Activities Near Me

Tuesday Night Bike Ride

Morning people unite!! 🐤 ☕ + 💬 @ Grumpy's Coffee Garage

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Grumpy's Coffee Garage](https://grumpyscoffeegarage.com/)!

ACTIVE WOMEN Photo Shoot!!!

Please humor me. I think this is going to be SOOO much fun! I'd like to get a new pic for our home page on meetup that depicts what we are really about. With FUN being a huge part of that. Still dreaming this and probably will be until the camera clicks but thinking we'll meet a Highbanks. I'll bring big sheets of paper that we can write the letters A C T - you know the rest. We'll make these letters fancy! We will need at least 11 women if we only do the letters and 12 with the 55+. But the really fun part is the props. We're just getting started but I'd like y'all to bring whatever props you can think of that depict activities that we've done - or hope to do. This means bicycles, hiking boots, decks of cards, board games, if someone can bring their dog that would be cool. A paddle board or kayak (I'm imagining a kayak in the front of the group with a woman rowing :). Trying to convince Linda J. to bring one of the APES from the sanctuary :). I've ordered a blow up calf - need a baby bottle to feed it. . . what could we have that would represent recycling or trash? We like to eat out so a plate of food? Mug of beer? Coffee? Bouquets of flowers for the Conservatory etc.? Hoes for conservation work? If you have markers or paints that would be awesome. What else? I hope you think this will be as fun as I do . . . so many fun and creative women in this group! Please list any props you're willing to bring in the comments :). Oh, and we'll walk for maybe 3 miles afterward and then have an optional lunch.

Pot Luck at a member's home!

Inspired by our successful events like "Saturday Mornings @ East Market" and other "Pot Luck in the Park" lunches, this gathering promises to be a blend of fun conversations, language exchange, and cultural insights, all while sharing wonderful foods with each other. This time, we will meet at the home of one of our members. Address will be given to those attending prior to the event. **Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to drink.** We will provide plates, plastic silverware and napkins. So, come hungry and ready to chat! Note: We are asking that our members help out by contributing $5 or whatever they are able to at each Pot Luck Gathering to offset costs. Many Thanks! Lisa Arzate

🍂 Leaf It to Us: A Thriving in Motion Hike 🍁

Piecing Families Together

This is an all inclusive event to inform, support and help bring special needs families and the community together. Come and enjoy family and sensory friendly: games, activities, snacks, free stuff and more! Meets the 2nd Saturday of each month. Located at Village Chapel - 30 Circleville Avenue, Ashville, OH 43103.

Walk & Talk About Life's Big Questions

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).

Gahanna Woods Hike

Join us as we hike 2 miles in the Gahanna Woods park this Tuesday, at 6:30 pm. We will hike about a mile in the state nature preserve and a mile in the Gahanna city park on dirt trails and wooden boardwalks. We look forward to hiking with you!

