Columbus

Axios Columbus

The holiday weekend probably has a lot of us thinking about biting into a juicy burger.

If you don't feel like grilling, Ohio's best place to grab one is apparently … Swenson's Drive-In, according to Reader's Digest. Huh.

Our take: Sure, the Galley Boy and its secret sauces make for a solid fast food burger, but I'm sure the folks at The Thurman Cafe would like to have a word.

And if you're looking for a hole in the wall, the patties and prices at Johnnie's Tavern on Trabue Road can't be beat.

📬 What's your favorite local burger? Email columbus@axios.com and serve up some hot takes.

What's the best Ohio burger for the Fourth of July?

A popular chain is Reader's Digest's top pick. But we want yours.

Illustration of a cheeseburger with the Axios "A" as a grillmark on the burger patty. 

Hamburger

The holiday weekend probably has a lot of us thinking about biting into a juicy burger.<ul><li>If you don&#x27;t feel like grilling, Ohio&#x27;s best place to grab one is apparently … Swenson&#x27;s Drive-In, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reader&#x27;s Digest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rd.com/list/best-burger/" data-vars-content-id="0b9506b0-87d4-4ba0-98f3-d87a155f7abc" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s the best Ohio burger for the Fourth of July?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rd.com/list/best-burger/" target="_blank">Reader&#x27;s Digest</a>. Huh.</li></ul>

Food and Drink

Data: Axios research; Map: Jared Whalen/Axios

A new state law allowing residents to discharge consumer-grade fireworks has fizzled out in Franklin County.

What's happening: Even though the new law takes effect today, Columbus and most of its suburban neighbors have new local ordinances in place to counteract the statewide rule. 

The current exceptions are in New Albany, Obetz, Reynoldsburg and Whitehall, though Obetz is limiting fireworks to specific time slots, law director Gene Hollins tells Axios.

Of note: Until now, discharging consumer-grade fireworks had been illegal in Ohio for at least 50 years. 

Why it matters: Your neighbors should appreciate you following the law instead of illegally launching personal pyrotechnics.

Catch up quick: The new law permits Ohioans to set off fireworks on private property from July 3-5 and on the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays preceding or following the holiday. 

What we're watching: Independence Day is just one of several holidays when Ohio now permits fireworks. The next is Labor Day weekend. It's possible cities may adjust rules in the future based on how this inaugural event goes.

For example, starting next year, Reynoldsburg will allow fireworks on July Fourth only, per ThisWeek News.

The bottom line: For now, it's probably best to just leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals and head to Red, White & Boom tonight.

Want to avoid Boom's big crowds? Some other patriotic options for the weekend:

🏟️ Tonight: Famous Fortress Fireworks, featuring live music, inflatables and food trucks. 

Fortress Obetz. Doors open 6pm, fireworks 9:50pm. Free!

🎶 Tomorrow: Patriotic Pops, a Columbus Symphony tradition with a fireworks finale. 

🎺  Sunday: Independence Day concert and fireworks at Ohio State's Newark campus.

Martha Grace Reese Amphitheater. Doors open 5:45pm, fireworks 10pm. Free!

⚾ Monday: Independence Day fireworks after the Clippers take on the Nashville Sounds. 

Despite new state law, local cities ban fireworks

It's illegal to set off fireworks in Columbus on July Fourth.

Fourth of July

A map of Franklin County with a red X on cities with bans.

A new state law allowing residents to discharge consumer-grade fireworks has fizzled out in Franklin County.What&#x27;s happening: Even though <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the new law" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-172" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-172" target="_blank">the new law</a> takes effect today, Columbus and most of its suburban neighbors have new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local ordinances in place" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/06/08/columbus-keeps-fireworks-ban" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/06/08/columbus-keeps-fireworks-ban" target="_self">local ordinances in place</a> to counteract the statewide rule.

News

Things to Do

Data: National Park Service; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Visitor spending at Ohio's national park sites has rebounded to slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels. 

Driving the news: More than 2.8 million visitors spent $65.7 million in 2021, according to a new report from the National Park Service. 

The majority of visits were at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the large swath of picturesque land between Cleveland and Akron.

The largest spend share was on lodging (29.4%), then restaurants (25%), gas (14.9%) and recreational activities (12.4%). 

Details: While Cuyahoga is technically Ohio's only national park, the parks system manages several historical sites, including the Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial at Put-in-Bay and President Taft's birth site in Cincinnati.

Of note: While our green spaces may not bring in as much green as other states — we're No. 37 nationally  — Cuyahoga's 2.5 million visitors in 2021 isn't too shabby.

The park is in good company, with about the same number of visitors as Mount Rushmore and Olympic National Park in Washington.

