A trip to Ohio - Schiller Park, Columbus

We just got back from a 4-day trip to Ohio. The purpose of the trip was to take a friend of ours back to her hometown, Marysville, to reconnect with siblings that she had not seen in over 15 years. We offered to drive her there and it was a nice, relaxing mini-vacation. The weather was fantastic. A cold front had just passed through and the temperatures hovered in the lower 70s. 

The drive through Cincinatti was hair-raising (we hit it at noon rush-hour) but the remainder of the route took us through quaint towns with beautiful architecture and serene countryside. I have never seen so many corn fields in my life! 

We stayed in Marysville but drove to Columbus, about 20 miles away, on our first full day. We visited the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (photos to come!) and walked through the German Village. We enjoyed some spectacular ice cream at Jeni's Spendid Ice Cream. 

The German Village consists of restaurants, shops, parks and gardens. We didn't really know where we were going but I was happy to locate one of the best known gardens - Schiller Park. It is named after the German poet Friederich von Schiller and an impressive statue of him faces a long promenade that surrounds a perennial border.

famous German poet, Friedrich von Schiller. An impressive statue of Schiller decorates the center of the park. - See more at: http://www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/parks/Schiller-Park/#sthash.OxUXyrhC.dpuf

famous German poet, Friedrich von Schiller. An impressive statue of Schiller decorates the center of the park. - See more at: http://www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/parks/Schiller-Park/#sthash.OxUXyrhC.dpuf

famous German poet, Friedrich von Schiller. An impressive statue of Schiller decorates the center of the park. - See more at: http://www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/parks/Schiller-Park/#sthash.OxUXyrhC.dpuf

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy