If you’re thinking about attending PulpFest 2016, why not bring your spouse or even your whole family? Columbus, Ohio, is a very walkable city with hip galleries, shops, dining, nightlife, sports and hotels just steps from the Hyatt Regency in the Short North Arts District and the Arena District. Other downtown districts — German Village, the Brewery District, and the Theatre District — are within 10 blocks of the hotel, quite reachable on foot or via a short cab ride. You can also utilize Columbus’ free circulator bus, the CBUS, for a quick and easy way to hop from the Short North to German Village. Or take advantage of nice weather and rent a bike for the day through the CoGo bike share program.
The city of Columbus is home to wide range of world-class museums. The Columbus Museum of Art enjoys an international reputation for its distinguished collections of European and American Modernism, while the Wexner Center for the Arts is Columbus’ premier contemporary arts institution. The Center of Science and Industry — COSI — features exhibits and demonstrations relating to the worlds of science and industry. Aimed at both the young and old, with exhibits that tie contemporary times to the historical past, COSI is sure to have something for everyone.
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is dedicated to the history of motorcycles and motorized bikes, while the Franklin Park Conservatory features 90 acres of outdoor green space, 400 plant species, 100 butterfly species, 800 feet of model railroad track, 7,000 panes of glass, and 100 years of tradition. Visitors can explore a tropical rainforest, a cool Himalayan mountain, or an inviting Pacific island water garden. Take a free historic and architecturally stunning tour of the Ohio Statehouse downtown or visit the Thurber House, located next to the newly renovated Columbus Metropolitan Library, is a living house museum celebrating James Thurber, author of THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY and other works.
Just north of the city are the top-ranked Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — which hosts a wide variety of land and marine animals including Florida manatees, wildebeests, Masai giraffes, and Burmese pythons — and the Olentangy Indian Caverns where you can beat the heat during the summer months.
If baseball is your thing then the Cleveland Indians AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, play at Huntington Park in the energetic Arena District of downtown Columbus, home to our host hotel, the beautiful Hyatt Regency. For those who like to roll the dice or play the horses, the Hollywood Casino Columbus lies to the city’s west while Scioto Downs is to the south.
If you enjoy fresh food, the North Market, just a few minutes walk from the Hyatt, is the city’s only public market. It’s home to nearly three dozen unique, independent merchants and farmers that sell a wide variety of fresh, local, authentic food. For the shopper interested in some of the nation’s premier retailers, the Easton Town Center is an outdoor shopping area with more than 200 stores, restaurants, a 30-screen AMC and IMAX theatre, a comedy club, and much more. Polaris Fashion Place, located on the north side of the city, offers retail anchors like Saks Fifth Avenue. And don’t forget that Columbus is ranked #3 on the “Fashionable Destinations” list. You can find out why by visiting the shopping page of the Experience Columbus website.
For those who enjoy music and food, the Jazz and Rib Fest will take place along the Arena District’s riverfront in McFerson Commons and North Bank Park from Friday, July 22nd, through Sunday, July 24th. Three stages will host the finest local, regional and international jazz artists, while barbeque pit masters will serve up sizzling ribs, chicken and more. Savor the best ribs from around the country as 23 award-winning barbeque teams compete for the festival’s “Best Ribs” bragging rights. It’s about a 15-minute stroll from the Hyatt Regency Columbus, and admission is free!
These are just a few of the many events and amenities offered by the city of Columbus, Ohio. Below are some resources for conventioneers and their family members to learn more about the many things that PulpFest’s host city has to offer:
Columbus, Ohio, Official Site — welcome to Columbus.
Experience Columbus — visitor’s guide to the city, presented by the convention and visitor’s bureau.
Discover Ohio — quick guide to Columbus attractions.
ColumbusArts.com — your guide to cultural events and organizations in central Ohio.
The Columbus Dispatch — catch up on the local news.
Columbus Alive — a guide to city life, restaurants, the arts and entertainment.
Click here to request a Columbus Visitors Guide by mail.
And for those who would like to experience more of the state of Ohio, below are some resources to help you in your journey:
Discover Ohio — what to do and where to go in the state of Ohio.
Arts in Ohio — a guide to arts and cultural events in Ohio.
Ohio Magazine — beauty, adventure, and fun in the state of Ohio.
Join PulpFest 2016 to be part of a great celebration of American popular culture in a great American city. Start making your plans right now to join the 45th convening of “Summer’s AMAZING Pulp Con” in 2016. It will take place July 21–24 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
(If you have any questions about Columbus, Ohio’s own Jack Cullers is the man to contact. You can reach him at jack@pulpfest.com. Pictured above are views of German Village, the Franklin Park Conservatory, Huntington Park, and the Jazz and Rib Fest.)
