Weekend in Columbus?

[Captain Catnip]

I never thought I'd be asking for suggestions of things to do in Columbus. I've only ever driven through, but H wants to go to an MLS game and Columbus Crew SC is the closest we have, so I am hoping to make a weekend away out of it. 

Any suggestions? We'd be arriving a friday early evening and hopefully stay until Sunday. 

[dharma81]

The Washington Post just posted an article yesterday with lots of things to do in Columbus.

www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/lifestyle/vacation-ideas/things-to-do-in-columbus/

I live here, but have for only about 8 months so I'm still learning. I do know some good restaurants if you are interested in those, though! My fav thing to do when it's nice out is wander High Street in Short North- restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries

[birddog]

Literally all my suggestions are just the restaurants I miss:

-Tip Top
-Schmidt's
-Dirty Frank's
-New India (lunch buffet!)

None of these are particularly fancy but completed my life as a poor grad student.

What time of year are you going?

[dharma81]

If I could suggest one restaurant, it would be Condado Tacos. My fav spot. There's one downtown and in Short North. Just casual and cheap and good.

[katfco]

Despite having lived here 11 years, we don't go out much so I have no restaurant recommendations. However, German Village is a great place to wander around, especially the Book Loft. If you like books at all, go to the Book Loft.

The North Market is pretty cool.

I personally love the zoo, even when it's cool outside. DH and I aren't overly impressed with COSI, but the museum of art, though smallish, is worth a visit. They have some great exhibits right now.

[mom2twoboys]

Eat a Chuys. It is in Easton which is in Columbus just not close to Ohio State. We go there every other month to bring a little bit of Texas to us. It was started in Austin Texas.

[katietornado]

I have ALL the suggestions.

Really thin pizza with all local ingredients, plus a menu of burgers and whatnot that changes daily:
Harvest Bar & Kitchen
2885 N High St
(The Spicy Yuma pizza is a fave: gouda, corn, jalapenos, chorizo, cilantro, chipotle spiked tomato sauce)

Counter service Mediterranean, all made from scratch with amazing hummus:
Lavash
2985 N High St

Gastropub with the best drink / beer menu in Columbus:
The Crest Gastropub
2855 Indianola Ave

American style food (this place is a beloved very local chain w/ 4 locations):
Northstar Café
4241 N High St
(Parking is around back. Bonus: next door is Jeni’s ice cream, which you will not regret trying.)

Hot dog restaurant (if you’re up for something fun and kitschy)
Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace
248 S 4th St

Thurman Café (allegedly best burgers in Columbus, but I wouldn’t know myself. The Thurmanator is like a pound of burger.)
183 Thurman Ave

If the weather is nice, there is a paved trail along the Olentangy River. It cuts right through downtown and goes all the way up into Worthington.

German Village is a nice neighborhood to walk through to admire the beautiful old houses, and there are little coffee shops and stuff on the corners to stop in.

Even if you're not a Buckeye fan, a tour of the stadium is an incredible experience.  It's the second largest stadium in the US, and there's nothing like the view from the suites.

The Franklin Park Conservatory is beautiful.

North Market is amazing.  Lots of neat vendors, tons of awesome food, and located in a walkable neighborhood.  You have GOT to try an Omega Cake from Omega Bakery.  And buy some of their famous Omega dipping oil to take home.  It is incredible.

Have fun!  I had never been to Columbus before we moved there in 2009.  I am a librul coastal elite and didn't think Ohio would hold much for me.  I adore Columbus, and miss it dearly.  It's a really great city, driveable, safe, doable, fun.  Enjoy your weekend away!

[katietornado]

FWIW, there isn't much at Easton that they don't have elsewhere. It's just a giant mall. I don't get the appeal. Not to shit on PP, it's just not something I would do if I only had a weekend in Cbus. It's way out of the way, and it's like, Apple Store, American Eagle, and a movie theater. Plus, getting there from downtown (if that's where you're staying) can suck.

[6fsn]

We're season ticket holders for the crew so...be warned that there is nothing really near the stadium except Frisch' but there are plenty of food trucks inside, most noteably hot chicken takeover. Parking is annoying but the games are fun. If you don't have a date in mind the one around July 4th will have a nice firework show right after.

Short north and. German village (book loft and Schmidts) are great. If you like zoos columbus has the best.

[birddog]

Ooooh yes I also say zoo. Especially in cooler weather.

[moolarkey]

If you are coming for the 4th - a nice firework show? Get here for Red, White, and Boom. One of the biggest fireworks shows int he country. Get a hotel room downtown (if you still can). You can shoot right up 71 to the crew stadium for the game, quick and easy. Along with North Market, walk North up High Street and hit the stores, restaurants, bars. Lots of great stuff. See what's at the Ohio and the Palace Theaters.
Read these www.theodysseyonline.com/reasons-to-visit-columbus-ohio www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/united-states/ohio/why-columbus-should-be-on-your-travel-radar-hipster-city-ohio-next-brooklyn/

We are a food city, seriously. So many great places I can't even keep up on all of them. Bringing kids? Hit COSI (Center of Science and Industry - a great place). We have the best zoo in the world, not kidding. It's north of the city but worth it.

