Fall for the unexpected: Columbus, Ohio, is a spectacular autumn getaway
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- Columbus provides striking fall foliage, cozy stays and compact walkability.
- Franklin Park Conservatory blends seasonal décor with monthly cocktail events.
- Columbus' food scene spans global fare, local favorites and award-winning ice cream.
New England often gets all the leaf-peeping glory on social media, but we’re here to make a case for an under-the-radar fall destination: Columbus, Ohio. The state’s largest city is big on fall activities, trees bursting in fiery reds, oranges and golden hues, and a food scene that will surprise you. Plus, imagine a cool boutique hotel with plenty of cozy spaces for cuddling by a fire or daydreaming from your room’s window seat. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with Columbus in autumn.
All The Fall Feels In Columbus, Ohio
It’s a cool, crisp morning in late October. We’ve left our home base of The Junto Hotel and are strolling the nearby Scioto Mile, a scenic stretch of trails and parks that winds along the river. It’s a storybook introduction to the city’s fall charm: The sky-high buildings of downtown Columbus reflect dreamily in the water like a painting, while trees colored in an ombre effect of orange, red and gold dot the banks and glimmer in the morning sun. A bronzed deer sculpture stands watch over the Scioto River from the Rich Street Bridge, offering an autumnal backdrop so perfect that we had to stop for a photo.
From there, we hopped in the car and drove to German Village, wandering the historic streets established by German immigrants in the 1800s that were covered in colorful leaves. This charming, walkable area feels like it’s frozen in time, lined with brick pavers and original Georgian-style red brick homes — many adorned in autumn wreaths and flower boxes or delightfully spooky decor. It’s the ideal place to enjoy German food and beer during Oktoberfest celebrations in September, or to dress up for trick-or-treating on Halloween (or simply people-watch).
Expect over-the-top decorations, from witches’ hats dangling from trees to a “Hocus Pocus”-themed line of witches. The neighborhood is home to boutiques and specialty shops, including the independent two-story bookstore The Book Loft, where staffers curate their favorite creepy reads. Fun fact: Columbus is the hometown of horror legend R. L. Stine, who wrote “Goosebumps.” Stop in Winans, where you can pick up the famous Buckeye treats (chocolates stuffed with a creamy peanut butter filling) or cherry cordials. For more leaf-peeping, stroll Schiller Park.
But the can’t-miss fall attraction in Columbus is the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It’s beautiful year-round, thanks to its prized collection of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures, which sit prominently in water features and dangle from ceilings.
But in fall, it reaches another bewitching level. Start at the outdoor garden to snap photos in front of bright yellow and orange mums, ornamental green cabbages, and a towering pumpkin tree, then go inside to see the historic glasshouses. Plan your visit around the monthly “Cocktails at the Conservatory,” when the gardens stay open late, and you can sip on local libations while peeping at the garden glories dressed in their festive best.
Where to Eat and Drink in Columbus, Ohio
Like a good Halloween scare, the food scene in Columbus will pleasantly surprise you. Start your morning at North Market, a downtown public market housed in a nearly 150-year-old building and home to diverse independent food vendors serving everything from Asian to Polish to Somalian cuisine. By 11 a.m. on weekends, locals are already lining up for artisanal breads and decadent baked goods at Littleton’s Market Bakery.
The best way to sample as much as possible is to take a food tour with Columbus Food Adventures, which offers both a Market Tour, or a more extensive Short North Tour. We chose the latter. After digging into Nashville-style hot fried chicken from Hot Chicken Takeover and dumplings from Momo Ghar at the market, we moved on to some of the neighborhood’s best restaurants, including The Guild House — arguably Columbus’ most beautiful restaurant and known for its creative, seasonal menu. The food tour appropriately ended at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, which was founded in Columbus by James Beard award-winning ice cream maker Jeni Britton. There, we sampled their specialty fall flavors like the sweet potato marshmallow brûlée.
Columbus’ culinary crown jewels are its bakeries. One of my favorite stops was Fox in the Snow Café, an adorable bakery in the Italian Village whose popularity is often measured by the long lines. It’s hard to choose what to order from the glass display case of pastries, but I’d suggest the blueberry galette and a gooey sticky bun.
Locals will also lead you to Katalina’s, a beloved fast-casual spot with several locations around the city. Go for the signature pancake balls, filled with either dulce de leche, Nutella or pumpkin-apple butter, and served with a side of bacon.
Like we said, Columbus is full of surprises, and Ginger Rabbit is one of the best. Draped in velvet curtains and exuding speakeasy vibes, this is the place to cozy up and listen to jazz while sipping cocktails. Every seat offers a view of the stage, where you can catch every facial expression of the musicians as they do their thing. Reserve a spot at the “Power Hour” on Fridays and Saturdays, where you can drop in for an hour of live music from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., which still leaves time to grab dinner afterward.
Where to Stay in Columbus, Ohio
If you’re looking for an independent hotel that captures the spirit of Columbus, base your fall getaway at The Junto Hotel. The boutique beauty with an industrial-chic vibe is located just west of downtown. While many hotels promote their lobbies as “living rooms,” The Junto genuinely delivers a warm, welcoming communal space that draws both visitors and locals who come for the hang. Couches and comfy chairs dot the expansive lobby, bookshelves house games and borrowable reads, and a long, shared table is often lined with locals and travelers working on laptops.
Grab something warm from the hotel’s coffee shop, Maudine’s — where the baristas nail fall-inspired drinks like spiced pear cider and maple-pumpkin lattes — and settle by the lobby’s roaring fire. For the adventurers, there’s even a gear garage where guests can borrow everything from bikes to kayaks.
After dark, head up to Brass Eye, the hotel’s rooftop bar on the eigtht floor, where fire pits flicker and city views glow through open-air windows at golden hour. Rooms are comfortable with thoughtful touches like window seats — perfect for gazing at the city skyline or the tree-lined park, ablaze in fall color. A range of room and suite configurations makes the hotel ideal for wedding parties, business travelers or anyone who wants a little extra space to gather and socialize.
The Junto sits across the street from the popular COSI science museum and near green spaces worthy of play or exercise. It’s the ideal base for a fall getaway steeped in comfort, creativity and local style.
This story was originally published August 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM.
