Walking the north Olentangy River Trail, I came upon the Columbus Park of Roses in Clintonville.  Considered one of the most unique parks in the state of Ohio, I was amazed by the beautiful blooms growing throughout this thirteen acre lawn.

The rose garden was a dream come true for the members of the Columbus Rose Club and  Central Ohio Rose Society who had proposed their wish to Mayor James A. Rhodes in 1951.  A year later, the City Council agreed and began raising money for the Park of Roses which would be planted in Whetstone Park.

Designed by George B. Tobey, I was pleasantly surprised that in addition to the Main Rose Garden, there was also the Herb, Heritage, Daffodil, and Perennial Gardens. The park showcases a total of 350 different varietal of roses out of its 11,000 blooms.  Each year, the park hosts an annual Rose Festival in June which has become a family tradition for many Ohioans.

Known as one of the largest rose gardens in the United States, it is not a surprise that the park is one of  Columbus’ most sought after wedding venues.  Within the park is a mile of paved walking paths as well as benches to soak up the beauty and scents of the blooms, which are best enjoyed from mid-June to mid-September.   One of my favorite spots in this beautiful arboretum is the miniature and heritage roses.

A part of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, the Whetstone Park of Roses is open daily from dawn until dusk and is wheelchair accessible. Conveniently located off of I-71, admission and parking are free.

Have you attended the annual Rose Festival in June?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comment section below.  Many thanks for reading about my stop at the Whetstone Park of Roses in Clintonville, Ohio and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Whetstone Park of Roses
3901 N. High Street
Columbus, OH  43214
Telephone:  614 645 3391

Where to Stay:

Moxy Columbus Short North
808 N. High Street
Columbus, OH  43215
Telephone:  614 412 7664

Where to Eat:

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
569 North High Street
Columbus, OH  43215
Telephone:  614 224 2204

Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:

• Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream:  Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
• North Market:  A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
• The Thurman Cafe:  The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village.  There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
• Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant:  While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.

What to Read: 

• Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
• Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
• Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
• Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper

Photo Guide for Columbus: 

• Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
• Columbus Museum of Art:  the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
• Everal Barn and Homestead:  landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
• Frank Fetch Park:  gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
• Franklin Park Conservatory:  beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
• Gantz Park:  barn, beautiful trees,
• German Village:  brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
• Grove City:  brick roads, small town, shopping area
• Hayden Falls: wooden walking path, waterfall
• Historical Village of Hilliard:  a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
• Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
• Inniswood Metro Gardens:  gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
• Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
• Ohio State University:  campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
• Park of Roses in Clintonville:  various types of rose gardens
• Riverfront Park:  city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
• Schiller Park:  gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
• Scioto Mile:  city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
• Scioto Park in Dublin:  statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
• Short North:  restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
• Topiary Park:  depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo

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