GOhio! Adventures Around Columbus

Coffee and conversation at The Roosevelt Coffeehouse, located at Olentangy River Brewing.

They will also have a Venezuelan food truck that always gets good reviews.

We will meet next to the restrooms at the Big Meadows Picnic Area. They're all the way at the back of the park, and they can be found at coordinates 40°09'06.6"N 83°02'30.2"W (near the playground and the zip line).

We'll hike about 5 miles at Highbanks Metro Park on the Dripping Rock and Overlook Trails. Afterward, we'll head over to Olentangy River Brewing for drinks, coffee, or food (their Sunday food truck is Venezuelan and always gets good reviews).

The actual address of the brewery is 303 Green Meadows Dr S, 43035. If you can't make the hike, we should be there by noon.

How to find our starting point in Big Meadows:

If you are new to Highbanks, the Big Meadows picnic area is 1.5 miles into the park just after you turn into the park off of U.S. Route 23. That is, after you enter the park, drive a mile and a half into the park. You will come to a crosswalk with a yield sign in the middle of it (this is not to be confused with the first such crosswalk you come to just in front of the Nature Center, which you arrive at maybe a quarter of a mile into the park).

Just after this second crosswalk, make a left. Then make another almost immediate left into the parking lot on your left. There you will see the jungle gym and the kiddie zip line to your left. I will be just in front of the restrooms just a bit further down from the jungle gym and picnic shelter; the restroom building will also be on your left.

Celebrate America's 250th year and the Columbus Clippers' 50th season by watching Franklin County's best team play the best game in the world at one of the ten best baseball stadiums in the United States in their 2026 home Saturday opener!

The first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. The gates always open an hour before the scheduled first pitch. I'm usually at the ballpark a half an hour before the scheduled first pitch. Clippers' games usually last around two and a half hours.

Being a few minutes early will help us secure good seats.

Parking

I personally always like to park in the McConnell Garage. If nothing else is going on in the area, this should be $7. However, I've also seen it be as high as $22. I can't say for certain what it will be for this game, but once I know, I will post in the comments.

Alternately, there are other lots in the area you can try which will probably be a few dollars cheaper. Here is a map of all the garages and lots surrounding the stadium. Keep in mind that many of these are outdoor lots and your car will be out in the elements.

If you decide to look for a different lot, I would mildly recommend either the Buggyworks Lot or the Broadbelt Lot, but I have never parked in either of these myself. Although it won't apply for this game, keep in mind that street parking is also free citywide in Columbus on Sundays and holidays.

Where We'll Be

Here is a map of the ballpark.

We'll be sitting on Level 3 of the Left Field Building (aka the "AEP Power Pavilion"), which features a 110 foot bar with six open patios overlooking the field. This area is covered and will be out of any sun or rain that may transpire.

If you enter the park through the Center Field Entrance (which is at the intersection of Nationwide Blvd. and Neil Ave.), there will be a door to your immediate right after you enter that leads to a staircase up into the Tower.

This door is not well-marked, and if you've never been to Huntington Park before, you may wonder if you're actually allowed to go in and up the stairs. Yes, you are.

We'll be on the Tower's "Level 3". I have uploaded to the Photos section of this event page, below, a picture of the sign you want look for after you ascend the stairs, so you'll know you're on the correct floor.

Tickets

Do not buy your tickets ahead of time. They will literally be twice as expensive if you buy them on Ticketmaster.

Instead, go to the ticket window near the Center Field Entrance. Buy a Standing Room Only ticket (don't worry, you won't be standing), which will cost you a flat $8 with no other taxes or fees.

These tickets never sell out, and this is the cheapest way to get into the park.

Carry-Ins

Per the team's website: "Soft-sided coolers are permitted in the general seating area [which is where we'll be], but not hard-sided coolers; also no alcohol, glass bottles, or cans will be permitted. SMALL bags or backpacks of food items and beverages in plastic bottles are ok. Reusable water bottles are permitted, but must be empty upon arrival. Diaper bags are allowed."

I always bring a disposable plastic bottle of water and refill it as I need at the park. Bottled water at the game is something like 4 or 5 dollars. So if you want a bottle of water, I recommend bringing your own bottle instead of buying it at the park.

