9 Fun Things to Do in Upper Arlington, Ohio

Discover shopping, scenic parks, and delicious dining options in Upper Arlington. Find something new to do in this charming Columbus suburb!

The city of Upper Arlington is a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Just 5 miles from downtown Columbus, it is next to Grandview Heights and surrounded on most sides by the city of Columbus! Upper Arlington is a great place to spend some time!

The suburb has some really great parks, terrific libraries and good food! The city is known for its 4th of July parade and celebration and for several festivals throughout the year, many of them held in Fancyburg Park!

This list of things to do in Upper Arlington includes family-friendly activities, delicious treats and a great park! Read on to find new ways to explore this Central Ohio suburb!

1. Shop and Eat at Littleton’s Market

• Address: 2140 Tremont Ctr, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Website

Littleton’s Market opened in December 2023 to much fanfare in Upper Arlington with prepared foods, specialty grocery items, a coffee shop and a restaurant in-house! Executive Chef Alexia Orsburn became a Chopped Champion on the Food Network Show Chopped in late January!

This gourmet grocery store has much to love! Just wandering around the store is inspiring and tempting! The case of desserts and baked goods from local bakers looks amazing! The cheeses and prepared foods all look delicious!

I met a friend for lunch in early 2024 and I chose the Chicken Katsu Sandwich which is made with Japanese milk bread, panic chicken, slaw, pickles, katsu sauce and kewpie mayo. It was delicious. Really flavorful!

If you’re looking to pick up a specialty item or just wander around and be inspired, plan a visit to Littleton’s Market in the Tremont Center in Upper Arlington!

2. Grab a Treat at The Original Goodie Shop

• Address: 2116 Tremont Ctr, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Website

The Original Goodie Shop is an Upper Arlington staple selling donuts, pastries, cakes, cookies and more! This beloved bakery is famous for its cinnamon sticks, decorated cookies, huge donuts and cakes!

Stop in for a treat! There’s something for the whole family! I took my kids here for the first time when they were little and they loved all the choices of decorated cookies! At the time, they chose football-shaped cookies with “OH” on them! 🙂

You can find this Upper Arlington bakery in the Tremont Center which is conveniently located across from the Tremont Road Branch of the Upper Arlington Public Library and Northam Park (see below!). This makes for a great outing with the kids!

3. Pick out a Book at Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers

• Address: 2116 Arlington Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43221
• Website

Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers in Upper Arlington, Ohio is a magical bookstore for children! In fact, you might just curl up on the couch with a book and never want to leave! This adorable bookstore just for kids is a gem in Central Ohio!

Cover to Cover was originally opened by a teacher in Clintonville. The store was bought by another teacher and moved to Upper Arlington in 2018. The store hosts special events and story times with local authors several times a month.

With books for kids of all ages and stages, you can find everything you need for school projects, birthday gifts or leisure reading. Online ordering is also available on the website!

Read my list of bookstores in Columbus for more ideas!

4. Shop Tiki Botanicals

• Address: 1727 West Lane Ave, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Website

Shop for luxury hair and skin products at Tiki Botanicals (currently rebranding as 3rd & Sycamore)! These all-natural products are made in Columbus, Ohio!

I have done a candle-making class with Tiki Botanicals which was super fun! They are currently doing classes off-site only, so that means you could arrange a class in a location of your choosing.

You can visit the Upper Arlington location in the Shops on Lane Avenue. The store sells bath bombs, hand soap, lotion and more! The Shea Butter Satin Lotion is silky smooth, FYI!

5. Read and Play at the Tremont Library + Northam Park Combo

• Address: 2800 Tremont Rd, Address: 1442 W Lane Ave, Upper Arlington, OH 43221Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Library Website

The Tremont Branch of the Upper Arlington Public Library and Northam Park are next to each other and make for a great outing for families!

The Tremont location is the Main Library of the UA system and they have a great children’s section! I’ve also attended author events here! They collaborate often with Cover to Cover!

Northam Park was recently remodeled and it’s a super fun playground in Upper Arlington! Combine your visit to this park with a trip to the library and then head across the street to the Original Goodie Shop and you’ve got your whole morning (or afternoon) planned!

Northam Park has a lot of fun climbing structures including rocks and ropes! There are also swings in this park and some fun suspension bridges.

6. Have Lunch at Brassica

• Address: 1442 W Lane Ave, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Website

Brassica is one of my favorite restaurants in the Columbus area! The restaurant in Upper Arlington is my go-to location of Brassica! Located on Lane Avenue, it makes for a convenient meal after shopping at the Shops on Lane Avenue or when on the campus of The Ohio State University!

Brassica is a fast-casual concept where you order at the counter and take your meal to your seat. The food is Mediterranean in style and you can choose between a salad, pita sandwich or hummus plate. The Upper Arlington location of Brassica has a great patio to sit on when it’s warm!

All of the toppings are flavorful in their own way. Each time I think I’m not going to like something but I try it anyway I am always pleasantly surprised! (Think cooked carrots or spicy cauliflower on a sandwich. Try it, I swear you won’t be disappointed!) And I definitely recommend their special sauce! And the fries. And the tahini chocolate chip cookie. All of it!

7. Shop for Toys at Learning Express

• Address: 3140 Riverside Dr, Columbus, OH 43221
• Website

Learning Express is a great toy store in Upper Arlington! There are so many fun things here! It’s a great destination for holiday shopping or to pick up a present for a birthday party! They will even gift wrap for you!

You can find a lot of unique toys, games and books at Learning Express. This isn’t your Target toy section! If you’re looking for something special, make sure to stop into this toy store on Riverside Drive!

After visiting Learning Express, my son was very motivated to save up his money for a few things he saw on the shelves!

8. Have Brunch at South of Lane

• Address: 1987 Guilford Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Website

I had breakfast with a friend at South of Lane, a cute little restaurant in Upper Arlington and I was really impressed! The food was delicious, for starters, and the staff was super friendly and helpful when they found out it was our first visit!

I ordered a pretty standard breakfast of eggs, toast, hashbrowns and bacon. The hashbrowns were really crispy, not soggy. As they should be! And the bacon was perfectly cooked!

I had a savory breakfast on the brain when I came in so that’s what I stuck with, BUT I was tempted when the woman taking our order said that the waffles were their most popular item. She told us they were really fluffy. I thought, “how different can a waffle be?” and went on to order my eggs. But, she offered us a waffle sample and let me tell you, those waffles ARE extra fluffy and I would 100% order them next time!

So do as I say and not as I do, order the waffles!! Though, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed no matter what you order! Pro tip: proper etiquette at the restaurant is to order first and then find your seat! The restaurant is small and popular so you may want to be prepared for a short wait!

9. Buy and Sell Books at Half Price Books

• Address: 1389 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH 43221
• Website

The Upper Arlington location of Half Price Books reopened on the ground floor of the Arlington Gateway lofts on Lane Ave. The new store is big and bright and fun to browse!

There is a free parking garage right next to the shop, just keep an eye out for spots reserved for residents of the building!

You can bring in your own books to sell to the shop, or enjoy browsing for a discounted book! I also love the cards and stationary items they offer! They have a cute kids’ corner, too!

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Upper Arlington, Ohio is a fun suburb to explore! There are plenty of family-friendly things to do here including tasty restaurants, shopping and great parks! What are some of your favorite things to do in Upper Arlington?

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