Sightseeing in Columbus - what to see. Complete travel guide

Columbus is the capital of the U.S. state of Ohio. This is the largest city in this state. At the moment, Columbus is recognized as one of the fifty best cities in the United States. Tourists find it very interesting to walk in old city streets and enjoy the enchanting view from the waterfront. Many tourists expect to find a modern megalopolis, and so they are surprised when they see a charming city with many low-rise buildings. It sometimes feels that time flies slowly in Columbus, and the city lives in the past. However, Columbus is actually a well-developed settlement with modern factories and rich cultural life.

The history of Columbus started soon after the United States had finally got their long-awaited independence. A small village appeared on the site of modern Columbus. A settler from Virginia, Lucas Sullivant, was the founder of that village. The new settlement was called Franklinton. In 1812, it was decided to make the village area the capital of a new state. The new city was named Columbus after great explorer Christopher Columbus. Since that time, the region has been developing as the capital of the state. That being said, a disaster happened in Columbus in 1833. A cholera epidemic claimed the lives of many locals.

At the end of the 19th century, Columbus became a large industrial center in the United States. The population of the city increased to 125 thousand people. However, this was not the end of all troubles for Columbus. A large flood happened in the city in March 1913. Almost 100 people died, and many were left homeless. It took much time to rebuild the destroyed buildings. Later, Columbus had to deal with such problems as deindustrialization, revitalization of the city downtown, and demolishing old buildings. The first results of these attempts were visible already in the mid-90s of the 20th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Do you prefer to see natural attractions first? In this case, don’t forget to visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park is located close to Cleveland, and the distance to Columbus is a bit more than 200 kilometers. The national park covers an area of almost 132 square kilometers. Cuyahoga Valley is the only national park in the State of Ohio. Tourists started visiting this place roughly a hundred years ago. The park offers scenic views of the area near the Cuyahoga River and preserves its natural landscape. American businessman Hayward Kendall was one of the people who helped to open the park. In 1929, he donated 1.7 square kilometers near the Ritchie Ledges to the state of Ohio “for park purposes”. That area was named Virginia Kendall Park to honor Hayward Kendall’s mother. Later, it became a part of the national park.

This is a wonderful place to see local flora and fauna that is very interesting and diverse. In the national park, there are more than nine hundred types of different plants. This area is home to many species of birds, and there are more than forty different types of fish in local ponds. In Cuyahoga Valley National Park, it is possible to see the coyote, beaver, squirrel, wolf, and fox. Besides the mentioned species, there are many beautiful flowers in the park, such as gorgeous orchids, tender violets, and pompous hyacinths. Pay your attention to such rare flowers as lady’s slipper and blue phlox.

Parents with small children may find it interesting to visit a zoo in Columbus. This is quite a large animal park that impresses visitors with its look and planning. There is one thing that differs the zoo in Columbus from similar venues in other countries. The Columbus Zoo is divided into several zones, each of which has its own name. The first zone is North American, the second – Asian, the third is coastal, the fourth is African forest, and the fifth zone is dedicated to animals from Australia. Children are usually very excited to see that the distance to animals is small. In this zoo, cute red pandas, charming koalas, adult kangaroos, Amur tigers, and Humboldt penguins peacefully coexist in one area.

Do you like art? In 1930, the art museum opened in Columbus. A visit to this establishment is an amazing opportunity to see precious works of modern European and American masters. Besides that, there are many works by impressionists, expressionists, and followers of cubism. There are works by such famous painters as Monet and Picasso.

Columbus hosts many interesting festivals every year. For example, there is a festival dedicated to Asia in May, The event takes place in Franklin Park. Many people attend the festival to try Asian food and various products that are typical in different countries of this region. June is the time for the art festival that is impossible without various exhibitions, loud music, and interesting performances.

There is an international airport not far from the city - John Glenn Columbus International Airport. It accommodates domestic flights as well as flights from many other countries. Having arrived at the airport, take a bus to get to the city downtown. It is also possible to get to Columbus by bus from other cities in the United States, such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago.