At Experience Columbus, we strive to help our potential visitors find great travel experiences in ways that work best for them, whether it’s in our publications, on our web site , via Twitter , on Facebook or Flickr. Recently, we’ve seen a lot of buzz around Pinterest , a social network that’s starting to gain traction. The more we looked at it, the more we though it could work well for both showing off the great things there are to see , do , eat and drink and also, as a powerful trip planning tool for our visitors.

Pinterest is a visual way to bookmark links. Whether it’s pictures of things that inspire you, DIY or craft projects you want to try, videos that make you laugh, or places you want to visit, it’s a really nice way to help yourself remember those aspirations and share them with your network of friends. Pinning these images and videos is very easy - first you need to do is pull the "Pin It" button into your browser’s task bar. When you find an image or video you want to pin, just click that button, select which of your boards you want the item to be pinned onto, then type a few words about it. It takes about five seconds. You can find images and videos to pin all across the web, or you can browse or search Pinterest and re-pin things that other users have added.

Pinterest is also great for planning a trip. For instance, if you’re planning a visit to Columbus in the spring, you can check out our boards , follow us, and re-pin on your own board images of the activities you want to do , restaurants you want to try and places you want to stay . The really nice thing about this is that you can very easily co-plan a trip with another person or a group. If you’re finally taking that long-talked-about girls getaway or getting the family reunion organized, you can invite all the members of your travel party to pin to the same board so you’re not all searching through email chains to agree on the plan for a day out.

Because Pinterest is gaining popularity quickly, you normally have to request an account and wait a few days for it to be activated. To make the process must quicker, Experience Columbus is happy to send you an invitation, which gets you in right away. To request and invitation, email me at jvargo@experiencecolumbus.com . Please make "Pinterest" the subject line of your email.

As you explore this new tool, let me know what you like and don’t like about Experience Columbus’ boards (http://pinterest.com/expcols .) What do you wish you could find, that we haven’t covered yet?

Happy Pinning!

This post is written by Bethia Woolf, blogger at AltEatsColumbus , StreetEatsColumbus and TacoTrucksColumbus and owner of Columbus Food Adventures . You can reach Bethia on Twitter @CbusAdventures .

Coffee has long been a vibrant part of the Columbus culinary scene, with Stauf’s, Cup’o'Joe , and Cafe Brioso providing top quality local alternatives to national chains. And, with a recent explosion of new roasters and purveyors, it’s getting even better:

1. Thunderkiss Coffee - Jason Valentine, owner of Thunderkiss, is the McGyver of caffeine. His minimalist garage operation puts out meticulously roasted, top quality single-origin beans from Peru, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Rwanda. Look for his beans (including in giftable antique mason jars) at Fresh Street.

2. Upper Cup Coffee - For brothers Micael and Samson Habte, coffee is in their blood. Their mother, an Eritrean immigrant, roasted for home-use and prepared her home-brewed coffee for guests as a matter of custom. In their new Old Town East location, they roast and brew for the general public, and provide exceptional Ethiopian and South American single-origin beans for purchase or for consumption in their comfortable Parsons Ave. shop.

3. Impero - Impero’s Short North location has become a fast favorite in the neighborhood. Serving coffee from beans roasted in their Grove City operation, its easy to see how their espresso and coffee offerings keep ‘em coming back.

4. Luck Brothers - Nobody in town has his finger on the pulse of what’s what in coffee more than Andy Luck. Thought not a roaster himself, Andy works extensively with roasters to get the exact flavor profiles he wants to serve in his shop in Grandview. Visit him to taste the fruits of his drive for perfection.

5. Yeah Me Too - No phone, no website, no credit cards accepted - Yeah Me Too does things the old-fashioned way. This small Clintonville roaster has developed a devoted cult following on the north side, and its small selection of quality single-origin beans are often considered to be among the best in town.

6. Back Room Coffee Roasters - The back room’s coffee, and the front room is the Lane Ave. Trek store. Put them together and you have a roaster who turns out high-end arabica beans and delivers them to retailers all over the city via bike.

