We spent the day in Newark, Ohio with our four year old and four month old eating, exploring, and have all the family fun! It’s less than an hour from Columbus, Ohio which makes for a super easy and affordable family road trip.
We love a good (short) road trip! Living in Columbus, Ohio gives us so many opportunities to explore neighboring cities and towns because it’s so centrally located. For this trip, we opted for a quick little day trip to Newark, Ohio.
It’s just 40 miles so under an hour which means you’ll only get asked “how much longer” about 10 times from your children. In addition to the quick trip, it can be a super affordable day!
Here is an itinerary with suggestions on where to visit, eat, and enjoy with your family for under $100.
First Stop: River Road Coffeehouse
Okay, technically our first coffee stop was at Starbucks because.. kids. But, I think this is the real first stop of the road trip. Now there are a few options for stopping at this delightful little coffee shop.
They have three locations near Newark (please come to Columbus) and you could really stop at any of them depending on your outline for the day.
- Granville: 935 River Road, Granville, OH 43023 (this is the one we went to!)
- Newark on The Square: 26 North Park Place, Newark, OH 43055
- Newark 21st Street: 973 North 21st Street, Newark, OH 43055
I got a dark chocolate + raspberry iced latte and it was delightful. Joel got an iced river road mocha and Olivia got a hot cocoa (in 85 degree weather) and they were both very pleased with their decisions.
Total cost here was about $15 because we got some pastries too! If you go to the Granville location, you could stop at Steamroller Bagels, it was closed when we wanted to visit.
Second Stop: The Dawes Arboretum
We were invited to visit Ribbit The Exhibit was The Dawes Arboretum and it was so cute! The Dawes Arboretum has a fun history which you can read about here.
If you haven’t been to this Newark, Ohio gem – it is home to over 5,300 different types of plants and more than 15,400 plants on the grounds! Their goal is “To encourage the planting of forest and ornamental trees… to give pleasure to the public and education to the youth.”
In addition to the beautiful landscaping and gardens, you can checkout Ribbit the Exhibit! Cost is included with admission into the Arboretum.
“24 whimsical frog sculptures will delight visitors along the Parkwoods Trail, in the Japanese Garden and the Learning Garden. The exhibit features frogs dancing the tango, playing leap frog, working in the garden and more. This unique exhibit will be on display until September 8.”
Our cost was free and it could be for you too if you have a Franklin Park Conservatory membership because they are part of the Reciprocal Garden Membership Program. You can also get a free admission from a slew of libraries near Newark (view here). But, tickets are also affordable at $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-15, and free for kids under 5.
Third Stop: Baba’s Grill
Okay, this place is incredible. It is located at 112 E. Main Street, Newark, OH 43055 and it does not have a website but you can view their Facebook and Instagram for menu information.
I literally forgot to take any pictures of this place because I started eating it and couldn’t stop. When we road trip, we like to split things so we can try more food. Sharing is caring, y’all.
We shared some mozzarella sticks, a steak Baba’s Philly (sauce on side) and a side of fries. When I say these are the best fries I’ve ever had – I’m not being overly dramatic. They were incredible. Thin, crispy, salty, and just like delicious.
Plus, the owners (I presume) were both there working together and had their young daughter there too and I’m all about a solid family business. They were genuinely excited to have customers and seemed to have a steady stream of regulars.
We spent $20 with tip but you could spend less or more here depending on what you get off their yummy menu. This restaurant is worth the trip to Newark, Ohio alone!
Fourth Stop: The Works
I’ve always wanted to visit this interactive museum and it was such a fun addition to our family day! It’s located at 55 S. 1st Street, Newark, Ohio 43055 and there is ample free parking right around here. You can also walk to downtown Newark (and Baba’s) so it’s a great location overall. *Note they are closed on Sundays and Mondays right now.*
The Works “encompasses six acres and 13 buildings spanning an entire city block” including multiple exhibits focused on hands-on history, art, science, and glassblowing.
There were tons of interactive experiences at The Works for all ages – even some fun activities for Finn (4 months). We started with some building with all different types of little structures then ventured over to the bigger area.
“Our first floor is packed with discovery stations, or labs, each focusing on a different aspect of science & engineering where you can learn through independent exploration. On our first floor, you can build a racecar, experiment with coding, try out a driving simulator, or even build something completely new. And, there’s a special lab for those 6 and younger.”
I thought the upstairs area was super cool but Olivia was a little scared by the Wooly Mammoth fossil so just a heads up when you venture right up the stairs or elevator. You can read about all the History exhibits they have at The Works here.
Our cost for The Works was only $18 because The Works is part of the museum reciprocal program so we got half price with our Cosi membership. Normal ticket prices are free under 3, $8 for 3-17, $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors (55+).
Fifth Stop: Moe’s Original BBQ
Okay, this place was very nice inside and has an awesome patio. It was prime nap time so we got it to go and ate in the car because #parenting. But, if you have time to sit and hang, I definitely recommend eating inside.
They have a consistent menu filled with smoked meats and delicious sides but they also have daily side specials that change and do beef brisket on the weekend!
I don’t eat pork so I got the smoked turkey sandwich and Joel got a pulled pork sandwich. The turkey was amazing, I literally ate it in like 2 minutes. The Mac and cheese was typical Columbus mac and cheese — buttery noodles with cheese on top.
Joel loved the Mississippi mud pie which was basically chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and crushed Oreos. I mean, what’s not to like there.
We did spend about $30 because I can’t control myself. You could easily spend more or less at Moe’s Original!
Optional Spots in Newark
There are definitely some other great spots in Newark that you could visit but it could sway your $100 budget. However, they are definitely worth it.
- Market Street Soda Works
- We have tried to go here like 3 times and it’s always closed. SOMEDAY.
- The Midland Theatre
- La Paloma Mexican Restaurant
You can also check our Explore Licking County to add more spots to your family road trip! If you take a trip over to Newark, Ohio and stop at any of these spots be sure to let us know below or tag us on Instagram. We love to see your explorations!
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