Christmas Cookie Tour!!! Twelve Days Of Christmas

Holiday decor in the Garver House B&B

 My day was spent exploring Amish Country this past Saturday. This is my second time writing about this particular setting. I was there specifically for the 7th Annual Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns presented by The Amish Country Lodging Council. It is a tour that benefits local charities and offers the opportunity for Amish Country Inns to get exposure and market their business. The participants visit each Inn to check out the rooms, holiday decorations and they receive a special cookie from each location. I heard about this tour two years ago. The last couple years, tickets sold out before I thought to purchase any. This year, once October ended; I ordered two tickets for the first day, of the two day event. Two weeks later I received two tickets in the mail along with two souvenir books. The books contained information about all the Inns that were participating, a map, the cookie recipes and images of quilt pieces representing 'Twelve Days Of Christmas', the theme of this year's tour.

I woke early Saturday morning to get to Amish Country for breakfast and allow myself time to reach the first stop as soon as the event began. We started at the Inn farthest away so we could work our way back for convenience. We had twelve Inns to visit from 12:30P.M. until 6:00P.M. This gave me and my travel companion thirty minutes per stop, which was more than we needed for any location. Some of the venues were further away and not easy to find which ate up some time. Thank goodness I was with someone who knew the area well. We made such good time, we were able to stop at a few places in between.

The Garver House Bed& Breakfast

The first two stops of the tour were in Strasburg. The Ramada Inn was stop one and my least favorite of the tour. You could tell they didn't budget much for their decorations. I didn't even turn on my camera. They had 'Nine Ladies Dancing' from the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' theme and used Christmas trees with dancing ladies ornaments to satisfy the theme. The next stop was Garver House Bed & Breakfast. The décor was country style with quilts and felt decorations. The Inn itself was beautiful, comprised of decorative wooden flooring and stunning stained glass windows. I could see myself spending a weekend there as soon as I walked through the door. Then they served us a tortilla soup and I never wanted to leave. It was so good. We finished the first two Inns in thirty minutes so we checked out a winery we had not been to. I will go into detail about that a little later.

Garver House 'A Partridge In A Pair Tree'

Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek 'Twelve Drummers Drumming'

Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek was our third stop. The hotel was beautiful and the holiday decorations were incredible. Their decorations were my favorite of all the stops. They displayed a large deer prop on a bed with pine-like garland and other smaller holiday pieces. The pillow cases said Merry Christmas and were lit using red lights in candle holders. Since they had day twelve 'Twelve Drummers Drumming', they displayed stacks of bright shinny drums throughout the hotel. They also had a reception area with a hot coco bar that contained four kinds of hot coco and toppings. The caramel coco was delicious. I left feeling spoiled. The cookie they presented was a gooey red velvet butter cookie. It was insanely good. On to a cozy Memory Lane Cabin in Walnut Creek, where I barely recall the holiday décor but was fascinated with the wall of taxidermy. In addition to the cookie we expected we were also given homemade chocolate turtles.

Carlisle in Sugarcreek lobby

Memory Lane taxidermy wall

The fifth stop was a new hotel also in Walnut Creek called Wallhouse Hotel. The hotel was furnished with modern pieces and the holiday decorations delivered the same modern feel. The white Christmas tree in the lobby was adorned with sparkly blue bulbs. The blue was a nice contrast to the lime green color found through out the rest of the hotel. Wallhouse had the best food presentation, offering stacked cheese, tomato and olives. The finger food offering was strange but visually stunning. They also had a bakery vendor there who was handing out mini cupcakes. Yum!
 

Wallhouse Hotel

Wallhouse Christmas tree and 'Three French Hens'

Our sixth stop was the Carlisle Inn location in Walnut Creek. They have two locations but the hotels are both pretty different. The decorations were pretty, not as nice the first location. They were assigned 'Five Golden Rings'. They incorporated their theme in the diamond ring cut out cookie they passed out. I didn't recall seeing decorations related to the theme anywhere else. It was a beautiful hotel regardless.