7.) There is a new artisan small-batch roasting company opening on Price Avenue in the Short North this weekend, look out for them at the Holiday Hop.

When it comes to coffee, it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by all there is to know. Columbus Food Adventures aims to demystify the subject with its new Coffee Tour , which explores the world of Columbus coffee. It’s a tour in 3 acts: 1) visit a roaster (Stauf’s) to learn about what goes into turning raw coffee beans into something exquisite, 2) stop at a top espresso bar (Cafe Brioso) to discuss turning those beans into top quality espresso drinks, 3) finish at a premier coffee shop (Luck Bros.) to learn about how to get the best from your beans at home. At each stop there will be coffee and snacks, and – most importantly – plenty of information on how to get the best out of home coffee preparation! The first tour is this Saturday, December 3rd and tickets are available online.

The Wilds is North America’s largest wildlife research and conservation facility, covering more than 10,000 acres of former coal mine. With more rhinos in one place than anywhere outside Asia and Africa, and dozens of exotic and endemic species, the Wilds is at the forefront of saving animals from extinction. Every Saturday through September, the Wilds runs a Sunset Safari , where visitors can have a relaxing dinner, see the animals in their huge paddocks at their most active, pet a rhino, and get an in-depth look at all the work that goes into conservation. It’s truly a magical experience.

A couple days ago, I saw some friends on Facebook had posted a link from National Geographic – ranking Columbus in the Top 10 Best Fall Travel Destinations for 2011 – alongside Dublin, Ireland; the vineyards of Switzerland; the polar bears of Churchill, Manitoba; the Day of the Dead celebration in Puebla, Mexico; and Zanzibar! My first thought was, “of course it is!” I’ve lived here for seven years, and I can’t think of a better place to be. Most people I know who haven’t visited Columbus don’t have any idea what the city is like – they usually assume it’s a kinda-bland, typical Midwestern place. But most people who have been here can’t say enough good things about us. If you saw Columbus on that list and said “huh?” here’s why I think we’re on that list: It’s not just the great attractions (#1 Zoo and #1 Science Center in the country,) the events (Greek Festival , ComFest , Independents Day , Festival Latino ,) sports (Crew , Blue Jackets , Clippers , Ohio State ) or food (Jeni’s , Basi Italia , Wayward Seed Farm , North Market ) that make Columbus such an awesome place to live and visit. It’s not just the great neighborhoods (Short North Arts District , German Village , Arena District ) the great shopping (Tigertree , Easton , Grandview Mercantile ) arts (Ohio Theater , Junctionview Studios ) places to stay (German Village Guesthouse , The Lofts ) or the brand new parks (Columbus Commons , Scioto Mile .) You can’t really point to one thing that Columbus is known for, and say – “THAT’s it. That’s why we should visit.” When you put all of these things together, with the creative, smart, savvy, welcoming, passionate people who are creating the culture of Columbus, you get a city that’s not just a Top 10 Travel Destination, but a city that’s just waiting for you to explore it. Even after living here for years, I know I’ve got a lot of discoveries yet to make. Columbus is a new place every time you change your perspective – and I hope this ranking from National Geographic inspires visitors and locals alike to view Columbus from another vantage point and start exploring! I want to know why you think Columbus made this list. What’s your Ode to Columbus? You can leave a comment below, or if you would like to write a guest post for the Experience Columbus blog - email me at jvargo@experiencecolumbus.com . Let’s share this city with the world!

Everyone needs a break from the city now and then. In Columbus, you’re lucky, because only 45 minutes southeast of downtown, you can really get the sense that you’re getting away from your daily routine - both by getting your adrenaline pumping through adventure, and by disconnecting from the world and relaxing.

Southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills region offers all of that and more. Set among hemlock forests and steep gorges with rushing waterfalls, the Hocking Hills have been a special place of rejuvenation for centuries. One way to take in the beauty of the Hocking Hills and scream your worries away is with a zip at Hocking Hills Canopy Tours . With 10 zip lines, five rope bridges and guides who know the finer points of ecology and make you feel safe, it’s a great adventure! Most people, even in they’re afraid of heights, have a great time during this 2 ½-hour tour. My wife and I zipped with her family last summer, and every one of us felt exhilarated!

