1. Take a road trip to see the “Giant Jesus” statue in front of Solid
Rock Church.
You don’t have to believe in Jesus to appreciate the splendor of one
of the largest Jesus statues in the world. The statue stands 62 feet tall. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a picture with Jesus and give the statue a high five!
Where: Monroe, Ohio. It’s visible from
Route I-75, north of Cincinnati.
When: Any time the spirit moves
you.
2. Go to VolunteerMatch.org to help you find the perfect way to make a differ-
ence by volunteering this summer.
Get off the couch and help people who really need it. Feeling independent? Walk dogs at a shelter, hold a lemonade stand and donate the profits to charity, or keep it local by picking up trash at Wolfe Park.
Where: Any place.
When: Any time you’re feeling generous.
3. Get a bunch of friends to go hiking or canoeing.
Where: Hocking Hills in Hocking, Ohio.
When: Any time you need a dose of fresh air.
4. Get up the guts to surf the crowd at a concert — be sure to find someone strong, though, so that you don’t end up in the hospital.
A wide variety of artists will be in Columbus over the summer. A few bands you may want to check out include The Raconteurs, Dave Matthews Band and the Jonas Brothers. To find tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Where & When: The Raconteurs at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on June 9. Dave Matthews Band at Columbus Crew Stadium on July 29 and the Jonas Brothers at Nationwide Arena on Aug. 23.
5.Try to tip a cow.
Where: Anywhere you see a cow. This is Ohio.
When: Any time it’s dark outside.
6. Visit the Velvet Ice Cream factory, known as “Ye Olde Mill.”
Watch the making of your favorite frozen treat and then sample some for yourself.
Where: Utica.
When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
7. Start an intramural ultimate frisbee league with your friends.
Have your team make homemade jerseys together and schedule practices whenever it’s convenient. It’s a great way to keep in shape, prepare for fall sports and hang out with your friends. Plus, you have an excuse to eat tons of pizza after the games.
Where: Any vacant field or park, such as Jeffrey Mansion.
When: All summer — to make up for all your snacking by the pool and late night ice cream runs.
8. Venture downtown to taste an exotic meal at the North Market.
The North Market features an eclectic blend of independent vendors.
In addition to the indoor vendors, the North Market hosts a Farmer’s Market every Saturday that offers fresh, locally grown produce. Be sure to also stop by for the monthly Artisan Sundays that feature Central Ohio crafters, artists and chefs.
Where: 59 Spruce St., Columbus.
When: Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
9. Feel like getting your feet off the ground? Sign up for a class at Skydive Columbus and learn how to go on a tandem skydive with your own personal instructor.
Where: 16067 London Road, Orient.
When: After you’re sixteen. Sorry, freshmen.
10. Check out one of the unique seasonal exhibits at Franklin Park Conservatory.
Where: 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus.
When: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
11. Buy some sidewalk chalk and decorate your street.
Relive your childhood years by playing hopscotch. Try something new, like tracing your friends. If you’re feeling particularly talented, you could try drawing the Mona Lisa. You could even splurge for Crayola’s new 3-D chalk to give your artwork that extra dimension.
Where: Any blank road or sidewalk.
When: Any time you’re feeling artistic or
young at heart.
12. Experience the freedom of the Community Festival (ComFest) while checking out the musical groups, crafts and interesting locals.
Where: Goodale Park
in Victorian Village.
When: June 27-29.
13. Visit Circle S Farms — The “Family Fun Farm” — in Grove City.
Take your family or a group of friends to pick your own berries, go for a hayride and indulge in seasonal freshly-baked desserts. You can also seize the opportunity to
buy gourmet foods made from products grown on the farm.
Where: 9015 London-Groveport Rd. in Grove City.
When: Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
14. Buy an exercise mat and take a yoga class at Yoga on High. Find your inner center, become more flexible and enjoy the opportunity to relieve that post exam-week stress.
Where: 1081 N. High St. in the Short North.
When: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
15. Rent a saddle and go horseback riding for a day.
Where: Any local stable.
When: Any time you feel like a “yehaw!”
16. Make your own kite and fly it!
Visit Skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html for a step by-step guide on how to create your own diamond-shaped flyer. You’ll need some twine, paper, wooden dowels, scotch tape and your imagination. Take a cue from Mary Poppins — “Let’s go fly a kite…”
Where: An open area or a field.
When: A clear, windy day — or during a rainstorm if you are feeling
like Benjamin Franklin.
17. Pack a picnic to eat with friends.
Where: Outside.
When: Any time the
weather allows it.
18. Design your own t-shirt at Sub- stance, a boutique located in the fashionable Short North. Grab some friends and get your creative juices flowing!
Where: 783 N. High St. in downtown Columbus.
When: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
19. Ditch the pool for a day to visit the new waterpark, Zoombezi Bay.
Formerly Wyandot Lake, Zoombezi Bay was recently renovated by the Columbus Zoo. So soak up some sun on all of the new rides with your friends! Don’t forget to wear sunblock or you’ll be as red as the lobsters in the neighboring zoo.
Where: 5350 W. Powell Rd., Columbus (next to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
When: Weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. through September.
20. Paint pottery at the Color Your World studio.
Make a gift for your dad for Father’s Day, have all of your siblings paint a plate for your mom, or just have fun painting with friends.
Where: The studio is located inside the mall at Easton Town Center on the upper level.
When: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
21. Visit the Center of Science and Industry (C.O.S.I.).
Where: 333 W. Broad St., Columbus.
When: Anytime.
22. Going to Andros next year for spring break? Start preparing now and get your scuba diving certification at Sand-N-Sea Scuba Diving Center.
Where: 1131 N. Hamilton Rd. in Gahanna.
When: Call ahead to schedule on a weekend.
23. Take a date to the planetarium. Learn about constellations and ancient myths while spending a romantic evening gazing at the synthetic stars.
Where: There is a planetarium located inside
of C.O.S.I. in downtown Columbus.
When: Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
24. Race shopping carts around a parking lot with your friends.\
Where: Your local convenience store.
When: If you have a need for speed.
25. Sign up to participate in the Tour de Cure bicycle marathon.
You can ride alone, join a team or create your own team with your friends. Be a part of the nationwide effort! To find more information on the race, visit Tour.diabetes.org.
Where: The race starts in downtown Columbus.
When: June 7.
Published May 2008. Digitized 2025.
