Springfield, Ohio

Like the ignored elephant in a room, Springfield, Ohio has long been neglected as a travel destination in our family. All too often serving as reference for how many more miles to home, a final gas or restroom stop, but never a destination unto itself. It’s kind of sad, really, for not only can Springfield boast itself the childhood home of notables like John Legend and Jonathon Winters, but it is quietly becoming the antiquing mecca of Middle America.

To say that there are 15 antiques shops in Springfield might be a bit misleading for several of the shops are enormous antique malls with hundreds of individual antique dealers from all over the country. Chances are if you are looking for a particular item, you will find it in Springfield.

Of note, the Heart of Ohio Antique Center located at 4785 East National Road is a 116,000 square foot facility, fully carpeted and climate controlled, that is home to over 650 individual dealers. The place is massive! I’ve found them to be an excellent starting point when it comes to replacing the collectible Fiesta plates and bowls my kids are so prone to breaking.

Fiesta Pottery at Heart of Ohio Antique Center

AAA I-70 Antiques at 4700 South Charleston Pike is also fully carpeted, climate controlled and home to over 200 dealers in it’s 30,000 square foot facility.

The Springfield Antique Center located at 1735 Titus Road is another gem in the Springfield antique market. In addition of thousands of antiques in just about every category imaginable, they pride themselves on accessibility and a pet friendly environment. That’s right, if Fido enjoys browsing for relics of yesteryear he’s more than welcome at Springfield Antique Center. Unless of course, Fido is a horse or a longhorn. I’m sure there are limits.

There are many, many more stores for you to check out in and around Springfield. Most are open daily with hours generally 10 am to 6 pm.

And while I’ve found that some of my most enjoyable trips are the totally spontaneous ones, you may want to mark your calendars and plan ahead for your antiquing visit to Springfield. Three times a year, May, June and September, the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market holds its Antiques Extravaganza at the Clark County Fairgrounds

Clark County Fairgrounds Springfield, Ohio

These three day events host over 2,500 antique dealers from literally all over the world in the dozen or so buildings and across the open grounds of the fairground. Wear your comfortable shoes and clear a spot in the garage or basement for that something that you no doubt just can’t live without.

There is a nominal fee for entering the Fairground Extravaganza (about $3.00) but it’s good for the entire day. The first one scheduled for 2009 is May 15-17. June dates are 26-28 and September is scheduled for the 18th through the 20th.

The Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market also holds monthly sales at the fairgrounds located at 4401 S. Charleston Pike.

So yes, there’s more to Springfield than gas stations and restrooms. If you like antiques, this is where you need to be.

Springfield...Where Antiques Are

Photo credits: Clark County Fairgrounds, Heart of Ohio Antique Center, City of Springfield.

Here are few of my favorite sites for traveling with a pet or for finding things to do with them in spite of inclement weather.

One of my favorite trip planning pet sites is PetsWelcome.com. It offers 25,000 hotels, B&Bs and ski resorts that welcome pets, a great travel tips section, info exchange between pet owners and an amusing management section. I especially liked their links to the pet policies of 18 major airlines.

Looking to take a long weekend away with your dog? DogFriendly.com offers a list of the top 10 cities to visit with your pet in the U.S. and Canada. The criteria they used included overall appeal of each city, suitable pet friendly hotels, dog friendly side trips, places to eat, off leash parks and if the city is generally supportive of dogs and their owners. They recommend:

1. Boston
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
3. New York City
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Austin, Texas
6. Portland, Oregon
7. Northern Virginian (Washington, D. C.
8. Orlando, Florida
9. San Diego, California
10. Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, as I do, and you are looking for something new to do with your pet, I recommend Stacy’s Wagntrain.com for her comprehensive and fascinating list of events for dogs and their owners. She lists classes for learning to dance with your dog, including how to pick the right music, dog sports obedience training, canine aggression seminars, community dog walks, dog carting, and even a dog stuff swap meet. I am sure other cities offer the same type of activities if any appeal to you and your dog.

Looking for something to do with your dog in February no matter where you live? It is National Canine Weight Check month. To participate, take your dog to a participating vet’s office to see if it is overweight. You can find a list of participating vets at stopcanineobesity.com.

National Spay Day is February 27. You can have an animal spayed or neutered, you can volunteer or you can donate to the cause. Do it for love of your pet and for all the abandoned animals in our country. It is the kind thing to do.

Just looking for general dog news while your dog snoozes near you? Doggienews offers short snippets including a scathing article about PETA, funny takes on exploding dogs, sharing a shower with your dog (eww) and much more. Definitely worth a read.

If all else fails, grab a treat, a leash and take a walk with your dog. That seems to be all my dog needs from me to earn her unconditional love.

What is your favorite pet recommendation? Does your dog (cat, bird) like to see the world with you? Or is channel surfing considered a form of exercise in your house? Share your stories for keeping your pet fit and healthy this winter!

When it comes to pet friendly lodging, it pays to find the right place. Sure, a lot of hotels say they’re pet friendly, but when you show up with your canine or feline family member – does the front desk actually give you a warm welcome? With just a little up-front effort (mostly, asking the right questions), you can select a hotel that is truly pet friendly.

1. Know that you have more chain options than ever
Luxury trends in pet friendly lodging and hotels have trickled down into chain establishments. There are many hotel chains across the nation – from economy to upscale – that are pet friendly and worry free.

2. Non-chain? Look for a proprietor who’s also a pet owner
Your best bet here is a bed-and-breakfast where it’s made explicit that the owner loves pets. If treats are provided, the owners show photos of their cats, or mention is made of “fenced acreage for your dog to run,” you’ve hit gold.

3. Check the number of pets allowed
Some pet friendly hotels will only allow you to bring one pet inside – but what if you’re traveling with two? “Pet friendly” doesn’t always means “friendly to multiple pets.”

4. “Pet friendly” is a variable term
Dogs are the pets most often welcomed, but only under certain weight limits. Some hotels aren’t quite as happy to host cats, rabbits and other small animals.

5. “Pet friendly” may actually mean “a few rooms only”
Some hotels only dedicate a few rooms, or smoking rooms, to people traveling with pets. This is why it’s so important to find a sincerely pet friendly hotel!

6. Ask if there’s a pet fee, and how it works
Some places will allow your pet to stay for free, but others will charge a per-night, per-pet or per-stay basis. Is it a fee, or a refundable deposit?

7. Double-check all policies and fees before checking in
The rates or rules may have changed since you booked the reservation. Perhaps there’s a cleaning fee, or a deposit. Make sure that everything is mutually understood.

Here is a great resource for Pet Travel if you are interested in reading more!