Hello! You guys, I feel like it’s been ages, and I also feel like I have a LOT to update you on.

I’m thinking a lot right now about what I want for this space and this community, and though I don’t have all the answers (and of course never really will!), I know there’s change a-brewing.

Part of the impetus behind all these thoughts swirling around my brain is this trip that I took to the lovely Columbus, OH this past weekend. Now a little backstory.

I’m not sure if I’ve talked about this here on the blog, but I’ve had a fascination with and huge desire to visit Columbus for years now. I think it was mostly due to following Alexis and seeing her Columbus life (and dreaming of meeting her), but I also realized there were MANY cool things and people coming from Columbus. What was it about this Midwestern city that was churning out so many cool trendy things, from bloggers I follow to Jeni’s ice cream?

I knew one day I would go and find out for myself. And you guys? It totally lived up to my self-imposed hype. And then some.

I was actually in town for an event called Empowered Voice that was all about encouraging female entrepreneurs to find their voice in the wellness space. The event was truly life-changing, and I will be writing a separate post about it and about how it’s impacted me very soon, so stay tuned for that. But today I just wanted to be a little unofficial cheerleader for this under-appreciated city because it’s truly a gem.

Because I was only in town for the weekend, and I was at the event for most of Saturday and was flying out Sunday afternoon, I didn’t have all that much time. I packed a LOT in Friday, did a bit Saturday after the event, and then also did some stuff Sunday before my flight. In general, when I travel, I really like to go at a leisurely pace, so I made sure I was taking the time to rest and enjoy instead of militantly checking off different boxes on the agenda.

So for example, even though I packed a LOT into Friday and walked over 26000 steps (!!!), I also went and got an impromptu manicure that day and also spent quite a lot of time reading, both in coffeeshops and outside on park benches, whenever the fancy would strike.

Like I wrote in this post about solo travel, the beauty of it is you get to do what YOU want, and that means choosing to stop and go as you please and not following any arbitrary rules for what you SHOULD do. (Okay, getting off my soapbox now).

Here were some of my favorite Columbus discoveries!

 

Where to Eat:

Columbus is a BIG foodie city, particularly with healthy food. Now stereotypically speaking, the Midwest is not often known for trendy healthy cuisine, but Columbus blows all that out of the water. P.S. I had a list of ALL these following cafes on my phone for years because they’re all frequently mentioned on Alexis’s blog. 🙂

Alchemy

Obviously had to go to the place where the magic happens. This is the cafe owned by Alexis herself, and though she was off having a blast at her bachelorette weekend while I was there, I knew I had to check it out regardless. I had the Chunky Monkey acai bowl for dinner one of the nights, and it was UBER satisfying. I just wish I’d added some bananas or strawberries because my bod was craving some fresh juicy fruit.

Bonus points to them for being open late for all those weirdos who like smoothie bowl dinners. But also they have tons of salads, sandwiches, and toasts in case you’re into something more traditional. 😉

Fox in the Snow

Obsessed. This place is probably the most beloved brunch place in Columbus, and rightfully so. They are most famous for their egg sandwiches and their pastries. I got an egg sandwich (BEST egg sandwich I’ve EVER had) and a sticky bun, and I ended up eating the sticky bun throughout the day (best part was finishing it back home in DC at 1am as I caught up on homework LOL). They also had phenomenal coffee.

I ended up buying a Fox in the Snow mug from there too because I’m a sucker for cute mugs, and I figured it would be a great souvenir.

Stauf’s

If I lived in Columbus, I would probably be in Stauf’s daily. I would sit for hours on one of the comfy couches near the fireplace, sipping my delicious coffee while absorbed in a good book. I would order the blueberry muffin with its perfect streusel topping and pillowy-soft inside, and I would just marvel at the sweetness of life.

You guys, this coffee is no joke. In my 2.5 days in Columbus, I went to Stauf’s THREE times. Once for breakfast on Friday, when I got a black coffee and the famous blueberry muffin. I like to get black coffee first when I’m evaluating a place because I find it gives a pretty good indication of the quality. Upon LOVING that, I proceeded to that same day get a decaf iced pumpkin spice almond milk latte when I stumbled upon their second location during my explorations. I normally don’t get flavored coffees because the sweetness tends to overpower the coffee, but Stauf’s syrups are perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and taste really natural and fresh.

