Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Videos
  • Sweeps and Contests

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 40 Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

      Macaroni and cheese, Amish apple dumplings and chicken pot pie are among our Midwest comfort food favorites. Read More Next
    • 50 Romantic Midwest Getaways

      Romance, of course, can be wherever the two of you are. But wonderful surroundings help. We found some of the most romantic places anywhere in the Midwest—in the city and country. All you have to do is get away together! Read More Next
    • 50 Decadent Chocolate Dessert Recipes

      Chocolate lovers, these are for you: 50 of our best rich-and-gooey chocolate dessert recipes, including pie, pudding, cake, cookies, fondue and brownies. Read More Next
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel

    50 Midwest Resorts We Love

    Our favorite Midwest resort destinations range from cozy lakeside lodges to indoor water park behemoths. Dive in to check out our top picks for a fabulous Midwest getaway.
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Around the Region
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    Midwest Living November/December 2020 Recipes

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home

    50 Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

    Give your home holiday style in a flash with these simple yet creative decorating projects.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden

    14 Cheerful Winter Container Gardens

    Create bountiful outdoor winter arrangements with a little help from Mother Nature.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    40 Easy Christmas Crafts

    Decorate your home, make a gift or create an ornament with our 40 ideas for fun and easy Christmas crafts.
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
  • Sweeps and Contests

    Sweeps and Contests

    See All Sweeps and Contests

    Warm-Weather Getaways Sweepstakes

    • Winter Getaways Sweepstakes
    • Warm-Weather Getaways Sweepstakes

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Travel
  3. Ohio
  4. Columbus, Ohio
  5. Explore Columbus, Ohio's Neighborhoods

Explore Columbus, Ohio's Neighborhoods

June 01, 2012
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Ohio's biggest city boasts plenty of top-tier attractions, but lesser-known neighborhoods truly reveal the town's charm.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Discovering Columbus

Ohio's biggest city has plenty of main attractions -- great zoo, new ballpark, lovely conservatory -- but tucked right next to downtown, you'll find two of the Midwest's coolest urban neighborhoods.One north-south thoroughfare, High Street, links Short North's hip business district, downtown's skyscrapers and German Village's quaint brick homes.Click ahead to find great places to visit in Short North, downtown, German Village, and elsewhere in Columbus. Like the man for whom the city is named, you may feel as though you'd found a whole new world you never knew existed.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Short North: Eclectic fun

In the 1980s, artists began to convert the dilapidated buildings north of downtown into Bohemian studios and galleries. Stylish shops and restaurants followed. This vibrant arts district successfully gentrified itself without sanitizing away all the urban grit. A Family Dollar store stands right by the high-end boutiques.Click to the next slide for highlights of the Short North neighborhood.Short North

2 of 12

3 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Short North: What to do

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams A three-scoop sampler dish lets fickle folks choose three of the dazzling flavors, which change seasonally. Our favorite combo: salty caramel, bourbon buttered pecan and tangy apricot fro-yo. (614) 294-5364; jenis.comOn Paper This lovely, stylish stationery store (pictured) is a must-see for anyone who loves to write letters the old-fashioned way. Many products, including personalized stationery, are available online. (614) 424-6617; onpaper.comStudios on High This sunny artist cooperative is one of nearly 20 Short North galleries and shows a variety of work from local artists. (614) 461-6487; studiosonhigh.comTasi Cafe Tucked in an alley behind High Street, Tasi is open all day but serves an especially memorable breakfast, thanks to European-style breads. (614) 222-0788; tasicafe.comTigertree This fun hipster boutique has a carefully curated mix of clothes, jewelry and knickknacks. (614) 299-2660; shoptigertree.com

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Downtown: Cool stops

Office towers cluster around Ohio's squat statehouse like lanky kids posing with their grandfather. Even though downtown is more workaday than touristy, you'll find some cool stops here during back-and-forth drives along High Street between Short North and German Village. Click to the next slide for highlights of downtown.Experience Columbus

4 of 12

5 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Downtown: What to do

Deaf School Park (Pictured at left) At this whimsical topiary tribute to George Seurat's La Grande Jatte, you can stand by a bronze easel and see the scene as it appears in the painting -- or walk among the figures, as though stepping into a work of art. (614) 645-3300; columbusrecparks.comDue Amici This sleek Italian restaurant serves a wonderful sausage ravioli, with banana peppers, spinach and a lemon-Parmesan broth. (614) 224-9373; due-amici.comThe Lofts This newly updated boutique hotel near Short North has modern furniture in brick-walled rooms. (800) 735-6387; 55lofts.comNorth Market In addition to a seasonal, outdoor farmers market, 35 vendors run indoor shops. Spots are highly competitive, so the quality is top-notch--artisan breads, cheeses, chocolate and more. (614) 463-9664; northmarket.comRiffe Gallery This cool state-run gallery across from the capitol shows works from state museums and contemporary Ohio artists. Free. (614) 644-9624; riffegallery.orgStatehouse The rotunda's roof is flat, as if its dome had been sliced off, but that was the design in 1839. Though it's meant more for kids on field trips, adults will learn a lot at the interactive Ohio Statehouse Museum. Free. (888) 644-6123; ohiostatehouse.org

