Plus, Old Bag of Nails opened in Upper Arlington.
 
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Today’s Forecast

21º | Cloudy | 0% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 7:51 a.m. | Sunset 5:30 p.m.
 

🏕️ Take a hike

Our guide to visiting 7 of the best national parks
Small blooming wildflowers up close, with a sweeping mountain vista in the distance.
National parks may just lead you to a breathtaking view like this one at the Great Smoky Mountains. | Photo by Domenico Convertini via Flickr
Wondering which national park is best for your next trip? Use this great big guide to the great big outdoors to plan your next adventure. We left no stone unturned.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Miles and miles of roadways framed by sweeping mountain views, thriving greenery, and plenty of places to pull off and hike? Yes, please. Spanning from VA’s Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in NC, the Blue Ridge is a driveable, scenic experience.

Getting there
We’ll put it bluntly: There’s not a straightforward answer here. Multiple federal and state highways connect to the Parkway, so it makes sense to visit an access point close to you — you’re sure to see beautiful mountains wherever you land.

Mountains covered with orange fall leaves at the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Plan a fall trip to see fantastic colors like these.

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Photo by Fran Trudeau via Wikimedia Commons

Open hours and seasons
The Parkway road is open year-round. Check before you go for any road closures.

As for park facilities, the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and the Folk Art Center are open year-round (both are located near Asheville, NC).

Congaree National Park

If you love fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping, and basically all things wild, South Carolina’s Congaree National Park is worth visiting over your next long weekend. This park has some of the tallest trees in the eastern US and encompasses part of the largest contiguous tract of oldgrowth bottomland hardwood forest.

Congaree National Park Trails

The Boardwalk Loop Trail is wheelchair accessible.

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Photo by @hdcarolina

Getting there
Plug this address into your GPS: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061. Expect an ~8 hour drive from Columbus.

Open hours and seasons
Congaree National Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. But note that the busy season tends to be from March to May.

Fees and reservations
There is no entrance fee to visit Congaree National Park. Picnic shelter reservations are $25 for a half day, $50 for a full day. Plan the perfect picnic party using our guide to planning an event in a national park.
5 more national parks
 
Events
Monday, Jan. 15
  • Dynamics of Drawing | Monday, Jan. 15 | 7-9 p.m. | Terra Gallery & Creative Studio, 6631 Dale Dr., Dublin | $35-$140 | All materials are provided and all experiences levels are welcome to learn the fundamentals of drawing.
Tuesday, Jan. 16
  • The State of Central Ohio Real Estate | Tuesday, Jan. 16 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., Downtown | $20 | Enjoy lunch and museum access while learning about housing solutions for the expanding CBUS-area population.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
  • DateColumbus Singles Event | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Bristol Republic, 1124 N. High St., Short North | $20 | Meet other singles and enjoy ice breakers, games, and drinks.
  • Dawn of Winter | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Pinot’s Palette, 691 N. High St., Ste. 101, Short North | $42 | Paint a sunrise with snowfall with all supplies provided.
100+ more events
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Open
  • Old Bag of Nails, a locally owned British-style pub chain, opened in Upper Arlington at 3220 Tremont Rd. The new 5,000-sqft space has ample patio seating for when the weather warms up. (Columbus Business First)
Coming Soon
  • Bridge’s End Brewing is expected to open this fall at 9320 Dublin Rd. in Dublin. The brewery and taproom — which will primarily sell lagers — will also feature a full-service restaurant. (614now)
Drink
  • Downtown’s DORA is expected to be approved in the coming months. The designated outdoor refreshment area will allow residents to sip alcohol (in labeled cups) while hanging outdoors, including areas like the Scioto Mile. (Columbus Business First)
Sports
  • Do you think City Editor Hanna could return a ball hit at her from OSU star volleyball player Jacob Pasteur? Note: The All-American can hit up to 80 mph. We’re putting this to the test for a story next week... stay tuned.
Answered
  • On Friday, you may have noticed an unusual email in your inbox with news from Charleston, SC — we have teams operating in 27 cities across the country, and last week, we pushed the wrong button. Catch up on any news you might have missed.
Giveaway
  • Make a donation towards veterans’ and children’s charities + you could win a RAM 3500 HD truck in the Big Diesel Truck Dream Giveaway. Double your entries with code 6AMCITY.*
Holiday

Honor Dr. King

Ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. for MLK Day 2024
Around the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park in Columbus are quotes from historic leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. | Photo by theCBUStoday
The Washington Gladden Social Justice Park includes quotes from historic leaders. | Photo by CBUStoday
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here are some ways you can honor the life + legacy of Dr. King today.

Reminder: County offices, family resource centers, library branches + animal shelters will be closed today in observance.

MLK Day events

Stroll through social justice

Head to the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park downtown to be inspired by quotes from social justice leaders, including Dr. King. Plus, the 6,000-pound sculpture in the park — “Our Single Garment of Destiny” — is based on his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Give back

As a national day of service, it’s recommended to treat this holiday as a “day on, not a day off.” Browse our volunteer guide to find a way to give back locally, whether that’s helping minority groups, children, or veterans.
The Buy

The Buy 1.15.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Kitsch’s rice bar shampoo and conditioner. Reviewers noticed touchably soft hair and even improvements in hair loss, plus the bar is plastic-free thanks to its intelligently concentrated design.
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Hanna
From the editor
Bundle up — the freezing temperatures this week are going to be brutal. Here are some tips from the Dispatch on how long to warm up your car and making sure your pipes don’t freeze.
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