Travel Destinations Ohio Columbus, Ohio Top Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio As Ohio’s capital city and one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest, Columbus has the expected lineup of great museums, a zoo and botanical gardens. But its downtown neighborhoods—the eclectic Short North Arts District and the 19th-century German Village—take it out of the realm of typical. By Midwest Living editors Midwest Living editors Midwest Living's experienced editors create best-in-class travel, lifestyle, food, home and garden content you won't find anywhere else. We're loudly, proudly Midwestern, and we're passionate about helping our audience explore and create through award-winning storytelling. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 4, 2023 Do Ohio Statehouse. Courtesy of Experience Columbus Capitol tours The flat rotunda roof of the 1861 Ohio Statehouse distinguishes this Greek Revival-style building from other capitols. Take self-guided or free hour-long tours and view the inner beauty of the rotunda, which stretches 120 feet to the skylight and makes a bold statement with its salmon stone walls and hand-cut marble floors. COSI. Courtesy of Experience Columbus Center of Science and Industry This acclaimed science museum features interactive exhibits on topics like dinosaurs, space and energy, plus a big-screen theater and planetarium. High Bank Distillery. Courtesy of High Bank Distillery/Experience Columbus Columbus Distillery Trail Taste award-winning blended whiskey at High Bank Distillery, one of seven stops on the Columbus Distillery Trail. Check in using a digital pass to win prizes along the way. Columbus Food Adventures. Courtesy of Columbus Food Adventures Columbus Food Adventures Themed walking (and eating!) tours including German Village, Grandview Avenue, All Dessert Tour, Brewery District and Short North Tour. Columbus Museum of Art Dating to 1878, this downtown art museum's collection spans American and European modern art, Impressionism, German Expressionism, Cubism, folk art, contemporary art, glass, photography and more. For a contemporary art focus, head to the Pizzuti Collection of the museum in the Short North. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium See more than 600 species at this top-ranked zoo, or journey 95 miles east to Cumberland to explore The Wilds, the zoo's conservation center and safari park. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Ryan Donnell Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Explore indoor and outdoor gardens and see the world's largest collection of Dale Chihuly's glass artwork in a botanical garden. Herb gardens, a canopy walk, play structures and a Hocking Hills-inspired splash area—waterfall and all—cover the 2-acre Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children's Garden. Seasonal events enliven the gardens' appeal year-round. Top Things to Do with Kids in Columbus, Ohio German Village A few blocks south of downtown, bakeries, bookshops, delis and gift stores line the narrow brick streets of this charming enclave of 19th-century European-style brick buildings. Inniswood Metro Gardens Six trails in the 123-acre park lead to 10 themed gardens, woodlands and streams. More than 2,000 species of plants thrive in the preserve. National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Courtesy of OSP Images National Veterans Memorial and Museum Late astronaut and Ohio senator John Glenn helped spearhead the $82 million museum, the only one in the U.S. dedicated to telling the stories of veterans from all branches of the military. Exhibits include video interviews and letters from soldiers. North Market. Courtesy of Randall L. Schieber/Experience Columbus North Market Visitors shop among merchants selling fresh produce, flowers and prepared food at this year-round indoor market. Monthly Night Markets bring special outdoor activities. Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Courtesy of Laura Watilo Blake/Experience Columbus Scioto Audubon Metro Park Scale one of the nation's largest free outdoor climbing walls at this 120-acre adventure park that also contains an obstacle course, sand volleyball courts and recreation fields. Enjoy River Paths and Historic Neighborhoods in Columbus Short North. Courtesy of Levi Ely/Experience Columbus Short North Arts District The district has morphed into a 20-block mosaic of fashion boutiques, restaurants, bars, murals and new faces. In 2019, $500 million of investment added more storefronts and lofts. Topiary Park. Randall Lee Schieber Topiary Garden Park Sculpted evergreens at Topiary Garden Park re-create the scene from Georges Seurat's pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte. Eat and Drink Basi Italia A