You won't feel the least bit guilty about the calories you consume slurping down one of Young's Jersey Dairy's famous milk shakes to cap off your trip to Yellow Springs, Ohio. After all the hiking, pedaling and playing you'll do, consider it a just reward.
While Yellow Springs certainly lives up to its funky reputation with a mix of downtown shops offering a wide range of wares from hard-to-find toys at Mr. Fub's to handmade jewelry at Ohio Silver, it's also a haven for those in search of an outdoor recreational retreat.
For starters, get pedaling on the Little Miami Scenic Trail, a 76-mile stretch of rail-to-trail bike path that cuts right through the city. A connector path that opened in late 2006 is accessible from Ellis Park, which is conveni-ently located near the aforementioned Young's.
If you're up for a hike, put on the proper footwear, grab a camera and hit the trails that run through John Bryan State Park. There, you'll see one of the most amazing displays of natural beauty in these parts — a spectacular limestone gorge carved out over time by the Little Miami River. If descending into and ascending out of the gorge isn't enough of a workout, you can seek out the areas set aside in the park for rock climbing and rappelling.
Back in town, the Yellow Springs Street Fair attracts thousands to the city year after year to peruse the goods offered by more than 200 vendors. Stop by this year's fair June 9 to sample foods from far-off lands and browse the unique arts, crafts, clothing and other items on display.