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Visit the botanical gardens where Marie & Alex got engaged!

The experience consists of indoor botanical biomes, an outdoor Children’s Garden, special horticulture and art exhibitions, and seasonal offerings. A collection of glass works by artist Dale Chihuly is also on display and included with admission.

COSI is a nationally esteemed science center that has delighted Central Ohio with all things science for 58 years, inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics and delivering our experiential, hands-on fun brand of learning.

The Columbus Museum of Art creates great experiences with great art for everyone. Their collection includes American and European modern art, Impressionism, German Expressionism, Cubism, folk art, contemporary art, glass, photography, and more.

Home to more than 11,000 animals representing nearly 600 species from around the globe, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Course. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also operates the Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Easton Mall is a creative and engaging experience for kids of all ages and one of Columbus’ newest attractions in the past couple years. Here, you can Immerse yourself in the history, technology and sheer joy of one of the world’s favorite toys: Legos! The Discover Center features 36,000 square feet dedicated to interactive games, play areas, building challenges, rides and a 4D movie theatre – all about those famous plastic building bricks!

Located on the downtown riverfront, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum is the only place in America dedicated to telling the stories of veterans of all branches of military service over the course of all conflicts. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, winning accolades from Architectural Digest for its curving lines and unique cast concrete construction. This is neither a war memorial nor a military museum. The National Veterans Memorial and Museum takes visitors on a narrative journey telling individual stories and shared experiences of Veterans throughout history.

The Museum of Catholic Art And History has been recognized by the Vatican as the largest collection of diversified Catholic art in the United States. The collection includes Historic manuscripts, oil paintings, pipe organs, statuary, historic vestments from the Holy Land, and many other treasures of the Catholic heritage.

Marie and Alex have spent quite a few leisurely Saturday mornings wandering the Worthington Farmers Market. If you're more in the mood for a full breakfast or lunch, don't miss La Chatelaine French Bakery & Bistro.

Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm.

One of the nations largest independent bookstores! The pre-Civil War era building that was once a general store, saloon, and nickelodeon cinema, is now home to 32 rooms of Bargain Books.

German Village is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Built by German settlers in the mid 1800s, the area is defined by its brick homes and shops, as well as brick-lined streets. Peruse local businesses that include delicious pastry and coffee shops, the truly unique 32-room Book Loft, free Shakespeare at the neighborhood’s Schiller Park, and beautiful holiday lights and markets during the winter.

Schiller Park Amphitheatre has free performances all summer! They will be performing Beauty & the Beast by Lucy Kirkwood from May 23 – June 16, 2024 on Thursdays through Sundays at 8 pm. All performances offered for FREE (donations accepted at intermission) or you can reserve a chair or blanket in advance.

A tale as old as time, retold with a magical new spin. Lucy Kirkwood’s Beauty & the Beast is full of fairy tale romance, comedy, and enchantment. The wickedly charismatic Man in Pink presents his version of events, casting a spell over Beauty, her cursed Beast, and a single red rose. Add a magical Rabbit and a personal assistant who wants to sing and presto! *
*This is not the version told by a Certain Mouse.

The Columbus Park of Roses is one of the largest public rose gardens in the U.S. with more than 12,000 rose specimens. The garden’s extensive variety of plantings and more than one mile of paved walkways with benches make the Columbus Park of Roses an setting with year-round appeal for visitors. The 13-acre garden is an accredited arboretum and features five horticultural themes.

The Scioto Mile (pronounced sigh-OH-tuh) is a collection of parks and trails along both banks of the Scioto River in the heart of downtown Columbus. The nine parks along the Scioto Mile offer something for everyone – memorials, public art, fountains, swinging benches, kayaking, biking, and even a climbing wall. Explore the parks on the Scioto Mile.

The original North Market is a 147-year-old public market located in downtown Columbus. Inside you’ll find an eclectic mix of more than 30 independently owned small businesses offering a wide variety of fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, flowers, specialty food items, internationally prepared foods, and distinctive gifts.

The Short North Arts District is known as the art and soul of Columbus. The area is considered a model for urban revitalization and is home to over 300 exciting businesses, the majority of which are locally owned or headquartered.

Marie and Alex sometimes go here for the movies, and sometimes just for the pizza and movie-themed cocktails.

Grandview Theater has been part of the neighborhood since 1926. That’s 90+ years of history in the heart of Grandview Heights. They offer two movie screens, a full bar with 40 draft beers, their own in-house pizza kitchen, and all the movie concessions. Drop by for a movie, a pizza, a drink, or all of the above.

A staple of Girardot family reunions every summer was mini-golf! If you're looking for a blast from the past, check out Miner 49er Mini Golf, an indoor blacklight putt-putt course themed as an old west mining town (with a connected bar/restaurant).

Coming early or staying late?

Hocking Hills State Park is an internationally acclaimed state park located about an hour from Columbus. Within the park are over 25 miles of rock formations, waterfalls, biking trails, and recess caves. The park contains seven separate hiking areas: Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, Cedar Falls, Conkles Hollow, Old Mans Cave, Rock House, and Hemlock Bridge Trail to Whispering Cave.