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 three of three, with suggestions geared to residents looking to entertain visiting friends or family.

———————————————————-

We all have friends and family come to visit us. And inevitably we all get asked the question, “So, what are we going to do while in town?”  Check out the following ideas for a fun Columbus experience and give your visitors a better sense of why you call Columbus home.

Where to Eat
My favorite place to take family and friends to eat in Columbus is Tasi Cafe . Located just behind High Street, Tasi’s offers freshly prepared comfort food with a unique flair. The casual atmosphere makes it a favorite of locals, and the menu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

The Refectory is an AAA Four Diamond award winner, offering contemporary American cuisine and classic French cuisine. The restaurant’s location is unique - it’s inside of an old church, and the atmosphere has a rustic feel. Also, they have an amazing wine cellar with over 700 selections.

No matter what your visitors’ tastes, they are sure to find something they like at the North Market . Central Ohio’s historic public market since 1876 and located between the Short North and Arena District, it features fresh and prepared foods, and authentic ethnic cuisine. (more…)

Last week, several of our staff got to experience Columbus’ newest way to see downtown and learn about our city’s great history in two hours…on a Segway.

Beginning June 1, SegAway Tours of Columbus will begin operating daily tours of the capital city out of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. While you operate a Segway i2, the tour takes you through Columbus and parkland along the Scioto River. Some of the stops include the Santa Maria, Ohio Statehouse, Columbus Dispatch building, several theaters, the Arena District and Short North.

I was a bit nervous as my first Segway experience at top speed was not one filled with grace and ease, but owner and operator David Weller gave us great instruction and plenty of test runs on flat ground before we took off. The helmets you wear have a headset built in so you can hear David’s comedic history lesson as you go.

Along the way, David let us know about upcoming bumps in the road and would hold up caution and stop signs to help you gauge speed. By the tour’s end I had mastered the Segway and learned more about the city and some of its historic landmarks in two hours than ever before. Ever wonder how Columbus got its name? Or what that rock next to the Statehouse along the Scioto River is there for? Do you know how many times and the reasons why President Lincoln visited Columbus? You’ll find out on this tour.

Karina Nova from local CBS affiliate 10TV joined us. Here’s video from the segment that aired last week:

You can book June tours now by calling 614-222-3005 or emailing Tours@SegAwayToursofColumbus.com . The cost is $55 per rider for a two-hour tour and the maximum number of riders per tour is six. The only restrictions are that you must weigh between 100-260 lbs. and have a parent’s signature if you are under the age of 16.