Columbus,+OH


 * Travel tips for Columbus, OH:**
 * Columbus, OH Downtown Wikitravel Website:** []
 * Columbus Wikitravel Website**: []
 * Columbus University Area Wikitravel Website**: []
 * Columbus University Area Wikitravel Website**: []

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 * Mike Summers; November 2010 and November 2011:**

My wife had a conference in Columbus, and I decided to join her. I'm glad that I did! The Frontier flights through Kansas City and Milwaukee were pretty full. So, we decide to fly into the Dayton airport which is about one-hour and fifteen minutes from Columbus along Interstate 70. The Dayton Airport is easy to navigate. I reserved my rental car through Avis ahead of time. From baggage claim, just walk outside across the curb to the rental car garage. My car was ready to go. Here's the website for the airport: []. Our hotel was the Crowne Plaza in downtown Columbus in what is called the Arena District. There is a lot to do in this area (Arena District Website: [] ). We were lucky enough to be in town when the Colorado Avalanche Hockey team was playing the Columbus Blue Jackets. I got tickets on Row 2 through StubHub, but there are tickets for sale at the box office at the Nationwide Arena or from ticket scalpers outside the Arena. The Avalanche won 5-1. Near the Arena is a Gordon Biersch Brewery that we didn't go to, but next to it is the Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar, which is a lot of fun (Website for Big Bang: [] ). We found a great brewpub called the Elevator Brewery (Website for Elevator: []) that served great beer and food. It's three blocks south of the Arena on High Street. It was so good, we went twice during our stay. For a late night meal, check out the Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails (Website: [] ) near the Elevator at 73 E. Street. From the outside it doesn't look like much, but it's a great late-evening place to slow down or have some breakfast after 11:00 AM. We also enjoyed Barley's Ale House #1 which is about two blocks north of the Arena on High Street (Website for Barleys: [] ). The beer wasn't as good as the Elevator's, but the atmosphere was just as good. If you walk about five blocks north on High Street, you'll enter the Short North neighborhood that has many shops and places to eat (Websites for Short North Neighborhood: [] and [] ). We tried the Burgundy Room Wine Bar for Tapas and Wine. It's a great place on High Street in the Short North neighborhood (Website: [] ). I would definitely recommend for happy hour! If you drive north on High Street, you'll come upon the campus of The Ohio State University. We walked around and checked it out. I went to a football game there in the late 70's while I attended Indiana University. There's a nice bike path that heads north from St John's Arena along the east bank of the Olentangy River; St. John's Arena is the basketball arena for OSU teams (website of campus map: [] ). The path is along the east bank of the Olentangy River at W. Lane Avenue (just east of the intersection of Olentangy River Road). I went for a run one morning while my wife was at her conference. You'd be surprised to know that Columbus is the 16th largest US city based on population (Website: []). It's larger than Seattle, Boston, and Denver. It's a very clean city. A great place for breakfast northeast of campus on High Street is Jack & Benny's (Websites: [] and [] ). I went for a second run down High Street toward the State Capital Building and the Brewery District (Website on Columbus: [] ). There were a lot of people out running in the downtown area. When we left Columbus for the Dayton Airport, we drove to the Brewery District of town (Website of map: [|http://columbus.citysearch.com/profile/7864990/columbus_oh/brewery_district.html#profileTab-reviews] ). We were going to the Columbus Brewing Comp. Restaurant, but we discovered that it was closed for lunch on Saturdays (Website: [] ). Instead we tried the Claddagh Irish Pub (Website: []). While looking at this website, I discovered that it's a chain, but it was nice. I'd call it a pub with a family-friendly atmosphere. While we were there, we watched an Irish Rugby League game on satellite TV. Also nearby is the World of Beer Bar (Website: [] ), which is a chain, but they have live music and beer, wine, and cigars (no food). Next door is the Shadowbox Live Venue with a variety of shows (Website for Shadowbox: [] ). Across the street is the Lotus Ultra Lounge, which is a 'unique' place with live music on the patio. If your travels take you to Columbus, no worries! It's a great town to visit with lots to do, and I'd not have a problem returning there. Enjoy! Mike Summers ---