This summer break really flew by too quickly. We were just getting excited about all the possibilities, then it was time to gather school supplies and wake up early, again.
As Em gets older, I know our summers will change. She’ll be driving and making plans with her friends that may not include mom anymore. It felt like I needed to squeeze every last bit of “together” out of this summer.
We had so many adventures this summer, but it felt like it was going to just fizzle out at the end. That is not the ending this summer deserved!
Then the idea for the perfect finish came to me in an email from Angela from Visit Springfield, STAYCATION!
This wasn’t our first staycation, but we had never done one where we stayed downtown and became tourists for the day.
We started with breakfast at Custom Cup Coffee (319 E Monroe . This is such a great spot with a wall of windows that make the space feel open and airy. I’ve had coffee and pastries here in the past, but this was the first time I had eaten from their breakfast sandwich menu. The menu is designed to allow you to customize the perfect sandwich for you. Basic or fancy, they’ve got you covered. I had bacon, egg, and gouda on a cheddar bagel with an iced coffee featuring their house made brown sugar + cardamom syrup. Em had bacon and roasted red pepper jam on a plain bagel with a lovely strawberry lemonade. It was the perfect start to our morning!
Next stop, the Springfield Visitor’s Center in the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office building. It was a quick stop, but I want to go back and explore the available exhibits and info. I was surprised to find out that there are some museums and attractions in town that I didn’t even know existed.
From there, we headed to the Route History Museum & Souvenir Shop (737 E Cook St). This was a cool experience! The museum’s star exhibit is the VR trip down Route 66 with a family, showing the highlights and challenges they face, including their experiences with the Green Book. I learned so much in our short visit and Em thinks everything should be taught via Virtual Reality headset. The museum team actually traveled along Route 66 in Illinois, collecting oral histories to create the exhibit. They have some exciting expansions coming that I can’t wait to experience, also. This is a must-see!
Next, we took a walk downtown and had lunch at Jerk Shop Go (219 S 5th), which hit all our flavor needs. Em ordered Jerk Chicken fries and I had one of their pick 3 combos, even though I wound up giving up one of my 3 to Em (she loves red beans and rice). The Jerk Egg Rolls were amazing. They were better than I could have imagined and my quesadilla was great in the restaurant and still delicious when I reheated the leftovers. There was so much food we could not finish it in the restaurant. If you like spicy fusion food with generous portion sizes, you definitely want to give Jerk Shop Go a try.
We stopped to pre register at the Wyndham and change clothes before we went over to Adams Street where the shops are adorable, the snacks are delicious and the artwork inspires joy! Nestled between the Kidzeum (412 E Adams) and Buzz Bomb Brewing (406 E Adams) are two pieces of artwork celebrating the pollinators along Route 66 as part of the Route 66 Mural Trail. You can’t help but smile when you see them! We also visited Whimsy Tea Company (316 E Adams). This was my first visit, but it won’t be my last. I tried a rose tea that uses a Victorian recipe from the 1800’s. How amazing is that?! They’ve also got loose leaf tea, sandwiches and other beverages. They’ve got great artwork on display as well. I HIGHLY recommend a trip to Whimsy.
After a break at the hotel and another outfit change (if you know Em, you know she planned our outfits as carefully as our day was planned), we headed to one of the newest restaurants in town: Aunt Lou’s Soul Food (524 E Monroe). From the crisp, juicy appetizer wings to the flaky, perfectly fried fish entree, everything is perfectly cooked. It was all fresh and delicious and the service was attentive and friendly. The family that owns and runs the restaurant is dedicated to giving their patrons the best experience possible. We left stuffed and happy! Do not miss this new jewel in the local dining scene.
We couldn’t let the night end there, though! We visited The Wakery (5 West Old State Capitol Plaza), a non-alcoholic bar and coffee house, for after dinner drinks. It’s a great spot to continue an evening without the usual bar scene, and families are welcome. It was open mic night, so we enjoyed live music, tried a few drinks, and had a pastry from their menu, supplied by Golden Hour Bakehouse which is set to open up next door soon. It’s a great way to spend time with your teen or friends.
We wandered a bit more and had a nighttime selfie shoot under the lights on the square before getting cozy in our room. Wyndham really knows what they’re doing with those pillows!
In the morning, we explored the hotel before checking out and heading to Lulu’s Diner (608 S 9th) for breakfast. The owners are some of the kindest people around. Besides nailing the diner concept and making some of the best cinnamon rolls, they always do what they can for the local community. Speedy service, a varied menu, and reasonable pricing makes this a great option for a downtown diner experience.
Before returning to our regular lives, we checked out two more mural trail spots nearby. One on the back of Lon’s Tire Shop Has a retro vibe with vibrant neon colors and the other is on the side of the SFPD building. This unique artwork gave us lots of photos to remember our staycation!
I’m so glad we took this little break from our routine to find a new way to enjoy our city and I encourage everyone to give it a try. I’m excited to do it again in the future!
Well Restedly Yours,
-E
This post is part of a paid collaboration with the Springfield Convention & Visitor's Bureau. All of my reviews reflect my honest opinions on the places I visited.
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