Start from 58 curated places around Columbus, OH, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
ROOH Columbus
A progressive Indian kitchen on North High Street in the Short North serving dishes that pull from regional Indian cuisine while incorporating local Ohio ingredients and European technique. The chaat section of the menu is the most inventive, with textures and temperatures layered across single plates in ways that stretch the category. The bar program leans on spiced and aromatic cocktails that extend the food's sensibility.
Paulie Gee's Short North
A wood-fired Neapolitan pizza spot on the northern stretch of the Short North using a domed oven and Columbus's own Ezzo pepperoni, which cups and crisps in the heat in a way that sets it apart from flat-pressed versions. The dough ferments for an extended period, producing a blistered crust with a distinctly tangy undertone. Vegan cheese options are handled with the same care as the dairy versions.
Trails & outdoors
Olentangy Trail
A paved multi-use path running roughly 13 miles along the Olentangy River from downtown Columbus north through Ohio State's campus, Clintonville, Whetstone Park of Roses, and Antrim Park, connecting to Delaware County trails at the far end. The surface is flat and the shade from the river corridor is heavy enough that summer runs remain tolerable. It's among the most heavily used recreational corridors in the city, popular with cyclists, runners, and dog walkers.
Highbanks Metro Park — Dripping Rock and Overlook Trails
Two interconnected loop trails in a 1,200-acre park north of Columbus above the Olentangy River, where the namesake 100-foot shale bluffs create genuine elevation change and deep ravines rare in central Ohio. The Dripping Rock Loop passes an active seep cliff where water filters through shale year-round, and Bald Eagles nest in the park regularly through winter and spring. The trail surface is compacted gravel and the canopy is dense enough for shade in summer.
Things to do
Newport Music Hall
A 1,700-capacity general admission rock club on North High Street near Ohio State that has been operating continuously since the 1970s, widely considered one of America's longest-running rock venues. National mid-tier touring acts play the floor-plan that offers good sightlines from most standing positions, and the mezzanine level provides a seated alternative with a view over the crowd. The programming ranges across rock, indie, metal, and electronic genres.
Shadowbox Live
A resident performance company in the Brewery District producing original sketch comedy, rock concerts, and contemporary dance entirely in-house with a consistent ensemble, in a 300-seat venue with full table service during the show. The company creates around 12 original productions a year and the format — dinner, drinks, and a 90-minute performance — makes it a complete evening. It has been operating for over two decades and functions as a Columbus institution.
Landmarks & sights
Short North Arts District
A mile-long corridor of North High Street framed by 17 painted steel arches, dense with independent galleries, boutiques, and restaurants in Victorian-era storefronts. The first Saturday of each month brings Gallery Hop, when dozens of studios open simultaneously and the sidewalks fill well into the evening. The district functions as the cultural spine of Columbus and rewards slow, on-foot exploration.
COSI
A hands-on science center on the west bank of the Scioto River with major traveling exhibitions alongside permanent galleries covering space exploration, ocean science, energy, and human health. The planetarium and the giant-screen theater add to an itinerary that runs several hours without effort. It draws families and school groups heavily on weekday mornings, so afternoons are calmer.