Granville, OH is a small college town about 35 miles east of Columbus. Originally surveyed as land grants for Revolutionary War veterans, the town was settled by a mix of those veterans, New Englanders and Welshmen. Like most towns it was once connected to the rest of the world by train. Below is the old depot, today repurposed as a cafe, while the old tracks have been converted to a 14-mile Rails-to-Trails trail that runs between Johnstown and Newark.
This Stauf's Coffee is conveniently located right next to The Book Loft. There was a nice outdoor area but I think it was too hot and sunny. Not sure why we had the coffees in to go cups, except for the fact that our plan was to go. Which, after a while, we did.
Another institution in the German Village is The Book Loft. We've been to our share of "destination bookstores" and were happy to add this one to the list. As for the 32 rooms, the ones I saw were a bit narrow and semi-claustrophobic, but the selection was certainly impressive. The outdoor area was also nice. This place is definitely not to be confused with The Book Loft in Solvang, CA.
This popular restaurant is a local institution in Columbus' German Village. We were happy to get a table on a busy holiday with gorgeous weather. In fact, the weather was more "California-like" than the humid heatwave we left behind in California!
What were the odds of being in Columbus, OH on Columbus Day? It certainly wasn't anything we planned. My first thought was that it was Indigenous People's Day, but then I remembered... Then there was the strange experience of wondering if a person could be pro-Columbus, OH but anti-Christopher Columbus? In any case since parking in an unfamiliar city can be a royal pain, this was quite a welcome surprise.
Sometimes - but not often - you locate the house where your great-grandparents lived over a century ago, and the current owner very kindly gives you a tour of the house (which he restored beautifully).
The combination of vegetation, murals and decent architecture made this neighborhood around our bed & breakfast - the Short North Arts District - very walkable and very agreeable.
According to my camera app and my own botanical expertise, the above is an Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), state tree of Ohio, and below is a bald cypress (Taxodium distichum).
A morning stroll through nearby Goodale Park only increased my good impression of this part of Columbus, OH. This elephant fountain was as delightful as it was unexpected.
Expecting a gritty, urban jumble of concrete, I was very pleasantly surprised by Columbus' Short North Arts District. It was colorful, lively, polished and well maintained; full of shops and restaurants and although busy, not in a bad way. Good work Columbus!
The Bed & Breakfast we stayed at in Columbus, OH. Did I mention that Ohio seems to have plenty of brick? And Columbus lots of cobblestone streets. Parking was a bit of a nightmare, but otherwise the location was great.
This may well be the most attractive part of the house. The Japanese influence is evident, and the garden really gives it a soul - especially when seen from above.
