Visitor’s Guide to the West Side of Columbus

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Looking for something to do on the West Side of Columbus? Pick one from each of these categories and you’ll have a full day of fun!

Entertainment:

Address: 13 N. Westmoor Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

All ages are welcome to stop in and paint your own pottery at Clay Street Ceramics. All sorts of options are available for painting and local, handmade items like home decor and jewelry are also for sale in the shop!

Address: 1777 Arlingate Lane, Columbus, OH 43228

Tours of the Anthony Thomas Candy Factory take place on Tuesday and Thursdays during the school year and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the summer from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. No appointment is necessary. On the tour you can see the whole candy making process and your admission fee ($1 for ages 3-18 and $2 for over 18) may be used towards a purchase!

Address: 500 Georgesville Rd., Columbus, OH 43228

Game of Western Columbus is a fun family spot with bowling and laser tag complete with a bar and restaurant! This is a participating location for the Kids Bowl Free program during the summer!


Food:

Address: 4233 Shoppers Ln., Columbus, OH 43228

West side of Columbus

La Plaza Tapatia is a one stop shop for a Mexican market, a Mexican restaurant and Mexican ice cream treats! There are three separate shops under one roof. Don’t miss the pastry section inside the market!

Address: 2836 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43204

West side of Columbus

Dirty Franks West is a family favorite on the West Side! All kinds of unique, gourmet hot dogs are on the menu, as well as a “plain old wiener” (named The Glen Beck 😉 ) so kids don’t need to fear! Pair your hot dog with some of your favorite sides: tater tots, fries, mac and cheese, soft pretzels, etc. for a meal your kids are guaranteed to eat! 

Address: 4201 West Broad St. Columbus, Ohio 43228

When it comes to dessert, you can’t miss Dulce Vida West, a Mexican ice cream shop with paletas (popsicles), hand dipped ice cream, aguas frescas and more! So many options, it’s tough to decide!


Shopping: 

Address: 11 N. Westmoor Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

Gypsy Soul is a unique spot for gifts, apparel and home decor! There is a fun collection of vintage and handmade items for sale, many with a nod to the West Side of Columbus! 

Address: 15 N. Westmoor Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

West side of Columbus

 

ME and the MOON is an upscale children’s boutique and consignment shop featuring new and used clothing, handmade items, gifts and baby gear! The shop also hosts a story time and special events.

Address: 4599 Fisher Rd, Columbus, OH 43228

The front of the store is your typical Eddie Bauer Outlet, but in the back, you can find even better deals in the Warehouse shopping area. On Fridays and Saturdays only you can enter the Salvage Store for ultra clearance on overstock items or items that may be seconds. 


Parks:

Address: 3141 McKinley Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

Shrum Mound is an ancient burial mound built by the Adena people around 2,000 years ago. It is 20 feet high and one of the last remaining burial mounds in Columbus! This site is part of the Ohio History Connection.

Address: 455 S. Westgate Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

If you need a place for the kids to burn off some energy, Westgate Park is a large greenspace in the middle of the West Side with two playground areas, a pond, shelter house and rec center. (Not to mention the famous A, B & C!) During the summer the park is home to several festivals including Summer Jam West and the Hilltop Bean Dinner.

Address: 1775 Darby Creek Dr. Galloway, OH 43119

Technically, this is a bit further outside of Columbus, but it’s worth a visit if you’re on the West Side of Columbus!  Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is one of the fabulous Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks! This park features bison, an amazing Nature Center with a living stream inside, playgrounds and some beautiful walking trails! Check the schedule for programs for families!


What are your West Side favorites?

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Julie Miller
Julie is a Wooster, Ohio native whose past jobs include GED teacher, mosaic artist, ACT tutor, group facilitator for homeless children, and picture framer, to name a few! After getting married and moving to Columbus with her husband Eric in 2008, they helped start Capital City Grace Church. Julie got her Masters of Social Work at OSU and worked for a homelessness prevention program for 5 years before the opportunity presented itself to stay at home with her then 2 year old. Currently, Julie is the Children’s Ministry Director at her church and blogs about her experiences exploring the city she loves to call home with her sons, who are now 4 and 20 months. Julie loves trying new recipes and doing creative projects but her most common achievements these days are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and building Lego police stations. Her favorite things include big cities, coffee (and lots of it!), spending time with friends, traveling and ice cream (lots and lots of it!). You can follow her family's adventures around Columbus on her blog, What Should We Do Today Columbus?