Indoor Fun - Columbus Family Adventures

Blooms & Butterflies

Winged insects add more color to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination,” sings Willy Wonka as he leads a motley, golden-ticketed crew into his chocolate factory.

That colorful scene from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” comes to mind as we enter the Pacific Island Water Garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus.

But instead of seeing giant, candy mushrooms, gummy-bear laden trees and a chocolate river, we spy blue and orange butterflies fluttering through tropical plants, past Dale Chihuly glassworks and over a koi-filled pond.

“If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.”

Blooms & Butterflies is back for its 27th year at Franklin Park Conservatory. The exhibit runs through May.

Visitors of the beautiful indoor gardens near downtown Columbus can watch hundreds of exotic butterflies zoom among the conservatory’s permanent exhibition of tropical plants and fragrant flowers.

The exhibit includes thousands of the winged insects, although not that many are flying around at once. Many of them are brought to the conservatory in the pupa stage. Visitors can view the chrysalises displayed in the Metamorphosis Lab, and might even see a butterfly as it emerges.

The four-stage metamorphosis of the butterfly begins with an egg that develops into a larva, or a caterpillar. The caterpillar spends most of its time eating before it forms a protective shield around itself called a pupa. Inside the pupa the caterpillar transforms and emerges as a butterfly. The adult butterfly then mates and lays eggs on plants, which starts the whole process all over again. The lifespan of a butterfly varies from one week to a year.

Due to pandemic-related safety precautions, the conservatory won’t be performing daily butterfly release demonstrations this year. Instead, staff will be offering similar experiences virtually.

In compliance with local health and government authorities, all visitors are required to wear a mask at the conservatory and abide by social distancing guidelines. Make a reservation at the conservatory’s website.

Franklin Park Conservatory, located at 1777 E. Broad St. within Franklin Park, is a landmark set amid 88 acres of outdoor botanical gardens and green space.

Built in 1895, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. It showcases exotic plant collections, special exhibitions, a signature collection of Chihuly glassworks and a permanent light installation by renowned artist James Turrell.

The conservatory contains more than 400 plant species. Collections include orchids, bonsai and more than 40 species of palms in the Palm House.

Columbus residents get in free on the first Sunday of each month. For more information, visit www.fpconservatory.org.

March 14, 2021/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

Indoor Fun

Put the needle on the record

Independent vinyl shops deliver more than music

Kids these days have music wrapped around their little fingers. They can pretty much listen to whatever they want, whenever they want, thanks to online streaming services, such as Spotify and Pandora.

“Alexa: Play ‘Watermellon Sugar.’ ”

“Alexa: Repeat.”

So it was surprising when our 13-year-old daughter, Rosie, put “vinyl records” atop her Christmas wishlist in December.

In an effort to support local businesses during the pandemic, we set out to find Rosie’s top requests at record stores in central Ohio, where we were quickly reminded of how much fun these music-lovers havens really are.

“You get the browsing experience,” said Kyle Siegrist, owner of Lost Weekend Records in Clintonville. “If you’re buying online, you’re usually looking for a particular record. When you’re in the store, something might catch your eye.”

We flipped through crates of albums, admiring the covers. We reminisced at the site of promotional flyers from past shows plastered on the wall. We listened to the banter of customers.

“Plus, you can haggle in the store,” Siegrist said.

“Wait, you can haggle?” a customer retorted.

“Not on new stuff, but on old stuff. That’s part of the fun of a record store.”

At home comes the joy of listening to your new or used record.

“Sick,” said Rosie, as she pulled a new 5 Seconds of Summer record from its sleeve. She held it in her hands, admiring a rainbow created by the grooves in the vinyl. She placed it on her record player and put the needle atop the spinning circumference. She sat on the edge of her bed and listened, as we once did.

The magic of vinyl wasn’t lost on our daughter.

Here are a few other places in central Ohio to get in the groove and start spinning vinyl.

Lost Weekend Records: You’ll find vinyl in all genres at this 18-year-old shop located along High Street in Clintonville. We’re talking new releases, classic rock, jazz, country, folk, reggae, pop and many others. They also have many used CDs, DVDs, books and music collectibles.

