Family Friendly Fun in Columbus, Ohio

Plan a trip to the family friendly city of the Midwest with my guide to Family Friendly Fun in Columbus, Ohio...

As some of you who have been following me a while may already know, I was once a very content resident of the city of Columbus, Ohio.  In fact, my son and I lived there for over 8 years until we moved back to our hometown in 2010.  Columbus is a bigger city with a small town feel to it.  I fell in love with the city, all it had to offer, and made lasting friendships that draw me back there to visit at least a couple of times each year. 

Whenever we do visit we usually spend 2-3 days there, but with all that the city of Columbus has to offer we could easily spend an entire week.

If you have always wanted to check out Columbus with the family or are planning a trip there soon, then let me share with you a few of our favorites from our most recent trip to the capitol of Buckeye nation to help you plan...

Exploring the Local Brewery Scene in Columbus, Ohio

With over 40 breweries & microbreweries, Columbus, Ohio is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for craft beer enthusiasts...

This post was created in partnership with Experience Columbus. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When I moved back to my home state of West Virginia after living in the Columbus, Ohio area for 8 years, Columbus was just then starting to experience a growing craft beer movement. While local breweries were very few in number (think maybe Barley's, Columbus Brewing Company, & Elevator Brewing downtown), craft beer tap takeovers in local bars had started to become more & more popular. In fact, these tap takeovers is how I first experienced and fell in love with craft beers.

Fast forward 8 years later, and the craft beer scene in Columbus has totally evolved into a full-fledged local brewery movement. In fact, there are now over 40 breweries & counting in the Columbus area alone! I knew I had to get back to C-bus to explore the local brewery scene. I spent two days in the city- even embarking on a guided brewery tour- and I didn't even get to a fourth of the breweries in the city!

Even though I didn't get to experience everything Columbus's local brewery scene has to offer on this most recent visit, I did get a good taste of what the city has been brewing up since I moved away. Today I am sharing a few of my favorite craft beer gems from Ohio's state capital...

How to Roar & Explore in Columbus, Ohio

Not only is the fun-packed Columbus Roar & Explore Getaway budget friendly, but it also offers a little something for everyone in the family from the preschooler to the teenager to the adults...

My family & I were were offered the Columbus Roar & Explore Getaway package to review courtesy of Experience Columbus. 

As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

My family & I have deemed the summer of 2016 as the summer of our family weekend road trips. Instead of going on a longer week long vacation to just one destination like we usually do in the summertime, we are opting for 2-3 days visits to 3-4 different family friendly spots instead. First on our family summer road trip list was the Columbus Roar & Explore Getaway. Not only was this fun-packed getaway budget friendly, but it also had a little something for everyone in our family from the preschooler to the teenager to the adults.

We started our visit to Columbus, Ohio with a little Roar first and headed to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell...

Franklin Park Conservatory: Blooms, Butterflies, & Chihuly

Beautiful blooms, fluttering butterflies, & colorful glass sculptures await you at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio...

This post was created in partnership with Experience Columbus. 

As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Located just outside of downtown Columbus, Ohio, Franklin Park Conservatory is a botanical oasis housing one of the most extensive collections of Chihuly glass artwork in the Midwest. The conservatory started in 1895 with just one Victorian-style glass greenhouse (aka, the Palm House that is pictured below), but has expanded since then to also include a conservatory, botanical gardens, as well as multiple art collection displays. 

Having lived in the Columbus area for over 8 years, the Conservatory has long been a favorite of mine in the city. I can easily spend a full day strolling through the various gardens in the conservatory & admiring the vibrant colors of Chihuly's glass sculptures. I was fortunate to be able to bring both my husband & my daughter to their first visit to the conservatory earlier this summer.

If you ever find yourself in the heart of Ohio, be sure to make a visit to Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens a part of your Columbus itinerary. Need a little more convincing that the conservatory is a Columbus must-do? Check out some of my favorite exhibits below...

CopyCat Crock Pot Cincy 3-Way Chili

This CopyCat Cincy 3-Way Chili is a heaping plate of spaghetti topped with a perfectly spiced, slow cooked beef chili, a heaping mound of shredded cheddar cheese, & a sprinkle of oyster crackers... an Ohio favorite!

Those of you from the Cincinnati or Columbus, Ohio area know exactly what this CopyCat Crock Pot Cincy 3-Way Chili recipe is all about.  ;)  

Those of you who have never heard of this before, let me introduce you...

A Cincy 3-Way Chili is a heaping plate of spaghetti topped with a perfectly spiced tasty beef chili, that is then topped with a mound of shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkled with a packet of oyster crackers that comes on the side. 

Some like the oyster crackers... some do not.

I am fan because I like the crunch that it adds to the dish. 

As some of you may have already picked up from following my blog, I moved from a small town in West Virginia to the big college city of Columbus, Ohio right after graduating from college.  I taught junior high and high school for 8 1/2 years there until a turn of events sent my son & I back to our hometown.

Sparkling Limon-Lime Margarita

I have to confess- I am not usually a margarita on the rocks kind of gal.

If you find me ordering a margarita at a restaurant, it is highly likely that it will be something fun, fruity, and very frozen... with a sugar rim.

But even I have to admit that those are overly sweet and probably not worth the crazy amount of calories I am slurping down. 

There has only been one restaurant that has served me a margarita on the rocks that I have come back for over and over. And that is the Margarita Tapatia from Cuco's Taqueria in Columbus, Ohio.  THE MOST AMAZING margarita on the rocks I have ever had... hands down. (Seriously. If you are ever in the Columbus area, look up Cuco's.  It is in a little strip mall so it doesn't look like much, but sometimes those are just the best places. ;) )

35 Recipes to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day All Day Long

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day all day long with these 35 tasty authentic Irish & Irish inspired recipes...

St. Patrick's Day is a little over a week away, but who is counting? ;) Okay, I am. I am counting. Not that I am Irish or anything. (I went over all of that in my post earlier this week.) But I do love any holiday that gives me an excuse to enjoy good food- especially if it happens to be good ethnic food. 

Growing up in an area with a pretty substantial Italian population, I didn't fall in love with Irish food until I moved to Columbus, Ohio in my early 20's (years ago). 

Have any of you all heard of Dublin, Ohio? It is a quaint suburb right outside of Columbus, and I lived there for more than half of my time as an Ohio resident. Dublin is home to a handful of local Irish pubs & the widely popular annual Dublin Irish Festival. 

It was during my time living in and near Dublin that I acquired my love for corned beef & cabbage, shepherd's pie, Bailey's Irish Cream, and celebrating all things green & Irish on St. Patrick's Day. 

Just like Buckeyes football, it was hard not to get sucked right into all the fun, food, fanfare, & excitement while living in a city that celebrated all things Irish pretty much every day but especially so on March 17th of each year. ;)

Whether you celebrate St. Patrick's Day out of pride for your ancestry or you happen to just be in it for the food, you are going to love today's recipe collection I have for you all. 

I rounded up 35 of the tastiest authentic Irish & Irish inspired recipes so that you can celebrate St. Patrick's Day all day long on March 17th. From sunrise to sundown, there is a little something for every meal of the day and everything else in between... 

4 Fun Things to Do in Delaware County, Ohio for Animal & Nature Lovers

From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers...

This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Located less than an hour north of Columbus is the quaint town of Delaware, Ohio. Having been a Columbus resident for almost 8 years, I must admit that Delaware County was not an area I explored much when I lived in the area. And boy, had I been missing out, you all!

From a growing local foods & brewery scene to a historic downtown filled with small town charm & plenty of shopping, the city of Delaware has grown quite a bit in the past decade. But perhaps what I was most impressed by was just how much there is to do in the county for outdoors & nature lovers like myself & my kiddos. From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers.

While we didn't get to explore everything that Delaware County had to offer in our 3 day stay, we did get to experience 4 of the best things to do in the area if you happen to be the outdoorsy type. Whether you & your family love animals, or are into gardening, or love to hike, this county in Ohio needs to be on your family travel list this summer...

The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Delaware County, Ohio

From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in Delaware County, Ohio...

This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If someone would have asked me at the beginning of May what my recommendation would be for a good travel destination in Ohio for foodies, Delaware probably would have not been the first Ohio city that would have come to mind for me. Having lived in the Columbus area for over 8 years, I was familiar with the Delaware area but didn't venture that way much when I was resident of Franklin County. I knew Alum Creek State Park was up that way, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of Delaware County.

That all changed when the kiddos & I visited the Delaware, Ohio area at the end of May earlier this summer. Over the past 10 years, the historic downtown area of Delaware has grown by leaps & bounds. And with this growth has also come the birth of a vibrant local restaurant & brewery scene. 

While we definitely didn't get to experience all of the deliciousness that Delaware County has to offer during our stay, we did get a good enough taste of the area. From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in the county... 

A Family Friendly Travel Guide to Butler County, Ohio

Spanning five different cities across the county, this is a family friendly travel guide of where to go, what to see, and where to eat while visiting Butler County, Ohio with your family...

This post was created in partnership with the Butler County Visitors Bureau. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If you have been searching for the perfect unexpected family destination in Ohio, your quest is over! Butler County, located just to the north of Cincinnati & about 2 hours southwest of Columbus, may just be the place you have been looking for. With a famed donut trail, a thriving hands-on art scene, and plenty of quirky & family friendly attractions, Butler County has a little something to satisfy and thrill every member of your family. 

