There is no shortage of wonderful small towns in Indiana; no matter where you go or what you do, you're sure to find a visitor's center of some kind to welcome you, teach you a little about the area, and offer up some ideas about where to go and what to see. There's one small town, however, that's got the single coolest visitor center in Indiana. What makes it so cool, you ask? Oh, I've got many reasons for feeling this way, and I'm not alone: the American Institute of Architects ranked Columbus, Indiana sixth in the U.S. for innovation and design thanks to the town's very unique visitor center. Literally, it's worth a day trip all on its own. Check it out:

Welcome to the Columbus Visitors Center, one of the coolest places there is to explore in the entire Midwest.

I can't even accurately express the layers of awesomeness that this particular place possesses; from the moment you park until the moment you leave, your mind and eyes will be feasting upon all there is to learn and see.

First, the grounds: well-kept and beautiful, this is one of those places some folks like to come to for a little reflection.

Enjoy gorgeous walking paths, plenty of gorgeous greenery, and some truly intriguing and unique outdoor art displays. There is no season that's not a good time - it's all awesome, all the time.

The Columbus Visitors Center is famous for its amazing art (and its epic architecture).

The entire grounds is a work of art, I think, and it's pretty much a museum in and of itself.

The art isn't limited to just outdoors; inside, you'll find some truly jaw-dropping works by an array of amazing artists.

The interior design of the place is just as beautiful, eye-catching, and artsy as the rest of the center, with numerous features like a library, short films to watch, and exhibits worth returning for. There is no corner of this place that's not worth exploring.

The center offers small, intimate tours in small groups every day.

You can do all the tours, or just a few; the Columbus Visitors Center offers an architectural highlights tour, a Miller House and garden tour, a walking tour of Columbus, a tour of the Inn at Irwin Gardens, and more.

So, truly - before you explore Columbus, explore its amazing visitors center.

You won't regret it even for a moment - it's educational, fun, and totally worth a trip all for itself.

For more information about Columbus and the visitors center, be sure to check out the amazing Visit Columbus website. What are your favorite small-town visitor centers in our fine state? Let me know! And if you're looking for somewhere to spend the night while in Columbus, I think our friends at Booking.com can help.