You can walk to things or cab or uber it.  We do have bus service, COTA.  If you're heading anywhere within a few blocks of High street, take COTA to the closet stop.  High Street is the main N/S street through Columbus.  There are bicycles for rent downtown, you'll see the racks and the bikes.

There is actually a lot to do here. It's a great place to visit and to live.

[Captain Catnip]

No date yet, was looking at early spring but MH is obsessed with giraffes so we need to feed them at the zoo.

[polarbearfans]

The zoo is amazing and you could easily spend all day there. I guess it just depends on what you are into but we have some amazing restaurants and bars. Tons of little museums all over. Really just depends on what you are into but there is always something going on in Spring and Summer. Many free and low cost activities too.

[katfco]

Feb 10, 2017 20:00:34 GMT -5 Captain Catnip said:

No date yet, was looking at early spring but MH is obsessed with giraffes so we need to feed them at the zoo.

The giraffe feeding line can be ridiculously long, so be prepared to get in line early and wait. 

The zoo currently has several new babies, including polar bears. 

[bex1973]

Is Graeters ice cream CBus or Cleveland? I can never remember but the ice cream is so good!

[katfco]

Feb 10, 2017 20:27:06 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

Is Graeters ice cream CBus or Cleveland? I can never remember but the ice cream is so good!

We definitely have Graeters here! 

[dharma81]

Feb 10, 2017 20:27:06 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

Is Graeters ice cream CBus or Cleveland? I can never remember but the ice cream is so good!

We have it in Columbus but it started in Cincinnati

[Monica Geller]

I didn't realize there were so many of us in central Ohio! PPs pretty much covered what I would suggest! We have a ton of great City/Metro parks if the weather's good when you're here and you're looking for something free to do when you have a couple things planned and some down time in between!

[aurademystere]

Feb 10, 2017 20:42:41 GMT -5 dharma81 said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:27:06 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

Is Graeters ice cream CBus or Cleveland? I can never remember but the ice cream is so good!

We have it in Columbus but it started in Cincinnati

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

[6fsn]

Make sure you check when Africa opens, but feeding the giraffes is fun. Go to the one first thing the morning and hit the cheetah run. If you can go midweek even better. There's a Jeni's near the zoo.

[Captain Catnip]

Feb 10, 2017 20:46:55 GMT -5 aurademystere said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:42:41 GMT -5 dharma81 said:

We have it in Columbus but it started in Cincinnati

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

Is that the one with the gourmet flavors? I think I was looking at a mail order from them around Xmas.

[katfco]

Feb 10, 2017 20:46:55 GMT -5 aurademystere said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:42:41 GMT -5 dharma81 said:

We have it in Columbus but it started in Cincinnati

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

Are they still open? I know they've had a couple of Listeria problems in recent months. 

[aurademystere]

Feb 10, 2017 20:54:39 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:46:55 GMT -5 aurademystere said:

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

Are they still open? I know they've had a couple of Listeria problems in recent months. 

It looks like it from her website.

[aurademystere]

Feb 10, 2017 20:49:52 GMT -5 Captain Catnip said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:46:55 GMT -5 aurademystere said:

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

Is that the one with the gourmet flavors? I think I was looking at a mail order from them around Xmas.

Yes!

[wambam]

Feb 10, 2017 20:46:55 GMT -5 aurademystere said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:42:41 GMT -5 dharma81 said:

We have it in Columbus but it started in Cincinnati

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

Or handel's

We have good ice cream in Ohio!

[katfco]

Feb 10, 2017 21:01:26 GMT -5 wambam said:

Feb 10, 2017 20:46:55 GMT -5 aurademystere said:

Go to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream instead. 

Or handel's

We have good ice cream in Ohio!

Ooh, I'd forgotten about Handel's! It's even better than Graeter's, in my opinion. 

[katfco]

Darn it, now I want ice cream.

[wambam]

Feb 10, 2017 21:07:49 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 10, 2017 21:01:26 GMT -5 wambam said:

Or handel's

We have good ice cream in Ohio!

Ooh, I'd forgotten about Handel's! It's even better than Graeter's, in my opinion. 

Confession: when my H's cousin died, who lived in Columbus, I ate handel's twice. Once after the calling hours and again after the funeral. #noregrets

[stephm0188]

I think Graeter's is kind of overrated.

Handel's though? YUM. I lived in an apartment within walking distance to Handel's in my single days, and I ate A LOT of really tasty stuff there. Jeni's is also really delicious.

Schmidt's and Book Loft are two of the things I miss most about Columbus. Cap City Diner is another favorite.

The zoo is fantastic.

Hocking Hills is an hour outside Columbus, but it's a worthwhile daytrip. It's gorgeous.

[Captain Catnip]

I'm in Pittsburgh; we have Handel's!