About Town: Columbus
By Ceri Mobley, PGATOUR.COM Associate Site Producer
This is Jack's week. And if you know Jack, you know it had better be a good one. So here's everything you need to know to make your week around the golf course worth the trip to Ohio for the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley.
SOMEWHERE TO SNOOZE
Explore the city: Muirfield Village Golf Course is actually in Dublin, Ohio, which is about 20 minutes north of Columbus -- the state's capital -- so your best bet for hotels is there. For your best view of the city, book a room at The Columbus, A Renaissance Hotel. This four-star, 21-story hotel is about half an hour from the golf course but only a few blocks from shops, restaurants and other downtown attractions. Its best feature is the rooftop fitness center and outdoor pool with hot tub and sundeck -- hopefully the weather will treat you right. Rates start at $169 a night.
Other options
• The Blackwell: Another four-star hotel within 30 minutes of the course is The Blackwell, located in the university district. Too bad it's not football season. Rates start at $129 a night.
• La Quinta: If you'd rather have something a little closer to the course, then try the two-star La Quinta Inn Dublin, which is less than 15 minutes away. Rates start at $79 a night.
SOMETHING TO SNACK ON
If you know anything about American food, you know that one of the favorite on-the-go restaurants was born right here in Columbus. Need a clue? She has red pigtails and a lot of freckles. That's right; Wendy's calls these parts home. So why not honor an American favorite while you're in town this week? Yes, it's a little unusual to feature a fast-food joint in this guide, but you can't say you've never enjoyed something tasty from Wendy's. Whether it's a spicy-chicken combo followed up with a chocolate frosty -- or something a little healthier off their salad menu -- you can tip your hat to Dave Thomas and walk it off on the golf course.
Other options:
• Since you're in a city named after explorer Christopher Columbus, you should branch out and try some European food. Columbus was Italian, but that's not hard to come by in America, so how about a trip to Barcelona Restaurant? Spanish-inspired food and a full bar awaits you at Barcelona. Try the chilled spiced peach soup to start, follow up with the Barcelona paella and finish off with a dessert of the day.
• Check out the classy side of Columbus at Lindey's. Located in Columbus' popular German Village, Lindey's has an extensive menu featuring such delicious dishes as honey-glazed duck, Block Island swordfish and Portobello mushroom ravioli.
• While you're in the German Village, give something German a try. Schmidt's Sausage Haus is a traditional style Bavarian restaurant with all the wieners and beer you could want. They also have German Chocolate Cake and Apple Strudel for dessert. Yum.
SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT
• German Village: Since it's already had a couple of mentions, you might as well add it to your list. This part of Columbus was originally settled by German immigrants in the mid 1800s and has been restored to represent its German original spirit and style. It's a stroll-around-and-enjoy-the-afternoon-kind-of place. The beautiful German architecture and brick-laden streets house great restaurants (see: something to snack on) as well as antique shops and boutique stores.
• Columbus Santa Maria: When Columbus set sail in 1492, it was in the Santa Maria -- a 98-foot wooden cargo ship. Today, you can explore a life-size replica of the explorer's signature vessel. Not only can you see what life on the ship would have been like 500 years ago, you can also learn about how the exploration team set off on their adventure and what unfolded when they reached America's shores.
• Franklin Park Conservatory: You're in a town of exploration, so head to the FPC and walk through the open-air gardens that feature flora and fauna from different regions of the world. Habitats include Brazil, Indonesia, Mongolia, Northern Europe and the USA. If you're feeling particularly inquisitive, you can even attend lectures on the various foliage growing in the conservatory.
• Center of Science and Industry: For the geek in you. You might not have ever been good at science in school (or maybe you were), but parts of it always were pretty interesting, right? At COSI, one of Columbus' biggest and most popular attractions, you can play around with science to your heart's content. Try your hand at being a CSI detective, travel through time and learn about the wonders of the human body. It's all the fun of science class without the tricky test at the end.
STICKING AROUND?
• Yes, more baseball: Head southwest for about an hour and 45 minutes from Columbus, and you'll find yourself in Cincinnati -- hopefully just in time for a ball game. The Reds, who play at the exceptionally awesome Great American Ball Park, will host the Pittsburgh Pirates early in the week and the Atlanta Braves at the end. Pick one or go to both and enjoy the riverside stadium.
• Birthplace of aviation: Even closer than Cincinnati is Dayton, Ohio, which lies just over an hour to the west of Columbus. Why make the trip? To visit the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. North Carolina was where the Wright Brothers took their experiment, but Dayton is where the idea was born. Learn all about the history that led to the Boeing you flew in on this week.
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