The second-largest city in the Midwest after Chicago, Columbus blends Big Ten football energy, historic neighborhoods, diverse dining and even the nation’s only urban via ferrata.
Departing From: Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Flight Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Nonstop Flights: Year-round
Airlines: Southwest Airlines
Where to Stay
A short stroll from the Scioto River in the historic Franklinton neighborhood, The Junto features a rooftop bar, restaurant and a Gear Garage for guests to borrow kayaks, paddleboards, bikes and scooters. In downtown Columbus, Hotel LeVeque Autograph Collection in the century-old LeVeque Tower offers art deco-inspired rooms with views of the Scioto River Mile.
Where to Eat
Bring your appetite to Columbus’ bustling North Market, open daily for nearly 150 years. The market showcases city’s diversity with vendors selling everything from Somali food and Polish kielbasa to Tibetan momos (steamed dumplings). Fox in the Snow, lauded by “Food & Wine,” has locations in Italian and German Village and is a sweet tooth favorite for artisan baked goods like strawberry cheesecake croissants and blueberry scones. For dinner, The Junto’s Little West Tavern is a cozy neighborhood. For dinner, The Junto’s Little West Tavern is a cozy neighborhood go-to with an open-hearth kitchen and to-die-for wings (don’t miss a side of cheddar scallion biscuits smeared with salted Ohio honey butter).
What to Do
Consistently rated as the best science museum in the U.S., the Center of Science and Industry has a planetarium, dinosaur gallery and a and a unicycle ride 17 feet above ground. (Pro tip: Guests at The Junto get two free admission tickets). On the National Register of Historic Places, German Village is a quaint neighborhood with breweries, charming 19th century homes and one of the largest independent bookstores in the country, The Book Loft. Adventure-seekers should tackle Quarry Trails Metro Park, the country’s first urban via ferrata.
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