Columbus, OH City Reviews

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Columbus, OH city reviews

An Outsider's Perspective
City rating
Recommended for Singles
  • Attractions
  • Community
  • Nightlife
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping
I have lived here for more than a month and it's rapidly becoming the seventh level of Hades! I originate from Kansas City, have previously lived in Des Moines, Ann Arbor, and have traveled to more than 30 states in my lifetime and sadly Columbus, OH is the worst place I have lived or visited by a long shot even though it has a ton of potential. I've seen rotten and rude places, but this one took me by surprise on how bad a city can really be under its surface. It does have a few upsides though...

Residents
The worst problem I have with Columbus is the residents themselves. I have worked customer service for more than 20 years and have a good ability to read a personality and see past the public facades (you must get to know a person very quickly to be really good at customer service). It's easy to spot the Columbus Lifers and those who have moved to Columbus recently: the Lifers are generally without any personality, drab, and have a serious tendency to look down on outsiders (even those from other areas of Ohio) or those who are excitable, open, and overly-friendly. The only dramatic emotion I have witnessed by Lifers here are their rabid loyalty to OSU. I say rabid because I've seen college rivalries before, but other college towns do not get vicious towards those with college preferences other than their own. It's ridiculous and very closed-minded toward others. The best description I can offer without writing a 200-page thesis is that some mysterious force has sucked the life from most residents here. The only residents who have offered cheerful and open discussion are those who moved from other locations; I met a cashier at a store who relocated to Columbus and after discovering my wife and I did the same, offered the following question: What would possibly make you move to this crappy city?

In particular, many different groups of people would find a hard time fitting in or enjoying a visit to Columbus:
New Yorkers would have difficulty with the culture clash of the residents in Columbus.
Bikers from California or the Dakotas would feel out of place with the near non-existence of hogs and choppers here.
Kansas Citians would be offended by the definition of "barbeque" in Columbus: (Boiled white meat with a side of spicy ketchup is NOT BBQ in anyone's right-mind)
Texans and Southerners would feel like circus freaks when their down-home heartiness is met with an odd look or blank stare.
Anyone with a "twang" in their accent are generally looked at with disgust.
Those from Ann Arbor MI are pretty much unwelcome.

Those who will fit in rather easily:
Dog-lovers are most welcome here. Folks love to walk or jog with their canine friends and you will see a lot of specialized breeds.
Exercise buffs will love the biking here. Unlike other municipalities where cyclists are viewed as an inconvenience or hood-ornaments, Columbus welcomes those who choose to take their fitness outside of the gym.

General Locale
I find Columbus's greatest asset to be in it's size and architecture. I find Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights to be a very lovely part of the city. Old buildings that are kept up, mixed with new buildings that preserve the charm of the old neighborhood. This particular section of the city is dotted with small shops, unique restaurants and taverns that have a special coziness about them (if only the human addition were as cozy). I love to drive and stroll in this area and has become one of my favorite neighborhoods in the nation next to the Civil-War housing of Lexington, MO for it's old charm.

You can get nearly anywhere in Columbus in a short time. Traveling from the west side on I-70 to downtown, it is only 7 1/2 miles from farm fields to high-rises. However, do be careful about rush hour as explained in the next section.

The East side of Columbus is a particular no-go: honestly... don't go there. The daily newscasts of robberies, murders, and the like are telling enough. Sadly, this is where the airport is located so you might want to rethink that red-eye flight unless you have planned ahead for proper and safe transportation to/from the airport.

Regardless of Columbus' lack of acclaimed tourist attractions, one bright positive is its central location to the areas of the Northeast that do have the attractions: Indianapolis 500, Rock and Roll hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, Appalachian Mountains, the Great Lakes, Nashville, etc... they're only a few hour's drive from here. As a resident, you can make several, cheap, weekend and day-trips to places that will help you forget you live in Columbus.

Traffic and Transportation
Whether you are moving to Columbus or just passing through, be mindful of the infrastructure (roads, traffic signals, etc.). Many roads are in dire need of repair and the many railroad crossings are murder to a vehicle's suspension. Many traffic signals are still the classic, circa-1975 yellow ones that are suspended by wires. Coming from the West side of Ohio where the infrastructure is modern in places like Dayton, you feel like you have stepped back in time once you exit the Interstates in Columbus. Drivers tend to be very heavy-footed and love to tailgate. While not particularly rude, they do seem to get a little self-deserving in their attitude about you being between them and their destination.

The size of Columbus is rather small for its population. Rush hour is brief, but insane: too many drivers for too little pavement. However, the smaller footprint allows for a better public transportation system. The COTA bus service is quite adequate for such a population and compared to other cities, COTA shines brightly above them. You will find bus service nearly everywhere and you're only a few blocks away from a bus stop. Bus fares are a little steep in my book ($2.00 for basic, non-express service as of January 2012) and it seems the fares keep going up every year.

Weather and Environment
Most anyone who visits Columbus has experienced weather extremes beyond what Columbus has: this is a good thing. Autumn of 2011 was an exceptionally rainy time (record-breaking in fact), but the locals here do admit that the sun does not shine eight months out of the year. So far, I'd have to agree with that statement. Summers are not too hot (In 2011 Columbus only saw 97 degrees very few times with many da
  • AreaVibes Contributor reviewed Columbus, OH
  • November 24, 2011
Columbus, Ohio - For Those Who Love to Shop!
City rating
Recommended for Couples, Families
  • Attractions
  • Community
  • Nightlife
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping
As a lifetime resident of Ohio, I've traveled to the city of Columbus several times. And every time was a fantastic experience! Malls, outlet stores and a unique selection of restaurants make Columbus the perfect place to visit for a relaxing and fun weekend, or even getting a start on your Christmas shopping list with unique gifts. The outlet stores offer a variety of discounted products. I feel that the outlet stores are great for the whole family, because they have everything from Nike to Pottery Barn!

There is also the Easton Center, but this is a classier area and a bit overpriced in my opinion. My favorite part was the Candle Lab. I collect candles so I had to visit this spot. They let you try making your own scents! I feel that one of these candles would make a unique gift for a family member.

A couple of years ago I traveled to Columbus for Halloween. We stayed around the Ohio State University area. There were hundreds of students walking around in costumes, and I had the best pizza I have ever tasted at a small parlor called Catfish Biff's. The last time I traveled here, I ate at Marcella's Italian Restaurant. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was very romantic. I've stayed many times in the Residence Inn in the downtown area. It was very nice and clean but a little expensive. Also, downtown is a bit crowded, so it takes a while to get around. Other than that, the city is beautiful when lit up at night.

Columbus has sports arenas but I haven't seen them yet. I plan on doing so next time I visit. I would love to see a Buckeye's game there!
  • AreaVibes Contributor reviewed Columbus, OH
  • April 29, 2010
Hard to Get Lost in Columbus
City rating
Recommended for Couples, Families
  • Attractions
  • Community
  • Nightlife
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping
One thing about traveling to the city of Columbus is that you aren't likely to get lost. Out of all the cities I've visited, Columbus may be the most easy to navigate with its intuitive grid system. Streets run north-south and avenues run east-west. The only thing a tourist driving on the streets would have to look out for is the urban bicyclists which add a small-town charm to this actual big city.

The only negative about Columbus was the hot, muggy weather (during summer) that could turn on a dime. One minutes it's beautiful outside and the next you've got a thunderstorm or a tornado or some other weather anomaly coming down on you.

Some things to do in Columbus include the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (which has a large variety of animals and shows) and the Center for Science and Industry (which has lots of hands-on experiments including making a newscast and learning how sound works - you could literally spend all day here and not get bored).