Travel Information

Welcome to Columbus, Ohio, home of the Buckeyes! (For those who might be wondering, buckeyes are the state nut of Ohio. Buckeyes also happen to be the mascot for OSU's sports teams. Yes, our mascot is a poisonous nut.)

Below we give advice about how to get here, how to get around town once you are here, what to expect for weather, and a few suggestions about what to do after the conference ends each day. To find out more about what is happening in Columbus during the conference, go to the Web site for Experience Columbus. Or ask a local.

Arriving in Columbus...
Directions to the conference hotel...
Directions to the conference location...
Other information

• Local transportation
• Columbus weather in June
• Food
• Activities

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Arriving in Columbus by Plane (Recommended)

Unless you are arriving from elsewhere in Ohio or from one of its surrounding states, you will want to fly to the Port Columbus International Airport (airport code: CMH). The airport is located approximately 10 minutes (by car) directly east of Columbus. The following airlines currently fly to Port Columbus:

• Air Canada Jazz
• American Airlines / American Eagle
• Continential / Continental Express
• Delta Airlines
• JetBlue
• Midwest Connect
• Northwest Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines / United Express
• US Airways / US Airways Express

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Arriving in Columbus by Bus

The Greyhound Bus Company provides service to Columbus. All Greyhound buses arrive at the main bus terminal in downtown Columbus. The conference location and hotel are located approximately 3-4 miles north of the bus station.

Columbus Greyhound Station
111 E. Town St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Customer service phone number for the Columbus terminal: +1 (614) 221-4642
General customer service phone number for Greyhound: +1 (800) 231-2222

The station is open 24 hours per day. Tickets may be purchased in advance, or at the station from which you depart at least one hour in advance of departure time.

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Ground Transportation from Port Columbus Airport to the Conference Hotel

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation to/from Port Columbus Airport (i.e., no public bus, no train). For people arriving by plane, we recommend the following for ground transportation:

Hotel Shuttle Bus (recommended): Holiday Inn on the Lane (the conference hotel) offers free transportation to and from Port Columbus International Airport for hotel guests. The shuttle must be reserved in advance. Call the hotel directly for details: +1 (614) 294-4848.

Taxi (recommended): Taxis are usually waiting at the taxi stand at all hours that flights arrive at Port Columbus (follow the signs to ground transportation). You can expect to pay about $25 (+ 10-15% tip) to get from the airport to the conference hotel. As elsewhere in the United States, taxis usually will accept a major credit card (they always accept cash), but you should ask the driver before you leave the airport if you plan to pay by credit card.

Super Shuttle: Super Shuttle is a national company which offers door-to-door service within the Columbus area. Price is per person. If you are traveling by yourself, it is less expensive to take Super Shuttle than a taxi. However, be aware that the shuttle may make several stops before dropping you at the hotel. Thus, if you can afford a taxi, or if you can share the ride with someone, we recommend a taxi over Super Shuttle. If you choose Super Shuttle, reservations in advance are recommended: +1 (614) 252-5555

Car Rental: If you would like to rent a car, the following companies operate at Port Columbus Airport: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty.

Driving Directions from Port Columbus Airport to the Conference Hotel:
Take I-670 West.
When you reach downtown, I-670 will become State Route 315 North.
Continue on SR 315 North to the Lane Avenue Exit.
Turn Right (East) onto Lane Avenue.
Continue 1/2 mile to Holiday Inn on the Lane, which will be on the left side of the street.

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Ground Transportation from the Greyhound Terminal to the Conference Hotel

From the bus terminal, you may either take the #2 COTA bus or a taxi. See "Local Transportation" below for details about taxis.

To catch the #2 bus, walk west on Town Street until you reach high street (approximately 3 blocks). Find the nearest bus stop on the near side of the street; you want a bus going north towards OSU. When the bus arrives, ask the driver to tell you when you've arrived at Lane Avenue. Lane Avenue is the north edge of Ohio State University campus, approximately 4 miles from the Greyhound bus terminal.

Cross the street and Walk West on Lane Avenue until you reach the hotel (approximately 4 blocks).

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Arriving in Columbus by Car (Directions to the Conference Hotel)

For directions to the conference hotel by car, please see the Web site for Holiday Inn on the Lane: www.holidayinnosu.com/map-and-directions.cfm

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Directions from the hotel to the conference location

It is easy to walk from the conference hotel (Holiday Inn on the Lane) to the location where all talks will take place (Hagerty Hall, on OSU's campus). It takes about 15 minutes to walk (the distance is slightly less than 1 mile).

