Alum Creek State Park
Best known for its water activities and boating, this large state park in Central Ohio has a lot to offer. Alum Creek State Park includes a 3,387-acre reservoir and Ohios largest inland beach. There are 4 boat launch ramps, docks, fuel, supplies, concessions and boat rentals all within the park. Kayak, water ski, paddleboat, swim or sunbathe, its up to you!
The park also has tent and camper sites and several unique rental cabins. Pets are welcome on some sites and although they rent quickly, there are 30 sites available for equestrian camps. When you camp youll find heated showers, flush toilets, special camp use beach, and boat ramp access, and plenty of activities and playgrounds.
And if you like to hike, bike, or ride you can find a map of all of their hiking, mountain bike, multipurpose and brindle trails on the printable map on their website. It also shows you how to find the dog park, amphitheater, miniature golf, and other activities.
Alum Creek State Park3305 S. Old State Road, Delaware, OH 43015548-4631
Learn A Thing Or Two At Cosi
A great family-friendly day out, COSI is a hands-on science museum cross research center thats been entertaining and educating the masses since 1964.
Spread over 300,000 square feet in downtown Columbus just south of The Scioto Mile this unique venue features hundreds of interactive exhibits you can touch and play with. From racing cars to laser shows, theres something for everyone here!
Still need convincing? COSI has TWICE claimed the coveted award of Americas #1 Science Museum as rated by USA Todays 10Best column.
Unique Eats And Treats In Columbus Ohio:
- 1885 W. 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43212
Cambridge Tea House is the sweetest little spot on the edge of Grandview and Marble Cliff. This is a sit-down restaurant that offers full tea service including options for kids! You can take advantage of a full tea service or order from the menu for breakfast and lunch options, scones, and other baked goods!
- 4201 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43228
Dulce Vida Ice Cream Factory delights all of the senses with its brightly colored decor AND brightly colored ice cream and treats! This Mexican ice cream shop offers handmade ice cream , paletas , and other eats and treats. Though there are two more locations, the West Broad location is my favorite hidden gem in Columbus!
- 400 S Hamilton Rd., Columbus, OH 43213
If you dont have the time or budget for a trip to Greece, you can hop over to Whitehall for the next best thing! The murals painted in the restaurant might make you feel like youve actually gone to Greece, but the food will keep you coming back!
The trio of dips is a cant miss menu item and for a Greek surprise, try the meatballs! This restaurant off the beaten path is worth a trip!
- 1168 Kenny Centre Mall, Columbus, OH 43220
Belles Bread on Henderson Rd. is a hidden gem featuring one of my favorite treats in the city: green tea ice cream! While you are there you can browse the beautiful selection of desserts and baked goods, but dont leave without trying the green tea ice cream I recommend it as a twist with vanilla!
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Short North Arts District Columbus Ohio
Visitors to the Short North Arts District will get a look at Ohios most vibrant neighborhood filled with amazing art, fashion, unique gifts, home décor, dining, and nightlife. It is known as the art and soul of Columbus and is home to over 300 businesses, many of which are locally owned or headquartered. A pioneer in the urban revitalization of Central Ohio, the Short North Arts District was a deserted area filled with mostly derelict buildings and boarded up windows until 1984.
Gallery owners then began exhibiting art once a month an event referred to as the Gallery Hop which led to what is visible today. Visitors will enjoy the many unique galleries, shops, and restaurants that can now be found in the national accolade-winning neighborhood. A visit to Short North also allows visitors to experience the 17 lighted steel arches, an identifying feature of the district.
21 E. 5th Avenue, Suite 103, Columbus, OH 43201, 614-299-8050
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Trekaroo has hundreds of guides for locations all over the United States and Canada.
Disclosure: The author was hosted by Experience Columbus to give you fine folks the scoop on Columbus, Ohio. While she appreciated the hospitality, all opinions are her own.
Many thanks to Karyn Locke who wrote the first version of this article.
Title Image By: Bigstock/pdb1
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See A Show At The Citys Lavish Movie Palace
Sam Howzit
The Ohio Theater was constructed in 1928. The citys historic movie palace was then restored to its former glory in the 1980s. Its a beautiful treasure that reminds you of a time long ago.
Its also the best place to go in Columbus to experience the citys performing arts culture. The shows featured are first-rate. They include musicals, ballets, operas, plays, and symphonies.
During summer, the venue hosts a film series where they show movies from the golden era of Hollywood. Around the holidays, performances like A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker are featured.
This is a historic landmark of the city and makes for a fun night out with wholesome entertainment.
