The Gates of Hell in north Columbus is one of those eerie local spots that sticks with you. It's an…read moreold, graffiti-covered tunnel that feels straight out of an urban legend--dark, damp, and definitely creepy once you step inside. The echo of footsteps, the dripping water, and the way the light disappears the deeper you go all add to the unsettling vibe. It's not an official attraction, more of a hidden curiosity, but if you're into spooky local history and a little adventure, it's worth checking out. Just be prepared--it definitely earns its name. I was there alone and I got a sketchy vibe from it. Nothing happened, of course, but you always want to be aware of your surroundings. Maybe pick up a rock incase someone there has ill intent.

This is smack dab in the middle of unhoused encampment. Because this is sort of a see at your own…read morerisk it is unkempt. I'm not sure if the storm over the weekend made it worse but we could figure out how to get around the water or if there was a less dangerous way of seeing it.

Short north gothic is downtown Columbus Ohio short north district on take on the classic American…read moregothic painting. Mural sits on the side of a business and shares the likeness of the old fame man and woman that the original does. Overall a very cool and nice tribute to one of America's most known painting. The entire short north area is stocked with public art murals and this was one of the most memorable ones for me and the family.

This is Columbus' version of NYC's Soho Arts District. Charming shops, murals. Reasonably priced…read morerestaurants & cafes. Treasures from Turkey, Torso, short supply ...had fun items for sale. Most were on their twenties here.There was even a Shake Shack, among many coffee shops & bars. There were interactive signs pointing us to attractions here.

The journey is a massive public art mural located in the short north community of downtown Columbus…read moreOhio. The mural actually consists of 3 pieces. 2 gigantic ones on each side of the tall downtown building and a smaller one with birds at the ground level. All 3 murals is very colorful and vibrant and are well done by the artist. My favorite of the 3 is the large weight on your shoulders rendering. But all 3 are well done. Overall very cool piece is a public art heavy short north area. Fun stroll to take for public art lovers like me and my family.

This mural is one of the newest in the Short North neighborhood and it is by far the biggest!…read moreActually, it's officially confirmed as the tallest in all of central Ohio, coming in at 11 stories tall and 11,000 square feet total between the three pieces (located on both sides of the building). It even includes an "augmented reality" component which can make it a 3D experience. It's also the largest of its kind in the entire world, pretty rad right?! We're lucky to have such an abundance of art in Columbus and I'm glad this piece is here to stay. While it wasn't painted by local artists, it was painted by two extremely talented artists from LA and was inspired by Columbus and the large number of immigrants that come here, specifically from Somalia. The Short North Arts District did a write up on it last summer and it was really cool to learn more about the different components of the artwork and the stories of courage and resilience it portrays. The colors are super vibrant and I love how you can see it from a distance as you walk down High St. I live in the area and greatly enjoyed watching it go up, as it did so rather quickly in my opinion. While I walk by it often, I can't help myself, I always have to stop and snap a picture and admire it. I suggest you do the same!

Been here a few times for a few different events. Since this is an event space that events…read morethemselves can rent out, I'll try to avoid commenting on the actual events. Instead, I want to focus a bit on the staff and space provided at the Kee. I've been surprised by the event staff here every time I've come to an event. Every time I've gone, the bar has been pretty understaffed. Customers will come up asking for water, and bartenders will wave them off, saying "Get water from the free dispenser over there" while the dispenser is empty. Maybe this is a barback issue? The bathrooms start out okay in the beginning of the event, but every event has been out of toilet paper and paper towels by the end. They're looking pretty shabby too. The Kee might consider mid-event janitorial services because women ducking into the men's room to steal toilet paper rolls to hand them off to other women who are sitting in the stalls is probably not the look you're going for. The space itself is cute. Rooms are wide open with ample walking space. The main room (the Kee calls it "The Venue") is huge and echo-y - which is a shame because this appears to be where they put live entertainment and music. We've had a hard time hearing any presenter's words in this room because of the acoustics. The additional rooms are super cute (love the arcade games and unique furniture), but they're only open during events if your event paid for them. The arcade games cost extra money. There are nearby parking lots that'll handle most small-event traffic, but if something huge is going on, you might need to figure out street parking. The hallways/entryways are definitely built for shuttling people through, and they handle entrance lines pretty solidly. (I'm a little confused by the Yelpers reviewing food or drinks here. The Kee is only open for private and public events. It looks like this might have been a restaurant space at one point?)

Went here for an event and absolutely loved everything about it:…read more-the space, loved the different layouts, area great for photos, arcade area, area filled with natural light. The bathrooms were awesome (pink sinks, faucets, and hand dryers in the women's room!) -the barista who manned the coffee bar for the event was wonderful. He made a phenomenal dirty cinnamon chai latte -I had a light lunch of whipped honey labneh and I never want yogurt again, just that. Chefs kiss. Another reviewer correctly pointed out that they already add a 20% service charge so do what you want with that info.

This botanical garden and conservatory is fabulous! We had such a good time my son wanted to go…read moreback a 2nd time during our trip. The Chihuly exhibit is perfect and such an amazing fit that it seems like every conservatory should have a blown glass exhibit. The inside of the building has a lot under construction, but even still was really amazing. The outside gardens are beautiful and really wonderful for kids. They have a great children's garden section, as well as a fantastic model train section. On top of all of that, they also have a glad blowing workshop outside in the summer and you can watch an artist at work blowing glass. I found that fascinating, and definitely bought a piece from the gift shop after watching it! The pieces on the shelf outside in the workshop are really beautiful. Oh, and on top of everything else they have a great cafe with actually good food! I wish this was in my city, because I could come here all the time!

