Visit Columbus in One Day: Your Guide to the City’s Best Under-the-Radar Attractions

by Kevin Devoto

If you’re headed to Columbus, or if you live there, you already know that the city has much more to offer than most travel magazines seem to think; after all, more people visit Columbus than any other city in Ohio! With a major public university and a correspondingly youthful population, affordable real estate, and a relatively temperate climate, it’s no surprise that the city is a growing hot spot. Read on for a daylong itinerary that’ll let you discover all the local secrets Columbus has to offer, whether you’re a tourist who wants to travel like a local or a local yourself.

Taste the Columbus Food Scene

Although the city’s bustling restaurant scene has slowed down due to social distancing mandates, there are still plenty of options for hungry diners of every comfort level. For most people, a leisurely morning meal is a pleasure reserved for days off, especially if you don’t have to make it yourself, so get yourself in the right frame of mind by indulging in some brunch. Search “best breakfast near me” and enjoy a relaxing meal—no dishes required.

Once you’re done with breakfast, round out the morning with a trip to North Market, Columbus’s best-known farmer’s market, founded in 1876. Browse produce, local meats and seafood, and specialty pop-ups that rotate throughout the year. Best of all, particularly if you’re traveling with late risers, North Market doesn’t open its doors until 9 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on Saturdays, so there’s no need to rush through your morning.

Enjoy Unique Museums and Exhibitions

Across the city, museums, exhibitions, and galleries are reopening. Although some of the city’s best-known attractions, like the Center of Science and Industry, are still closed as of this article’s publication, there are dozens of smaller options that are well worth your time. Many exhibitions now require reservations, so be sure to make your plans in advance. For the young (and young at heart), clear time in your schedule to visit The Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum. With archives ranging from comic books and graphic novels, to editorial cartoons and daily newspaper comic strips, the museum hosts the single biggest collection of cartoon art archives in the world. You’ll also have a chance to see the university’s picturesque campus.

If you and your travel partners are interested in a more immersive experience, consider visiting Otherworld, a combined art and virtual reality exhibition that spans 32,000 square feet and evokes world-class experiential art installations like the famous Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. Over 40 artists collaborated to build a unique aesthetic experience so well received by critics, that it was featured in TIME Magazine’s “World’s Coolest Places” list in 2019.

Connect With the Great Outdoors

The average high temperature in Columbus doesn’t usually dip below 50 °F until November, so make some time to enjoy the city’s parks and outdoor attractions. If you want to stay downtown, check out the Scioto Mile, an urban green space on the Scioto River that connects nine parks as it winds through some of the densest parts of the city.

A short distance away is tiny Topiary Park, designed to recreate famous Impressionist painter Georges Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte” in three dimensions with topiaries. It’s well worth a stop on your way to visit the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which boasts an array of indoor and outdoor gardens, sculptural installations, and light exhibits. The gardens are updated seasonally, so you can visit them all year round.

Further north and slightly out of the city is the Columbus Park of Roses, also known as Whetstone Park. Its compact 13 acres contain over 11,000 rose bushes, making it a local destination for avid gardeners, landscape photographers, and visitors looking for a relaxing respite from the bustling city. There are so many options in Columbus that it can be difficult to know where you should start but planning your day around these favourite local haunts is a great way to experience the city at its best.