If you’re truly brave, you shouldn’t miss the Super Zip – a super-fast zipline you fly down “Superman” style. It takes you directly over the gorgeous Hocking River, which you’ll see if you can keep your eyes open!

After your blood is pumping, you can relax with a canoe or kayak trip down the river with Hocking Hills Canoe Livery . The outfitter offers two trip lengths, so if you’re feeling strong, go for the seven-mile paddle. Along the banks, you’ll likely see lots of wildlife, and great scenery.

When you’re too tired out to do anything more, check into Glenlaurel Scottish Country Inn . It’s truly a world-away, with a refined Scottish Highlands theme and luxurious rooms. If you can catch dinner there, you may just be serenaded by bagpipes. Schedule time to lounge around your room in the soft robes, and enjoy the beds, stuffed to the hilt with goosedown.

The best part about all this? Downtown Columbus is so close! The Hocking Hills are a great reason to tack another day onto your Columbus getaway.

This post is written by Sandi Combs, Marketing Coordinator for Experience Columbus. You can follow Sandi on Twitter at @Sandi_ExpCols .

There are only four more days until the state fair! One of the largest in the country, the Ohio State Fair offers 11 days of competitions, agricultural exhibitions, delicious food and top-notch entertainment. With so much to see and do, here’s an overview of all the ways to have fun.

Food: From American to Chinese to Mexican and more, you’re sure to find something to please your palate from at least one of the 189 food vendors. The Fair is also famous for the plethora of fried goodies available, from fried buckeyes to fried mashed potatoes. New foods for 2011 include: fried Kool Aid, frozen key lime pie on a stick, honey caramel ice cream, the Krispy Kreme burger (literally a hamburger between two donuts), and the pork parfait. The Fair’s new Food Finder can help you find what you crave! Text “FoodFind” to 82672 or download the free Mobile Food Finder app for Droid or iPhone.

Entertainment: Whether you seek the excitement of the more than 60 rides at the Mountain Dew Midway, or you prefer to browse the wares at the creative and find arts showcases, you’ll find plenty to do. There’s also a Kiddieland with a petting zoo and kid-friendly rides, a daily 4 p.m. parade, shopping, sports competitions, livestock showcases and much more. It’s also worth mentioning the Fair’s Concert & Event Series. This year’s performers include Ke$ha, Journey, Brad Paisley, Melissa Ethridge, Meat Loaf, Seether, Trace Adkins, plus many others. Complete attraction information is here .

What’s New: For the first time since 2007, the Fair will have nightly fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Also, this year marks the first time since the Fair has been at the Ohio Expo Center that Ohio beer and wine will be sold. New attractions include the live shark encounter exhibit, as well as the limited-time Civil War Encampment on the DiSalle Lawn.

Personally, I’m looking forward to trying the frozen key lime pie on a stick, riding the Ferris wheel and seeing the sharks at the shark encounter. Here’s what others say are their favorite things to see, do or eat (via Twitter):

@Lexi_Sweet - People watching is the best! Love lemon shake-ups & always eat in the Ohio Agriculture building. #ohiostatefair

@debbie_piper - the Ohio State Fair is magical because of the food! The swirly cotton candy, the corn dogs, root beer, corn, french fries!

@CaRinn - Seeing all the wonderful things that skilled ohioans have made!

@ladonnablair - I love seeing the farm animals and can’t wait to attend this yrs ohio state fair.

Visit the Fair’s website for complete information to plan your visit, and let us know what you’re looking forward to most!

Photo of the Week is a new feature we’re adding to show you the vitality and fun that’s happening in Columbus!  If you’ve got photos of Columbus you’d like us to consider, leave a comment below with the url.

Our first installment comes from Bethia Woolf , owner of Columbus Food Adventures and blogger at Alt Eats Columbus and Taco Trucks Columbus .