I am a member of the Holden arboretum and Cleveland botanical. And while in Columbus I decided to…read morestop and visit their botanical garden. And I inquired if a discount is given if I am a member of Cleveland. And they informed me they do reciprocal. So I was able to attend with my membership for no additional charge. I must admit that this place is currently under construction. But that just means more great botanical fun is heading there way. I am excited to see it when it opens in 2027 fall. My time here today was great. I had a ton of fun here. I was pretty excited to see their train garden. Where they have many different models of trains going through a garden. There are so many different things to see and do. They have many hands on experiences for children as well. You need to get here and bring those kids to have fun.

If you enjoy art then you will enjoy spending time at the Columbus Museum of Art. They have…read morerotating exhibits plus a large collection of modern art. The staff is warm and welcoming. As a family level member of the Cincinnati Museum of Art my wife and I were able to get in free. Sundays are free to everyone I believe. They do charge $10 for parking but if you make a purchase in their gift shop or cafe the parking fee is reduced to $5. It was a great way to spend the morning and a membership not only saves you money but also supports the arts.

You know, I was never a fan of being dragged to the art museum as a kid. It was boring! Who wants…read moreto stand around looking at pictures all day? But I think if the museum had been like it is now, I would have loved it. Even as an adult, it adds so much to the experience to have the themed activities in nearly every gallery. There are games, writing and drawing prompts, books to read, and more to really connect people of all ages with the artwork and keep you coming back. The free admission on Sundays and $5 Thursday nights are great, too! Whether you're local or visiting, it really is worth your time to spend a few hours at one of the most accessible museums in town.

Heads up: New location and new name!…read more Previously known throughout Columbus as Glass Axis, now the Columbus Glass Art Center, is a non-profit org offering glass blowing and glass art classes to the general public, no membership needed! I went to their Grand Opening of their new building and the space, and it's fantastic! Ample space for several different glass art technique classes. The teachers I met are absolutely wonderful, too! Willing to help/guide if necessary, creative minds, and just plain genuine and personable. I got the chance to make a glass mosaic (think glass art to hand in a window) and a simple smoking pipe (torch melting glass and all!), and it was phenomenal! I'm seriously looking into taking a few classes; and, besides, I know my money is going to an excellent org that's promoting art, culture, and creative partnerships throughout central Ohio!

We made reservations well in advance and received an email confirmation for 4 of us for the…read moreornament glass blowing. We showed up, but they were closed. We waited & waited, tried calling & emailing but to no avail. This was planned as a double bday celebration, we took time off work and came from out of town, needless to say it was ruined. They did refund our money, it's been 5 days but still not one person has reached out to offer an apology or explanation. Not a good way to run a business. We give it 4 thumbs down. :(

Why have I lived in Columbus my whole life and never known this existed until my nephew visiting…read morefrom out of town suggested it?? We went yesterday just in time to see the 'best of 2026' show and we loved it! It is indeed more that just crafts, it was also kinds of works of art done by craftspeople and there were lots of beautiful pieces to look at. Loved that we were also able to interact with voting for our favorite, and also a scavenger hunt (with stickers as prizes). Such great things in the gift shop and loved the silent auction section too. I know for sure I'll be back every time they have a new show- it's free to enter, walk around and see great art. And the employee working was so friendly and told us all about it and gave us lots of helpful info and attention. Highly recommend, we were there about an hour, lovely way to spend some time during a hot afternoon.

On a whim I reserved a spot for an autumnal crown making event. It was wonderful! Lots of fun,…read morecreativity, snacks, and laughter. The instructor was great and other participants even shared supplies. I look forward to another event!

The Guardian is a downtown Columbus Ohio public art sculpture that my oldest daughter and I came…read moreacross whole exploring the short north area of the city. Upon initially finding this piece we both thought it was a wooden sculpture of thee famed Pinocchio character. Turns out it is not Pinocchio the wooden figure who wants to be a real big. But instead it is the guardian of Columbus Ohio. Overall a unique and interesting sculpture that stands out in a short north community that is jam packed with all sorts of public art. So it was a fun piece and a cool memorable photo op.

The World's Largest Gavel is in front of the Ohio Supreme Court. Made of stainless steel and…read moreunveiled in 2008, it is by artist Andrew Scott and was commissioned by the Ohio State Bar. Located in the south reflecting pool of the Court, it is 31 feet long. There is metered street parking nearby. [Review 1332 of 2024 - 251 in Ohio - 22355 overall]

To be fair and agree with most reviews, yes this is not the most extravagant site to visit. When…read moreresearching Columbus, I wanted to visit sites that were easy and quick, since we only stayed for one night. From pictures, it can be difficult to scale how large the gavel actually is. In my opinion, I think it could also be easy to miss if you were driving by and not actually looking for it. We decided to visit on our way out of town, which means we had our dog with us. Luckily, the gavel was as outside so it would not be so difficult to visit with a dog. We found parking nearby but were unsure of the legality of where we parked so we had to make it quick. It was definitely unique but maybe not worth planning your trip around it. I did not find any plaques explaining any history on this but overall, I was glad we had this experience.