Scenes Around German Village in Columbus, Ohio

On our last day driving back from Annapolis, we stopped for lunch at German Village in Columbus, Ohio. We visited German Village a couple of years ago and fell in love. With a little time to mosey along, we decided to stop. German immigrants originally began settling in the area in the mid-1800's so there is incredible character and history in German Village. It is truly a special place to visit.

Many homes in German Village date from the mid-1800's to early 1900's.

For lunch, we ate at The Old Mohawk which was former speakeasy during prohibition! It is known for its turtle soup which it has been serving for over 70 years. The menu today is quite large and I think perfect for a family. We arrived on a rainy day, but we fortunately found The Old Mohawk to be a nice, comforting atmosphere making the day that much better!

Lunch time!

Being a rainy day, I opted to have the chili which was delicious and heavy on the beans -- the way I like it!

Warming up with a bowl of chili!

My daughter and I both ordered Caesar salads. Honestly, we could have shared one -- each one was a nice size!

My daughter also ordered the mac and cheese -- another perfect choice on a rainy day.

My husband ordered the Reuben. Yum!

After enjoying lunch, it was time for exploring before getting back on the road. Fortunately, the rain tapered off while we were eating. We made a beeline for our favorite store in the adorable and historic district The Book Loft. The Book Loft is actually a maze of a store in pre-Civil War era buildings that once were occupied by general stores, a saloon and a nickelodeon cinema.

As you weave inside, you soon reason that every book you can think of is in the store. It is almost like a big book scavenger hunt.

On our book scavenger hunt this time, I actually discovered cuckoo clocks made in Germany! I did not expect to find them their but they are actually a great reminder of the area's German heritage.

While walking, we paused to admire St. Mary's Church which has been part of German Village since 1868.

After, we visited another of my favorite stores Helen Winnemore's. Helen Winnemore's is home to is home to items handcrafted by American artists. So much to see!

Next, we visited Schmidt's Fudge Haus where handcrafted chocolates and fudge are still made in copper kettles.

Schmidt's Sausage Haus und Restaurant is another must-visit place in German Village. The Schmidt's story began in 1886 when J. Fred Schmidt arrived in America from Germany and started a meat packing house. In 1967, the family opened a their first restaurant around the corner from the original meat packing house. The original restaurant is a cherished part of German Village and a favorite for visitors. Recipes are the original meat recipes from the packing house. Just look at that sausage counter:

On this visit, we came for the German desserts! We went for the German chocolate pie. DELICIOUS!

Incredible German Chocolate Pie!

Next to Schmidt's is another of my favorite German Village stores, The Red Stable home to many products made by local makers. The stable was once a livery barn, wagon repair shop, place for ice storage and a service garage. Now, it is the perfect place to pick up your made in Ohio souvenir! They really have everything including preserves, jewelry, art and more and features over 100 makers.

Shopping for made in Ohio goods at The Red Stable

Alas, our stop in German Village was quick because we had to get back on the road. We enjoyed exploring this quaint and historic community and look forward to visiting again!