There's No Place Like Columbus For The Holidays

     Columbus, Columbus, it's a wonderful town.  Seems the longer I live here the more I appreciate it.
     There's always some gem to discover or re-discover, especially at Christmastime, as I've been doing this past week with my daughter, son-in-law and two grand daughters.

      I suggested we take the children to visit our Main Library in downtown Columbus.

   In 2010 The Columbus Metropolitan Library was ranked the number one library system in the United States,

...by, well, whatever outfit gets to say whose library is  number one. 

      But even if we're not number one anymore,

...our Main Library is still a beautiful place,

...especially now that it's all decked out for the holidays with a miniature train display,

...which offers  a "Can You Find?"  activity,

...which was greatly enjoyed by my grand daughters,

...as well as their parents and myself.

     We all also enjoyed the Children's section,

...which has two entrances, one for big folks and one for little folks,

...on the other side of which can be found a wonderful and accessible world of books,

...as well as other delightful and educational activities for little ones,

...in a light, bright, open space.

     Another Columbus icon I felt we had to hit was my favorite  eatery, The Spaghetti Warehouse,

...by me  a great place anytime,

...but at its best when all done up for the holidays.

       And I have to give a shout-out to the staff of the Spaghetti Warehouse who are always so over-the-top friendly and accommodating.  On this visit we were told there would be a 45-minute wait, this being such a popular place around Christmas time.  But when I mentioned in  conversation with the hostess that we had our kids and two small grandkids visiting with us from California she said, "know what?  I'm going to get you in right away".  And she did.  I feel like I always snag some good Karma at the Spaghetti Warehouse.

      I once read (online) that the best Christmas lights display in the USA can be found at the outdooor  Christkindlmarket in Chicago. 
        Well, I've been to the Chicago Christkindlmarket and, while I wouldn't disparage that display, I'm willing to put it out there that our Christmas display at Easton Town Center  in Columbus is an even more beautiful holiday wonderland,

...inside the mall,

...and especially outside.

        Then yesterday we visited another beautiful location in downtown Columbus,

...also cheerily decorated for the holidays,

....and built just for children,

...filled with playful, child-friendly  works of art,

..with an enchanted forest,

...a stunning salt-water fish tank designed by the team of the TV show "Tanked",

...and even giant elfin acorns that show the way from the parking garage to the entrance.

   And though this Columbus site is a nationally renowned destination for children, it's also a place where no parent would ever hope to have to take their child:

     This is Nationwide Children's Hospital,

...where we came to visit Tommy at work.

     Tommy gave us a tour of the public areas,

 ...took us for a yummy lunch in the hospital cafeteria,

...then let us come up to see his office.

      Then we went home after our visit to Nationwide Children's,

...which was, thankfully, just a visit.