COLUMBUS OHIO: No Personality Or Identity? What We Actually Saw

[@cdubz265]

As a lifelong Cleveland resident I was blown away when i went to Columbus and rode passed a public park where I saw people of all races who were enjoying themselves with their families and interacting cohesively. In Cleveland it’s very separate with White and Black people pretty much sticking with their race on one side of town and avoiding integration unless they are forced to whether it being their place of residence, school or employment.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I saw that too.

[@saralynn518]

I'm from a suburb on the west side of Cleveland, but now live down here. Back in the 90's I thought it was getting a little better, just east side west side bull, but nothing compared to down here. The mix of ethnicities, different festivals and celebrations are fantastic. What a difference ~2 hours makes. That's really sad to hear.

[@davidyoung2111]

Cincinnati, is also racially separated. There's good race relations here but there's alot of all black, all white or all Hispanic nieborhoods.

[@tussin_papi5954]

I moved here last year from Cleveland and the people i work with always kind of give me a look when i try to explain how racially divided Cleveland is. I will say its getting better the more Cleveland updates the city but still there is a clear difference

[@diodelvino3048]

i went to Columbus for 1 year for college, and those were the kindest people ive ever met in my life, people were just chill, and overall cool as hell, lots of educated people from different races there too, i loved it.

[@TheLEMRR]

We have a nice little place to call home right here in the heart of our great country. Can drive to NYC, Toronto, Philadelphia, DC, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, St Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, etc, in under 9 hours. Good food. Great people. Mild weather - just a little windy sometimes. Thanks for visiting.

[@cynthiacarr2093]

❤😁👏🏾👏🏾 Native of Columbus and so happy yall stopped through to visit our Beautiful City! Great video! Thank you!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It really is a beautiful city. We were impressed.

[@briansmith48]

I'm surprised they didn't go to the Short North. But maybe there's a part two coming? 🤔

[@robertstanley1056]

I'm surprised you didn't get robbed, I live here

[@martydaniels2835]

You missed out on the Cream Puffs...I also like the German Chocolate Cake...Schmidt's is great. Glad you liked our town and come back again!

[@Orbitinbloom19018]

Im an european whos fascinated by culture, forgotten Americana happens to be one of my favourite genres, your videos are a valueable insight, thank you !

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Columbus is a surprisingly beautiful city. Thanks for posting this tour, as well as the all the many others you have done. Your comprehensive documentaries on the different American cities deserve to be in the Smithsonian Museum one day!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Stephen!

[@Reese8531]

Dayton,Ohio was also very beautiful!!

[@lorensims4846]

They wanted the new capital city to be centrally located so they looked at Franklinton which is near the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. But Franklinton had a habit of flooding so they chose the hill on the east side of the river to build the new Statehouse, the very first permanent building in the new capital city. The street that runs in front of the Statehouse is High Street, the historical high point of the great flood. The lawn of the Statehouse is actually the roof of a three-level underground parking garage.

[@amychissong]

He might like to know that Franklinton was the first white settlement in what became Columbus.

[@TheBuckeyeJeff]

Worthington was another consideration that is actually older than Columbus is.

[@jdwb7045]

Columbus is my city!! Hope you enjoyed your visit, Love living here. Great city and people. And I hope you enjoyed Schmidts. So many great places to visit in CBus! Yes, the Dispatch is still going.

[@KimmyGibson]

Thanks for stopping by!! Safe travels ❤‍🩹

[@maverihk]

😆😆😆 .....ya'll are spicy today. Ya'lls banter is always welcome + entertaining. Columbus is truly beautiful, especially the downtown. Thanks for taking us with you.

[@frankstudent]

Born in Dayton. Moved to Columbus 10 years ago. Glad you stopped by our great city!

[@lukasgestrine]

Which would be better to move to ?

[@aakibot3708]

Columbus ​@@lukasgestrine

[@trishalennex4630]

Do NOT move to Dayton

[@jburnett8152]

Very interesting. Downtown and the neighborhood was so beautiful. Loved the rotonda. Thanks so much.

[@marystewart1125]

German Village is quaint, historical, and wonderful. I lived there five years. There was a secret house that sold homemade German Christmas cookies each year. There was no sign on it.

[@christianbeck2792]

Ill be moving to columbus in a week. Great video and it makes me more excited to explore this city!

[@doug186]

Thanks for stopping by. You guys picked a great place to eat.

[@oldclevelandhippy]

As a long time Columbus resident, I can tell you the high property crime rate is caused by our judges refusing to put anyone in jail. There are kids who have been arrested 20 plus times for auto theft who have never seen an hour in jail. Every night there are groups of criminals breaking into cars. The police do their job but prosecutors and politicians don't do theirs. It is affecting the suburbs now also. It's a great city full of great people, but it's a incredibly poorly run city.

