?What to do in Columbus?
Columbus has a lot to do. However, it seems some resources have been negleted from this site. So I rehashed one of my older posts on what to do in Columbus.
for websites with coming events...
Columbus Alive Weekly Calendar of Events (arts related)
ColumbusUnderground.com (club related, festivals all on the sites blogs with local's posts)
Wexner Center for the Arts (listings for the wexner center for the arts)
CAPA - Columbus, Ohio | New Haven, Connecticut (brings performers and performances to Columbus' historic theaters)
Columbus, Ohio Travel Guide - Hotels, Attractions, Dining Experience Columbus, tourism website
IN downtown
DOWNTOWN
Downtown area has the best potential for visitors, great historical sites, art places, stores, high end restaurants, unique neighborhoods.
Many places people want to live in Columbus or the metro are more boring for your average visitor.
The Ohio Statehouse is a great historical site,
it was open around 1850, and is one of the only statehouses in the US to be modeled after Greek Revival style versus the popular Roman.
The interior is great, and there are tours 10am-3pm weekdays every hour on the hour.
And noon-3pm on the hour Saturday and Sunday
The statehouse is in the center of downtown at broad st. and high st.
Contact Barry Hayden at 614-728-2695 for more information or to schedule a group tour.
The Ohio Theater, Palace Theater, and Southern Theater are all located around the statehouse. Also, the nearby Riffe Center has two theaters.
On State St. (across from the state house) is the
CAPA office where you can get information on tours of the theaters, and upcoming performances.
Opera Columbus, Balletmet, the Columbus Symphony, Broadway Tours, Contempoary American Theater Company, and more use these theaters for most performances.
The Columbus Museum of Art is on the east side of downtown on East Broad St. It is just a few blocks east of the state house. They have an Egyptian art exhibit right now that I have heard is very good. Check it out!
In walking distance from the Museum is
the Thurber House, a museum and literary center, dedicated to writer James Thurber (who worked for the New Yorker)
COSI, a science center, is on West Broad St. literally only a few blocks from the state house.
All of these options are the closest to the center of downtown, and are best for visiting during the day, being of cultural/museum interest
On the Northern Section of downtown is the
North Market which is a great market opened until 5 Monday, and 7 Tuesday-Sunday. The market offers a diverse selection of internation foods and is all served by local small business vendors.
Just a little outside of downtown is the
Ohio State University Campus
The campus is great for walking through or visiting the University District High St. Commercial strip for eating or shopping.
Also, on the Ohio State University Campus..
The Wexner Center for the Arts has great nationally recognized programs; they are closed monday, but are open until about 6pm every other day.
Wexner Center for the Arts is their website
For a nice outdoor park and conservatory:
The Franklin Park Conservatory is located on East Broad St. The Conservatory is just outside of downtown, a 5 minute bus or cab ride could take you there.
For Nightlife:
The northern section of downtown is the liveliest; it is called
the Arena District. The Arena District has many restaurants, a movie theater, the PromoWest center for live bands, and clubs, bars, and lounges.
The Short North is the section of high St. just north of downtown and has unique bars, art galleries, local fashion boutiques, and Columbus' main central gay scence. Short North Arts District Official Website
http://www.shortnorth.org
On the Ohio State University section of high st. there is also many clubs and bars, and The NEWPORT MUSIC HALL one of the longest running rock clubs in the USA.
For unique neighborhoods:
Victorian Village has a nice collection of Victorian homes lining beautiful Goodale park, Victorian Village is located just adjacent to the short north.
The German Village is located south of downtown and has beautiful renovated homes that were once home to the cities German working class. Local restaurants fill the brick streets.
So far all of the above listing is located near downtown so staying in the Arena District/Short North (northern downtown) would put you in closest proximity to nightlife and daytime attractions.
Outside of the central city, in Columbus, you should visit (these attractions would take a 10-20 minute cab ride from downtown, or the use of a rental car, or a bus trip)
Easton Town Center, it is a large outdoor/indoor entertainment complex. A visit here could take all day if you want to shop or visit the comedy club or the theater troupe, Shadowbox Cabaret.
Also The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is located in the NW section of the city, it is recognized as one of the best zoos in the USA and is growing and expanding by leaps and bounds now (trying to become the biggest in the world)
For Sports:
OSU games happen at one of the many state of the art events.
CREW soccer games at CREW stadium off of 17ave or 1-71
Destroyer Football (summer) at Nationwide Arena in the Arena District
Also at Nationwide Arena is the NHL hockey team the Blue Jackets
and the Cleveland Indians affliate (the Clippers) has a stadium under construction in the Arena District, until then, they place on the west side
It should be noted that all of my recommendations are in the Central City area. You could say in the central city and have tons to do within a walk, cab ride, or short drive. And no I do not work for the city I simply like to do a lot in my spare time off work. I guess you could call me cultured? Hmm we do exist.
for websites with coming events...
Columbus Alive Weekly Calendar of Events (arts related)
ColumbusUnderground.com (club related, festivals all on the sites blogs with local's posts)
Wexner Center for the Arts (listings for the wexner center for the arts)
CAPA - Columbus, Ohio | New Haven, Connecticut (brings performers and performances to Columbus' historic theaters)
Columbus, Ohio Travel Guide - Hotels, Attractions, Dining Experience Columbus, tourism website