Walking directions:

1. Leaving the Holiday Inn on the Lane, turn left onto Lane Avenue.
2. Almost immediately, turn right onto Tuttle Park Place.
3. Walk past the OSU football stadium (on your right). The road will then turn left and become W. 17TH AVE.
4. After a few blocks, turn right onto College Road.
5. Walk 2 blocks to 1775 College Road (Hagerty Hall).

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Local Transportation

If you would like to go downtown, to the Short North area (clubs, shops, galleries, restaurants), to German Village (bars, restaurants), or to some of the restaurants recommended below, it is easy to take a public bus during the day and early evening. To other locations in the city, we recommend that you take a taxi. We also recommend a taxi if you plan to return in the evening (especially after 10pm). Columbus does not have a train or subway system.

The #2 COTA Bus

COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) operates a network of public buses in Columbus. Detailed information about bus routes is available on the COTA Web site, www.cota.com, but the most useful of the COTA bus routes is the #2. In the area of Ohio State University, the #2 bus runs north-south on High Street. High Street borders the east edge of campus. If you take the #2 bus south from the campus area, you will pass through the Short North, downtown, and German village. A short ride north will take you to some of the restaurants listed below.

The schedule for the #2 bus is (more or less) as follows:
5:30am-7am, every 18 minutes
7am-5pm, every 6-8 minutes
5pm-8pm, every 12 minutes
8pm-10pm, every 18 minutes
10pm-midnight, infrequently
midnight-5:30am, no service

Fare: Local COTA buses cost $1.50. Express COTA buses cost $2.00.

Taxi: Columbus has numerous taxi companies, among which are the following:
Yellow Cab: +1 (614) 444-4444
ACME Taxi: +1 (614) 777-7777

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Columbus Weather in June

June is a wonderful month in Columbus. Although Ohio, like other parts of the Midwest region, has frequent thunderstorms in the summer months, these storms are usually short. Visitors can expect mostly sunny days with moderate temperatures. The average high temperature in June is 82 degrees F (28 degrees C). The average low temperature is 59 degrees F (15 degrees C). June is usually not very humid.

Severe weather alert: Short but violent thunderstorms are likely to occur on at least one day. In June, Columbus receives an average of 4 inches (10 cm) of rain. Visitors should bring an umbrella or raincoat. Also, hail is possible but not likely. Tornadoes occasionally occur, but very rarely affect the city.

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Food

Below are some suggestions for where to eat while in Columbus. This is only a small sample of the possibilities. In the OSU campus area, most restaurants are on High St. (east border of campus).

$ < $20 per person, not including alcohol
$$ $20-30 per person, not including alcohol
$$$ > $30 per person, not including alcohol

On Campus

Crane Cafe (1st Floor of Hagerty Hall, 0.0 mi*): coffee, pastries, pre-packaged sandwiches / breakfast, lunch / $

Cam’s on Campus (Wexner Center for the Arts, 0.1 mi*): sandwiches, soups, salads, smoothies, coffee, baked goods / breakfast, lunch / $

Bistro 2110 (The Blackwell Hotel, 2110 Tuttle Park Place, 0.8 mi*): “American, European and Asian cuisine with fresh products and unique presentations” / breakfast, lunch, dinner / $$-$$$ / close to the Holiday Inn

Walking Distance

Flying Pizza (1812 N. High St., 0.1 mi*): New York-style pizza by the slice. Tasty, but limited seating and no table service / lunch, dinner, daily, open late / $

The Happy Greek (1552 N. High St., 0.4 mi*): Greek food – lamb, seafood, mezedhes, etc. / some vegetarian / lunch, dinner, daily, open late / $-$$

Hang Over Easy (1646 Neil Ave., 0.6 mi*): Typical diner food – sandwiches, omelets, french toast, etc. Busy for weekend brunch / breakfast, lunch, daily / $

Dragonfly (247 King Ave., 0.8 mi*): Modernist American, all-vegetarian cuisine / vegan friendly / lunch, dinner, closed Monday / $$

Indian Kitchen (2346 N. High St., 0.9 mi*): Typical range of Indian food – tandoori, samosas, curry, naan, etc. Casual / vegetarian friendly / lunch, dinner, daily / $-$$

Alana’s (2333 N. High St., 0.9 mi*): Mediterranean-inspired bistro / vegetarian friendly / dinner, closed Monday / $$-$$$

Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant (2361 N. High St., 1.0 mi*): Dishes like collard greens, curried lentils, and beef stew served over sourdough bread. Casual and popular for both lunch and dinner / vegetarian friendly / lunch (buffet), dinner, closed Monday / $

Starbucks (1782 N. High St., 0.1 mi*): Coffee, baked goods / $

Driving Distance

North Market (59 Spruce St., 2.1 mi*): An indoor, open market in the Short North District with a wide variety of food stalls and other vendors. Very popular; always packed at lunch time. No table service, but some outside seating and tables in the upstairs loft. Favorite food stalls include: Bob the Fish Guy, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Lac Viet (Vietnamese), Nida’s Sushi / lunch, closed Monday / $

Northstar Cafe (951 N. High St., 1.3 mi*): Short North District. Features New American cuisine. Emphasizes healthy dishes and organic ingredients. Not very fancy, but not casual / outdoor seating / vegetarian friendly / breakfast, lunch, dinner / $$

Betty’s (680 N. High St., 1.6 mi*): Short North District. Eclectic, slightly upscale pub food / lunch, dinner, daily, open late / $$

Alladin’s Eatery (2931 N. High St., 2.0 mi*): Clintonville neighborhood, north of OSU. Typical but satisfying Middle Eastern food – hummus, falafel, lamb, salads, wraps, etc. Casual and popular for both lunch and dinner / lunch, dinner, daily / $

Cap City Diner (1299 Olentangy River Rd., 2.1 mi*). Grandview neighborhood, south of OSU. An upscale, retro-cool diner. A Cameron Mitchell Restaurant. / lunch, dinner, daily / $$

Indian Oven (427 E. Main St., 4.1 mi*): East side of downtown. A more upscale version of Indian food, Bengali style / vegetarian friendly / dinner, closed Sunday / $$-$$$

Barcelona (263 E. Whittier St., 4.3 mi*): German Village neighborhood, south of downtown. Somewhat trendy Mediterranean-inspired food / vegetarian friendly / outdoor seating / dinner daily, lunch weekdays / $$$

City Barbeque (2111 W. Henderson Rd., 6.7 mi*): Classic American barbeque – chicken, ribs, collard greens, hush puppies, etc. Casual (sloppy, even), no table service (picnic table seating) / NOT vegetarian friendly / lunch, dinner, daily / $

Akai Hana (formerly, Restaurant Japan) (1173 Old Henderson Rd, 6.6 mi*): Typical range of Japanese food – sushi, udon, teriyaki, tempura, etc. Also some Korean dishes. Bento boxes at lunchtime are particularly popular / lunch, dinner, closed Monday dinner / $$-$$$

* Distances are from Hagerty Hall, where talks will take place.

Other sources of information about restaurants:

The University District Web site
The Short North Web site
The Experience Columbus Web site

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Activities

Below is an eclectic sampling of Columbus attractions and events happening during the conference. For more complete information, go to the Experience Columbus website (www.experiencecolumbus.com) and/or pick up a copy of the Other Paper (free in many stores).

Park: One of Columbus's more unusual downtown attractions is the Topiary Garden. It is a topiary version of George Seurat's famous painting A Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte. As its website points out, "It is the only topiary interpretation of a painting in existence". What more can we say? It is open sunrise to sunset daily, and admission is free. Go to the Topiary Garden website for details, including directions: www.topiarygarden.org

Park: The Franklin Park Conservatory is recommended for people who like botanical gardens and/or exotic plants. The conference will fall during Blooms and Butterflies. From the website: "Hundreds of butterflies from more than 100 species from around the world arrive at the Conservatory during the exhibition. Every day, dozens of them will reach maturity and come out from their chrysalides to be released in the Conservatory's Pacific Island Water Garden." Address: 1777 Broad Street (two miles east of downtown Columbus; 15 minutes by car from OSU). Admission: $7.50 for adults. Call (1-800-214-PARK) or go to the Franklin Park Conservatory website for hours and directions: www.fpconservatory.org

Park: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a popular family destination. From the website: "Stretching for 90 acres, the Zoo is home to more than 700 wildlife species including big cats, elephants, gorillas, manatees, bonobos and more!" The zoo includes the following habitats: Asia Quest, North America, African Forest, Australia, The Islands of Southeast Asia, and The Shores. Admission: $10 for adults. Address: 4850 W. Powell Road in Powell, Ohio (Powell is a suburb of Columbus; 25 minutes by car from OSU). Call (1-614-645-3550) or go to the Columbus Zoo website for hours and directions: www.columbuszoo.org

