Valleyview - Columbus, OH

Most of the houses in Valleyview were constructed during the 1950s when servicemen returning from World War II needed affordable housing for themselves and their families. The city of Columbus spread its boundaries, surrounding the village on all sides, while Valleyview has remained a separate entity.

Locals travel to downtown Columbus where they can watch a live show at one of the three theatres there: The Palace, The Ohio and The Southern. The nearby Columbus Metropolitan Museum of Art houses world-class art from masters such as Picasso, Monet and Michelangelo, as well as an ever-changing selection of traveling exhibits. Admission is free on Sundays.

Restaurant options are limited in Valleyview, but locals can find lots of great dining options relatively close to the village.

For pizza, locals head to Minelli's Pizza on North Wilson Road, "a westside tradition since 1967." You will understand why when you bite into one of the pizzas made with your choice of 17 toppings. Minelli's also serves subs, salads and Italian speciality entrees such as rigatoni Capri, manicotti and beef ravioli.

Ding Ho on Phillipi Road has been serving Cantonese food in the area since 1956. This restaurant serves many Cantonese favorites such as lo mein, fried rice, chop suey and egg foo yung. The somewhat eclectic menu also includes American dishes such as chef salad, cheeseburgers, pork chops and spaghetti.

For more upscale dining, locals go to Third & Hollywood in nearby Grandview Heights. Whether eating a burger or a fish sandwich, or something more refined such as filet mignon or rainbow trout, the warm wood and brick interior invites diners to relax and enjoy their food while sipping a glass of wine or drinking a mug of craft beer. The apple brown Betty, chocolate pot de crème or lemon square desserts may make you want stay even longer.

Although restaurants in Grandview Heights stay open late on the weekends, a different type of night time adventure can be found at the Hollywood Casino on West Broad Street in Columbus. Entertainment comes in the form of either live shows at the o. h. lounge or in gambling. The casino boasts 2,200 slot machines, 36 tables reserved just for poker and an array of other games. In addition to the o. h. lounge where you can grab a casual mean while you watch a show, the casino has three other dining options: high-end steaks at Final Cut Steak & Seafood, buffet-style dining at the Epic Buffet and "grab and go" food at the Take 2 Grill. The Casino stays open 24 hours a day.

Few sidewalks exist in Valleyview, making walking to nearby attractions a challenge. Dedicated bike lanes can be found to the southeast, and bicycle-friendly roads in the area include Valleyview Drive, Hague Avenue and Steele Street.

A small public parking lot sits at the site of Rodgers Park, and free street parking is available in the residential areas of Valleyview.

Residents have easy access to I-70, which runs east and west through the greater Columbus area. I-70 connects with I-71, providing access to both Cleveland and Cincinnati.

While no city buses run through the neighborhood, commuters can park their cars at the Park-and-Ride lot near the Great Western Shopping Center on Broad Street tp catch the No. 10 bus. This bus which to other routes throughout the Columbus. Hailing a cab is not possible in the area, but residents can arrange for a ride with Uber or call ahead to arrange for a taxi cab.

Although several parks are close to Valleyview, only one can be found within the community's boundaries. Rodgers Park sits almost in the middle of Valleyview. With a baseball diamond, a shelter house and plenty of wide-open spaces, locals go there to watch ball games, picnic and enjoy the outdoors. Pets are permitted but should be kept on leashes.

The village of Valleyview hosts an Annual Village Hog Roast in the Rodger's Park shelter house. The village supplies the meat, roasting ears and snow cones. Each family brings a pot luck dish to share. This family-friendly event is one of the highlights of Valleyview living.

The overall cost of living in Valleyview stands about 2 percent lower than Columbus as a whole. Grocery and transportation costs remain about the same for each, while housing costs about 5 percent less than in Columbus, making Valleyview a great place for first-time home buyers. The average cost of a one-bedroom rental runs about $475 per month.

A one-day COTA bus pass costs $4, while a one-month pass can be purchased for $62. Gas prices tend to run about 8 percent lower in Valleyview than the national average. Expect to pay about $5 for a pint of beer in local restaurants and pubs.

While there are several small businesses located in the village, residents head to nearby shopping centers for the bulk of their shopping. Anyone looking for high-end stores should head to the downtown Columbus area.

Residents are able to buy some of their groceries and household necessities at the local Dairy Mart, but most locals travel to nearby West Broad Street where they have access to both Kroger and Save-A-Lot for grocery shopping.

Nearby Grandview Heights hosts the Grandview Avenue Farmers Market on Saturdays July through October. Shoppers can find fresh produce, baked goods and locally made products.

Those looking for boutiques travel outside of the neighborhood, with the Short North district just north of downtown Columbus being a popular destination. The streets are lined with restaurants, cafes, galleries and boutiques of all sorts.

The Candle Lab carries an assortment of fragrance options, from soy candles to bath and body products. You can create your own candle with over 120 fragrance choices. The shelves are also stocked with greeting cards, unique gift items and artwork by local artisans.

You may find the perfect accessory for your home at T. David Collection. It sells new lamps, mirrors and bar ware as well as an assortment of both American and European antiques.