Columbus is one of those cities that reveals more the longer you stay. If youβre planning to spend a week in Columbus Ohio, youβll have time to explore every neighborhood, eat at all the best restaurants, discover hidden shops, and even sneak in a few day trips to some of Ohioβs most charming small towns and parks. Hereβs the ultimate 7-day itinerary for experiencing Columbus like a local.
Morning/Afternoon:
Start your Columbus trip in German Village, one of the cityβs most historic neighborhoods. The brick-lined streets and preserved 19th-century homes make it feel like stepping back in time. Spend the afternoon exploring boutiques and strolling through this picturesque district.
Donβt Miss:
The Book Loft β 32 rooms of books connected by twisting hallways and courtyards. You can easily spend an hour here getting lost (in the best way).
St. Maryβs School & Convent Mansion β Located at 673 Mohawk Street, this former school is now a stunning mansion and a great photo stop.
Dinner:
Kick off your first night with dinner at Lindeyβs, a Columbus icon. Make reservations two to three weeks in advance if possible, as walk-ins can be hard to snag after 5:30. Their bread and salted butter (baked fresh in Grandview) are a must, and their menu is always spot-on. You can read my full review in Unforgettable Dining at Lindeyβs Columbus Ohio.
Breakfast:
Start at The Woodbury, where candied bacon crepes and chicken hotcake tacos are the move.
Morning:
Explore the Short North Arts District. Browse boutiques, snap photos of the murals, and stop for coffee at one of the local cafΓ©s.
Lunch:
Head to Warioβs Beef & Pork, where the sandwiches are legendary. My go-tos:
Steak Sandwich β Classic and loaded with flavor.
Warriorβs Way β If youβre a cheese lover, this is the one.
Split a Caesar salad and maybe get a side of potatoes if youβre hungry β one sandwich per person is overkill unless youβre really hungry.
Park behind Warioβs (around $1.35/hour last time I was there), then take a short stroll through the Arena District to walk it off.
Afternoon:
Make your way to North Market. Grab dessert at Jeniβs Ice Cream (try the Brown Butter Almond Brittle or Wildberry Lavender in a butterscotch waffle cone). If you still have room, hit Mo Mo Ghar, the Tibetan/Nepalese stall featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and order the Johl Mo Mo dumplings or Choila Set.
Evening:
Casual dinner at Barrel & Boar inside North Market or small plates in Short North.
Morning:
Get outside and enjoy one of Columbusβs parks:
Scioto Grove Metro Park β Climb the fire tower for views.
Highbanks Metro Park β Best for hiking with scenic overlooks.
Griggs Reservoir or Antrim Park β Perfect for a quiet lakeside walk.
Lunch:
Pack a picnic or grab something light near the park.
Afternoon:
Walk along the Scioto Mile riverfront path and enjoy the skyline views.
Dinner:
Make a reservation at Watershed Kitchen & Bar, a moody, romantic restaurant attached to a working distillery. Book a distillery tour before dinner for the full experience.
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What to Order (My Ratings):
Crispy potatoes β 8/10
Caesar salad β 8.5/10
Mushroom pasta (add short rib!) β 9/10
Pork chops β 8/10
Chocolate cream β 5/10
Peach cobbler β 5/10 (a little too savory for me)
Morning:
Drive about an hour southeast to Hocking Hills State Park, one of Ohioβs natural gems.
Must-Do Trails:
Old Manβs Cave β Iconic rock formations and bridges.
Ash Cave β A massive cave with a waterfall β perfect for photos.
Cedar Falls β Peaceful and scenic.
Lunch:
Pack a picnic or stop in Logan for a casual meal.
Evening:
Return to Columbus and grab a casual dinner or order takeout for a low-key night in.
Breakfast:
Start at Fox in the Snow CafΓ©, known for its rustic pastries (the cinnamon roll and hand pie are fan favorites) and excellent coffee.
Morning:
Spend the late morning boutique hopping in Short North or exploring the charming strip between Woodland and E. High St.
Optional Museum Stop:
Columbus Museum of Art β A mix of classic and contemporary art.
COSI β Hands-on science museum fun for adults too.
Lunch:
Grab something fresh and light at Northstar CafΓ© β their Buddha Bowl and veggie burgers are standouts.
Afternoon:
Visit Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for a mix of indoor and outdoor gardens, butterflies, and art installations β perfect for a slower-paced afternoon.
Dinner:
Cap the day with dinner at Speck Italian Eatery. Start with focaccia and burrata, add the heritage tomato salad if itβs in season, and finish with one of their house-made pasta dishes.
Morning:
Drive 90 minutes northeast to Sugarcreek, the βLittle Switzerland of Ohio.β
See the worldβs largest cuckoo clock.
Browse downtown shops for jams, baked goods, and hand-crafted souvenirs.
Have brunch at Rebeccaβs Bistro β Creamed Eggs on sourdough or Stuffed French Toast are must-tries.
Lunch:
Grab lunch at Park Street Pizza, known for its thick, chewy crust, crispy pepperonis, and gooey cheese bread. Donβt skip the fresh berry salad.
Afternoon:
Head to Kidron to browse Lehmanβs Hardware Store and finish the day with a stop at Heiniβs Cheese Chalet to sample every cheese they have (itβs practically a sport).
Evening:
Return to Columbus and relax with a casual dinner or drinks.
I list even more places like this in The Best Day Trips from Columbus Ohio.
Option 1: Cleveland Day Trip
Drive about two hours north for a day in Cleveland:
Morning: Start at West Side Market, grab a coffee, and wander the stalls.
Lunch: Eat nearby at Great Lakes Brewing Co. or sample pierogi at the market.
Afternoon: Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or explore Ohio Cityβs breweries and shops.
Evening: Drive back to Columbus and have a farewell burger at The Thurman CafΓ©, home of the massive Thurmanator burger.
Option 2: Bonus Columbus Day
Stay in town and make it a laid-back finale:
Morning: Stroll through Worthington Farmers Market or Dublin Farmers Market (Saturday mornings).
Lunch: Treat yourself to a repeat favorite β maybe another Warioβs sandwich or a final scoop of Jeniβs.
Afternoon: Visit Topiary Park, a living sculpture garden designed to look like a Georges Seurat painting, and spend some time at Columbus Museum of Art if you skipped it earlier.
Evening: End with a sunset walk along the Scioto Mile to soak in your last views of the city.
A week in Columbus lets you truly experience the city β its food, neighborhoods, parks, and nearby gems. By the time you leave, youβll have favorite murals, go-to restaurants, and maybe even a favorite Jeniβs flavor youβll dream about until your next visit.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos donβt capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they donβt know theyβre in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But thatβs also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. π·
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. π·
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes Iβve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Hereβs what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
CafΓ© Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davieβs Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (itβs not ketchup, and itβs better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what Iβd skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
Thereβs a version of Gatlinburg thatβs all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then thereβs the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Hereβs everything worth doing downtown, in the order Iβd do it: ποΈ
β¨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
β¨ Walk the strip mid-morning when itβs still manageable
β¨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: donβt skip it)
β¨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
β¨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isnβt your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. Itβs more of a βhereβs what Iβd actually do if I had one solid dayβ kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. π
If someone told me Iβd spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. π
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and itβs one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it β longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
β¨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
β¨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
β¨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
β¨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. π
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