April 18, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

🌳 Get outdoors + get rewarded

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Many participating trails have direct water access for kayaking. | Photo by @cbusmetroparks

If you love being active outdoors, you can now get rewarded for your time in nature through the new Columbus Outdoor Trails Pass.

Experience Columbus + the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission teamed up for the free program, and here’s how it works.

What is the program?

There are many outdoor trails in CBUS, whether they’re for biking, running, rowing, or hiking. Each time you check-in at a participating trail, you can receive points that go towards monthly drawings for local gift cards. The more trails you check-in at, the more chances you’ll have to win.

Wetlands at Batelle Darby Creek | Photo via @supermanfdbs — Explore wildlife in the wetlands at Batelle Darby Creek. | Photo via @supermanfdbs

Participating trails

There are a variety of trail options across many suburbs of Columbus that are participating in the program, including:

Alum Creek Trail at Three Creeks Metro Park — Enjoy paths for biking and open play areas, plus hit the water for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
Darby Trail at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park — Take in scenic views across the prairies, wetlands, and forests of this metro park, including bison roaming in pastures.
TJ Evans Trail — An active bald eagle nest can be found along this biking trail, just look past Racoon Creek in a sycamore tree.
Emerald Trail at Indian Run Falls Park — The trail is known for its waterfalls, and you can take in the sights and sounds on a nearby bridge.

This is what the pass will look like once you add it to you mobile device. | Photo by CBUStoday

Signing up + getting started

Fill out your information online, and you will be texted or emailed a pass with the option to save it to your phone’s home screen, making it very easy to access. Whenever you’re within a quarter mile of a participating location, you’re able to check-in.

Redeeming your rewards

You could win $100 gift cards to places like the North Market, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, COSI, and DSW. Participants can win one gift card per calendar year — this program runs through 2024 and 2025.

Asked

What is your favorite way to enjoy local trails?

A. Walking
B. Jogging
C. Biking
D. Kayaking
E. Fishing
F. Other

Let us know

Events

Thursday, April 18

Paint Your Pet | Thursday, April 18 | 5-7 p.m. | BrewDog DogHouse Columbus Hotel and Brewery, 96 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester | $55 | Instructions and supplies are provided as you paint a portrait of your furry friend.

Friday, April 19

5K Beer Run | Friday, April 19 | 8-9 p.m. | Jackie O’s On Fourth, 171 N. 4th St., Downtown | $35-$50 | Run or walk 3.1 miles and finish with a craft brew from Jackie O’s.

Saturday, April 20

Westerville Art Hop | Saturday, April 20 | 1-5 p.m. | Uptown Westerville, 21 South State St., Westerville | Free | Browse local artwork and try activities for all ages.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins Softball | Saturday, April 20 | 2 p.m. | Buckeye Field, 2450 Fred Taylor Dr., Campus | $8 | Enjoy a spring matchup between these two Big Ten teams.
Paint & Potions | Saturday, April 20 | 4-7 p.m. | Savor Bar & Grill, 5031 Chatterton Rd., Columbus | $40 | Listen to R&B songs from Maxwell while you paint a canvas of the singer.

100+ more events

Click here to have your event featured.

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Finance

The minimum investment for a financial advisor

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Considering hiring a financial advisor? Here’s what you need to know beforehand. | Photo provided by SmartAsset

A financial advisor could help you best determine if you’re on track to meet your long-term financial goals. This expert could help you establish a plan that factors your assets and taxes into your overall retirement and estate-planning goals.

How much money should you have before hiring a financial advisor? Find out the level of liquid assets at which an advisor’s benefits potentially outweigh the costs.

Learn more

News Notes

Festival

The Columbus Book Festival is Saturday, July 13 + Sunday, July 14 at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library. Expect book signings, discounts, author panels, food trucks, and live entertainment. The full lineup of 200+ authors will be announced on Wednesday, April 24.

Try This

Calling all Swifties. Try free Taylor Swift trivia tonight at 7 p.m. in Land-Grant Brewing Co.'s taproom in honor of her new album “The Tortured Poets Department,” which is available on Friday, April 19.

Show

“The Price is Right Live” is headed to Palace Theatre on Friday, Sept. 20. Contestants will be selected at random for classic games like “The Big Wheel” and “Plinko” and the chance to win big. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m.

Plan Ahead

The Short North Arts District is featuring “Hops on High” thanks to a grant from City Council. On Saturday, June 1, Saturday, Sept. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 7, portions of High Street will close for gallery hops with live music, arts, and shopping.

Answered

50% of readers said recycling is the environmental cause they’re interested in learning more about. Browse the City of Columbus’ recycling guide to learn more about limiting waste in central Ohio — from your weekly collection date to how to recycle the right things.

Sports

Nick Chubb’s contract has officially been restructured. Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Cleveland Browns with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Correction

We got our months mixed up. The Reynoldsburg location for the Columbus Metropolitan Library will open on April 24, not August.

Drink

🚶 A walk in the park

Find fishing, paddle boats, and waterfalls at Creekside Park. | Photo by @big.papi9

If the trails program has you in the zone for outdoor fun, here are 21 parks near Columbus.

🍄 Nature parks

Creekside Park, 123 Mill St.
Water lovers can enjoy paddle boats, fishing, and wading along Big Walnut Creek. Plus, enjoy walkways and picnic areas at the 7.9-acre spot.

Glacier Ridge Metro Park, 9801 Hyland Croy
Observe wildlife from a 25-ft tower or explore four nature trails + a challenge course. The park opens at 6:30 a.m. daily.

🐶 Dog parks

Big Walnut Dog Park, 5000 E. Livingston Ave.
Enjoy gated entrances with three acres of enclosed space and separate areas for large dogs and small dogs to play safely.

Scioto Audubon, 400 W. Whittier St.
This 120-acre metro park has pet amenities inside of it like an agility course for dogs and 10 miles of trails to walk pets on the Scioto Greenway Trail.

17 more parks

The Buy

Four neutral throw pillow covers, all for $24.99. We love: The price point + how you can choose which neutral tones best suit your living space — gold-neutral, cream-neutral, or navy-neutral.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Hanna

From the editor

I added the Columbus Outdoor Trails Pass to my homepage, so if you download it as well, we can hold each other accountable — and be competitors.

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