For a quick break close to the conference hotel
Goodale Park (good place to take a stroll or sit outside)
Prologue Books (independent bookstore with occasional readings and events)
Battelle Riverfront Park (green space, connect to trails for walking/running/biking along the Scioto River – see map below)
For a longer expedition
Columbus Museum of Art (evening hours on Thursday)
Wexner Center for the Arts (OSU art center with exhibits, film, performing arts; exhibits free and open to the public, open until 8 pm Thursday-Saturday)
COSI Center of Science and Industry (exhibits on dinosaurs and space, great for children)
The Book Loft of German Village (very large independent bookstore with 32 rooms, open until 11 pm)
Franklin Park Conservatory (a lovely greenhouse)
Professional sports, music and live performances close to the conference hotel
Columbus Crew (MLS, current champions, home game April 20)
Columbus Clippers (AAA baseball; in town during the week of PAA)
Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL hockey; Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes on April 16)
Columbus Fury (professional volleyball; Orlando Valkyries vs. Columbus Fury on April 19)
Ginger Rabbit (live jazz; cocktails and snacks)
Ohio Theater (Columbus Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev on April 19)
Southern Theater (restored 1896 theater; Columbus Jazz Orchestra on April 18 and 19)
Outdoor activity/exercise
The riverfront provides a 3.2 miles loop that follows the Scioto Trail. Here is a map, with the two red boxes enlarged. In the second image, you can extend the distance by going south at the “E” marker. After you pass under the rail bridge, there will be a path that leads into Scioto Audubon Park, with many additional trails, an outdoor CrossFit course, and the country’s largest free outdoor climbing wall (equipment not provided) as well as a bouldering gym (Bloc Garten). In the third image, at marker “A”, you can cross Route 33 and take Olentangy Trail, which extends about 13 miles north well above the I-270 beltway (about two miles north of this “A” marker, there is a well-marked detour with green dashes on the ground around Ohio Stadium, which then connects back up with trail). If staying on the 3.2 mile route, in the image at marker “A”, note that you cross back over the river at Souder Ave. There is construction for a new pedestrian bridge, take the Sauder Ave road bridge over, which has a sidewalk and avoid taking the marked detour that will take you further west rather than back downtown.
