While we attempt to try something new each weekend, we definitely have our favorite spots in Columbus. I thought we'd give a quick list of answers to our most commonly asked questions, based on service/friendliness/quality/convenience. This list was a collaboration between myself, my decisive 4.5 year old, and my 20 month old (who answers "daddy" and "beep beep" to all questions asked)...
Breakfast: Beechwold Diner (Clintonville)
cinnamon rolls and breakfast potatoes, quick service
Lunch: Hot Chicken Takeover (North Market)
Chicken for me, double mac for them
Dinner: City BBQ (Upper Arlington)
Demolished, every time. Even better if delivered by Skip the Dishes!
Pizza: Donatos
Oh hi, Hawaiian pizza the kids won't touch and a personal cheese for them.
Farmer's Market: Worthington (favorite vendor is Bak!)
Produce galore and adorable shops along the way. PS, the pecan rolls. Amazing.
Donuts: Destination Donuts (North Market)
About that chocolate ganache...does it come in a vat?
Cupcakes: Our Cupcakery (Dublin) and Kittie's (German Village)
Kids love the cupcake bar with ridiculous toppings, I love the bite-sized Kittie cakes with flavors I dream about. I'm not kidding. Ann, you know I'm not kidding.
Cookies: Kittie's face cookies (German Village)
Ummm, they're literally the size of my child's head. She concurs.
Ice Cream: Graeter's (Old Worthington)
I've always loved the view and the chocolate chunks as big as my thumb. We have issues.
Cinnamon Roll (yes, it IS a category): Fox in the Snow
Larkyn is a cinnamon roll connoisseur. If it isn't fab, she's not eating it. She's a clean-plater at Fox!
Park: Whetstone (Clintonville) and Goodale (Victorian Village)
There are so many to love. These happen to be the closest to us or the areas most often visited, and therefore they win. The ponds/bridge/fountain don't hurt for beautiful photo backdrops.
Playground: Fancyburg (Upper Arlington)
Handicap accessible= ramps for the littlest walkers!
Walking trip: German Village
Even with the "gorgeous" brick roads and "charming sidewalks" (aka: stroller-eaters), we love to walk around the area that has everything.
Indoor activities: Saturday morning activities at Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Main Library
Somehow, the FPC never gets old, especially with the different activities from 11-2 every Saturday. And we love to see the trains at the library each winter!
Outdoor activities: Fountainside at The Scioto Mile (downtown)
So. Much. Fun.
Library: Old Dublin
Attend a story time with Miss Val or Miss Loren and then go see the rest of walkable, food-centric Old Dublin (or the Indian Run Falls behind the library)
Pumpkin Patch: Hidden Creek (Galena)
Just the best of all worlds: an actual pumpkin patch with a wagon ride, far animals, a market, and playground. Oh AND a delicious food truck.
Farm: Stratford Ecological Center (Delaware)
Get up close with the animals, take a walk to the pond, through the prairie, or into the woods.
Play Cafe: Treehive (formerly Lattes and Lollipops) and Firefly
Larkyn has grown up going to Lattes and Lollipops, and I have been able to catch up with many friends by letting the kids play in the other room. Firefly is so nice and close now!
Toy/Gift store: Learning Express (Worthington Mall), Wholly Craft (Clintonville), Morgan House (Dublin)
Clothing/shoes: To be totally honest, Target and Zappos all the way! We have major shoe-fitting meltdowns and it's just soon easy to pick up leggings along with the sour cream, right? I also do huge hauls at Once Upon a Time in Dublin and Trader Tots in Grandview. Secret: I often get lucky at the Von Maur (Polaris) clearance rack for shoes.
Local Celeb: Nancy Lockard (The Turtle Lady)
We always seem to be in the same place as Nancy and her reptile babies. We love her!
Grocery Store: Giant Eagle Market District (Kingsdale)
Ugh. We still miss everything about you. Please open a new one on High Street.
Festival: Columbus Independents Day Fest (Franklinton)
This was the surprise of the fall! Hassle-free parking, amazing food options (Hiiiii, Tortilla and Rime Time!), fun kids' activities, and tons of crafters.
To feel fancy: Mozart's Bakery and Piano bar (Clintonville)
It just feels fancy, but is full of kind and understanding staff who roll with it when your child fist pumps when she walks through the door.
Place to splurge: Smidge and Pinch (Powell), Helen Winnemore (German Village), Lily Limes (Worthington Mall)
When it is birthday party season, all bets are off with Smidge and Pinch. We love the play room upstairs at Helen and we pick up and admire pretty much everything at Lily Limes!