[@edm9760]

If this is all true then Columbus will be a s***hole city like Oakland in a few years. I'm glad I don't live there. I do live in Ohio just quite a ways away from Cbus fortunately.

[@FixIt1975]

@JamesFalk-td9im yeah let's all hope his useless ass doesn't get reinstalled in November. No way in hell he won fair and square last time

[@xLegendOfHalo117x]

I can't really blame the whole city when the police force and lawmakers are doing what needs to happen to try and control it, only for the judges to refuse sentencing them just to make a political statement. I mean, sometimes the same criminal is arrested only for the criminal to be released and then arrested again for the same crime again...all in one day. It's wild.

[@kimberleegullbailey2547]

Christopher Columbus is a Spaniard....

[@eathecommie]

It's a deep blue city.

[@columbuscalvin8520]

I've lived in Columbus since late 2000 and I've also lived in Tucson, AZ, Orlando, FL, and other places. It's my considered opinion that the Columbus government and institutions avoid having a personality in hopes of attracting corporate headquarters or regional offices. (It's working, too.) German Village is very expensive and has fought very hard to retain its character.

[@TheSwissChalet]

German village is hostile to conservatives and Christians. It is an “alternative lifestyle “ kind of place.

[@rosemaryfilanowicz]

I lived in Tucson too. Loved the mountains, but the economy isn’t good and the amount of drugs and homeless is crazy. It used to be cheap to live there but it’s very expensive now

[@rodneyallen248]

Where are you getting your statistics from? Hum...not accurate!

[@louispaxton8336]

Excellent..this program has really grown..nice architectural commentary..you are truly interested..keep up your excellent work!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@delstanley1349]

This is the first time I've seen a photo of the LeVeque Tower. It reminded me of the Empire State Building in NYC, and that is because the ESB is art deco also. I was a little surprised it was actually built before the ESB who doubled down on the height. Thanx for the trip.

[@maurarenouf3616]

I hope you went to Schiller Park when you were in German Village. If you ever co.e back thru go to Franklin Park and also the Whetstone Park of Roses. You will not be disapointed. I am glad you visited Columbus. 😊

[@MichaelDye-k6h]

Park of Roses is gorgeous

[@briansmith48]

I'm surprised he didn't drive through the Short North area and the OSU compass. Maybe there's a part two coming?

[@dingledangledingdong2693]

Go to Schiller Park & see the BUMs!

[@cecoya]

Very interesting city and clean too. Wow!!! Nice changes from what I see or hear in the news. Have a great day and safe travels

[@kathrynkildow3743]

Very nice! I've lived in Columbus all my life and enjoyed this video! Sent it to my cousins, whom I visited last month in Berlin, Germany. Going to watch more of your videos!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Excellent!

[@ericmaki4829]

Thank you for doing a Columbus video! I loved it and just subscribed to you. We’re very much an undiscovered gem.

[@andyk2763]

I grew up in the Columbus area and also worked in Columbus for about 15 years of my adult life. Downtown has always been pretty nice. However, there are a lot of areas of the town that are a bit rough. I wouldn't pin the high property crime rate on the college kids. It's just not as nice of a town as the downtown would suggest.

[@danlaub7156]

Spot on.

[@TinkerTailor4303]

I agree about the college kids.

[@benton-benton]

You are so right. It's not the college kids that do all the crime at all. In fact, they are many times victims of the crimes.

[@benton-benton]

You are right, it's not the college kids doing it.

[@columbuscalvin8520]

The college kids are more prey than predators, but that's why there's so much crime around campus.

[@saltydawg6817]

Born and raised in Columbus 58 years. one of the most diverse cities you will ever visit. As far as identity goes, this is a college football town. Folks around here, live and breathe, scarlet and gray. OH… And back that up with a professional hockey team and and MLS team. Festivals along the river all summer and fall. One of the best zoos in the country. We host some of the largest music festivals in the country and the list goes on and on. And on a sidenote, my father and my uncle Built the Columbus dispatch sign. Come back soon.

[@steveb7429]

“diverse”?? I think you mean Miami, SF, LA, NYC, Seattle, Houston….

[@mystic7934]

@@steveb7429so you’ve never been to columbus i see

[@jimdennis2451]

... IO!

[@amychissong]

@@steveb7429 You have to admit our population and food options have grown far more diverse the past few decades.

[@MalcomReynolds-mk7gt]

Columbus is more diverse than it once was, but it is not diverse compared to so many other cities like Houston comes to mind, not even close.

[@jennsummers325]

A lot of car theft here in my city. The ‘Kia Boys’ are running rampant!

[@amychissong]

And they’re getting braver and braver.

