Wexford-Thornapple - Columbus, OH

The land under Wexford-Thornapple has been used by numerous groups throughout the centuries, including Native American tribes, French fur traders and the British. When Columbus became a city in 1812, Wexford-Thornapple was no more than an empty rural stretch of land, and it wasn't until 1992 that the neighborhood received an official village designation.

As a very young neighborhood, Wexford-Thornapple does not have an arts scene. In less than 30 minutes, however, you can drive to the Early Television Museum, the Ohio Craft Museum and the Ohio Theatre. Many residents enjoy participating in the many festivals held in Columbus, including the Columbus Arts Festival and the Columbus PRIDE Festival.

Wexford-Thornapple houses very few restaurants. Some national chains, including Bob Evans and Steak 'n Shake, lie along Hilliard Rome Road. Just up the road in Sweetwater, additional restaurants cluster near the Westpointe Plaza Shopping Center.

For a quick family meal, head to Minelli's Pizza, which sits on the eastern edge of Wexford-Thornapple. Try the crispy thin-crust pizza, or opt for an antipasto platter and a Super Sub. The friendly spot is a favorite among residents, and it's not uncommon to see the staff greeting regular customers by name.

As the name suggests, Frank's Fish & Seafood Market serves excellent fresh seafood, a rarity in landlocked Columbus. The eatery, which lies north in Sweetwater, splits its space between a market and a restaurant. Dig into a filling cod sandwich, or order a lighter meal of raw oysters. Local diners also love the shrimp po-boy.

The crispy red snapper, fresh spring rolls and udon noodles draw praise from customers at Wild Ginger. The menu also includes a range of sushi rolls and pan-Asian classics. Despite its casual strip-mall location, the cozy restaurant features a very clean interior and well-trained staff.

Residents of Wexford-Thornapple tend to prefer quiet family evenings to wild nights of clubbing, and the neighborhood provides little in the way of nightlife. When you want a night out, hop over to Mugsy's Pub and Patio to have inexpensive drinks with a crowd of locals. The dive-bar atmosphere and cheap pitchers bring in revelers every night of the week. Although you won't find any live music venues near the neighborhood, Average Joe's to the north hosts regular trivia nights. Residents typically head to Columbus to find many more options.

Because Wexford-Thornapple sits on the very edge of the Columbus metro area, many residents rely on owning vehicles. The neighborhood features well-maintained sidewalks, so you'll have no trouble walking for exercise or for fun. Although the streets do not feature bike lanes, Alton Darby Creek Road on the west side provides safe biking. When using the neighborhood's plentiful free street parking, the village association advises that you hide valuables or bring them inside to prevent break-ins. Interstate 70 sits a few minutes from every home in the neighborhood, making it easy to drive into downtown Columbus.

If you want to leave your car at home, call for a cab well in advance to ensure a timely pickup. Uber's ride-share service also operates in the area. No public transportation lines run through Wexford-Thornapple, but you can head north of Interstate 70 and catch bus 66 or 57.

Wexford-Thornapple maintains two parks: Wexford Green Park and Thornapple Community Park. Wexford Green Park consists of a densely forested piece of land suited for walking, trail-running and exploring. The free park is safe for supervised kids and dogs.

The Thornapple Community Park, which was updated by the Thornapple Homeowners Association in 2014, features tables, a shelter and a playground. Keep in mind that this park allows use only for residents of the Village at Thornapple. According to the neighborhood rules, dogs must stay on leashes at all times while using the parks.

Although Wexford-Thornapple does not host any park events, local families often make the drive to nearby Northam Park to attend the Upper Arlington Arts Festival. Residents also enjoy the various events taking place in Columbus each year, such as RiverFest, Jam-N Jefferson Park Festival and Red, White & Boom.

Wexford-Thornapple has a higher cost of living than Columbus as a whole. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the area averages approximately $629 per month. In terms of daily costs, expect to pay close to the citywide average. A beer at a local dive bar costs about $4, and the neighborhood gas prices sits around 4 percent lower than the national average. If you opt to drive north and catch the bus downtown, you'll pay $2.75.

As a largely residential neighborhood, Wexford-Thornapple does not have much in the way of shopping. The nearest shopping area, Westpointe Plaza, sits just a short distance north along Hilliard Rome Road. There, you'll find major chains such as Marshalls, Gander Mountain and Target.

Pick up fresh flowers and gardening supplies at Hoffman's Greenhouse & Florist, a family-run spot. Browse through the barn or work with the staff to design custom arrangements for delivery. If you're in the market for faith-themed items, check out the selection of books and music at Lifeway Christian Store on Georgesville Square Road. At Buybacks Entertainment, you can find individual DVDs, CDs or boxed sets. When you'd prefer to make money rather than spend it, the store also purchases used media.

A number of grocery stores lie near Wexford-Thornapple, including Meijer, Giant Eagle and Kroger. For fresh fish, head straight to Frank's Fish & Seafood Market to purchase everything from Alaskan salmon and mussels to lobster. On Saturday mornings during the growing season, drive to the Grandview Heights Farmers Market a few miles east to buy produce from local farmers.