Your Guide to Columbus, Ohio
Odds are if you’re not from Ohio, you may only know this state by its three C’s: Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Now, knowing the difference between those three? Forget about it.
I had that same mentality too, and while I knew each city would be different, I had absolutely no clue just how different they could be.
After many suggestions to visit Columbus, Peter and I have been eager to finally check it out and cross the final ‘C’ off our list. Our weekend was packed with the best of Columbus, based on some light research and friend recommendations of course, and I can’t wait to unpack it all for you!
Where to stay in Columbus, Ohio
We were graciously invited to stay with Airriva for the weekend which was the perfect say for our quick vacay! In case you aren’t familiar with Airriva, just picture Airbnb, but without the individual owner. Basically we booked a room through the Airriva site and were given exact location and instructions four hours before check-in time. When we arrived, we used a code to enter the building and another for our apartment!
It was awesome to have an entire apartment, equipped with a full kitchen and apartment amenities, without a crazy price tag. We even had parking included which is always a bonus when staying in a city. Plus, we were over by the German Village area which was a cool side of town to explore that we otherwise would’ve missed!
Airriva has locations all over, which means if you are looking for a great spot to stay on your next trip or staycation, be sure to check them out! Use my link to let them know I sent you :)
If I was to recommend an area to stay during your weekend in Columbus, I would say that Short North is your spot. There are plenty of hotels on High Street to choose from, but the closer to Short North, the better. It’s the number one spot to spend time eating, drinking and shopping!
What to do during a weekend in Columbus, OH
Your Itinerary for 48 hours in Columbus:
★ Try some coffee
If there’s one thing you need on vacation, it’s a cup of joe, and a good one at that. Luckily for you, if there’s one thing I like to do, it’s spending reckless amounts of money on coffee.
☆ Start your day with a cold brew w/oat milk and vanilla from Fox in the Snow. This is hands down the cutest cafe and worth spending some time chilling at. We snagged a delicious blueberry tarte + some iced coffee to get the day flowin’. Peter still talks about that blueberry tarte, it was that good!
☆ If you’re near Ohio State, be sure to pop by Stauf’s Coffee Roasters. They have locations throughout the city, however the one in Victorian Village was SO awesome. From what I understand, it was an old church turned coffee shop and man is it special!
Since we were only there a couple days we didn’t get to try more, but if we did, here are some honorable mentions: One Line Coffee, Brioso and Flowers and Bread.
★ Go shopping
☆ Easton Mall: I will admit, after growing up with the Mall of America in my backyard, I am a bit of a mall snob, but, the Easton Mall blew me away! To be honest, we only went because I had a return to make, but g’all dang I’m so thankful I did because this gem was fabulous! The stores are posh, the vibes are immaculate and the restaurants are incredible. I would highly recommend popping by if you have time.
☆ Short North: This is for sure the best area to burn off your brews/get your steps. Short North is an area with plenty of stores to bop into aimlessly and restaurants to refuel at in between credit card swipes. If I had to recommend one store, I would say Vamp is a cool spot for women’s clothes that are fun and trendy.
★ Catch a game
Columbus is a city stocked with professional sports teams. From football and baseball to professional soccer, there’s something to check out all season long! We were lucky enough to snag $60 tickets to the Columbus Crew game on Saturday afternoon, which ended up being the highlight of our trip! I found them on TickPick and was shocked when we entered the stadium and found our seats just 3 rows up from the sidelines. It was SO incredibly fun, not only because soccer is my favorite sport, but also because it was a great atmosphere with passionate fans!
★ Swing by the Market
The North Market in Columbus is a must-see for newcomers and returning visitors alike. This food hall is the perfect place to grab a snack or picinic-goodies, with a large variety of vendors throughout. Don’t even get me started on the soft pretzels… holy.
★ Drive through German Village
We actually had no clue German Village existed until we took a wrong turn and found ourselves on cobblestone streets in a random Columbus neighborhood.
★ Wander through THE Ohio State University
If I’ve ever been to Ohio State before, it is definitely worth an afternoon stroll. Funny enough, the weekend we visited was move-in weekend for freshman so the campus was buzzing with families and students settling in. We spent a couple hours wandering around the massive campus, from the library to commons, admiring the incredible buildings and beautifully manicured parks.
Where to eat in Columbus, OH
If there’s one thing people in Columbus know how to do, it’s eat and drink! There are endless places to wet your whistle, whether you’re looking to bar hop, brewery taste or just grab some good food. Again, we were only there for two days and didn’t get to try everything, but I wanted to share with you some of the best suggestions I received from pals!
Breakfast:
Katalina’s - the pancake balls look insane
Fox in the Snow - I know I already said it, but please go!
Lunch/Dinner:
Michael’s diner
Matt & Tony’s
Local Cantina
Sauage Haus - this is in the german village! It seems like it would be great for big groups!
Chapman’s
Drinks:
North High Brewing - they have a solid menu (my fav being their chicken tenders) + a killer atmosphere!
Lincoln Social - known for their great rooftop bar!
Seventh South
Land Grant
North Star
Pinthouse
Highbank
Please let me know if you make your way to Columbus for a weekend & use this link to book your stay with Airriva! I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures (and delicious meals!).
XOXO
Katie
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*All opinions are my own. Thank you Airriva for sponsoring this post!