Golden Hobby Shop

Craft lovers will think they've died and gone to hobby heaven.. Background
The Golden Hobby Shop, which opened in 1971, is operated by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department as a nonprofit consignment shop for senior citizens' crafts. In 1981, it moved to its present location, a 125-year-old building that formerly housed The Third Street School. The store is run by department staff and volunteers, who help organize craft workshops, demonstrations and quilting bees.

What You'll Find
This place is a bonanza for tourists and craft lovers. Every knick-knackety item ever created is on sale—especially holiday and seasonal crafts—and prices are very reasonable. Ohio State University items are popular, as are the beautiful, functional quilts (machine-sewn go for around $300, while hand-sewn range from $500 to $800). There is an extensive baby section, and the children's section boasts many clever wooden toys (trains, helicopters, paddlewheel boats and even frogs and grasshoppers). Dolls, fishing poles, wind chimes, birdhouses, paintings, wall hangings—you could do all your Christmas shopping here. And if you're missing your grandmother's homemade blankets, there's a wide array of knitted and crocheted items to fill the gap.…