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Insider tips for visiting Ohio's herb capital.
After what seemed like a never-ending winter, the sun in out and the kids are almost out of school for the summer. And we’re guessing the kids will want to get out of the house and do something fun. From popcorn, candy and picnics to putt-putt and paddle boats, we have 7 family fun activities that will get your family out of the house without breaking the bank.
Pam’s Market Popcorn Who knew popcorn could come in so many different flavors?! Try fun flavors like Cookies & Cream, Cotton Candy, Rory’s Rainbow, Carmel Tuxedo, the special “flavor of the week” and more! Pam’s also serves delicious Chicago Style coney dogs, cotton candy and other yummy treats.
Buckeye Candy Company Speaking of yummy treats, sweet lovers NEED to experience the candy collection over at Buckeye Candy Company! Parents may feel a bit nostalgic with treats like Pop Rocks, PEZ Dispensers, Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans and classic Buckeyes ... while the kiddos will love the selection of Cotton Candy, Gummies, Insect Suckers (yes), Crispycakes and hundreds of other amazing treats.
The Story Trail Gahanna Parks & Recreation has collaborated with the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Gahanna School students and the Gahanna Rotary to present the Gahanna Story Trail. The Story Trail is located at Friendship Park and provides an engaging opportunity for visitors to learn the value of being good stewards of our environment, while they walk and read the story. The Story Trail is part of the Gahanna Library Summer Reading Program and encourages families to engage in the outdoors through reading.
Glow Putt Mini Golf For a unique miniature golfing experience, escape the house and day-to-day routine and come on a safari that is fun for the whole family! Under a spectacular umbrella of black lights, you will navigate through a jungle of tiki Gods, exotic wildlife, bamboo forest and Dino invasion. Glow Putt is also a great place for birthday parties!
Lazer Kraze Lazer Kraze is the ultimate indoor fun zone for kids of all ages. It combines laser tag with an indoor trampoline park, Cyber Sport, arcade games, a snack bar with domestic and microbrew beer and more! Lazer Kraze is also offering spring and summer deals for the family. Check out some of the fun below:
Munchkin Madness: This is a special time for younger players to enjoy playing laser tag with others of their age group. "All-You-Can-Play" laser tag session for kids 12 and younger on Saturdays, 11 am-1 pm. Purchase a Munchkin Madness pass and receive a $5 arcade card free! Find out more about this special here.
Thrilling Thursdays: Thursdays are now all-you-can-play laser tag from 6-9pm! This includes a 30-minute trampoline jump session all for just $20!
Summer Camp (July 16-18): Camp activities include a ton of laser tag, jumping and air dodgeball on the trampoline, arcade games, pizza and pop lunch, and other camp activities designed to build leadership and teamwork skills. Register in advance by July 9th and pay just $119 per child.
Laser Tag Pass: Purchase your pass and enjoy 10 laser tag missions for just $20! Limit 1 laser tag mission per day per card. Valid for laser tag only. Valid May 30 - August. 15, 2019.
Trampoline Jump Pass: Purchase your jump pass and enjoy 10, 30-minute jump sessions for just $50! Limit 1 session per day per card. 1 pair of socks per card. Valid for trampoline jump sessions only. Valid May 30 - August. 15, 2019.
Pack a picnic and visit Geroux Herb Garden Enjoy the great outdoors and stroll through a variety of herbal gardens at the Geroux Herb Garden. Pack a picnic and call it enjoy themed mini-gardens including the culinary garden, the biblical garden, the medicinal garden, the scented garden, the shade garden and more! The Garden is located on 206 South Hamilton Rd.
Cookies-and-Milk Happy Hour Mrs. Turbo’s Cookies is putting an entirely new spin on Happy Hour! Visit Mrs. Turbo’s retro themed, 50’s style bakery and enjoy hand-crafted gourmet cookies made from scratch with only the best ingredients--along with an ice cold milk (or coffee). Sit at the counter or in a booth--then head to the park to burn off those sweets.
For more family fun and what to see and do in Gahanna, check out our event listings on VisitGahanna.com or download our Visit Gahanna app!
Gahanna will be partnering with COSI Columbus to encourage hands-on fun and learning during COSI’s Science Festival (May 1-4, 2019). Two Gahanna businesses are hosting events to celebrate how fun science can be. On May 1, the Ohio Herb Center will be presenting the “Colorful World of Herbs,” followed by Noble Cut Distillery’s presentation on “The Science of Whiskey” on May 2! Sound intriguing? Check out all of the fun-filled science-themed activities below!
Colorful World of Herbs When: From 12 - 2 pm on Wednesday, May 1. Where: Ohio Herb Center (110 Mill St.)
Did you know you can use herbs to create colors and other dyes? Color with your herb garden and join herbal specialist Amanda Ferguson at the Ohio Herb Center for a hands-on demonstration to learn how science is used to extract plant materials from herbs to create dyes and colors. Then use your new skills to “color” your own bandanna to take with you as a souvenir of your day!