And then I loved that latte so much I got the exact same thing on Sunday right before heading to the airport. Ugh I really wish Stauf’s could come to NYC, but I also realize part of its charm is that it’s this small local Columbus haven. For now, I’ll satisfy myself by ordering their beans online.

Northstar

Another cafe Alexis talks about all the time, so I knew it had to be good. I went here for dinner after my event on Saturday. It’s a pretty casual spot (you order at the counter, and they bring your order to your table), and it’s super popular! I got a table pretty easily, but it was definitely filling up as the evening went on.

I got caught in a rainstorm while walking here, so I knew I wanted something warm. I ended up going with the soup and salad combo (soup was a chicken black bean chili) and salad was greens with roasted butternut squash and candied pecans. Yes, it was as awesome as it sounds. I obviously had to get a chocolate truffle cookie for dessert because Alexis has mentioned it’s her favorite Columbus dessert.

Well lo and behold, I ended up getting the LAST chocolate truffle cookie they had! (Talk about fate). Oh and it was legitimately the best cookie I’ve ever had. Yes, including the phenomenal stuff we have in NYC. It was also ginormous, so I ate it over the course of 2 days, and it still tasted like pure angel dreams even 24 hours later.

North Market

This was a place I actually discovered by myself through a bit of preliminary research, and it was on the way on my walk to OSU on Friday, so I figured I’d pop in for a quick look around and a snack. There’s something I absolutely adore about indoor markets in cities; I find they often show the flavor of the city, and I love the energy inside. This market wasn’t too huge, and it wasn’t too crowded, but it was perfectly representative of Columbus. I ended up purchasing a sample bag of different candied nuts from the American Nut Company, and after devouring that as I explored the market, I went back and bought another bag for later because these nuts were LEGIT.

Other fun vendors I saw were a couple bakeries, tacos, spices and homemade sauces (I sampled a ton here, and they were super creative and delicious!), Bavarian pretzels, bubble tea, donuts, and gifts.

This is also where the second Stauf’s location was, where I first got the iced pumpkin spice latte!

Jeni’s

So I technically didn’t have Jeni’s on this trip, but I couldn’t NOT mention it since Jeni’s actually came from Columbus! I first tried Jeni’s in Chicago, actually, and then it came to DC last year, so I am well aware of how phenomenal this ice cream is. So phenomenal, in fact, I count it as one of my top 3 ice creams in America. (The other spots go to Salt & Straw over on the West Coast and Van Leeuwen in NYC). They have super creative flavors that somehow just WORK, and it’s some of the freshest creamiest ice cream you’ll ever have.

I honestly almost got it but decided to save room for the things I wouldn’t be able to get outside Columbus. 😀

 

Where to Walk:

My favorite way to explore any new city is by foot. And though this isn’t the norm in the Midwest as much as it is in Europe, I found Columbus to be a super walkable city. My first day there, I was trying to pack a LOT in, so I think I basically walked half the city. When I finally caved and took an Uber in the evening back to my accommodation because my feet were super sore, I checked my phone steps just out of curiosity, and I’d walked 26000 steps. Damn. Needless to say, I slept like a rock that night.

So I would encourage you to honestly just aimlessly wander for a big chunk of your time in any new city, but particularly Columbus. There are so many beautiful houses and adorable neighborhoods to explore, shops to stumble into, and just lots of adventure to be found.

 

German Village

Easily my favorite neighborhood in Columbus. I’m a sucker for anything European in America, particularly when it’s not “tourism industry-manufactured.” The German Village is authentic as can be, and with its charming brick houses, German shops, and laid-back vibes, it feels like being transported right across the ocean. I love that much of it has looked the same since the arrival of German immigrants in the early 2oth century. You can definitely spend several hours meandering through the streets, admiring the houses, and popping into various small businesses and cafes.

This is where you’ll find the Book Loft, Stauf’s, Fox in the Snow, and Hellen Winnemore’s (see below!)

Sciotto River

I love me a city with a river, and I always try to walk along the river when there is one. The riverwalk along the Sciotto River is truly lovely, and they even had little swinging benches that I definitely had way too much fun swinging on while reading and resting my legs. 🙂

Short North

The trendy hip neighborhood where all the youngsters come out to play. LOL, do I sound like a grandma yet? I got many recommendations to check out this neighborhood, so I finally had a chance when I went to Northstar. It’s a fun area, with tons of bars, restaurants, and stores and lots of people. If I wasn’t alone, I would have definitely spent a lot more time here, but I felt like I got a pretty good feel of it by just walking through the streets and sitting at Northstar for a bit. 🙂

Topiary Garden

Columbus is full of beautiful parks, and this one was my absolute favorite. It was recommended to me by my Airbnb host, and I was honestly blown away upon visiting.

