Posted in Columbus
December 22, 2017
Here Are 8 Unique Day Trips Near Columbus That Are An Absolute Must-Do
When you have a free day and you want to explore something new, these day trips from Columbus will give you exactly what you are looking for. Incredible nature, historical sites, and charming cities are just a few hours from our city center and often even closer. Visit these spots to learn more about your surroundings and make some great memories.
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Located in Adams County, Ohio Serpent Mound is the largest serpent effigy in the world. It is 1,348 feet long and three feet high. It was originally Adena indigenous culture, but scientists and historians now believe that it was built by the Fort Ancient culture around 1070 CE. This site offers a nice walk and really incredible glimpse into a culture that roamed this area a very long time ago.
Granville is a particularly charming town with lots of shops, art galleries, and restaurants that will keep you entertained all day. Its wonderful New England architecture was brought by a group of settlers from Massachusetts and Connecticut who established the town in the early 19th century. You can visit Denison University, Alligator Mound, or indulge in Granville's delicious restaurants.
You've probably heard about Hocking Hills a gazillion times, but why? It's an incredibly beautiful, unique place. Here you will find scenic ridge trails, deep gorges, astonishing cliffs, and so much more. Hocking Hills is a huge park with lots of different trails, and you can keep discovering new things all the time. Nevertheless, you have to start somewhere, so choose a trail and head on south for a day trip. If you like hiking during the winter, you'll love the 53rd Annual Winter Hike in January.
Zanesville is perfect for a day trip from Columbus. Not only does it have one of the best views from the highway, Zanesville is filled with incredible architecture, a one-of-a-kind Y Bridge, famous local pottery, arts and antiques stores, and lots of other exciting activities (did somebody say Alpaca Farm?!).
Slightly lesser known than Hocking Hills, Mohican State Park is a 1,110-acre park with an adjacent 4,525-acre state forest. It presents a unique landscape of Ohio with a beautiful lake and gorge surrounded by tall dense woods. The area was once the hunting grounds of the Native American Delaware tribe. It is rich with natural beauty and wildlife. Discover more about Mohican.
Whether you're craving a summer swim or a winter walk by a grand body of water, you'll find it at Lake Erie. One of the famous Great Lakes, Lake Erie has an area of 9,940 square miles. It offers breathtaking views and lots of activities. Depending on which part of the Lake you want to visit, it might take some driving time, but the Cleveland coast is just over two hours from Columbus.
Yellow Springs is a town of about 3,513 residents that is famous for its quirkiness, charm, and just overall delightfulness. Here you can visit lots of unique shops and local diners, a colorful downtown, the actual Yellow Spring, Antioch College, John Bryan State Park, and a working dairy farm. Learn more about this wonderful town.
Chances are you didn't even know that there was a winery 35 minutes from downtown Columbus. Rockside Winery has a sunny relaxing vineyard where you can walk among the wines, learn about the winemaking process, and enjoy local Ohio wines right where they are made. Sit back with a glass of wine on the patio or inside the cozy family-like tasting room. Learn more about Rockside Winery.
What are your favorite day trips to take from Columbus? Share them with us in the comments!