When it comes to the Midwest, locals proudly boast that “Midwest is best”, but many travelers overlook this sprawling region of the U.S. due to teeth-chattering winters, no seaside vacation spots, and, to be frank, some real duds as far as major cities go.
I mean, have you been to Cleveland?
The good news is there’s another Ohio city picking up the slack. Nope, it’s not Cincinnati, despite formerly being labeled the “Paris of the West” in the 1800s.
Now more recently dubbed “Porkopolis”, which pretty much sums up why we’ll turn our attention away from Cincy in favor of Columbus, unless you’d like me to write an article for your dog as a bucket-list destination to the ‘land of bacon’.
In that case, email me.
Otherwise, Columbus deserves to shine bright in the limelight. Pre-conceived notions of Ohio go out the window as this city is a far cry from vast cornfields and polite waves from tractor drivers.
This underrated hotspot has become one of the trendiest cities in America. In fact, local reports confirm it’s on pace for a record-breaking year.
Why 2024 Was Columbus’ Best Year Yet
Word of mouth is everything when it comes to travel. Rarely will you ever visit with an extremely unsafe or overhyped reputation if those near and dear to you claim bad experiences.
Columbus has been on the up and up for years, easily earning a seat at the table with the likes of America’s trendiest destinations.
One could argue Boise, Nashville, and Austin fill out the rest of the party of 4, so as you can see, Columbus is in great company.
Colombus’ airport (CMH) is having its best year on record, even before a boost of holiday travelers. But why?
Well, word trickles out fast when hidden gems are uncovered. One TripAdvisor reviewer boasted about downtown by saying she ‘Did not realize just how beautiful and how clean this city was’, adding ‘All of downtown was absolutely beautiful!’
Good times galore in Columbus, and the secret is out. The city is highly regarded as an affordable haven with a buzzing food and arts scene anchored by top restaurants like Watershed Kitchen + Bar and the always-busy North Market, a proud fanbase for their beloved Blue Jackets, and a growing population adding to the city’s vibrancy and diversity.
Speaking of, you’d probably never guess which Midwest city oozes European vibes – it’s not Chicago.
Surprising Cultural Delights: The Midwest’s Slice Of Germany
Some of us circle our calendars each year ready to take part in one of the world’s favorite occasions – Oktoberfest, a 200+ year old German tradition.
Although, ironically, it’s held in September, it’s always a blast to whip out your finest German gear from the back of the closet, not that I own a Lederhosen…
Here in Columbus, you won’t have to wait ’til September or Oktober to indulge in German delights and festivities as the city’s popular German Village should be at the top of your Columbus wishlist.
Better yet, the neighboring district is the Brewery District. See a theme here?
If Cincinnati was once the “Paris of America” Columbus at the very least should be dubbed “the Munich of the Midwest”.
As one of the most sightly neighborhoods to explore, you have to take advantage of German goodies besides boot-glassed beers, like simply perusing charming streets and admiring Bavarian architecture and, of course, feasting on German Sausages at eateries like Schmidt’s Sausage Haus with a high 4.7 Google rating.
Also, check out The Book Loft, a massive independent bookstore that is perfect for grabbing a new read for one of Columbus’s many cozy cafes or for the flight back home.
Travel Tip: Don’t skip Italian Village and Olde Town East for more historic and cultural delights.
Affordable Luxury & Cheap Flights
It’s not just new homeowners taking advantage of Columbus’ affordability; it’s vacationers too.
Columbus may still fly under the radar for many, but those in the know happily fork over credit cards here since the value is incredible.
Not many cities offer luxe stays without breaking the bank anymore, but Columbus is the last of the Mohicans in that regard.
According to Google, here are 10 luxury hotels you can book for under $200 per night: (no particular order)
- Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph
- Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection
- Graduate by Hilton Columbus
- The Junto
- DoubleTree Suites Downtown
- Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel
- Sonest Columbus Downtown
- Hilton Columbus Downtown
- The Westin Great Southern Columbus
- The Plaza Hotel Columbus at Capitol Square
See what I mean? Just think what that means for Airbnb since the housing market is so affordable…
Yep, you can score downtown pet-friendly condos under $100 per night.
Columbus has become more connected in recent years, but it’s often cheap to reach too.
These 4 U.S. budget airlines currently serve Columbus:
- Breeze Airways
- Frontier Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines (seasonal)
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