Scioto Woods - Columbus, OH

The Scioto Woods subdivision was built in the early 1990s as a residential community just across the river from downtown Columbus. Although residents pay Columbus property taxes, the area benefits from inclusion in the award-winning Hilliard school district.

Due to its close proximity to nearby suburbs, Ohio State University and the downtown area, Scioto Woods residents enjoy a wide range of cultural activities and events.

Cinema fans can choose from talk backs with emerging film artists at the Wexner Center on the OSU campus to current films in nearby theaters or a summer series of classic oldies presented downtown in the historic Ohio Theatre. Art enthusiasts have the same range of options from small local galleries to the nationally recognized Columbus Museum of Art. Music and theater lovers can choose from the Columbus Symphony, Opera, or equity theatre companies to national touring shows or local bands and community theatres.

Dining out options in the primarily residential Scioto Woods area involve a quick car trip but include a variety of cuisine to suit every taste. If you're in the mood for sushi, Kikyo Sushi + Seafood Bistro is the place to go. Try the small bites, the sushi bar or something from the traditional Japanese and Korean menu. This restaurant also delivers to the nearby neighborhood. For the bold, there is a weekly Burn Baby Burn contest, which involves a sushi roll named Stop Drop and Roll.

When you're craving Mexican fare, try El Vaquero, which serves authentic Mexican food in a fun atmosphere and includes a great outdoor patio. The large menu tends toward Tex Mex and even includes breakfast. The margaritas are legendary, and the service is fast and friendly. You can also order online and takeout.

Nightlife in the area consists primarily of small local bars and pubs, but the nearby suburbs of Grandview Heights and Hilliard offer a wider variety of venues that provide entertainment as well as sustenance. One to try is Woodlands Tavern in Grandview Heights. Music by local bands and daily drink specials combine for an evening out or happy hour.

Locals travel via cars or public transportation, and most parking locations are free apart from downtown and the OSU campus. Access to the outer belt (Interstate 270) can be found right on the western border of the suburb and connects it to all other major highways in central Ohio.

Moderate traffic in the neighborhood and well-maintained sidewalks make walking and biking comfortable despite a lack of official bike paths. Several taxi services are available with advance bookings, along with Uber, and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) provides bus service via a nearby Park and Ride location.

For a small neighborhood, Scioto Woods is blessed with a great deal of green space in the form of two community parks and a nature preserve. The Scioto River Watershed, which forms the subdivision's eastern border alongside the Scioto River, was established by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to provide drainage for 6,513 square miles through parts of central and southern Ohio.

Scioto Woods Park is nine acres set aside by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for family-friendly activities such as picnicking, a children's playground area and an open air shelter. Redick Park is comprised of 24 acres of athletic fields, ball diamonds and a basketball court as well as an open air shelter, playground and picnic facilities. A good portion of the park is set aside as woods and a wildlife area.

All of these areas are kid and dog friendly, free of charge and open to both residents and visitors.

An unusual recreational opportunity for an area within the outer belt and in close proximity to city center lies just east of the Scioto Woods suburb. Liberty Horse Farm is a private horse stable and equestrian center that offers diverse horseback riding opportunities to riders of all ages. The stable provides lessons and day camp experiences geared to the varied experience levels of participants whose goals range from weekly pleasure rides to national competitions.

The cost of living in Scioto Woods is generally lower than the Columbus average with reasonable housing costs being largely responsible. A COTA bus ride to the city centre will cost $2.50 one way and if you stop into a local pub for a cold beer it will run around $2 for 12 ounces such as those served at Johnnie's Tavern, home of the super-burger and "the coldest beer in Columbus."

One-bedroom apartment rental rates in Scioto Woods average $590 and gas prices in the area as a rule are about 10 percent lower than the national average.

Shopping is a commuter experience in Scioto Woods as the area is primarily residential in nature. However a variety of shopping venues are available within an easy drive of the subdivision. While the primary resources for grocery shopping are local chain stores such as Kroger, Walmart, and Aldi's a variety of specialty stores are also available. Try Whole Foods in nearby Upper Arlington for all things organic and healthy or the Hilliard Farm Market every Tuesday from June through September for fresh fruit and vegetables.

Other nearby shopping opportunities include Thread in neighboring Grandview, which features unique brands/designers and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. It bills itself as "the carefully curated boutique" and also carries apothecary, accessories, gifts, and jewelry in addition to clothing.

At Home, a home decor superstore in nearby Hilliard, is so vast and carries such a wide variety of merchandise it is easy to lose track of time and place while wandering through the aisles filled with photo frames, pottery, candles, tea lights, and things to display them in; as well as wrapping paper and cards, vases, rugs, plant pots, kitchenware, pillows and cushions, and holiday novelties. They also have an excellent custom picture framing department with a huge selection of frames and mats to choose from. Be sure to allow lots of time when planning your trip to this shopper's mecca.