Topiary is the art of creating ornamental trees by clipping and pruning trees and shrubs. I don’t want to ruin the experience but essentially, the park is a topiary recreation of a very famous painting, and it’s pretty freaking awesome.

Ohio State University

I knew I wanted to visit OSU’s campus, just because I’m always curious about college campuses and I knew I could fit in as a student quite easily (heh, like a spy). It was gorgeous. I didn’t have too much time to explore it, since I had to get to Alchemy before it closed for dinner, but the hour or so I took to explore the grounds was well worth it. It has an incredibly calm and peaceful vibe, with a pond and a fountain on the grounds (I mean…), so much green space, and some really beautiful architecture. Definitely check it out!

 

Shopping:

Columbus had SO MANY adorable shops and specialty stores. I didn’t get to go into a whole lot because I was limited in time, but I was blown away by the amount of thriving small businesses and entrepreneurial spirit in this city.

Red Giraffe Designs

I went into this store two separate times because I loved it so much. Even though I didn’t end up buying anything, I know I’ll be stalking their Etsy shop from now on because it’s definitely VERY up my alley. Think gorgeous magical jewelry with crystals and moon shapes and all the magical vibes. I was REALLY close to purchasing a pair of rose quartz moon earrings, but stopped myself at the last minute because I really don’t need new earrings right now. Will I be ordering them online within the week? Stay tuned.

Golden Hobby

A really sweet consignment store where everything is handmade by the senior citizens of Columbus. I had a lovely time exploring all their offerings, and it’s a great place to find gifts.

Helen Winnemore’s Shop

THE place to go if you need to find gifts for literally anyone. Including yourself. It was a gorgeous shop, with everything handcrafted, from cards to jewelry to house decor (and lots lots more). The owners were also incredibly sweet and offered water, tea, or coffee as you shopped. I ended up getting a really cute thank you card here for my Airbnb host!

The Book Loft

Okay, this place was literal heaven for book lovers. It was so awesome in fact that I kept waiting for a “gotcha” or some kind of Punk’d scenario because I’ve simply never seen anything like it.

Nestled in the heart of the German Village (right near Stauf’s actually!) is a 32 room oasis with every possible book and book-related thing you can imagine (tons of cards, bookmarks, totes, and gifts). I spent an hour and a half meandering from room to room and collecting books and bookmarks I couldn’t resist. Oh and here’s the kicker. Their prices are somehow impossibly low. Like half the normal bargain price, or even more. Obviously I got three books even though I already have a bunch on my list and reading is a bit of a struggle in college. But you guys, I just couldn’t handle myself. Plus, it seemed like the most mom-and-pop establishment despite its size, and I knew I wanted to support it.

The closest I’ve ever seen to this was Powell Books in Portland or Strand in NYC, but neither of those has that small business cozy feel that this one did. It honestly felt like a secret wonderland, and I know if I lived in Columbus I would literally go weekly and blow through all my money LOL. Okay, I’ve definitely waxed poetic about this place. Go!

 

Where to Stay:

I would highly suggest Airbnb for Columbus. I was a bit hesitant at first as a solo traveler and knew I didn’t want to be entirely alone in an apartment but instead get a room in a host’s place. I was very selective with the host, making sure the reviews were all favorable and the host seemed accommodating, friendly, and also could make some local recommendations.

I definitely lucked out with my accommodation. Here is where I stayed. It’s a super quirky house and almost gave me Portland vibes haha, but it was also really cute and comfortable. The host was lovely and gave me a whole book of recommendations, and was also really respectful of my space. Oh and she had two awesome dogs who were total sweethearts but also didn’t infringe at all. 🙂

 

And there you have it! Columbus has stolen my heart just like I always knew it would. I’m so grateful I had the chance to check out this thriving city and fulfill that longstanding dream. One of my goals after abroad was to basically not let the adventures and travel stop just because I’m back in the US, and I’m really happy I’m staying true to that.

Thank you for reading, and I hope I’ve convinced you to check out Columbus!

 

Have you ever been to Columbus, Ohio? Do you agree with my recommendations?