What makes Columbus great
I lived in Columbus for 5 years from 2006-2011 and during that time I came to realize that Columbus is an AMAZING city with so many unique places to experience! It was especially apparent how much I loved Columbus when I moved down to Texas after I graduated from undergrad. Here are just a handful of the reasons why I love Columbus:
Donato's
I LOVE pizza and Donato's is definitely my favorite pizza place. It was founded in Columbus in 1963 and now I think you can get it throughout Ohio. They specialize in crispy thin crust pizzas with topings going from edge to edge. I was happy to find out that the campus location started offering a lunch buffet during the week, it's definitely a great deal if you want to try a variety of pizzas.
North Market
North Market is Columbus' only remaining true public market. Conveniently located near downtown Columbus, more than 30 merchants vend a wide variety of fresh, local, authentic food. Offerings include organic produce, grass-fed beef, pork, lamb and goat, pastured poultry, sustainably raised seafood, locally roasted coffee, baked goods, cheeses, flowers and other artisan food items. The Market also provides an international selection of freshly prepared foods, authentic ethnic specialties, distinctive gifts and personable service from its merchant owner operators. On Saturdays during the growing season Columbus’ oldest operating farmers market takes places on the outdoor market plaza. Sundays from May through October local artisans and crafters converge on that same plaza to sell their handmade wares at Artisan Sundays. It's great to just browse around North Market on a Saturday and enjoy some delicious local foods.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni Britton Bauer started Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in 2002 with the first location at North Market. There are now 9 locations in Ohio and you can buy pints in grocery stores across the country. Jeni's uses only the best ingredients to make some of the most unique flavors I have ever seen. Some of their signature flavors include: pistachio and honey, salty caramel, the buckeye state, and whiskey & pecans. Everyone needs to experience Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams!
Homage
Homage is mainly a t-shirt shop that has softest shirts and best designs around if you like sports, music, politics, or popular culture! I discovered Homage during the summer of 2011 right as I was getting ready to move to Texas. I saw a number of people walking around Columbus with script Ohio shirts and I just had to get one for myself; this is when my love affair with Homage began. I desperately missed Columbus and Ohio State when I moved down to Texas, so with each new shirt I bought I felt more connected with Ohio. I consider myself somewhat of a super-fan and I probably have 30+ items from Homage :-) Homage started as an online retailer, but now they have 2 stores in Columbus and they are gaining popularity with celebrities, athletes, and other people across the country. If you are looking for the perfect Ohio State shirt, I definitely recommend checking out Homage!
Columbus Zoo
The Columbus Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country and it's awesome to be able to visit it whenever I want. The famous animal expert Jungle Jack Hanna is the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo. They have some great events for the holidays such as Boo at the Zoo and Wildlights.
COSI
COSI is the Center of Science and Industry. COSI is an awesome place to visit if you are interested in science or innovation. They have tons of hands on activities and they make learning about science fun! The mission of COSI is to provide an exciting and informative atmosphere for those of all ages to discover more about our environment, our accomplishments, our heritage, and ourselves. They motivate a desire towards a better understanding of science, industry, health, and history through involvement in exhibits, demonstrations, and a variety of educational activities and experiences. COSI is for the enrichment of the individual and for a more rewarding life on our planet, Earth. The Ohio State University is one of the many partners that COSI has, these partnerships allow the general public to participate in cutting edge research and technology and learn about the latest in scientific advancements!
Olentangy Trail
The Olentangy Trail is my favorite place to go for a long bike ride on a Sunday afternoon. The trail offers a seamless 13.75 miles through various Columbus neighborhoods along the Olentangy River. People bike, roller blade, run, and walk along this scenic trail. I love to hit the trail when the weather is nice.
Columbus is a fabulous city and I'm excited to get to live here for another two years!