New York-trained chef brings his skills to a house in the heart of Victorian Village, serving creations such as creamy sweet crab and corn risotto. Brassica Hop in the cafeteria-style line at this popular Mediterranean spot in Short North lets you customize a bowl or pita wrap with your choice of rice, lentils, creamy hummus, vegetables and proteins. Budd Dairy Food Hall. Courtesy of Experience Columbus Budd Dairy Food Hall This chef-driven incubator in the Italian Village neighborhood offers eight unique kitchens plus a revolving popup and a buzzy rooftop patio. Chapman's Eat Market Chef-owner BJ Lieberman left a Michelin-starred restaurant in Washington, D.C., to open this German Village spot. Try globally inspired entrees like Chicken and Shrimp Khao Soi, with house-made ice cream (in flavors like Chocolate Chile) for dessert. Fox in the Snow. Kevin J. Miyazaki/Redux Columbus Coffee Trail This string of coffee destinations will lead you to some of the city's best brews at locations like One Line, Fox in the Snow and Stauf's Coffee. Comune On the edge of German Village, this plant-forward restaurant offers shareable dishes like falafel wraps and semolina cavatelli plus and a drink menu that includes natural wines. Jeni's. Kevin J. Miyazaki/Redux Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Creative flavors like Boston Cream, Gooey Butter Cake and Brambleberry Crisp join more typical (but equally tasty) choices like The Milkiest Chocolate (multiple locations). Lindey's Guests rave about the lobster bisque, Alaskan halibut dinner, risotto and New York strip steaks at this longtime local favorite. Northstar Cafe Staff serve items containing sustainably sourced ingredients, such as the beets and squash in the roasted root salad (multiple locations). The Pearl The brick-walled gastropub features house-made seasonal punches plus made-from-scratch comfort foods like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and clam chowder. The Refectory Restaurant and Bistro Small-plate upscale American and French cuisine shines in a 19th-century building that used to serve as a church. The seasonal menu offers specialties such as squab terrine with foie gras or spiced duck breast with candied fruit Bordelaise. Schmidt's Restaurant und Sausage Haus Americanized German foods star at the German Village spot. Try the signature sausage platters with German potato salad, chunky applesauce and split-top buns. Skillet More than 40 regional farms, gardens and dairies supply ingredients for dishes such as Cheese Blintzes or smoked sausage at Skillet. Understory. Courtesy of Understory/Experience Columbus Understory Housed in a repurposed 1927 schoolhouse, this popular spot offers several vibes under one roof. Sip craft cocktails in the light-filled lounge, enjoy a fast-casual menu at Commons or unwind under a canopy of trees on the expansive outdoor patio. Veritas For an elevated dining experience, head downtown and try Veritas' five-course tasting menu with global dishes like lobster with succotash or tomato with raspberry and herbs. AC Hotel Columbus Downtown. Courtesy of AC Hotel Columbus Downtown/Experience Columbus Stay AC Hotel Columbus Downtown New in 2021, this Marriott Hotel is within walking district to the Short North Arts District and features one of the city's most popular rooftop restaurants, Lumin Sky Bar and Kitchen. DogHouse Columbus Scotland-based BrewDog opened what is billed as the world's first beer hotel, with 32 guest rooms (each equipped with a BrewDog tap) next to a state-of-the-art sour brewery and taproom. 10 Cool Hotels and Resorts Where You Can Vacation With Your Pup Graduate Columbus Decor in this collegiate-themed boutique hotel reflects the scarlet and gray of Ohio State University as well as influences from state luminaries like John Glenn and Ohio's eight presidents. Hilton Columbus Downtown The newly expanded hotel is now the state's largest (with 1,000 rooms), but this lodging has the cachet of an art gallery, with more than 225 works by 100 area artists, including prints on guest-room ceilings. Hotel LeVeque. Ryan Donnell Hotel LeVeque A star machine and telescope in every room reflect the celestial-theme decorating in the hotel, on the lower floors of a 1927 Art Deco tower. A $27 million renovation also created a restaurant and bar, The Keep, which serves French brasserie fare. 36 Hours in Columbus Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph In the heart of Short North Arts District, 135 rooms and suites contain sleek wooden accents crafted in Ohio. The hotel's special-occasion Guild House restaurant plates modern American entrees such as chicken roulade with sweet corn puree. For more information experiencecolumbus.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit