What to do in Columbus, GA
CONGRATS! Your soldier made it to the (sort of) half way point of Basic Training! So, you are on your way to Columbus, Georgia to visit your soldier during Turning Green and you don’t know how to spend the time. No worries! I did several weeks of research and spent my own fair share of time in Columbus to make it easy for you to have a list of fun things that you and your soldier will enjoy!
If you are not sure what Turning Green is – see my post What to Expect at Turning Green Ceremony. This post also contains some up-to-date rules regarding what your soldier can and cannot do while he is off base.
Here is my list of things to do in Columbus.
National Infantry Museum ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 1775 Legacy Way #235, Columbus, GA 31903
Cost: FREE
Hours of Operation: Monday: Closed, Tuesday – Saturday: 9AM – 5PM, Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Personal Review: I am a HUGE museum girly. I absolutely loved this museum. They have so much to look at and read about. They have it set up into each war. I easily spent a little over two hours going through it all.
Stars and Strikes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 7607 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus, GA 31909
Cost: Ranges depending on what you do. Expect to spend about $50 or more
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thurs.: 12PM – 12AM, Friday -Saturday: 12PM – 1AM, Sunday: 12PM – 12AM
Personal Review: This was a really fun place. They have bowling, laser tag, and arcade games. We stuck to arcade games. It was really fun! Fun for all ages too.
Location: 4411 Victory Dr, Columbus, GA 31903
Cost: It’s a surplus shop – but the cost of things is relatively good
Hours of Operation: Monday – Sunday: 9AM – 6AM
Personal Review: Kolten wanted to go here for supplies. I highly recommend it for basic training necessities. Your soldier will also need to get their helmet band from here. They also have t-shirts and novelty items for friends and family. Super nice staff and always willing to help!
Ranger Joe’s ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 4030 Victory Dr, Columbus, GA 31903
Cost: It’s a surplus shop – pricing here is also good
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 8AM – 6PM, Saturday: 9AM – 6PM, Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
Personal Review: We went here because they had a better boot selection. They also have t shirts and novelties. I personally don’t think they have as much basic training items as Commando’s does. Still a good place to visit for supplies.
Caddyshack Miniture Golf ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 1683 Whittlesey Rd, Columbus, GA 31904
Cost: For 2 people it was $20!
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday: 5:30PM – 9PM, Friday: 5:30PM – 10PM, Saturday: 10AM – 10PM, Sunday: 2PM – 9PM
Personal Review: We absolutely loved this! My husband and I are avid mini golf players. We are always trying to find a mini golf course. It is attached to a movie theater so you could also go see a movie. There is also a roller rink, laser tag, and kind of an arcade game room. It is fully inside. The holes are so much fun and creative. We joked because most of the holes were a Par 3 and they were pretty tough, but overall we had soooo much fun!
Location: 701 Front Ave, Columbus, GA 31901
Cost: $8 a person – if you go with your soldier you will most likely get a military discount for the whole group making it $7 a person (eye roll)
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 10AM – 4PM, Saturday: 10:30AM – 5PM, Sunday: Closed
Personal Review: I did not enjoy this at all. Being a museum girl, I really had high hopes, but this was bad. For $7 I really thought there would be more to see, instead it was like a small room with some random space stuff. Would not go back and would recommend not wasting money on it no matter how cool it sounds.
Location: 517 15th Street, Columbus, GA 31901
Cost: Ranges from $15 to $40 – this depends on how long you want to be there
Hours of Operation: Mon.&Tues.: Call to reserve, Wed. & Thurs.: 5PM – 10PM, Friday: 5PM – 11PM, Saturday: 2PM – 11PM
Personal Review: We didn’t go here, but we walked past, and it looked super fun, they also have big yard games and beer and wine!
Location: 3603 Weems Rd, Columbus, GA 31909
Cost: $10 – Adult, $5 – 4yr to 17yr, Free – 3yr and under
Hours of Operation: Monday – Sunday: 9AM – 5PM
Personal Review: We also didn’t go here, but I am a sucker for gardens. I think this would be a nice experience and kind of a time to chill with family and your soldier.
Here is my list of places to eat in Columbus
Parker’s Pantry⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 1815 Garrard St, Columbus, GA 31901
Cost: Good
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 8AM – 3PM, Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Personal Review: Kolten and I absolutely loved this place. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. Their sandwiches are amazing, and they have a different soup every day. They also have pastries and muffins. Kolten got a blueberry muffin and let me try some. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Will definitely be going back. Find them on Facebook or Instagram.
Smokey Bones⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus, GA 31909
Cost: Good for the amount of food
Hours of Operation: Monday – Sunday: 11AM – 1AM
Personal Review: We had a group of nine of us and this is where we went right after the Turning Green ceremony. It was great! It’s an American restaurant with BBQ, hamburgers, and sandwiches. They have good drinks as well! They sat us quickly and the staff was good. The food was really good. I would go back here for sure. It’s getting 4 stars just because it was a little loud in there and I sometimes couldn’t hear people at the other end of the table.
Location: 5555 Whittlesey Blvd Ste H, Columbus, GA 31909
Cost: A little pricey
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday: 3PM – 10PM, Friday – Saturday: 11AM – 11PM, Sunday: 11AM – 10PM
Personal Review: I enjoyed this place. It took a little while to get seated, but we also showed up at like 9:30pm Saturday night. Kolten and I tried both of their soups of the week, and they were SOOO good. I got fettuccini alfredo and sadly it was bland. Kolten got chicken parmesan and he loved it. I tried some and it was very tasty. The portions are big too. They also have beer and wine.
