Photo courtesy of Nathan Ward via Seventh Son Brewing Company
Tucked into a charming corner of Columbus's Italian Village lies Seventh Son Brewing Company — a collaboration between childhood friends and a stellar spot to enjoy a beer. Stop in for a unique brew in a range of flavors and varieties, and be sure to accompany your choice with a bite from the food truck of the day. Beer to try: The Humulus Nimbus This strong pale ale toes the line between an IPA and a pale, and includes berry-piney hops and light malts. Mmm mm good! ABV: 6%
Photo courtesy of Sideswipe Brewery
This small-operation brewery focuses on quality, not quantity — and that might be why a pint here is so dang delicious. The cozy taproom is located mere steps from downtown Columbus, and offers a no-frills experience with a friendly atmosphere, fun games and great company. Beer to try: The Coop Looter This American-style saison is made with whole white wheat and aromatic Belgian malts, and is packed with effervescent flavors, thanks to the hints of grapefruit and cracked pepper. ABV: 6%
Photo courtesy of Pigskin Brewery
This friendly brewery in Gahanna offers excellent brews created and served with love — and excellent food to boot! Stop in for Won off Wednesdays, during which the company will share a unique weekly small batch brew for one time only. Once it's gone, it's gone for good! Proof that the best things in life are fleeting. Beer to try: Autumn Wind Russian Imperial Stout An intensely roasty, dark brew with complex malts and hops. Look for notes of chocolate and coffee. ABV: 10.5%
Photo courtesy of Wolf's Ridge Brewing
Wolf's Ridge Brewing is where elegance meets adventure. Stop in at either the tap room or the more formal dining room to get a taste of incredible beer and delectable bites. In the tap room, you'll find bar snacks, shareables and sandwiches, and in the dining room you'll find more upscale fare. Look out for the Hudson Valley foie gras, the shrimp and grits, the scallops, and the New Zealand lamb rack — and make sure to chase down your choice with a house-made beer. Beer to try: Clear Sky Cream Ale This easy-drinking, crisp ale took home first place in the 2017 Beer Army Beer Wars. Pick up a bottle or a pint on draft, and we're sure you'll taste the winning quality. ABV: 5%
Photo courtesy of North High Brewing
North High Brewing, located on (surprise!) North High Street, offers a new kind of experience — one that focuses on the actual brewing of the beer! While you can stop in anytime to enjoy a signature brew on draft (and we highly recommend that you do), you can also "Schedule a Kettle" and brew your own beer with the help of the owners using a North High recipe. Beer to try: The North High Pale Ale The North High Pale Ale is an easy-drinking brew with plenty of hops and caramel malt to balance the flavor. You might feel like a champ for drinking it, as this winning beer has secured a gold medal at Beer Wars, a silver at the 2016 World Beer Cup, and a bronze at the Best of Craft Beer Awards in Bend, Oregon. Look out for notes of tropical fruit, citrus and herbs. ABV: 5.5%
Photo courtesy of Chris Heidel via Zauber
This brewery offers traditional German and Belgian beers served in a quirky, low-key environment that is 100% American. Zauber initially opened as a small alley-side growler fill station in 2012, but is now a lively, full-service bar and taproom nestled on 5th avenue. Stop in on Wednesday for board game night, or on weekend morning to catch the EPL soccer games. Beer to try: Wunderland A Belgian strong dark ale brewed in the traditional way, with only yeast, malt and hops. Still, the flavor is rich, complex and strong. ABV: 8.7%
Photo courtesy of Matthew Carbone via Land Grant Brewing Company
Born from a passion for great beer, intriguing design and midwestern sports, Land Grant Brewing Company has certainly become a Columbus staple since it opened in 2014. The founders all come from different backgrounds, which means each offers an interesting perspective on the style of the taproom and of the beers themselves. Everything about Land Grant is a collision of flavor and culture! Stop in seven days a week to try the beer and sample from an impressive lineup of food trucks. Beer to try: Son of a Mudder A brown ale that is truer than true. Brewed with toasty hops and balanced with seven different malt varieties, you'll find flavors of toffee, caramel and coffee. This beer is sure to warm you to the core! ABV: 6.1%
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Harrison via Smokehouse Brewing
Smokehouse Brewing is the spot to settle if you're looking for a bit of barbecue with your beer. While the juicy wings, sauerkraut balls and messy ribs are certainly delightful, the refreshing beers are certainly the main event. The tart IPAs and bold stouts pair well with the sauces, and always leave you wanting another. Beer to try: The Woody Haze Barrel Aged Scotch Ale Brewed every Valentine's Day, this dark, amber ale is a celebrated staple of Smokehouse Brewing. The bourbon barrel-aging process gives the brew a rich flavor that pairs well with gamey meats.