Carlisle Inn Walnut Creek 'Five Golden Rings'

The next two Inns were in Wilmot and Dundee. The Inn at Amish Door was assigned 'Eleven Pipers Piping'. They didn't do much with the theme but their holiday decorations were beautiful and creative. They gave out mint whoopie pies which were my favorite take away from the event. We got lost temporarily looking for Sojourner's Lodge in Dundee. Once we got there we didn't stay long. The decorations outside were nice but their wasn't much inside the lodge. They incorporated 'Six Geese A Laying' with their takeaway,  an egg cut out cookie and a goose prop surrounded by golden plastic eggs with Christmas facts and jokes inside.

Decorations from The Inn at Amish Door 'Eleven Pipers Piping'

Sojourner's Lodge Decoractions 'Six Geese a Laying'

Enlarged quilt piece by Loretta Coblentz ' Six Geese a Laying'

By the time we got down to the last four Inns we were just about exhausted, but we kept pushing on. Luckily the last four were fairly close to each other. In Berlin we stopped at Zinck's Inn, Berlin Resort and Berlin Grand Hotel. Then we finished in Millersburg at Guggisberg Swiss Inn. At Zinck's we were met with brownie Christmas tree pops, the only non-cookie on the whole tour. In the lobby they had a beautiful tree with paper 'Ten Lords A Leaping'and two of the cutest elderly people singing Christmas Carols and playing instruments. Berlin Resort had another one of my favorite trees in their lobby and they were creative with their theme assignment. They used cow printed throws with an Amish maiden outfit thrown across a bed and a Christmas tree covered with cow lights, cow printed bows and little silver milk pails to portray 'Eight Maids A Milking'. Berlin Grand Hotel went literal with 'Two Turtle Doves' by placing ceramic turtle doves paired with red candles in their tour rooms.  My favorite Inn in terms of playing with the theme was Guggisberg Swiss Inn, who created 'Seven Swans A Swimming' with towel swans on the beds of the two rooms we viewed.

Zinck's Inn Christmas Tree in Lobby 'Ten Lords a Leaping'

Berlin Resort 'Eight Maids a Milking'

Berlin Grande Hotel  'Two Turtle Doves'

Guggisberg Swiss Inn 'Seven Swans a Swimming' 7 towel swans on a bed

I did not eat any of my cookies until this week. The cookies have mostly been very good. I am thrilled to also own a copy of each recipe. I have already decided which cookies I am going to bake. The event also got me excited about planning an overnight in Amish Country. It helps that every Inn gave away coupons and codes to receive a discount on a stay, all of which expire a year from this month. Though I had a great time, I am not sure I will do the tour again any time soon. While it was definitely worth it, it was just a really long day. My advice for future tours is to stay in the area.

I enjoyed the tour. It allowed me to explore parts of Amish Country I have not previously visited. Previous to this trip, I visited the same places every time. For information on those stops check out my post titled, 'Home of the Original Green Lifestyle'. During the tour I stopped at two cities new to me; Strasburg and Dundee, Ohio. I have also never spent the night in Amish Country, so being able to check out rooms in the area was exciting. There is so much variety from the coziest bed & breakfast or cabin to family size lodges and standard hotels. Check out the Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns website for next year's event.

Me in the lobby of Berlin Resort

Swiss Heritage Winery
 6011 Old Rte 39 NW
Dover, Ohio 44622 

I have to quickly mention the winery I visited. I love Ohio wine so I am surprised that I hadn't made it to this place before now, especially since it is directly across from another winery I frequent often, Breitenbach Wine Cellars. Swiss heritage is located inside Broad Run Cheesehouse. The tastings were five for a dollar. They also had a bar full of complimentary cheese, spreads and crackers to eat while we tasted. We fell in love with the Cherry wine and a sweet red called Dog Gone Good. In addition to the normal white options I also tried some interesting flavors such as Watermelon and Red Raspberry. 

We left with some cheese, the Cherry and Dog Gone Good wine. I also bought a few fashion items from their fashion section. They had a lot of jewelry items and beautiful scarves. This is a place you must definitely visit if you are in the area. The wine is interesting and it is a great place to find gifts for wine lovers, foodies and fashionistas.

