Chattahoochee RiverWalk photo courtesy of VisitColumbusGA

ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL & DINING

A Quick Getaway to Columbus, Georgia

Article & Photography by Chanelle Hayes-Sessions

Beyond Atlanta, I hadn’t explored much of Georgia. So on a recent trip, my husband and I decided to change that and head to Columbus for a couple of days. We flew into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from Las Vegas and made the roughly 90-minute drive south. Once we left the city behind, I-85 to I-185 became a quiet stretch of road lined with miles of greenery.

Arriving on a Saturday morning worked out perfectly, as we made it in time for Market Days on Broadway, a weekly farmers market-style event in Uptown Columbus that runs from spring to fall. Stretching across multiple blocks, vendors offered everything from Jamaican, Filipino and Korean food to handmade goods, jewelry and fresh flowers. Coming from Las Vegas and its fast-paced energy, Columbus felt different. There was an easy calm to it that made the entire area feel relaxed, almost like you had stepped outside a traditional downtown altogether.

Our stroll took us past Veri Best Donuts, where a steady line had already formed for fresh doughnuts, JudyBug’s Books, an independent bookstore with new and used novels and vinyl records, and Rocket Fizz, a retro candy and soda shop. Along the way, we passed fountains, public seating areas and local artwork, including the “Reading is Fun” sculpture donated by the Kiwanis Club of Columbus.

We stopped for lunch at The Mix Market at The Pearl, a unique dining space with a bakery display, high-top seating, a pizza oven turning out Neapolitan-style pies and a self-serve tap wall. With a menu ranging from tacos and burgers to pasta and Asian-inspired dishes, we kept it simple with shareable appetizers.

Our next stop was The Columbus Museum, which showcased the city’s history and culture, with displays on its founding, the Chattahoochee River and figures like artist Alma Thomas and blues singer Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, both born in Columbus. A standout was seeing work by Dale Chihuly, a familiar name to us, as his large-scale glass installation “Fiori di Como” is displayed on the ceiling of the Bellagio lobby in Las Vegas. We also explored galleries and rotating exhibits like “Monica Ikegwu: Through the Veil.”

After an hour, we made our way back downtown to check into the Columbus Marriott, housed in a restored mid-19th-century cotton mill. Throughout the drive, we noticed how many historic buildings have been preserved, giving the city a strong sense of character. Inside, the lobby featured warm lighting and a secluded area for MClub members to enjoy free breakfast and light bites each night. Our room on the top floor offered a cozy feel and was just the right size.

For dinner, we headed to The Goetchius House nearby. Originally built in 1839 as the home of architect Richard Goetchius, it still carries a strong sense of history. Inside, charming details, including a piano in the main dining room, added to the atmosphere. The menu was small but thoughtfully curated. We both landed on the petit filet with risotto and broccolini and a surf and turf with sautéed shrimp, herb-roasted potatoes and asparagus, paired with signature cocktails like the Blackberry Buck and the Kingston Bird.

From there, it was off to the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts for “Drumline Live” inside the Bill Heard Theatre. Before the show began, Executive Director Lee Foster noted that the center will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2027, with a special celebration planned. What followed was more than two and a half hours of nonstop performance, as the show leaned into an HBCU-style drumline and a soundtrack of hits from Michael Jackson, Prince, James Brown, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé, blending old-school and modern sounds that kept the crowd engaged from start to finish. The momentum carried into the lobby and even outside afterward, where people, including us, lingered a little longer.

For a nightcap, we ended up at Stirrup Trouble, a cocktail lounge where a weekend DJ played while we sipped espresso martinis, a perfect way to end our first day in Columbus.

The next morning, we had breakfast in the MClub lounge before driving to the Chattahoochee RiverWalk. Beyond walking the trail, excursions like whitewater rafting and ziplining can be booked through Whitewater Express. Even on a quiet, cloudy morning, the views alone made the stop worth it. Just across from the RiverWalk, we made a note to return the next day to Banks Food Hall, which is typically open on Sundays but was closed that day for Easter Sunday.

A short drive brought us to the Highside Market complex for lunch at Nonic Restaurant & Rooftop Bar. The dining room felt bright and welcoming, with a menu featuring specialties like the Nonic’s Club stacked with ham, turkey, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, with a tangy balsamic sauce that tied it all together.

Before leaving, a bold mural on the building with the words “Good Times Rain or Shine” written above it caught our attention. From there, we headed to the Columbus Botanical Garden, where, even in the rain, we wandered through wildflowers and roses and saw structures like the Gin House.

We returned to the hotel to recharge before dinner at Houlihan’s, where casual plates were paired with cocktails like the Cold Brew Bourbon Mocha and the Sunset Sour made with rum, strawberry-grapefruit juice, lime and cherry.

By morning, our Columbus trip was coming to an end, but it wasn’t over yet. We walked over to Iron Bank Coffee for hot tea and a latte. My husband described it as a “Starbucks with a small-town feel.”

Housed in one of the largest cast-iron buildings in Georgia, built around 1860 for the Bank of Columbus, the space still carries its history, with glimpses of the original bank vault still visible inside.

Afterward, we headed back to the hotel to check out and made our way to Banks Food Hall. A few of the vendors, like Poke Sun and Filberto’s, were tempting, but we went to Angry Wings & Things, which is known for its Korean fried chicken and wings breaded in a gluten-free rice flour coating for extra crispiness. We then stopped at El Primo Taqueria for carne asada tacos served on corn tortillas with cilantro and onions, and finished with Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. There was also a bar serving craft beers. Overall, it was an easy, affordable meal with a view from the wraparound patio overlooking the river.

From there, it was time to head to the airport and back to Las Vegas. Although it was a quick getaway, Columbus truly left a mark.