Photo courtesy of Blossom Time Festival
Celebrate the beginning of summer with one of the most colorful parties in the area. The annual Blossom Time Festival takes place in downtown Chagrin Falls, and includes carnival rides, a hot air balloon glow, a pie-eating contest, and plenty of other family-friendly activities. Additionally, guests are invited to get a taste of Chagrin, with more than 20 food trucks and local vendors serving up bites and sips throughout the weekend.
Photo courtesy of Berea's National Rib Cook-off
For the 19th year in a row, barbecue connoisseurs, meat lovers and ribbing experts will come together to celebrate the carnivore's favorite entrée: ribs. Meander through the fairgrounds at Berea's National Rib Cook-off, snacking on a tasty morsel from tens of local vendors while enjoying live music and family-friendly games and activities. There's no doubt about it — this event is finger lickin' good.
Photo courtesy of the Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival
The annual Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the area, and it's easy to see why! For its 37th year, the event will invite locals and visitors alike (including over 100 vendors from around the nation) to take part in an array of free live concerts, tasty food and beverages, and outdoor activities on the picturesque shores of Lake Erie. Highlights will include a kids fishing derby, a grand parade and the Walleye 5K race.
Memorial Day weekend also marks the beginning of Sandusky's Ohio Bike Week. Even if thundering motorcycles aren't really your thing, you'll enjoy marveling at the displays of gleaming metal and impressive beards that will set Sandusky apart during the week. There will also be exciting live performances, a great selection of activities, and plenty of food to keep you entertained.
Photos courtesy of Lucky's Cafe
This coffee shop turned restaurant in Tremont has truly redefined the meaning of "cooking from scratch." Here, you'll find the epitome of comfort food, including fluffy cheddar scallion biscuits topped with sausage gravy and a classic reuben with house-brined corned beef. The beloved cafe sources as much as it can from local farmers and vendors, grows its veggies in the garden out back, and makes all of the breads and pastries in house. Can breakfast get any better than that? We think not. Bonus: Lucky's Cafe was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in October, 2009, but soon after, Iron Chef's Michael Simon stopped in to try the biscuits and gravy, which he deemed "soul-satisfying."
Photo courtesy of Geraci's Restaurant
This old-school pizza joint has been family-owned for more than 60 years, perfecting age-old recipes that have been passed from generation to generation. The daughters of the original owners still run the place, and you'll find them meandering the dining room, making conversation with loyal customers. Locals flock for mainstays like the no-frills pepperoni pizza, assembled with dough that's made fresh several times a day. The meatballs are nothing to scoff at either, made from a recipe developed in Sicily that has been unchanged since. Regardless of what you choose, you'll be able to taste the history and the love that went into the menu. Make sure to bring cash — credit cards are a no-go here.
Photo courtesy of Alex Pogrebinsky via Sterle's Slovenian Country House
It's not just the amazing food that makes Sterle's Slovenian Country House stand out — the friendly atmosphere and family-style dining experience make every visit to this beloved standby memorable. A meal is $24 per person, and it'll come with heaping portions of pickles and pretzels, pork schnitzel, beer-braised sausage, pierogies and much more cooked up by acclaimed chef Natasha Pogrebinsky. Additionally, you'll be treated to some of the best brews around in Szemerszky's Bier Garden, and lively performances from accordian-bearing polka bands several nights a week.