[@frankintx699]

Wow, what a clean city. I really like Nic's hairstyle and color and how it glows. Being a German I was envious of your meals. I wish we had a restaurant like that in Texas. Safe travels, Joe and Nic.👍🤠

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks! 😃

[@Alan.Endicott]

The Statehouse and the Senate Building behind it underwent an extensive restoration around 1992. Dozens of layers of paint were removed to identify the original colors. At the time of construction, colored paint was expensive and these were the original colors chosen to reflect the wealth of the state. The building originally had light wells. In the 1860s even gas light was unusual and cavities in were used to allow natural light in to internal rooms. Eventually these light wells were filled with new floors and offices. Many of those working in the statehouse were relocated to new office towers adjacent to Capitol Square and so it was decided that the light wells would be emptied during the restoration and now contain the elevators you used. Most statewide officials maintain at least a ceremonial office in the Statehouse, but only the two legislative chambers and a few office suites for their leaders and staff remain in the Statehouse. The governor, for example, works primarily in the adjacent Riffe State Office Tower, but he keeps the ceremonial office for meetings with legislators; bill signings; meetings with out of state, federal or foreign dignitaries, etc. Lincoln was in the Ohio governor's office when he was notified by telegraph that he had been elected.

[@marthakierstead3415]

What a beautiful city! Loved the state capitol building - especially the rotunda . Thanks Joe and Nic !

[@Kat-tr2ig]

I love Columbus, I'm from NE Ohio and we'd go to Columbus to watch OSU football games (I preferred watching the marching band). I had even considered going to OSU, but in the end, I moved abroad. But if I ever moved back to the States, Columbus would be a hot contender on where I'd live.

[@dingledangledingdong2693]

DON'T DO IT!!! STAY AWAY FROM COLUMBUS IF YOU TO STAY ALIVE.

[@Christopher-of-Columbus]

I’ve been in the Columbus metro area ever since graduating from OSU in the early 90s and love it. Schmidt’s was a good choice for something culturally unique in the area. My wife doesn’t have a pallet for heavy German food and is a “picky Nikki,” so we don’t go there often anymore. German Village has some nice updated, older homes without much yard and no garage that can range from $325 for a very small 2 bedroom to over $2 Million for an updated 3 bedroom/3bath. Columbus has some very nice suburbs that offer more bang for the buck in terms of real estate. Glad you got to visit Columbus!

[@dennisrounds1996]

HaufBrauHaus has a much better selection and quality of German Food

[@Christopher-of-Columbus]

@@dennisrounds1996 - never been there but I’ll definitely look into it. It’s in GV?

[@zanebarrett23]

Great video! German Village is a beautiful part of the city, but you are only scratching the surface of the many neighborhoods in town and the suburbs. Come visit again!

[@alanfasbury]

Thank you for your videos it gives us limies from over the pond an insight to America we never usually see. Love the warts and all approach. God bless Alan

[@topshelfwhisky]

Moved to Columbus (Grove City) in 86. The amount of growth in that time is considerable. A lot to enjoy in Columbus and surrounding suburbs. Nice place to grow up and raise a family. I'm glad you enjoyed your time here!

[@nancysimpson4246]

Hey guys, I always enjoy your videos. I’m here in Michigan. I want to see what Columbus Ohio looks like.😊 downtown Columbus is clean &gorgeous. Thank you Joe.&nic For this video😊 what is the scenery change real fast when you walked return the corner went down the alley😊

[@timjansen7694]

I live on the north side of Columbus. I've lived in the city all my life. It is a nice city, generally speaking. It is not an exciting or glamorous city when compared to most other cities of its size. There are no ocean front beaches or world champion sports teams. The cost of living in Columbus is not exorbitant however in the last few years property values have gone up as fast as anywhere in the country. I'm not sure why. I have considered moving to a smaller city in another state, but I have family and friends here so although from time to time I might prefer a different landscape environment, I will probably never leave Columbus.

[@PattyHamilton-kv1pz]

Thank you for sharing your adventure in Columbus, OH. That German food looked fantastic.

[@maxstrauss4581]

From Cleveland and I lived in Columbus for 7 years and went to Ohio State. You did a great job showing the city, wish I could have seen more through your eyes. Glad you went to Sausage Haus! I live in Arkansas now and miss all the good German and Polish food.

[@researcheverything5942]

I've lived here all 46 years of my life and this guy knows more about my city than I do.

[@GenXamerica]

My ancestors were masons and helped build German Village. Lifetime central Ohio resident. Glad to see a good positive review of our Capital city and Schmidts. Columbus has really improved over the past decade. Thankful for solid law enforcement, some of the suburban areas are a bit scary but much has been cleaned up and preserved 👍🏻 some areas like Grandview, Bexley, Worthington and Dublin are also very nice.

