As the Director of Marketing for the Springfield Cardinals, Regina Hess spends plenty of time at Hammons Field helping create memorable experiences for fans. Away from the ballpark, though, her perfect Saturday is all about family, the outdoors, and supporting local businesses.
With a one-year-old at home, Saturdays start early. Here's Regina's perfect Saturday in Springfield, Missouri.
Breakfast at Roots Coffee Bar or First Watch
The day begins with breakfast at either Roots Coffee Bar or First Watch.
"I'll get a matcha or an iced coffee, and lots of potatoes for my son."
It's the perfect way to fuel up before spending the rest of the day together as a family.
Explore Springfield's Outdoors
After breakfast, the family usually makes a quick stop at Target before heading outside.
Whether it's the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, Phelps Grove Park, the Rountree neighborhood, or Lake Springfield, they love spending time outdoors together.
Lake Springfield is one of their favorite destinations.
"My husband bird watches, I find a bench to read, and our son runs through the grass."
For Hess, it's about helping her son develop an appreciation for nature.
"The greenery is what brings us back every time. We want him to embrace the outdoors, hear the sounds, see the grass and the water. Right now, he loves pulling on the grass and grabbing leaves from the trees."
Lunch at Chick-fil-A
Lunch is usually simple—a quick stop through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru before heading home to feed their son.
A Relaxing Afternoon
After lunch comes nap time.
While their son sleeps, Regina and her husband enjoy relaxing at home, usually with a soccer match or baseball game on television.
"We're usually watching some type of sports."
Meet Friends at a Local Brewery
Later in the afternoon, they meet up with friends or Regina's sister, who also lives in Springfield, at one of their favorite local breweries.
Their usual choices are 4 By 4 Brewing Company or Tie & Timber Beer Co. in the Rountree neighborhood.
They especially enjoy Tie & Timber's new pizza kitchen, making it an easy place to stay for dinner.
At 4 By 4, Regina orders the Four Bases beer. At Tie & Timber, it's either an Old Fashioned or a Garcia.
Game Night at Home
Most Saturday evenings end at home.
After putting their son to bed, Regina and her friends gather for game night.
"We're typically playing dominos, Super Mario Party, or Catan. We also love Yahtzee and Scrabble."
She appreciates that their friends are happy to work around their son's bedtime, making it easy to continue spending time together.
If they have a babysitter, though, date night means heading to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for a movie.
One Place Everyone Should Experience
For Regina, everyone should experience a Springfield Cardinals game at Hammons Field at least once.
"Everyone should come out to the ballpark. Come with your family or for date night. There is fun for everyone at the ballpark."
What She Loves Most About Springfield
Although Regina attended both Drury University and Missouri State University, she admits she didn't fully appreciate Springfield until after college.
"I lived in the college bubble."
After meeting her husband, she discovered Springfield's parks, trails, and outdoor spaces.
"He showed me the outdoors all around Springfield that I never knew was here before."
Today, one of her favorite things is introducing visiting family and friends to those places.
She also values Springfield's strong local business community.
"Supporting local is important to me. I love supporting our small businesses, coffee shops, breweries, and bars. Rountree is full of those businesses and the people who own so many of Springfield's great local spots. I love supporting our neighbors in that way."
