Columbus, Georgia, is truly a destination with something unique for every traveler to do and see. This hidden gem boasts a significant number of attractions that are exclusive to the city as well as inimitable eateries and affordable accommodations. www.visitcolumbusga.com
The GA State Legislature established Columbus at the fall line of the Chattahoochee River in 1828 because they recognized its potential as an inland port. The Yuchi Tribe of the Creek Indian Nation lived in the area, on their traditional land, until they were driven out of the region in 1838-39 on the Trail of Tears. This tragedy opened the area to further settlement and the city’s river trade thrived with connections with national and international cotton markets. Prosperity continued with the coming of the railroad. #GoAllOut.
By 1860 of the 9,621 city residents more than 33% were enslaved and 141 were free blacks. At the onset of the Civil War Columbus industries changed to produce war materials. It became the Confederacy’s second largest supplier. On April 16, 1865, days after Lee’s surrender, the Battle of Columbus was fought. It is considered the final Civil War battle prior to the official dissolution of the CSA on May 5, 1865.
The city offers a series of tours and trails, both self-guided and unaccompanied. These thematic tours include Arts & Antebellum, Historic Cemeteries, Foodie and Downtown Columbus. Additionally, there is a 26-site Black Heritage Trail and a 12-site Soft Drink Heritage Trail. In May 1866 pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton stumbled upon the recipe for Coca-Cola in his Columbus home. Pemberton was attempting to invent a medicine to take the place of the morphine to which he was addicted because of a painful Civil War wound. Two of Pemberton’s former homes and his gravesite are in Columbus. www.historiccolumbus.com
Highlights of the Black Heritage Trail include the Ma Rainey House and Blues Museum and artifacts from Blind Tom” Wiggins a blind, mute, slave born in 1860. He performed exhibiting his ability to perfectly play on the piano any music he heard. He never collected a penny because he was property and after Emancipation they became his managers.
Gertrude Pridget, Ma Rainey, performed from the time she was 14 and is considered the “Mother of the Blues”. She retired in Columbus, where she was born, in 1886, died there in 1939 and is interred in Porterdale Cemetery. www.columbusGAblackheritage.com
Along the 15-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk Columbus’ natural rapids form a 2.5-mile long urban white-water course, the longest in the world. Adventurers can select from mild to wild with rapids classified from I-V and the biggest waves in eastern US. Visitors can kayak, stand up paddleboard, tube and fly fish in the heart of downtown. www.whitewaterexpress.com/chattahoochee/
You will love the Lunch Box Museum. It has been featured on television and is one of a kind. The collection is displayed in showcases and begin with a Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox with a picture the size of the then tv screens. There are 600 different lunchboxes and a total of approximately 2000 items including trays, thermoses, etc. Duplicates are on sale and the Smithsonian has visited to add to their collection. lunchboxmuseum.com
The 155-acre National Infantry Museum tour begins with dioramas of eight historic battlefields that reinforce the importance of “the last hundred yards” in any battle. The sculptures are based on real soldiers. There are 11 immersive galleries, combat simulators and a giant screen theater. Graduates walk across a field seeded with soil from the historic battlefields. Patriot Park, an outdoor memorial to the Global War on Terrorism, features granite panels with 6900 names beginning in 2006, a steel beam from the 911 South Tower, a replica Vietnam Wall and life-sized bronze sculpted soldiers. www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org
Eddie Owens Martin was born in 1908 to Georgia sharecroppers. He always felt different and at 14 he moved to NY. While in NY during an illness he was visited by time travelers, Pasaquans, who told him to return home and found a place of peace and art. He called himself St. EOM and established Pasaquan on 7-acres. Today there are 900-ft of masonry walls and 6 structures completely covered with visionary artworks. St. EOM took his life in 1986. He is remembered on a wall in Philadelphia’s Magic Garden and has been featured on CNN. www.pasaquan.columbusstate.edu
Located nearby is Richland Rum, the only single estate rum producer in the US. They grow the cane and process the rum from cane to cup. Tours, tastings and cane farm visits are by request. www.richlandrum.com
Columbus is filled with more than its share of great eateries. You can eat your way through the city and a must stop is the award-winning Country’s Barbeque renowned for its fried pickles, Vidalia onion dip and sweet tea. www.countrysbarbecue
The Columbus Marriott Downtown is centrally located within walking distance of the majority of attractions and offers a menu of amenities.www.marriott.com
Columbus, Georgia is truly an undiscovered gem. You should plan to visit before its wonders go viral! #alloutfun, www.visitcolumbusga.com
TRAVEL TIPS:
Modern technology can make traveling with a variety of devices much smoother. The new Twist World Adapter Duo MacBook makes adapting your dual USB charger for use in 150 countries as easy as a twist. It offers rapid charging for smartphone and an outlet for additional devices. www.oneadapter.com. ThingCharger features both a tip for Apple and a micro USB for Android and 2 additional USB ports on the bottom. www.Thingcharger.com
These items and more innovative tech are available at The Grommet. www.thegrommet.com
No comments:
Post a Comment