If you only had 24 hours to spend in Columbus, what would you do? This was a hard question for me to answer, but I’ve come up with a list of must sees and must dos that I feel will leave any visitor with an experience uniquely Columbus.

I’m sharing these ideas in a three part series - the first post is geared to families, the next to the business traveler, and finally, a post to help a local decide what to do with visiting friends or family.

Here’s part one of three, with suggestions geared to families.

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24 Hours in Columbus - Family Edition

Columbus has always been a city with lots of fun and affordable things to do with family. Here are some recommendations for a great day in town.

Where to Stay
There are several great hotel options at varying price points around downtown - click here to check them out. Two properties that stick out to me as reasonably priced and great for families are the Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown Capitol Square , near the heart of downtown, and the Drury Inn & Suites Convention Center , near the Arena District. Both have a complimentary breakfast, a pool and adjoining rooms upon request.

Where to Eat
Cap City Fine Diner & Bar in Grandview is a local favorite. The menu features old diner favorites with an upscale twist, and you can’t go wrong with the meatloaf.

Max & Erma’s was founded in Columbus back in 1972 and serves great family meals as well as a good drink selection. You can dine at one of their 15 Columbus area locations, including the original Max & Erma’s in German Village. Don’t forget your order of hot cookies. (more…)

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.

On the heels of Melissa’s last post sharing a few free things to do in the coming weeks, I thought I’d share a new package that offers an incredible deal for experiencing Columbus in the coming months.

The Columbus Lights & Sights Gift Getaway includes $700 worth of things to see and do for only $259.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Two nights accommodations (Drury Inn & Suites is the preferred hotel)

• Four tickets to Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

• Four tickets to the Columbus Museum of Art , including the Chihuly Illuminated exhibit

• Four tickets to the Franklin Park Conservatory , including the Chihuly Reimagined exhibit and holiday displays

• Four tickets to COSI , including the Joys of Toys

• Two free kids’ meals at Max & Erma’s

To repeat: all that stuff up there is a total of $259. It really is that inexpensive.

Have more than four people? No problem - you can book for more and pricing will be adjusted accordingly.

For more details or to book a Lights & Sights Gift Getaway, click here .

And stay tuned for more Columbus holiday ideas, coming from Kelly next week.

If you’re looking for inexpensive summer entertainment options, you’re in luck.

Columbus is home to the #1 zoo and the #1 science center in the United States. So this summer, Experience Columbus is helping families discover how affordable a weekend of fun and exploration can be. We have partnered with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, COSI , Drury Inn & Suites , Bob Evans , Greater’s Ice Cream and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to put together the Roar and Explore Package .

Through Labor Day, for only $299, a family of four will receive the following:

• Four tickets to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

• Four tickets to Zoombezi Bay water park

• Four tickets to COSI

• Two nights at the Drury Inn & Suites , with your choice of three locations in Columbus. Other hotel choices are also offered, but prices may vary.

• One free kids meal at Bob Evans

• One free junior cone at Graeter’s Ice Cream

• $15 gift card to Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

Additional family members may be added when booking. Packages can be booked online or by calling (888) 236-8084.

If you’re looking to create your own affordable getaway or show off the city to friends and family who are in town, check out these lists of Free Things to Do and Things Under $10 for ideas.

Also, festival and special event season in now upon us and Columbus has some of the best cultural and artistic celebrations  in the country - many with free or inexpensive admission. For specific details about some of them, check out this page that features members of the Greater Columbus Events Council.

There is plenty of inexpensive fun to be had and ways to save on some of the best entertainment in town.

The post below was written by Emily Swartzlander of the Greater Columbus Arts Council . A celebrity author will visit Columbus during the Asian Festival this weekend, so Emily’s here to share the details along with her recommendations for an Asian-themed weekend in Columbus.

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An Asian-themed weekend in Columbus, including FREE events with bestselling author Amy Tan
by Emily Swartzlander, Greater Columbus Arts Council

Experience Asian culture in Columbus this weekend as the Greater Columbus Arts Council , The Ohio State University and the Asian Festival culminate a month-long celebration of The Joy Luck Club with two free events featuring bestselling author, Amy Tan.

Her visit to Columbus is part of The Big Read , a month-long initiative to encourage reading among adults with events and discussions surrounding The Joy Luck Club.

Amy Tan will be the featured speaker for OSU’s President and Provost’s 2008-09 Diversity Lecture & Cultural Arts Series on Fri., May 22 at 7 p.m. at Mershon Auditorium , where she’ll read from The Joy Luck Club, discuss her work and take questions from the audience. You can pick up your free tickets at the Mershon box office in advance or the day of the event. Then, on Sat. May 23, Tan will greet fans and sign books at the Asian Festival at noon in Franklin Park.

And while you’re at it, why not have an Asian-themed weekend in the city? Here are my suggestions on how to make it a weekend:

Friday
Head to Mershon Auditorium for the free Amy Tan reading, then have a late dinner and drinks at Nida’s Thai on High in the Short North. Pad Thai and a dirty ginger martini? Nothing beats that!

For out of town guests, stay overnight at The Lofts hotel and try their Zoo A-Go-Go package. You’ll get overnight accommodations and up to four free passes to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – the #1 Zoo in America – where you can meet their new baby Asian elephant.

Saturday
Head to brunch at Zencha Tea Salon , featuring specialty teas from throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. Plus, they have really yummy pancakes!

Then head over to the Asian Festival in Franklin Park for Amy Tan’s book signing. While you’re there, check out the Asian games section, where you can learn how to play Mahjong or Sepak-Tekraw. Or you can head to the Market Place for Asian artwork, gift items, spices, pottery and clothing for you or your friends.

Wrap up your day with that visit to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium , courtesy of your Lofts package, then head back downtown for dinner at the Indian Oven for a chic atmosphere and incredible Indian comfort food such as naan, tandoori and biryani. My favorite’s the Tandoori Chicken Makhni, which loosely translates to “butter chicken.” Delicious.

Photo by Randall Lee Schieber