German Heritage in Columbus

Columbus’ early identity was shaped in part by substantial numbers of German immigrants who arrived in the early 1800s, and German Village, the neighborhood where many of them settled, receives due recognition as a place charged with preserving American history. The entire neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is also a federally designated “Preserve America Community.”

The original character of the neighborhood has only been enhanced by the restoration and preservation work of recent decades: distinctive red brick buildings, traditional German restaurants, and Victorian inns of the charming “Queen Anne” style line the tree-shaded streets. Locals and visitors relax in the public gardens and—when the weather permits—ride along the well maintained bike paths.

Many people might say the greatest cultural experience you can have in German Village is a visit to Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus (as seen on the Food Network and the Travel Channel). If you can’t do justice to the famous German Autobahn Buffet, go “light” with some Bavarian cabbage rolls, a Schnitzel platter, or one of the signature Jumbo Cream Puffs.

Photo Credit: German Village, Columbus, Ohio (Wikipedia)

Experience Columbus

As one of the first destinations in the U.S. to develop a comprehensive “experiential tourism” program, Columbus is fully committed to proving that there’s more to it than meets the eye. From German Village to the Columbus Italian Festival, whether dining on farm-to-table cuisine or putting on the team colors and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes, here are four authentic, only-in-Columbus experiences.

Go Buckeyes!
With one of the largest university populations of any city in the U.S., Columbus sees a ton of excitement around college athletics. All the Ohio State teams are the Buckeyes, but if you want to see school spirit at its most frenzied, come and cheer on the Big Ten football team at Ohio Stadium—familiarly known as the ‘shoe.

Kelton House History
Get a somber yet inspirational American history lesson at this authenticated Underground Railroad stop. Back during the Underground Railroad era, it was a crime in Ohio to hide slaves or assist in their flight, but Fernando and Sophia Kelton remained firm in their beliefs and their actions. Not only did they shelter fleeing slaves in their home, but Fernando was also a “conductor” who would help them on the next leg of their journeys.

Where to Find Budget Culture in the Midwest

Find culture on the cheap in these five laid-back Midwestern cities:

Indianapolis, Indiana
Visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art or the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art for free, or visit the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on one of its free admission days.

Minneapolis, Minneapolis
Admission to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are always free. St. Paul’s Como Zoo and Conservatory is also free, and the Minnesota Historical Society hosts free admission days to historic sites in the Twin Cities.

Classic Americana: Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati, Ohio, has had its share of comparisons. The city's pioneering urban contemporaries were Pittsburgh and Nashville; its prominent position on the Ohio River meant it joined the likes of Louisville and New Orleans as a 19th-century "riverboat" town. During the industrial revolution, Cincinnati drew waves of immigrants, similar to Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit. But one Cincinnati characteristic—world-famous chili served over spaghetti—remains distinctly its own.

Photo credit: Cincinnati, Ohio (Corbis)

Cleveland Trip Highlights: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

The centerpiece of Cleveland's North Coast Harbor is, hands down, the 150,000-square-foot Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Located in the city that served as a springboard for artists such as David Bowie and Elvis Presley, world-renowned architect I.M. Pei designed the building as a sculptural tribute to the energy of rock and roll.

Photo credit: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio (courtesy, Visitor's Bureau of Greater Cleveland)