See Whos Performing At The Ohio Theater
Sitting over on State Street in Capitol Square, a stones throw from the old Ohio Statehouse, the National Historic Landmark that is the Ohio Theater is a 1920s-era performance palace, boasting some of the most extravagant and ornate architecture in all of Columbus.
Whats more impressive than this architectural wonderland? The fact that you can step inside to catch a film or take part in one of its regular hot-shot performances: choose from classical music orchestras to modern dance ensembles, annual festivities, and traveling pop stars simply check the website to see whos gracing the center stage during your trip!
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Interesting Tours In Columbus:
We can explore so much on our own, but sometimes you really need a guided tour to give you the inside scoop. This portion of the list includes factories, restaurants and other cultural attractions where you you can take a tour.
Daily tours are available of the Ohio Statehouse and take place every hour on the hour.
Franklin Park Conservatory And Botanical Gardens
aceshot1 / Shutterstock
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place near downtown Columbus.
People love coming here during all times of the year, as the curators make sure theres always something to see.
It was founded in 1895 and remains one of the greatest Columbus attractions today.
So much fun can be had exploring all over this amazing attraction.
Not only are there magnificent plants, but theres also terrific artwork.
Columbus is a massive city, but its not so big that its citizens have forgotten to give it a heart, as the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens shows.
Coming to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens can be a highlight of your time in Columbus.
Some of the best exhibitions include Blooms & Butterflies and Harvest Blooms.
You can enjoy a great sense of calm as well as hospitality.
Theres more than a century of history behind this place, and we can only hope there will be centuries more to come.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is opened every day, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Address: 1777 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43203, USA
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Explore The Incredible Ohio Caverns
Nature lovers, listen up: Ohio is home to over 400 crystal-filled caves and caverns, yet still, thanks to their sheer size and popularity, the tourist-focused Ohio Caverns in the Salem Township just may be the highlight of your trip.
Open year-round and privately run as a family business, the attraction offers educational tours that explore the dimly lit caverns, admire the dangling crystal formations, and typically last around an hour with photography more than welcome.
Recognized as Americas most colorful caverns, this wonder of nature takes the cake if youre looking to put on your explorer hat for the day!
Scioto Audubon Metro Park
Aceshot1 | Shutterstock
Address: 400 West Whittier Street, Columbus, OH 43215
- Open daily
- Year-round activities
- Pet-friendly
Located on nearly 28,000 acres of wilderness area, youll find diverse landscapes to explore in Scioto Audubon Metro Park, from forests and prairies to grasslands and wetlands.
This park is the perfect place to connect with nature and get some fresh air while hiking or bicycling along trails, canoeing down rivers, fishing, or rock climbing
In the winter, the park is the perfect place for snowy activities, such as sledding, cross country skiing, and ice skating.
There are even archery courses you can take advantage of in this wilderness paradise, along with horseback riding trails and beautiful golf courses.
Spend the morning enjoying your favorite outdoor activities before having a picnic and then heading to one of the nature centers, where you will learn about the natural habitats of Ohio.
For a fun outdoor excursion, youll definitely want to visit Scioto Audubon Metro Park.
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Enjoy Some Fresh Air At Goodale Park
Officially dubbed The Friends of Goodale Park, this delightful slice of greenery boasts the claim to fame of being Columbus oldest public park in fact, at over 150 years old with historic ties to the Civil War and a collection of Victorian-era nearby homes, its one of the oldest in the country!
With luscious greenery and a sparkling duck-filled pond highlighted by a majestic fountain, this centrally-located park makes a great place for a morning stroll, afternoon picnic, or some wonderful family pictures.
Explore The Citys Treasured Topiary Park
Zack Frank
Topiary Park is a large public park and garden-themed to depict George Seurats 1884 painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Its the only topiary copy of a painting in the world.
It combines nature with art and features 54 life-size figures of humans, animals, and boats. Apart from the topiary display, the park also contains over 200 beautiful trees and well-landscaped flower beds.
The park is located right in the city. Its a great place to visit for stunning scenery and unique pictures.
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Best Things To Do In Columbus
Columbus is the capital of Ohio with an approximate population of 900,000, as of 2015. Its first inhabitants were tribes known as the Mound Builders, who, over a period of 5,000 years, constructed earthen mounds of various styles for religious, ceremonial and burial purposes. The first permanent white settlers moved into the Midwest around the 1700s and elected to name the capital after the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.
Columbus is famous for rather a lot firstly for having one of the largest universities and football schools in North America, as well as being home to one of the countrys top zoos. It is also known for its best municipal park systems in the country, comprising of 16 parks spread over an area of 24,000.
