Suburbs

Settling down in the suburbs of Columbus could mean settling into a neighborhood with the best schools, having better access to metroparks or finding a bustling downtown space that’s simply off the beaten path. With a metropolitan area that includes 10 different counties, there are options for everyone.

– Chealsia Smedley

Dublin

Named after the capital city of Ireland, Dublin is known for its historic downtown and one of the biggest Irish festivals in the world. The 37-year-old Dublin Irish Festival runs each August and attracts about 100,000 attendees. But August isn’t the only time when Dublin is bustling. Another world-renowned event takes place in June; the Memorial Tournament is an official PGA tour event that was founded by golf legend Jack Nicklaus to honor others who made significant contributions to the game. In between these two showstoppers, you can catch The Dublin Market at Bridge Park every Saturday between May and September. This farmers-meets-makers-market includes 140 vendors, live music and activities such as yoga and a special “Barkers” market for pets. An easy way to get to Bridge Park is by walking across the 760-foot-long Dublin Link, a stunning, pedestrian suspension bridge that connects downtown Dublin to Bridge Park.

Reynoldsburg

In 1870, Reynoldsburg local Alexander W. Livingston developed “The Paragon,” the first breed of tomatoes grown for commercial use. Known as the birthplace of the tomato, this suburb that sits 20 minutes east of downtown Columbus, honors his legacy with its annual Tomato Festival that includes tomato fights, tomato judging and a spaghetti eating contest. The festival takes place each August in Huber Park. When you’re not sinking your teeth into Reynoldsburg’s tomato legacy, explore the suburbs’ other natural charms by taking a walk through the 652-acre Blacklick Woods Metro Park or playing around at Kennedy Park’s baseball diamonds, tennis courts or skate park.

New Albany

New Albany is the talk of the town with the construction of Intel’s New Albany International Business Park, a $20 billion project projected to create thousands of jobs. Already home to about, 11,000 residents the suburb is expecting exponential growth and it is building new homes to fit the demand. This affluent area already has a reputation for carefully planned communities and top-notch public schools that include outdoor learning spaces. Only 15 miles outside of the city and a 15-minute drive to Easton Town Center, one of Columbus’ well-known shopping, dining and entertainment centers, New Albany provides a convenient community for families and professionals alike.