With 57,000 students, 17 colleges, 170 majors, and nearly half a million alumni around the world, The Ohio State University is one of the largest and most famous educational institutions in the country. Stroll the university grounds and visit points of interest like the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Chadwick Arboretum. Football fans should be sure to take in a game at Ohio Stadium, home of the seven-time national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. If hockey is your sport, head to Nationwide Arena to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets play an NHL game. The Arena also hosts the United States Hockey League’s Ohio Junior Blue Jackets, many great concerts and a wide variety of other world-class entertainment. If you want to learn more about science in an exciting setting, head to COSI. Formerly known as the Center of Science and Industry, this dynamic science museum features more than 300 exhibits covering topics like the Oceans, Space, Gadgets and the work of Albert Einstein. The last Friday of every month is Family Friday Night, featuring special prices, live entertainment and fun activities for kids and adults alike.
Continue your educational exploration with a visit to the Ohio Historical Center. The center’s collection of permanent and travelling exhibits covers state history, early settlement, transportation, the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. For history buffs interested in primary sources, the center’s Archives Library collects and preserves written, graphic and genealogical information pertaining to the state’s history. Make sure to stop into the Ohio History Store to commemorate your visit with a book, magazine, historical reproduction or other item. Located just north of downtown, the Short North neighborhood is Columbus’ trendy cultural epicenter. Take a walk through the neighborhood and stop by its boutiques, galleries, restaurants, coffee houses and theaters. Once the sun goes down, Short North is a night life hotspot, with over a dozen nightclubs providing opportunities to watch live music, grab a drink or dance. Originally settled by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, German Village is an internationally-recognized historic district just blocks from downtown Columbus. With many German-themed shops, galleries, restaurants and pubs, the area’s historical heritage is alive and well. A must-visit attraction in the neighborhood is the Book Loft store, featuring 32 rooms of books, music, cards, posters and magazines.
With so much to see and do in Columbus, it is important to make sure you have a great hotel room to unwind in at the end of a long day. Be sure to book with Choice Hotels in Columbus, Ohio in order to fully enjoy your trip to the Buckeye State.