This post is sponsored by Visit Indiana. As always, all opinions are my own.

I have to say, I didn’t really know what to expect when visiting Columbus, Indiana. Over a three day trip, Cameron and I both fell in love with its charms and hospitality. Columbus, Indiana boasts a unique mix of new and old. From world-renowned modern architecture to historic homes and buildings… it’s truly a hidden gem.

If you’re like me you might be wondering how a small town in Indiana became a hub for modern architecture. After asking around, locals were eager to tell us that it started with the Irwin family. (We stayed at the Inn at Irwin Gardens which used to be the family’s home! More on that later.) The Irwin Family founded the now-global Cummins Engine Company in 1919. It all started when former chairman J. Irwin Miller brought in top talent architects

WHERE TO STAY

The Inn at Irwin Gardens – Cameron and I both love historic homes so we were in HEAVEN at the Inn at Irwin Gardens. I would say it was definitely a highlight of our trip. The house itself is so well-preserved, and the gardens are breathtakingly beautiful. As soon as you take a step inside it feels like you have been transported to somewhere in Europe. It brought me back to our trip to Florence and the Gardens of the Pitti Palace.

WHERE TO EAT

Upland Columbus Pump House – This was our favorite lunch spot. It overlooks the river and makes for the best afternoon pit stop to grab a cold beer and a bite to eat. If you go… you MUST order the Reuben! It was hands down one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Henry Social Club – This was our favorite dinner spot. The ambiance, drinks and food were all spot on. Two stand-out dishes were the bacon wrapped dates and the garlic chick pea entree. The owner, Gethin, went out of his way to give us a tour of the whole place exudes detail and passion. You can just feel the purpose behind the business and

WHAT TO DO

To be totally honest, we didn’t have many plans and liked it that way. It is a small town after all! It was nice to just stroll around town and go where we wanted when we wanted. Below are a few activities we loved during our trip.

Take an Architecture Tour – People travel from all over the world to marvel at the unique architecture all around Columbus.

Tour Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor – This is a must-see if you love history! Zaharakos truly takes you back in time. Our tour guide shared the history of the place from start to finish and also shared a lot about soda parlors in general that I would have never known.

Shop Around Town – I got the cutest pair of sunglasses at mother-daughter owned Minash boutique. We also enjoyed browsing Baker’s Fine Gifts where we purchased some picture frames for our new home and a mom-and-pop jewelry store where Cameron got me a vintage asterism ring for our anniversary. I love collecting antique jewelry from the different places we visit.

All in all, Columbus is an under the radar town that I loved getting the chance to visit.