Imagine trading the warm California coastline for a crisp Midwestern breeze, where red and gold leaves swirl through charming neighborhoods and football spirit fills the air. As someone from San Diego, getting to Ohio isn’t always simple, but with a short layover in Atlanta, a fall weekend in Columbus turned into the perfect cozy getaway.
My first stop was Easton Town Center, a mall built for anyone who loves anything. Spread across 1.7 million square feet and visited by nearly 18 million people a year, Easton feels less like a mall and more like its own small city. You can browse everything from high-end jackets to quirky Ohio-themed shops, then warm up with a pumpkin spice latte from one of its many cafés. For a chilly fall weekend, it’s the ideal place to gear up before exploring the rest of Columbus.
Of course, no visit to Columbus feels complete without stepping onto the campus of Ohio State. Whether you plan to apply or not, the school’s culture stretches far beyond academics. Ohio might be the only state where it doesn’t matter if you went to the university—on Saturdays, everyone becomes a Buckeyes fan. Wandering the Oval, the green heart of campus, gives you a sense of how central the school is to life in the city.
I got to watch the #1-ranked Buckeyes dominate UCLA 48-10, a reminder of why the program has produced stars like C.J. Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr. Football isn’t just entertainment here; it’s a weekly holiday.
Fall in the Midwest also means one thing: leaves. Endless, breathtaking leaves. Ohio’s nickname, “The Heart of It All,” makes perfect sense when you’re surrounded by the reds, oranges, and yellows that define autumn in Columbus. Schiller Park and Dawes Arboretum offer some of the most stunning fall views you’ll find anywhere. Quiet paths, mirrored ponds, and forests glowing with color are just a few reasons that The Arch City is such a global hub for fall trips. For anyone who loves chasing autumn scenery, Columbus earns a spot on the bucket list.
A weekend in Columbus blends cozy fall weather, big-city energy, and Midwest charm. From sprawling shopping districts to college-town excitement to unforgettable fall foliage, it’s a destination that feels both surprising and comforting—exactly what a fall getaway should be.
