As a kid, I was obsessed with Christmas! According to my grandma, I would "practice" getting up on Christmas morning weeks before the actual day took place. Like I said: obsessed. I vividly remember visiting Stan Hywet as a little girl and being swept up in the magic of the holiday. For those of you not familiar with this Akron mansion, it was built between 1912 and 1915 by F.A. Seiberling, the man who founded The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. This house is unbelievable—not a detail was forgotten—and it's especially unbelievable at Christmas. So many lights and trees and decorations.
Now that we're in Northeast Ohio, I've wanted to take Nathan to all these spots I remember from childhood, including Stan Hywet. Although I was NOT prepared for the crowds (it took us hours to get through 10ish rooms ... be warned if you decide to go next Christmas!), I did love reminiscing. And the magic of the holiday was still there between those walls.