Columbus

Are you looking for your next destination to have new and unique places to eat? Experiences with art and culture? How about craft breweries, distilleries and wineries? Are you looking for a place to take the kids or grandkids to learn about dinosaurs or science? Maybe your perfect destination includes hiking, biking and kayaking. Believe it or not, you’ll find all of these and more when you choose to experience Columbus, Ohio.

Go Orange

Columbus is home to Ohio State University and its legendary Buckeye sports teams. But those certainly aren’t the only games in town. In fact, there are so many things to do that you’ll have a hard time trying to decide what to do first. If shopping is your bag, stop by the North Market’s more than 30 merchants. Or perhaps you’d like to spend a relaxing day at an art gallery. If you have the kids along on the trip, you need to check out COSI, which has more than 300 interactive science exhibits and is now featuring a brand-new dinosaur gallery complete with a T-Rex. The kids will really scream when you take them to the newest Columbus attraction, a 36,000-square-foot Legoland Discovery Center.

Travel Ohio

Urban Oasis

You might not think about kayaking, fishing or really any water sports in a big city, but Columbus is an exception. The Scioto Audubon Metro Park is a revitalized brownfield that is now a 120-acre park welcoming kayakers and anglers year-round. Rent a canoe at the Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park where you can float down Big Darby Creek. On your water trip you can spy on a herd of bison, catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring past or an osprey coming in for a landing. If you’d like to ramp it up a bit, head over to Hocking Hills where you can take a two-hour or two-day river trip. Don’t worry, they have packages for all ages.

Rustic Metropolis

Columbus has 19 natural areas in and around the city. In these parks, you can hike or bike on over 230 miles of paved trails. Opportunities abound for backpacking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, golfing (regular or disc), horseback riding and ice skating. There are rock climbing walls and obstacle/challenge courses available for even more adventure. Nature preserves and amazingly beautiful gardens are waiting to be strolled through. If there is something you like to do outdoors, chances are you can do it in Columbus.

Mixed Metro

A few words sum up the atmosphere of Columbus: friendly, diverse and welcoming. The city, amid all the beauty, is made up of a few unique and colorful neighborhoods. No matter what you’re into, you can find your way to your favorite stop. No doubt you’ll find art and music on nearly every corner, but you’ll also be able to sample some excellent homebrews and wine in the Brewery District. If some retail therapy is on the agenda, you’ll be able to find local shops as well as name-brand stores. The friendly atmosphere transfers to your four-legged friends as well. Columbus is a dog-friendly community. No matter who you’re with or where you stop, you’ll feel right at home.

Horsing Around

Each season brings with it a special occasion in Columbus. Springtime at the Ohio Expo Center welcomes thousands of horse lovers to the city; the Equine Affaire is North America’s premier equestrian expo. Summer, of course, has fireworks over the July 4 holiday, but you’ll also be able to take in the Columbus Pride Festival, the Columbus Arts Festival and the Jazz & Rib Fest.

Arocks Photo

Fall Fun

Autumn brings Oktoberfest, the Country Living Fair and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. Finally, winter ushers in dazzling light displays at many of the Columbus gardens and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. On New Year’s Eve, First Night Columbus will ring in the New Year.

Columbus Legacy

The City of Columbus has been making a name for itself since it was first planned in 1812 and then incorporated in 1816. Did you know the first 24-hour endurance car race happened at the Columbus Driving Park in 1905? Or that Columbus is home to the first woman to complete a solo flight around the world? One of the first shopping centers in the world was built in Columbus in 1956, not to mention the first store with air conditioning and escalators. Come to Columbus for your new experience.

For More Information

Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau

866-397-2657

www.experiencecolumbus.com

Ohio Tourism Division

800-282-5393

www.ohio.org