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.

Why no trash cans, I bought 50 billion water bottles and I could not throw the water bottles AWAY…read more Also my 21 kids could not fit in the museum

This is a really neat garden that is located just out front of COSI. It features multiple dinosaur…read morefossil sculptures made from metal designed by Dan McCauley. Fossils include several well-known fan favorite species like a triceratops, stegosaurus, a T-rex, and more! Signage is located around the area, which has also been well decorated with plants, rocks, and the like to really feel fitting for the dinos. This is a really fun little sculpture garden!

Gone are the days of college students jumping naked and drunk into the lake before OSU vs Xichigan…read moregames. After a much needed face lift, this space is now a peaceful place, there to be admired and enjoyed by students, visitors, and everyone in between. While the old tradition has come to an end, the memories and nostalgia it brings will never fade. The magic and pride that comes with being a buckeye, or heck, even a fan of the buckeyes, is rooted here, in its story and the history that comes with it. I usually visit while on long walks and I always make sure to swing by, to take is all in. There's park benches to sit and relax on, a wetland area, and even a little landing spot for gatherings. They do a good job of keeping the space clean and I often run into maintenance staff there in early mornings, making sure the upkeep is done. Definitely stop by if you're on campus!

Wow! I'm in love! By…read morethe time I started grad school at OSU, Mirror Lake 1.0 was already closed off due to construction. I was ecstatic when I walked by here a month ago with a friend. I had read numerous articles about the design plans because green spaces are everything! It looks absolutely fantastic! My friends told me that it was not as glorious before as it is now. It looks much more natural with all the plants and ducks. The pond is beautiful as well! I love walking around here, taking pictures, and just sitting in the shade. It's romantic. It's amazing. It's a must see on OSU's campus!

This beautiful labyrinth is located in a peaceful garden in the Lane Avenue section of Chadwick…read moreArboretum. If you enter through the trellis and head to the right, you'll find a cozy, shady area featuring the labyrinth and surrounded by benches. The labyrinth itself has its roots in an 800 year old French medieval one, the Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth. It's so peaceful and relaxing to walk it, and the setting really adds to it. Despite the fact that it is technically between a busy street and a parking lot, the trees and plants obscure these views and give it a great atmosphere. The arboretum designed it as a white blooming garden to minimize distractions and encourage feelings of restfulness and restoration. If you are unfamiliar with a labyrinth, it is a one way path designed for contemplation. You follow the prescribed path to the center and then follow it back out. If you often find your mind wandering during meditation when sitting still, you might find the labyrinth helpful, since you can focus on your breathing and the steps ahead of you to help you achieve the meditative state. I love a good labyrinth walk and enjoy that we have this one. There is a nearby parking lot, though it's campus parking, or you can find parking meters on Fyffe near Howlett Hall and the Learning Gardens section of the arboretum.

This was such a splendid night. Calling back the days of yesteryear and the nostalgia of our…read moreyouth. Carolers, Fudge, luminaries, Ole Saint Nic and Misses Claus. It was magical. All the lights were on and excitement filled the air. The houses prepared the stores open, and a Spirit that Christmas and the greatness of Jesus coming as a babe in full celebration. Strangers were saying 'hi' to strangers, people waving and cars being polite and stopping to lets pedestrians cross. Shoppers waiting patiently in line to get the store or to buy their purchase. Stores had little gifts or snacks to say thank you for an amazing 2024. I cannot share how great this event is and I only saw a small portion of it. It was fantastic and you should make it in your calendar for 2025. Don't let parking intimidate you. Take your time enjoy your surrounding there is plenty of parking, just drive slow you'll find it. Merry Christmas!!