[@nancysalerno7036]

I was born in Columbus raised in Cincinnati. Lived in NY since I married in 73’ . I wanted to move back when my grandmother’s house was for sale but it is very expensive there even the taxes. It was the first time that house was for sale since 57’. It is not very affordable but it is very picture perfect mostly. Lots of what they used to call yuppies. My aunt worked as a docent at the Ohio Theater. Thank you for showing me the inside of the state house I had never seen it. Schmidt’s is great. I love German Village. Some of my ancestors lived there.

[@2Mac10sJimmy]

I worked security on 3rd shift at the LeVeque Tower for about a year by myself full time back in 2004ish. That building was incredible to explore and have to myself...after that I worked directly next door at One Columbus which was night and day different. My next post was the Columbus Health Department...if you like history check that building out.

[@maryburton9308]

Enjoyed. Thanks for allowing me to see parts of our country that I wanted otherwise got to see.

[@MikelleeSC]

You did a great job on your tour! I was born and raised in Columbus since the 50's, so you brought back so many memories... specially Schmidt's... WoW do I miss eating there! Thanks to both of you.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!

[@bobc.7958]

Ok guys, you dorked up my day. The plan WAS ribs on the grill. The plan now is sausages, kraut and beer!!! Dont let anyone say you dont have a positive influence!😂 Take care, great vid as always.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You can never go wrong with beer, sausage and kraut!!

[@RandyFelts2121]

Easily swayed

[@NativeNYer]

Columbus is nicer than I thought. Very impressive. I love German food . We had a restaurant in long Island in lake Ronkonkoma , it was great but it's not there anymore. Food looked awesome especially Nicole's. My husband would of liked what Joe had. Very affordable. Tab was not bad @ all. U guys b safe! Nicole's hair looks awesome as usual!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Columbus was far nicer than I expected. One of the best big cities we've visited.

[@dennisrounds1996]

If you want German food check out Haufbrahaus

[@SkiesTurnedGrey]

Aside from the good information, and the great shots of the city and buildings... "Luckily the people of common sense didn't, and it remains Columbus. You know, sometimes, you just need to quit the nonsense." That remark alone was enough to earn this video a like. Good stuff.

[@jameswolfe8410]

I grew up in Columbus, crazy how much it has changed. I used to walk through all this going to/from Columbus state to the COTA express bus station near the old city center. Man, the memories

[@ehanneken]

I’ve lived in Columbus for a long time and OMG no, the college students are not driving the crime rate.

[@mikerhodeback9636]

It's not the students but campus is higher in crime...nothing I consider unsafe

[@timorthelame1]

We all know who it is but were not supposed to say it.

[@m.d.grimes1622]

That may be the best value meal we've seen yet, Nic's plate looked wonderful.

[@xLegendOfHalo117x]

As a Columbus resident, getting Schmidt's is always worth it. Definitely worth the stop if you passing through Columbus.

[@senatorjimdracula1603]

Yes indeed! I always go for the sauerbraten in a German place, Yum!

[@jdawg9137]

I miss the buffet so much after covid it's still closed I've heard. They have a food truck I get on my way home from work once a week. Love it

[@DavidRCelebrezze]

The Scioto Mile is great. 33 acres of greenspace created after they removed some of the dams north of downtown back in 2013 (around there). The Columbus Dispatch is still around but their staff have been cut. They aren't in that building anymore. Housing is crazy right now. More affordable if you are coming in from the coasts. Columbus has a lot of great neighborhoods that are pretty distinct from one another. The city wants to be carbon neutral by 2050-very ambitious goal. Also, the Great Columbus Experiment was a revolutionary way to treat water to make it safe to drink. It modernized how water was treated around the world back in the early 1900s.

[@Gale4ce1]

I’ve watched many of your previous videos. Thanks for reviewing and giving my town a relatively good review! You and your wife are a great couple!

[@yvesfrancoisritmo]

I like Columbus Ohio, good city, that dinner Nic had, reminding me I need to order that next time I'm jn a German restaurant. It looks amazing Columbus avd Cincinnati are very underrated cities IMO. I need to go closer to that art deco skyscraper - thanks

[@brianquilty687]

What a gorgeous state Capital building. For me, this was one of my favorite episodes.

[@TOCC50]

Freemasonry checkered board floor.

[@TOCC50]

Freemasonry

[@TOCC50]

Freemasons

[@TOCC50]

F reemasonry

[@michaelhammond5895]

We live 35 miles east of Columbus... Home of THE Ohio State University Buckeyes !!! Go Bucks!

[@dingledangledingdong2693]

Only 35 miles from Columbus? Not far enough away!!!

[@mrbungledisco]

Glad you guys stopped by Schmidt's. They are amazing, but you really missed out on the cream puff! Make sure you get one if you ever come back through.

[@RobOlgatree]

So many interesting cities in Ohio and Columbus is one of the crown jewels. Thanks Joe and Nicole for a fun trip. I love Saturday mornings because I know I will get to see you.