Broad Run Cheesehouse & Swiss Heritage Winery

 
until next time  
Be blessed! Be free! 
Be Adventurous!





Count Down to BDay 2014

Every year I get to see a Birthday is a blessing,I embrace getting older. I believe it is a gift and a privilege. We don't all get the same amount of time and the next day is never promised. With that said, I choose to treat each Birthday as a holiday. The main day is the most important but I plan small celebrations or activities throughout the month. My birthday is October 30th and I will be thirty-three this year. This Thursday I am not certain what I will be doing but if I wake up that morning I will be grateful. If I am blessed to see the weekend, I will continue the celebration. For now, I want to share with you some of the things I have been up to this month as part of my celebration.


Hakuna Matata

I have wanted to see The Lion King on Broadway for as long as it has existed. People who'd seen it before me told me about the beautiful costumes and how I would really love and appreciate it because I am an artist and designer. When I heard it was coming to Columbus, I knew I had to go see it. I told my mom that I wanted tickets for my birthday and the rest is history. I saw the show two weeks ago with my nephew. I was overwhelmed by the presentation. It was so intense and visually stunning. It was far more than I anticipated even after the feedback I got from those who attended previously. I was overwhelmed by the colorful cast and the positive homage to the continent in which the story takes place, Africa. I also really appreciated how the production managed to use so much of the beautiful and historic Ohio Theatre. There were characters in the balconies and walking down the aisles. I am a fan!! I will see it again in the future.The production leaves Columbus November 9th. There are still tickets left for the Columbus presentations. If you can't make it before then, they return to Ohio next year on March 31, at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati. For the rest of the tour stops visit The Lion King website.

Breakfast With Nick

Saturday morning I spent 3.5 hours with Dr.Breakfast. Nick Dekker is a Columbus, Ohio blogger and author of both the blog and book titled 'Breakfast with Nick'. I have been following his blog for some time now and recently purchased his book after first checking it out at the library. So when I learned that Dr. Breakfast and Columbus Food Adventures were teaming up for a Breakfast Tour, I was elated. The first tour was October 18th and filled up faster than I could get signed up. CFA has a passport program that rewards loyal customers with a free tour after collecting four stamps from purchased tours.I got my passports mailed out in time to be the last participant on the second tour. By then, the kinks had been worked out and I am sure the pressure was greatly reduced for Nick. He was very informative and by far the friendliest guide I have had during a CFA tour. Obviously, they are all friendly, after all, this was my fifth tour.

I have done a tour at the end of October for the last three years. Last year I did two. I have done the German Village and Short North walking tours, the Dessert Tour and the Taco Truck tour but this was by far my favorite tour. There is something very special about getting a tour of great breakfast spots by Dr. Breakfast himself. I admit, I am a fan. The tour gives his readers the opportunity to actually break bread with the man himself. He is easy going and makes it very comfortable to ask questions. He comes across believable and trustworthy. His choices in stops were brilliant, offering variety and food selections that were rare and special. For the brunch lovers, we got to indulge in two small plates; a chicken and waffle along with a mini pancake with maple pulled pork. At the same spot we also got a small Bloody Mary that we whipped up ourselves from the Bloody Mary bar. Ethyl and Tank, the brunch spot was the only place I had not been. Some of the other stops included Buckeye Donuts where we got to sample various donuts and listened to owner Jimmy's stories of famous patrons such as music legend, The Ol'So Fabulous Prince. Other offerings from the five tour stops were a 'Buckeye Pancake', a pancake with chocolate and peanut butter, a gravy covered piece of work called a 'Gut Buster', a Latin dish with chorizo and tortillas and a  'Doughssant'. The Doughssant, also known to some as the Cronut has been offered through the Auddino family in Columbus/Hillard for twenty years. You can find the 'Doughssant' at Auddino's Bakery & Cafe. I left the tour feeling full but not uncomfortable. I had to follow the tour with a long walk through the Short North.

