This post is part 3 of a 6 part series featuring Experience Columbus Days , which takes place Oct. 8-11. During that time, Columbus attractions offer 50% off (or in some cases, BOGO or free admission). Plus, the restaurants of Dine Originals Columbus offer 25% off your food bill for two people.

In this post, Kelly features some Experience Columbus days ideas that would be great for dates . Stay tuned for future posts in the series - we’ll be featuring Experience Columbus Days activities that are perfect for art fans, fun for kids and recommended for history buffs. You can also check out previous posts featuring outings that are great for groups and delicious dining options .

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Looking for a new date idea? There are some great options within the Experience Columbus Days discount offers. Several activities that are great for dates are highlighted below, so get planning. After all, nothing strengthens a relationship like sharing a new experience together. (more…)

Pigeon Roost Corn Maze

While a trip to the pumpkin patch is a long-standing fall tradition, one experience tops many people’s to-do lists this year: corn mazes.

If you’re one of these people, check out the options below.These pumpkin farms offer one-of-a-kind mazes, featuring everything from unique designs (like Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel) to observations platforms and haunted nighttime adventures. (more…)

Photo: the_girl on Flickr

You know fall has officially arrived when the leaves begin to change color, the weather starts to grow crisp and the smell of bonfires fill the air. And nothing symbolizes the season better than pumpkins. From pumpkin pie and pumpkin-flavored lattes to jack-o-lanterns and Halloween decorations, pumpkins are everywhere by the time October rolls around.

Since it’s never too early to start your search for that perfect pumpkin, I have compiled a list of Central Ohio pumpkin farms. Most offer a combination of pick-your-own and pre-harvested pumpkins, as well as holiday-themed activities ranging from hayrides to petting zoos. (more…)

Getting ready to zip! We got a great view of the ravine on this line.

Hocking Hills , located an hour from Columbus, is like an outdoor playground for adults. Activities range from leisurely hikes through Old Man’s Cave and family-friendly overnights at Lake Hope State Park, to ATV rides through the Hocking Hills Nature Trails. Between four years at nearby Ohio University and a fiancé that loves anything outdoors, I’d experienced it all. Well, almost…

In late 2008, the Hocking Hills Canopy Tours brought Ohio its first zipline course. This 1.5-mile trail takes you across 10 ziplines and over five skywalk bridges. Groups of 10 — eight zipliners and two guides — spend three hours gliding from platform to platform and learning little known facts about the Hocking Hills. Could there be a more perfect way to spend an afternoon? I didn’t think so, so I signed up my fiancé and I in time to celebrate our two-year anniversary. (more…)

Why is it that our to-do lists, filled with places we want to visit and restaurants we want to try, always seem to grow rather than get smaller? When my fiance and I found ourselves with a free weekend recently, we decided to take full advantage and finally cross an item off our list. After much debate—yes, the list is that long—we settled on the Wilds .

Located in southeast Ohio, the Wilds is one of the largest conservation centers in the country. Rare and endangered species from around the world live in this 10,000-acre, open-range habitat. Take one of the several tours offered, and you will get an up close and personal look into this extraordinary world. Only 74 miles from Columbus, the breathtaking views—think open land and rolling hills—made it hard to believe we were still in Ohio.

Once there, we opted for the Open Air Safari, a 2-½ hour tour of the open-range animal areas. We felt like we were entering a scene from Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaurs. Buffalo, giraffe, rhinos and more roamed about freely. A curious few even ventured near enough to the bus for some great candid shots. Along the way, our tour guide shared a wealth of knowledge, fun facts and funny stories with us. At the end of the day, we walked away with more information, stunning pictures and a deeper appreciation for the Wilds’ mission to “advance conservation through science, education and personal experience.”

If the Wilds is not already on your to-do list, it should be. Complete details on tours, pricing and special events can be found here .

Zeppernick Custom Homes (click for a peek at homes on display this year)

My mom has always had a passion for decorating and interior design. Each summer, she’d take my siblings and me to model home shows where we’d spend hours critiquing the houses, debating our favorites and staking claim over which room would be ours if we lived there.

Well, not much has changed. To this day, I can’t resist stopping at an open house or visiting a home show. While the German Village Haus and Garten Tour and the Victorian Village Tour of Homes are both favorites, this year I plan to add a tour to the rotation: BIA Parade of Homes .

