The Savvy Skater's Guide to Newark and Beyond
The Savvy Skater knows she can use Google to find places to eat during a competition, but she prefers to gather personal recommendations from folks who know the lay of the land and intimately understand that a person can only eat so much Wendy's. If you, like the Savvy Skater, would like to be In The Know, consider checking out these local joints during your time in the L.C. (Licking County), home of the Longaberger baskets your mom collected in the 90s and so much more! Gathered from LGRIA skating families, consider these recommendations as you navigate Newark and the surrounding area this weekend. Just find your POV and let the Savvy Skater point you in the right direction.
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You need coffee but Starbucks never gets your name right.
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It’s breakfast time and the hotel eggs seem... fake?
Big Apple Cafe (Church St., Newark; Log Pond Dr., Newark): Classic diner fare.
Jolly Pirate Donuts, Newark: They arrrrrr a treasure.
R&M Bakery, Newark: Family-owned, in an old firehouse.
Rolls by the Pound, Newark: Cinnamon rolls for dayyys.
Station, Granville: Small-batch baked goods, breads & pastries.
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You have 15 minutes between programs and someone needs real food PRONTO.
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You’ve got a minute and want to celebrate with food that doesn’t come wrapped in foil.
Elliot’s Wood Fired Kitchen & Tap, Newark: Wood-fired pizza, street tacos, the works.
Moe’s Original BBQ, Newark*: BBQ and all the fixins’.
Puerto Vallarta, Newark & Heath: All you want in a Mexican restaurant: Good, fast, cheap.
Red Oak Pub, Newark: They have a peanut butter bacon burger, but also salads.
Snapshots Lounge, Granville: Sandwiches, burgers & more. Elevated but not extra
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You feel like you deserve ice cream, because doesn’t everyone deserve ice cream?
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Ice rink to Base Command: THE LITTLES NEED A PLAYGROUND, STAT.
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You’re not feeling a playground but could use a place to blow off steam without clearing out Target’s dollar section.
Courthouse Square, Newark: History, architecture and a winery, don’t go crazy.
Dawes Arboretum, Newark: Trees & trails. ($10 adults; $5 child; 5 & under free)
Denison University’s Biological Reserve, Granville: Wooded trails located off campus. (free)
Downtown Granville: New England charm, Midwest hospitality.
Infirmary Mound Park, Granville: Trails & a fun natural play area.
Kicks Mix Bookstore, Newark: Two stories of treasures, plus two cats.
The Works museum, Newark: There's a planetarium! ($12 adults; $10 seniors; $8 ages 3-17)
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You want to take a selfie that really says “Heartland. ”
Thanks to the amazing skating mom Abbey Roy and Annie Roy who put the original guide together for the 2024 ISI Heartland challenge Competition. We felt anyone visiting that does not know the lay of the land may appreciate the Roy family’s local knowledge and decided to give it a permanent home on our site.