I work with a variety of groups visiting Columbus – girlfriend getaways, family reunions, church groups, school groups, book clubs…the list goes on. And they almost always ask for “something different” to do.

In response to these requests, Experience Columbus has worked with a number of partners to develop a variety of options for people looking to do something fun and hands-on. We now have 57 different “experiential” activities that include everything from interacting with exotic zoo animals to learning about herbs to tasting and toasting with Irish beers .

If you’re part of a group looking to plan something unique in Columbus, check out some of what’s available:

• Be a Columbus Clippers baseball player . Attend a press conference announcing your signing with the team, dress in the clubhouse, warm up in the cages and then take the field.

 

• Go behind the scenes of the renowned BalletMet and discover what it takes to bring a production to life. Learn secrets the audience never sees, enjoy an interactive meeting with dancers and take an exclusive backstage tour

 

• Participate in a one-of-a-kind sensory experience in Worthington . Blend and pour a scented candle, then sniff and sample among two-dozen distinctive wines.

 

• Learn what’s in fashion from the experts , create scrapbook memories , and learn to cook with top chefs – all at Easton Town Center.

 

• Cook with spicy foods master CaJohn , sample an array of amazing tastes and learn how artisan ice cream is made from farm-to-table at Columbus’ lively and historic North Market

 

• Tour a 13,000 year-old cranberry bog where only a rare few are permitted to travel, create a blown glass ornament and make teas when you explore Licking County

 

• Pamper yourself at a spa , enjoy an evening of adventurous dining , and become a winemaker in the lively Short North Arts District

 

• Be a horse trainer for a day , learn about saddles, bits and more or discover some betting secrets of the pros with a behind-the-scenes thoroughbred racing experience

 

A complete list of current tours can be found here . For more details or to set up an experience for your group, feel free to call me at 614-222-6136 or send me an email .

The countdown has begun for the annual Dublin Irish Festival , taking place July 31-Aug. 2. If you’ve always wanted to go to Ireland but didn’t have the funds or time to make that trip, this is the place to be!

First, there are numerous culture exhibits throughout the weekend. Reenactors will share what it was like to live in 10th century Ireland - everything from how they made their food to how they fought in battles. You can also participate in hands-on activities and crafts, some of which are taught by nationally and internationally known artists.

I normally end up enjoying some great music or dance performances at one of the seven stages, and having fish and chips from Old Bag of Nails. Of course, a cold cup of beer is a must and Coors brewed a special beer in honor of the event - the Dublin Irish Festival Stout .

This year, I plan on trying something new by watching some traditional Celtic sports like caber toss and stone throw. It’s amazing how strong the men are. And who would have thought sheep herding was a sport?

Tickets are on sale now and you’ll save a dollar if you purchase yours online by July 30. For more details, including a planning tool you can use to schedule your whole weekend, visit DublinIrishFestival.org .

Hole #9
Photo: the Memorial Tournament

Every year, my in-laws visit from South Carolina to attend the Memorial Tournament . It’s a special week in Central Ohio – I always look forward to it, and I always have fun. This year, it’s June 1-7.

PGA superstars descend upon Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, a northwest suburb of Columbus. The course and the tournament were created by Columbus native and golf legend Jack Nicklaus. As the Memorial Tournament site explains, Jack set out to design a golf course that would challenge the world’s best players in a spectacular setting, and he created the Memorial Tournament to remember and honor great golfers of the past. The tournament also gives back to the community through charitable donations to organizations throughout Columbus and Ohio.

My husband and my father-in-law, golf fanatics, run around the course chasing the likes of Kenny Perry, Fred Couples and Tiger Woods, to name just a few (you can check the most current list of who’s confirmed for 2009 by watching the news that appears here ).

In the meantime, my mother-in-law and I take in the previously mentioned spectacular setting. Muirfield Village Golf Club is an idyllic backdrop for the tournament – the landscaping and houses that line the course are beautiful, and everything is remarkably pristine.

Want to experience it for yourself? PGA tickets for the tournament are available here . You can also connect with the Memorial Tournament on Facebook and Twitter .