The Zombie Escape

Occasionally I come across an activity in the city that blows my mind. I was browsing Experience Columbus when I found Room Escape Adventures and the 'Trapped in a Room with a Zombie' show. Lately all we have heard from doctors is how we need to pay more attention to our brain. It has been suggested to maintain a healthy brain and memory that our brain needs exercise.  This show is definitely a good way to do that. You are locked in a room for an hour with a zombie chained to a piece of furniture. You are forced to think through riddles and look for clues all while the zombie is trying to get you. The chain is released a foot every five minutes, so the zombie is getting closer and closer to you as time goes on. Teamwork is very necessary whether you know the people you are working with or not. Of all the cities where this company operates the show which includes big cities like: Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta, only 32% of the groups participating have won. Luckily we were among that percentile, escaping with just under two minutes left of the hour. 

I found the show to be amusing and challenging. I was able to offer some assistance during the game but found myself stuck many times. At the end the host will answer any questions you have and give you a run down of the highlights of your game. He announces a MVP and the people who helped the game along. I was happy to hear my name in the credits even though I knew what I'd done. Everyone loves a pat on the back.  This was something unique and interesting to do. They have been doing this show since February of this year but if you are looking for something fun to do for Halloween, there are still tickets left. However, there is no rush, you can also schedule for a show up until December. Should you go, look for my group photo. If you beat the game, you are added to the 'Wall of Fame'.

image courtesy of savvycities.com

The older I get, the less I want things. I have come to value experiences more. This year I have made sure to do things that I have always wanted to do and expose myself to a plethora of new experiences. That is what this blog is supposed to be about. I hope that you have enjoyed my entries so far this year. I have been inspired by so many people in my life, I hope that I have projected that same inspiration onto you as well. 

I would love to know!
What do you do special for your birthday? 
Or
What are your birthday plans for your next birthday?

Until Next Time,
Be Blessed! Be Free!BE Adventurous!
Kris, 

The Cure To Boredom Fall/Winter 2014

Adventure To Do List Fall/Winter 2014

It's that time again!  It is time for a new adventure list for Fall/Winter. This past April I decided to do a seasonal adventure list for every six months.The list is my cure to boredom. The list is compiled of things I want to experience this season and as I cross something off  I will share it with you. I will share information about the experience, my photos and my revelations as I did last season. Here is my adventure list for Fall/Winter 2014. 

The Bridge to Beauty: A photo I took while hiking in Hocking Hills. 10/12/14

My 'Adventure To Do List' is in no particular order. 

1.  Go Snow Tubing

2.  Build a fabulous snow-woman (completed  3/1/15)

3.  Go on a Columbus Brew Adventures Tour
 (any one of them)

4.  Take a scenic train ride

5.  Visit the A Christmas Story House & Museum

6.  Take a nature walk at least once a month

7.  See the Lion King Broadway Musical
(completed 10/11/14)

8.  Check out three new restaurants from 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'

9.  Learn the art of Upholstery

10. Get comfortable driving 

( I am almost 33 without a license!)

If you haven't created an adventure list before, start one today. See how many things you can experience this season. I have read in many sources including Forbes that when you write things down, you are more likely to do them. If money is an issue with your to do list, there are discounts all over the place through services like Groupon and Living Social that help make some of these things more feasible. So start your list and enjoy the season!

For my last list click here.

Share! What is on your list? I would love to know. Maybe you will inspire me to add more to my list.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable! 
 Be adventurous!
Kris,

My Cure To Boredom List From the Rearview (Spring/Summer 2014)

Spring/Summer 2014

In The Rearview

In the beginning of the season I created an 'adventure to do list'. It is a way to get me to focus and plan things that will keep me from ever feeling like I am bored. It also holds me accountable for my own personal growth and happiness by planning intentional activities. It was something that I learned a while ago without realizing what it was exactly. I just recently read something about this in a blog my partner Christina did. Then I saw a documentary called 'Happy' that talked about intentional activities on WOSU TV. It made me proud to know I have been on the right track for some time now. The last thing I knew I would be doing was posting an update of what I actually got accomplished on my list. Again, accountability! So here goes a recap of  what I got to experience. I left the ones I did not accomplish in red and will update them in this post in the future. Seven out of ten is still pretty good.

