As anyone who knows me knows, I love my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, and I was extremely jealous of my friends who returned to Columbus weeks before I even had even taken my final exams this past semester. Coming home for the summer was great — I was finally reunited with Cane's chicken, I had about six McDonald's drive-thrus within a two-mile radius of me and I finally got to see all my friends I'd spent the semester apart from — but it got boring fast. As it turns out, you can get tired of McDonald's ice cream cones if you eat them every day. Recently, I've had to find new ways to entertain myself while home for the summer in Columbus, and for anyone else who is suffering from overexposure to McDonald's, I've decided to share them below.
1. Go to the Scioto Mile
The Scioto Mile is a great place for any Columbus native to spend time, especially in the summertime. Whether you prefer to rollerblade on all the bike paths at uncontrollable speeds like me or rent a bike to take them at a more leisurely pace, the Scioto Mile is an ideal place to spend a nice summer evening in Cbus.
2. Explore the North Market
The North Market is another ideal place to spend a summer day in Columbus, especially if you're into food (there's definitely not a shortage of that here). The North Market is your place if you want to enjoy a nice meal out this summer, explore some vintage shops in the Short North and take posed candids for your Instagram.
3. Visit Alum Creek Beach
So Alum Creek isn't the most beautiful beach to ever exist, but if you live in Columbus you're only a short drive from this gem: the ideal location for a picnic, watching a sunset or scaring away those ugly seagulls.
4. Stop by German Village for some macaroons
Pistacia Vera is by far one of the cutest venues to enjoy a cup of coffee and a custom pastry while in Columbus. Their macaroons should be on everyone's summer bucket list, and the desert boutique's location makes it a perfect stop if you're looking to explore German Village further for the perfect posed candid spot.
5. Visit Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Franklin Park Conservatory is arguably one of the prettiest places to spend the day outdoors in Columbus, and arguably one of the only places you can spend the day indoors covered in butterflies. It's a great place to spend an afternoon or summer evening.
6. Go to an outdoor concert
Columbus is home to a number of concert venues and host to many outstanding artists every summer. A concert on the lawn at Express Live is a must-see for any Columbus native this summer.
7. Get some ice cream
Maybe McDonald's ice cream cones aren't cutting it for you anymore, but luckily if you live in Columbus you have access to a thousand other great ice cream vendors. Whether Graeter's black raspberry chocolate chip or Jeni's salty caramel is your forte, there's no shortage of ice cream in Columbus for that night you really, really just need to treat yo self.
Ohio may not be the most exciting place in the world to spend a summer (my out of state friends' Snapchat stories have taught me that well enough), but it's not difficult to find somewhere fun to spend your boring nights this summer either.