Elizabeth’s Records: Here’s another Clintonville gem, along Indianola Avenue just south of Studio 35 theater. She’s got many, many cool rock albums and more from several other genres.

Used Kids Records: An Ohio State University staple since the mid-’80s, Used Kids boasts a huge selection of new and used vinyl, CDs and DVDs, as well as used stereo equipment. In 2016, it moved to the city’s “SoHud” neighborhood near Summit and Hudson streets.

Magnolia Thunderpussy: Five decades of experience is behind this well-loved Short North shop that has lots of boxed sets, rare items and imports. Its website offers more than 15,000 titles.

Spoonful Records: This small shop in downtown Columbus just passed the decade mark and specializes in new and used vinyl. It also has 8-track tapes, CDs, new Audio-Technica turntables – and pinball machines you can play.

Records Per Minute: Pony up just $2 for more than 50,000 used records at this University District shop along High Street. Plus, it’s just a cool interior space to wander through, with wood floors and brick arches.

Pat’s Endangered Species: Pat likes to call his Delaware shop “The Last Record Store on Earth.” There are just a few more left (as you can see here), but Pat’s is a really nice space to wander through, not only for records but for vintage concert T-shirts and some used stereo equipment.

Outside of central Ohio? Check out Rolling Stone’s “10 Best Record Stores in America.”

January 23, 2021/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

Take a global spring break while sheltering in place

Indoor Fun

Virtual adventure

Take a global spring break while sheltering in place

It’s officially spring break for our kids. Yet here we are at home in Columbus on the verge of a mandatory, 2-week shelter-in-place order from our governor to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Canceling your vacation plans doesn’t mean you have to miss out on what the world has to offer, at least while you’re spending time at home in front of your computer. You can catch some interesting livestreams around the world – live footage from cameras placed at or near notable global landmarks.

For instance, today we’ve been staring at a live view of the crosswalk near the intersection of Abbey Road and Grove End Road in London. It’s where the Beatles were filmed crossing for the renowned Abbey Road album cover. Double-decker red buses and motorcycles zoom by, as we wait for pedestrians to cross. Little do they know we’re observing their every move from Columbus, Ohio.

Here’s a list we’ve put together that shows live streams of Old Faithful, Times Square and various other locations including Aruba, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Dublin, Ireland, as well as some rather unusual places.

United States

Around the World

Just for Fun

Abbey Road, London

Times Square, New York City

Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Dublin, Ireland

Aruba

Donkey Barn in Ipswich, Mass.

Critter Cam, Tustin, Calif.

March 23, 2020/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

23 engaging stops along St. Rt. 23 from Columbus to the Ohio River

Indoor Fun, Outdoor Fun, Road Trip

23 on 23

23 engaging stops along St. Rt. 23 from Columbus to the Ohio River

With every twist and bend throughout southern Ohio’s Appalachian hills and valleys, St. Rte. 23 takes you past some of the best attractions, restaurants and shops in southern Ohio. Here are 23 engaging stops that’ll make the trip from Columbus to the Ohio River (and back) an alluring adventure.

PICKAWAY COUNTY

1. Learn quirky facts about the village of Ashville at Ohio’s Small-Town Museum. Check out the futuristic traffic light designed by a local inventor in the 1930s.

2. Pick your way through Pickaway County at a cornucopia of pick-your-own produce farms and roadside stands. Watch for blueberries and tomatoes in summer, and gourds and pumpkins in fall.

3. See pumpkins, parades and lots of people at the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show, featuring four days of free fun, beginning the third Wednesday in October.

4. Discover an entertainment legend at the Ted Lewis Museum in downtown Circleville. The early 20th-century jazz clarinetist was known for his top hat, cane and the remark, “Is everybody happy?”

5. Savor a pumpkin doughnut every day of the year at Lindsey’s Bakery, home of the 400-pound pumpkin pie found annually at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.

ROSS COUNTY

6. Sit beneath the stars in Chillicothe as more than 100 “Tecumseh!” cast members tell the story of a legendary Shawnee leader’s struggles to defend his homeland during the late 1700s.