[@drkyone1916]

Awesome Video. My Great Grandfather Moses was actually a brick maker in the early 1900s here. he died by being crushed between railroads cars 1930s. Columbus Ohio didn’t save enough of these histories in my opinion.

[@1Ceemarie]

Oh wow we just missed you guys! I am from CLE and always watch your videos. We visited Columbus July 3rd-4th. Came home and saw this video !

[@catlover614]

A beautiful city, and the residential area is lovely, very leafy, and gorgeous homes. Lots of amazing buildings downtown. I love the signage on the old newspaper building ! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic, an awesome video as always !😊💚

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, CL! It was a surprise that it was so nice there.

[@doubtful8262]

Well done video. Great mentions of stats, data, meal prices, etc. Not enough people put in that extra effort.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks!

[@skeletor9121]

Sauerbraten means sour gravy in German. One of my favorite German meals.

[@Marvel_Polaris]

The 🌇 seemed REALLY nice . I sure can use that water ⛲ right now ☀. Oh the French house was neato Joey. The sweet deserts 🍰🍧🤗. Hell yeah Joey go BIG 🍺 Nicole you right it sure did look and taste yummy 👍🏼✨

[@StarksTheKing]

I'm really enjoying my time here in Columbus as a native Clevelander. This will be home until i move to a beach area in maybe 5years or so. The property crime thing is primarily car break ins from what i can tell. If you leave your door unlocked people rummage through cars no matter where you live and if you leave valuables visible in your car, that's when the window gets busted. I hope you really enjoyed the city! Safe travels.

[@stephenuhlman7588]

I lived in Columbus for 20 years. I have lived in different states and even an island. No one has a better outer belt than they do. I love it and miss it.

[@jamesmyers9285]

A beautiful city, and very clean. That said and as an unfortunate California resident, I like Cleveland, Ohio as well. I don't understand the jokes about Cleveland, it is a nice city.

[@JRoss80]

Cleveland has improved a lot over the years. It’s still improving.

[@stevedriver1476]

Been watching these videos for weeks daily. reminds me of the David Bromburg Song The New Lee Highway Blues steve in Australia. Ohio made incredible Tools, Ships, engines for ocean liners, serious industry and GREAT WINGED SPRINTCAR RACING.

[@failedvegan]

Thank you for such kind words . Glad you enjoyed your visit :) Be well and happy travels!

[@rockycoyote]

Hey Joe & Nic, you picked a good restaurant. Arnold Schwarzenegger eats there when he is in town for the Arnold Classic. The inside of the statehouse was painted pink because that is the original color. Back then pink was a manly color because it is a shade of red. Columbus used to be a safer city when the criminals were prosecuted, and every town has its drug areas that cause most of the crime.

[@georgeburns7251]

I agreee, that food looked so good. The beer too.

[@TOCC50]

He cheated with steroids

[@jeffbangkok]

I can now get quite good dunkel here in the rice fields of Thailand. Wondering if I'll ever see Columbus again.

[@emylrmm]

the state Governor should be interested to hear the thoughts of ALL his fellow citizens of this great country

[@TessaRucker]

Another great video! Thank you. We love your narration and the facts you provide, it is so interesting and informative. Hi to Nic! 👋

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@ClintnRebeccaWarner]

Appreciated the video, Ohio has it's struggles but everywhere does. This state has an amazing history if you look into it, so many inventors and influential people in history came from here. The House and Senate rooms in the State House are beautiful, don't know if you were able to peek in there? I know you've been to Cincinnati before, so I though I'd mention that the Carew Tower in Cincinnati is Art Deco in style as well, especially inside, and it had the same architect as the Empire State Building, it's like a little sister to it but there is a resemblence. If you visit Ohio again, I'd encourage you stop at Carillon Park in Dayton and see many preserved historic buildings as well as the Wright Flyer (built by Wright Brothers) and then the National Air Force Museum. I do love things about all of Ohio's three C's. They each have a unique feel and charm. People bash Columbus but I wouldn't say it has any less personality than Charlotte, NC, or the sprawl around Dallas, or Phoenix or other such cities. Many of the growing cities in America have the same looking retail and subdivisions. So, Columbus isn't any worse. As you said it looks a lot cleaner than I've seen in West Coast cities, or East Coast ones for that matter. If you're ever in German Village again I'd recommed you try Lindey's it's a great local restaurant, and the Book Loft is a unique local business in German Village too. Keep up the Good Work, you could spend a lifetime exploring America!

[@danlaub7156]

As an area resident, you may have modified your opinion of a well run city had you ventured out of the prettier parts of town, especially the part about attributing property crimes to college students.

[@eltsennestle998]

I totally understand what you're saying, having relatives in Columbus.

[@julindahiggins1582]

Yes..routinely attributing crime to college students is lazy. .true, crime is more prevalent in the "young", but college = young= crime is a stretch..

