Car Hire Columbus - Mini guide to Columbus

Ohio's capital city, Columbus, an exciting blend of cultural attractions, arts and history museums, lively evening activity and old architecture, appeals to a wide range of visitors.

Columbus is home to the enormous Ohio State University, which injects the city with the vibrancy of student life. The Wexner Centre for the Arts, which forms part of the university, boasts a fabulous collection of modern art. Another worthwhile museum is the Columbus Museum of Modern Art, where visitors can enjoy a superb series of Impressionist and post-Impressionist works and a unique sculpture garden.

Columbus has a massive, world-famous zoo where you can see over 600 species of wildlife in the 162-hectare area. The zoo is known for the success of its breeding program, probably enhanced by the wonderfully maintained environment and the expansiveness of its grounds. A highlight at the zoo is the spectacular 100,000 gallon tropical aquarium and coral reef.

The centre of the city is dotted with statues of historical figures, particularly that of its namesake, Christopher Columbus. A replica of the Santa Maria, the ship in which Columbus travelled to America, is docked downtown on the Scioto River. The Ohio Statehouse, otherwise known as the 'Hat Box Capitol' because of its domed roof, is one of the oldest capitol buildings in the US that continues to be utilised today. It is a fantastic example of historic architecture, designed in the Greek Revival style.

At Ohio Village, visitors can see how locals lived in the mid-19th century. This re-creation is complete with costumed 'villagers', who demonstrate daily activities, crafts and life as it was during the American Civil War.

The picturesque German Village, south of the city centre, is an excellent place for a leisurely stroll through the tree-lined streets and past red-brick buildings, old iron fences, and German restaurants and inns. Nearby is the fashionable area of Short North, with its collection of bars, coffee shops, nightclubs, boutiques and art galleries creating a stylish but bohemian atmosphere.

The major suburbs in Columbus are: Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, Groveport, Hillard, New Albany, Pickerington, Powell, Whitehall and Upper Arlington.