Showing posts with label Small Towns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Small Towns. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

A few hours in Springfield, Tennessee

 Last month my husband and I found ourselves in Springfield, TN on our way back from Nashville. We spent about two hours there, exploring their historic downtown, a quick stop at an antique store, and lunch at Whataburger. We had not eaten at a Whataburger since a 2010 visit to Altus AFB! Hard to believe that was 15 years ago.


The downtown area was in great shape! It’s so nice to see such a historic town still being used. So many of the stores were actually occupied, which is always good! 


Very surprisingly this small town had a health food store. The roof on this was just perfect!



My husband and I love artwork and signs on the side of old buildings. And of course, would it even be a small town without some vintage Coca-Cola art?





This store front was my favorite in the entire town! 


If you blink you’ll miss Jail Alley! 



After we walked the downtown area, we headed over to Springfield Antique Barn. What a surprise this place was! The booths were all so beautiful, and I found at least 20 things I immediately wanted. 



This booth with the rooster and blue and white vases caught my eye for sure! 


So many barn quilts throughout the store. I probably missed a lot, because you had to look up high for them! 



I loved this patriotic booth, and definitely wanted to bring those pillows home with me. 


Sometimes I find myself in an antique store and the booths are so empty/filled with junk I wonder how the booth owners are even making any money. This place was different, everything was so beautiful, and thoughtfully styled. My husband and I found a piece of art we both loved, and I dare say we may even drive back and purchase it. Since we were heading home from our 20th Anniversary trip to Nashville, I wasn’t really wanting to drop $350 on a piece of art, but I can’t stop thinking about it all these weeks later. Maybe I should find a place for it FIRST, then call and see if it’s still available! 



The hutch in this booth was beautiful! 


Next up we drove by Cedar Hill Apothecary. What a darling building with so many lovely touches! I so wish I could have gone in, but alas, I sure do have a habit of being in these cute little towns on a late Sunday afternoon! 








It was just a few hours of our day, but what a nice time we had!

If you are ever in the area, definitely check out the following:

McClellan & Co. - 108 Sixth Avenue W
Southern Threads Boutique - 700 S Main Street
Cedar Hill Apothecary - 1108 S Main Street
Springfield Antique Barn - 700 Willow Street

Thanks for reading!
-Bunny









Sunday, February 16, 2025

Wallace Station in Midway, Kentucky

 My husband and I travel through Midway, Kentucky many times a year. Which means many times we have come to the intersection of Midway Road (heading north) and Old Frankfort Pike and wondered where turning right would take us. Well one day, we DID turn right, and very quickly stumbled upon Wallace Station Deli & Bakery. Of course we stopped for a bite, and wouldn't you know it, I ordered the Inside Out Hot Brown.



I was taken aback when we walked in, I loved everything about the inside. The outside is beautiful, but the inside was more than I was hoping for. I love old restaurants with a pie case, candy jars, and of course, an Ale-8 fridge. Their counter is also original to the building, which was originally the train depot. Midway was founded in 1838 as a railroad town (the first in Kentucky!), midway between Lexington and Frankfort. There is so much history in this area, and Wallace Station is proof of it!

Look at these floors!



If you aren't from Kentucky, or have never had an Ale-8, please try one. I have lived all over the country and feel like I have seen Ale-8 everywhere I've lived, except for Alaska. It is our state soft drink and it truly is EVERYTHING! It is a religion for some people (my husband, for one!), just like Kentucky basketball. Ale-8 is very serious for Kentuckians! 

(Note: My husband just informed me that our local Cracker Barrel is selling Ale-8 by the bottle in their gift shop, so keep an eye out for it in your area.)


Since their menu is posted on their website, I don't mind sharing the photo I took of it.


And here is my Inside Out Hot Brown SANDWICH, which was absolutely amazing, and so far, in my TOP 3 hot browns I've tried. On this visit we ate outside on the patio and enjoyed some beautiful weather.

I have eaten here many times, and give this place FIVE STARS!

