The Buckeye state offers a variety of fun-filled adventures for those staying close to home over spring break
By Ella Koscher
Biking: Columbus offers an abundance of biking trails throughout the city which are open to the public all hours of the day. A long ride that is offered is the Olentangy Trail, which is 19 miles of paved road and runs through Worthington, Columbus and the OSU campus. For a shorter ride, the Scioto Trail covers nine miles and goes through the heart of downtown Columbus, passing places such as COSI and the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Riding solo or with a friend, these bike trails are a safe way to travel on two wheels. Image courtesy Get Active Columbus.
Sand Volleyball: Locations across the Columbus area offer a taste of the beach minus the road trip. Ohio State University has sand volleyball courts throughout campus, one at Fred Beekman Park, as well as at North Beach and 11th Avenue. For courts in closer range, Hasting Middle School has two courts next to the Fire Station on Reed Road. All of these courts are open to the public until the sun goes down, but remember, a spot on a court is first come, first serve. So grab a few friends over break and hit the sand. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Rock Climbing: To reach new heights this spring break, the rock climbing wall at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, the largest free outdoor climbing wall in the country, is the best place to be. Climbing the 35-foot wall is free to the public and opens at 9 a.m., but climbers must bring their own gear. Beyond the climbing wall, the park also offers fishing, hiking, biking and a two-acre dog park. This metro park is located on Whittier Street in the Brewery District, along the Scioto River. For more information, visit www.metroparks.net. Image courtesy Scioto Audubon Metro Park.
5K: The Bunny Hop is a 5K run that will take place over spring break in downtown Columbus. The race is along the scenic Scioto River and will end with an Easter celebration, involving bunny ears and candy. End spring break and spend the holiday right by going on a run downtown. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 6 in the Nationwide Arena District and the race officially starts at 10 a.m. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.