Columbus really does have it all. We’ve talked about the food scene in the previous post. But even though that is a big part of what makes this city special, there is so much more. If you are thirsty, bars and breweries abound. Sports – this city has you covered. After all, it is home to one of the top college football teams in the country, the Ohio State Buckeye’s. But the list of great teams to watch in this city goes way beyond football, as you will soon learn. Want to try the candy that this area is famous for? Columbus has that too – in fact it is hard to go very far in this city without seeing that chocolate – peanut butter confection we have all grown to love, in just about any store in the area. And if you think all of that is where the fun ends in this city, think again. So without further ado, let’s dive in to all that Columbus has to offer.
Let’s start off with the breweries. Brewdog Brewery was a personal favorite. Columbus is the site of their flagship location within the United States. This brewery makes some great beer, offers a food menu and is dog friendly. One of their claims to fame on their beer menu is Elvis Juice, a citrusy IPA that is a crowd pleaser among IPA fans. Another notable brewery is Seventh Sons. Known, not only for some great beer, but a daily rotating food truck, dog friendly patio with fire pits out front, and a massive upstairs indoor space adorned with greenery, to bring the feeling of the outdoors inside – any time of year. Olentangy River Brewery is situated just north of Columbus and offers some great beer as well. One that particularly appealed to me is one of their seasonal beers called Snow Pants, a Russian imperial stout that has a noticeable flavor of coconut. For all you Mounds chocolate bar fans, this one is for you! Although there are numerous other great breweries in Columbus, these are the 3 that stood out to me. But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a beer drinking establishment, that although it does not classify as a brewery, offers a great atmosphere to pull up a seat at the bar with some locals and unwind at the end of a tough week, enjoying one of the many rotating beers on tap. This same bar couples as a beer shop, where you can choose from a wide array of beers in one of their many coolers, to bring some home with you. This place is known as Savor Pint. What a fun place to discover while staying in the area – be sure to check it out!
In addition to the most notable sporting event in Columbus, known as the Ohio State Buckeye’s Football game, you can find a variety of other games to watch in this city, as well. Whether you have an interest in football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, or hockey, Columbus has you covered. During the spring and summer months, head over to Huntington Park and take in a minor league baseball game, cheering on the Columbus Clippers. The ball park is well maintained and offers an enjoyable atmosphere to spend a few hours watching the stars of tomorrow play ball. Just down the street from Huntington Park is Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. This arena hosts concerts and other events that come to the city, such as the U.S. professional figure skating championship competition held a few years ago, just as an example. If professional soccer is more your thing, head over to Lower.com Stadium, where you can watch the Columbus Crew take on one of their rivals. There are additional teams in Columbus, but these are probably the most popular ones to come out and watch.
While in the Buckeye state, if you are a fan of peanut butter and chocolate, you must make your way to one of the many chocolatiers and candy stores that offer this confection, which as mentioned earlier, is known as a “buckeye”, aptly named after the nut that grows on the buckeye trees, which are prevalant in this part of the country. This candy confection is made to look exactly like this nut, which resembles the eye of a buck. But if you come across one of these acorn sized nuts, don’t try to eat it, as they are poisonous…instead, stick with the candy. I had the pleasure of sampling these chocolates from multiple shops within the city and the two places that really stand out as selling the creamiest, best tasting buckeyes are the Anthony Thomas Chocolates store and The Buckeye Lady. The Buckeye Lady offers multiple variations of this treat and is definitely a place you don’t want to miss when in Columbus.
As for “beyond” in my title above, well this refers to a whole collection of other random ideas to round out your trip to this great city, which I have listed below:
SegAway River and Bridges Tour. This is a tour for those looking to get a good overview of the history of Columbus and what it is known for, along with some outstanding landscape and river views. It is a fun way to get around the city with your tour guide and will give you a different vantage point of Columbus and all that it has to offer.
Columbus Park of Roses. On a nice spring or summer day, this is a great place to walk around and appreciate the flowers. This 13 acre garden is noted to be one of the largest public rose gardens in the U.S. with thousands of rose varieties to discover.
Studio 35 Cinema and Drafthouse. This quaint theater allows you to order a pizza at the ticket counter, which you can enjoy right at your seat while watching a movie. They also have a bar on site to order a drink to wash down that pizza. This is a relaxing way to watch a movie, and not your typical popcorn and soda vibe!
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Located about a half hour outside the northwest portion of the city in a town called Powell, is the Columbus Zoo, ranked among the “top 10” zoos in the United States. This is a nice way to spend the day, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Lynd Fruit Farm. This indoor farm store has so much to offer, but one of my personal favorites that can be found here are the Amish fry pies. Fry pies are baked fresh by the local Amish and made to be held in your hand, much like an empanada. Once you have a taste of these, you will see why they are worth driving over a half hour outside the city to purchase. This place is also well known among the locals for apple picking and fall events.
The Book Loft of German Village. This store is a one of a kind, comprised of 32 small rooms that are full of books to explore. Literally a maze with all the small rooms and tight quarters, that if too many people are in the building at the same time you may find a long line outside the store. Due to fire codes, on a busy day, you may encounter someone standing at the entrance only allowing in a small number of people at a time. But don’t let the line scare you away, it is worth checking out for the experience alone!
Ohio Statehouse Tour. The Ohio Statehouse is located right in downtown Columbus. Free tours are offered giving you a sneak peek inside, along with a history lesson. The history, architecture and intricate design details make this an interesting tour. And if you come around Christmas-time, you will be in for an added treat, when the decorations only add to the atmosphere and the lights of the exterior of the Statehouse are a sight to behold.
My Cousin’s Cottage. Hands down one of the best places I discovered in the Columbus area (Westerville, to be exact) for purchasing those unique pieces of stemware, kitchen or household items. This is a consignment shop that appears to be selective about what they take in for re-sale, as everything appears to be gently used. But the price tag of the items they sell, make this place worth visiting.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. On a rainy day, heading to this conservatory is a fun way to spend the day, if you enjoy plants, flowers and foliage. Need I say more?
COSI. Center of Science and Industry, for short. This place is an excellent way to spend an afternoon exploring the exhibits and has earned national recognition for being the #1 science museum in the country. Come see why. An added bonus are the deer statues that you can find outside of COSI, both on the grounds and on the nearby bridge, in poses as if they are taking in the sights like a tourist….makes for a great photo opportunity.
Ohio Caverns. If you want to really escape the city for the day, there is no better way to do that than to drive an hour or so northwest of Columbus and go underground at the Ohio Caverns to see the formations that have been there for over 200,000 years. This guided tour that they offer multiple times throughout the day, is both informative and a sight to be seen.
As you can see, Columbus really does have something for everyone. If you get a chance to visit this great city, I hope you take the opportunity to enjoy some of the recommendations on this list. I promise, you won’t regret it.