1.  Go Canoeing (In spite of me not knowing how to swim.)

This was the first thing I knew I needed to do. For two years I have been saying I would go canoeing and before I knew it, it was winter and I'd missed my opportunity. So I made sure to include the activity on my list. It was also something that was a little scary to me and I believe in doing the things that scare you. I was a little nervous the Sunday I decided to go canoeing. I strapped on my life jacket and once I got in the canoe, I had a blast. I am not great at it, I ran into a few logs but at the end, I understood how to correct my mistakes and was steering the canoe. Check!

Me at Hocking Hills Adventures Canoe Livery

2.  Use my Picnic Basket 

I used my picnic basket once this season when I spent the day with my nephew at Slate Run Farm. I did not take any photos. I hope that I can use the basket at least once more before it gets cold and plenty more next summer.
 

3.  Go on the Short North Columbus Food Adventures Tour

My sister came on the dessert tour with me last year for my birthday and expressed interest in the Short North Tour. I decided to treat her to the Short North food tour in August for her birthday. The tour, which is generally on Saturdays was also offered Fridays this summer. We spent the Friday after her birthday restaurant hopping with the tour guide through the Short North which started at The North Market and ended at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. I love these tours because it gives you an opportunity to check out restaurants without investing a lot of money on a meal you may not enjoy; though I have never had that problem with the Short North or Columbus Food Adventures. Now that I have crossed this tour off my to do list, they just added two more tours I have to checkout, the Grandview Tour and the Breakfast Tour.

Columbus Food Adventures Short North Tour

4.  Take a ride on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Marietta

I will add it to my list next year.

5.  Visit downtown Yellow Springs
  
I'd visited Yellow Springs a few times to go to Young's Jersey Dairy and that was the only place I'd seen in the city. I decided I would make an effort to visit the downtown area after hearing so many good things about it. I enjoyed all of the public art and the little shops. There trees are decorated and you will see a few barefoot people if the weather is nice. The smell of frankincense and marijuana is also very prevalent through the streets. Well, at least it was the day I was there.

Colorful Yellow Springs

6.  See Beyoncé & Jay Z on their On the Run Tour  Cincinatti 6/28

Like many other people, I was at the baseball stadium in Cincinnati rocking to Bey and Jay on June 28th. My long time friend and I drove to Cincy for an overnight to have an epic experience. This was one of the best concerts I have seen and I would have gone to another city to see it again if I had the time. Loved it! Check!

Me at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

7.  Take a nature walk at least once a month in Ohio's many parks

I wanted to make this a goal so that I would be more active. While I did not complete the goal, I did try very hard. I started strong in May with two nature walks. I did a nature walk in June, July and August. September I did nothing. I could have checked it off but I won't lie to myself. While I was on my best behavior, I took some photos I love. I will share them even if I did not satisfy the goal.

8.  Taste Durian (a fruit from Thailand)

9.  Check five restaurants off my 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio' book

I was really excited about this book when I got it. I love to travel and I love to eat. The book is a great way to do both. When I got the book, I'd already visited 7  restaurants featured. I checked out two restaurants over the winter. As spring started to approach, I made it my mission to check out five more before fall.  I did complete the goal and that brought me to two cities I'd never been to. The goal also brought me back to check out a few restaurants in cities I have frequented but not had the chance to dine until recently.  My favorite meals were at the Old Canal Smoke House and Dock's Beach House, so you will find them among the three food photos I posted.  Don't be surprised  to see this in my next couple lists in the future.

