Things to Do in Columbus

Though it's been open since 1963, Sequoia Pro Bowl recently became a Columbus hot spot when owners Tim and Liz Voss turned the ordinary alley into a full-service facility that frequently hosts PBA tournaments. Seven days a week, patrons heave heavy spheres down 32 brand-new lanes, refueling between frames with Sequoia's hearty menu of filling pub-style fare. Guests can also visit the 7-10 Club, packed with arcade games, ping-pong, and karaoke singers reciting the Bowling National Anthem. During the summer months, an outdoor sports bar and 5 sand volleyball courts provide a new arena for friendly competition.

The headquarters of the nonprofit Ohio Historical Society, the Ohio Historical Center abounds with exhibits and activities that showcase the state's diverse social, natural, and archeological history. Built in 1970, the museum's towering Brutalist edifice is a piece of history itself, lauded as "bold" and "imaginative” by the American Institute of Architects. Inside, a 15,000-square-foot gallery explores pivotal moments in the Buckeye State’s past, examining everything from Ohio’s role in the Civil War to Boomer Esiason’s stint as Secretary of State. A natural-history exhibit regales guests with interactive displays of animals, plants, and geography. In addition to its permanent exhibits, the center hosts an ever-changing selection of featured exhibits and special events.

Outside the museum sits Ohio Village, a re-creation of a Civil War–era town. Costumed villagers bustle about the square, performing chores and activities of the era, such as churning butter and checking wooden PalmPilots. The town's 15 buildings showcase the height of 19th-century architecture and include a Gothic-revival church, a large town hall, and an open market. The village is also the home of the renowned Ohio Village Muffins, who regularly compete in games of baseball played by 19th-century rules.

Resting in shallow waters, the faithful wooden re-creation of Columbus’s flagship Santa Maria puts into perspective the lives of sailors as they crossed the Atlantic in cramped quarters, wholly beholden to wind and weather. On board, guides and crewmembers reenact daily life as it must have been for the legendary explorer and his crew, conveniently providing English subtitles for each boisterous Spanish sea shanty. Apart from regular daily tours, themed events such as Talk Like a Pirate Weekend or the Gospel Sail-A-Bration showcase the talents of pirate impersonators and area gospel performers, respectively.

As the oldest historic tour on the national register, the German Village Society's Annual Haus und Garten Tour sends feet pattering across 233 acres of historic landmarks, enchanting gardens, and award-winning restorations. A year ago, the daylong celebration drew a total of more than 6,000 visitors, and this year, an even larger crowd is expected to be on hand to ogle and coax autographs from the 13 homes and gardens scheduled for display.

Tour-takers can meander along the route at their own pace, stopping to explore the shops and eateries in the marketplatz or to peek into classic abodes, which homeowners have transformed into chic, opulent spaces ideal for modern living or showcasing the latest trends in wool socks for coffee tables. In addition to the lineup of architectural stars, the tour will also be stocked with various live performances, including a rendition of The Scarlet Pimpernel in Schiller Park at 2 p.m.

Brady Konya and Ryan Lang aren't from Ohio, but they loved the area for its business-friendly community and rich natural resources, and decided Columbus was where they had to build their distillery. The duo's passion for the Midwest colors everything about Middle West Spirits, from the name down to the Ohio-grown soft red winter wheat in their whiskey and award-winning vodka, which they also infuse with honey and vanilla beans or stone fruit. Inside the distillery, which sprawls over 3,200 square feet of open air, Brady and Ryan craft these artisan OYO spirits—named after the original word for the Ohio River Valley, pronounced o-y-o_—in 600-liter pot-and-column stills. Hand-built onsite by German craftsmen using copper, stainless steel, and bits of Saturn's rings, these stills earned Middle West Spirits a place on _Popular Mechanics' 5 of the World's Most-High-Tech Distilleries list.

Upon crossing the threshold at United Skates of America, a barrage of shimmering lights and colors assault the senses. A disco ball scatters rainbow shards of light across metallic streamers and low barriers striped with colorful lights. A glossy wooden rink acts as the centerpiece of the whimsical decor, packed with roller skaters during public hours. The vibe of open sessions evolves throughout the week in stride with rotating jams, from Top 40 hits to the hip-hop and R & B of the '80s, '90s, and 1890s. Frequent cameos by childhood icons, such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants, captivate kids, who can grab hold of supportive Skate Mates as they round the rink. Novice rollers glide like pros after skating lessons, held in five-week sessions by a team of veteran rollers, and partygoers zoom around the oval track during birthday bashes. An arcade and snack area offer safe haven for the athletically averse or those still mastering bipedality.:m]]