Going to be taking a road trip from Jacksonville Florida to Columbus Ohio in early February. We're looking for any good points of interest or incredible unique eats! We don't have tons of time but if there something good to see or eat we want to make time. Will be traveling with two teenage girls and I want them to see local America!
Thanks!

West Virginia should also be tagged!

Well, certainly do some things in Charleston!!
You could hit Winston Salem to see Old Salem. There are good restaurants there--and some very nice shopping in a smaller town area.
Come on over to Charlotte to get to I77 up through WVA. there is good BBQ here, and a wonderful downtown museum area. See the Bechtler--a world class collection of art--small and accessible.

Ohio State University (Columbus) has a cartoon museum which is pretty fun. I traveled out there from Northern VA to see a Calvin and Hobbes exhibit.

"...to see a Calvin and Hobbes exhibit."

My dad would love that!

Just remember that the weather (snow in the mountains, ice in the Piedmont) may make it a slow pass !

As everyone found in the Midwest this week, winter travel is easily disrupted.

Oh, interesting about the OSU exhibit!! I'll tell my family up there in case they don't know.

Columbus is farm country. We have excellent steaks at Hyde Park restaurants, the Barn in New Albany, or J. Alexander in Worthington to name a few.

Often rated the best ice cream in the U.S., Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream have several locations worth a visit.

Our most famous burger place is Thurman's in German Village, but I recommend Max and Ermas as well.

Ohio is famous for Ciciinatti style chili with Skyline best known with many locations.

City Barbecue is our best home town BBQ worth a go.

Finally, with 50,000 Ohio State students we have a lot of pizza with Pizza House, Tommy's, Hound Dog, Dinatos and many other to consider.

Ack is correct but I drove I77 a couple of years ago in a big snow storm and they do a good job on the road--just slow down.

German Village in Columbus is fun. Schmidts is THE place to eat. The Book Loft is a great bookstore to visit. Also, COSI, science museum in Columbus is lots of fun.

Take your teens to one of the OSU bookstores to buy a tee shirt. (Buckeye trying to expand the Buckeye Nation).

Our favorite restaurant in Columbus is Rigsbys in the Short North

www.schmidthaus.com/

www.bookloft.com

www.cosi.org

rigsbyskitchen.com

I used to go to Columbus more or less monthly at one stage of my career.

At the time, I thought Rigsby's had the best food in Columbus but is it teen friendly? Nice to hear that the Book Loft is still there.

Is Tapatio's still open near the market? Casual spicy.

Damon's is a national rib/sports bar chain but it would be great for kids.

Now I am also remembering that Anthony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman visited a sushi restaurant in Columbus (of ALL places!!) and raved about it. don't remember the name.

Gretchen, sorry I should have been clearer- the Calvin and Hobbes exhibit was temporary so it's no longer there but the rest of the museum was really interesting and definitely worth a trip. It's small and won't take more than an hour.

Oh, I sort of got that but hoped!! I think Watterson is from northeastern Ohio. Mourned his retirement!!

Ack, I looked it up.
"Tony and Michael Ruhlman sit at the sushi bar, while Chef Mike Kimura serves his traditional Japanese cuisine."
http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-show...and#map-scroll
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kihachi-japa...urant-columbus

Linda_b, have you stopped at the potteries in and around Seagrove, NC?
http://www.discoverseagrove.com/
It's at the midpoint of your route. Not a quick on-and-off an exit, but if you want to wander around the roads you can stop at a few of the potteries - or just one if you want. It's a nice way to spend some time.
"The Seagrove area potters can be found in their shops most weekdays, quietly working with clay on their potter’s wheels, in much the same fashion as the first potters attracted to central NC by the abundant local clay. The mission of the Seagrove Area Potters Association is to help you find those hardworking artists, visit their studios and find just the right pottery to grace your home."

http://www.discoverseagrove.com/nc-potters.asp

The Seagrove area is just wonderful for spending a day touring the potteries. There are probably at least 100 of them. If you just want to stop, it can sort of be "on your way" I think by taking route 220 north--it is the proposed I73 and meets with i77 on up the way.
The Jugtown store is a good overview with nice things, and you'll see lots more on the way there. Luck's pottery is the old time traditional Seagrove.
I have a dirt dauber's nest that a potter collected and fired just for the fun of it--it looks like porcelain--just beautiful, because of the quality of the clay there (the reason for the potteries, of course) that the wasp used to make her nest. It is also the area in the US where the jasper type clay is found--like the Wedgwood jasperware.

"I have a dirt dauber's nest that a potter collected and fired just for the fun of it--it looks like porcelain--just beautiful, because of the quality of the clay there (the reason for the potteries, of course"

OMG, Gretchen! That never occurred to me! I'll have my neighbor do that for me. Thanks!

This is an unusually pretty nest--you can see the grooves/layers and it is about 3 inches long. It turned a lovely light yellow tan. Paid $5!! He had it out as just a what not on his shelves.
The famous potter I've been trying to recall to recommend to the OP--Ben Owen IV. Go to his studio in Jugtown. Outstanding.

Ben Owens. Red glaze. I know it well.
There was a piece for sale at Burton Gallery that I wanted very much but passed on it.

We met his grandfather one time in the gallery--and he admitted the "touch" for pottery had not touched him--cute. We have a pinch mug of his--just plain pottery. It is an interesting family.
A good friend of mine has probably saved the museum pieces there from just walking away--the Audens and the Coles. I have some Cole pieces.