By all accounts, 2020 is going to be a big year for Columbus, providing travellers with plenty of reasons to visit one of America’s fastest-growing cities.
Unprecedented hotel openings, new attractions and outstanding installations and exhibitions at the Columbus’ many art and culture institutions add to the city’s burgeoning excitement.
In addition, airlines are adding flights to Columbus, including Alaska Airlines which just announced a second daily nonstop Seattle flight to John Glenn Columbus International Airport. All this comes on the heels of the city surpassing San Francisco in population, with massive growth propelling Columbus to become the 14th largest city in the US.
Hotel Boom
Five new hotels are about to grace the downtown Columbus skyline, with three already opened and two others ready to welcome visitors by 2022. This extraordinary level of development adds more than 1,000 hotel rooms to the city’s downtown core. These include, lifestyle boutique Canopy by Hilton, the college-themed Graduate Columbus, the millennial-focused Moxy, which opened in late 2019; and a 468-room expansion to the Hilton Columbus Downtown and an AC Hotel by Marriott that are in the works.
Culinary Centre
The city’s culinary scene continues to thrive, with multiple restaurants opening in 2020, complementing Columbus’ notable international cuisine.
In the next few months, Budd Dairy Food Hall opens in the beautifully restored Budd Dairy building, located in Columbus’ emerging Italian Village neighbourhood. This latest concept from wildly successful restauranteur Cameron Mitchell is a chef-driven food incubator designed to help the city’s top up-and-coming chefs grow as entrepreneurs and serve their community. Chef partners include: Boni: Filipino Street Food, Cousins Maine Lobster, Pokebap, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, Tacos Rudos, Alphabetical Comfort Kitchen, Borgata, Darista and Modern Southern Table.
Arts Explorations
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, Art After Stonewall, 1969-1989 comes home to the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) after stops in New York and Miami.
Columbus Museum of Art curated the groundbreaking exhibit, which ARTnews named one of the best and most important exhibitions of the decade. This expansive survey features more than 200 works of art and related visual materials that explore the profound impact of the LGBTQ civil rights movement on the art world. This larger, more comprehensive show will feature many works never before seen together. It will be on view in Columbus March 6 to May 31.
The completion of years of improvements to Columbus’ celebrated Short North Arts District will showcase massive development, all-new streetscapes and a visitor-friendly parking app. This summer, most of the projects will be finalized and the neighbourhood will celebrate by launching a series of live public art events during its lively June Gallery Hop, which shine a spotlight on this dynamic neighbourhood and the city’s thriving creative class. The development will also feature expanded holiday events and offerings.
Animal Magnetism
Opening in May, the long-anticipated Adventure Cove at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will give visitors an up-close view of seals and sea lions. The $40-million, 4.1-acre expansion will feature Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounters Village, where guests can observe animal demonstrations and have one-on-one experiences with animals.
Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio’s capital is known for its open attitude, smart style and entrepreneurial spirit. Columbus’ blend of neighbourhoods, dynamic nightlife, noteworthy music scene, arts and culinary experiences, events, attractions and accommodations are all made unforgettable by the diversity of its outgoing locals who warmly welcome visitors.
For more, go to www.ExperienceColumbus.com.
