I was invited to Experience Columbus and here’s my weekend guide! All opinions are my own.

Ohio, there!

I’ve just returned from Columbus and I’m excited to share my weekend itinerary with you! Now, you may be wondering why you should visit Columbus and I did too before I came. I once heard Drake make a clever reference to THE Ohio state Buckeyes in one of his songs, but I’ve gotta be honest and admit that I didn’t know much about this place. I stepped off of the plane with little to no expectations because as you all know, I truly believe this is the best way to travel - and just live life in general. We all know that I love a destination that is full of surprises and Columbus didn’t fall short.

First, I’d like to share a few fun facts about the city:

It’s a college town and rather young city with the median age hovering between 30-33 years old, so there’s alot of change & growth happening in the city. I’m talking cute AF rooftop bars, endless art galleries, hospitable people, and a super impressive food scene.
It’s in the ‘heart of it all’, meaning that nearly 50 percent of Americans live within a 600 mile radius of the city. You can get to major cities like NYC, Atlanta, and Chicago all within a days time. Perfect for road-trips!
Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and the 15th largest state capital in the United States. Interesting, right?

WHERE TO FEAST

We admittedly spent way too much time eating, but I’m not complaining one bit! Here were some of my favorite restaurants and meals:

Stroll through the North Market to choose from a large selection of food merchants, vendors, farmers, and makers. From Vietnamese food to Polish food to Tibetan food, they’ve got whatever you’re craving!
Enjoy Breakfast at Fox In The Snow, which is known for its insanely delicious(and massive) pastries. Think cinnamon sugar cobblestone muffins and sour cream coffee cakes and salted dark chocolate brownies. Good luck with choosing just one!
Did you even visit Columbus if you didn’t grab a cone from Jeni’s Icecream? I personally loved Frose Sorbet and Goat Cheese with Red Cherries!
Visit Katalina for some of their mouthwatering Nutella stuffed pancake balls. Yes, they are as good as they sound! Be prepared to wait in line!
The Pearl’s N’awlins style oysters are HEAVENLY! Don’t even get me started on the Jalapeno corn spoon bread with whipped butter and local honey! The atmosphere is really lively and with DIY-mimosas, this is an ideal brunch spot.
Eat elevated plant-based cuisine at the Comune. Whether you’re a vegetarian or meat-eater, you’ll find the menu to be thoughtful and the meals to be well-crafted.
The Kitchen is more than a cooking class - it’s an collaborative cooking experience for everyone involved. Chefs will guide you as you collectively prepare a meal of choice from scratch.
Sip on an exceptional cocktail(or two) at Service Bar - I recommend the Che Guava and Rhinestone cowboy! Stop by for happy hour between 5:00-6:30pm Wednesday through Friday!

WHAT TO DO

Admire the engaging and impressive collection at the Columbus Museum of Art. It was Ohio’s first art museum and it’s an absolute gem! The layout is fantastic and it’s curated very well.
Find some calm as you kayak along the Scioto River! This was such a great way to disconnect and discover the natural beauty of Columbus.
Cross zip-lining off your bucket-list with Zip Zone Tours!
Ignite your senses and create your own candles at the candle lab.
Stroll through the Short North District, which is full of art galleries, exhibitions, street art, record shops, craft breweries, and coffeehouses. Known as the ‘art and soul’ of Columbus, this area is definitely worth exploring.
Wander through the German Village, a historic village that dates back to the early 19th century. This is a great way to witness the influence from German immigrants who settled this charming neighbourhood way back in the day! Visit the bookloft, which is known for having over 30 rooms of books.
Spend some time at the Franklin Park Conservatory, a plant lover’s paradise.
Check the Columbus Center of Science And Industry calendar for their bi-monthly After Dark(21+) events!

WHERE TO DRINK AND DANCE

Cheers to Columbus on the Ale Trail at local breweries like Wolf’s Ridge, Seventh Son, and Land Grant. With over 46 breweries in the city alone, the beer scene is booming!
Play an old-school arcade game for free for every drink that you order at the 16-Bit Bar!
Grab a drink(try the Weird Uncle!) with rooftop views at Antiques on High!
Sip and chill on the rooftop of Vaso with an incredible city view.

From the engaging collection at the Columbus Museum of Art to the Nutella stuffed pancake balls at Katalina(GAH!!) to kayaking down the Scioto River, I left Colombus feeling rather satisfied. A two-three day trip was the perfect amount of time to enjoy all that the Columbus had to offer. There’s something charming about the capital of Ohio and I’d say that it’s definitely worth a visit - even if only for a weekend!

Have you visited Columbus, Ohio? If so, what was your perception?

Thanks to Experience Columbus for inviting me - I’m not sure that I would have visited this city on my own, so I love that these kind of trips provide me the ability to showcase more accessible, yet underrated destinations!