We've attended Village Lights multiple times and really enjoyed it each time! We really enjoy the…read moreatmosphere of the luminaries lighting up the historic area, and even just strolling around with it lit up is fun. The main action usually happens on 3rd Street, which, as a result, gets pretty busy, but several of the other nearby streets are still festive but quieter. A lot of the residents decorate their homes, and we love seeing the fun and creative displays they come up. This year, we especially enjoyed an adorable penguin dance party and another house that decorated a tiny door for their Littles - too fun! In pre-pandemic years, we've even been randomly invited into open houses by residents we've met who had fully decorated the inside too. With the warmer (comparatively speaking) weather this year, it once again had a block party type vibe as a lot of folks were out on their patios. You can get the event map in advance from the German Village website to check out what's happening. There's usually a StriezelMarkt outside of the meeting haus, where little booths are set up as well as other activities - one year we met the Nutcracker from the ballet there, another there was a really amazing ice sculpture demonstration, and there's frequently live music in the later hours of the event. This year there were free cookies to be enjoyed. A lot of businesses stay open late, offer special deals, and/or have special activities. This year, we especially enjoyed the make your own s'mores over firepits at RE/MAX, free cocoa at Katzinger's, free photos with Santa and an elf at Cutler Real Estate, Third Street Dental was distributing goodie bags for after all the tasty sweets (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc), and Book Loft is always a favorite stop! There are also usually several groups caroling, a tree lot, and a lot of little pop-ups to check out - this year, we saw several bakeries, a farm selling gorgeous wreaths and greenery decor, and the pedal wagon was buzzing around. They also made fantastic use of Schiller Park this year - in the past, it's often been pretty dark and where the event kind of just stopped. This year, they lit it up (kudos for that, I'm sure it took a lot of work!), and offered story time with Santa at the amphitheater. It was very pretty to walk around and enjoy!

What a cute area in Ohio! I stumbled upon this area when searching for things to do on Yelp. When I…read morewas planning to visit, I did not have any particular place in mind to visit; I just planning to stroll and pop into places if they looked enticing. We had our dog with us so we did not do an abundance of walking around. From what I saw, there were no places that welcomed pets in the businesses. It makes sense and it was no biggie, I just did not spend as much time as I would have if pets were welcome. I stopped into what I thought was a deli but more like a restaurant with a counter, hoping to purchase goodies for home. There are several stores for shopping, which were fun to browse. I only purchased some chocolates in a candy store, which apparently were made in house. I definitely want to visit here again with more research.

This is a lovely historic neighborhood just a couple miles south of downtown Columbus. If you have…read morea free afternoon and the weather is nice, it's well worth a visit to Schiller Park (dog-friendly with benches) which has a garden and statue dedicated to the German poet Schiller. I took COTA Bus #5 from downtown Columbus (Ohio Statehouse) and explored the area just north of the park. The brick houses and cobblestone alleyways provide a glimpse of life in the 1880s and early 1900s when this area became a central hub for the German-American community. I don't think there are too many kid-friendly activities or museums nearby - but it makes a pleasant excursion if you're stuck at the Convention Center for a conference in downtown Columbus. Street parking looked a bit challenging. If Bus #5 is running slow on your return trip from the German Village back to the downtown area (it can be up to a 30 minute wait if you just missed the last bus), consider taking an Uber/Lyft taxi instead.

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.

Cool in theory. It wasn't working correctly and the faces came out distorted. It's not really…read moresurrounded by much. There's a restaurant across the street but you'd be making a stop just for a quick visit to MAYBE see your face come out correctly. Takes time and I wouldn't try it again personally. Cool in theory but the execution and experience just didn't land for us.

Free. Fun. Takes a pic and your face is blown up 14 feet tall! We wandered around the entire…read moreconvention center. Saw so many fun art pieces.

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.

It's free to visit and a great photo op. It's outside so if you're passing by, you can take a…read morequick pic!

Stumbled upon this place with a friend and was instantly intrigued. We were able to pull over and…read moreget a closer look at the sculptures. Each ear of corn looked unique and they were about 6ft tall. I really enjoyed this small side quest to learn about something new and see a piece of Ohio history up close

This art installation is a great concept. I love what it represents. What don't I love? The lack of…read morecolor. I wish the ears of corn were actually painted. It's a free experience and cool to see, but kind of underwhelming once you get out there. The details on the corn is pretty awesome though.