Columbus is one of those cities that sneaks up on you β a little artsy, a little sporty, a lot of good food, and plenty to keep you busy. If youβve only got one day to explore, you can still hit the highlights and leave feeling like you got a real taste of the city. Hereβs how Iβd spend the perfect 24 hours in Columbus Ohio.
Start your day at The Woodbury, where the menu is just as creative as the space. The candied bacon crepes are a must β three crepes filled with sweet-and-salty candied bacon, fresh fruit, vanilla buttercream, and a drizzle of jelly sauce. If you want something a little bolder, order the Chicken Hotcakes Tacos: house pancakes with crispy fried chicken, chili aioli, strawberry salsa, and Milliganβs maple syrup.
If you want something faster, grab breakfast at The Lox instead. The bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel is my go-to, but if you like salmon, the lox bagel is fully loaded with salmon, capers, and cream cheese.
After breakfast, head to the Short North Arts District. This neighborhood is full of colorful murals, galleries, and boutiques β perfect for a morning stroll. Take time to pop into a few shops, snap some mural photos, and just enjoy the creative energy of the area. If you want even more ideas for things to do nearby, check out my Top 5 Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio.
When youβre ready for lunch, make your way to Warioβs Beef & Pork. The sandwiches here are massive β big enough to share β so order a Caesar salad, one sandwich (try the steak sandwich or the cheesy Warriorβs Way), and a side of potatoes if youβre hungry.
Park behind Warioβs if you can (last time it was $1.35 for an hour), then take a walk through the Arena District β itβs a fun, lively area with shops and public art. From there, you can walk to North Market, Columbusβs famous indoor food hall.
At North Market, grab a scoop of Jeniβs Ice Cream β Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, and Wildberry Lavender are just a few of the inventive flavors. Get it in a butterscotch waffle cone if you really want to do it right.
If youβre still hungry, head to Mo Mo Ghar, where Chef Phinsto Lama serves up Tibetan and Nepalese favorites. This spot was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and for good reason. Try the Johl Mo Mo (steamed chicken dumplings in a spicy fenugreek tomato sauce) or the Choila Set (a spiced chicken salad with rice, potatoes, and black-eyed peas) β Guy Fieri called it one of the most unique dishes heβs ever had.
Spend your evening in German Village, where the brick-lined streets and historic homes make you feel like youβve been transported somewhere completely different. Stop into the boutiques, walk the cobblestone streets, and make time for The Book Loft, a bookstore with 32 rooms of books β itβs easy to get lost in the best possible way.
For dinner, book a table at Lindeyβs (More Info on Lindey's Here), a Columbus classic. Their menu changes seasonally, but everything Iβve had has been 10/10. Make reservations two to three weeks in advance if you can β by 5:30 or 6 pm, walk-ins are nearly impossible to snag. If you donβt have a reservation, try for open seating at the bar or outside on the patio. Donβt skip the bread and butter β itβs baked fresh in Grandview and the butter is perfectly salty.
After dinner, take one last stroll through German Village. Between the gas lanterns, the historic architecture, and the cozy atmosphere, itβs the perfect way to end your 24 hours in Columbus.
Columbus packs a lot into one day if you plan it right. Start with a creative breakfast, eat your way through Warioβs and North Market, wander the Short North, and finish with German Village and dinner at Lindeyβs. Itβs a day full of flavor, art, and just enough walking to make you feel like you earned that extra scoop of ice cream. If youβre staying longer, youβll love my Spend a Weekend in Columbus, Ohio and Spend a Week in Columbus, Ohio guides.
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
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