The annual BIA Parade of Homes prides itself on “showcasing Central Ohio’s best and brightest in the area of homebuilding, home design and landscaping.” It runs July 24-August 8 at New Albany’s Ackerly Park. Spanning 16 days, this event allows even the busiest of us to make a trip out and uncover some new ideas and fresh inspiration for our own places. (more…)

Photo: Wexner Center for the Arts

For many people, outdoor movies carry a sense of nostalgia: childhood memories of visiting the local park—popcorn and blanket in tow—to watch a movie with friends, family and neighbors. Well, outdoor movies are back, and in a big way.

Sure, you may be familiar with the free movie screenings in NYC’s Central Park or the Screen on the Green series at the National Mall in D.C., but did you know that Columbus has plenty of its own outdoor movie options? With unique venues such as Creekside Plaza and Easton Town Center, and movie options ranging from black and white classics to animated flicks, it’s an experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

To get you started, I’ve put together a list of outdoor movie series throughout Columbus. All are completely free, family-friendly events that are certain to get you out of a summer rut. Pick you favorite flick, pop some popcorn and do something different this summer! (more…)

Photo: Franklin Park Conservatory

Now that the snow has melted, the sun’s shining and the weather is continuing to warm up, it seems the end of winter is finally here. What better way to get in the mood for spring than a trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory ?

Now’s the time to catch Blooms & Butterflies , one of the Franklin Park Conservatory’s most popular exhibits. On March 13, hundreds of butterflies invaded the Conservatory, representing more than 100 species from around the world. This is the exhibit’s seventeenth season, and it will run through July 4, 2010.

You can visit the Conservatory daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., when hours are extended for the after-work crowd. For the bargain hunters out there, note that if you schedule your visit on the first Wednesday of the month you’ll enjoy free admission!

And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the Conservatory Garden Café. Unique dishes, seasonal ingredients and a constantly rotating menu make this a worthwhile stop. If you plan to drop by for lunch or dinner, but don’t have time to enjoy the entire Conservatory, there’s no need to pay the admission fee. Cafe hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m daily, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Broadway Across America-Columbus brings another highly anticipated show to Columbus this week with The 39 Steps .

Adapted from the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, this play has already proven itself a hit with people of all ages. It just finished a two-year run on Broadway, and the original production is in its third year in London. Critics have taken notice as well, awarding the play two Tony Awards and the Olivier Award for best new comedy in 2007.

Credentials aside, this is a show unlike anything I had seen before. Four actors play over 150 characters, and in the process create a frenzied pace that never slows down. The play transports you to a world of make believe—one in which four chairs can be believed to be a car, men can pass for women and a windy day can be conveyed with the mere shaking of the actors own clothes.

The best part? You, the audience, are in on the joke. The actors do not pretend to be fooling anyone. Instead, they embrace the minimal props and get creative with what they’ve got. They even go as far as to purposely slip up on occasion—forgetting to switch into a new character or leaving a prop behind a little too long—just to remind you they know you’re there.

Based on the reaction of the opening night crowd—people were laughing, a lot—I would say this show is a winner. But don’t take my word for it, catch one of the seven remaining performances at the Palace Theatre and judge for yourself. Tickets range from $20-$55 and can be purchased here .

Tip from the CAPA Facebook page : If you act fast, you have the opportunity to purchase two tickets for only $39 to the Wednesday or Thursday show. To redeem this offer, call the CAPA ticket office at 614-469-0939 and use the password “TRAINS”

Photo by Bob Macklin/courtesy of BalletMet

With Thanksgiving come and gone, the holiday shopping list is now on a lot of minds. But before you hit the mall, consider getting a little more inventive.

Why not give your friends and family members an experience you can enjoy together? Who knows, you might even start a new holiday tradition.

Last Christmas, my boyfriend and I took our moms to see the musical Grease at the Palace Theatre. The day was such a hit that we’re continuing the trend this year. We tossed around several possible places to take them, including Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium , Shadowbox: Holiday Hoopla and the Short North Holiday Hop , which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend.

In the end, we decided on a true holiday classic: The Nutcracker , which BalletMet will perform at the Ohio Theatre. Prices start at $29 and performances run December 11-23, so even the busiest holiday schedule can be accommodated. But don’t wait too long to buy tickets, because they go fast - you can get them online here .

I can’t think of a more perfect excuse to get dressed up, enjoy a night out and truly get into the holiday spirit.