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

When I visited Oakland a couple months ago, I saw street after street of shanty towns that easily match what you see in the poorest parts of the Caribbean. Oakland also has the most homeless encampments I've ever seen. Dozens of streets in Oakland are lined with decrepit campers and RV's, where people live. On those streets, there's so much trash on the ground there's barely room to drive. Oakland's parks are filled with trash strewn on the ground, including their crown jewel of parks, Lake Merritt Park. Oakland has the nation's most dangerous gas station, which has customers car-jacked almost daily. Numerous restaurants in Oakland have closed because of the danger to their employees and customers. Oakland has lost 3 professional sports teams. The stadium the Raiders played in is quickly becoming blighted and an eyesore. Just today, on national news, a convenience store in Oakland was mob looted, causing $125,000 dollars in damage. The police showed up 9 hours after. Oakland is easily the worst run city I've seen in my travels, and I've visited almost 700 cities & towns over the past 3 years. I saw none of this anywhere in Columbus. Columbus is one of the cleanest, most beautiful big cities I've visited. Yes, there are areas that are not perfect, but nowhere to the degree of most other cities. Regarding crime & college students, according to the FBI crime on college campuses is higher than the national rate, most of which are sexual assault, petty theft and incidences connected with binge drinking and protests.

[@benton-benton]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip But Nic, it's not the college kids that are doing the crimes. They actually are the victims a lot of the time. I know there's no way you'd have the time, but the Arena District is really nice. Victorian Village is gorgeous, near downtown. Clintonville is a homey and lovely residential area. There is a lot to see that you no way would have time for. Some suburbs are quite gorgeous like Upper Arlington and old Worthington. Thanks for visiting. Come back again sometime if you get a chance! I live in a suburb of Columbus that has unbelievably high property tax, and that's my only gripe here.

[@JRoss80]

@@danlaub7156 The nice areas of Columbus BY FAR outweigh and outnumber the poor areas. I was also a resident until a few years ago. I always felt safe there, and felt that it was clean and well run.

[@nickmerrick18]

Still loving these videos guys, Nics views on things are cool. German beer is the best I agree Joe

[@TheAsif5182]

what a beautiful landscape .and food was looking awesome especially sausage .❤ God knows when i would be there in US .

[@usmcmos0317]

Sorry I’ve missed the last 3 due to family illness getting to catch up tonight. Great video as usual. To big for me so I’ll just watch you explore it for me. Impressive buildings and architecture. Not as busy as I would have thought. I’m sure it was in the right places. Looked clean and modern. My favorite is the German village. Beautiful. I have a German restaurant that just opened couple months ago and I have been a regular customer. LoL it’s great. Thanks for the ride along. Safe travels my friend. Keep filming I’ll keep watching.

[@strikercwl]

There are a lot of good dining options, but you picked one of my personal favorites. As a fan of architecture it's shame you didn't see the Short North and Victorian Village, another breathtaking neighborhood full of historical homes. If you ever return you should see the Franklin Park Conservatory. Also COSI (Center of Science and Industry) is another great stop on the riverfront (opposite the side you where walking) lots of cool exhibits and activities for families.

[@scubastevesdestiny]

Love your narration! Keep up the Great work!

[@Ruben-xh5vs]

Hey Joe & Nic I like it that you tell the style of the buildings 🏫, I agree with Nic the world is round like hearing her comments on things and the dark beer 🍺 mmm 😋. I have not been to Columbus OH for years since it's about a 90 minutes drive "road trip".🥳. Thanks for a great 👍 video stay safe and happy travels.💙

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@awwrelic]

Yeah, as a long-time resident of the South Side of Columbus, it's well-run...if you live Downtown, in Dublin or the richer parts of town. Near-East Side, the Hilltop and yes, the South Side much less so. The South Side is pretty much a dumping ground these days, and rents so high and so few jobs in the area it's impossible for poor people to get by.

[@ClintnRebeccaWarner]

@@Nonmuss I moved to the Dayton area many years ago. Sawmill Road used to be the shiny new mega retail area 20+ years ago. While it still has a lot of that I was amazed by the decay I saw there during the day on a recent trip to town! What happened!

[@chubbbubb6870]

The south side, the far south side in particular, is Columbus forgotten child. They basically ignore this section of the city except for essential infrastructure. Excluding German village obviously.

[@briansmith48]

​@@chubbbubb6870. Yep, You go a little past Green lawn / Berliner Park it starts to go down hill.

[@briansmith48]

​@@ClintnRebeccaWarner. When Easton opened up half of the shopping public went there. And when Polaris opened, the other half went there.

[@sheena1940]

Finally I get to a comment I can agree with. I'm in north cbus and see prostitution, fentynal addiction, and homelessness on a daily basis. Downtown and OSU are the money makers. Of course they "look" nice.

