😍 The Best Small Towns In Ohio For A Day Trip

Plus: 🍹The Kahiki Supper Club Was The Most Iconic Restaurant In Columbus

Author

Chelsea Wiley
February 24, 2026

Sponsored by the Greater Columbus Arts Council 🖼️
Explore Columbus through a new lens by checking out the arts-focused event calendar from Art Makes Columbus. Discover the events that bring our community together and experience art made authentically. For more info, head over to columbusmakesart.com.

Hello, Tuesday! Chelsea, here.

There’s something about small towns that just slows you down in the best way. While Ohio’s bigger cities get most of the attention, some of the state’s best spots are tucked along quiet main streets, lakefronts, and winding back roads. You’ll find places where a waterfall runs right through downtown, where you can grab a delicious lunch after a hike, or spend the afternoon wandering local shops and wineries. If you’ve been craving an easy escape without leaving the state, this is a pretty great place to start.

Navigator Feature Story: 😍 The Best Small Towns In Ohio For A Day Trip

🍹The Kahiki Supper Club Was The Most Iconic Restaurant In Columbus
Before there were sleek rooftop cocktail bars and Instagrammable restaurants, there was the Kahiki Supper Club. With its flaming Moai statues, over-the-top tropical drinks, and a dining room that felt like pure escapism, it became one of the most unforgettable spots in Columbus history. Decades after it closed, people are still talking about it.

🎭 Opera Columbus Is Celebrating 45 Years With Pirates, Puccini, And The Shining
Opera Columbus is celebrating its 45th season with a lineup that includes Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Puccini, The Shining, and a citywide Messiah Sing-Along. Here’s what’s coming to Columbus stages in 2026–27.

Headlines 📰 

Hocking Hills State Park is one of Ohio’s most award-winning outdoor destinations, drawing about 5 million visitors a year for its scenic hikes, fall colors, and winter events. In colder months, Ash Cave becomes a standout attraction, with its waterfall freezing from the ground up into a rare, bright blue ice stalagmite. (Dispatch)

The Columbus Crew are back for a World Cup year with a new head coach, fresh talent, and a new name for their home at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. After a frustrating 2025 and the retirement of club legend Darlington Nagbe, there’s a lot riding on how this next chapter unfolds. (Axios Columbus)

Columbus City Council has passed new legislation aimed at limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the city, including banning ICE detention centers and restricting enforcement on city property. The measures also urge federal agents to show identification and avoid wearing masks, as local leaders push for stronger protections while calling for broader federal immigration reform. (WOSU)

🌤️ Weather: 38 and partly sunny

Coming Up This Week 📆

Coming Up This Month 📆

🏒 The Best Things To Do This February In Columbus
Columbus is buzzing this February. Whether you’re into live music, sports, theater, winter hikes, or family-friendly fun, the city has plenty of ways to get out and make the most of the month.

Today's Photo 🤳

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🌳 The Blendon Woods Nature Center has reopened after a recent remodel and it’s looking incredible. If you’re looking for a good way to get the kids out of the house, add this to your list!

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- Chelsea