Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center – Things To Do With Your Team

The Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center is a convention center unlike any other. Perhaps the most architecturally significant convention center in the country, the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center blends the old with the new. That’s because the building that the convention center is located in dates all the way back to 1853. The building was once known as the Columbus Iron Works, an iron foundry that produced everything from farming implements to Confederate firearms. In 1977, the Iron Works was sold to the City of Columbus. It opened as the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center just two years later.

Despite its historical origins, the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center boasts all of the features you’d expect to find in a modern facility. These features include three exhibit halls with 50,000 square feet of space and 27 breakout rooms, all while retaining its century-old charm. As incredible as the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center is, the surrounding area is home to many other incredible establishments as well. This makes it easy when planning your team’s trip to Columbus, Georgia.

 

Things to Do

Coca-Cola Space Science Center

Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center - Travel - Hotels4TeamsBlast off for out of this world fun without ever leaving earth at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of uptown Columbus at Columbus State University. It houses the Omnisphere Theater, the WestRock Observatory, and the Challenger Learning Center.

You’ll also find various interactive exhibits and displays in the facility’s plaza area, including Georgia’s most extensive space shuttle artifact collection. The collection is valued at nearly 20-million-dollars and contains a variety of fascinating pieces. Some of the most notable artifacts in the collection include a nine-time, space-flown space shuttle main engine nozzle, biomed and operations management consoles from Firing Room 3 in the Kennedy Space Center, and a space shuttle escape basket. 701 Front Ave, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Heritage Park

For outdoor fun mere minutes away from the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center, bring your team to Heritage Park. There, you and your team can discover Columbus’ history as you visit replicas of many of the city’s historic landmarks in a beautiful natural setting. Many of the replica landmarks celebrate Columbus’ storied industrial heritage.

Features of Heritage Park include a small-scale recreation of a dam, a deck area designed to resemble a paddlewheel boat, and an original brick kiln. Another popular feature in the park is a statue of Dr. John S. Pemberton. You might not recognize his name, but you’ll certainly recognize the iconic beverage that he invented: Coca-Cola. The statue of Dr. Pemberton is seated on a bench, so any Coca-Cola fans on your team can pose with a fun souvenir photo with him; possibly even with a Coke in hand! 700 Front Ave, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Chattahoochee RiverWalk

One of the best ways to see all of the sights that Columbus has to offer is by taking a stroll on the Chattahoochee RiverWalk. Located on the banks of the river for which it was named just minutes from the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center, the RiverWalk also skirts alongside the cityscape. This makes it a great place to see the city’s historic monuments while admiring the tranquil beauty of the river’s rolling waters and the native wildlife that call the river home.

For an even more unique experience at the Chattahoochee RiverWalk, you and your team can take part in the RiverWalk GeoTour. The GeoTour is an outdoor, GPS-guided treasure hunting adventure featuring 31 challenging geocaches. Find a certain number of geocaches to win fun prizes like a limited edition playing card and custom geo-coins! You can collect these prizes at the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau. 900 Front Ave, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Escape This Live: Columbus

Escape This Live: Columbus offers indoor fun just minutes away from the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center. This popular Columbus attraction is an escape game that will put your group’s wits to the test. Your escape game experience begins when you and your team walk into the escape room. Once the door closes and locks behind you, it’ll be entirely up to your group’s ability to find clues, crack codes, and work as a team to escape. The real challenge is that you have to find your way out in under an hour. Even if you don’t manage to escape once your 60 minutes are up, you’ll still leave having had a fun, memorable experience. 1036 1st Ave, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Columbus Museum

Founded in 1953, the Columbus Museum is one of the largest and most unique museums in the Southeast. What makes the Columbus Museum so one-of-a-kind is its dual concentration on both American art and regional history. Both of these subjects are showcased by the museum’s permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, and educational programs.

The Columbus Museum isn’t designed to be enjoyed only by older guests however. The museum offers a wide variety of opportunities for younger guests to get hands-on during their visit. Many of the museum’s kid-friendly programs can be found in the Family Interactive Gallery. You and your team can create your own film at the Stop Motion Animation Station, play 20 Questions with objects from the museum’s collection, and create your own works of art to take home with you. Just like the rest of the museum, all activities in the Family Interactive Gallery are offered free of charge. 1251 Wynnton Rd, Columbus, GA 31906

 

To find hotel rooms closest to where your team is playing in Columbus or any city, visit https://www.hotels4teams.com/. Hotels4Teams – The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!

 

Places to Eat

Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant

If you’re looking for a place to get lunch that will fill you up and warm your soul, look no further than Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant. This quaint cafeteria-style eatery has been a Columbus tradition for over 24 years. Everything they serve is made from scratch, from favorites like their savory hoe cakes to their refreshing sweet tea. Other popular dishes at Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant include crispy fried chicken, fluffy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and corn bread. Once they’ve polished off everything on their plate, everyone on your team can enjoy a cupcake or ice cream that’s included for free with every kids’ meal. 104 8th St, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center - Travel - Hotels4TeamsChili Thai

Chili Thai is a popular Columbus restaurant that serves up some of the most authentic Thai cuisine in the city. Their menu features all of the classic Thai favorites like crunchy spring rolls, chicken satay with peanut sauce, crispy duck, and pad Thai. Also on the menu are some more exotic dishes such as basil rolls, papaya salad, and a variety of curry dishes. Chili Thai is well-known amongst Columbus locals for making whatever you order as spicy as you’d like. So if you like your food hot, you’ll definitely love this restaurant. 19 W 10th St, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Your Pie

You’re the chef when you dine at Your Pie! Your Pie offers a unique platform where patrons can build their own pizza by choosing the dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings. This fun twist is perfect for any picky eaters on your team, since it gives them many more options than the average pizza joint. Toppings to choose from at Your Pie range from the traditional, like sausage, pepperoni, and garlic; to the unconventional, like banana peppers, bacon, jalapenos, and pineapple. They also offer a selection of rich Italian gelato that’s the perfect way to top off a great meal. 1019 Broadway Ave, Columbus, GA 31901

 

Ruth Ann’s Restaurant

Continuing the family tradition begun by Ruth Ann Heisey over two decades ago, Ruth Ann’s Restaurant serves delicious Southern and classic American dishes in a comfortable dining atmosphere. Although Ruth Ann purchased the restaurant in 1996, it had been in operation since 1959, which explains the timeless ambiance of the interior and the exterior that can be best described as tried-and-true Americana.

The food served at Ruth Ann’s restaurant reflects its historic Southern roots with dishes like biscuits and gravy, country fried steak, a triple layer club sandwich, and cornbread muffins. As mouthwatering as all of that sounds, the main draw of Ruth Ann’s Restaurant is their decadent breakfast dishes. Breakfast options include hearty meals like country ham and corned beef hash as well as sweet treats like red velvet pancakes and Cap’n Crunch French toast. 941 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus, GA 31901

 

When it comes to Southern charm and hospitality, Columbus has an abundance of both. From the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center to the surrounding uptown area, you and your team will feel right at home during your stay there. Because of its rich history and unique location, Columbus is a city that practically begs to be explored, so be sure to make the most of your team’s visit and venture out from the convention center whenever you all get the chance.