💭 Alissa's thought bubble:  Just two hours from Columbus, Cuyahoga Valley is a perfect weekend getaway. My husband and I rented this cozy Airbnb in 2017, just a short walk from Brandywine Falls.

While the falls get lots of attention, I recommend the Ledges Trail. The towering rock formations are breathtaking — and so are the views from the Overlook!

Alissa stands on the Ledges Trail's stone staircase with cliffs on either side

Alissa stands on the Ledges Trail's iconic stone staircase. Photo: Alissa Widman Neese/Axios

Ohio national parks rebound to pre-COVID popularity

Cuyahoga Valley National Park attracts the most visitors and spending.

National Park Service (NPS)

Visitor spending at Ohio&#x27;s national park sites has rebounded to slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Driving the news: More than 2.8 million visitors spent $65.7 million in 2021, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm" target="_blank">a new report</a> from the National Park Service.

We knew you wouldn't disappoint. After sizzling over Reader's Digest's claim that Swenson's is Ohio's best burger, we asked for your recommendations. Try one of these from our readers.

"Beanie Burger at Gahanna Grill!" — Joni M.

"Thurman's is overrated. They’re huge but that's their only distinguishing characteristic. I'll take a Preston's smash burger over Thurman’s any day." 

"Northstar Cafe's burgers (both beef and veggie) are also excellent."  — Mike B.

"Preston's in the North Market!" — Steve R.

"Best burger in town is the BurgerBurger from FishBurger on the South Side. It’s half ground beef, half brisket, and delicious." — Andrew P.

Your favorite burgers in Central Ohio

Popular pick: a smash burger at Preston's.

Food

We knew you wouldn&#x27;t disappoint. After sizzling over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reader&#x27;s Digest&#x27;s claim" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/07/01/best-ohio-burger-swensons-readers-digest" data-vars-content-id="46d410e9-13f3-4d62-8ed7-c9fcad1ade4d" data-vars-headline="Your favorite burgers in Central Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/07/01/best-ohio-burger-swensons-readers-digest" target="_self">Reader&#x27;s Digest&#x27;s claim</a> that Swenson&#x27;s is Ohio&#x27;s best burger, we asked for your recommendations. Try one of these from our readers.&quot;Beanie Burger at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gahanna Grill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gahannagrill.com/" data-vars-content-id="46d410e9-13f3-4d62-8ed7-c9fcad1ade4d" data-vars-headline="Your favorite burgers in Central Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gahannagrill.com/" target="_blank">Gahanna Grill</a>!&quot; — Joni M.

🎆 Check out the Midwest's biggest and brightest fireworks at Boom, plus an all-day festival on the banks of the Scioto River.

11am today, with fireworks launching from Genoa Park at 10pm.

🤸🏻 Watch gravity-defying flips, pyramids and dance performances at CHEER Live at the Schottenstein Center.

🎨 Elevate Black artists at Color of Summer, a night of art, music, fashion and food at the Columbus Museum of Art.

7pm-midnight Saturday. $90, includes access to an after-party.

🇺🇸 See how Ohioans celebrated July Fourth back in the 1800s at Ohio Village's Independence Day Weekend.

10am-5pm Saturday, Sunday. $7-13. Kids 3 and under free!

🧨 Celebrate liberty and lunacy at the Doo Dah Parade, a satirical summer tradition stepping off just north of Goodale Park.

The park hosts a music festival that day from 11am-7pm. Free!

🌭 Try a tasty new tradition after the parade: the Tasty Dawg Columbus Hot Dog Relay, with teams competing to make (and eat) winning weenies.

4pm Monday. Goodale Park. $7.50-$12.50 per person to register.

What to do in Columbus this weekend

On our list: Doo Dah Parade, a hot dog relay and a cheer show.

A man dressed as Uncle Sam rides a flag-adorned bicycle in a parade. 

A man dressed as Uncle Sam drives a motorized unicycle down Neil Avenue during a past Doo Dah Parade. Photo: Joshua A. Bickel/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network 

Weekend

🎆 Check out the Midwest&#x27;s biggest and brightest fireworks at Boom, plus an all-day festival on the banks of the Scioto River.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="11am today" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redwhiteandboom.org/" data-vars-content-id="57e5788b-3d21-4e8b-87ad-72fa4dd0df6e" data-vars-headline="What to do in Columbus this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redwhiteandboom.org/" target="_blank">11am today</a>, with fireworks launching from Genoa Park at 10pm.</li></ul>

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Alissa Widman Neese

Stories

Ohio national parks rebound to pre-COVID popularity

Your favorite burgers in Central Ohio

What to do in Columbus this weekend

What's the best Ohio burger for the Fourth of July?

Despite new state law, local cities ban fireworks