7. Stoke your sense of adventure by exploring Ross County’s five state parks. Follow hiking, biking and bridle paths, go boating and fishing, and stay in a cabin or tent and stargaze at night.

8. Visit the rustic landscape that inspired the Great Seal of the State of Ohio at the Adena Mansion & Gardens in Chillicothe. Stroll through the 1800’s mansion, once home to Ohio’s sixth governor, Thomas Washington.

9. Rekindle yesteryear inside dozens of antique shops on the Ross County Antique Trail. The treasure hunt meanders through Chillicothe, Bainbridge and Kingston.

10. Lose your head at Chillicothe’s Haunted Mountain, a family-friendly, Halloween experience that puts guests on a trail visited by the Headless Horseman.

11. Take yourself out to a Chillicothe Paints ballgame and feel the nostalgia of collegiate baseball in the 1954-built V.A. Memorial Stadium.

12. Enjoy a movie or live performance at Chillicothe’s Majestic Theatre, the oldest continuously operating theater in America. Built in 1853, it’s welcomed legends such as Bob Hope and Sophie Tucker.

13. Uncover the history behind the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe, where visitors can find a dozen mounds and earthworks dating to A.D. 500 within a 21-mile radius.

14. Rediscover the vibrancy of downtown Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital. Explore historic buildings, shop at independent boutiques and dine at local culinary standouts.

15. Experience the thrill of auto racing at Waverly’s Atomic Speedway, billed as “the fastest 3/8-mile dirt track in the country” that’s entertained fans for more than six decades.

16. Tune into Prussia Valley Dulcimers in Waverly for a major selection of acoustic instruments, including locally-crafted mountain dulcimers, guitars, banjos and Native American flutes.

17. Step into the Old West at Dogwood Pass, a replica town in Beaver complete with a saloon, jail, general store and many other tributes to the Wild West.

18. Reserve a spot on the U.S. Department of Energy’s popular, guided tour of a former uranium enrichment plant housed on more than 1,200 acres in Piketon.

19. Pop up a tent at a primitive site or sleep in an appointed cabin, at the 400-plus-acre Long’s Retreat Family Resort in Latham. Canoe or swim in a spring-fed lake or speed around the go-kart track.

SCIOTO COUNTY

20. Reap the rewards of Main Street Portsmouth, a collaboration of independent business owners and community leaders who’ve both preserved and revitalized this historic city along the Ohio River.

21. Celebrate Independence Day in historic downtown Portsmouth with live music and an annual fireworks display that beautifully reflects upon the Ohio River.

22. View 2,000 years of history depicted on Portsmouth’s floodwall murals, from Native American earth mounds to “King of the Cowboys” actor Roy Rogers.

23. Attend a gallery opening or catch a musical show at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the campus of Shawnee State University in historic Portsmouth.

(This story, written by Wendy Pramik for Great Lakes Publishing, printed in the Ross County Visitors Guide.)

February 21, 2020/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

Food, Indoor Fun

Columbus Coffee Experience

Learn what’s brewing in central Ohio, earn cool T-shirt

The Columbus Coffee Experience lets you sample the quality of superior roasted coffee in Ohio’s capital city. On the self-guided tour from Experience Columbus, you get a passport at one of the 17 participating coffee shops. After getting four stamps, you earn a trail T-shirt, and if you fill ‘er up, you can redeem the passport for a travel mug. Read more in our guest blog, “Check out what’s percolating in Columbus,” for Ohio.org.

February 4, 2020/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

Indoor Fun, Outdoor Fun, Road Trip

2020 Ohio Travel Guide

Get your copy today

We had the pleasure of writing the Southeast Ohio section of the 2020 Ohio Travel Guide. The free publication, produced by Tourism Ohio, is packed with inspirational travel ideas and calendars of events. Get your 2020 Ohio Travel Guide.

January 22, 2020/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

Indoor Fun, Outdoor Fun

Good Day Columbus

The journey of blogging with Columbus Family Adventures

We recently joined Phil Kelly and Shawn Ireland on Good Day Columbus to share our experiences blogging for Columbus Family Adventures, and how you can start a blog for yourself. Watch our clip on Good Day Columbus.