1. The Golden Jersey Inn (Yellow Springs)

2. The Warehouse Steak n' Stein (Coshocton) 

3. Old Canal Smoke House (Chillicothe)

4. Dock's Beach House (Port Clinton)

5. The Longaberger Homestead Restaurant (Frazeysburg)

Dock's Beach House

Old Canal Smoke House BBQ Meal, The Golden Jersey Inn & Mahi Mahi at the Dock's Beach House

The Warehouse Steak n' Stein

10. Go to a Columbus Clippers Game

Huntington Park has been opened a while now and every year since, I have been saying I will go to a game. Finally I made it there. It almost did not happen.  That day it seemed as if the clouds would open and drench us. My hair was frizzing up from the moisture in the air. It was date night , so we said what the heck. While standing in line we were given free tickets from two women who got them free from work. It was meant to be. I had a great time, great hotdog and the weather held up.  I look forward to going to more games next season.

Huntington Park Baseball Stadium

It is a new season so I am creating my list for Fall/Winter 2014-2015. The lists make a big difference in helping me do the things I really want to do. I doubt I would have done what I did this summer without my spring/summer list.  If there are things that you have been wanting to do for a while now, you should create your own list. It can be a seasonal list, monthly list or a list for the year.  Let me know what you think I should add to my winter list. I would also love to hear what you have on your list.

Until Next Time!

Be Blessed! Be Free! Be Adventurous!
Kris,



A Festival For Pawpaw

I love a festival anytime of the year but in the warmer seasons the selections are plenty. I checked out a festival this past weekend that was on my to do list. I read about it some time ago in a article that listed some of the strangest festivals in the world and never forgot about it. Saturday I walked through the gates of the Ohio Pawpaw Festival and learned so much about the forgotten fruit that this festival is all about.  The pawpaw is not something you can find in your grocery store and few fruit markets carry it. Most times, access to this fruit means you have picked it straight from the tree it grows on. I learned this week that you can find pawpaw at the North Market in Columbus when it is in season. Had I not gone to the festival, I may not have had the courage to try or purchase the fruit otherwise. Once at the festival,  I was intrigued by the idea of a tropical like fruit that grew in the Midwest, mango like in look and part banana and  melon in taste. The foodie in me went straight for the pawpaw vendor options. Food vendors are required to incorporate pawpaw in their menus for the Festival. I wanted to taste the fruit in as many possible ways as I could. I tried pawpaw salsa, pawpaw pulled pork, pawpaw beer and fresh pawpaw. I purchased some fresh pawpaw and some pawpaw salad dressing to take home . Other than the unique object of the festival, a totem pole and the hippie atmosphere, the festival seemed familiar. There was live music, food, artisans, animals and a kiddie activity area.


I enjoyed my experience at the festival. I discovered I love pawpaw. I bought a cool bracelet and recycled tote. Most importantly, I crossed another festival off my to do list.



A FEW PAWPAW FACTS

1. Chilled North America Pawpaw was George Washington's Favorite

 Dessert

2. It is North America's Largest Native Fruit

3. Pawpaw has a short season that starts in September and ends in October

 

Be Blessed! Be Free! Be Fashionable!

Be Adventurous!

Kris,

My Summer In Columbus/ 20 Places You Should Check Out If You Haven't

 When I was a child, my sister and I spent summers in Fort Lauderdale. For those who don't know me well, my sister and I were born in Broward County hospital in Fort Lauderdale, many moons ago.  We moved to Columbus when were in elementary school. Our parents were separating so we lived with mom and visited our dad and relatives during summer break. Though we were normal kids, wanting to keep our parents together, we were okay with the extra attention. Going to Florida was going home again but it was also vacation. We went to Disney World and Epcot every year. We spent days at the beach. Family and friends scheduled time with us to shop, go to cookouts and do other fun activities. Those were great summers.