5 of 12

6 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

German Village: Picturesque enclave

A preservation effort begun in the 1960s restored this 2-mile-long wedge of brick alleys and 19th-century cottages, making it one of the country's largest privately funded historic districts. Businesses thrive amid tidy homes, flowers bloom in pocket gardens, and cars squeeze past each other on narrow streets. Unlike Short North, which has a well-defined business district, German Village begs for aimless wandering.Click to the next slide for highlights of German Village.German Village

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

German Village: What to do

Barcelona Try to snag a patio table at this hip tapas spot. The $30 weekly tasting menu includes seven dishes. (614) 443-3699; barcelonacolumbus.comThe Book Loft A maze of shelves invites wandering through 32 rooms of bargain books--plus a courtyard for overflow. (614) 464-1774; bookloft.comGerman Village Guest House You'll feel more like a lucky house-sitter than a paying guest at this chic five-room inn. (866) 587-2738; gvguesthouse.comKatzinger's Delicatessen This funky deli serves delicious (though pricey) sandwiches, plus classic Jewish sides like matzo ball soup. (614) 228-3354; katzingers.comPistacia Vera This gorgeous French bakery (left) makes exquisite pastries, including humble but heavenly bitter almond cookies. (614) 220-9070; pistaciavera.com

7 of 12

8 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Columbus' top draws

Looking to do more than just explore neighborhoods while you're in Columbus? The next slides are your pocket guide to the city's main attractions, such as the Franklin Park Conservatory (left). Some destinations are within minutes of the High Street neighborhoods; others require a road trip.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Exploring Columbus: Culture

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Randall Lee Schieber

Columbus Museum of Art A comprehensive collection of American and European modern art (left) is complemented by traveling exhibits. Free admission Sundays. (614) 221-6801; columbusmuseum.orgFranklin Park Conservatory As the only public garden with a collection of Dale Chihuly glass, the conservatory offers a colorful blend of art and plants. Admission charged. (614) 715-8000; fpconservatory.orgOhio Historical Center The Ohio Historical Society museum explores natural history and ecology. In summer, the Ohio Village Muffins and Diamonds vintage baseball teams play. Open Saturdays only; admission charged. (800) 686-6124; ohiohistory.org

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Exploring Columbus: Family

Credit: Photo Courtesy of COSI Columbus

Center of Science and Industry (COSI) COSI fuses playground and museum (left), with more than 300 interactive exhibits and a movie theater. cosi.orgColumbus Zoo and Aquarium More than 700 species reside at this top-ranked zoo. At the Polar Frontier, a clear-ceiling viewing area lets visitors see polar bears playing in a pool overhead. Zoombezi Bay water park and Safari Golf Club fund the zoo's conservation efforts. columbuszoo.orgThe Wilds Rhinos, giraffes and other exotic animals roam a 10,000- acre nature preserve 70 miles east of Columbus in Cumberland. Safari tours and overnight stays available. thewilds.org

10 of 12

11 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Exploring Columbus: Sports

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ohio State University

Ohio Stadium All year long, fans can set up stadium tours Mondays--Thursdays. A 90-minute tour for up to 10 people costs $100 and includes the sidelines and press box. (614) 688-5991; ohiostatebuckeyes.comColumbus Clippers The Cleveland Indians' Triple-A affiliate plays in the new $65 million Huntington Park; its open design offers sparkling views of the Columbus skyline. Check out the memorabilia and photos in The Hall of Fame Bar on the second level of the Left Field Building. Admission charged. (614) 462-5250; huntingtonparkcolumbus.comJack Nicklaus Museum The Golden Bear, a Columbus native, has an honorary Ohio State degree. A campus museum celebrates his contributions to golf. Admission charged. (614) 247-5959; nicklausmuseum.orgPictured: Ohio Stadium.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Exploring Columbus: Shopping

Easton Town Center Nearly 200 shops and restaurants fill a posh outdoor shopping and entertainment district (left) in northeast Columbus. (614) 337-2200; eastontowncenter.comPrime Outlets-Jeffersonville Ohio's largest outlet mall (40 miles south of Columbus) has 100 stores and plenty of discounts. (740) 948-9090; primeoutlets.com

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 12 Discovering Columbus
2 of 12 Short North: Eclectic fun
3 of 12 Short North: What to do
4 of 12 Downtown: Cool stops
5 of 12 Downtown: What to do
6 of 12 German Village: Picturesque enclave
7 of 12 German Village: What to do
8 of 12 Columbus' top draws
9 of 12 Exploring Columbus: Culture
10 of 12 Exploring Columbus: Family
11 of 12 Exploring Columbus: Sports
12 of 12 Exploring Columbus: Shopping

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Midwest Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
  • Renew this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Affiliate Program
  • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
  • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
  • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
  • Video
  • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Midwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

View image

Explore Columbus, Ohio's Neighborhoods
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.