More Wallace Station recommendations:
The Big Brown Burger 
Original Wally Burger 
Peanut Butter Pie

Wallace Station is located at 

3854 Old Frankfort Pike
Midway, Kentucky

#willtravelforfood






Tuesday, February 4, 2025

A Sunday drive along the Ohio River - Cloverport, Kentucky

 I find river towns fascinating. My husband and I have visited quite a few since moving back to Kentucky, and each time I visit one, no matter how big or small, I fall in love with it. We had visited Cloverport, Kentucky twice before, but that was about four or five years ago. We were in the area recently, so took advantage of a beautiful sunny day to explore some more. I had been trying to check in with the happenings there online, and had noticed the downtown area had been fixed up and some buildings were for sale. That's always a good sign!

When you arrive in Cloverport, you drive over a small bridge that crosses over Clover Creek right where it meets the Ohio River. The first thing that will catch your eye is the Higginbotham's building, and the large barn quilt displayed on the side of it. 



The Higginbotham building was first the location of Needle Craft, then became a grocery store in 1933. Mr. Higginbotham passed in 1971, but his son took over the business. I'm not sure when the grocery store closed, but hope to be in town sometime when the town museum is open. I think the Higginbotham building is what I am most interested in, and would love to get some more information on it.

I had been to Family Ties Flowers & Gifts a few years ago and chatted for quite a while to the sweet owner. That was probably in 2019, so I'm having trouble remembering if this shop has moved to a new store or if it's the same one I visited. It could just be that the building got a facelift. It's such a cute store and I wish I could have gone in again. That's the downside to Sunday afternoon drives - everything is closed!


The history of this small town is so interesting. From producing coal oil that lit Buckingham Palace, to the button factory, railroad maintenance shops, to Mickey Mouse dolls produced there! Who would have thought Mickey Mouse dolls were being made in a tiny Kentucky river town and shipped out by train? My, times have changed. Made in China, anyone? I've been doing some research, trying to find some information or a photo of these Mickey Mouse dolls but haven't had any luck. If you've never looked into vintage Mickey dolls, boy, some of them are REALLY creepy looking!


Cloverport is part of the Lincoln Family Trail through Kentucky, and I am so grateful to live near it and visit all these sites. The Lincoln Family crossed the Ohio River into Indiana near this spot, and when you stand there and really think about that, it is very strange (at least for me!) to wrap my head around. A future President of the United States was once standing on the bank of this very river, just like I was. I would have been very scared crossing the river on a log raft, and I wonder what was going through his head at the time.


Even though it was cold and snowy, we took a walk around town to read some more of the historical markers and take some photos. There's lot of barn quilts scattered around the town, and I located as many as I could!










We had such a lovely drive that day. I am so happy to see so many buildings for sale, and look forward to seeing what will occupy them. It will be interesting to go back and look at the photos I took of Cloverport the last time we were there and compare them to what the town looks like now in 2025. Five years can really change a town. I am noticing it in my own town, and my husband and I were just talking about that yesterday. It makes me look at things differently, and I want to document so many things, no matter how insignificant they seem. One day some of my favorite spots in town could be completely gone, like it never even happened. It's really sad when you stop and think about it. 

I am hoping this year that we can explore more of the western part of our state! I have quite a list of towns I'd like to visit!

Here is a photo I snapped when we got back to our neck of the woods. What a gorgeous day we had!



To learn more about Cloverport, the Breckenridge County Barn Quilt Trail, and the Lincoln Trail in Kentucky, visit the links below!





Thanks for reading!
-Bunny















Monday, December 23, 2024

A December day in Versailles, Kentucky

 When my husband and I travel "back home" to visit family we always travel through beautiful Versailles, Kentucky. We were traveling through after Thanksgiving, right on Small Business Saturday. I was so excited to stop in a few of the boutiques, and picked up a few things!

Our first stop was at My Darling at 104 S Main Street. It is the most darling store full of cute southern goodies! We purchased an art print of one of our favorite restaurants in Midway, Kentucky - and I'll talk about that in another post, because you know I had the hot brown!



Our next stop was Oak & Moore at 141 N Main Street. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures inside, as we were chatting it up with the owners. They are so lovely, and their store is just gorgeous! This is where we bought our most recent Glory Haus ornament, and my husband also bought me some cute pearl earrings. 




Here are some photos I took of the town, who I have to say, has some of the best small town Christmas decorations in the state of Kentucky. They really do it up every year, and it looks both expensive, but also down home and cozy. It always makes me so happy driving though, especially in the evening!














If you ever get a chance to visit Versailles, I highly recommend you do so!
You’ll love it!