Arriving in Columbus via Columbus Airport (Georgia) sets you up perfectly, with the Chattahoochee River, west Georgia, and east Alabama a short drive away. Columbus is a river city with a restored Uptown, a strong military presence from neighboring Fort Moore, and a surprising claim to fame: the longest urban whitewater course in the world runs right through downtown. It is laid-back, historic, and a little more adventurous than it looks.

Standout experiences around Columbus: - Raft the Chattahoochee whitewater course through the middle of the city - Walk or bike the 15-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk - Spend a morning at the National Infantry Museum and its walk through American military history - Catch a show at the Springer Opera House, the official State Theatre of Georgia - Tour the Columbus Museum for regional art and history - Visit the Ma Rainey House, home of the Mother of the Blues - Order a scrambled dog, the local chili-smothered hot dog, at a classic lunch counter - Explore the Coca-Cola Space Science Center with the kids

Columbus also works as a jumping-off point for a stretch of the South that gets overlooked. Providence Canyon, the gullied Little Grand Canyon of Georgia, is 45 minutes south, Callaway Gardens and Pine Mountain are about 45 minutes north, and the Little White House at Warm Springs is an hour away. Auburn, Alabama is a 45-minute drive, Plains and the Carter sites are about an hour, and Atlanta is roughly an hour and 45 minutes up the interstate. Spring brings azaleas and the smell of magnolias to the RiverWalk, and fall brings college football to both sides of the river. Columbus is easy to like once you find the river.