Trails & Ales! Blacklick Woods Metro Park / Eastside Brewing Co

**History** The deep indigenous history of the land comprising [Blacklick Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blacklick-woods/) came to light in stages, beginning with a major discovery during the park's mid-century expansion. In 1961, the park district acquired a 100-acre parcel of land where a previous owner had stripped away topsoil and gravel from a five-acre section. Beneath the surface, workers uncovered 16 ancient fire rings buried roughly 30 inches underground. The park district promptly invited Dr. Raymond S. Baby, the respected Curator of Archaeology at the Ohio State Museum, to evaluate the site. After a thorough review, Dr. Baby confirmed the authenticity of the find and determined that the fire rings were the unmistakable remnants of a prehistoric Late Woodland period Indian village dating between AD 600 and AD 1200. This incredible area was proudly highlighted as the "Indian Village Site" on official Blacklick Woods park maps throughout the 1960s, anchoring the park's identity in Ohio's rich indigenous heritage. Decades later, the park's archaeological timeline expanded significantly when a completely separate, grander feature was discovered hidden just west of Blacklick Creek. In 2017, David Lamp, an eagle-eyed former archaeologist from Lancaster, was systematically analyzing historical aerial photographs kept by the USDA to locate undocumented native structures. While examining a photograph captured in 1954 -- back when the property was still a rural farm owned by the Ashton Lamp family -- he spied a massive, distinct dark circle. Because perfect circles are an extreme anomaly in the natural world, Lamp immediately recognized the shadow as the footprint of a forgotten indigenous monument. Before the land became a protected park, decades of heavy agricultural plowing and livestock grazing had flattened the ground, wearing the structure's physical height down to an easily overlooked 10 inches tall. To verify Lamp's incredible aerial find, a team from the Heartland Earthworks Conservancy partnered with park staff to clear away dense brush and trees covering the site. Renowned volunteer archaeologist Jarrod Burks led a sophisticated geophysical survey on September 24, 2017, inviting the public to watch the science unfold in real time. Burks pulled an array of highly sensitive magnetometers across the soil, measuring minuscule variations in the ground's magnetic content. Because topsoil holds a higher magnetic signature than deeper substrate layers, the instruments clearly mapped a massive, ancient ditch that had filled with topsoil over centuries of erosion. This advanced technology produced a stunning, flawless digital visualization of a hidden prehistoric circular earthwork buried right beneath the feet of unsuspecting park hikers. The data collected by Burks revealed that the Blacklick Circle originally featured a three-to-five-foot earthen embankment pairing with a distinct interior ditch. The structure is estimated to have a total diameter of just under 100 feet, and the magnetic imaging perfectly captured the precise location of the circle’s original eastern entranceway. Archaeologists attribute this monumental construction to the ancient Adena or Hopewell cultures, pushing the park’s human history back roughly 2,000 to 2,200 years. While the Adena and Hopewell peoples are famous throughout the Ohio River valley for building giant burial mounds, circular enclosures like this one served distinct communal purposes. Because these earthworks do not contain human remains, they are understood to be highly sacred, carefully engineered gathering spaces for spiritual ceremonies and social alignment. Today, the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system treats this miraculous discovery as a crown jewel of regional cultural heritage. Rather than excavating and disrupting the sacred ground, the park utilizes a creative technique known as interpretive mowing. By cutting the grass at strategic heights, rangers visually outline the exact contours and entrance of the ancient circle so visitors can appreciate its scale from the adjacent recreational trail. Educational signs and informative placards now stand near the site, teaching families about the advanced architectural and mathematical skills of the region's first inhabitants. The discovery stands as a powerful reminder that our local green spaces are not just nature preserves, but deeply sacred, historical landscapes that have drawn human communities together for millennia. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Blacklick Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BLK-map-May-2025-with-extended-greenway_1980px.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike about 4.5 miles by doing a couple loops of the Buttonbush, Tucker, Maple Loop, and Beech trails. Blacklick Woods is a very nice park, but it is generally flat and not strenuous, so this will be one of our easier hikes. **Where We'll Meet** Drive all the way to the back of the park to the parking lot that is nearest the Nature Center. There are restrooms here next to the [Canopy Walk](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blacklick-woods/#canopy-walk). We'll meet near these restrooms. **After the Hike** Afterward, we'll head over to [Eastside Brewing Co](https://www.eastsidebrewingco.com/) for drinks and [food](https://www.facebook.com/p/Smash-N-Eatz-61578406199442/). The actual address of the brewery is [1421 Davidson Dr, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1421+Davidson+Dr,+Reynoldsburg,+OH+43068/@39.9541807,-82.8056303,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8838648e132b4655:0x9d9c1d48e854e09b!8m2!3d39.9541807!4d-82.8056303!16s%2Fg%2F11bw49sw7m?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDkxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

Dog Walk at Franklin Park Conservatory

Dog Walk - come enjoy the beautiful grounds at Franklin Park Conservatory with your dog! We’ll meet on the path near the entrance. Paths are paved and nicely maintained but sunny! The loop I take is approx. 2mi around. There are plenty of shortcuts back if that’s too far or we can take it twice if the dogs are up to it. Please keep all dogs leashed as per park rules, thanks!