Photos courtesy of Momocho
Guy Fieri stopped by this small, modern Mexican cafe for the guacamole served six ways (goat cheese, crab, pineapple, pecorino, smoked trout, etc.), but there's so much more to Momocho than the beloved appetizer. The small dining room means the chefs can make everything fresh to order, doing away with the freezers and heat lamps that accompany so many other Mexican restaurants. Stand out items include the Dos Equis-braised beef short rib tamales with red & green mole sauces and crema, or the crab and smoked trout tostadas with tomatillo verde, black beans, queso mixto and a fried egg to top it all off. You really can't go wrong here, as long as you're willing to chase down your choice with a house-made margarita (or a sampler of three flavors).
Pack your picnic basket with the essentials (wine and cheese, of course), and head out to Schiller Park to catch sunset. There's nothing quite as romantic as sharing a picnic on a blanket in a beautiful park. Schiller, nestled in the famed German Village, is certainly one of the prettiest around, but also has an interesting history. The 23.5-acre park was established in 1857, originally dubbed Stewart's Grove. In 1891 however, the park was renamed for the famous German poet, Friedrich Von Schiller, who is forever commemorated by his statue in the center of the park. In World War I, when American sentiment was anti-German, the park was named after Washington (along with several nearby streets), but luckily the change didn't last long. Due to the poetic nature of this Columbus gem, it is only fitting it is named after an artist! Enjoy your packed meal here among the trees and beautiful scenery, and hit a nearby pub for cocktails in the German Village afterward.
Photo courtesy of Joe Santry via the Columbus Clippers
When the weather gets warmer, buy yourself some peanuts and cracker jacks and take yourself out to the ballgame! The Columbus Clippers play on summer evenings at Huntington Park, which has been named the best ballpark in the nation. Root, root, root for the home team alongside your sweetheart. This is a great opportunity to see where his or her loyalties truly lie. Go Clippers!
Photo courtesy of Cooper Fenske Photography via Vertical Adventures
Rock climbing is a fun and challenging way to work your mind and your body at the same time, and it's even more fun when you take your honey along with you! Whether you're belaying or bouldering (no ropes), you will work together to help each other complete problems and reach the top. And bringing a plus one means you'll always have a partner to hold the ropes. Just don't tick them off while you're on the wall — your life is in their hands. On your first visit to Vertical Adventures, you have the option to start bouldering right away, or take Rope 101: Intro to Climbing. This class is $39 a person, but includes your lesson, equipment, and a two week trial at the gym.
Photo courtesy of Star Lanes Polaris
We see you rolling your eyes — bowling is nothing new. But when you reserve a lane at Star Lanes Polaris, you can count on a party. It's bowling like you've never seen it before. Grab a bite and cocktails at the Point Bar & Grill before hitting the pins. Far from typical bowling food, the cuisine here is contemporary, made fresh to order, and delicious as heck. Then grab your shoes, pick out a ball, and aim for the pins in a black-lit setting with private suites and quirky decor.
Photo courtesy of Wine on High
Ready to wind down with a glass or two of your favorite label? Or looking to try something new? This locally-owned shop is home to more than 300 varieties of wine, all of which are available to enjoy by the glass, in a tasting, or in a bottle that you can take home with you. Kick back with your sweetheart and take in the upscale atmosphere while you sip and savor to your heart's content. We recommend pairing your choice with a charcuterie board, filled with artisan cheeses and meats.
Photo courtesy of Tommy Fiesel Shadowbox Live
The Shadowbox Live troupe produces a wide variety of theatrical shows each year, ranging from rock operas and traditional musicals to contemporary dances and comedy shows. Currently Columbus residents can catch the popular sketch comedy, the Lunchbox on select Fridays, Evolutionaries (the stories of Prince and Bowie) through June 22, and so much more.