Columbus

Parks and trails

• Scioto MileDowntown's riverfront park system on both banks of the Scioto, linking Bicentennial Park, Genoa Park, Battelle Riverfront Park and North Bank Park with fountains, walking paths and the Scioto Greenway Trail. The Scioto Mile Fountain runs daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the riverfront hosts concerts and festivals all summer.
• Scioto Audubon Metro ParkA 119-acre riverfront park off West Whittier Street with a 35-foot outdoor climbing wall, an obstacle course, a 1.5-acre dog park and the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The Scioto Greenway Trail runs through it along the river.
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensA conservatory on East Broad Street whose original glass Palm House opened in 1895, with Himalayan mountain, tropical rainforest, desert and Pacific island water garden biomes and a Chihuly glass collection of more than 3,000 pieces. It sits within 88-acre Franklin Park and runs seasonal shows such as Pumpkins Aglow in the fall.
• Schiller ParkGerman Village's 23-acre park on Jaeger Street, with a pond stocked for fishing and an amphitheater where Actors' Theatre stages free summer Shakespeare. The park's Schiller statue was presented in 1891.
• Goodale ParkOpened in 1852 on land donated by Dr. Lincoln Goodale, this 32-acre park in Victorian Village has a pond with a fountain, a gazebo, tennis and pickleball courts and a shelterhouse. It hosts ComFest, a free music and arts festival, every June.
• Three Creeks Metro ParkA 1,100-acre park where Alum, Big Walnut and Blacklick creeks meet, with the one-mile Confluence Trail, fishing at Heron Pond and Turtle Pond and a 4-acre dog park at Sycamore Fields. The Alum Creek and Blacklick Creek greenway trails both run through it.

Local favorites

• DowntownShort North Arts DistrictGalleries, shops and restaurants along High Street between Goodale Street and King Avenue, under 17 lighted arches, with Gallery Hop on the first Saturday of every month.
• DowntownGerman VillageA historic neighborhood of tree-lined brick streets and brick sidewalks south of downtown, with Schiller Park, local restaurants and shops, and the long-running Haus und Garten Tour.
• MarketNorth MarketColumbus's public market at 59 Spruce St., marking 150 years in 2026, with local food merchants under one roof and a second location in Dublin's Bridge Park.
• AttractionOhio StatehouseThe Greek Revival capitol on Capitol Square, built between 1839 and 1861 and a National Historic Landmark, with guided tours every day and monuments across the square.
• AttractionCOSIThe Center of Science and Industry on West Broad Street, with a planetarium, a dinosaur gallery, hands-on exhibits on space, life and the ocean.
• RestaurantSchmidt's Sausage HausA German Village restaurant on East Kossuth Street, serving sausages, Bahama Mamas and its cream puffs, with roots in the neighborhood going back to 1886.
• ShoppingThe Book Loft of German VillageAn independent bookstore at 631 S. Third St. with 32 rooms of books in pre-Civil War buildings, open until 11 p.m. every day.
• BreweryLand-Grant BrewingA Franklinton brewery at 424 W. Town St. with its original taproom, a large outdoor beer garden, winter igloos and a brewery curling lane.

Everyday

• Easton Town CenterAn open-air shopping center on the northeast side, open since 1999, with more than 200 stores plus restaurants, town squares and fountains.
• Ohio State Wexner Medical CenterOhio State's academic medical center on the main campus, with University Hospital, the James Cancer Hospital, the Ross Heart Hospital and a Level I trauma center.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main LibraryThe downtown Main Library on South Grant Avenue, dedicated in 1907 and renovated in 2015 and 2016, leads a system of 23 locations across Franklin County.

School districts

• Columbus City SchoolsMost of the city
• Groveport Madison Local School DistrictParts of the south and southeast sides, including the Spangler Farms and Chatterton Commons areas
• Hilliard City School DistrictParts of the west side, including the Renner Park area
• South-Western City School DistrictParts of the city

District lines don't always follow city limits. Confirm the district for a specific homesite with the district or the county auditor, and I'll check it for any home you like.