“I don’t think people realize that before chemical food coloring, all dyes came from plants,” Ferguson says. “It really gets people thinking about using more natural products that are readily available. You can do so much with it: coloring your easter eggs, dyeing shirts and so many other fun craft projects. It’s a great activity for the whole family.”
“The Herb Center staff loves to share our knowledge with our community,” she said. “So many people hear ‘herbs’ and think of cooking. We love teaching all of the ways you can utilize herbs in so many facets of your life. People learn a deeper respect for plants when they truly understand the scope of what they can actually do for us.”
The Science of Whiskey When: 5:30 pm and 7 pm Thursday, May 2. Where: Noble Cut Distillery (750 Cross Pointe Rd, Suite K)
You don’t have to be a science geek to enjoy this event! Experience a deep dive into the history and science of distilled spirits and the role that herbs have played in the manufacturing of whiskey. Your visit to Noble Cut Distillery will include a tour of the production facility and a brief glimpse into the science behind the distillation process, capped off with a sampling of Noble Cut’s hand-crafted liquors. All registrants must be at least 21 years of age to participate. Be sure to bring a valid photo I.D. with you! Price is $20 per person. Registration is limited, so don’t delay. Register for either the 5:30 pm or 7 pm sessions here.
“This tour takes a deeper-dive into the chemistry and physics of our distillation process. We’ll analyze data and look at the cellular structure of how alcohol is created on a scientific level,” says Ben Vause, co-owner and brewmaster of Noble Cut. “I think people will be surprised on how technical the process is and how much science is involved. There’s a lot more that goes into it than most people think.”
For a full list of community events at COSI’s Science Festival, check out the full agenda here!
Put down the pan, recipes and table settings and clear your mind of any thoughts of cleaning up -- you’re going out to eat this Easter. Several local eateries are serving up a special Easter brunch menu for you and your family to enjoy a delicious and stress-free Easter Sunday. (The only catch is that you’ll need to make reservations SOON!) Check out what’s on the menu around town in Gahanna, Ohio and other nearby restaurants.
Barrel & Boar On of our favorite local scratch-kitchens is featuring a brunch buffet from 10 am - 4 pm on Easter along with their BYO Bloody Mary bar. Sink your teeth into carved smoked ham or enjoy a spring skillet breakfast special in the morning! Pricing for the buffet is $18 for adults and $9 for kids, while the skillet breakfast morning special is $12.
If you plan to bring the kiddos along, be sure to make your reservation through OpenTable. Complimentary miniature Easter baskets will be available for all kids whose parents make reservations through OpenTable. To take advantage of this, just indicate in the the notes of your reservation how many kids you will be bringing. Seating will be limited for parties of 6 or more.
The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek This gorgeous, rustic-chic restaurant is also featuring an Easter brunch buffet from 10 am - 2:30 pm. Enjoy a delicious spread of breakfast staples including eggs benedict, bacon, sausage, a carving station and made-to-order omelets prepared by their chefs. The feast will also include chilled salads and fruit, peel-n-eat shrimp, a selection of signature offerings from their menu and house-made desserts. And don’t forget about the Bloody Mary bar! Be sure to make your reservation soon as spots quickly fill up. Pricing is $31.99 for adults, $14.99 for ages 6-12, and kids 5 and under can eat for free. Juice and soft drinks are included.
Cap City Fine Diner & Bar Cap City is known for their retro style interior and their modern comfort food. If that sounds like your type of place, you’ll love their brunch menu featuring eggs on hash, breakfast burritos, stuffed french toast, lox & bagels, classic eggs benedict and steak & eggs. Brunch hours are from 10 am - 3 pm and the pricing goes by the menu.
94th Aero Squadron Celebrate Easter at the 94th Aero Squadron as they host a brunch buffet from 10 am - 5 pm on Easter Sunday. The main line buffet includes your traditional breakfast options such as bacon, sausage, eggs, waffles, and more. Other menu items include a seafood, meat carving, salad and bread station. There will also be a spectacular dessert display! Reservations are required The price is $34.99 for adults and $17.49 for children 5-12 years old.
Looking for more options? Here are some other nearby options serving up Easter brunch and dinner: Rusty Bucket Gahanna, Hudson 29, Mitchell’s Ocean Club, Bon Vie, Bravo Cucina Italiana, Brio Tuscan Grille, Buca di Beppo, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood, and Whole Foods Easton.
Locals know Upper Cup Coffee well. Tucked into a storefront at Creekside Plaza, it is home to some of the best coffee around, as well as a morning hangout for many locals. It's also a great place to get a donut, cronut (a delicious croissant-meets-donut pastry) or a good sandwich. Upper Cup Coffee Co. is owned by Micael Habte. Originally from Eritrea in horn of Africa, coffee has always been an integral part of life. Growing up, Micael often watched his mother roast beans as part of a traditional coffee ceremony. The scent of fresh roasted coffee was an alarm clock, announcing guests and helping celebrate good fortune. Upper Cup Coffee Co. began as a wholesale operation in January 2010. Although this was a successful venture, Micael began to recognize that his coffee was creating a following and he wanted to have a direct link to the consumer. In September 2011, Upper Cup Coffee Co. opened its first retail location in Olde Towne East. Just a few years later, Micael opened the Creekside location. His goal? Develop a direct relationship with Central Ohio coffee lovers. Mission accomplished.