Food & Drink

The area we'll be in has burgers, hot dogs, salads, soft pretzels, ice cream, and other sorts of things you would expect at a baseball game. I've posted pics of the menu in the Photos section, below.

The burger and fries are $14 plus tax, and they're not bad. (This is what I usually get.) The beer is really overpriced. It's like $9, or $20 for a pitcher. If there's some people to help me drink it, though, I'll buy a pitcher of Michelob Ultra.

While we'll be on the penultimate floor of the Tower, the top floor (which has a great view, but is fully exposed to the elements) has a Dirty Frank's hot dog stand. I've never gotten anything from there, though I've been told it's good.

The Donatos pizza stand is also a very short walk away from where we'll be. I love Donatos, but the pizza is so expensive at the ballpark. It's like $9 for a personal-sized pepperoni. It is good, though.

Peroration

Let's (watch them) play ball!

Deer Creek State Park's origins trace back to the need for flood control in central Ohio, spurred by devastating floods like the 1913 Great Flood that ravaged Columbus and the Scioto River valley. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began planning reservoirs in the region, leading to construction of the Deer Creek Dam starting in the 1960s on Deer Creek, a tributary of the Scioto. The earth and rock dam was completed around 1968, impounding the 1,277-acre reservoir primarily for flood risk management, while also enabling recreation and water supply. This project transformed the rural landscape south of Columbus into a major water resource.

The area around the new lake quickly developed into a recreational hub, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources taking over management of surrounding lands. The state park was officially established in 1974, incorporating campgrounds, boating facilities, and trails to capitalize on the reservoir's potential. Early development included a marina, swimming beach, and hiking paths through the meadows and woodlands that characterize the till plains left by ancient glaciers. Over time, amenities expanded to include an 18-hole golf course and bridle trails, making it a full-fledged resort destination just a short drive from Columbus.

One of the park's most intriguing historical ties is to President Warren G. Harding and the infamous "Ohio Gang." In the early 1920s, Ohio attorney Harry M. Daugherty, Harding's Attorney General, built a cabin retreat on the banks of Deer Creek as a hangout for political allies. Harding himself reportedly visited the site for relaxation amid his presidency. The preserved Harding Cabin, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers a unique glimpse into this era and remains available for rental within the park.

Before modern development, the Deer Creek valley held even deeper history, with archaeological evidence of prehistoric Native American camps dating back to around 2000 BC. Hunter-gatherer groups left traces on ridges overlooking the creek, part of broader indigenous use of the fertile plains. Glacial activity thousands of years earlier shaped the flat, till-rich terrain that supports today's agriculture and park habitats. These layers of human and natural history add depth to visits for those exploring beyond the lake and lodge.

Maps of the Park

Here is a simple map of Deer Creek's hiking trails, and here is a more detailed map of the entire park.

Summary

For this event, we will probably hike the Van Horn, Rolling Hills, and (Hawkview) Meadow Trails. However, depending on trail conditions, we might instead mix in some combination of the Ridge, Adena Ridge, and Lakeview/Waterloo Trails that are near the cabins by the Lodge. Regardless, we'll shoot for around 5 miles.

Deer Creek can be a little strenuous in places, but it's overall not too bad. The bigger issue is that the trails can be muddy in spots, so I'd recommend hiking shoes and a change of socks.

Where We'll Meet

We will meet at the main entrance of the Deer Creek Lodge, a full-service hotel with 110 rooms. The actual address of the Lodge is 22300 State Pk Rd 20, Mt Sterling, OH 43143. It's about 45 minutes southwest of Columbus, and your GPS will get you there just fine.

After the Hike

Harding's Lounge is a separate lounge facility within the Lodge that officially opens at 5 p.m. However, sometimes the Lounge will open before 5 if there's an event going on or if the Lodge has sufficient occupancy (which in the summer it generally does). Just be aware the possibility exists that we won't be able to get food or drinks until 5. The Lounge's food and beverage menu includes burgers, subs, soup, and salads. They also have pizza that I find comparable to Marco's.

The Lodge also has a large common seating area just outside Harding's, with large comfy seats, big tables, a fireplace, and a nice view of Deer Creek Lake. If the weather's at all agreeable, sitting out on the Lodge's patio and just looking at the Lake is one of my favorite things to do.