If you and your family haven't visited the Butler County, Ohio area before, let this travel guide serve as a little taste of what all you have been missing. Spanning five different cities across the county, this is where to go, what to see, and where to eat while visiting Butler County with your family...

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 10- Money Aside, I Would Own These...

Today's blog challenge is to tell about what famous work of art I would have in my home if money were not an obstacle.  Honestly, this one initially stumped me.  I am not a connoisseur of artworks.  I have always been able to appreciate a painting or a sculpture, but never have I looked at a piece and thought, "wow, I would really like to have that in my home".  Then it dawned on me!  Yes, there is an artist that I have greatly appreciated since being introduced to him during my years living in Columbus, Ohio.  His works were the sole reason I would visit the Franklin Park Conservatory.  The glass artwork of Dale Chihuly. 

How gorgeous is this?

I love how light can shine through one of his pieces and completely change how you feel about it.

But I guess one of these pieces would be a little more feasible for my home (and you know, would actually fit in your home if you don't happen to have 30 foot ceilings ;) ).

Have you ever seen Chihuly glass art yourself?

For links to more of my Summer Blog Challenge posts, click here... My Summer Blog Challenge

Chipotle Bourbon Ale Burgers {Spiked!}

For this month's Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge, I decided to combine one of my husband's favorite American craft beers with one of our favorite foods to eat while drinking said beer- Burgers! 

My husband is a HUGE fan of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  The only problem with that?  

They do not sell it here in West Virginia.  When we visit my old stomping grounds in Columbus about once a year, we make a stop to The Andersons just to pick up a couple of 4-packs of this coveted beer.  

Yes, I said 4-packs.  This gem of a beer is above being seen in a 6-pack.  ;)

If you are also among those of us who do not have access to Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale in your home state, you could use another full bodied, deep caramel ale as a substitute.  I would not recommend using lighter bodied/colored ales in this recipe.  They will fail to give these burgers the depth of flavor that they deserve. 

Chipotle Bourbon Ale Burgers

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 12 minutes

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

6050322

Ingredients (4 burgers)

• 1 lb of ground beef (I used 80% lean)
• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tbsp chipotle pepper in sauce (be sure to finely chop the pepper & remove any seeds to reduce the heat level if you wish)
• 1/4 tsp Chinese Five Spice
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup beer
• 2-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Simply mix all the ingredients together until well combined. I suggest using your hands for this- it will make for quicker work and it will ensure that all the ingredients get well incorporated into the ground beef.

Form into 4 equal patties and grill until your desired temperature is reached.

Serve on your favorite buns with the cheese, toppings, & condiments of your choice.... Oh, and with a nice cold one on the side. ;)

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Make sure you click on over to the Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge Submissions post and check out all of the other tasty recipes linked up in the challenge! :)

Love cooking with beer like I do? Then you don't want to miss my...

Beer Cheese Risotto with Bacon

Slow Cooker Beer Braised Pot Roast

Cookie Butter Walnut Granola

If you happen to follow me on Facebook or Twitter, then you may have noticed my recent obsession with cookie butter.  For months I kept hearing about this new foodie must-have, but was unable to pick up a jar because I couldn't find it at any of my local stores.  Luckily, I have a sister who travels to Columbus at least once a month and always stops at a Trader Joe's there while she is in town.  On one of her visits a few months ago, I asked her to pick me up a jar of their crunchy cookie butter and that was all she wrote, folks...

Obsessed may be a mild way to express my love for this stuff. ;) I love to just spoon some out into a small bowl and dip pretzels in it.  It is delicious spread over waffles.  Or you can do like I do about once a day and just eat a spoonful out of it straight out of the jar.

I know some of you may be wondering just what is cookie butter.  The best way I can describe it has the consistency of a peanut butter, but with the flavors of a graham cracker, shortbread, and cinnamon and spices.  Yum!

Once I got past my need to eat it straight from the jar, I started to experiment with it a little in some recipes.  One of the first things I made with it is my ~Cookie Butter Walnut Granola~...

What you will need:

2 cups of rolled oats

2/3 cup chopped walnuts (pecans would also be delicious in this)

1/2 cup shredded coconut

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp honey

1/2 cup cookie butter (crunchy or smooth)

4 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.  Set aside.

In large bowl, mix together the oats, walnuts, and coconut.  Set aside.

Heat the coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Once melted, still in the brown sugar, honey, salt, and cookie butter.  Heat and stir together for 1-2 minutes.  

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the heated mixture over the oats mixture.  Mix well until the oats, walnuts, and coconut are well coated.

Spread the granola mixture evenly onto your prepared baking sheet.  Bake for about 40-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so.

Allow the granola to cool completely and then break into spoon-sized pieces.  Store in an airtight container for up to a month. (I like to store mine in pretty glass Mason jars on my counter. ;) )

Have you tried cookie butter yet?  Am I the only one in need of an intervention here? ;)

Cookie Butter Walnut Granola

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 12 minutes

Cook Time: 40-45 minutes

6045501

Ingredients (6-8 servings)

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts (pecans would also be delicious in this)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup cookie butter (crunchy or smooth)
• 4 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.

