Enjoy River Paths and Historic Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus may be best known as Ohio's state capital and home of The Ohio State University, but you'll find the soul of the city in its neighborhoods. Explore the revitalized downtown; walk or bike along the Scioto River; take the time to ramble along the red-brick streets of the restored 19th century German Village, and experience the eclectic vibe of shops, restaurants and galleries in Short North.

Things to Do

Arts & Culture

Art gave the Short North neighborhood its emerging identity back in the 1980s, and galleries continue to be a big part of the scene. Today you'll find them next to fashion-forward boutiques, buzzy restaurants and cool cocktail lounges. At the Topiary Garden, stroll a horticultural reproduction of the Georges Seurat painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. This oasis of greenery in the city center is said to be the only topiary garden in the world based on a work of art. The Columbus Museum of Art, dating to 1878, features late 19th- and early 20th-century American and European works. For a more contemporary focus, head to the museum's Pizzuti Collection in the Short North.

Family Fun

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens draws families with its Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children's Garden as well as features like the colorful artwork of glass master Dale Chihuly. Feed giraffes, ride a camel and encounter wildebeests in an expansive savanna setting at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell. On summer days, cool off at Zoombezi Bay, home to a wave pool, Baboon Lagoon play area and lazy river. At the Center of Science and Industry (aka COSI), exhibits include Dinosaur Gallery, which traces the evolution of dinosaurs into many of the birds we know today. Schmidt's Restaurant and Sausage Haus has roots in German Village that date to 1886. Allowing the kiddos to indulge in half-pound cream puffs will likely earn you "parent of the day" status.

Outdoor Rec

Explore, climb and learn at 20 area Metro Parks. Hike to see a 25-foot-tall waterfall at Quarry Trails, get immersed in oak-hickory forests at Blendon Woods or try to spot bison at Battelle Darby Creek. Walk or rent a CoGo Bike, traversing the Scioto Mile along the downtown riverfront.

Eat & Drink

History comes to life around every gaslight-illuminated corner of 19th-century German Village. Start your day here with a soufflé egg sandwich at Fox in the Snow. Or snack your way through North Market, a public market since 1876. Don't miss the pretzels with sweet or savory toppings from Brezel. High Street is home to a number of great dinner options, but it's hard to beat the industrial-chic ambience of The Pearl. Chef Josh Dalton changes his menu regularly at Veritas, where upscale small plates present unique flavor combinations. Every visit to Columbus should include a stop at one of multiple Jeni's locations; now a nationwide brand, Jeni's was born here when Jeni Britton helped pioneer the artisan ice cream trend in 2002.

Columbus' beer scene, too, merits a stop (or more). Since German immigrant Louis Hoster opened a brewery here in 1836, Columbus has built a reputation for its beer. The city's oldest craft brewery in operation (opened in 1988), Columbus Brewing Company keeps things fresh with a new Beer Hall and 24 rotating taps. Trace more than 180 years of local brewing lore on a 1-mile Brewery District Walking Tour with Columbus Food Adventures. Billed as the world's first craft beer hotel, DogHouse Columbus Hotel and Brewery brims with hoppiness: in-room taps, showers with beer fridges and a dog-friendly patio.

Stay

The new independently owned Junto Hotel was one of the hottest openings in Columbus—and the Midwest—making Midwest Living's annual Best of the Midwest awards in 2024. Stay in a funk bedroom or a spacious suite, and don't miss the hotel's poutine window. Inside a 1927 Art Deco skyscraper, Hotel LeVeque's 149 downtown rooms feature plush furnishings and an air of 1920s glamour. The celestial decorating theme will have you seeing stars at every turn—even over your bed.