Visit A.P.E.S. Primate Sanctuary, then hang out at NACHOFEST!

Meet at the American Primate Educational Sanctuary (A.P.E.S.), 8380 Kennedy Rd. Blacklick. A.P.E.S., the American Primate Educational Sanctuary, is a non-profit organization that cares for eight White-Handed Gibbons. Located in Blacklick, they house primates that were previously kept as household pets. They are committed to be protectors, conservationists, caregivers and educators for all primates, especially the Capuchin monkey and the endangered White-Handed Gibbon. [https://apesohio.weebly.com/](https://apesohio.weebly.com/) They ask for a $10 donation toward the care of the animals. When finished at A.P.E.S., we will head on over to Edison Brewery, 785 Science Blvd, Gahanna, for NACHOFEST for an afternoon of live music, community, and a celebration of the NACHO community (stay as long as you'd like; it's open until 6 pm). There are bands playing throughout the event, including the TBDBITL Alumni Band, Clintonville Community Jazz Band, NACHO Saxadillas, Cap City Funk, and the NACHO Street Band\*. The Taquitos Food Truck will be there. \*The NACHO Street Band is made up of Nationwide Children’s Hospital staff, family, and friends working to raise awareness and money for the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio. Free to attend and donations can be made to the campaign for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Every dollar donated means 2 1/2 meals for those in need. Great music for a great cause, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Links: A.P.E.S. [https://apesohio.weebly.com/](https://apesohio.weebly.com/) Edison Brewery [https://www.drinkedison.com/](https://www.drinkedison.com/) NACHO Street Band [https://www.facebook.com/NACHOStreetband/](https://www.facebook.com/NACHOStreetband/)

Your New Favorite Fall Plan: Bowling + Beers + New Friends 🍂🎳

**🍂 Fall Into Fun with Our Social Bowling League!** Fill up your Fall social calendar now - join our **6-week social bowling league**! Whether you’re a strike machine or you’ve never bowled without the bumpers, this league is all about good times, chill vibes, and meeting great people in Columbus - **bowling skills are definitely optional! ;)** **🗓 Thursday nights \|📍 AMF Sawmill Lanes \| 💵 $74 *(while Early Bird is active)*** **🚨New to the league?** Use discount code (**MUFA26**) for 20% off - $59.20 *during **Early Bird*** **💻 League Info & Registration**: https://bit.ly/ColumbusBowling **Why Join?** 🎉 It’s only 6 weeks - perfect for a low-commitment social plan 🍻 Great mix of people in their 20s, 30s, & 40s, plus post-game hangs at the bar 🎳 Zero pressure - gutter balls totally welcome! 👕 Free league shirt if you sign up early 🧠 Weekly trivia w/ prizes 💬 Super social - join solo or w/ friends! **Want in?** Join one of these fun teams, or start a team of your down w/ friends, we’ll all be hanging out either way! **Spare Me** 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2alsfcj2 **Gutter Dusters** 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2bfllz9c **Spare Me** 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2alsfcj2 📅 League Dates (Thursday nights): Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19 ***(The MeetUp event date is the deadline to register for the league.)*** **Cost & What’s Included:** ✔ $74 **Early Bird** registration - **New bowler? Get 20% off w/ code: MUFA26** ✔ 6 weeks of bowling (1–3 games/week) ✔ Shoe rentals & full league setup ✔ Trivia, prizes, and great people 👉 **SIGN UP NOW** 💻League Info & Registration: https://bit.ly/ColumbusBowling 🤑Use promo code MUFA26 to save 20% 📸 Follow the fun on Instagram: https://bit.ly/BowlingLeague-IG 📩 Questions? Contact the league: http://bit.ly/2nKHno7 Spots are filling fast – don’t miss out on the fun times!