Exhibition: In June the Ohio Historical Center will have an exhibition of Pulitzer Prize photographs called Capture the Moment. The exhibit includes all Pulitzer winning photographs 1942-1997, and other nominated photographs. Admission: $8 for adults. Address: 1982 Velma Ave. (north and east of OSU; 5-10 minutes by car). The museum often is open in the evening hours on Thursdays. Call the Ohio Historical Center to verify times (800-686-6124), or go to its website: www.ohiohistory.org

Exhibition: The Wexner Center for the Arts will have on display the work of comic book artist Jeff Smith. "Jeff Smith is one of the country's most acclaimed and influential comic book artist/writers, best known for the epic graphic novel Bone. In 2005, Time magazine called Bone, which Smith wrote and drew, one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all-time." Address: across the street from the conference location (Hagerty Hall) on OSU's campus. Admission: Free. Hours: Tu, Wed 11am-6pm & Th, Fr, Sat 11am-8pm. Wexner Center for the Arts webpage: www.wexarts.org

Galleries: The Short North area (between OSU and downtown) is home to a variety of art galleries. Most are located on High Street; see the following website for specifics: www.shortnorth.org

Music: Gogol Bordello, a self-described Gypsy Punk band that is at the heart of New York's NeoBalkan music scene, will be playing on Tuesday June 10 at the Newport Music Hall (1722 N. High St., directly across from OSU campus and walkable from the conference hotel). Admission: $20. Time: 7pm. The Gogol Bordello website: www.gogolbordello.com. The Newport Music Hall website: www.newportmusichall.com

Music: Indie rock band Nada Surf will be playing The Basement on Tuesday June 10. The Basement is part of PromoWest Pavilion, in the Arena District near downtown Columbus (10-15 minutes by car from OSU). Admission: $15. Time: 7:30pm. The Nada Surf website: www.nadasurf.com. The PromoWest website: www.promowestlive.com

Sports: Columbus's minor league baseball team, the Columbus Clippers, will play games against the Syracuse Chiefs June 10-13 (7pm, except Friday at 7:30). The Clippers stadium is just southwest of downtown Columbus (15-20 minutes by car from OSU). See the Clippers website for pricing and directions: www.clippersbaseball.com

Shopping: For people looking to take advantage of the weak dollar, Easton Town Center (a shopping mall) has virtually all of the major mid-price retail chains. Easton is east of Columbus on Interstate 270 (20 minutes from OSU by car). See its website for a list of stores and directions: www.eastontowncenter.com

Shopping: If you are looking to buy something local to take home, and are staying in Columbus until Saturday June 14, the Clintonville Farmers' Market is worth a look. In addition to local produce, Ohio farmers and local businesses sell cheese, maple syrup, bakery goods, spices, soaps, candles, jams, etc. Clintonville is a neighborhood north of OSU (5 minutes by car; also accessible by #2 COTA bus). See the Farmers' Market website for hours and directions: www.clintonvillefarmersmarket.org

Shopping: The North Market, and indoor open market, is primarily known for its food stalls, but there are also vendors selling jewelry, pottery, posters, photography, spices, jams, etc. If you are looking for a small gift to take home, you might find something here. The Market is in the Short North (between OSU and downtown, 5 minutes by car, also accessible by #2 COTA bus). Hours: Tu-Fri 9am-7pm, Sa 8am-5pm, Sun 12noon-5pm, Closed Mon. Some shops have shorter hours. North Market webpage: www.northmarket.com

Outside Columbus: Hocking Hills is a region approximately 1 hour south and east of Columbus by car. Home to multiple state parks, it has easy hiking trails that cross through lush nature. Some trails feature interesting geological formations. Two useful websites: www.hockinghills.com , www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/tabid/743/Default.aspx

Outside Columbus: Ohio Caverns is a popular destination for people interested in geology. From Wikipedia: "Ohio Caverns is a show cave located 30 miles from Dayton, Ohio near West Liberty [about 1 hour northwest from Columbus by car]... A popular tourist destination and member of the National Caving Association, it is the largest of all the cave systems in Ohio and contains many crystal formations." Ohio Caverns webpage: www.ohiocaverns.com

Outside Columbus: Central Ohio has a large Amish community, and a range of activities, tours and museums about the Amish are within easy driving distance of Columbus. For more details: www.visitamishcountry.com

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