North Columbus - Columbus, GA Area Guide

Established in 1828, Columbus, Georgia, has been the main hub for city life in the area. Northside's neighborhood skirts the northeast end of this city, which was one of the few planned before the United States was even formed. Originally, Columbus was a center for shipping and military manufacturing. The city has Fort Benning Military Reserve on the south and southeast side, so the military has a major influence on the area.

Visitors enjoy the National Infantry Museum Foundation, The Columbus Museum and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center among other museums in Columbus. Annually, the city holds Memorial Day parades and Fourth of July Celebrations.

Art lovers can visit the Springer Opera House for live opera performances or watch the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. The Rankin Arts Center provides art courses and continued education in the arts.

Besides the usual fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Chic-Fil-A, and other well-known stops, this area benefits from many Chinese, Mexican, and Southern American restaurants. Still, many residents head to nearby Columbus to get a bite to eat.

Don Chuchos Mexican Restaurant makes meals like pollo soup and chimichangas for those who love to eat traditional Mexican food. Residents appreciate the themed location, which stays open every day of the week.

Viva El Toro Mexican Restaurant has a unique atmosphere with an upscale bar and dining room. With a friendly staff, this restaurant makes authentic cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. Try the restaurant's soft tacos or guacamole for a traditional Mexican taste.

Chef Lee's Peking Restaurant, located on Bradley Park Drive, provides traditional Chinese foods for those in the area. Residents love having a choice of over 150 dishes, making this a stop where anyone can order something they enjoy. The restaurant's specialty dishes include Hunan shrimp and sizzling rice soup.

At night, locals can go to the Cannon Brew Pub for a pint. Designed with two distinct areas -- a bar-side dining area and a pizza side dining area -- you can have dinner and stay for a drink. The old-world atmosphere of this wood-and-brick establishment will quickly make this your favorite place -- and that's before you try the variety of brews, the wood-fired pizza, and the pub's legendary burgers.

In Northside itself, getting around town may be best done with the use of a car or truck. There are sidewalks for those who want to walk to the mall or other areas, but the area has been built sporadically, making it hard to get around everywhere without a vehicle.

While there may not be biking lanes on the roads in all areas, some parts of downtown Columbus do have biking lanes. Northside has remained a smaller area, so biking there should not be of any extra risk to bikers staying on residential roads.

Northside lies between US Route 80, Interstate 185, Route 27 and the alternative US Route 27. By taking US Route 80 to US Route 431, or by taking US Route 80 to Georgia State Route 1, residents can quickly access Columbus.

Residents have the option of using a bus to travel with the METRA system. The local Peachtree Mall remains the easiest place to catch the bus into the city of Columbus. Getting a cab in Columbus requires being in the downtown area or at the bus station. Otherwise, residents must call in advance to get a cab. Uber used to run in Columbus; however, lawsuits have stopped it from running.

Several parking areas remain available to drivers who head to Columbus. These include The RiverCenter Garage, The Bay Avenue Garage, The 9th Street Parking Lot and The Front Avenue Garage. The Front Avenue Garage stays open and free to the public. The other lots cost $2 for daily parking.

Northside Park has been established as the main part in Northside. This park, known as Northside Park Supercenter, has a 19,000-square-foot recreation center as well as baseball fields, a walking trail and football fields. Inside the recreation center, a gymnasium, an aerobics room, a children's activity room and a weight room make up the building, so the center is child friendly and exercise centric as a rule. Renting the rooms provides a way for events to be held in the recreation center. Every year, the park holds "Socktober" in October. Pairs of socks get collected for the homeless during the annual event. The center doesn't list its prices for individual entrance fees.

Oxbow Support Facility provides two fields for dogs to play in with one dedicated to dogs under 30 pounds and the other meant for larger animals. The dogs may be off their leashes in the park, but they need to have rabies tags on and collars. Entry to the park is free.

Renting an average one-bedroom residence costs $779.35 per month in Columbus. The costs of living in the area stand 4 percent higher than in the rest of Georgia, and gas prices tend to be approximately 2 percent lower than the national average. A beer costs around $3 or more in Columbus.

To take a bus to the city center, a one-way general fare costs $1.30 for adults in most areas. Adults in Fort Benning pay $1.90, and students with an ID pay $1.00 per ticket. Children shorter than the fare box cost only $1 per ticket. The Uptown Express may be taken for only $0.55 each way.

Peachtree Mall has been the center of shopping in the area for some time. Centered in Northside, popular shops like American Eagle Outfitters and Dillard's can be found there. A few high-end stores inside include Zales and Victoria's Secret.

Outside the mall, you'll find plenty of specialty shops such as The Blue Door Boutique, a locally owned business that prides itself on its stylists who help customers find the perfect item that fits and flatters.

Nearby on Hamilton Road, A&J Screenprinters produces t-shirts and shirts custom designed to order. Schools, teens, adults and those with original concepts have their shirts printed here.

Residents buy their groceries at the local Publix, The Fresh Market or Save-A-Lot. Farmers markets run on market days on Broadway. These fresh-produce stalls open every Saturday from April through November.