Columbus, Ohio, up and coming city for the foodies, artists, explorers, scientists, and you.
Cities are a beautiful place, filled with dreamers and visionaries. You see this by the store fronts, small coffee shops, runners, business men, medical students, or your everyday visitors. I think that is what I love most about cities-diversity. Most people living in highly populated cities are pursuing a life that they couldn't have any other way-they are exploring, looking for something more. I've been to many popular cities; from The Big Apple to The Windy City, none of which disappoint. Although Chicago has to be my favorite, I thought I would try something a little bit different this vacation...
Colombus, Ohio is projected to grow into an iconic city in the near future. Colombus holds the city feel, but has a quieter, calmer outlook. If you're looking for your next vacation spot, take a minute and read here.
Listed below are the top 5 must-dos when visiting Columbus, Ohio:
1. North Market Farmer’s Market: If you want to experience a small scale city feel, the farmer’s market is the place to do so. Encompassing food from all different corners of the world, this market does not disappoint. In my personal experience, I ordered Ramen (one of my favorite meals). Then, we got Jeni’s ice cream. My mother talked about Jeni’s a lot; they are a favorite of hers because they accommodate to allergies. In her case, they carry a splendid dairy free ice cream. The market is stocked full of other places to eat too, these are just the places we visited. Once you grab a bite, you can walk up the stairs to the top floor and sit to eat. The second floor wraps around, leaving an opening to view the buzz of the market below. There was also seating outside, around the building for days with just the right temperature (or after you order your ice cream).
2. Scioto Mile: A peaceful walk with a beautiful city view. This mile has markers to tell you where you are at, as well as where you are going. There are a few stops along the strip, water (which is nice if you are walking in the 90+ heat like we were), and places to eat, but my favorite aspect is the bonding. Walking and talking is one of the best ways to make memories. We walked the mile and then some. We went through the bridge and even walked to see the famous deer statues of Columbus. Not sure what I'm talking about? Click here.
3. COSI: This Center of Science and Industry is known to be the best science museum in the USA. A place for all ages, from 2-100. The special exhibit this year at COSI was a Marvel Studios section. Since I’m a huge fan, this had to be one of my absolute favorite times of the trip. The museum didn’t stop with superheros though, it was full of different, innovative exhibits. The health section had activities that proved both my parents were indeed faster (and stronger) than me, but also progressed my interest in medicine and encouraged everyone to be a learner. Traveling through time, from the 1860s to the 1960s was an action packed adventure. I pretended to use a pay phone (apparently people used those not that long ago), and pump gas (a new one for me).
4. Easton Town Center: As a mall connoisseur, I 100% recommend the Easton Town Center for all of your shopping needs. From high end to everyday stores, this mall is not lacking in places to visit. My personal favorite, The American Girl Doll Store, is a stand alone must have; I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Along with, there were plenty of restaurants, including The Slurping Turtle (where we enjoyed delicious asian food), and another Jeni’s. We made it through most of the outdoor stores, but didn't circle back around for the main building. We had already came and conquered what we needed to (The Doll Store).
5. German Village: Stepping back from the busy city feel, German Village shifts you to a different vibe. Here we ate amazing food, walked the cobblestone streets, baked in a sunny park, and walked through 32 rooms of a book store. The main corner had a trifecta of stops. First, the Schmidt’s restaurant (featuring a 10/10 cream puff), The Red Stable gift shop, and lastly the Schmidts Fudge Haus. If you do nothing else on this list, I highly recommend stopping by here. Walk around a little bit, say hi to a few people, buy a book, eat good food.
Overall, the whole vacation was a blast; after adventuring through the city of Columbus, we would go back to the Hilton, rest, eat, read, write, and watch some television. As much as I recommend Colombus for your next vacation spot, what I recommend even more is just to go on vacation.
Spend time with the people you love, explore new places, take pictures, and maybe even visit the next big city.
A German village is the best village.