212 replies to this topic

[Champ Kind]

I know there have been multiple discussions on "things to do" in the Columbus area, try the search function at the top of the page.

In summary, though, there ain't a whole hell of a lot to do IN Columbus, but, the good news is that it is pretty centrally located for some good weekend road trip possibilities. Columbus itself has a few bars. Up the road about 40 min is Starkville, which is home to Mississippi State University. Couple more bars/college crowd (ie, frat boys with bushy hair and pink shirts with decent looking girls attached to their hips). Memphis, TN is about 2.5 hours away, Nashville is about 4.5 hours. New Orleans and Biloxi are about 4 four hours away.

A lot of people like to go out on the boat around here, and Columbus has a pretty big lake to go out on. Services has some barely-seaworthy vessels for you to rent, but they are always spoken for and you get put on a waiting list. Tuscaloosa is about an hour drive (home of the University of AL, again, decent bar scene) and Birmingham is about 2 hours away. Atlanta is about a 3.5-4 hour drive...

I think you get the point... Places around here for you and your bros to drink and hang out or have dinner. Other than that, save it for a weekend trip. Hope that helps, search for other posts/opinions as well.

[Tex]

What is the story on boating at CBM? I have heard that it is on a near by riverI. Is it too conjested to have any real fun? Also any safety classes the AF makes you take prior to owning/operating/renting a boat? Thanks for the input.

[GW]

The Mighty Tom Bigby river (which is mostly a canal) sits just outside of "town". We used it for wake boarding and such, not the largest body of water I've ever seen but the price was right. I don't remember having to attend any classes, but like AKROTC said, AETC likes to have a 29B on record for your "hazardous activities". It's also a great ground reference when your're looking to rtb from the south areas.

GW

[HercDude]

Columbus is an pretty much a shitehole, and the Ten-Tom is about the only worthwhile thing for 50 miles. If you have a boat - TAKE IT! If you don't, someone in your class will, make friends with them on the first day.

www.tenntom.org

It's only about 400 or 500 yards wide at it's fatest, but probably 20 miles long at least. Plenty of room for wakeboarding, even on busy weekends.

Not to sure about having to take boating safety classes, but I never heard of anyone doing that so I would guess it's not a requirement. Get the registartion straight and pay attention to the boating laws (life-jackets, etc.) because my bud got pulled over more than once by the local river cops.

[scawtiedog]

Our daughter was born at Baptist last year (once of the last ones before the new ward opened I believe) and we had no problem, was a great experience. Definitely liked how close it was just in case (my wife was induced, so it ended up not being a factor for us). We had some friends who had a baby in Amory and it seemed like such a long drive when we went to visit them.

I'll second Dr. Holzhauer, that's who we had and he was great. Everyone we talked to said to get him.

[Skitzo]

ilovermont, on Feb 28 2007, 12:52 PM, said:

Although the town is small, the base housing isn't brand new, and the nearest Target is about an hour away, ENJOY COLUMBUS!

How fast were you driving? Always took us 1.5 hours, but it was a super target, so I guess that makes up for it.

I second what you are saying though, Columbus was probably the smallest, most isolated town I have ever lived in. I mean I can't remember anytime in my life where I was more than an hour away from an interstate, but it was also one of the best places I ever lived. Being on base really made us close to everyone else around us. It's a great source of relief to be surrounded with so many people close to your age that are going through the same things you are.

Yes, the housing is old but really it is a good deal, we're living in a townhouse now with about the same amount of space, for about 100 over BAH. It's nice but something you don't realize is how much it sucks to have to pay utility bills. Esp in Texas. So while its not choice quality, it really is a good deal.

Also... it's nice that Columbus is a little smaller, if you do have to go to the doc on base it won't take 2 hours to fill a prescription.

It's also not that bad to have Tuscaloosa or Tupelo at your disposal, Memphis, was the best deal in my opinion, we went there several times.

Columbus really taught us how to value time together and how to take advantage of the weekend. Brought us closer together as a couple and don't have any regrets about our time spent there, cherish it, you might find yourself later on down the road, wishing you had that camradarie again.

[NHbound]

Any updated information about the Columbus dorms? I (guard guy) just got my report date in the middle of December for 09-04, and will be going to Columbus unaccompanied as my wife's job is paying for her graduate school where we live now. Just wondering what kind of furniture/appliances I should bring, if any, etc.. Thanks!

[MT near]

Im an avid shooter and plan on taking my two handguns and Mosin Nagant rifle with me to Columbus. I plan on living on base and Im not really sure how to store the weapons and so forth. Im also interested if there are any rifle/handgun ranges in or near Columbus. Does anyone here have any advice or can point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!!