Whether you are looking for outdoor recreation, musical and dramatic performances, art galleries, or fascinating museums, Columbus has all the bases covered. There are entertainment options available for a wide range of interests.
Playing On and Beside Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River is a paddler's paradise. Kayakers of all skill levels flock to the region for both calm and whitewater adventures. Chattahoochee Whitewater Park is the headquarters. Interestingly, certain hours of the day are best for beginners, while other hours are best for experienced paddlers.
If you prefer to take your adventure to the air above the river, consider ziplining from Georgia to Alabama and back again via the Blue Heron Adventure Park.
Geocaching is also extremely popular in Columbus. Thirty-two geocaches are located on the 15-mile-long Riverwalk, and more than 400 are located throughout Columbus.
Attending a Superb Performance
RiverCenter for the Performing Arts houses three separate performance spaces: the 2000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, the 430-seat Legacy Hall, and the 150-seat Black Box Studio Theater. About two dozen Broadway productions, symphony concerts, children's theater performances, and more are scheduled throughout every season.
The Springer Opera House produces 11 shows yearly featuring actors who have auditioned from all over the United States. It is a stunning historic venue built in 1871. I personally had a chance to see the opening night performance of "Guys and Dolls" at Springer and was totally captivated by the production.
Touring an Art Gallery
Bo Bartlett is a nationally-recognized modern artist who was born in Columbus. The Bo Bartlett Center at the Corn Center for the Visual Arts at Columbus State University features many of his works along with traveling exhibits providing new works for students and visitors to enjoy on a continual basis.
Discovering History: Musical, Military, and Quirky
The National Infantry Museum, associated with Fort Benning (to be renamed Fort Moore on May 11), is a 190,000-square-foot museum consistently voted among the best in the country by USA Today. The interactive exhibits are superbly presented and extremely inspirational.
The Columbus Museum is currently being renovated but will be a source of pride for the city when it is completed. It showcases American art as well as regional history.
The Ma Rainey House and Blues Museum traces the life and influence of Columbus native, Ma Rainey, who is often called "the Mother of the Blues." You will need to make an appointment in advance for a tour.
Columbus Collective Museums combines the quirky and the educational with displays for discoveries and businesses that have contributed to the growth and success of Columbus. Inside, you will find the Royal Crown Cola Museum, the Chero-Cola Museum, the Nehi Museum, the Georgia Radio Museum, and Tom Huston's Peanuts Museum, but my favorite is the Lunch Box Museum. It was like a stroll through pop culture of the 70s, 80s, and beyond.
I suspect I have listed one or more places you'd like to investigate. And don't forget my posts about places to eat, a new boutique hotel, and public art. Plan a visit to Columbus soon. You might want to tack a few days on before or after an Auburn sporting event (Columbus is less than an hour's drive from the campus). I believe you'll be as surprised as I was by the ways this city has turned itself into a wonderfully attractive place to spend time.