Columbus-Not a Cow Town

Staying at any of the hotels in the Columbus area will not provide you any thrill. There are chains galore. The Hyatt Regency downtown puts you near City Center for shopping and German village for dining. Besides Ohio State University, Columbus has a great center for arts museum and cultural events called the Wexner Center. This center is named for the founder of the Limited who gives a lot of money to the city. Besides this, you can go back in time by going to Amish Country in Millersburg just a drive away. You will love homestyle dinners and craft shops besides seeing the Amish people who do not like to be photographed. Another tour in the opposite direction is the Short North area of Columbus near downtown. You will see galleries and small shops and cafes. Columbus offers a lot and is far from the joke of cow town that people still laugh about.

Quick Tips:

Unless you enjoy driving in the snow, visit in the spring or fall. Summers can be very humid.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is no public transport in the greater area of Columbus, so rent a car.

The Sheraton is nothing to write home about. It is a clean room with coffee in the room and an indoor pool and exercise room. Most of the hotels in Columbus are nothing special unless you stay out in the countryside near Amish country in a bed and breakfast. If you have time, you can experience both styles of accommodations.

We were really surprised with this type of International cuisine located in a German Village. I guess we still had to get over the "Ohio" landlocked frame of mind. The menu features unique tapas creations with a great choice of wines. Make sure everyone gets something different so you can try this eclectic menu. The atmosphere is a combination of cafe and romantic themed cozy tables. If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Columbus, try Barcelona.

For a complete change from Barcelona, try the Cap City Diner. It offers the dinner specialities with a modern twist. Of course, you may need to top your meal off with a chocolate malt or shake. The atmosphere is fun and family oriented. It is relaxing and the service is great. They do have wine available. You also may want to call ahead to reserve a table on the weekend.

The Amish country is spread outside Columbus. It is best to get a map of the area and pick some places that fit your tastes whether it is a home dining experience, crafts, or seeing a village like Yoder's Amish home. You can also see how cheese is made at Guggisberg. Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek is especially tasty and fills you up! Remember that the Amish do not like their photos taken, so be kind and respect their beliefs. It will take you a couple of hours from Columbus, so plan on stopping for a nice easy drive.

The Wexner Center is hard to miss with it's unique style of architecture located on the Ohio State campus. The Wexner center has a unique exhibition that changes by month, so you should check the calendar or call ahead. Most of the exhibits are modern in style with a historical perspective. There are also performing arts shows that vary from classical to modern ballet, music, bands, and theatre. This unique blend of culture is something to be appreciated as many other cities in the US do not even have a place that offers half as much variety of art and culture.