We caught up with Michael recently to interview him about his Unique Gahanna Story.
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How do you identify with Gahanna? In Gahanna, I get the small town feel that I often find myself nostalgic for.
Why did you select Gahanna as the home for your business? I grew up in Columbus. I remember going to Big Bear for groceries, Resch's Bakery for donuts and Katzinger's Deli for sandwiches. Over the years, Columbus has grown so much and it started to lose it's small town feel. When I decided to expand my company, I remembered these great small business that helped shaped my life and I wanted to emulate it. I found that in Gahanna.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I am an avid cyclist and I belong to several cycling clubs. And I'm proud to say that I've biked the Little Miami Bike trail with a couple of friends.
In your opinion, what’s the best kept secret in Gahanna? Golden Delight Bakery. Hands down, the best cake I've ever had.
What is one thing about Gahanna that other residents inside (and outside) of Columbus do not realize? There are so many beautiful parks and trails in Gahanna. There are gardens, ponds & creeks, paved bike trails, soccer fields and just about any outdoor activity you can imagine. There's a park for it in Gahanna!
Describe your very first experience in Gahanna… I was at the annual Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, Gahanna, OH with my then girlfriend (now wife) and I was amazed that after a 15 minute drive from downtown Columbus, I was transported to such a diverse place with great food and music but still had a small community feel.
Coming up with unique date ideas can be a tricky task. Once in a while you want to go somewhere off the beaten path, right? To jazz up your dating life, we’ve come up with a list of our Top 7 recommended date ideas in Gahanna, Ohio (that are sure to impress).
Taco Tuesday Tuesdays may just become your new favorite day of the week. In the Creekside District, you’ll find Local Cantina features $2 taco specials all day every Tuesday. Across the plaza, Barrel & Boar also celebrates Taco Tuesday every week with a unique twist that’s true to their roots. From 4pm to close, you can enjoy a choice of brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken or sausage tacos for just 3-for-$8 or endless tacos for $14.
Happy Hour deals Dates don’t always have to break the bank! Monday through Friday from 3 - 7 pm, 101 Beer Kitchen offers half price drafts, $3 off wine, mead & sangria, and $5 off growler fills available in bar area.
For a romantic atmosphere, central Ohio’s upscale rustic (think southern equestrian estate) restaurant, The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek has an entire happy hour menu of their own available Monday through Friday, 4-6:30 p.m. in the Bourbon Lounge and on the Barn Terrace.
Kym’s Kanvas: Take a Bob Ross Painting Class Channel your inner Bob Ross and take a painting class! Kathleen Sheppard, a Bob Ross certified instructor, will be booking Kym’s Kanvas studio to teach a Bob Ross style painting once a month. The class is $45 per person. Seats are limited and always fill quickly, so sign up soon!
Shepherd’s Corner Enjoy the spring weather and a laid-back date at Shepherd’s Corner. This 160-acre natural oasis serves as a center for ecology, spirituality and education. The property’s diverse range of habitats offers a haven for wildlife and a place of peace, natural beauty and spirituality. Shepherd’s Corner also offers on-demand group programs. Take a guided walk through the meditation trails, meet Alejandro Amigo the llama or take a labyrinth walk--the ancient practice that can calm the soul and transform the spirit.
Lola & Giuseppe’s A traditional dinner date night takes a unique twist when u walk into Lola & Giuseppe’s. This locally-owned Italian restaurant provides an intimate setting, and-crafted pastas and sauces and delicious salads and delicious desserts.
Thrive Massage & Wellness Date night massage? Yes, please. Look and feel your best with Full Spectrum Infrared Light Therapy. Thrive is Central Ohio’s first spa with health-empowering, full spectrum infrared spas for weight loss, detox, pain relief, heart health, skin purification and relaxation. Or enjoy a 60-minute massage where you can bliss out in silence, or listen to your favorite music. As an added bonus, Thrive and Wyandotte Winery have partnered to create an Unwind and ReWINE package for two. This includes a Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna to rejuvenate, detox and lift your spirits at Thrive and a glass of wine and hummus plate with grilled pita and fresh veggies at Wyandotte Winery. This deal is only $60 for two people (almost 50% off savings)!
Tour Noble Cut Distillery Gahanna’s unique distillery has a mission to deliver crafted spirits as diverse as their heritage. With heritage from the Ozark Mountains and European Countrysides, Noble Cut’s recipes include a 250-year-old limoncello family recipe among other seasonal whisky and cello flavors. The distillery also doubles as a unique place for a date! Take a tour of where the distilling magic happens on Saturdays from 1-3 pm. Book online here.
For more information on what to see and do in Gahanna, go to VisitGahanna.com. And don’t forget to post pictures using the hashtag #UniquelyGahanna on social media for a chance to be featured on Visit Gahanna’s social media channels and website!
Copyright © 2021 Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. Ohio Herb Center at 110 Mill Street Gahanna, Ohio 43230. 614/418-9114. 866/424-2662