As an adult things change. Summers become just another season. You have to work and pay bills. You can't completely equate the season with fun. You have to fit the fun in, scheduling it around the day to day activities that have to be taken care of first.  For me, it is a little different because I am an artist. I don't have a 9 to 5, so I am a lot freer than most people. I had not had a summer like those I spent in Florida for many years until this one. There were no trips to Disney World or Epcot. No playing in the ocean or sand. It was me and my nephew two days a week all summer, exploring the places in our own backyard. We made a huge dent in the movies that came out this Summer including the newest Transformer movie. We bowled and battled it out in laser tag. We tried new foods and checked out places that offered revamped oldies like gourmet grilled cheese at Melt and Peanut butter sandwiches at the oldest peanut butter company in the world, Krema Nut Co.  I have posted some of our adventures this summer but I wanted to create a guide for entertaining kids, out of town guests or just for a day of exploring the city yourself.  The summer is coming to an end and my nephew has been back to school almost a month. I love sharing so I had to create a list. This is a guide that can be used for next summer or for weekend activity ideas. I am hoping it will be a great source for out of town tourists or for inspiration to those in other cities. Most important, I am only listing places that I have personally visited.  This is a list of places and things I stand behind because I enjoyed them with my nephew or other loved ones this summer.

History, Science & Nature

These are places most of us already know about so I will quickly get them out the way. Most of these places are also full day adventures. There are plenty of things to see and do at most of these places and when it's time to eat, you can purchase prepared meals at decent prices. I will specify when there are any exceptions.

1.COSI (Center of Science & Industry)- Not just for the kids and family, they have adult only nights once a month.  I am also excited that the planetarium is returning in just weeks. My tip for optimum enjoyment, arrive early to see and participate in as much as possible! There is a café on premises with lots of options. 

2.The Ohio History Center & The Ohio Village- Ohio history at it's finest!  However, the summer is the best time to go because the Ohio Village is open and you can see what things were like in the 1800s including people dressed in period clothing. There are picnic tables in the village. Pack a lunch.

3.Franklin Park Conservatory- I love the Blooms and Butterflies! The botanical gardens are beautiful! Other smaller exhibits change!  I am looking forward to 'Scary Plants', a fall exhibit coming in a couple weeks. Great Café on premises! Menu items change and food is often made with fresh items grown on the premises.

4.The State House- Not an all day experience. 45 minute tour + time to explore the small museum and gardens. The tour is free! Café on premises. 

5.The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium  - We happen to have one of the best Zoos in the world which includes a great relationship with our own Jack Hanna. Check out the new Africa Exhibit! There are many food options available but packed lunch can be brought in to save money.

6.Slate Run Living Historical Farm-Technically this is located in the Canal Winchester area.  You can get a feel of what it was like to live and run a farm in 1880. There is no electricity and everyone is in period clothing. There is also no running water so that means out houses. Hand sanitizer is a must! It is part of a metro park system so pack a picnic style lunch. Check online for scheduled activities for kids. My nephew got to do farm chores, play games and even helped prepare cookies that were part of his snack during a program called "Cheers and Chores". You can just show up but to participate in programs you must register.  Registered or not, it's free.
 

Off The Beaten Path

These are places that even the locals didn't know about or know about but have yet to visit. You pass by these places every day and say," I will stop in one day and the next thing you know", it's been years and years of "one day".

7.Early Television Museum- This place is located in Hilliard, Ohio. It is well worth 45 minutes to an hour of you time. It shows you how far television has come. We went from watching television screens the size of the screens on our smart phones to watching television on our smart phones. Check out the first television sets in black and white and color.

8.Central Ohio Fire Museum-Need some fire safety information or a refresher course? You will get that along with plenty of Ohio fire and general fire history. Take photos of the beautiful antique engines and make sure to ask about the resident spirits.

Visual Art

Art has always been a big deal to me, so my list would not be complete without some of the best places to view some of the greatest examples of visual art we have to offer in the city. There is the normal city art museum but there is also great places to see crafts and cartoons.

9.The Columbus Museum of Art- Permanent and Changing Exhibits. To feel like more of an experience, bring a drawing pad to sketch things you see. There are lots of interactive activities through out the museum. There is a cafe on the premises.

10.The Wexner Arts Center- A great place to see some wonderful pieces. When I went over the summer with my nephew, we checked out the Modern Cartoonist exhibit that included some modern cartoons with lots of really edgy topics, another exhibit with some familiar comic strips of the past, and a comic future exhibit with some 3d concepts that were amazing. Exhibits change. Cafe on the premises.

