Things to Do in Grove City
Family adventures are the best and finding places to have one can sometimes be challenging. We are always looking for fun in the central Ohio area and I recently stumbled on a brochure about Grove City, Ohio. The visitors guide caught my eye because the theme said, Adventure Together, with someone kayaking on the front we are all about adventure! I curiously opened the guide, began to pour over it, and started jotting down notes. I kept thinking to myself as I researched, “Who knew that Grove City had so many things to do?” If you are looking for some amazing things to do in Grove City, Ohio they have a lot to offer.
The kids and I decided to take a day trip to the area because who wouldn’t want to check out a place boasting ADVENTURE?! As I worked on the itinerary, I realized to do justice to the Grove City area it will take WAY more than one day. There were so many things I wanted to do, Columbus Metro parks to explore, canoeing to try, paintball fields to be shot in, food to eat, quaint shops to peruse, and historical locations to see, just to mention a few.
Grove City Visitor Center
We decided to check out the Visit Grove City Visitor Center first thing in the morning of our trip there and eat across the street at a hometown joint called Lilly’s Kitchen Table. That was the perfect start to a great day! At the visitor center, you are met with knowledgeable staff who make it their aim to help you find just what you’re looking to do while in Grove City. Inside the Visitors Center is, Grove City Guide and Gear. It’s a small store with locally made products featuring local artists. (I may sneak back for a double-nested hammock. $32.00 with all the needed hardware!)
Eat at Lilly’s Kitchen Table
Lilly’s Kitchen Table was suggested to us by Dany at the CVB, and she steered us right, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was comfortable. I asked the owner’s daughter, Amy, how long this place has been around, and she told me since the 1920s! The menu is great for a hearty breakfast before you head out and enjoy the city and all it has to offer. Nate and Sam ordered something called Lilly’s Big Breakfast, and it was HUGE! Our waitress, Tweeter, was great and served the kids up some excellent hot chocolate. The kid’s only complaint was that they didn’t get refills!
Lilly’s is open from 7 am to 2 pm, seven days a week, closed all major holidays. Parking can be tricky out front, but there is ample parking in the back of the restaurant, and you can come in the back door.
Things to Do at Century Village and Grant Sawyer Home
After our delicious breakfast, we decided to go to the Century Village and Grant-Sawyer Home. We are history buffs, and no adventure or activity seems done right if we have not learned something new. We met with Bev Babbert for our tours, and she was terrific. She shared information about how the Grant-Sawyer home was renovated and the history of the family and their endeavors in the Grove City area. It takes about an hour to go through the Grant-Sawyer home. The Grant-Sawyer Home tours are available Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. by appointment only (maximum of 10 per tour). Special arrangements can be made for other times by contacting the historical society. The cost is $5 per person.
Century Village is a step back in time to the mid-1800s. There are 11 structures on this property which makes it one phenomenal place to visit. The Order’s school is original to the location, but everything else has been moved there. The meticulous renovations they have done here are impressive, and I could not believe how much they have accomplished there. They have a train station that is not open to the public yet, but we look forward to going back and checking that out once it is completed.
You can spend 1-2 hours here looking through all the artifacts and information they have. You can visit Century Village every 4th Saturday 2-4 pm from May to September. They do offer private tours for a marginal fee. (It’s worth it!) You can contact the historical society to set that tour up. The Southwest Franklin Historical Society number is 614-277-3061.
We had an #AltogetherAdventure in Grove City, Ohio, and I can’t wait to get back there to enjoy the canoeing! (I finally made it to Trapper John’s! You can read about it here) Adventure is all around us, and finding out about new things in Central Ohio makes getting active worthwhile!
Happy Adventuring,
Brandy
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