<p>I plan on bringing my D to visit OSU this summer. Can anyone recommend 1) a reasonably priced hotel near the campus and 2) good lunch and dinner spots near the campus ( that are not part of a chain). Thanks.</p>
<p>We like staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Olentangy River Road. It’s just minutes from campus. About 10-15 minutes away is the Hampton Inn & Suites in Polaris. </p>
<p>If you like German, you must try Schmidt’s. There’s also Katzinger’s Deli for a great sandwich. Both are in German Village, a short drive from campus. We don’t eat much right off campus/High Street, but we’ll go up Lane to the Rusty Bucket or drive to Polaris. </p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>Last summer we stayed at The Blackwell, run by OSU and on campus. You can look at their website, but call, sometimes they have better prices that include the breakfast. I will be staying there during my daughter’s orientation in a couple of weeks and they had a better price when I called. There is a new Springhill Suites also very near campus. A fun place to eat is Eddie George’s restaurant, a couple blocks down from the Law school. I think it must be a “hot spot” for the college kids.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to intervene in your thread but I wanted to know if there was any other way of getting to the OSU campus from Columbus International Airport other than taxi. (i.e. via shuttle bus)</p>
<p>I have heard my kids talk about a number of their friends that take the COTA Bus (central Ohio transit authority) to and from the airport–they offer free rides at the end and beginnings of breaks–there is a website with a phone number you can call: [Office</a> of International Affairs - Transportation](<a href=“http://oia.osu.edu/life-at-ohio-state/transportation.html]Office”>http://oia.osu.edu/life-at-ohio-state/transportation.html)</p>
<p>The Blackwell is nice–especially because it is right on campus, and sometimes they do have good deals for visiting students and parents. We often stay at the Fairfield Inn or the Hilton Garden Inn, both on Olantangy River Road–the Fairfield Inn includes breakfast. If you get a chance, be sure to visit German Village, a few miles down High Street from the campus. Lindy’s is a very nice restaurant there, and it’s a fun place to walk around. The Cap City Diner, on Olentangy, is a great place to eat–and there is also Woody’s Grill and Sloopy’s in the new Ohio Union. Jeni’s ice cream, on High Street, always has a crowd and is very popular.</p>
<p>Here is the information about the COTA Bus that goes between OSU and the airport:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cota.com/assets/Riding-Cota/Schedules/Current/052.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cota.com/assets/Riding-Cota/Schedules/Current/052.pdf</a></p>
<p>This winter we stayed at the SpringHill Suites 1421 Olentangy River Road · Columbus. We used points, but they usually are pretty economical and this one looks quite new. Nothing special, but you do get a suite arrangement for a regular room price. Free hot breakfast - no omelet bar, but it was better than most.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses.</p>
<p>Any additional posts would be appreciated!</p>
<p>We tend to go with the Varsity Inn North on Olentangy River Road. Convenient to campus and much less expensive than others - typically around $79. Nothing fancy and no breakfast, but there’s a Sonic in the front parking lot, a Bob Evans, Burger King, McDonalds nearby. The Fairfield is nicer & right across the street, but the price is almost double. You need a car to stay at most places, other than the Blackwell.</p>
<p>When we visit colleges, we try to eat at least 1 meal on campus and 1 meal just off campus - where students tend to eat. The Ohio Union has some good choices for on campus - the food court has lots of freshly prepared options, Sloopy’s Diner is fun, good and cheap (my 2 OSU students love to eat there) and I think there is also a lounge area (Woody’s Grill?) - not sure if they serve food.</p>
<p>Along High St, Eddie Georges is one of the nicer spots (across from Ohio Union). I don’t think many students go to German Village to eat. If your daughter is considering attending OSU, she should enjoy eating where the college students eat.</p>
<p>Chili Verde’s on Sawmill Rd. A lot of kids like north Star Cafe. There is one in Clintonville, one in the Short North, and one at Easton. If you have a chance you have to get Jeni’s Ice Cream also.</p>
<p>Both of my OSU kids do go to German Village to eat, but they kind of plan ahead for it since it’s not right off campus. They like to walk around the area and visit the bookstore at the same time. They also like Sloopys. I know you added about avoiding a chain and probably fast food, but just a note that Cane’s chicken seems to be the most popular place with my kids and student relatives and all of their friends. </p>
<p>I can vouch for Jeni’s - one of my kids works there! A bit pricey, but oh, so good. A little container of Goat Cheese and Cherries in my freezer right now, thanks to my visiting kid :)</p>
<p>When you visit, make sure you take time to walk around the newly renovated Thompson Library. At the main desk, pick up a guide to the language scripts–brass plaques on the floors and elevator doors displaying languages throughout the world–and be sure to go up to the reading room on the top floor–spectacular views of the campus and all of Columbus–it’s one of my favorite places on campus!
[Recollections</a> of a Vagabonde: A visit to Ohio State University and the Thompson Library – part two](<a href=“http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2011/09/visit-to-ohio-state-university-and_25.html]Recollections”>Recollections of a Vagabonde: A visit to Ohio State University and the Thompson Library – part two)</p>
<p>If you like chinese food, there’s an itty bitty place right across the street from Ramseyer Hall and one building down from Buckeye Donuts. It is, without a doubt, the best chinese in Columbus.</p>
<p>If you walk a mile South of campus on High Street, you’ll run into all kinds of wonderful restaurants and things in the Short North.</p>
<p>Haha I should have included its name. Moy’s Chinese.</p>
<p>Last chance to give recommendations. Thanks!</p>
<p>My D and I just came home from her orientation (AWESOME) and we ate at Eddie George’s 27, across from the law school (Drinker building) which was nice. Also, I needed a non-counter service restaurant at the end so we ate at Sloopy’s in Ohio Union. That was very good, they have breakfast all day and milkshakes. Good luck and it is a beautiful campus!</p>
<p>Crazedmom, will be attending orientation in early July with my S. This is our first off to college. Just wondering if you can you share any parent tips on the orientation experience? What parents should do, what to skip, what you and your D liked best or found most beneficial? Did D stay in the dorm and did you stay on campus or off yourself? Thanks!!</p>
<p>@Nova88-I know you addressed your question to Crazedmom, but we recently went to orientation as well.</p>
<p>There was a lot of information so I can’t really pinpoint any main thing to tell you but there were a couple of things at the top of my head:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Make sure your S is as prepared as he can be for what courses he wants to take. I asked my S over and over to look at the website and his intended major but he waited until the last minute. In fact he ended up changing his major from Biochem to Exploration and back to Biochem all within that 2 day period. BUT, the advisors he met with both in Exploration and Arts & Sciences were all very helpful and nice. He had no problem scheduling his courses for the 1st semester. My real fear is the 2nd semester when he is on his own (w/o a parent asking questions). He will need to make use of his advisors and really make it clear to them where he wants to be headed.</p></li>
<li><p>On the 1st day in the evening, your S will probably get a drawstring bag with a t-shirt and a lot of coupons, etc… in it. There should be one on cardstock a little bigger than a postcard from Universitees. It is on the corner of Lane and High. It should have a coupon on one side for a free t-shirt for the student AND the parent. We had time the second day to walk up high street from the Union. I thought they would have a set t-shirt and that is the one you got. They actually had a section in the middle of the store where we could pick the one(s) we wanted. There were probably 25-35 different ones to choose from. </p></li>
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<p>It looks like you are from out of state so if he gets that coupon and you have time, I would take advantage of it while you are there. I think it expired 8-30-12. It was a nice surprise for me to get something out of the deal too. :-)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The made a small mention of the fact that the dining halls or at least the food court in the Union do not use trays or have bags. I have a large supply of large brown paper lunch bags leftover from packing his lunches for school. I am going to send those with him and advise him to just keep one handy in his book bag. It will take up no space and if he feels like getting something to eat and wants to take it to the oval or the library or back to his room, he will have something to carry it in.</p></li>
<li><p>My S got a laptop for graduation. I had remembered seeing some software prices on the WiredOut website. They are located right next to Barnes & Noble (on campus). We waited until orientation to get his copy of Microsoft Office 2011. We got it there for 63.95 (?) vs. 99.00. Your S will have to have his BUCKid to get the discounted price. We got the BUCKid card the 1st day.</p></li>
<li><p>Note on the BUCKid card. When we got home, I wrote down the BUCKid phone number and his 19 digit BUCKid number for my records. In the event it gets lost or stolen, they need to call the number right away and I highly doubt my S will know what the number is.</p></li>
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<p>If I think of more, I will post again. They did an incredible job at orientation. It was fun and informative. Very tiring though but I really think they did an excellent job. You will have to let us know your thoughts.</p>
<p>(My S did not stay in the dorm since we live about 20 minutes away. He did stay the first night until about 9:30. I wasn’t sure when he would be done, so I hung out on campus-outside most of the time. Luckily the weather was perfect!)</p>
<p>NervousNellie–thanks so much for all of the info! It sounds like everything went very well.<br>
S has been revieiwng courses for a few weeks, with 3-4 options, since he wasn’t sure how many of his choices will be left when we arrive 7/9. It’s helpful to know the sessions are productive. We have over an 8 hour drive to OSU, so hearing the days are long confirms out decision to stay in Columbus the night of day two of orientation and get some shopping done and some shut eye before we head home the following day! 
If you think of anything else, let us know.
Thanks again.</p>
<p>Fun fact: I am wearing my t-shirt from my 2008 Orientation today…don’t lose it, the “Get Involved” shirts are cool because then you know who is in your class based on the shirt design!</p>