Autumn in the US is known for its spectacular
fall colours, pumpkin-flavoured lattes and farmers’ markets piled high with
apples and fresh produce from local orchards. Columbus, Ohio, brings all of
this together, with a food scene ranked No. 7 in the US by Condé Nast
Traveler readers in 2025, which also named Columbus the No. 8 Best Big City
in its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Ohio capital is surrounded by parks and
countryside, making it easy to get out and see the changing leaves, while farms
around the city offer apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hayrides.
Fall colours and the great outdoors
Columbus has plenty of opportunities to see
the autumn colours without going far from the city. The Scioto Mile runs
alongside the Scioto River, with 175 acres of parkland and paved paths, while
the Metro Parks around Columbus offer longer walks through woodland, prairie
and open countryside.
The city’s foliage has also been recognised
by NBC’s TODAY, which included Columbus among its recommended US road
trips for seeing fall colours.
Apples, pumpkins and the flavours of autumn
Head out to one of the farms around Columbus
for a taste of a more traditional American autumn. Apple orchards and pumpkin
patches offer seasonal activities including apple picking, hayrides and corn
mazes, with farm markets selling produce and freshly baked goods.
At Lynd Fruit Farm, visitors can pick their
own apples, take a hayride, tackle the corn maze and browse the market.
Back in Columbus, the German Village Farmers
Market runs through November, bringing together local produce, baked goods,
cheese, coffee and other seasonal favourites.
There’s also a very Ohio-specific sweet treat
to try. The Columbus Buckeye Treat Trail celebrates the state’s chocolate and
peanut butter buckeye candy, with local businesses putting their own spin on
it, from milkshakes to cream puffs.
Halloween in the hometown of R.L. Stine
Columbus has its own place in Halloween
history as the hometown of R.L. Stine. Born in the city and raised in nearby
Bexley, the Goosebumps author drew on his childhood for elements of the
series, and visitors can follow a guide to some of his favourite places around
Columbus.
Halloween events range from pumpkin displays
and corn mazes to haunted tours and costume celebrations. HighBall Halloween
turns the Short North into a large-scale costume celebration, while events such
as the Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow fill the night with thousands of carved
pumpkins. There are also haunted tours around some of Columbus’ older
neighbourhoods, bringing local ghost stories and history into the mix.
Columbus offers a classic taste of autumn in
America, but with plenty that is specific to Ohio, from buckeye treats and
apple orchards to its connection with the author of Goosebumps. For
anyone wanting to experience the season beyond the usual New England autumn
postcard, it offers something a little different.
Posted by: Experience Columbus
Posted on: 14/10/2026