Catherine & Alex
Things To Do
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Columbus Zoo is home to more than 7,000 animal representing over 800 species. The animal exhibits are divided into regions of the world, with the zoo currently operating eight such regions. In addition the zoo owns an 18-hole golf course, known as the Safari Golf Club, a water park called Zoombezi Bay and a small assessment park called Jungle Jack's Landing. Catherine recommends attractions such as the 1914 restored Mangels-Illions Carousel, the Reptile House, Polar Frontier, Manatee Coast, Koala and Tasmanian devil, and feeding the giraffes!
The Ohio State University
Whether you’re a fan or not, you’ll want to make a quick stop at Ohio Stadium, known as “The Shoe,” which is home to the famed Ohio State Buckeyes football team. The 18,000-seat Schottenstein Center is host to Ohio State’s hockey and basketball teams, as well as concerts from national touring musicians. Golf fans will find a lot to love at the Jack Nicklaus Museum, dedicated to the hometown hero.The Wexner Center for the Arts showcases rotating modern art exhibitions, and also hosts a huge variety of events, ranging from music, theater and dance performances to film screenings and artist talks. Across the plaza, the free Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum has the largest collection of cartoons and comics in the world, and features rotating exhibitions of historic, classic and modern comics.
Short North Arts District
Filled with numerous galleries, theaters, shops, hotels and Hilton Downtown restaurants full of local art, this is a great place to find the next masterpiece to hang in your living room, or to window shop through some outstanding galleries. In addition to its iconic arches, the Short North Arts District's public art includes some of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The famous Short North Gothic mural, which is painted on the outer wall of the beloved Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, turns art on its head to embody the spirit of the neighborhood.
Italian Village
Directly east of High Street is Italian Village. New energy is transforming this spot into a nightlife hub. Little Rock hosts live music, Seventh Son Brewing uses its creative energy to craft category-busting beers, and Hoof Hearted Brewing combines heavy-hitting brews with a thoroughly mod taproom. In the daylight hours, check out The Market Italian Village for upscale picnic supplies and delicious pizzas, or the sunlight-drenched Fox in the Snow Cafe for an outstanding latte. To the west of the Short North Arts District, you’ll find the mostly residential Victorian Village. As the name suggests, there’s outstanding Victorian architecture, but also some standout destinations, like the huge Goodale Park.
German Village
Built by German settlers in the mid-1800s, the restored brick houses, shops, streets and sidewalks are full of historic charm and modern swank. You'll have to try a cream puff and a stein of beer at the popular Schmidt’s Sausage Haus. The 32-room Book Loft has been a favorite location to wander. At the neighborhood’s southern end, Schiller Park offers trails, fountains and an amphitheater that’s host to Shakespeare in the Park performances on warm weekends. The Scioto Audubon Center is a 120-acre respite for birds and people alike, with a stellar view of Columbus’ skyline. To the west of German Village, oriented along High and Front Streets, is the Brewery District. This was originally an industrial hub of the city’s historic beer scene, and is now full of lively entertainment and dining options. Shadowbox Live!, the country’s largest resident theater company, presents original productions complete with live music nearly every day of the week.
The Arena District, the North Market, and Park Street
Directly north and west of downtown Columbus lies the Arena District. Starting with the opening of Nationwide Arena in 2000, home to the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the Arena District has sprung up into a vibrant neighborhood filled with restaurants, bars, condos and offices. Nationwide Arena and Express Live host concerts from some of the nation’s biggest acts (often the only stops these premier acts book in Ohio) while the Columbus Clippers, the AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, have hit a home run with their family-friendly Huntington Park. At the northern end of the district, the North Market is home to 35 local vendors that display the best of the local food scene. Shop for spices, produce, meat and kitchenwares, and choose from Vietnamese, Indian, Belgian, Polish, Mexican, vegetarian, fried chicken and more for an outstanding breakfast, lunch or dinner.