January 17, 2020/by Wendy and Mike Pramik

Art, Educational, Indoor Fun

Made in Cbus Trail

Make keepsakes at four central Ohio shops, earn tote bag

I find the most memorable adventures to be hands-on experiences. They’re even more meaningful when I can make a keepsake along the way.

The Smithery: Make memorable, metal trinkets at Grandview shop

Such was the case when I tapped the letters of my family members’ names onto a bronze heart while making a necklace at the Smithery in Grandview Heights. The shop offers metal smithing classes for adults and children, and has a gift shop full of neat, handmade creations by local artisans.

I participated in a “Make and Take” workshop that included choosing a charm, stamping it with decorations and threading it onto a chain. It took about 30 minutes, and it cost less than $20.

Plus, I received a stamp in my Made in Cbus Trail passport, taking one step closer to receiving a free tote bag from Experience Columbus.

The Smithery is one of more than 30 central Ohio stops on the Made in Cbus Trail. Visit one to pick up your trail booklet. Shop and collect stamps at any four, and you’ll receive a Made in Cbus tote bag, compliments of the visitors bureau.

Below are three more do-it-yourself projects we completed along the trail.

Candle Lab
Multiple locations throughout central Ohio

“Wasabi,” “Snickerdoodle,” “Old Books.” We considered these peculiar fragrances when we set out to make our own candle that captured our personalities at the Candle Lab in downtown Worthington.

The Candle Lab is a specialty store where customers can buy pre-made, scented candles, or concoct their own. Fragrance selections vary by season, and you can choose up to three scents to blend. The candles are made of pure soy wax, which burns long and is environmentally friendly.

The process of picking a scent, mixing it with liquid wax and allowing it to harden takes a little over an hour. Most candles cost less than $25.

Popular fragrance recipes among the younger crowd include mixing “Bubble Gum” and “Watermelon” to produce a scent resembling watermelon-flavored Bubblicious chewing gum. Another mixes “Campfire,” “Toasted Marshmallow” and “Dark Chocolate” to yield a s’mores-scented candle.

I settled on an earthy trio of pineapple, peach and patchouli, since I’m a sucker for alliteration.

The Candle Lab’s fragrances are stored in amber bottles with white labels. We poured each of our selections into a bartender’s jigger. Then we emptied the mixture into an 8-ounce tin filled with soy wax and a wick. Voila! In an hour’s time, we had our personalized candles.

There also are Candle Lab store locations in Grandview Heights, the Short North and near the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Igloo Letterpress
Worthington

You might not think of a print shop as a place to take your family. But Igloo Letterpress in Worthington is a great place to visit for personalized stationery and related classes.

For instance, you can take classes in bookbinding, calligraphy and the art of letterpress printing. Owner Allison Chapman uses seven printers, including one that dates to 1892, to create stunning letterpress works of art.

Allison told me the old printer came from her grandfather, who was a printing hobbyist. The same equipment is used to make greeting cards and posters sold in the store, including an impressive farmer’s market series.

Igloo Letterpress also offers handbook binding, custom stationery and a variety of unique cards. Allison says stationery-making is the most-popular class. Participants use antique wood and metal machines to typeset their names and then complete the printing process.

The stationery class costs $40 and can be scheduled by appointment via the company’s website. No appointment is needed to make a book at the Book Bar, where you can quickly put together a journal for less than $10.

Better yet, pair a visit to the Book Bar with a visit to the nearby Sassafras Bakery, which has a milk-and-cookie happy hour from 3-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Wild Cat
Clintonville

Wild Cat is an independent business in the heart of Clintonville that’s just as creative and wild as its name suggests.

Here you’ll find an assortment of T-shirts, coasters and nightlights touting local institutions such as Tee Jaye’s Country Place and Nancy’s Home Cooking.

You also can learn lots of off-the-wall skills, including how to make pom-pom earrings, a crocheted unicorn toy or a watercolor painting of succulents. You can even learn how to read tarot cards.

We like to pop in on Saturday mornings during the Clintonville Farmer’s Market, when Wild Cat offers free activities for children.