11.The Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum-  If you are a fan of comic strips, you will love this place. See classics like Calvin & Hobbes. It takes about an hour, more if you choose to read everything. The museum is free!

 12.The Ohio Craft Museum- One floor of beautiful handmade pieces and a gift shop. This only takes about 20 minutes or less to check out. Visit if you are in the area. It's free!

 

Foodie Adventures

Let's start with interesting takes on oldies but goodies!

These places are great for kids and adults because it is familiarity with a twist. You can get the old school versions or be adventurous and try something interesting and fun.

13.Melt  Bar & Grilled - gourmet grilled cheese (Try the Cleveland Cheese Steak or the Cuban War Pig featured below)

14.Dirty Franks- hot dogs with fancy toppings ( My favorites are the Ohioana and the Seoul Dog. Get some tater tots and a slushie drink)

15.Kerma Nut Company- gourmet peanut butter sandwiches ( The oldest peanut butter company in America is in Columbus. Sit down for a sandwich and a milkshake. Try the Classic Old Timer with a PB & J shake. Browse the shop for nuts, candy or a jar of peanut butter to go.)

  Foodie Wonderlands & Tours

16.Anthony Thomas Factory-The tour takes about 45 minutes. The very small fee can be applied to a purchase at the end of your visit. No photos are allotted because they do work for other companies. The smell is intoxicating, it even takes over the elevator you take to the catwalk where the tour mostly takes place. You get a free chocolate buckeye at the end of your tour.

17.The North Market-This is one of my favorite places in the city. I just recently picked up some burrata, olive oil and some great pepper corns from there last week. The market is a place to find things you cant find anywhere else. It is a great place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is also a great place to take a guest or child. Most vendors offer unlimited samples. Literally, you can sample just about every item a vendor carries in most cases. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is one of the best places to sample everything. There are also popcorn samples at Pam's, and salsas and hot sauces at CaJohs's Flavor & Fire. The prepared food vendors let you sample also before you make a purchase. 

18.German Village-This area of town has so much history. I learned what I learned about it during a Columbus Food Adventure tour a couple years ago. It is a great place to visit, take a guest or child because there is so much culture there along with good food. Not to mention The Loft, the best book store in Columbus. For food, you have to check out Schmidt's for authentic German dining. Don't forget your cream puff for dessert!

19.Columbus Food Adventures- This I know plenty about because I have done four of their nine tours. I love this company because they offer an opportunity to get a taste of the best restaurants and food trucks the city has to offer. They also offer a free tour after your fourth tour. I am trying to decide between the Food Truck Tour and a the newest walking tour in Grandview. I have done tours in the Short North and German Village. I have also done the Taco Truck and Dessert tours. I have never left hungry or disappointed. I recommend these tours for out of towners and locals. For locals it gives you a chance to try restaurants with no risk. The taste you are offered during a tour may send you back to a restaurant that you would never have stopped in, that could become a new favorite.

Update! They added another new tour in September! They partnered with breakfast blogger and book author, Nick Dekker from Breakfast with Nick, to create a Breakfast Tour. It starts running October 11th.

Sports & Family Fun Bonus!

20.Huntington Park-A Clippers game was on my to do list for the summer and I finally made it. It is a great family night or date night. It may not be the best tourist attraction for someone visiting from a big city who has a big league team but it is definitely something all locals and small town folk should check out. I hope not to offend anyone. I found it to be a blast. I actually watched the game and participated in mascot activities. The hotdogs aren't too bad either. 

21.Zoombezi Bay-I can't swim so I loved this place because there was plenty I could still enjoy with shallow water. I went for the first time this summer but didn't get to enjoy it as much as I'd planned because of rain. However, it is lots of fun for both kids and adults. The food is a little expensive but you can bring your own and picnic in the zoo/water-park picnic area. There are a lot of food options available if you choose to eat at the park.

photo courtesy of blooloop.com

I hope you enjoyed my list! If there are places you feel I need to visit on your must see list, let me know. I will make it my next adventure.

Be Blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

BE ADVENTUROUS!

Kris,