KAYAK - Columbus, Ohio Travel Guide

Columbus Travel

Popular Ohio (OH) Destinations

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Columbus Airports

Columbus Vacations

The title of a popular Philip Roth novel, Columbus, Ohio is truly at the heart of it all. If you are yearning for a Midwest adventure, plan your stay to include Columbus, the state capitol, where you are no more than an hour or two from other Ohio cities and attractions. You may want to visit during the end-of-summer State Fair, which includes national entertainers along with state specialties and proud displays of local products and animals. You also may be interested in surrounding small college towns and folk festivals that make leisure time all the more fun.

Popular Columbus Hotels

BEST WESTERN PLUS Port Columbus
1450 Airpointe Drive

Clarion Hotel & Suites Conference Center
900 East Dublin Granville Road

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Columbus North
6191 Zumstein Drive

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Columbus Downtown
50 South Front Street

BEST WESTERN PLUS Columbus North
888 E Dublin-Granville Road

Baymont Inn and Suites Columbus North
1100 Mediterranean Avenue

View more Columbus hotel info »«

Top rated attractions in Columbus

1.	Bruce Lee Legends of Martial Art Hall of Fame Museum Bruce Lee Legends of Martial Art Hall of Fame Museum, Reynoldsburg, displays memorabilia and photos from the life of the late Bruce Lee, martial arts film legend. In the late 1990s, Senior Grand Master Joon P. Choi hosted the World Martial Arts Expo & Asian Culture Fair. He learned from Robert Blakeman, a former 1970s student, of Blakeman’s collected Bruce Lee memorabilia; his collection included videos, writings, and posters. Mr. Choi arranged to display part of Blakeman’s collection, and later was awarded 5,000 items permanently through the will of Mr. Blakeman and his partner, Mickey Prince, both of who had passed away by 2002. The current collection is one of the largest of its kind anywhere in the world. « hide
2.	Historic Roscoe Village Historic Roscoe Village, Columbus, is a charming model of living history representing the Canal Days of the 1830s. Enjoy the hands-on activities, shops, dining, and Monticello III canal boat ride. Learn about village history and 19th century small town culture. Special events include the Civil War Living History Tour and A Roscoe Christmas. Hands-on crafts are available for $2. For more fun, visit the museum and the gardens. « hide
3.	Columbus Museum of Art Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, features an impressive selection of modern and contemporary artworks, including a display of George Bellows’ urban American scenes. “American Expressionism 1920s – 1950s” includes the work of 69 established artists, among them Georgia O’Keeffe. Also not to be missed is the permanent collection of late 19th and early 20th century modern art that includes examples of expressionism and cubism by artists like Degas, Monet, and Picasso. The Sculpture Garden and 295-seat auditorium can be rented for special events or frequently host museum activities and guests. « hide
4.	The King Arts Complex The King Arts Complex, Columbus, is a venue for multicultural jazz, dance, visual arts, and theater. Exhibits like Black Pearl Poetry, educational events such as Jazzy Quilts Workshop, and performances of work like dramatist August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” combine to make the King Arts Complex a dynamic inspirational vision of multicultural sensory and learning experiences. Events are individually priced, but memberships are available. Check the schedule for upcoming activities. « hide
5.	Columbus Symphony Orchestra Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus, is a hallmark of the Columbus area performing arts. Each year the orchestra gives 110 performances of classical, family, and pop concerts that reach half a million listeners. Enjoy the Youth Orchestra or visiting musicians like the Pointer Sisters who perform with the Orchestra. Special events include Picnic with the Classics and Patriotic Pops with Fireworks. You can purchase tickets online, at the customer service window, or by telephone. Check the schedule and available seating for prices. « hide
6.	Jack Nicklaus Museum Jack Nicklaus Museum, Columbus, is located in the sports complex of Ohio State University. The Museum sits on 24,000 square feet and offers historic and educational information about golf and the famed Jack Nicklaus legend. Learn about the history of golf and Jack’s illustrious career. You can schedule business and personal events onsite, and visit the Pro Shop in person or online. « hide
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Top rated restaurants in Columbus

1.	Alta on High Italian Cuccina Alta on High Italian Cuccina, Columbus, tantalizes the palate with mouth-watering appetizers like fried saffron risotto balls and entrees that include Grilled Chicken Ricardo marinated in garlic and oregano or their signature bone-in rib eye. « hide	6.	Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Columbus, gives guests their money’s worth and more. The veal chop with sweet and hot peppers and the Ahi-Tuna Stack are two popular entrees among several. The warm apple crumb tart makes a fabulous dessert to top off the meal. You can’t get a bad meal here. « hide
2.	Basi Italia Basi Italia, Columbus, features Mediterranean and Italian dishes for lunch and dinner. Sample Tuscan chicken salad for lunch or mustard crusted golden trout for dinner. « hide	7.	Barley’s Brewing Company Barley’s Brewing Company, Columbus, proudly claims as former guests such notables as author Stephen King and actor Montgomery Scott, who played Scotty on Star Trek, along with rock stars and TV celebrities. Try the award-winning ale brewed onsite and grilled wings that were named the city’s best at this year’s wing fest. « hide
3.	Marcella’s Marcella’s, Columbus, is a Cameron Mitchell restaurant that enjoys a grand reputation for quality food. Specialties include seared salmon or braised lamb shank. You also can get a variety of pizza, salad, and appetizers for lighter fare. « hide	8.	Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus, Columbus, prepares appetizers, lunch, and steak meals like Creole Chicken or Elevator Crab Cakes to complement their twelve handcrafted beers. Close to downtown sites and attractions, the Elevator makes a great stopping place between destinations and has served Minnesota Fats along with thousands of other hungry patrons. « hide
4.	The Hyde Park Grille The Hyde Park Grille, Upper Arlington, has been voted annually the area’s best steakhouse. In addition, this classy eatery offers 100+ wines by the glass and received the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. Try the Steak Tressel, a New York strip with roasted garlic, butter, and mushrooms, or cold-water lobster. « hide	9.	Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Columbus, is a local upscale brewery and restaurant. You may enjoy the chicken and garlic pizza or the meatloaf made from beef and Italian sausage. Look for appetizers, brunch, lunch, and dinner to go with their fresh brewed lagers. « hide
5.	Mitchell’s Steakhouse at Crosswoods Mitchell’s Steakhouse at Crosswoods, Columbus, introduces an exciting menu selection of tasty steaks and meat cuts prepared just the way you like them. Guests also will admire the contemporary upscale décor and delicious array of side dishes complementing each entrée. « hide

Columbus Insider tips

East Side of Columbus Caution

All cities have neighborhoods where travelers need to exercise a little caution, especially if they are unfamiliar with the area and may stand out as someone who is lost or unsure of their location. The east side of Columbus is home to some questionable areas that you may want to avoid after dark. When you do go out late, be aware of your surroundings and the other people around you. Don’t linger unnecessarily on the streets. « hide

Amish Country Awareness

Although Columbus is an urban city with routine traffic patterns, if you venture outside the city limits you may encounter Amish-driven horse-and-buggy teams on the back roads, as central Ohio is home to one of the largest Amish populations in the world. Watch for the black buggies that usually keep to the side of the road, but due to their “horse power” energy source, will be traveling slower than vehicles. Several Amish buggies have been hit by cars or trucks, resulting in the deaths and injuries of passengers. « hide

Columbus nightlife

1.	Frog Bear and Wild Boar Bar Frog Bear and Wild Boar Bar, Columbus, invites you to partake of the live music in the band room, a dance floor DJ, and special events of your own planning that can be centered on a variety of themes, such as Hispanic tapas or Pacific luau, etc. Dine on a Cuban pork sandwich or prime rib; there are plenty of entrees to choose from. « hide
2.	The Lounge at Brownstone The Lounge at Brownstone, Columbus, features Southern contemporary cuisine and numerous dining options, including private parties. Special programming includes Black Pearl Poetry and the World Famous DJ Balance on the main floor. Happy Hour is 4 to 8 p.m. Look for gumbo, catfish, and jambalaya on the menu. « hide
3.	The Lodge Bar The Lodge Bar, Columbus, hosts performers like Vince Neil along with the Bar’s own band and the area’s best DJ’s. Geared to the party crowd, guests will enjoy the exciting atmosphere and contemporary décor that make this bar one of the downtown area’s best. This is a great place for singles, couples, or private parties. « hide
4.	The Basement at Fat Eddie’s The Basement at Fat Eddie’s, Columbus, is located in the Arena District for easy access to entertainment events and other attractions. The Basement hosts great local bands to keep things moving and is considered by many to be the top sports and party bar. Check the schedule for special events like the annual Air Guitar Championships. « hide

Cheap Columbus Flights

These are the cheapest* flights to Upper Sandusky found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours. Use the links to see if you can get a better flight deal.

From £101 Flights New York (NYC) - Columbus (CMH)
From £139 Flights Boston (BOS) - Columbus (CMH)
From £173 Flights Minneapolis (MSP) - Columbus (CMH)
From £136 Flights Philadelphia (PHL) - Columbus (CMH)
From £169 Flights Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - Columbus (CMH)
From £164 Flights Los Angeles (LAX) - Columbus (CMH)
From £87 Flights Atlanta (ATL) - Columbus (CMH)
From £175 Flights Denver (DEN) - Columbus (CMH)
From £194 Flights New York (LGA) - Columbus (CMH)
From £99 Flights Washington (WAS) - Columbus (CMH)