There are many fun options for day trips from Columbus Ohio to Yellow Springs. In particular, Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm has excellent ice cream and a restaurant.
If you’ve seen “Shawshank Redemption” (if you haven’t, come on it’s a classic), you’ll really enjoy Mansfield. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, this city is very interesting.
About 20 minutes from Mansfield, is another wonderful site worth visiting — Malabar Farm State Park. It features lots of events, like Wildflower hikes and Maple Syrup Festivals. The home was built by a man named Louis Bromfield in the 1940s and has all the original furnishings.