you’re not familiar, AHA! A Hands-on Adventure, A Children’s Museum, was opened in 2008 with the mission of educating children in a world of discovery, curiosity and imagination through hands-on play. They offer 60 hands-on exhibits, in an 8,000 square foot space, perfect for kids ages 6 months to 8 years of age.
This has been on my radar for quite sometime. I think we waited until the perfect age because they girls had a blast. The girls didn’t slow down once, constantly captivated by everything around them.
Everything is in one big area, which you have to get to through two closed doors to access. When you walk in, you notice the open floor plan, filled with activities from multiple sensory tables to a stage (microphones coming soon) with dress-up to large blue blocks (similar to the ones at COSI) to a play garden (no real dirt) to an enclosed area for the younger ones. You can tell how well thought out the layout was. On one side you had dramatic play, in the middle you had larger climbing structures and on the other end sensory tables. The flow was perfect and kept things perfectly separated. I also appreciate that they had the water area closed off (with easy access). If the girls were able to see the water the entire time, that is all they would want to do.
You can get all the details from our visit in this post.
After we spent all morning playing, we knew the girls were going to be hungry. We also knew that being a tad off schedule (we follow a loose schedule) that we needed a lunch place that the girls were going to have a bit of freedom. This is where The Well comes in. They have a relaxed vibe with a play structure and other kid friendly items in the back. This was the perfect spot for us. Plus, it didn’t hurt that their menu is FABULOUS – very healthy, focusing on only non-GMO contents that are organic and local when possible. Just what we needed to balance our last adventure of the day, which you’ll see at the end of this post.
We had trouble deciding what to get because everything was calling out to us. I feel like some health forward restraints are intimidating when it come sot their menu. This menu was not. It was easy to understand and navigate. Plus, I had been stalking their instagram for a few days and sort of knew what I wanted. Not to my surprise, we enjoyed everything that we ordered, as did the girls. They do have a kids menu, but we ordered a spreads sampler with vegetables/fruit to share with them. It worked out perfectly. Plus, we had our trusty veggie straws with us, which they loved dipping into the hummus and cinnamon cashew spread.
— SPREADS SAMPLER —
roasted red pepper hummus, zesty special sauce, cinnamon cashew spread | served with pita wedges, fresh fruit & veggies
— MEDITERRANEAN TUNA PITA —
millet-flax pita bread, wild-caught albacore tuna, sun-dried tomato cashew spread, romaine, cucumbers | served with simple kale salad
— THE SUSHI BOWL —
organic sushi rice, sesame ginger sprouted tofu, avocado, carrots, romaine, cucumber, horseradish hummus, creamy sriracha sauce, honey-roasted edamame, sea vegetables
— PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY —
peanut butter, strawberries, banana, honey, gluten-free oats, housemade almond milk
— BLOOD BUILDER —
beet, cabbage, kale, apple, lemon, cilantro
{pictured above}
Before we headed to our last spot on the agenda, we took a little walk around downtown Lancaster. We wanted to get a bit of fresh air, but also check out a local bookstore that had been reccomedned to us.
Paperback Exchange is an independently owned bookstore in the heart of historical downtown Lancaster. They specialize in used books and local authors, acquiring most of their inventory from their community in an exchange program.
Two things I found interesting/unique:
1. Their focus is truly to spread the love of reading and it is what drives their incredible prices. Paperbacks are sold at amaximum of $6.00 and a minimum of $1.00. Hardbacks are resold at a price off $4.99 unless otherwise marked. Plus, if you bing in your used books (good, readable condition), they will give you store credit at the rate of 20% of the publisher’s price for paperbacks.
2. They have two cats, Dickens and Webster, who roam the store and are very friendly. They even tried to jump in the wagon with the girls!
We didn’t have much time to really check out the books they had to offer, but I am certain there are some hidden gems just waiting to be found.
After our day of healthy, active adventure — I knew I had to sneak in one little treat for my husband (…..and myself). I had checked out the Visit Fairfield website prior to visiting and came across a place called Extreme Creamery. They are known for their rolled ice cream and extreme milkshakes.
I suggest checking out the menu before going. It is too hard to make a devious when you get there. Everything looks so yummy.
Riley made the smart decision to nap in the car earlier in the day, which meant she was the only one awake at the ice cream shop. She ended up getting a sample of the birthday cake, as well as her fair share of sips of the milkshake.
We went with the Cinnamon Roll Extreme Milkshake and the Chocolate Strawberry Rolled Ice cream. I had never had rolled ice cream, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. At least texture wise. WOWZA. That’s all I have to say. I absolutely loved the flavors. As for the milkshake, I thought the base was great, but I was a little disappointed in the extreme toppings. I think it was a honeybun, which was just a little blah and the cinnamon roll on top was small and just okay, nothing special. I was so impressed with their pictures on social media (and with what others ordered while there) – that I think my expectations were too high! Classic case of picking the wrong item on the menu. However, like I said, the base was delicious and that the most important part. Also, it looked really pretty. Next time, I am for sure getting the extreme chocolate. Yum, yum, yum.
Extreme Creamy was located just down the street from the downtown area and on our way out, making this an easy (and delicious) stop!
Where I want to go on our next trip to Lancaster
Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve
Covered Bridges
A Season In Time
Bob’s Backyard Barbeque
Rockside Winery & Vineyard
Weldon’s Olde Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
Hit a few spots on Route 33 Brew Trail
I highly suggest taking a trip over to Lancaster. Just 30 minutes southeast of Columbus, it’s an easy drive to find a ton of dining and activities, perfect for creating a day (or two) full of adventure! If you head to the Visit Fairfield County website, there is a TON of information to help plan your trip. There is even a Visit Fairfield County VIP Wristband Program, where you can get great deals on a variety of attractions and businesses.
