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…)

This time of year, distances to walk at lunchtime seem shorter than they did during the frigid temperatures of the previous months. I like to take advantage of the warmer weather by strolling to some of the lunchtime programs in the area. They’re great escapes in the middle of the day.

Below are a few options to consider:

• Every Friday between May 29 and September 4, The Ohio Statehouse offers free lunch time performances from 12:00- 1:00 p.m. on the Statehouse lawn (except for Friday, July 3). You can check the performance schedule here .

• The last Friday of each month this summer, stop in the Experience Columbus Visitor Center to see and touch exotic animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The first visit this season is this week! Additional dates and details are here .

• On varying days, the OSU Urban Arts Space offers a variety of exhibits and lectures at their space located in the historic Lazarus building. Check the schedule for upcoming "Brown Bag" dates here .

Pearl Market

• Daily, the Arena Grand Movie Theatre shows nonstop movie trailers during lunch for free. You can also grab food from their Bistro & Bar , which offers lunch specials Monday through Friday.

• If you’re a sports fan or just want to check out the new ballpark , the Columbus Clippers offer afternoon games on the following dates:

Thursday May 28 at 11:35 a.m.
Thursday June 18 at 12:05 p.m.
Thursday July 9 at 12:05 p.m.
Tuesday August 4 at 12:05 p.m.

(The full Clippers schedule is here )

• Every Tuesday and Friday, the Pearl Market offers special events, fresh local produce and gift items from local vendors. More information can be found here .

Do you have any lunchtime escapes to add?