Southeast Columbus - Columbus, GA

Established in 1918, Fort Benning borders Columbus on the south and southeast. The military base greatly affected the development of the town of Columbus, with the East/South neighborhood developing adjacent to the base.

Nearby museums include the Columbus Black History Museum and the Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus. The Columbus Museum features art and regional history displays. The Carson McCullers Center showcases the childhood home of the famous novelist.

The neighborhood contains many chain restaurants, as well as good, local hot spots. An abundance of establishments sit along Victory Drive; among them you can find barbecue joints and Southern home-style diners, along with a smattering of restaurants that serve international cuisine, such as South American, Jamaican and Caribbean.

Vallarta Mexican restaurant serves authentic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients. Try the machaca, a dish made with shredded beef, scrambled eggs and vegetables. Regulars like the chicken burrito with a side of guacamole.

Gus's Drive In serves home-style Southern food at reasonable prices. Dinners include a meat, two sides and cornbread. Locals come for the fried chicken-gizzard dinner and catfish boxes. Remember to save room for banana pudding or sweet potato pie.

Residents go to Rose's Caribbean Restaurant for Caribbean specialties such as curried goat. Order one of several seafood dishes, including blackened shrimp or red snapper. For a popular vegetarian entree, choose the coconut beans and rice. Get the rum cake for a real treat after your main course.

Not a lot in the way of nightlife happens within the neighborhood. Locals talk about Mickey's Place as a great place for hanging with friends. This neighborhood bar and grill has a full menu and no cover charge. Neighborhood residents tend to drive to uptown Columbus for evenings out. The action is centered on Broadway, where people find bars, nightclubs, movies and dancing near the Riverwalk.

Residents depend on their cars in Columbus as many residential areas have walk scores below 25. Most streets in the neighborhood do not have sidewalks, making it hard to get to stores and other amenities except by car. Interstate 185 and Highway 280 conveniently serve the neighborhood. Drivers find paid public parking available in downtown Columbus, but in the East/South neighborhood, residents enjoy ample free parking provided by businesses setting the standard.

A dedicated bike lane runs from downtown Columbus to Fort Benning along Highway 280, passing through the neighborhood. Bicyclists consider most neighborhood streets safe.

Four bus routes serve the neighborhood: routes 2, 3, 4 and 7. Routes 4 and 7 run every half hour on weekdays, route 3 runs about every hour, and route 2 runs every 90 minutes. Buses run less often on weekends. The routes serve most of the residences in the neighborhood, making transportation to downtown or Fort Benning convenient.

More than 25 taxi companies serve the area. They can be summoned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone call. Some companies also make reservations by text message or online. Uber does not do business in Columbus, as of February 2015.

The city of Columbus manages many free small neighborhood parks. McKinley Park features athletic fields and a playground on 7 acres of land. Residents enjoy Rigdon Park, part of the Chattahoochee Riverwalk system. It provides river access and lighted ball fields. Mostly undeveloped, South Columbus Park contains both meadows and forested areas. Linsey Creek Park offers 20 scenic acres with picnic facilities, too. Golden Ball Park provides lighted baseball fields and shuffleboard courts.

Families enjoy outings at Flat Rock Park. The park consists of a wooded area with a running creek and a fishing lake. Dogs and kids often play in the water on hot summer days. Kids also love the two shaded playgrounds. Picnickers find great spots near the water. Residents looking for active pursuits try the hiking and biking trails, or the disc golf course.

Oxbow Support Facility provides an off-leash dog park in the neighborhood near Fort Benning. Two fenced areas separate dogs by weight. Dogs and their owners exercise in the park for free. The Riverwalk welcomes dogs on-leash, as well.

Cooper Creek Park supplies access to a walking and fitness trail, horseshoe courts and clay tennis courts. The Georgia Arborist Association hosts the annual Georgia Tree Climbing Championships in the park in February. Free to the public, the event also includes a children’s event.

Living in Columbus near Fort Benning costs about 83 percent of the national average. Plan to budget about $590 for a typical one-bedroom apartment.

A regular adult fare to ride the bus from the neighborhood to downtown Columbus costs $1.30. If you have your own wheels, expect to pay only 86 percent of the national average when you fill the gas tank. Three dollars gets you a draft beer in a local pub, and a pizza to go with it sets you back less than $10.

Several small shopping centers and stand-alone businesses serve the neighborhood, but most residents leave the area to shop in the business district of Columbus.

Daphne's Bridal Boutique specializes in bridal gowns, prom dresses, and dresses for other special occasions. Daphne's carries tuxedos and a complete line of accessories, as well. Ranger Joe's sells military and law-enforcement equipment as well as camping supplies. This store also carries uniforms and outdoor clothing for all climates, and it stocks tools for military men and women.

Giant, U Save Food Mart, and Winn-Dixie provide groceries to the neighborhood. Market Days on Broadway happens every Saturday from April through November. Over 150 vendors sell organic produce, baked goods, and other locally-made products.