Upper Arlington-based travel writer and tour director Shawnie Kelley wrote the first edition of this guide in 2006 and the second in 2008. She returns now with a guide for a city and metropolitan area that have changed radically in the past 16 years.
The well-illustrated guidebook, "Insiders' Guide to Columbus, Third Edition," takes aim, remarkably effectively, at three different audiences: visitors to the city and area, those relocating here and locals looking for inspiration.
Six thoroughly annotated maps locate Columbus in the wider world and then home in on neighborhoods including German Village and the Short North, providing the locations not just of the usual landmarks, but of sites like the "Umbrella Girl" sculpture in Schiller Park , Saraga International Grocery and the dog beach at Alum Creek.
After a quick overview of the book and the area, and a glance at the history of Columbus, Kelley heads into the nitty-gritty of exploring and making the most of Greater Columbus.
Chapters explore topics including nightlife, shopping, “cultural Columbus,” “pet-friendly Columbus, annual events and festivals and more.
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For shopping and dining, she keeps the emphasis on locally owned venues rather than chains, and she doesn't neglect the restaurants “located in (sometimes unattractive) strip malls,” with sections devoted to the “Bethel and Sawmill Corridor” and the “Morse and Cleveland Corridor.”
“Admittedly, I haven't eaten everywhere in Columbus, but not for lack of trying,” she writes.
Readers looking for someplace new to eat can search by cuisine or area of the city, and Kelley includes quirky, entertaining minireviews for most of the restaurants.
Top 10 dining lists cover areas such as African, breakfast, “Columbus Classics,” doughnuts and food trucks, which should provide plenty of fuel for debate.
One of the pleasures of skimming any guidebook is arguing with the author, and readers should have fun either endorsing or disputing Kelley's opinions. They should also heed her advice to confirm that a restaurant is still in business before venturing out; even the most up-to-date guidebook can't account for the frequency with which restaurants close their doors .
When addressing herself to those looking to relocate, Kelley is equally entertainingly opinionated about Columbus' neighborhoods and suburbs. She describes Clintonville as “more hippie than hip” and notes that the Ohio State University area “isn't exactly a dangerous neighborhood, but it has its moments — quite often alcohol-related college stupidity.”
Kelley intersperses the more typical guidebook material with expansive highlighted sections on topics such as monuments at the Ohio Statehouse, the Columbus Zoo , the North Market, the Ohio State Fair and Jack Nicklaus.
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“The” Ohio State University gets a chapter of its own, one that is useful for both students and the simply curious.
Pronunciation guides make sure that those new to the area won't trip up on “Bellefontaine,” “Riffe” and “Newark,” and she tosses in unexpected nuggets of advice such as the following: “If you hit a deer, you are entitled to take the carcass, but the collision must be reported to game protection or law enforcement within 24 hours.”
Readers and residents looking for a weekend away will also find information here, with sections on Amish country, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and more.
Even those who think they know all there is to know about Columbus are bound to find surprises and new inspirations here, while those just getting to know the city will start feeling at home in what Kelley calls “an easy and unintimidating city to explore.”
margaretquamme@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Upper Arlington author gives readers an inside look into things unknown around Columbus
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