Did you know I recently got back from Dublin…Ohio…that is. đ A place I never thought I’d be excited to check out, besides visiting one of my favorite redheads, Wendy Thomas. A quaint and seemingly affluent suburb of Columbus, which is where I flew into and stopped at a spot as well, was a place I never expected. Me being me, after my two-day trip, I have brought back some things to do and local places to check out in Columbus and Dublin, OH!
Local Stops in the Columbus Area
1. Celebrate Local – Easton Neighborhood
Comprised of nothing but Ohio-local made goods (kinda like Made in KC, if you’re familiar!), this spot went straight to my heart. You can get anything and everything here; from beer, honey, coffee and tea to candles, skin + hair care, art, jewelry and more. And you can purchase knowing it was made right there by a small business within the state.
Located in the Easton Town Center outdoor shopping mall, if you are ever flying over Columbus, I highly recommend taking the quick 5 minute Uber ride over from the John Glenn airport. This is a perfect stop to get a gift for someone while traveling (or for yourself) and a nice way to support the local economy while getting something a little more meaningful and unique.
And, if you’re traveling alone or with a friend, this is a nice place to pick up a drink and some snacks to enjoy for whatever your night may hold.
Or, if you’re end up like me, I grazed the shelves picking out something for the cats and fed my addiction of natural bath + body care goods. I picked up an organic cat nip toy made by Housecat Club (which the cats are OBSESSED with) and my new all-natural dry shampoo made by Cashmere & Twig. I had to get this because a) I was out of mine and b) it’s in a pump, which is unique in for this type of product and figured I’d try it out! It also came in different shades, which is somewhat unique too.
 
Whether you are a huge nerd like me and seek out to find the best local shops around or just happen to be passing through Columbus, this is a stop that’s so easy to make and totally worth it!
2. Vitality Smoothie & Juice – “Downtown” Dublin
Whether you’re a paleo foodie like me, prefer lighter options, looking for something easy on-the-go, or just want a treat or smoothie, Vitality is a must! Found in the older little “downtown” area with cobblestone-lined streets, this hole-in-the-wall-esque place is much more than meets the eye.
The menu is filled with dairy-free smoothies & nut milks, cold-pressed juices and great grab-and-go healthy snacks. The cashier had the biggest smile on his face the entire time I was in and made great conversation.
 
Everything is a decent price and most items are set up to make it an easy in-and-out job. If you are keen on ingredients and what’s going into your products, all items are clear on their ingredients and nearly all were cleared for my paleo needs – amazing!
I grabbed a few items to piece together as my breakfast in the morning and was surprisingly full! I got the “vanilla dream” juice, made with filtered water, cashews, dates, vanilla and lucuma; a pumpkin chai chia pudding with maple pecans; and a pack of energy balls made with dates, almonds, cacao and goji berries. All were fantastically delicious and I would eat them up again in a heartbeat.
3. La Chatelaine French Bistro & Bakery – Dublin, Columbus, Worthington Areas
Don’t ask me how to pronounce the name, because I have terrible a white girl accent…but what I do know is that this place is the real deal! With three locations throughout the Columbus area, I stopped into the Dublin location for breakfast before heading to the airport. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised upon entering.
Step inside and be taken to a different world. I felt as if I was in a different time period. With stone archways, soft little nooks and warm wood furniture, this place is sure to make anyone feel comforted and at ease.
This place has been family-owned since the 90s and multiple generations have taken part in the business. Starting with the first two, Stan and Gigi, who immigrated to the US back in the 80s have kept this place running with family and authenticity. The French radio station playing throughout the restaurant was quite fun!
The menu and bakery, or pâtisserie, boasts baguettes, croissants, soups, sandwiches and more. Served up almost like cafeteria-style, you can pick up a tray + pick out your goods within the cases and then order the rest of your food off the menu at the register.
I was there pretty earlier to eat before heading to the airport and it was a Thursday morning, so it was quiet and slow. A few elderly couples and friends trickled in as I was wrapping up and gave me the impression that this was a classic favorite of locals.
I did not try any of the wonderful looking baked goods with the case and ate something that was not very french at all (dat paleo life), but still wanted to explore this gem.
Service was fast, friendly and I would definitely recommend this place. If you eat according to a different lifestyle than I, you would be able to enjoy many different French classics for breakfast. If I ever end up in Columbus again, I would want to come back here and try out their dinner options.
4. Simply Vague – Tuttle, Polaris Neighborhoods
Similar to Celebrate Local mentioned earlier, Simply Vague is all about being Ohio local. Found within two different indoor shopping malls, I stopped into the Tuttle Crossing Mall location to check this place out.
Pleasantly packed with a multitude of goods from wall-to-wall, Simply Vague seemed to be more about Ohio pride. With t-shirts, decor and accessories, you can’t avoid feeling the sense of admiration for the state of Ohio.
I’ve never been to Ohio before and have very little knowledge of anything about the state or the city of Columbus, but walked out feeling sure that this was a great place to be. Seeing all of the different Ohio state shapes on items made you feel like those who live here are proud to call it home.
I had to get something from the shop and instantly remembered we were running low on soap back home, so I figured after finding a natural soap in the store, that’d be an easy way to get something I needed and also support the local shop and the Ohio-local soap maker, BEEpothecary.
If you are considering moving to the area (or moving away) and are a bit on the fence, come here and you’ll feel the love and I’m sure it’ll help make your decision to stay. đ
I hope you were as pleasantly surprised at I was for what the Columbus + Dublin areas have to offer. It resembled a similar feeling of Kansas City and might be good for those looking to move. I would like to explore the downtown area a bit more, if I were to return, but this was a great two day trip that unveiled more than expected.
If you’re from the area, I want to know where else you like to go for supporting small businesses!