[@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr]

Enjoy Joe and Nic with their George Burns ---Gracie Allen act ! Once again Happy Trails ,

[@MayWhite-bz7xl]

Wow Columbus looks like it has a very nice downtown and the German neighborhood was so clean, thanks for sharing.

[@benton-benton]

Columbus has some gorgeous suburbs like old Worthington, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Dublin, Riverlea. But whoa the property tax is unbelievably high!

[@carolynmesser7199]

My home town it has a lot to offer . Me my sister and brother grew up and remember a lot of good times here. Thx for showing my city .😊

[@everydaypresent444]

I lived in Ohio for a total of 27 years in two different cities (Toledo and Cincinnati) and never got to visit Columbus. Thank you for the virtual (for me) tour. It is always gratifying to see a well-run capital city.

[@PlayThroughTheGame]

peoples should explore their own country.

[@kevinsealschott1090]

I used to go to the state fair every year and I've been to one Ohio St game

[@Sunnysunshine208]

Thank you for taking me thru German Village and Schmidt’s. I used to live on Siebert St. Was hoping you would swing by my old house. You food looked amazing. The last time we were there we got the buffet. They are famous for the cream puff.

[@cesiumanonymous6068]

Haha I also used to live on Siebert. Area has changed for sure. Small world.

[@michaelburroughs7494]

You got to Schmidts at a good time. On the weekends you may have a 2 hour wait for a table.

[@neilh9442]

True story!

[@jilllewis2526]

Central Ohio's school to prison pipeline is strong. Income inequality is huge. That's why we have the crime rate that we do.

[@insanebeatjunkie]

yup the inner city is the ones who take the fall

[@kitbracadabra]

Can confirm

[@southfieldtrill9690]

Agree 💯

[@planetbarrett6055]

I'm really excited for the Annapolis video. Annapolis is one of my favorite towns in the US.

[@BenSussmanpro]

Very informative travelogue! One aspect of these old established neighborhoods like German Village that is sad is that the SUV’s with their high roof-lines mar the beauty of the street views.

[@dennisrounds1996]

15 year Columbus resident here. As for Columbus having no personality well there is nuance to that and I’ll get to it in a moment. To describe the city as a whole , I’ll quote my cousin which has lived in New York and Chicago; “Columbus is a ‘Mall’ town”. Personally I agree with this assessment. It is a Midwest city full of mostly Midwest residents that have “pedestrian” tastes. Now let Me expand. The city (downtown) is nearly empty at night save for the two theaters . Downtown is mainly office buildings and a few businesses which cater to them during the day. Yes, yes a new Crew (soccer) stadium was built in the aptly named “arena” district which has brought in a handful of restaurants. There are also a few nightclubs nearby as well and the A&R / Pavillion Music venue. In all however these all take up but Two streets in a not so Sprawling Downtown. You see Cbus is not it’s downtown but it’s neighborhoods . When most people think of “downtown” they are actually referring to the Short North district between campus and downtown. This is where the majority of restaurants, clubs and art galleries are along the Nile or so stretch of High Street. Past that is pretty quiet, unless there is an outdoor concert. “The “ OSU campus is a city in itself (being the 2nd largest college in the U.S.) and is pretty much what one would expect. That said it had lost its “old college town” feel in recent years as more condos and cookie cutter aesthetic has been built. South of the city is German Villiage which to Me still retains a quiet rustic feel with a few low key restaurants and stores. Polaris/ Lewis Center and Easton are the commercial sites where most people tend to go for retail and restaurants however with little to no nightclubs (as far as I’m aware of). There is the city of Gahanna downtown but for Me the place to be is Grandview. It feels like a little Nashville- Austin with its row of music venues along 3rd and 5th streets and diners with outdoor patios.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I think what I showed was that Columbus actually has a lot of personality. I thought it did, anyway.

[@LeeHawkinsPhoto]

Columbus is cartopia. Most of Columbus was built since 1960 or so, because it was basically a farm town with state government and OSU until the Steel Belt got turned into the Rust Belt by federal trade policies. Columbus was not Steel Belt nor Rust Belt-it had nowhere near the business as even Dayton or Akron or Toledo did in manufacturing, let alone Cincinnati or especially Cleveland. Columbus therefore has not been saddled with enormous amounts of industrial blight, and it’s huge public sector economy supported by the economic engines of the state made it possible to become what it is today. Thankfully the other Ohio cities are bouncing back from this (mostly) but the fact remains that Columbus is a giant suburb with some skyscrapers and a narrow amount of history relative to the rest of the state’s larger cities. Columbus is said to lack an identity because so much of it is indeed new. Most of Cleveland and Cincinnati institutions go back much further in time and in breadth, and even Akron and Dayton have more historical significance. Columbus will eventually build an identity, but Columbus is almost a Sun Belt city stuck in the Midwest, because it is much more car-centric in design and much newer than the rest of Ohio’s big cities. When you visit places like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, St. Louis, or Chicago, you realize very quickly that Columbus has a totally different feel because most of it is just not that old or historic, and it just doesn’t have the depth. You hit on a few good neighborhoods, but you missed some parts of town that IMO are way more interesting like Short North, and you missed a lot of Downtown that leaves you wondering why there are so many barren parking craters. I won’t say you can’t find that in other Midwestern cities, but the others I mentioned definitely feel like they’ve been around a lot longer, even if their economy isn’t as strong. Columbus feels younger and more integrated because it isn’t saddled with as much of history where segregation was entrenched. Most of it wasn’t even built until after the Civil Rights Act.