Let's remember that this is the list of family favorites. If it was just for me, the list would look quite different. It would be made up of Fox in the Snow, Hubbard Grille, The Pearl, Lennonheads, The Jones Market, Lululemon, and Clothe Ohio (aka: mules, lattes, jewelry and leggings. The basics)
Breakfast: Beechwold Diner (Clintonville)
cinnamon rolls and breakfast potatoes, quick service
Lunch: Hot Chicken Takeover (North Market)
Chicken for me, double mac for them
Dinner: City BBQ (Upper Arlington)
Demolished, every time. Even better if delivered by Skip the Dishes!
Pizza: Donatos
Oh hi, Hawaiian pizza the kids won't touch and a personal cheese for them.
Farmer's Market: Worthington (favorite vendor is Bak!)
Produce galore and adorable shops along the way. PS, the pecan rolls. Amazing.
Donuts: Destination Donuts (North Market)
About that chocolate ganache...does it come in a vat?
Cupcakes: Our Cupcakery (Dublin) and Kittie's (German Village)
Kids love the cupcake bar with ridiculous toppings, I love the bite-sized Kittie cakes with flavors I dream about. I'm not kidding. Ann, you know I'm not kidding.
Cookies: Kittie's face cookies (German Village)
Ummm, they're literally the size of my child's head. She concurs.
Ice Cream: Graeter's (Old Worthington)
I've always loved the view and the chocolate chunks as big as my thumb. We have issues.
Cinnamon Roll (yes, it IS a category): Fox in the Snow
Larkyn is a cinnamon roll connoisseur. If it isn't fab, she's not eating it. She's a clean-plater at Fox!
Park: Whetstone (Clintonville) and Goodale (Victorian Village)
There are so many to love. These happen to be the closest to us or the areas most often visited, and therefore they win. The ponds/bridge/fountain don't hurt for beautiful photo backdrops.
Playground: Fancyburg (Upper Arlington)
Handicap accessible= ramps for the littlest walkers!
Walking trip: German Village
Even with the "gorgeous" brick roads and "charming sidewalks" (aka: stroller-eaters), we love to walk around the area that has everything.
Indoor activities: Saturday morning activities at Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Main Library
Somehow, the FPC never gets old, especially with the different activities from 11-2 every Saturday. And we love to see the trains at the library each winter!
Outdoor activities: Fountainside at The Scioto Mile (downtown)
So. Much. Fun.
Library: Old Dublin
Attend a story time with Miss Val or Miss Loren and then go see the rest of walkable, food-centric Old Dublin (or the Indian Run Falls behind the library)
Pumpkin Patch: Hidden Creek (Galena)
Just the best of all worlds: an actual pumpkin patch with a wagon ride, far animals, a market, and playground. Oh AND a delicious food truck.
Farm: Stratford Ecological Center (Delaware)
Get up close with the animals, take a walk to the pond, through the prairie, or into the woods.
Play Cafe: Treehive (formerly Lattes and Lollipops) and Firefly
Larkyn has grown up going to Lattes and Lollipops, and I have been able to catch up with many friends by letting the kids play in the other room. Firefly is so nice and close now!
Toy/Gift store: Learning Express (Worthington Mall), Wholly Craft (Clintonville), Morgan House (Dublin)
Clothing/shoes: To be totally honest, Target and Zappos all the way! We have major shoe-fitting meltdowns and it's just soon easy to pick up leggings along with the sour cream, right? I also do huge hauls at Once Upon a Time in Dublin and Trader Tots in Grandview. Secret: I often get lucky at the Von Maur (Polaris) clearance rack for shoes.
Local Celeb: Nancy Lockard (The Turtle Lady)
We always seem to be in the same place as Nancy and her reptile babies. We love her!
Grocery Store: Giant Eagle Market District (Kingsdale)
Ugh. We still miss everything about you. Please open a new one on High Street.
Festival: Columbus Independents Day Fest (Franklinton)
This was the surprise of the fall! Hassle-free parking, amazing food options (Hiiiii, Tortilla and Rime Time!), fun kids' activities, and tons of crafters.
To feel fancy: Mozart's Bakery and Piano bar (Clintonville)
It just feels fancy, but is full of kind and understanding staff who roll with it when your child fist pumps when she walks through the door.
Place to splurge: Smidge and Pinch (Powell), Helen Winnemore (German Village), Lily Limes (Worthington Mall)
When it is birthday party season, all bets are off with Smidge and Pinch. We love the play room upstairs at Helen and we pick up and admire pretty much everything at Lily Limes!
Let's remember that this is the list of family favorites. If it was just for me, the list would look quite different. It would be made up of Fox in the Snow, Hubbard Grille, The Pearl, Lennonheads, The Jones Market, Lululemon, and Clothe Ohio (aka: mules, lattes, jewelry and leggings. The basics)
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