Columbus MS???

[dfish]

Hi all:

We are doing a spring break trip to the Gulf Shores area at the end of March and our stops are going to include Springfield, IL to do the Lincoln thing as well as a contemplated stop in Columbus, MS.

It looks as though there is some Civil War history there along with some historic plantation type homes.

Can anyone give us some tips and pointers as to what to see and do if we do an overnight stop-over there? We've got a 12 & 14 year old, so it should be age appropriate for them. Also, which airport is best to use.....Golden Triangle or the Columbus airport?

Best,

 

[Steve]

Taxi service is virtually non-existent in Columbus. If you need a rental car, the easiest location to obtain one is GTR. You can pick up a rental at the commercial terminal counter. UBS is much closer to Columbus (~3 miles) but I've only used their courtesy car to visit my daughters on the campus of MUW. Call ahead and UBS may be able to get Enterprise out to the airport or arrange for an extended loan of one of their courtesy cars. UBS is a pretty low key airport. GTR has limited commercial service and the local AFB uses it for practice. If not IFR be sure to contact Columbus Approach to coordinate thru their airspace as there is considerable T-6II, T-1, and T-38 traffic during the week days. The AFB is closed on the weekends and you may be talking to MEM when the local approach is shutdown (approach does operate limited hours on the weekend).

Columbus is known for conducting what was considered the first Memorial Day in 1866 when locals decorated graves of both northern and southern soldiers in Friendship Cemetery.

Other than Friendship Cemetery and antebellum homes there's not a lot in the way of casual tourist attractions in town, imho, but there are several decent restaurants. It is an attractive setting in the downtown area. The commercial shopping and lodging is on the north side. The Best Western is the best value, imho. The Wingate is a bit more upscale. Old Hickory Steak House, Cafe on Main (for lunch), Grill at Jackson Square, Sweet Pepper's Deli, and Harvey's are safe bets for dining.

http://www.thecityofcolumbusms.org/

If you have some time to spend in the region a more intensive experience with regards to Civil War history would be found in Vicksburg, MS at the battlefield park. TVR and VKS are the closest airports for that. Natchez, HEZ, is another area to visit if you enjoy history. Although mainly known for its well-preserved antebellum mansions, it was a major trading post long before the Civil War.