In large bowl, mix together the oats, walnuts, and coconut. Set aside.

Heat the coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, still in the brown sugar, honey, salt, and cookie butter. Heat and stir together for 1-2 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the heated mixture over the oats mixture. Mix well until the oats, walnuts, and coconut are well coated.

Spread the granola mixture evenly onto your prepared baking sheet. Baking for about 40-45 minutes, stir every 15 minutes or so.

Allow to cool and then break into spoon-sized pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.

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Love making your own homemade granola?  Be sure you also check out my recipes for...

Mounds of Almond Joy Granola

Gingerbread Pecan Granola

                 

Crock Pot Corn Pudding

This creamy, savory Crock Pot Corn Pudding saves oven space during your holiday dinner prep & will soon become a family favorite...

Last year I made the oven-baked version of this corn pudding side dish for the family.  It turned out delicious, but occupied precious oven space for FAR too long & it seemed to take forever to bake completely.  

Dinner was literally stalled by almost 20 minutes because this darn corn pudding refused to set in the middle! 

Even though it was a royal pain, it was agreed by all that this needed to become an essential side dish for every Thanksgiving dinner from that day forward.

So a couple of weeks ago, I started researching online some alternative ways to make this family fave.  

My first search was for slow cooker versions- shocking, right? ;) 

Peanut M&M's Buckeye Bars

Peanut butter and chocolate is just one of those baking flavor combos that is perfect any time of the year.  Throw in some Peanut M&M's?  And oh yeah!  You have yourself a crowd pleaser for sure. :)

As some of you may have seen me mention before, I lived about 8 years in the scarlet & gray city of Columbus, Ohio.  I embraced the Buckeyes culture after a couple of years of living there.  It was difficult to not get caught up in it all, especially on a game day Saturday (and even more so if that game happened to be against the Wolverines ;) ).  

Buckeye candies were the signature candy of the city.  You could find them in every store there.  For those of you not familiar with a Buckeye candy, it is basically a peanut butter fudge ball that is dipped into chocolate leaving a small circle of the peanut butter candy open at the top thus resembling a Buckeye nut.

Ohio State fan or not, Buckeye candies are amazing! 

~Let Me Pintroduce You~ A Thanksgiving Holiday Edition

Who all is hosting Thanksgiving dinner for their families this year?  *Raising hand*   This will be my first time in YEARS hosting Thanksgiving for my parents, my sister, and my little family.  For quite a few years now, we have kept my family's Thanksgiving dinner small and intimate.  Usually my mother hosts it, but since we have finally moved back home after living out of state for years I decided this year would be my year.  I do not get to host and entertain as much as once I did when I lived in Columbus.  And I miss it...  So, I have been busily planning the menu and the decor for the past couple of weeks.  I *think* I just about have my dinner menu set.  But I am definitely still working on the table setting. ;) (Pssssttt... did you see Jodi's from Blue Skies and Apple Pies post on my blog yesterday about Setting a Gorgeous Thanksgiving Table on the Cheap?)
I have some fabulous new sponsors on my sidebar this month (and also have a few awesome bloggers who decided to stick with me for another go-round ;) ).  And almost all of them have some great holidays and fall inspired Pinterest boards! Today I would like to pintroduce you to Jodi from Blue Skies and Apple Pies (yep, the very same lovely blogger who guest posted on my blog yesterday) and Janelle from Domestically Seasoned (my awesome Friendship Bread sponsor this month).
Let's get hyped for the holidays, shall we? ;)
Holiday Board from Jodi at Blue Skies and Apple Pies Here are a few highlights from Jodi's board...

Pretty Thanksgiving Set Up

Unique Thanksgiving Table "Runner"

And because we all need to get started on those homemade holidays gifts... like NOW!

Gift Ideas Board from Janelle at Domestically Seasoned

Here are a few highlights from Janelle's Board...

Baby Jar Snowmen

Filled with hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, & mints- cute! :)

Reindeer Fudge

Interested to see what I may be serving up on my Thanksgiving table this year?  Then you need to take a peek at my Planning the Thanksgiving Spread board. ;)

Didn't you just love the ideas these lovely ladies pinned above??  Make sure you give both Jodi and Janelle a follow on Pinterest! They both have lots of boards with terrific ideas pinned. :)

And make sure to enter my Blog Makeover from Blog Sites by Suzy Giveaway while you are over here in my neck of the blogosphere. ;) My friend Suzy (the very same designer who gave my blog it's fresh new look!) is giving away a Custom Blog Design Package (a $50 value!) to one of my lucky readers. You must be on the Blogger platform to win. :)  Good luck!