I was born and raised in a small town in southern Ohio. When I was growing up, Columbus was The Ohio State University. It was home of the Buckeyes. Everyone bled scarlet and gray, knew all the words to the fight song and dreamed of dotting the “i” or running onto Ohio Stadium as a player. Saturdays in the fall were for cheering the Buckeyes to victory and counting down the days until they beat that team up north.
Today, Columbus is the 14th largest city in the US and the second most populous in the Midwest, trailing only Chicago. Over the years as job and life changes moved my parents to the area, I have grown to love the city for more than just being the home of the Buckeyes.
To start with, the Buckeyes are hardly the only game in town. Columbus is also the home of the NHL’s Columbus Bluejackets, the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew and the Columbus Clippers, the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Columbus is also home to Muirfield, site of the PGA’s Memorial Tournament every year.
It’s not just about sports though. Job growth and housing development, along with the cost of living, has made Columbus one of the top destinations for young professionals and families to move. With this growth has come the development of parks, shops, and restaurants. All of this growth has spilled far beyond the confines of the downtown area.
I recently spent some time in Westerville, Ohio, a growing and vibrant suburb north of downtown Columbus and also home to Otterbein University. As an active, bicycle-friendly community, Westerville has 51 miles of recreational trails running through parks, wooded areas, fields, over rivers and roads, and along streets and neighborhoods. It also boasts the Westerville Community Center, which their website appropriately tags as “a playground for grown-ups, but with actual playgrounds for kids, too.” All 145,000 square feet are dedicated to classes, fitness, swimming, meetings and just being active together for all ages.
Downtown Westerville is full of restaurants and shops, and I was excited to see many were still open at 8pm on a Friday night. It seems as if this community is one who understands their customers may want to walk and shop after a meal, especially on a beautiful summer evening as this was. If you are craving sweets, you can’t go wrong with Graeter’s Ice Cream or Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, both personal favorites in our family. When in Ohio you must have the Buckeye Blitz ice cream or Buckeye Popcorn!
Don’t feel like shopping? Try the Westerville Golf Center, home to Westerville’s premier driving range, miniature golf course, and batting cage all in one central location! With 80 grass tees and 40 heated and lit stalls, you can drive, pitch, and putt all year long. The miniature golf course boasts two 18 hole courses open April through October and along with the batting cages make this a family fun destination! The pro shop is a great addition too. They were very knowledgable and helpful. Since I’ve been looking at newer clubs lately, I was able to hit and try a couple different ones. Whether you need lessons, club fitting or just have some questions, they are there to assist you.
Westerville is just one of the many great communities surrounding Columbus. All the more reason to consider becoming a Buckeye!
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