West Albany - Westerville, OH

The New Albany area came to be when Central Ohio received designation as "military lands," which were to be given to soldiers as payment and pension for their service. In 1812 settlers began to move from the original colonies into the area that now makes up these northeast Columbus suburbs. By 1837 the town of New Albany was created.

New Albany has always been a town of heavy outside influx. Beginning with the settlers, then German immigrants, then work-seekers during the Great Depression and finally with incoming traffic from the border states to Columbus during World War II, New Albany has an extensive history of immigration and, in turn, a diverse population and culture today.

The New Albany Art Council and the McCoy Center for the Arts promote visual and performing arts in the community, and the restored Ealy House provides a snapshot of the history of life in New Albany.

The residential suburb of West Albany offers a more spread-out restaurant and bar scene than in urban centers, but you can find the most choices along Hamilton Road and West Albany Road, including Italian, sandwich shops and fast food.

Cataland Kuzina has achieved high standing as one of the most beloved restaurants and delis in the area. Fast, friendly service, a family-owned atmosphere and a quality menu have made Cataland regulars out of many in the neighborhood and beyond. Cataland opens Wednesday to Sunday and offers a wide array of sandwiches and sides, including fresh fish, an area-famous Reuben sandwich and a stand-out potato salad.

The SmokeOut BBQ truck treks across town hauling pulled pork and brisket cooked slow over oak and cherry coals. The food truck's lip-smacking barbecue sauce has won a loyal following in town, as has its creamy mac and cheese. Look for the truck on Lee Street, or check its Facebook page for location updates. The truck also visits local workplaces on a regular basis.

For a nice dinner out, head east to Rosa and Rocco's. The Italian restaurant serves classic fare from pastas and flatbread pizzas to calamari and bruschetta, as well as a solid steak menu. A relaxed, upscale atmosphere sets just the right mood for date nights, with white table linens and a bar flanked by Grecian columns.

Nightlife in West Albany is generally limited to local sports bars and pubs. Pastimes Pub and Grill's location in New Albany provides a great place to watch a game, get a drink or grab dinner. The general pub fare and drink selection offer nothing out of the ordinary, but the large space packed with big-screen TVs makes Pastimes a great choice for a fun night out with friends.

Most locals choose to drive when it comes to getting around the area. Some roads have bike lanes, but the sprawling layout of the neighborhood makes walking or biking an inefficient means of traveling. Bike and hike paths exist in the Metroparks for leisurely walking or riding. You can park for free at any of the shops, stores or restaurants around town.

To get downtown via public transportation, take the 901 bus at the Forest Drive stop and transfer to the Red 39 or 40 bus depending on the time of day. The 901 comes every 30 minutes during the day, but make sure to save some time for travel, as this route will take over an hour to complete. The nearest taxi companies include Danny's Car Service and Inga Taxi, both of which take orders by phone but do not patrol the area. Uber serves the area as well.

It takes just minutes to get to Route 161 from West Albany and I-270 runs east to west about 5 miles away. Five miles farther west, I-71 intersects with 270 and provides easy access to much of the Columbus area.

The city of New Albany operates and maintains over 200 acres of park land among three main parks that include sports facilities, pavilions and playgrounds, and bike and hike trails. Bevelhymer, Thompson and Wexner Parks all serve the area in different capacities. Adult and youth programs operate year round with different options each season. Some youth programs, including Running Club in the summer, are run through New Albany High School and its coaches. Most of the organized programs come with a fee to participate.

All three parks offer the opportunity for exercise through biking and trails for walking or jogging, but Thompson Park puts a special emphasis on sports-based exercise with basketball courts, tennis courts and seven full-sized athletic fields. All parks are kid-friendly, and dogs are allowed provided they remain on a leash. To let them run free, visit Pizzurro Park in nearby Gahanna, the nearest dog park, which provides a large fenced-in area for your furry friends to play.

West Albany, and New Albany as a whole, enjoys a reputation as one of the nicest communities in the Columbus area, and the cost of living reflects this. The average cost of living here sits 50 percent above the Ohio average and 38 percent above the national average. A one-bedroom costs around $788 per month, well above the Columbus average and the average of most suburbs in the area.

Taking the COTA bus downtown costs $4.75 between two rides (the initial bus and the connector), and gas prices in the area run about 20 percent less than the national average. A beer at a local pub will cost around $3 dollars for a domestic or $4 for a craft beer.

West Albany enjoys one of the premier shopping centers in Ohio just 8 miles southwest at Easton Town Center. Easton boasts over 200 retail stores, restaurants and entertainment. Largely based outdoors, Easton has a city-like feel within its own boundaries and offers a trolley system that takes patrons from store to store. Tailfeathers Boutique in downtown New Albany offers a smaller scale, specialized shopping experience. Tailfeathers leads the way when it comes to area boutiques and specializes exclusively in women's clothing and accessories. Most of the wide selection comes at a high price, but it is a high-class store with high-quality products. For home decor and landscaping, Twig Garden & Home strives to furnish your living and yard space with one quick stop. The expert staff can advise you on the creation of a beautiful flower arrangement and garden, while a large selection of home decor and woodwork can furnish the inside of your home. Giant Eagle and Kroger supermarkets both serve the New Albany area and sit conveniently on the west side of the suburb, and an Aldi grocery store lies just a few minutes outside of town. In the southeast corner of New Albany sits Doran's Farm Market, which opens daily and sells the best in locally grown produce.