💦 Where To Hop On A Canal Boat In Ohio

Plus: 📚 How To Start Your Own Little Free Library

Author

Chelsea Wiley
August 05, 2025

Sponsored by Columbus Recreation and Parks 🎵
Get ready to vibe with the best live music and mouthwatering eats at CBUS Soul Fest! From August 15–16, Bicentennial Park on the Scioto Mile becomes the heart of Columbus’ soulful celebration, and the best part? It’s totally FREE. Mark your calendar and bring your crew for two unforgettable nights of culture, rhythm, and good times! For more info, head over to cbussoulfest.com

Hello, Tuesday! Chelsea here.

Ohio’s canal era may be long gone, but you can still travel like it’s the 1800s — minus the soggy socks and backbreaking labor. A handful of beautifully preserved sections of the Ohio & Erie Canal are still operating horse-drawn boats, giving history lovers a chance to drift along at 4 mph like our forebears once did. From Roscoe Village’s immersive living-history setup to Toledo’s Canal Experience and Canal Fulton’s St. Helena III, these rides offer quirky charm and serious nostalgia. If you’re ready to trade highways for towpaths, here’s where to hop aboard.

📚 How To Start Your Own Little Free Library In Columbus
Ever thought about running your own neighborhood book exchange? Starting a Little Free Library in Columbus is easier than you think. Here’s how to build, register, and stock one so you can spread literary joy right from your front yard.

Headlines 📰 

🤔 A southeastern Ohio college student spent his summer building a working chocolate 3D printer, part of a hands-on internship program designed to spark interest in manufacturing careers and fight the region’s skilled labor shortage. (WOSU)

🏈 Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin hasn’t officially won the starting job yet, but he’s already gearing up mentally for a massive Week 1 showdown against Texas. With the reigning national champs hosting Arch Manning and the Longhorns to kick off 2025, Sayin says the Buckeyes are focused on a clean slate and ready to attack the season one day at a time. (Sports Illustrated)

🎡 The Ohio State Fairgrounds are undergoing a $460 million transformation as part of the 2050 Master Plan, bringing new event spaces, upgraded buildings, and modern infrastructure to the historic Expo Center. Construction is already underway, with major pieces like the Town Square and Ohio Agriculture Center expected to debut by 2026. (ABC6)

☀️ Weather: 86 and sunny

Sponsored by Short North Stage 🎭
Sugar, butter, save! The hit musical Waitress is serving up heart, humor, and pie through August 10, and you can get 15% off tickets with code NAVIGATOR. Don’t miss this sweet, messy, utterly unforgettable show packed with songs by Sara Bareilles. For more info, head over to shortnorthstage.org/waitress 

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- Chelsea