I never thought I would love Ohio as much as I do. As much as I complain about the miserable winters, and as excited as I am to move to Georgia, I’m really going to miss living here. In honor of the last 2 1/2 years I’ve lived in Ohio, I’ve put together a list of the 10 things I’ll miss most.
10. Cedar Point
If you’ve never been to Cedar Point, you’re missing out. The roller coasters are phenomenal. I’ve been the last four summers, and it just gets better each time. In fact, last summer I even put together some tips to make sure you have the best trip ever at Cedar Point!
9. Columbus Pride Festival & Parade
When Libbi and I interned together, we walked in the Pride Parade! The last two summers, I just enjoyed watching it from the sidelines and checking out the Pride Festival.
8. Easton Town Center
You have never truly shopped until you’ve shopped at the Easton Town Center. It’s mostly a large outdoor mall with a great selection of both mid-range stores and fancy shops.
7. Dietsch Brothers
I don’t eat chocolate, and I can’t eat ice cream, but I have to include Findlay’s local candy store and ice cream shop. Even if I only like a handful of their products, I love the ambiance. Plus it makes Dan and his family happy, which is a good enough reason to visit!
6. Grandview
I used to live in the Grandview area of Columbus, and Henry and Libbi still live there. From my apartment, I could walk to:
- two large grocery stores (including a fancy Kroger) and one local grocery store (where I bought all my Ohio produce, fresh-baked pies, and South Carolina peaches!)
- Winking Lizard, where Dan and I regularly split boneless wings and beer
- a secondhand bookstore
- a French bakery
- too many good local restaurants to count
- Jeni’s, the best ice cream place that always has at least one dairy-free option for me
5. Perfect Summers
While this weekend’s miserable weather reminded Dan and me of why we’re so excited to move to Georgia, I might be singing a different tune come July. If Georgia summers are anything like South Carolina summers, I will really miss Ohio for 2-3 months each year. Summers here are absolutely beautiful. Days rarely get too hot, and the humidity is manageable.
4. Gorgeous Fall Foliage
Part of my preferred route between Findlay and Columbus includes the back roads of 315. While this route is pretty at other times, I love it in the autumn. Even just walking along Main Street in Findlay is like living in a fall-based film set.
Today is a day when I love living in Ohio. #autumn #Findlay pic.twitter.com/dA7cbXK6Fc
— Brita Long (@BelleBrita) October 19, 2014
3. Shannon Theatre
Paul and Mary Kay (my in-laws) and Nick (Dan’s oldest brother) all live in Bluffton, about half an hour from Findlay. Their local movie theatre only has one screen, but it’s often playing what we want to see. Tickets are only $3, and they have a great popcorn and soda special.
2. All the Zoos
I used to have a membership to the Columbus Zoo, which Dan and I visited quite often before we got married. For my 26th birthday, we spent a long weekend in Cincinnati and visited their zoo. Back in December, we went to the Toledo Zoo for the first time during their Zoo Lights. Dan and I absolutely LOVE going to zoos, and I will miss having so many good zoos all in one state.
1. Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Headquarters and Heritage Museum
If it weren’t for Kappa, I never would have come to Ohio. I never would have met Libbi, or my husband. Dan even proposed in the Heritage Museum!
While I’m sad to be leaving Ohio, I’m excited for new travel adventures in Georgia!
I can see why you will miss Ohio! I loved your list, and I can’t wait to see what your favorites of Georgia list will be!
It will definitely be fun to fall in love with a new state. I know I’ll miss Ohio, but at least we’ll be able to visit often since all of Dan’s family lives here.
We lived in Columbus for 5 years and I loved it! It was a fantastic, family-friendly city. Big enough that there was plenty to do, but not so big that you couldn’t find parking or it was a nightmare to drive there. Don’t even get me started on the amazing cost of living. I would’ve stayed in a heartbeat but that wasn’t in the cards.
YES, that’s exactly how I feel about Columbus. I rarely had problems with traffic. I wouldn’t have minded staying in Ohio longer if we were staying in Columbus, but it’s been harder living in Findlay. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cute city and the people have been amazing, but most of my adventures have been in Columbus!
We have family that lives in Ohio. I have to say I love summer there! It’s a nice getaway from the humid Florida summer!
We’ll be back at least twice this summer. Dan’s 10-year high school reunion is in June, and his SIL is expecting a baby in July. Knowing how humid SC summers are, I’m not looking forward to GA summers.
I visited columbus oh once last year! I got to meet one of my favorite bloggers (mishmash) and it was amazing. She took me to something called the German village and to an amazing bookstore and to a bunch of little shops. It was such a big city to me because where I live is so tiny. Also there was a trader joes there that I got to visit for the very first time and it was just as amazing as I thought it would be. 😛
I love German Village, and I’ve been to that bookstore! Yes, Trader Joes is amazing. We don’t have one in Findlay, so I’ve definitely stocked up on stuff on my way out of Columbus.
I’ve lived in Ohio since 1985, having moved here from Mississippi, where I was raised. You *will* miss Ohio from late July through mid-September. While Atlanta is not as bad as South Georgia, it will be hot enough to make you long for an Ohio summer. 🙂
Still, I wish you and Dan the best good fortune in your new life in Georgia.
At least we’ll be back at least once during that time frame. My BIL and his wife are expecting their first child in July!
I might spend a lot of the summer visiting my parents in SC. Still hot and humid, but they have a pool. 😉
Thank you. 🙂 We’re excited for this new stage in our life!
Confession….I’ve been to a lot of states, but I’m pretty sure Ohio is one that I’ve never been to! 🙁 It sounds beautiful though!!!
One of the things I like most about Ohio is that it has four distinct seasons, and spring and fall are both incredibly beautiful. I hope you will come visit and take in some of the scenery here. As a transplant to this state, I can say that I love it, and it has become home for me.
I’m from the Midwest so I resonate with several of these points…Cedar point and beautiful fall seasons! (Though in my opinion, the only good season in the midwest)
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