Theres a lot more to find out about this interesting city so lets read on and learn about the best things to do in Columbus!
Get Lost In Otherworld
Described by founder Jordan Renda as an immersive art installation, Otherworld takes augmented reality — real-world art installations enhanced by VR — to another level. Its like a haunted house, but someone swapped out the creeps in masks for surreal, reality-defying visuals. You can walk into a cartoon, crawl inside an arcade game, or stumble into any number of rooms with jaw-dropping, 2001: A Space Odyssey-style lighting. Some rooms are eerie, some are cute, all are unexpected. Its a place to get your wonder back.
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Cosi Center Of Science And Industry
333 W. Broad St., map
You dont have to be a kid to have fun at the Center of Science and Industry . This massive museum is full of interactive exhibits that will keep you captivated for hours.
Theres fun with dinosaurs, space exploration, the human body, progress, and science gadgets. If you need a break from walking around, check out the shows in their planetarium.
West Coast Road Trips
We love taking road trips especially in the west!
Use our detailed guide on how to Drive the California Coast and what to do on the Oregon Coast.
Other great road trips out west are an epic Montana Road Trip and a drive through the stunning Columbia River Gorge near Portland.
Pin it! See all of our travel pins on our .
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The Worlds Largest Washboard
Stop for a selfie in front of the Worlds Largest Washboard! You can take a tour through the companys museum, and even enjoy the washboard festival that is held annually.
Address: 14 Gallagher Ave, Logan, OH 43138Cost: Free to see. Factory Tours adults $6/seniors $5/students & children $4/Active Military Free.
Discover The Citys German Roots
aceshot1
German Village is a neighborhood in Columbus named after the German immigrants who moved here in the 19th century. Its characterized by classic German architecture buildings, cobblestone walkways, and narrow streets.
It attracts visitors with its classic European charm. Visit one of the areas German-style coffee shops, groceries, restaurants, or pubs.
The Book Loft is an especially popular attraction here. Youll find 32 rooms filled with books at bargain prices. This is one of the more unique Columbus attractions. Its a fun place to wander around and see a different side of the city.
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Trails To Help You Explore Columbus:
Columbus is home to several trails : from food to fairies. Grab a passport and make your way through one of these local themed trails!
Visit 4 coffee shops on the trail to receive a free t-shirt or visit all of them for a collectors coffee mug! Pick up your passport at any participating coffee shop!
Pick up a Guidebook or print one online and visit each of the destinations listed. Turn in or mail in your completed Guidebook and receive a koozie or Celtic Cocktail Trail t-shirt!
Kelton House Museum And Garden
William Dougherty | Flickr
Entry Ticket: Adults: $7.00, Seniors: $5.00, Students: $3.00
Address: 586 East Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
- Open Thursday through Sunday, noon 4:00 pm
- Allow 2 hours
An important piece of Columbus history, the Kelton House and Garden is an immersive experience that will allow you to step back into the 19th century.
Preserved and maintained by the Junior League of Columbus, the house is a bubble in time, where you can peruse the furnishings and décor of the house as it was during the Victorian Era.
Along with the interior of the home, you will be able to tour the beautiful garden and enjoy the Greek Revival architecture of the property, getting a full sense of the homes magnificence.
The Kelton family history also includes the hiding of slaves, with the home being a stop for the Underground Railroad.
Learn the fascinating history of this abolitionist family, viewing memorabilia that conveys the personal commitment the family had during the Civil War.
Take a step back in time while you are in Columbus with a trip to this beautiful and historic home.
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Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park
Philip Rozenski / Shutterstock
The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park is another great place to visit in Ohio.
Here, you can delve further into the world of aviation and all of its importance to our society through some of the most famous figures in the industry.
This Ohio park was opened in 1992.
It was started by Jerry Sharkey as a means of honoring brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright.
When you come here, you can see one of their bicycle shops and Huffman Prairie, where they worked on their plane.
Also at this park is the home/memorial of great poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Visting the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park is one of the most cool things to do in Ohio.
You can consider just how important figures like the Wright brothers are to the entire world.
When you come to this park, you can feel your spirit truly soaring.
Address: 16 S Williams St, Dayton, OH 45402, USA
Best Airbnb In Columbus Condo In The Heart Of Downtown
At this downtown property, youll have an entire apartment to yourself. This modern condo features a smart TV, a kitchen with all your cooking essentials, a private patio, and much more.
There is also a communal rooftop deck that guests can enjoy and free parking on the premise. Youll be within close proximity to Columbus downtown attractions.
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