Fall in Columbus – it’s the perfect time of year! With the beautiful leaves, beautiful weather and great produce coming to market, it’s no wonder we made National Geographic’s Top 10 Fall Travel Destinations list! But if Nat Geo’s endorsement isn’t enough to entice you to visit, we’ve got another great reason to explore Columbus in October: Experience Columbus Days !

Experience Columbus Days is a city-wide partnership that runs Oct. 7-10, offering amazing deals and discounts to fun attractions , and 25% off your food bill at any Columbus Dine Originals restaurant !

If you’re a local, it’s a great time to explore the parts of Columbus you may have been missing –17 marquee attractions around the city like the Columbus Zoo, COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Museum of Art offering half-price admission or buy-one-get-one tickets. If you’ve still never stopped a rhino at the Wilds or indulged in a tour with Columbus Food Adventures – they’re offering half-price tickets, too!

If you’re from out of town – what better time is there to visit? You can experience twice the number of attractions for your dollar, and get some great deals on Columbus’ independent and crave-worthy restaurants while you’re at it! It’s a great chance to turn a day-trip into an overnight stay to double the fun in another way!

To take advantage of these great deals, all you have to do is print out and show the Experience Columbus Days flier or simply visit it on your mobile device and show the screen to the particpating attraction’s ticket taker or restaurant’s server.

I hope you have a great time discovering the city! And make sure to share your experiences with us on Facebook and Twitter !

Blacksmith at Historic Roscoe Village

This post is part 6 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, Tony features great spots for history buffs to enjoy during Experience Columbus Days. You can also check out previous posts that feature delicious dining options , plus outings that are great for groups , great for dates , perfect for art fans and fun for the whole family .

Have a great weekend experiencing Columbus. The discounts start tomorrow!

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Did you know that downtown Columbus was once a strand of forest called Wolf’s Ridge? Or that Columbus was once known as the “Arch City,” because dozens of wooden arches spanned the streets at the turn of the twentieth century?

If you can appreciate history and you’d like to take advantage of Experience Columbus Days discounts, this is the post for you. This weekend you can save some sawbucks at these historical hotspots. (more…)

COSI

This post is part 5 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, Cathe features things to do that are fun for the entire family during Experience Columbus Days. You can also check out previous posts that feature delicious dining options , plus outings that are great for groups , great for dates and perfect for art fans . Stay tuned for the last post in the series - we’ll feature Experience Columbus Days activities that are recommended for history buffs.

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With 50% off admission (or BOGO) at so many attractions, it’s crazy not to take the entire family—kids and all—out and about during Experience Columbus Days.

It looks like we’re in for good weather this weekend but regardless of how it shapes up, there are both indoor and outdoor options. (more…)

This post is part 4 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, Ben features things to do that are perfect for art fans during Experience Columbus Days. You can also check out previous posts that feature delicious dining options , plus outings that are great for groups and great for dates . Stay tuned for the last two posts in the series - we’ll feature Experience Columbus Days activities that are fun for kids and recommended for history buffs.

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It’s no secret that Columbus has a lot to offer when it comes to the arts, and the same is true for Experience Columbus Days. If you’re an art fan, check out these options to make the most of Experience Columbus Days discounts (and don’t forget your discount flyer ). (more…)

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…)

This post is part 2 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, Sayaka has rounded up a few Dine Originals Columbus restaurant suggestions . Stay tuned for future posts in the series - we’ll be featuring  Experience Columbus Days activities that are great for dates,  perfect for art fans, fun for kids and recommended for history buffs. You’ll find the first post, featuring suggestions for groups, here .

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It’s no secret to those who know me that I love to eat. And every year, I use Experience Columbus Days as my chance to try new restaurants at a discount. Now that there are ten more Dine Originals Columbus restaurants than last year, I am having a hard time deciding where to go!

I asked some of my Experience Columbus peeps where they plan on going next weekend; here are their suggestions: (more…)

This post is part 1 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, Meg offers suggestions for how groups can make the most of Experience Columbus Days . Stay tuned for future posts in the series - we’ll be featuring Dine Originals restaurant suggestions , plus Experience Columbus Days activities that are great for dates,  perfect for art fans, fun for kids and recommended for history buffs.

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Do you ever have family coming to town and are wondering what to do and where to take them? Or do you ever think that you and your friends should venture away from doing “the usual” and go out and experience something different? Planning for a group outing can be fun, but it can also be a challenge. To make it easier for you, here are a few Experience Columbus Days suggestions that are great for groups: (more…)

Get 50% off at the Wilds

Experience Columbus Days are almost here! Starting tomorrow, you can get 50% off attractions and 25% off food at Dine Originals Columbus restaurants—just by downloading a free flyer at ExperienceColumbusDays.com .

So far I have a lunch date with my friend on Friday at the Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus for their mouthwatering pot roast. I’m getting hungry already! But I still need to plan the rest of my weekend.

Since there are so many attractions and restaurants taking part in the program, I decided to see what a few of my coworkers are doing:

Cindy Hartsook : "My husband, daughter, a friend and I plan to enjoy the Italian Festival . The festival is filled with delectable aromas of an Italian village and overflowing with friendly people sharing their heritage. My husband’s maternal grandparents were from the Abruzzo region of Italy. We enjoy visiting with many old friends from our childhood neighborhoods here in Columbus. The festival is reminiscent of a huge family reunion."

Cathe Moog : "I am planning a date night with my husband and we’re going to try a place we have never been: either Tutto Vino or Trattoria Roma . On Sunday, I will take my two children (4 and 7) and my husband to the Columbus Museum of Art to see the Chihuly Illuminated exhibition. My husband used to live in Seattle, where Chihuly’s studios are located, and loves Dale Chilhuly’s work. No doubt, we’ll all be hungry after that, so we’ll probably head to Katzinger’s for sandwiches as big as your head."

Scott Peacock : "I plan to take my wife and some friends in town from Cincinnati to Tasi Cafe for breakfast, then to see Chihuly Reimagined at Franklin Park Conservatory and dinner at Maca Cafe in Powell."

Claudia Plumley : "We’re headed either to the zoo or the Wilds , depends on how early we get up. We love going to the zoo in fall and winter because all of the North American animals are out and about. Now there will be baby lions to see, too. We haven’t been the Wilds in a few years. It’s worth the drive just to see the animals enjoying the expansive grounds there."

There are some great ideas so far…now, what are you planning on doing Oct. 9-12?

Celebrate our favorite city on Columbus day weekend with Experience Columbus Days , Oct. 9 - 12.

You’ll get up to 50% off at at variety of Columbus entertainment and attractions, plus a can’t-be-beat 25% discount on food at Dine Originals Columbus restaurants.

Attractions and entertainment venues offering great deals include COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus Museum of Art, Shadowbox, CATCO, the Wilds, the Wexner Center for the Arts . . . and the list goes on.

Dine Originals Columbus restaurants include those like Basi Italia, Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, Katzinger’s Delicatessen, Black Creek Bistro, The Refectory, Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus, Cafe Corner, DeepWood . . . and again, the list goes on.

To see everyone participating, visit ExperienceColumbusDays.com . While you’re there, be sure to download and print the discount flyer . You must present it at the places you’re visiting to receive the discounts.

Want to share this event on Facebook? Please do. Click here .

And for other ways to get the word out about Experience Columbus Days to your friends, blog readers, Twitter pals and others, check out the resources here .  Let us know if there’s anything else you need to help share the news.