The Titanic Exhibit at COSI is so much more than just artifacts and information. It transports you back in time, it tells a story, and it evokes real emotion.

Prior to entering the exhibit, each person is assigned an identity of an actual passenger that was aboard the Titanic. The passenger name, age, city of origin, class (first, second, or third), names of any family members, traveling companions, reason for being on the Titanic and a passenger fact are listed.

When I approached the first artifact, a pair of glasses, I was immediately struck by what great condition they were in! It was truly amazing to think that these very spectacles were on the ship that sunk in 1912 and were submerged under water for at least another 73 years before they were resurrected (Titanic remains weren’t discovered until 1985).

However, it was not the artifacts alone that really impressed me. (more…)

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…)

It’s that time of the year when we tend to take a look back. When I reflect on what the past year and half has meant to Columbus, I’m reminded that this is a city with much to celebrate.

We’re number one. A lot.

I’m not just saying that, either. There’s proof:

Excitement abounded when COSI was named #1 science center in the country by Parents Magazine .

Shortly after that, Columbus was named #1 sports town in the U.S. by Scarborough Sports Marketing.

We love sports, but we also love books. The Columbus Metropolitan Library was ranked #1 library in the nation by Hennen’s American Public Library Rating (it’s been in the top four every year since 1999).

That was followed by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium being named #1 zoo in America by USA Travel Guide .

Then, E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University , was named #1 college president by Time Magazine .

And most recently, Huntington Park was named Ballpark of the Year by Baseballpark Digest (and, the park received the same distinction from BaseballParks.com back in August).

We’re on a roll, Columbus. Who will be honored next?

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.

I haven’t yet settled on what to do for Halloween this year; there are plenty of options for families and night-lifers alike in the days leading up to October 31st. Read on for a few suggestions on how to celebrate the year’s spookiest holiday in Columbus.

HighBall Halloween
Photo: Short North Arts District

HighBall Halloween
High Street, Short North Arts District
Saturday, Oct. 31
4 p.m. - midnight
$2

Last year I attended Highball Halloween; being the first year the event had ever been held I was amazed by how well attended and orchestrated it was. This is a party on a grand scale - think of it as a massive masquerade ball, complete with costume contests, a Costume Couture Fashion Showdown and the Dogtober Howloween Procession for costumed pets. And how often do you get to enjoy beverages and dance to awesome house music with thousands of friends in the middle of High Street? The area will be very busy that night; if you’re not walking, consider calling a taxi or riding a COTA bus to the Short North to avoid the parking congestion.

The Haunted Hotel
Hyatt Regency Downtown Columbus
Saturday, Oct. 31
10:00 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.
$29.99

For a 21 and over crowd, the Hyatt Regency Columbus will transform itself into an oasis of decoration, entertainment and music including a large ballroom, swanky lounge and breathtaking reception balcony.  Check out three rooms of sound with live bands and DJ’s playing the best hip-hop, mash up, techno and house music.

Scarey-oke
Sequoia Pro Bowl
Saturday, Oct. 31
9:00 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.

For a 21 and over crowd, the party will feature karaoke, food and drink specials, costume contests and other events in bowling shoes..

The Haunted Ship
Santa Maria
Thursday, Oct. 29 – Saturday, Oct. 31
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
$5

A family event promising a little "boo" for children of all ages. Take a 15-20 minute walk through the Haunted ship and hear a tale from the high seas about a Captain Boney and his pirate ship. Meet a talking head, a large spider, one of the captain’s original crew and a sea monster.

Spooky Science Weekend
COSI
Friday, Oct. 30 – Saturday, Oct. 31
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
$5.50 - $7.50

Bring the whole family in costume and explore the spooky science of Halloween with COSI’s Pumpkin Patch Science Show, Pumpkin Patch You Try It Family Workshops, trick-or-treat stations, and cart activities like exploding pumpkins and more.

Gables, Gargoyles and Ghosts – oh my!
Columbus Landmarks Foundation
Monday, Oct. 19 – Friday, Oct. 29
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
$25

A great event for the whole family, this bus tour explores the most haunted locations in the downtown Columbus. Hear ghost stories about museums, antique malls, restaurants, and other spooky attractions on the tour.

Looking for more ideas?
Browse a comprehensive list of Halloween events here . You can also download this PDF for trick-or-treat times in each Columbus community.

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.

If you’re on Twitter and you’re going to be in Columbus on Jan. 27, there are two tweetups scheduled and they both feature great Columbus experiences.

Meet your fellow tweeters while you play, dine and shop in Columbus. Details below.

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COSI Columbus Tweetup
Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

• No admission fee (parking for $3, just outside the building)
• Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
• Ride the High Wire Unicycle
• Explore the new Innovation Showcase
• See a special showing of Wild Ocean

RSVP with a tweet to @COSICols .

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UPDATE: Lounge at the Lab has been CANCELLED due to weather.

Lounge at the Lab Tweetup at The Candle Lab and House Wine
Jan. 27, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

• $16
• Pour your own candle at The Candle Lab (Worthington location )
• Enjoy a glass of wine next door at House Wine

You can check out a blog post about this Columbus experience here.

Note: The Candle Lab lost their Grandview location to a fire on Jan. 17. This tweetup has been organized by Columbus local Ryan Morgan to help support them. He’s taking RSVPs here .

Yesterday I attended a press conference announcing an exciting joint venture. The Columbus Museum of Art , COSI Columbus , the Columbus Metropolitan Library and several other central Ohio libraries have partnered to create Egypt in Columbus .

The Columbus Museum of Art and COSI will both feature Egypt-themed exhibits, and have worked together to create a joint Web site to promote them.  The site includes information about both exhibitions, a suggested reading list from participating local libraries and more.

These groups have also collaborated to create a Passport To Egypt for students ages 6-13. Passport holders can explore each of the exhibitions and visit a participating library to answer questions and receive passport stamps. When students finish their journey through Egypt in Columbus, they can turn in their passport at COSI for the chance to win a prize.

More about the exhibitions:

To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum
Columbus Museum of Art
February 13 – June 7
This exhibit explores ancient Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife. More than 100 objects tell the story of mummification, funeral processions and rituals, the contents of the tomb, the final judgment and the afterlife. Take your picture in an ancient Egyptian costume, play the board game of the Pharoahs, and hunt for hieroglyphics.

Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science
COSI Columbus
May 30 – September 7
An interactive exhibition featuring animal mummies, forensic facial reconstructions and, for the first time ever, a life-size rapid prototype of a human mummy. View artifacts from the daily life and funerary culture of ancient Egypt, decipher hieroglyphs and use the tools and technology of archaeologists. Connect with modern scientists working on projects in Egypt through interactive experiences, video interviews and photographs from the field.

Egypt in Columbus will truly make our city a place of exploration and education, and will offer a great way to end the school year or start your summer.