Ohio's largest city, state capital and home to the massive Ohio State University, COLUMBUS is a likeable place to visit. Its position in the rural heart of the state also makes it the only center of culture for a good three-hour drive in any direction.

Ohio became a state in 1803, and after trying Zanesville and Chillicothe, legislators designated this former patch of rolling farmland on the high east bank of the Scioto River its capital in 1812. The fledgling city was built from scratch, and its considered town planning is evident today in broad thoroughfares and green spaces. Statuary forms another part of the cityscape, with monuments seemingly erected on any spare scrap of land, many of them of its namesake, Christopher Columbus ; there's even a replica of his ship, the Santa Maria , docked downtown on the Scioto River.

The Columbus Crew of professional soccer (who play in the nation's first stadium built specifically for pro soccer) have a huge following. So do the Ohio State Buckeyes college football team, and the year 2000 brought in Ohio's first NHL hockey team, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

However, until Columbus does manage to make it big, it's best enjoyed for what it is a lively college city with a smattering of good museums , some gorgeous Germanic architecture , and a particularly vibrant nightlife , including Ohio's most active gay scene . The spacious, orderly and easygoing downtown area holds several attractions and the giant Columbus City Center mall. The main entertainment districts the bohemian Short North and the more mainstream Brewery District are on the north and south fringes, respectively.