🚶6 Scenic Urban Walks Around Columbus

Plus: 😍 Step Back In Time On This Charming Ohio Island

Author

Chelsea Wiley
May 02, 2025

Sponsored by the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio 🖖
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Hello, Friday! Chelsea here.

It’s supposed to rain over the next couple of weeks… like a lot. So instead of being sad about it, I think we should all agree to embrace the rainy weather and not let it stop us from getting out to enjoy May in Ohio. Whether you’ve got 20 minutes or a whole afternoon, these walks offer just the right mix of nature, art, and city energy. From peaceful riverside paths to neighborhood gems with mural views and coffee breaks, here’s where to go when you need a breather in Columbus.

😍 Step Back In Time On This Charming Ohio Island With Glacial Grooves & Petroglyphs
Ready to Escape to Ohio’s most peaceful island getaway? From ancient glacial grooves to quiet beaches and charming trails, Kelleys Island is the perfect spot for a relaxing weekend packed with history, nature, and small-town charm.

🏡 Historic Mansions Of Columbus: The Allen G. Thurman Home
It’s always nice when instead of telling you about a gorgeous historic mansion getting torn down to be replaced by a parking lot or something, I get to tell you about a beautiful piece of architecture that’s still standing! The Allen G. Thurman home is an absolute stunner.

Headlines 📰 

✏️ More than 1,500 educators, students, and supporters rallied at the Ohio Statehouse on a rainy May Day, demanding better funding for public schools and calling out lawmakers for leaving teachers and kids behind. The message? Stop the cuts, start listening, and put education, not politics, first. (NBC4)

🍷 Ohio's Grand River Valley is quietly becoming the Midwest’s most exciting wine destination with its world-class Cabernet Franc, lake-cooled vineyards, and a new generation of winemakers challenging tradition. If you’ve ever doubted Ohio’s wine scene, this story might just change your mind. (Midwest Living)

🌅 Sometimes, you’ve just got to stop for a minute and enjoy the view. There was a gorgeous sunset over central Ohio last night, captured beautifully here surrounding Ohio Stadium. (Dispatch)

🌦️ Weather: 77 and partly sunny, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms

Coming Up 📆

Today's Photo 🤳

🐘 Big things are on the way at the Columbus Zoo! Two of the Zoo’s Asian elephants are expectinve calves later this year. With baby-proofing underway and anticipation building, the pachyderm team is making sure Sunny, Phoebe, and their future little ones have everything they need for a safe and cozy arrivals this summer and fall.

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- Chelsea