Checking out Columbus

I've made it a goal this summer to really get excited about the state I live in- and what better time than the SUMMER. The winters here are miserable, and I want nothing more than to leave, so this year, I need something to look back on- something to go... oh yeah, there is at least one redeeming quality to suffer through this miserableness for!

I'm sure you've been keeping tabs, we've done a lot in the STATE, but we haven't really done a lot right here in Columbus. You know, where we wouldn't have to drive very far to and is a lot more accessible? Well, we have. Check it.

We have a really cool farmers market (well, everywhere around here has them- no kidding, every day of the week you can find one) in Worthington on Saturdays. They have a lot of produce as well as "green" products, and it is dog friendly- I love dog friendly places.

They have the best dog parks I've seen. Sure, I'm sure there are better ones out there, but ones that Zo and I have been to- Ohio takes the cake. The one we've been going to recently even has "dog showers" to rinse your dog off afterwards- and that scores points in my book. My dog is a sponge.

A Whole Foods. Yes, this deserves its own  post- no, I cannot afford to buy all of my groceries there. While I love stores like this and would love to give them everything, I cannot- they do, however, have awesome kids events, tastings, fabulous organic food and awesome (affordable) restaurants! We especially love the kid events. We've made gingerbread houses, helped plant their garden, and a few crafts. They have a whole kid play area so we often get lunch and let her socialize. Awesome!

Columbus has a super-awesome, world-famous zoo. It really is one of the most awesome things- I remember being FLOORED when I first moved here, if you want to see and read and experience everything you would need to spend several DAYS there. It is massive, and informative, and amazing. This year they introduced dinosaurs- robotic, awesome, dinosaurs. Amory is totally over the moon. They also do Boo at the Zoo, Wildlights, and other really fun events- but those are in the winter/fall. 

I really debated posting this one... boating. Ohio is NOT known for its lakes or rivers. They are dirty, they are slow moving, and they are gross. I'm not even kidding- especially coming from Idaho where the rivers are pristine and clear (you can see all the way to the bottom, even). However, I've always ALWAYS loved being on the water- it is in my blood. This summer we started kayaking locally, and while it is kind of gross and I collect the garbage in my kayak to throw away in the end... it is also fun. It is especially fun after it rains and the rivers are full and fast! Amory is enamoured (totally my daughter) and begs me to go out kayaking all the time! We've had some really awesome adventures on the river, we even found an abandoned kayak this last week and had to deal with local police and fire departments about a stranded boater!

I only mentioned here the free (for us, we have a zoo membership) things here- I have a list of things that are less free, but awesome still. I didn't even mention the fountains, outdoor movie nights, parks, museums, campus.... this place is swimming with favorites, these are just some of the things I've done more than once. 

I'm trying to live with the mentality "Life is what you make it," and if that is the case, I'm going to make mine awesome- no matter the poopy hands we sometimes get dealt.