The CheckerBoard

MixVFL,

I was stationed at Ft. Benning like grunt_503rd. My experience was a little different though. I actually really enjoyed Columbus. Don't know if you have children, but I can offer that Columbus High is a very good HS. I know that the better neighborhoods are out past exit 10 and toward Midland, GA. The closer you get to the base, the more run down the town seems to be. The base would be exit 1 on I-185.
We had friends that lived across the river in Pheonix City, Alabama and they constantly complained about the schools. Columbus has great sports programs for kids from elementary through high school. Football, baseball, basketball, soccer..... you name it. You can always watch some top notch competition.

OK. Columbus is not a big town, but it's not small either. It is a military town and they kind of take pride in that. It's an hour and half to Atlanta and 3 hrs to the beach (Panama City). There's lots of golf and hunting and fishing. I'd stick to the northern part of Columbus.

You might be better served by sticking close to Opelika. Columbus to Opelika is a long drive. I don't know that area very well. I've been through it and it seemed OK. I always found Auburn kind of funny. You're driving by farms and all of a sudden, you see the university. No kidding, it's out in the sticks.

Good luck on your move. If you have further questions, feel free to shoot me a PM.