Columbus, Georgia is located in west-central Georgia on the banks of the Chattahoochee River near the border of Alabama. Home to Fort Benning, Columbus is 90 miles away from Atlanta and 80 miles from Montgomery, Alabama. Columbus is Georgia’s third-largest city with a population of 250,000 people and an area of 218 square miles. The city's terrain is level in the south with steep hills in the north. Columbus's climate is humid with average summer highs in the 90s and the high 60s in the winter.
The late summer months and early autumn see the most tourism in Columbus; however, the comfortably warm winters and springs allow for a year-round tourism industry. Hot summers need not deter tourists interested in indoor attractions, as most tourist attractions are air-conditioned.
Columbus, Georgia features several attractions, such as the Columbus Lunch Box Museum, which features over 5,000 vintage and new lunch boxes. The Coca-Cola Museum is located in the same building in which the fizzy phenomenon was first invented. The Columbus Riverwalk covers 15 miles of riverfront Columbus and the historic district. The Columbus Museum and Heritage Park includes exhibits and memorials to the long history of the city. For those interested in the stage arts, the State Theatre of Georgia is located in Columbus.
History enthusiasts will have plenty to keep them busy in Columbus, Georgia. Columbus's historic district (commonly known as "Midtown") spreads over six square miles of historical attractions and contemporary residences. Some historical sites include antebellum homes, early 20th century neighborhoods and the Columbus Museum, which features regional art, archaeological artifacts and Civil War memorabilia.
Tourism is the second biggest industry in the state of Georgia. According to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1.5 million tourists visited the city in 2009, generating $359 million of revenue. The tourist industry has created 6,900 jobs.