[@billpike-cn5pz]

The Arena District was built around the Blue Jackets, not the Crew. Drawing 17,000 people downtown 41 nights a year in the winter is no small thing.

[@dsdwtn5911]

@@LeeHawkinsPhoto This was a very good and balanced explanation of the cities. It also explains why Cleveland and Cincinnati have had such an outstanding downtown renaissance. All of these cities have unique offerings and I'm glad for all of them. I recommend seeing them for yourself.

[@alexandralovesgoats3360]

Perfect way to start a Saturday: with one of your awesome videos!! I love the park you were walking through in your intro. Glad the City did not change its name to Flavortown. Didn’t think the crime would be so high. Gorgeous cathedral ! I’d love to visit. The Governors House is magnificent ! Love all the fountains. Nice State House! Love the old flag. Some great houses in the neighborhood. Restaurant looks fantastic ! Food looked delicious ! Look forward to your next video!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you Alexandra!

[@gatormangrove3129]

Your videos are very well done and educational. I'm not a native of Columbus, but have lived here for many years (far, far Westside). Idk what day of the week you were there, but the downtown area is usually a little busier during the week. I am not trying to be overly negative about Columbus, but I'll tell you this. If I knew you personally, I would absolutely discourage you and your wife from walking around certain parts of downtown ( which is to say 80% of it). The alleys are sketchy at best. Any direction just outside of downtown is absolutely crime ridden. I do courier work all over the state, but am based out of Columbus. I've been robbed 6 times ( no exaggeration) and not one robber was apprehended. As you pointed out crime is very high. The mayor and city council are very soft on crime and criminals and do not back our police. Again, not trying to be negative with you because your videos are so well done. You asked for opinions and this is mine. You and your wife seem to have super conducive personalities and that is refreshing. I am a subscriber and really dig your videos.

[@billpike-cn5pz]

I wonder what he would think about the robbery right outside of Schmidt's on a Tuesday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. One of the usual suspects assaulted an 80 year old woman and took her purse.

[@carolynl4553]

It's great to see you in my stomping grounds. A great review. Thanks for visiting!

[@KB6YAF]

What a beautiful city Joe. Thank you for sharing, especially those beautiful buildings. I appreciate your history research. Oh, and yes, I am hooked on your KZbin Channel. Have you shared what you use for your videos because it is all great. One more question for y'all... How many Governors are actually in their office at those state capitols you visit? To me, the answer is zero. What say you? .....Russell D.

[@RobOlgatree]

I loved seeing those old buildings NW of downtown Cincy recently.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

So far, yes, zero governors. :)

[@jenniferross614]

I'd like to see Marion Ohio.. Hardings memorial has also his house museum .

[@andrew8168]

Marion is pretty scary outside of the Harding Memorial area. I live between Marion and Columbus and have never heard anyone else ever say they want to see Marion 😊

[@billpike-cn5pz]

Marion is a prison town.

[@zoidmo3388]

Beeaauuutiful ! Stunning vid of Columbus. I never got to see Columbus when I lived in Ohio. A real shame. I'd gravitate to that American/German flag Restaurant like bees to honey. Everything about it,,, I LOVED! Looking forward to our trip to Maryland. Take care. 🥰

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

My favoe German dish is Rouladen. But also love sauerbraten and red cabbage. I would devour everything you guys ordered.

[@marcusamspaugh1504]

Born @ Lockbourne AFB, lived at 1383 E Rich St on the East Side, 2701 Buella Rd on the North Side, & lived on the West Side since I was 8 years old. I got tired of city life, so I moved to a small town in Morrow Co

[@raymond_sycamore]

Okay, I HAVE to comment. You might not read this or not and I really don't care if you do, but I grew up in rural small town Ohio. I lived in Columbus a decade. I went to college in Columbus. I finally escaped in 2020 over the cough. Columbus is so far up its own rear end it's indescribable. All of the Boy Scout goodie two shoes accomplishers of life in Ohio congressed in Columbus and look down on the rest of the state as some kind of ignorant mass. Columbus is overrated and overpriced. I do not recommend ANYONE buy property in Franklin county or even attempt to have a life in Columbus. BAD!