Urban Adventures and Natural Wonders: 72 Hours in Columbus and Hocking Hills
A long weekend getaway to Columbus, Ohio and the Hocking Hills offers a perfect combination of city experiences and nature. Columbus, Ohio recently was ranked as a Top Best Big City in the US as part of Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for 2024. So, Columbus should definitely be on your radar -- and I totally agree. Pair a trip to Columbus with an adventure to the Hocking Hills and you will enjoy a well-rounded vacation exploring both the city and nature. There are many things to experience throughout this trip, but here are some of my favorite discoveries to consider for your itinerary:
Explore Chihuly Art in Nature at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus has one of the largest Chihuly Glass Art Collections in the country on display. Each piece is interwoven throughout nature scenes at the conservatory. I have wandered through Chihuly exhibitions before but have never experienced one so beautifully folded into nature. In fact, nature provides one of Chihuly's inspirations so it is fitting to discover his art within a botanical garden.
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| Chihuly glass art adds interesting creative elements throughout Franklin Park Conservatory. |
Touring the Thurber House
The 1873 Victorian Queen Anne brick home of James Thurber welcomes Columbus visitors to learn more about the renowned humorist, cartoonist, author, playwright, and journalist as well as his family. Thurber lived in the family home from 1913-1917 while he attended The Ohio State University. In the decades after the family left, the home would go into disrepair. Fortunately, attorney Arthur Vorys would purchase the Thurber House and the other historic homes on Jefferson Avenue with the purpose of restoring them.
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| The Thurber House is a charming brick Queen Anne home constructed in 1873. |
Inside the home, you will discover many Thurber artifacts and memorabilia as well as period pieces. I personally enjoyed Thurber's illustrations. While touring the home, you will learn about Thurber's life and career including anecdotes tying Thurber's home and childhood to some of his writing.
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| James Thurber's original Underwood typewriter rests upon a desk within the Thurber House. |
Today, the Thurber House provides a variety of resources for writers including writing workshops. Additionally, youth programs help inspire young authors.
German Village
If there is one historic neighborhood to explore in Columbus, Ohio, it is --in my opinion -- German Village. I love strolling along the cobblestone streets enjoying the historic ambiance. Originally settled by German immigrants in the early to mid 19th century, German Village invites amblers to explore charming brick homes, a cache of small businesses, German fare at the iconic Schmidt's Sausage House, a maze of books at The Book Loft, and nature at Miller Park.
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| A charming salt box brick home in German Village. |
Johnson's Real Ice Cream
Johnson's Real Ice Cream provided a highlight during our Columbus, Ohio getaway. The Johnson's story began in 1950 in Bexley, Ohio when Robert N. Johnson and son-in-law James Wilcoxon opened their first ice cream shop. Since then, three generations of Johnsons have kept churning out amazing ice cream flavors and now have 6 ice cream shops.
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| Delicious, locally churned ice cream from Johnson's Real Ice Cream. |
A Foodie Wonderland at North Market
Columbus' North Market originally opened in 1876 and today features a wonderland of flavors through a vibrant collection of local food vendors. North Market offers a great spot to enjoy different ethnic dishes as well as an easy dining compromise if travelers in your party have difficulty settling on one spot. Plus, you experience a piece of Columbus history.
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| A peek at some of the food stalls at North Market in Columbus, Ohio. |
Scioto Trail
The Scioto Trail hugs the banks of its namesake -- the Scioto River. While walking the trail, enjoy spectacular views of the river, landmarks, and cityscapes.
A peek at the LeVeque Tower from Columbus' Scioto Trail.
Trails Inside Hocking Hills State Park Offer Some of the Best Hiking Trails in Ohio
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| A waterfall gently cascades below a bridge inside Hocking Hills State Park. |
Nestled within Ohio's Hocking State Forest, Hocking Hills State Park holds over 25-miles of hiking trails allowing visitors to experience serene waterfalls, spectacular rock formations, cool caves, and steep, erosion-sculpted cliffs. Trails throughout Hocking Hills State Park certainly dazzle with breathtaking view after breathtaking view.
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| Rock formations at Hocking Hills State Park captivate. |
Hiking through the canyons of Hocking Hills State Park quickly ignites a sense of awe at the power of nature. You will find yourself feeling quite small in comparison to the steep cliff sides -- some left with rough and craggy edges and others with smoothly sculpted sides. Waterfalls exhibit different flows from delicate drips to thicker flowing ribbons. Caves invite another level of exploration. At every turn, we truly felt we were experiencing an incredible and unique creation of nature.
Useful Tidbit: Hocking Hills State Park is about an hour from Columbus.
The Hocking Hills landscape is crafted from Black Hand Sandstone laid down by ancient seas. The sandstone derived its name from a black handprint petroglyph left by Native Americans on the sandstone near Newark, Ohio. Glacial flooding would craft the canyons, cliffs, and waterfalls of the preserve. The resulting landscape, weather worn by thousands of years of erosive forces definitely delights with the best of Columbus area hiking and should be on your list when traveling in the region.
Hocking Hills State Park includes several sections highlighting a variety of natural features. So, map out your day or days of exploration in advance to best enjoy the southern Ohio preserve. However, if you are limited on time exploring any section will leave you marveling at the grandness of nature.
Recommendations for Experiencing Hocking Hills State Park:
- Make sure to wear adequate hiking shoes as trails can be rocky, muddy, and wet.
- Hiking sticks may prove useful.
- Bring along a snack and water.
- Even though the trails may seem short on paper, some can be pretty rigorous and take some time to complete
What are your recommendations for visiting Columbus, Ohio or Hocking Hills State Park? Leave your ideas in the comments.
.png "A long weekend getaway to Columbus, Ohio and the Hocking Hills offers a perfect combination of city experiences and nature.")
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